Trial of the Star

Lucifer was alone when Beelzebub touched down on the tallest mountain, the peak closest to Heaven. Morning Star’s head was tipped back with blood and longing smeared on his face as he gazed at his old home.

“I am here.“ Beelzebub touched Lucifer’s arm. Sword and shield. They stood side by side — heaven above them, earth beneath, and braced themselves for the oncoming swarm of angels pouring out from a wound in the sky. Their Lord’s wrath, fury, and righteous punishment for their betrayal and pride.

Again, voice raised as he drew his sword, Beezlebub said reassuringly, “I’m here.“

By: Harana

Chang’e and the Elixir of Life

In the time that there were ten suns in the sky, night did not exist. The earth suffered from the heat.

Lord Archer Yi shot down nine suns.

Xiwangmu rewarded him with an elixir of immortality.

Yi gave the elixir to his wife Chang’e for safekeeping.

Yi’s apprentice Fengmeng cornered Chang’e and tried to steal the elixir.

Chang’e drank it to keep it safe.

Fengmeng told Yi that Chang’e wanted immortality for herself.

Yi turned Chang’e into a three-legged toad.

Embarrassed, Chang’e flew to Yueliang to live.

Yi learned the truth and left sweets in the moonlight as an apology.

By: Eden Cook

The Jade Rabbit

The Jade Emperor disguised himself as a beggar.

Monkey offered the beggar fruit.

Otter offered fish.

Jackal offered a lizard and a stolen pot of milk-curds.

Rabbit only had grass to offer.

Knowing that grass could not offer sustenance to the beggar, Rabbit threw himself on the beggar’s fire so the beggar could eat Rabbit’s meat.

Rabbit did not burn in the fire.

The Jade Emperor was so moved by Rabbit’s sacrifice, he granted Rabbit immortality and sent him to live on Yueliang.

Now known as Jade Rabbit, he lives with Chang’e, pounding herbs to make the elixir of immortality.

By: Eden Cook

Tecciztecatl

The world needed a great light.

A god said, “One of us should throw himself into the fire to create a light in the sky.”

Tecciztecatl was chosen, but he was afraid.

Nanahuatzin was chosen second. He showed great bravery. He went through the fire and became the sun.

Ashamed, Tecciztecatl leapt into the fire and became a second sun.

“Tecciztecatl has no right to shine as brightly as Nanahuatzin!” cried the gods.

One picked up a rabbit and flung it at Tecciztecatl, knocking the brightness off him.

To this day, the imprint from the rabbit can still be seen.

By: Eden Cook

Fox in the Moon

Fox and Mole were friends. Mole dreamed of eating worms. Fox dreamed of visiting Phaxsi.

Fox had an idea to hook a rope on the end of the crescent moon.

Fox told Mole there were worms on Phaxsi.

They asked Bear to climb the tallest tree to hook the rope onto Phaxsi. Bear couldn’t reach.

They asked Llama to climb the highest mountain. Llama couldn’t reach.

They asked Condor to fly to Phaxsi. Condor tied the rope.

They climbed.

Mole fell and landed deep in the earth.

Fox climbed to Phaxsi.

Fox can still be seen when Phaxsi is bright.

By: Eden Cook

Man in the Moon

A dialogue between a man and a sage:

“Being a blacksmith is hot work. I want to be a stone on the cool mountain.”

“Go be a stone.”

“OUCH! I’m being cut on! I want to be a stonecutter.”

“Be a stonecutter.”

“I’m sore! I want to be the sun.”

“Be the sun.”

“This is hotter than anything I was before. I want to be the moon.”

“Be the moon.”

“This is the hottest ever! The sun always shines on me. I want to be a blacksmith again.”

“Nope.”

And the man lives high in the heavens to this day.

By: Eden Cook

Fox and Raven Save Moon

Bear had stolen Moon!

Fox and Raven needed moonlight to hunt.

They went to visit Bear.

The three settled in for a visit.

Raven told stories. His stories went on and on; his voice got quieter and quieter; his voice began to drone.

ZZZZ. Bear fell asleep.

The friends searched for Moon.

Moon heard the friends and began to glow.

Fox grabbed Moon and hurled him toward the sky.

Bear awoke. “Come back! I don’t want you to shine!” yelled Bear.

“Fly away! Send us your light!” yelled Fox.

That is why some nights the moon shines; others, it hides.

By: Eden Cook

Rona-whakamau-tai, Guardian of Tides

Rona and her husband fought so much that Marama recognized their voices.

One night, as her husband slept, Rona left to fill water pitchers. A cloud blocked Marama’s light. Rona tripped on the root of a tree, dropping the pitchers.

