Penelope BatThis parable about bat is a classical hero's journey as described by Joseph Campbell. The heroine is a bat named Penelope, named after Ulysses' wife in the Odyssey. She lives comfortably but is plagued by a voice in her head that discourages her from taking any chances and forces her to concentrate on her "difference and otherness." A mysterious and mystical crow becomes her guardian and teaches her the secret of soaring flight, and leads her to Yosemite Valley. On her odyssey she encounters the Spirits of Rock, Water, Air and Fire. She learns from the voices of the elements that which gives her power to be "who she is to become." She learns courage, persistence, and commitment, understandings and actions that free her also to teach & lead others. Flight is the metaphor that makes the story soar. Ultimately this is a fable about overcoming self doubt and fulfilling one's potential. The playful interaction of the Greek elemental spirits of Rock, Water, Air and Fire are used to present a unique lesson in how the forces of nature nourish life and change among the creatures and plants and physical spaces of Yosemite. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Spirits of Rock And Water | 27 |
Good News | 41 |
The Spirit of Fire | 63 |
To A New Home And Family | 79 |
About The Author | 93 |
Common terms and phrases
A-sue-sam-he Adolpho arms and flew arms to fly asked Penelope baby barn bat with big began to fly big ears black bat boys Brownie canyon cave circled cliff climbed crack creek crickets Crow destiny dome drifted eaves eyes fall feel feet fire flapped her arms flew close flip fly for fun glided granite wall Half Dome head held her arms hungry lean hard ledge light looked meadow mountains Neal nearby tree nelope nice night noise Penelope could hear Penelope dropped Penelope felt Penelope flew Penelope followed Penelope joined Penelope moved Penelope saw Penelope thought Penelope's pine tree Printmakers rainbow ribbon of air ribbon of rising rising air rock roost sang shoulder sleep smiled snuggled soaring Spirit of Air Spirit of Water Spotted Bat spread her arms thought Penelope tumbled turned Uncle Ed added veerrrlap Voice warm warmth waterfall wind wings wonderful Yosemite Falls zigzagged