Shirin Krimsky
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An Introduction
Where did the stars come from?
"They're fireflies. Fireflies that got stuck on that big bluish black thing."
"Gee. I always thought they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away."
"Well, somebody once told me that the great kings of the past are up there, watching over us."
Everyone has their own idea of where the stars came from. And that is exactly what my storybook is about.
The explanations above are quotes from (in order) Timon, Pumba, and Simba, from Disney's "The Lion King".
Timon, Pumba, and Simba are very much the animal incarnates of my brother, sister, and I. We grew up in a small town, in a small house, with a small backyard, and huge expectations. In our sheltered little town, it was much like Pleasantville. No one acknowledged much of the world outside the city limits, and without prompting questions we hardly got answers. Our parents are well educated in many fields, including both astrology and astronomy. And despite their knowledge of the world above, we were kids, and truly not as concerned with the scientific explanation for the glowing wonders.
Children, like women, are fascinated by really big sparkling diamond-like figures. The sky was full of them, and I wanted one! The bigger and more sparkly the figure, the better! As far away as they were, the stars were almost as unattainable as a Super Bowl trophy for the Philadelphia Eagles.
I'm not entirely sure why I wanted to reach the stars so badly.
Maybe I thought if I could grasp hold of one, I could do whatever I wanted with it.
As a child I was often reminded: "You can't change the stars kid."
I, like many inquisitive kids, thought: Well, if that's the case someone had better explain why.
My mom bought my siblings and me a star charts book which showed all the constellations, when they appear, and how to locate them in the sky. I was fascinated by this glow-in-the-dark marvel.
Still, I was always a little disappointed that no one could explain why I couldn't change the stars.
Who put them there in the first place? And why?
This storybook includes the Greek versions of two different constellation symbols, in an attempt to explain the world above and beyond.
This storybook is my invitation,
to those who've always wondered about the stories behind the constellations,
to join me in reaching for the stars.
I researched various websites while writing this storybook. One I came by may be of interest to anyone who wants to know more about the astrological signs. You can view this site by clicking here.
Some of the characters mentioned in the story of Gemini are mythological Greek figures. Leda is Castor and Pollux's mother. Zeus is their alleged father. Idas and Lynceus were their cousins. Helen of Troy was their sister, and Jason was a friend and commander of the Argonauts.
There are not as many famous myth names mentioned in the story of Capricorn. As each is introduced a description of who they are is included. For more information on each character, you can click here.
This storybook was about fulfilling my desire to resolve those unanswered questions about why I couldn't rearrange the stars. I realize now that I cannot CHANGE the stars. It took an anthropology assignment to make me realize, but I now understand why no one else could tell me the answers: It's about creating them yourself. It is up to each individual to personally understand why the stars are there and what they mean to you. I retold the Greek renditions of these stories to give you an insight to their beliefs. However, feel free to gaze at the stars and invent your own.
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Constellation 1: Gemini
The story of Castor and Pollux; their trials, tribulations, and ultimate fate.
Constellation 2: Capricorn
The enticing tale of an ego that supersedes a God's abilities. Pan, the ultimate
womanizer of the Gods learns a lesson or two in wooing women.
Image Info: Lion King