George, the Black Giant and the Virgin
(Dying and Rising)

Many years have passed. George has grown old, his cheeks are furrowed, his hair is grey. Finally, one evening, he sees the golden castle in the rosy clouds. He is about to follow the silver path and find the maiden, when a black giant rises up in front of him with a huge fist and blocks his way.

Back to:
The White Horse
Go here:
The Knight and the Maiden - full fairytale text
The Dragonslayer and the Maiden (introduction)

George and the Black Giant: Death (6)

The castle appears

Many long years followed. Knight George's cheeks became furrowed, his hair turned grey, he had lived through many hardships and hard battles. But he had never stopped longing for Rosenburg.

And then, one evening, he saw the golden castle in the rosy clouds. With loose reins, he let his horse sprint ahead. The shimmering silver path leading up through the clouds to the castle already appeared before him.

The black giant

There a giant with flaming eyes and a huge fist, big enough to crush horse and rider, rose up before him. But the hero was not afraid, but steered his horse straight towards the giant. The horse reared up on its hind legs and put its ears back in a belligerent manner. The moment the hero reached for his sword, the giant disappeared.

Now he rode straight to the castle.

George and the Virgin in the Castle: Resurrection to Life (7)

George and the Virgin

The virgin with the starry eyes was waiting for him:
- You have overcome all obstacles - and found me!
The hero heaved a deep sigh and answered:
- But why did it take so long? Now I am old and grey...

Wholeness and eternal life

She smiled and held out a silver mirror to him. And behold: He was young and beautiful again.
Hand in hand they went into the castle.

Overcoming death

The path to wholeness

The hero has achieved wholeness and successfully completed his hero's journey.
For an overview, see this illustration (on the left, wholeness; on the right, the hero's path):

George, the black giant and the virgin (the story told differently)

George and the Black Giant (Dying)

After the grief of Debbie's death, I slowly started to get used to being alone. There was a lot to do, many places where I could be involved. This helped me to leave the past behind and move on.

The castle appears

Then one day I received a message. It was from Camilla, the girl I had adored at school. I couldn't believe it! My heart immediately beat faster.

Camilla let me know she was in the country and asked if we could meet. I happily agreed.

We had arranged to meet in a restaurant.
Although I hadn't seen her for decades, I recognised her immediately. Certainly, she had grown so many years older. But she still had that strong charisma. Yes, I even felt that her radiance had increased.

She told me that she had been living nearby again for several years. She had returned after her husband left her for his much younger co-worker.

The black giant

I smiled in understanding.
Then I told her about Debbie and ended by telling her about her illness and her departure. Camilla listened long and patiently. At last she said:

- Yes, I know.
When I looked at her in amazement, she said:
- I had tracked you down before and then followed your life a bit. She smiled broadly at me.
- Oh ... really? Now I was really surprised.
- Yes. But when I found out you were married, something inside me said it wasn't time to make contact yet.
With raised eyebrows, I looked questioningly at Camilla.
- Something inside me told me she needed you now, needed you completely, she said.

She paused, then continued:
- For a long time I carried the matter in my heart ... and I understood ... that ...
She did not speak further, but her gaze wandered into the distance.

I waited a while and finally asked:
- That what ... ????
It seemed as if my question brought her attention back to me.
She looked me straight in the face and her eyes shone like stars. Very softly she said:
- It was ... it was like this: It was clear: First you had to save her ... You had to save Debbie. That's how it was. I know it.

George and the Virgin: Resurrection

George and the Virgin in the Castle

There was warmth and love in her expression and her eyes shone even brighter than before. 

I swallowed. Tears filled my eyes and my chest quivered as I thought of Debbie.

Camilla remained silent, continued to look at me attentively and nodded. She smiled warmly and put her hand on mine.
- Yes ..., she said thoughtfully and confirmingly. Then she fell silent again.
After a while she added softly:
- Now I am here ... - And I am looking forward to the years ahead.

Wholeness and outlook on eternal life

I had learned to be happy alone. Nevertheless, the years I was still able to spend with Camilla are a special gift for me.
Now I feel: the time is approaching.
I look back on a rich life and am grateful for everything I was allowed to experience. I am especially grateful for those people who shared a part of my journey with me: for Debbie - and that I now know she is in good hands ... - and also for Camilla.

We have grown old together. I feel that my physical strength is diminishing.
But our love renews itself every day and becomes stronger and stronger, it seems to me.
When it is time, I will, we will cross over into the other dimension.
I am not afraid.
I rejoice.

The interpretations that have led to this modern story:

The black giant, symbolising death, appears as the hero is once again challenged to confront his weakness and injury. It becomes visible in the wound that life has inflicted on him. As a true hero, he does not repress and overplay this, but can stand by his feelings, which belong to his feminine side, his anima.

This is symbolised by Virgo and includes the ability to love and show emotion. George thus proves to be a worthy and equal partner for Camilla, who is a loving, mature and spiritual woman.

It becomes part of the "kingdom" he has acquired in his earthly life. It includes everything he has gained in the spirit of love and will carry him over into eternity.

Back to:

The Knight and the Maiden - full fairy tale text

Further texts:

Dying in Life - From the First Death to the Second Resurrection
The Ego
The Anima
The Virgin
God, Wholeness, 3-in-1, Male and Female
Male Wholeness, God, Father - Son - Spirit
The Three Colours Red, White and Black
The Way of the Man, Red - White - Black
Kingship in Life
The Heroic Way
- New Birth (6) and Ascension to the Spirit (7)
The Holy Wedding (Wholeness)