A tale generated by modern magic.
I recently dipped my toe into artificial intelligence for a work project unrelated to my priestessing. I find the idea of Ai kind of terrifying and in recent discussions most people do too. But it’s not all a Pandora’s box right? I will continue to contemplate and discuss it with friends who like discussing it. Cogent comments welcomed on this blog post.
It is magical – like actually magical. Hence I will share with you the images and story generated from my tiny seed of an idea that I typed into two different AI generators, one for the images and the other chat gpt for the story. I offer this along with a prayer that we will only use this power for good.
Once upon a time in the charming town of Assisi, nestled amid the rolling hills of Italy, there lived a man who would become known as one of the most revered saints in history: Saint Francis of Assisi. He was a gentle and compassionate soul, known for his deep love of nature and all of God’s creatures, no matter how unusual they might be.
One sunny morning, as Saint Francis wandered through the tranquil woods on the outskirts of Assisi, he was accompanied by a sense of serenity and the soft rustle of leaves beneath his feet. Birds perched on his shoulders, squirrels scurried at his side, and rabbits hopped playfully around him. The creatures of the forest had come to know and love the kind man who treated them as brothers and sisters.
As Saint Francis approached a shimmering brook, he spotted a most curious sight. Lying by the water’s edge was an octopus, its pulsating tentacles creating mesmerizing patterns on the surface. Francis had never encountered such a creature in these freshwater woods, and his heart was filled with wonder at the strange visitor.
“Peace and blessings to you, my aquatic friend,” Francis greeted the octopus with a warm smile. “What brings you here to our humble woods, so far from the sea?”
The octopus seemed to regard Francis with a mixture of curiosity and trust. Its large, intelligent eyes studied the saint, and its tentacles rippled with a gentle grace. Francis slowly extended his hand toward the octopus, not knowing what to expect. To his amazement, the octopus extended a tentative tentacle and gently touched his hand.
“You are a remarkable creation of God, just like all the creatures of the land, air, and sea,” Francis said, his voice soft and soothing. “We are all interconnected in this wondrous tapestry of life.”
Over the days that followed, Saint Francis and the octopus formed an unusual bond. The octopus would follow Francis on his daily walks, its tentacles gracefully navigating the terrain beside him. The people of Assisi marveled at this strange sight and soon realized that this octopus was no ordinary creature; it was a living testament to the saint’s love for all beings.
One evening, as Francis sat beneath the stars, the octopus gently wrapped a tentacle around his wrist, a silent gesture of friendship and gratitude. Saint Francis understood that the octopus had brought a unique lesson to his life: the universality of God’s love and the interconnectedness of all living beings, no matter how different they may appear.
The octopus eventually returned to the sea, but its time in the woods of Assisi left a profound impact. Saint Francis continued to teach the people of Assisi the importance of compassion, harmony, and unity with all of creation, and the octopus became a symbol of the extraordinary ways in which love and understanding can bridge the gaps between us.
And so, the tale of Saint Francis of Assisi and the octopus lived on as a reminder that love knows no boundaries, and every creature on Earth is deserving of compassion and kindness, for they are all part of God’s magnificent creation.
Free Range Priestess 