unhatched princes – sewn and photographed by Leanne French
Photo credit and thanks to Nisha Ravji Photography and Models Sabina Vixen and Candy Thorne.
Snow White and Rose Red is a Brother’s Grimm fairytale about two sisters who shared a close and loving friendship with each other, where ‘No evil ever befell them.’
Their widowed mother taught them ‘What one has, she must share with another,’ so they effortlessly obeyed and shared whatever they had. This fostered the type of generosity and kindness that enabled them to offer shelter to a half-frozen bear who knocked on their door in the middle of winter, asking to be warmed. He became a trusted family friend, and when he left in the spring, they were sad. On their many adventures they encountered Continue reading
Thanks and credit to photographer Nisha Ravji and her beautiful model Candy Thorne.
Mirrors allow people to see themselves, and can represent the way others see us.
Whatever answer we imagine, to the question “Who is the fairest of them all?” is really just the voice of judgment that rules every woman’s self-evaluation.
It’s clearly a mistake to rely on magic mirrors that believe we must rely on physical beauty alone. To measure how good we feel by asking society “Am I beautiful or not” is asking for trouble in the self-worth department. For some women, being caught in an obsessive pursuit for extreme beauty can actually have deathly Continue reading
A love cake for The Wolf
Something that I like to do on Valentines Day is to create a theme and an atmosphere that sets the day apart from any other day. I am not sure why some people think that celebrating the love you have for each other has to be commercial, flashy or expensive when cake and a really fun conversation can create delightfully happy memories.
This year I’m going for a fairytale theme and here are my questions: Continue reading
How often are we like a Sleeping Beauty, sleepwalking through our days, our duties, our work and relationships, our lives? Put your hand up if you fall victim to dulling yourself, if you fail to notice the lush interesting activities that surround you, or if you forget to enjoy the spiky flora and fauna or admire the chirping birdsong that fills the air.
The first protea I ever grew. Photo by Leanne French
Reawaken.
Seek nature, moonlight and Continue reading
The world is and always has been, filled with good and evil. It is what it is. It’s a kind of wilderness that we need to learn to survive in. We have to find our own way through and manage ourselves down at the waterhole, staying alert to and seeking shelter from giants, angry dwarves, wolves and many bad apples along the way. Even if we don’t bump into trouble personally, disaster, violence, cruelty and horror has a way of bursting into our lives and living rooms, into our newspapers, onto our television screens and into our neighbourhoods more often than any of us would like.
Credit to: Artist Evan Heasman (Soju Shots) This is one of his deliciously dark artworks.
We live in a time where it’s getting harder to screen things out. Over exposure to excessive darkness and real life horror stories (even though they a reality) can cause us to Continue reading
With Christmas nearly upon us, I am mindful that extra stress, added pressures and a lot of time spent in each others company (often in confined quarters), can sometimes turn those already struggling to restrain their snappy selves, into snarling Big Bad Wolves.
Incredible art from Soju Shots
Here’s my wisdom for you wrapped up in a big red bow: If we continue to concentrate on the things that other people do to annoy, irritate or aggravate us, and if we highlight and chew over it long enough, it magnifies a problem and leads to more Continue reading
For exactly half of my life now, I have devoted a lot of time working with individuals and couples, transforming difficult problems in imaginative ways, so I am a great believer in seeking creative solutions in times of stuckness. Looking outside of yourself and your relationship, sooner rather than later, for someone who uses their magic to coach, advise, counsel and support you, can be the difference between loving forever after and broken dreams.
A fairy & me at my fairy party when I turned 35 – photo by Hayley French
In Fairytales, a Fairy Godmother is a fairy with magical powers that is in charge of mentoring. She is someone who takes a particular interest in the upbringing and personal development of a select group of people that come under her umbrella of care. Times have changed so much. People don’t have or don’t make the time to be really present in that kind of way for others anymore. Our society hollers ‘Stay busy!’ ‘Distraction is good!’ ‘Disconnection is even better! ‘Drink this and all will be well,’ none of which create the space to be Godparent like towards Continue reading
Tower time. An excerpt from my book.
Physical and emotional solitude is splendidly beneficial for the renewal and healing of our minds, hearts and souls. Towers are symbolic places to go to set things right. When we position ourselves aside from dastardly distractions and duties, we reconnect with our essence and helpful, creative ideas bubble up from the serenity and remind us how to re-engage sumptuously with life.
Rapunzel
Take the opportunity freely, rather than have some evil witch throw you in a locked turret, imprisoning you, forcing you to spend time alone.
Silence clears away the rubble, the critic, the negativity and the crushing pressure of an overloaded life. What you do with the peace and serenity is up to you. You could simply Continue reading
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Leanne French Relationship Expert & Counsellor 