The two princesses pictured above (Sen and Nausicaa) are from two great movies by Hayo Miyazaki, a renown Japanese anime film maker.

I saw Princess Mononoke, a few years ago for the first time. It’s about a demon of rage that is possessing animals and people.  Ashitaka, A young warrior who rides a Gazelle, is tracking this demon and on his journey comes in contact with Sen, or Mononoke Hime, Princess of the Wolves. She lives in the forest, and lives in peace with giant wolves. A nearby village wants to kill her and her wolves because they are protecting the forest which they want to use for its resources. Ashitaka tries to make peace between the two groups. He can see that Sen and the woman who is the leader of the village are inhabited by rage as they fight each other. Sen is as wild as the wolves she rides.

Nausicaa:Valley of the Wind is set in a resourceful and peaceful village in a post-apocolyptic earth that had been ravaged a thousand years ago by fire gods. The king’s daughter, Nausica, often rides her glider into the toxic jungle, wearing a mask, to explore the land and search for resources. She is incredibly brave and risks her life to save others. In the end she gives her life for her people and is reserected. Her tactics against the enemy are peaceful. 

I look up to both of these princesses for their bravery and toughness, and harmony with nature. I enjoyed the movie, Nausica, more than Princess Mononoke. It struck me how much different Nausica was than Sen. Sen is wild and full of rage, and Nausica, only at her weakest point in the movie, tries to strike someone in anger.

It made me think about how I have changed and am changing. I have come out of stage of rage. When I saw the movie, Princess Mononoke, in college, I wanted her spirit to be in me. I wanted to look like a warrior. I wanted strike back, and show my fierceness. I developed extreme and toxic emotions and thoughts.

I made changes in my life, and worked through things, rested, and controlled my thoughts. My husband’s peaceful way of looking at things started to penetrate my spirit (like Ashitaka). I now want to be like Nausicaa. Nausicaa, who cares for the earth, plays with children, calms rage, mediates, and sacrifices for others. She is the one who I hope I can someday be like.