ADVENTURES IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST (PART NINE)
 

 

 

 

Page of Cups


 

 

 

 

   One day the Knight of Cups rode his horse near the ocean. He was lonely, and since he was a troll from another planet, he realized that he might never have a loving connection with another person. He loved his horse, of course, and they were friends, but he longed for something more. He was at the age now where back on his own planet, he would get married and have a family, but he began to despair that he would never find a person on this planet who would care about him.
  Soon the troll came upon a young woman staring into a golden cup at a fish who seemed to be communicating with her. Even though the troll looked extremely old to humans, he would actually be considered about her age on his own planet. Since he was a knight of cups and she was a page of cups, the troll decided to strike up a conversation with her. "Hello, good page!" the troll blurted out. "How are you today?"
  "I am fine, thank you," the page responded. "I am just having a conversation with my friend, who is telling me many interesting things."
  "What sorts of interesting things?" the troll replied. "If you don't mind me asking."
  "Right now," the page responded, "the fish is telling me that you are a knight who is famous for many astounding feats of strength and bravery. He is also telling me that you are an alien who has grown lonely because you cannot find a connection with another being the way that you would on your own planet. Unfortunately, when you are not wearing your armor, you appear extremely old and hideously ugly to humans and other creatures. Sorry if my friend's candor offends you."
  Crestfallen, the troll replied, "No problem, really. We all have to face facts, don't we? Have a great day!" the troll exclaimed as he rode off.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Troll in the Castle Garden


 

 

 

 

   When the troll got back to the castle, he went to the garden to release his sadness and his sense of disappointment. Oddly, the flowers in the garden clung to his armor as if he were a flower magnet. "It's like these flowers love me. How could that be? No doubt, it's because they cannot see me," he sighed.

 

 

 

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Faery in Owl's Clover


 

 

 

 

   The troll decided to take a walk in the hills to release his negative feelings. Suddenly he encountered a faery sitting in owl's clover flowers--which clung to his armor like the flowers in the castle garden. The faery gazed at him fondly. "Each faery is the oversoul of a whole species. She is not a troll or a human. How could she truly love me?" the troll asked himself as he waved at the faery and continued on his away.

 

 

 

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Moon Goddess


 

 

 

   It grew dark, but the troll still hadn't released his sadness. A full moon rose above the hills. Suddenly, the Moon Goddess appeared before him on the path. The Goddess opened her arms as if to embrace him. "How could a Moon Goddess love me? Her frequency is so much higher than mine that I feel like an amoeba in comparison," the troll sighed as the Goddess dissolved in the moonlight.

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Exploring the Realm in Spring

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   The troll decided to explore the hills in springtime. Oddly, despite his sadness, he felt ravished by the beauty of the flowers as well as a sense of unity underlying all of creation. "Perhaps this is all I can hope for in this world," he thought to himself, which only made him sadder.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pink Faery Lanterns and Wood Stars


 

 

 

 

   Even stranger, the troll encountered pink faery lanterns in the shape of a human heart. "Is the universe mocking me?" he wondered out loud.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Meeting Mr. Mellifluous in the Enchanted Forest


 

 

 

 

   The troll decided to explore the enchanted forest. Eventually he became tired and decided to rest under a tree for a while. Just as he was about to fall asleep, Mr. Mellifluous touched his arm, "Good to see you, friend. What brings you to the enchanted forest?"
  The troll responded sleepily, "Mr. M, so good to see you again! I have to be honest with you. As a knight, I have gained respect throughout the realm, but I am experiencing a lingering sadness."
  "What is the source of your sadness, my friend?" Mr. M inquired.

 

 

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Dance of Abundance: Three of Cups (Mercury in Cancer)


 

 

 

 

   "Well, I think it's because I will never be human. I saw some lovely women dancing not long ago, and I knew that they would never like me because I look extremely old and hideously ugly when I am not wearing my armor. I will always just be a strange, ugly alien to them and everyone else," the troll replied.
  Mr. M pondered for a moment. "There are many ways that we can seem strange to each other. We can seem strange because we have spiritual beliefs different from other people. We can seem strange because we have different opinions. We can seem strange because we have unusual abilities," Mr. M replied. "Don't fret. Sooner or later we find peace."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Troll without Armor


 

 

 

 

   "But, really, you should see me without my armor on," the troll complained. "I'm surprised that somebody hasn't arrested me or killed me just for being a freak."
  "But people respect you for your great strength and skill as a knight. Believe me," Mr. M responded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Slaying Breakers into Pieces


 

 

 

 

   "I have slain many evil, terrifying creatures. That is true," the troll responded. "Recently, for instance, I vanquished the Breakers into Pieces."
  "How did you feel after you vanquished them?" Mr. M asked.
  "I felt triumphant, but strangely I also felt a great sense of peace," the troll replied.
  "Hmmm," Mr. M grunted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Slaying the Burners


 

 

 

 

   "I have also vanquished the Burners, that horrible fiery demon on his terrible horse, which only lived to burn everything to the ground," the troll boasted.
  "How did you feel after you vanquished them?" Mr. M again inquired.
  "Again I felt feelings of triumph and peace," the troll replied.
  "I think I am beginning to understand," Mr. M mumbled. "Please, continue."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Slaying a Dragon


 

 

 

 

   "I have also slain a huge dragon. I am ten times faster than other creatures--a perk of being an alien," the troll responded.
  "I think I get it now," Mr. M replied. "You are gifted with the ability to neutralize dark forces. You not only vanquish dark forces outside of you--you also vanquish the dark forces inside of you. No doubt that is why you feel peace after your victories."
  "Yes, maybe so, but that doesn't get rid of my sadness," the troll softly lamented.
  "I recommend that you talk with the Queen of Wands. She is nearby. She will help you," Mr. M advised.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Queen of Wands


 

 

 

 

   The troll introduced himself to the Queen of Wands and explained his problem to her. "You are a great knight," the Queen responded. "Let me ask you a question. Do you sometimes feel one with the flowers and the other creatures of the earth?"
  "Yes, my Queen," the troll admitted.
  "Do you think you can feel one with people?" the Queen inquired.
  The troll pondered for a moment. "Yes, I know that it is possible, your Majesty," the troll confessed.
  "Then you know that it is not how we appear to others but who we are inside," the Queen responded. "I grant you, many people cannot see beyond appearances or differences, but some people with spiritual insight can see who you really are--even if you might seem strange to them at first."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Ithuriel's Spears in Fiesta Flowers


 

 

 

 

   The Queen continued, "Imagine that you are an unusually stunning flower in the midst of other flowers that are all the same as each other," the Queen suggested.
  "Yes, your Majesty," the troll replied as he imagined the flowers mixing together.
  "You are an unusual being among many human beings," the Queen explained. "I believe that another being will see who you really are at the right time--until then know that you are one with all other creatures of this earth, including human beings--even though humans can be extremely difficult at times. Know that you are already complete. You don't need anyone else to complete you. That by itself might be enough to bring peace to you eventually. But it is good to find someone else who is also a complete person to be with you as an equal companion."
  "Yes, your Majesty. I will follow your wise advice. Thank you," the troll smiled as he bowed.

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All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2025 by Jim Robbins.