The Neverending Story

[CatholicPsychonaut]

Who on the NExus has read "The Neverending Story"? Not seen the 80's movie, but actually read the book? To me, this is most definitely the psychedelic answer (or at least the gnostic answer) to the Christian fantasies of "The Chronicles of Narnia." I read it in college, and am now re-reading it to my son, and seeing all the amazing philosophical depths that I only barely picked up on in college. I'd love to discuss it with someone.

 

[Eliyahu]

Atreyyyyyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!


Never read the book, sounds sweet.

 

[The Maxx]

I want one of those white friendly dragon things to fly me around and do my bidding.

 

[CatholicPsychonaut]

The book is full of all this esoteric symbolism, tucked inside a fascinating children's story. The end of the movie is only the end of the first 1/2 of the book. At the end of the first 1/2 of the book (end of the movie) when Bastian calls out the Childlike Empress' name and meets her in the end of Fantastica (Fantasia in the movie), he then is called to wish the world of Fantastica back into existence, and the world reforms around him, wish (visiualization) by wish. The Auryn also has an inscription on the back, which plays a very large role in the 2nd half of the book, the inscription is "Do What You Wish," which is hinted at in the movie with a line the Childlike Empress speaks when she is begging Bastian to call out her name (right at the climax of the film)... She says "Why don't you do what you dream, Bastian?" However, there is a subtle and important difference between "do what you dream" and "do what you wish."

Wish and dream can be thought of an synonyms in a certain respect, but "wish" can also be synonymous with "want," as in "do what you want." It also echoes the opening passage of Chapter III of Alister Crowley's "Book of the Law":

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of The Law. Love is The Law. Love under Will. There is no law beyond DO WHAT THOU WILT.

The author of The Neverending Story, Michael Ende was raised by Anthroposophist parents (disciples of Rudolph Steiner) and attended a Waldorf School in his youth. As he grew older, he was heavily influenced by early twentieth century occult teachings and mysticism.

 

[CatholicPsychonaut]

Here's a link to an ebook version of "The Neverending Story." If you want to get the whole experience, though, you almost have to read the print edition, as it as these amazing illuminated-style frontispieces at the beginning of each chapter and the text is two colored, green for the text of the book, and red for the text about Bastian in the "real world". Adds a great deal to the experience.

The Neverending Story

This epic work of the imagination has captured the hear…

www.goodreads.com

 

[Vodsel]

I still have my old copy of the original edition in my language, with the green/red print, the amazing letter illustrations you talk about, and the cover with the Auryn replicating the book Bastian is reading. It was hands down one of my favorite childhood books. I am sure I read it at least three or four times when I was 8-12.

Of course, back then I had no clue about theosophy or mysticism, so it might be interesting to read it again one of these days with my present frame of mind. However, I know there are many ideas in the book that felt unique, and I'm sure that it introduced me intuitively to trick concepts... self referential stories, the ouroboros, point of view, archetypes and collapse of subjective reality, etc.

Come to think, and considering what I have enjoyed for the next years of my life until now, it makes a lot of sense that The Neverending Story was a landmark for me.

 

[deadlight]

yeah man, one of my faces :>

so much mysto!

ooh thanks for the ebook link, think ill read it again on a kindle

 

[CatholicPsychonaut]

I still have my old copy of the original edition in my language, with the green/red print, the amazing letter illustrations you talk about, and the cover with the Auryn replicating the book Bastian is reading. It was hands down one of my favorite childhood books. I am sure I read it at least three or four times when I was 8-12.

Of course, back then I had no clue about theosophy or mysticism, so it might be interesting to read it again one of these days with my present frame of mind. However, I know there are many ideas in the book that felt unique, and I'm sure that it introduced me intuitively to trick concepts... self referential stories, the ouroboros, point of view, archetypes and collapse of subjective reality, etc.

Come to think, and considering what I have enjoyed for the next years of my life until now, it makes a lot of sense that The Neverending Story was a landmark for me.

I was just looking at a Wikipedia article and it mentioned that the actual inscription on the back of the Auryn (in the original German is "Tu, was du willst", with "willst" being almost the exact same word at Crowley's English "Wilt." So it really is just a German version of the opening stanza of The Book of the Law.

I like that I've reminded you, Vodsel, of a great childhood memory. I also like that you can think back on it and see that it may have influenced you as you now are, however subtly. That is what I hope to do with my son, and why I see The Neverending Story as the mystical antidote to Narnia.

When I finally write my manifesto on psychedelic parenting, this will be mentioned as a "must have" for all aspiring psychedelic families!

 

[Pandora]

I have a first edition hardback with the red and blue print. I have not read it since it was originally published, but these posts definitely motivate me to dig through my book archives and take another look now that it's been about 30 years. Thanks so much folks.

 

[jamie]

Sorry I could not help it..if anything that story has been the closest thing to a religous text I have..for a reason I wont get into here.

 

[Metanoia]

I have a very powerful memory of waking up on the couch in the late evening as a child, having been sent home from school with a migraine. My parents had rented me the movie, and popped some popcorn. It was a very surreal experience. My perceptions were still heightened from the intense pain (hearing and sight) so I was completely pulled into the story. It is one of the first experiences that I can say was almost psychedelic in nature, at least while I was awake.

I have yet to read the book. I think I'll have to get a copy after reading this thread

 

[CatholicPsychonaut]

I have a very powerful memory of waking up on the couch in the late evening as a child, having been sent home from school with a migraine. My parents had rented me the movie, and popped some popcorn. It was a very surreal experience. My perceptions were still heightened from the intense pain (hearing and sight) so I was completely pulled into the story. It is one of the first experiences that I can say was almost psychedelic in nature, at least while I was awake.

I have yet to read the book. I think I'll have to get a copy after reading this thread

That's an amazing "trip report!"