Come and sit with me if you are able

And I’ll tell you the tale of Flame and Fable

The crone opens a book as you sit by the fire

As Hyggie reads the title, the flames grow higher

This grimoire is old, even older than me

It will grant your wishes for a small fee

A sketch of a candle with a spiral inside

She snaps bony fingers, and its twin comes alive

Hyggie cackles as the candle flickers and glints 

It is enchanted from within; no need for a flint

The story begins in a cottage hidden from view

Where magic surprises and the old becomes new

A tale of two kingdoms, one light and one dark

Where glimmer meets shadow, and old magic sparks

The sun gives chase to the moon above

But it cannot be caught, not without love

A warm hand extended can invoke the breeze 

To meet in the middle with balance and ease

The shadow will soften and remember its name

Inspired by the candor of Fable and Flame

The Kingdoms exist within your heart

Where two flames unite, never to part

By embracing who you are in all of your forms

Past, present, and future merge; undoing forlorn 

No force can come between you and yourself

For you are the gold, the wishes, and wealth

A spell cometh true because you will it be so

Sometimes all you need is a push for seeds to grow

The flame carries truth from the glow of your soul

While fable reveals fiction that you are not whole

You carry memory and story and wisdom that's true

In the darkest of places, may these words find you

As above, so below

May shadow meet light

By weaving these threads

Within I unite

The crone settles in, taking sips of her tea

Offering you a cup filled with sovereignty

Hyggie lives in the space of the in-between

Where the wild ferns grow and magic gleams

At the edge of the woodlands, a doorway stands

With a woven archway to the borderlands

Her cottage in the forest exists in a liminal space

Where moments stand still, and memories chase

The crone meets you with a glint in her eye

For she knows only truth and has a cure for the lie

“Come in, come in, stop in for a spell

The tea is hot, and I have stories to tell”

She welcomes you with warmth and a steady hand

Offering you presence and the gift of her land

“What I give to the land, it gives back to me

We provide for each other, an exchange that is free”

Hyggie offers you seeds, teaching you how to sow

“A garden well-tended will flourish and grow”

She observes, she waits, patience lines her skin

Watching the winds shift, truth felt from within

Allowing the words to flow right from her heart

Thunder rolls and it claps, and the false falls apart

“There, now you see?” An owl lands on her shoulder

“Time works with you, dear; You are the beholder

It exists in your realm, but the rush is of the mind

You are right where you should be, not falling behind

Intend to stand still, it works like a charm

I have just the thing,” she says, taking your arm

“Here you can see, I’ve got quite the collection

Of candles woven with enchanted reflections”

Books, potions, and jars line the wide mantle

Scrolls, parchments, and herbs, with many spell candles

“Here, my dear, warm your bones by the fire

I’ll whip up a spell that’s sure to inspire”

A cozy, warm chair invites you in

Snuggle in for a rest, allow stillness to win

Hyggie opens her desk, and a tiny mouse climbs out

Hopping up on her shoulder, her assistant, no doubt

Fur brushes your skin, a red fox takes rest at your feet

You begin to wonder curiously who else you might meet

The crone places the cauldron atop the embers below

Stirring it gently, hands guiding with light all aglow

You watch as she steadily pours in the mixture

To a jar that is waiting to contain the elixir

Hours pass within moments, or maybe not at all

You begin to drift gently, breath rises and falls

She offers you a scroll, an incantation written inside

“To reveal what is hidden, a truth for a lie

Light the wick, watch it flicker; the flame reveals all

Read these words; soul remembers, it waits for your call”

I am worthy to receive every moment of time

I call back what I am owed; the present is mine

As you find stillness, she offers you a mug

A warm blend of patience, perseverance, wisdom, and love

The Maiden wandered off to seek her other half

He went into the woods, and he did not come back

She followed, leaving breadcrumbs, to find her way back home

Hoping to find her path again, for she was traveling alone

The cold winds whistled, sharply nipping at her nose…

Journeying deeper into the forest, into the unknown

He left early in the morning, leaving wreckage in his wake

She couldn’t dance without him; this must be a mistake

Fear spiraled in her belly, coiling, wrapping very tight

What if I cannot find him? I hope he is alright

Determination rose, and she ventured even deeper

She came across a cottage, where inside lived a weaver

Hyggie sat plucking threads, wrapping ends around her fingers

The crone smirked coyly as the maiden stood and lingered

“Have you something to ask, dearie? I haven’t got all day”

She replied, “I’ve lost someone close to me- did he come across this way?”

