~ICE PRINCESS~

Once there was a princess who was a being composed of light and whose sustenance was her breath.

This particular princess dwelt in castle that was a fortress of calculated indifference surrounded by an icy plain inhabited by rage, carelessness, cruelty, indifference and neglect, which was all but devoid of the warmth of kindness. Whenever one of these ugly inhabitants approached the princess in her castle she became very still, and her breath grew very cold, and another of layer of frost would be added to her fortress. Eventually she became so still and cold that her heart beat slowed until it was nearly undetectable and she resembled a pillar of ice. But the princess was content because nothing whatsoever could reach her.

In a far land there lived a champion with excellent hearing, tuned to his inner being. Early one morning he was sitting quietly alone when he heard the faintest whisper. He listened more closely, his hearing attuning itself to the direction of the almost imperceptible sound of the princess taking breath. Curious the champion became even more intent concentrating his focus until he more felt then heard the dim beat of the princess ice encrusted heart.

The princess sitting alone in her castle sensed something deep with in, a warmth, the barest brush of breath blown on the ember of her heart, as though somehow she were no longer alone. She stirred, and a tiny tremor shook her heart, she quivered. Her heart beat a bit more strongly as though it were answering a summons that came from her deepest core. She gasped drawing in her breath in shock as the merest flicker of her hearts flame struck a rhythm in response and began to glow. Suddenly in one overwhelming wave of awe she felt washed in

~LOVE.~

She brightened, color came into her heart, its luminescence shining pink through the crystal blue transparency of the frigid block of ice she had become. The glow with in took on a deeper neon color and bloomed all at once, blossoming in unfurling petals of light. A dewy fragrance emanating           permeating her being, intoxicating her until she was dizzily giddy with it.

With out warning, hot tears sprang unbidden to her eyes, sizzling and splintering the glacier barrier of indifference hardened around her heart. Awakening, her pensive pent up passions spilled forth unchecked. Sobbing uncontrollably all her remorse welled up and poured out like a river of hot lava cracking and melting her icy reserve, until she sat sodden in a warm puddle of tears and melted ice.

She opened her eyes. The intensity of feeling had now dried the dampness and she felt the last traces of chill depart. A fresh coolness filled her breath, invigorating her. Looking about her, LOVE radiated outward touching what ever she happened to glance upon, transforming the ugly inhabitants of the barren plain into handmaids of kindness, caring, grace, beauty, and fulfillment.

The princess of light now dwelt in a citadel of pure LOVE refreshed with each breath she drew. Her champion though he remained embodied in a far and distant land reigned beside her seated on her hearts throne enjoined in the ecstatic bliss of listening to

beloved