Rona screamed and cursed Marama.

Marama reached to the earth and grabbed Rona, pitchers, and tree.

Rona railed against Marama.

Marama treated her with only kindness.

Rona calmed and they became friends. They fell in love.

Marama gave Rona a magic cloak.

Rona became controller of the tides.

When the moon is full, you can see Rona wearing her cape.

By: Eden Cook

Mahina

Hina was the best weaver in all of Hawaii. Her cloth was the softest kapa cloth made from the banyan tree.

She loved her work, but her family was lazy and refused to help her.

Hina climbed a rainbow to find rest.

She went to the sun. It was too hot.

She waited for night and climbed a rainbow to the moon.

She found rest and made her home there. She learned the dark regions of the moon are forests of banyan trees.

Now, she makes fine clothing for the gods.

The moon is called Mahina in her honor.

By: Eden Cook

Yhi and Bahloo

Yhi fell in love with Bahloo and approached him to establish a courtship. Bahloo refused.

Yhi pursued Bahloo. Bahloo ran and hid.

No matter where Bahloo hid, Yhi always found him.

Yhi called to the Spirits that lift up the Sky to catch hold of Bahloo so he couldn’t escape.

The Spirits didn’t comply, so Yhi cast them down. The Sky fell and covered the world in darkness.

The ancestors sent Clever Man to fight Yhi.

Now when Yhi tries to cast the Spirits from the Sky, Clever Man binds her in an eclipse so the Spirits can get away.

By: Eden Cook

Tears from the Moon

There was a boy; no one cared for him. Sadness built in him without relief. No tears existed on earth.

Alqamar spied the boy from the sky and came to his side. “Dear boy, I have brought you tears to ease your sadness. Let these tears fall on me, and you’ll be blessed when I take them into the sky.”

The boy sobbed on Alqamar.

When Alqamar returned to the sky, the villagers began to cry. Their relief turned to love and appreciation for the boy.

During full moon nights, you can see two tears spilled from Alqamar’s left eye.

By: Eden Cook

Twilight

Once upon a time there was a girl and boy.

The girl was bright and happy, always smiling. She glowed radiantly. She was called Sun.

The boy was quiet and calm. His company was always peaceful. He was called Moon.

Sun and Moon were friends for as long as they remembered.

One day, when Sun and Moon were playing, Sun fell and became injured. Even though Sun’s recovery was fast and painless, everybody remained worried. Sun was forbidden to play with Moon again.

Although the two never meet, they always follow each other to make sure their friend is okay.

By: Izzy Hua

Onwa

The people worshiped the silvery light that came from Onwa’s round, meaty body. Onwa would come down from the sky to visit the village; one woman was her favorite companion.

The woman lived alone at the edge of a village. Her meals were wild roots and berries.

A drought came, and all the wild vegetation shriveled.

Onwa offered bits of her rich meat to the woman. Onwa’s light faded as she fed the woman.

The villagers demanded the woman leave Onwa alone.

The woman disappeared, and now Onwa remains in the sky, waxing and waning in memory of her friend.

By: Eden Cook

Starstruck

Valentina. She had a name that hinted lover — with her Cupid’s arrow smile, a beauty that demanded hearts set at her altar. But she was a goddess of war, abandoning her offerings to neglect, to rot unattended in her disregard.

But like this, in layers of tulle and the warm pulse of too much wine, staining her lips, saturating her blood, the goddess’s armor was loose and liberated.

And Orion slipped into the cracks.

By: Harana

Pleiades and Pine

Seven boys constantly played a game of rolling stones instead of working in the cornfield like their mothers wanted. So one day the mothers gave them stones for dinner instead of corn, which angered the boys greatly.

The boys went to the townhouse and danced until they started to ascend to the sky. Fearing something was wrong, the mothers ran to them, but it was too late. They became the Pleiades.

Only one boy was caught, but he fell through the ground after landing on it hard. His mother cried over the spot until it grew into a pine tree.

By: Jaicee Dickerson

Drummer Man and Talking Drum

Look to the sky.

The light of our ancestors shines down upon us, illuminating Drummer Man and his partner, Talking Drum.

Our ancestors wait for us on the moon, entertained by the songs and stories of Drummer Man and Talking Drum.

When the moon is full, look for the spirit of Dummer Man and thank him for watching over our ancestors.

Then, lay your head on your pillow and listen to the quiet night: ba-DUM ba-DUM ba-DUM.

You can hear the drumming of Drummer Man and Talking Drum as they play for our ancestors.

By: Eden Cook