August 2, 2007 by webmaster.

Myths are great tools for actors. The stories are always about the hero’s journey and they are filled with archetypes and deep emotional and psychological truths. Understanding myths can help us as actors in analyzing and understanding the character, and give us insights in living a creative life. The Myth of the Handless Maiden is an excellent example.

This myth is from the 12th century, a time when our present attitudes about life and society were being developed. It deals with man’s love affair with technology and the
trade-offs we sometimes make to “get ahead.”

The village miller has a successful flourmill; he and his wife work hard to ensure continued success. They have a beautiful daughter: the maiden. (Maidens are usually symbolic of our undeveloped creative energy - the maiden has not yet developed the full power of womanhood, the creation of life, and therefore she symbolizes untapped or unknown creative potential.) The miller and his wife work their mill by hand for the most part although they also use the family horse. One day the Devil appears, (he always does in one form or another - usually a very charismatic character, pleasing and attractive). He tells the miller that he can make his mill twice as productive with half the work, and the miller doesn’t have to do anything for this miracle to occur. Of course, the miller is very interested; the Devil offers his services in return for “what stands behind the mill.” Knowing that there is nothing behind the mill aside from a stand of old trees, the miller agrees - he makes a deal with the Devil. The Devil proceeds to hook up a water wheel to the mill, utilizing the stream that runs beside the mill. The mill becomes almost immediately more productive, grinding much more flour than before. The miller and his wife are both astonished and delighted - they no longer have the hours of hard work and effort that the mill previously required. They become very rich, thanks to the mechanics (from the Greek root word for “trickery”) of the Devil. They seem to have gotten “something for nothing” and found a “shortcut to success.”

Sometime later the Devil reappears, of course to collect his payment - what stands behind the mill. He and the miller walk out behind the mill and lo and behold, there stands the miller’s beautiful daughter. The miller is now distraught. He doesn’t want to lose his daughter, nor does he want to lose his water wheel and all the benefit that he has now derived. He begs the Devil to let him keep both. But, a deal is a deal. The Devil decides to take only part of the miller’s beautiful daughter: he cuts off her hands and takes them away!

The myth continues, but let’s examine the first part of the handless maiden myth for now. The cutting off of the maiden’s hands is symbolic of cutting off our feelings or our connection to the creative, feminine self. When the maiden loses her hands, she has lost her ability to feel and create. She becomes the symbol of our loss of ability to create. When we make a deal with the Devil in which we agree to a mechanical (trickery) shortcut to success, we lose our maiden’s hands.

As actors we are surrounded by an industry filled with the “deals of the devil,” offering us mechanical shortcuts to stardom without any of the hard work of acting.
“get the “photographer of the stars” to do your headshots.”
“sign up for the scene showcase seen by the industry’s “greatest” casting directors.”
“take this workshop with this soap opera director and be a soap star.”
“let us show you how to succeed at the business of show business.”
“let me show you how to get that great agent.”

All this “success” without having to do Off Off Broadway plays, cattle call auditions, student films, or acting class.

Being a successful actor comes from doing the work of acting EVERYDAY. And all the shortcuts and mechanical “deals with the Devil” will only cut off YOUR maiden’s hands. You will lose your connection to your inner creative self, your wounds and joys, your dreams and hopes, your true self - i.e. what makes you an actor.

If you do happen to become a “star” through trickery, shortcuts, deals with the devil, your acting life, like the maiden’s life, will be frustrating, fearful, and unfulfilling. More than likely you will need to seek out support, comfort, pleasure and reassurance from outside sources (affairs, drugs, booze, eating disorders) since you are unable to provide it for yourself. Witness the ever-present never-ending sagas playing out monotonously on the entertainment news shows! This is a recipe for failure.

Find a copy of The Myth of the Handless Maiden and read it. See how the maiden regains her hands and her power. It’s fascinating and we will talk more about it later. For now, remember … you cannot be a successful actor without your maiden’s hands!

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August 2, 2007 by webmaster.

Life is change…

Growth is optional…

Choose wisely…

- Karen Kaiser Clark

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