The crone said, “Come and gone, just as quickly as he arrived

I can help, but for a cost,” and she welcomed her inside

Trinkets, herbs, and bobbins decorated the shelves

Crystal balls, magic wands, and tarnished silver bells

The weaver began rummaging, clanking items on the mantle…

Removing what appeared to be a rather simple candle

She set it on the table and said, “Here, read this incantation”

The maiden retrieved the scroll, accepting her invitation

Ha-lo, ha-lay, ha-morah

My love, I call to thee

Exchanging what was traded

My heart is now set free

The crone nodded in approval, and she handed her a match

Striking it against rough granite, her power to dispatch

The maiden felt off balance, and she held tight to a chair

“I don’t wish to pursue him any longer- I think I need some air”

Legs a little shaky, as she headed for the door

Emerging a new woman, different than before

Not wanting his attention or his company to dance

Inhaling fresh perspective, exhaling faulty circumstance

She turned to face the crone, “What debt do I owe thee?”

She shook her head and cackled, “You have paid it, sweet dearie”

The price was the illusion that you were half and not a whole

You gave it freely and released it- May your heart be ever-full

Wildfires swept through the dry landscape

Pine needles turned to embers in its wake

The lad jumped from the treehouse in an attempt to flee

Running towards the meadow to swiftly warn the Sidhe

Its grasses swayed intrinsically, lost in flowing dance

Redcap mushrooms lit the way, encircled the entrance

Through the hollows and with the wind, he ran with all his might

He hoped to warn them of the danger and the fire on this night

He arrived with a whoosh, bending over to slow his breathing

But instead of finding the woodland fae, sat a Crone a’weaving

“But the folk were just here… I saw them yesterday

I came here to warn them of a fire on the way”

She clucked, “You won’t find them here; they have already gone

They could hear the whispers on the wind and decided to move on”

Patting the chair next to her, “Here, come and join me, instead

I have some tricks tucked up my sleeve that I’m happy to lend”

His jaw dropped, and he gestured, pointing to the forest

“But the fire, it is coming and it is heading right for us”

Arching a brow, she stood, stepping inside the door

“The land is protected from fire, using magic to be sure”

He shook his head and followed her into the warm, lit cottage

She picked up a weathered scroll and shared with him this knowledge

“Use these words; they will root you, planting you where you stand

Helping you to breathe easy and bring healing to your land”

Sa-lo, Sa-lay, Sa-mir, Sa-linn

Ancient cloves, herbs, and cinnamon

Please bless my lands in four directions

For nourished grounds and divine protection

The Crone patted his shoulder, handing him a candle

“Light it when you are weary and the weight too much to handle”

He thanked her, and she sent him on his way

Discovered his home intact, much to his dismay

When he took a step forward, his foot caught on a root

He looked down at the ground, where lush green was kept from soot

A ring of redcap mushrooms wrapped around his tree

Grounded, safe, and firmly rooted, the lad would always be

The lass went foraging, picking berries from the branches

The bluebirds and the squirrels exchanged pointed glances

If she plucked any faster, she would run out of steam

Rest and slowing down would help her energy to beam

Sitting down in the brush against an oak so tall

Not able to stay awake, she slowed down to a crawl

Drifting off gently, the breeze sang her right to sleep

Colors danced behind her eyes, her breath became deep

Dreams depicted memories, lifetimes of old

Cycles needed stillness for movement to unfold

Elementals whispered in her ears gently, cooing while she slept

Telling secrets in hushed giggles while an ancient stag crept

He lay down next to her, enormous antlers nestled in the ivy

While an old crone watched them afar, smiling oh-so kindly

She wove magic into a candle, enchanting it with sunlight

Writing an inscription on a scroll to revitalize her sight

The lass stirred and awakened, twigs and leaves tangled in her hair

Next to her was a basket full of goodies, packed with love and care

She wondered who could have left it; such a thoughtful surprise

She stood, scanning the forest, and the crone met her eyes

She viewed the position of the sun and began to panic

“I haven’t picked enough for dinner- my mother will be frantic”

“Oh, come now, there is plenty more time to forage if it’s needed

Check inside the basket. I brought you food- you seemed depleted.”

