Creatures of the Joy Realm Part 1

Lantern Owl

There is a secret magic that lies in plain sight, but that we rarely see. Two worlds exist side by side. The one we know, the waking world, goes about its business on a daily and nightly basis, but the other world, the Joy Realm, is easily missed.

In that quiet otherworld live the keepers of wonder – small creatures who steward the forests, rivers, and meadows of the realm where imagination is more important than clean dishes, tidied counters, or swept floors.

Sometimes, when the need presents itself, these creatures travel to the waking world.

Lantern Owl is one such creature. She carries with her a small lantern that glows with gentle golden light, and she only flies when the world grows quiet.

Her lantern is her greatest treasure, but she did not always carry it. When she was young, she was flying through the forest on the darkest night she had ever seen. As she flew, roaming the forests she called home, she was surprised to see a warm glow.

She flew to a hollow tree to see where the light was coming from, and there she found it. A tiny lantern that glowed softly, like it held a captured firefly.

When the owl lifted the lantern in her claws, the forest changed. Though still dark, the darkness softened, and the cold tinge of night warmed.

Suddenly, the lantern’s light began growing brighter, and the owl wondered why. The lantern pulled slightly toward the north, and the owl let it guide her.

It took her straight into a waking world, to a woman – a mother – slumped in a cushioned armchair, her head resting in her hand. Immediately, the owl saw that this mother needed to be reminded that though rest might feel unimportant, it was actually what she needed to do in that moment.

Not the dishes, not pick up toys, not another load of laundry.

Rest.

As she perched just outside the mother’s window, the owl closed her eyes and let the glow of the lantern work its magic, softening the weight of duty in the mother until she unwound, made a cup of tea, and relaxed into the chair.

Thus, a small barn owl from the Joy Realm became Lantern Owl, guardian of rest.

Lantern Owl is seldom seen, except sometimes by tired mothers at the end of the day, and even more rarely by children.

On those nights after long days, when the house grows quiet, Lantern Owl waits nearby to remind mothers to rest.

Her lantern is small, but sometimes a small light is enough.