Fantasy and Imagination


When I read that today is National Unicorn Day, I knew I had to #GiveThanks for the gifts of fantasy and imagination, in homage to what is probably the most popular mythical creature of all time. Unicorns have been described in various forms since antiquity, with its distinguishing feature of a single pointed, usually spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. And in modern times, the image of a strong, beautiful white horse with magical powers has been adapted into a caricature beloved by little girls (see photo of my granddaughter). It's a symbol of wonder, fantasy, goodness, and happiness - sparkling and twinkling with all the joyful colors of the rainbow.
The beings in the world of myth and fantasy come in many forms - they include fairies and gnomes, wizards and witches, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy, dragons and werewolves, hobbits and trolls. They often have magical or super-human powers.
Some of the greatest writers have used fantasy as an allegorical teaching method - consider the power of C. S. Lewis' "Chronicles of Narnia."
Fantasy plays an important role in children's literature. It creates a vivid and captivating world that draws young readers in, and allows them to confront and learn about real-world issues of dealing with challenges, social issues, and relationships. It often presents choices between good and evil, truth and error that need to be reconciled.
Developing skills of imagination in our youth can develop skills that will benefit our lives, such as the ability to envision possibilities beyond the obvious. Albert Einstein is famous for his thought: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."
So we should be grateful today for unicorns and all they represent!

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