She could smell fresh bread and stew coming from inside it

Pulling out a candle and a scroll, the Crone said, “Recite it”

Be gone all drains, be gone all stress

With these words, I now bless

Energy return, depletion depart

Revitalize, replenish, and ease will start

The Crone chimed, “Exerting so much energy and spending time on worries

Planning and taking time for self-care may slow down all this hurry

Say those words in the morning before you ignite the wick

Take three deep breaths, filling your lungs, and your energy will stick

There will be days you don’t want to move or even get up from your bed

Running on empty will only make it more challenging, creating internal dread

With gentleness and kindness to self, from the inside out, you’ll nourish

By living lightly and savoring every berry picked, creativity will flourish”

She journeyed to a land that space and time forgot

Not a compass or a map, or much planning or a plot

Arriving at a labyrinth that kept her secrets buried

Surrendering illusion and confusing thoughts she carried

This will take forever to find my way, came foggy thoughts

Unsure where I’m going, which seems more often than it’s not 

Resistance crept and filled her mind with unclear doubt

Heart gave motivation to stick to and then appeared her route

One step forward was all she needed

To find it was easier than once preceded

Taking a sharp turn towards the North

Continuing the journey that soul set forth

She rushed through rows of greenery

Never stopping to enjoy the scenery

Tired from her walk to the center of the maze

She sat down by a fountain reflecting sunlit rays

A crone appeared in the threshold, walking through the trees

Hyggie offered enchanted candles, ancient scrolls, and magic teas

“Would you like to make a wish?” The old woman offered her a scroll

The maiden fished inside her pockets, offering payment for the toll

Hyggie shook her head and said, “No, it does not work that way

To fulfill the wish deep in your heart, there is no price to pay

Close your eyes, make a wish, and toss your coin into the water" 

She shut them tight and tossed the coin in hopes her dream would prosper

Unrolling the aged parchment, she squinted at the words

Speaking in an ancient tongue that she had never heard

Amarrow- day, amarrow- dawn

This mental battle, I have won

All the hardship and delay

Will depart and will not stay

The crone nodded once and handed her a candle

“Light it before a task, and leave it on your mantle

You will find your way out of this maze more quickly than you entered

The work will become the play, and the weight will be surrendered”

The clock struck midnight, and she ran for cover

Looking for a shoe made of glass, not of old rubber

The maiden couldn’t hide for long; this much she knew

The magic bean she planted in the ground drastically grew

A throne of old stone waited for her to take a seat

Tasks piled up that she could not complete

She crept from the floor, face etched with worry

Jumping up on bare feet, unhinged with scurry

A peculiar beginning for this tale

A weary maiden, meek and frail

It would not end with a rush, for this was planned

It would steady in pace and slow to a stand

For once, she stood still, the crone would appear

A wand in her hand, pumpkin coach drawing near

She stood waiting impatiently, as still as she could muster

Staring into the distance, the palace losing its luster

Suddenly, the Crone emerged from out of the thicket

Leaning onto her walking staff and holding a cricket

His chirps erupted in symphony, stars lined in the sky

Fireflies danced and formed circles; she heard the crone sigh

“About time you slowed down; I couldn’t reach you at all

I had a gift to offer you before you went to the ball”

The maiden stared down at the ground; a lump formed in her throat

“But I am out of time,”  she whispered, “and now out of hope”

 The Crone wiped tears from the maiden, reaching into her satchel

Retrieving a candle, a scroll, and a juicy red apple

“Ha, wrong story,” said she, tucking the apple away

Unraveling parchment, instructing maiden to say…

Align the stars, alight the flame

I call back time that is mine to claim

I release all worry, frenzy, and chaos from me

I am present, peaceful, fulfilled, and free

With a sharp snap, a flame drew from the crone’s finger

The maiden lit the candle, wondering what time would bring her

Standing in stillness, embracing the cool spring breeze

Magic buzzed in the air, sweeping through the leaves

“We cannot control time; it is not ours to tame

We can create magic within it, our desires to claim

Search deep, aim high, and hold true to your dreams

Sometimes the impossible is tangible and closer than it seems”