THE LEGENDARY STORIES OF FIREBIRD

There are a few different stories of "The FIREBIRD". Most of them originate from Russia with the exceptions of it's twin, "The Phoenix" who's home varies from Asia, India and America. So I will tell you a few stories of "The FIREBIRD" and "The Phoenix" that I have found. More may progress later on so give me some time. I will start with why I am named FIREBIRD before telling the legend. So here are my stories.

I had two different dreams a few years back and I had these dreams more than once. 1) I dreamed that I was walking down the street one day. And I was looking up at the buildings only to see angels flying out of the windows of every building. I was so fascinated and drawn by them that I decided to fly with them. But instead of just growing wings on my back, I became a red bird. A red bird with a bright red aura like fire. Although I stood out from these angels, a glowing red aura instead of blue, but still, I was welcomed and considered to be a part of them.

2) This other dream I had was of me as a little red bird all caged up by those I trusted. Even my own relatives. I was sad. I couldn't sing or fly or even glow like fire. But later in that dream, I became so mad that I was on fire and broke out of my cage and flew away. I was able to sing, fly and just be me again. After having these two dreams, I gave myself the name FIREBIRD. I figured that this is who I was spiritually. So I named myself spirtually, after a favorite story and music piece of Igor Stravinsky's FIREBIRD Suite.

Once upon a time, the Czar's son, Prince Ivan, goes out hunting in the woods. That night he encounters a fabulous bird with plumage of fire, plucking golden fruit from a silver tree. Prince Ivan attempts to capture the FIREBIRD and he does so successfully. As the FIREBIRD struggles to escape, she makes a deal with Prince Ivan. In exchange for her freedom, she gives Ivan a magic feather. This magic feather will sheild Ivan of the evil magician and in doing so, the FIREBIRD will appear to Ivan's aid. Ivan accepts this offer and releases the FIREBIRD.

Later that night, Ivan finds himself alone in the courtyard of an enchanted castle. Ivan beholds 12 maidens and A Princess dancing and playing with golden apples. Ivan sees the girls playing and immediately falls in love with the princess. But the princess and the maidens tell Ivan that they are prisoners of the wicked magician Kastchei. They warn Ivan of the magician Kastchei, who's sport it is to turn unwary travelers to stone. Ivan nevertheless enters the castle ready to face Kastchei.

As Ivan enters the castle, he is greeted by the grotesque subjects of the ogre. And finally when he reaches Kastchei, he is at last threatened by him. So Ivan waves the FIREBIRD'S magic feather and it sheilds him from his evil magic. The FIREBIRD suddenly appears to Ivan's aid and drives the magician Kastchei and his creatures into a mad dance that leaves them exhausted. In the end, Ivan finds the source of Kastchei powers which is held in a golden egg. So Ivan breaks the egg destroying all of Kastchei and his powers. Kastchei's victims were released from their spell of stone and the princess and her maidens were set free. Ivan thanks the FIREBIRD and she flies away to be free again. And then Ivan wins the heart of his princess and marries her. The End!

Prince Ivan has been ordered by his father, The Tsar, to catch the FIREBIRD who has been stealing apples from his favorite tree. One dark night, as Ivan waits to catch the FIREBIRD in his garden, he hears her fly in - "...her eyes sparkle like huge crystals, her wings of golden flame". She perches on the tree and begins to pick apples.

Ivan steals up to her softly and he tries to catch her. Although he cannot hold her, he is able to sieze her tail and, as the FIREBIRD tears away from his grasp, one luminous feather remains in his hand.

When he gives the feather to his father in his chamber, the entire room glows as though lit by thousands of candles.

The FIREBIRD never returns to the garden, but the Tsar is obsessed with the idea that he has to have her in his palace. he orders Ivan to bring the FIREBIRD to him, even if it must mean that he must travel to the ends of the earth to do this.

The remainder of the story tells of Ivan's journey to far off lands where he finds the fair Elena and captures the FIREBIRD.

With the help of the mysterious Gray Wolf, he is able to overcome enourmous difficlties and return to his own kingdom to live happily with his beloved.