A tale of regret, or a tale of advantage; we give you Jupiter and the Bees.
No matter if we desire power, love, or adventure, no matter if our heart is pure and intentions clear, let us all remember a lesson that one creature learned the hard way…
Be careful what you wish for.
It wasn’t the clever fox or chatty woodpecker that was the first to discover that wishes require both give and take. Nor was it the bear, the wolf, or the eagle. No, this creature was an alchemist, one that knew how to infuse the sweetness of nature into an elixir fit for the gods.
Indeed, we are talking about the honeybee. So begins our tale of Jupiter and the bees.
You see, ages ago, a bee’s lifespan was much longer than it is today. The bees had no enemies, and because they had no stinger, neither human nor beast feared the small insects. The honeybees spent every waking moment buzzing from bud to blossom. It was hard work, but the bees persisted. They knew that of all the creatures on the planet, they were the only ones capable of such a fete.
After spending hours amongst the flowers, when the sleepy bees returned home to their hive, they left trails of pollen that glowed luminescent in the moonlight. What looked like a protective layer of pixie dust also alerted curious outsiders that magick was afoot.
At first, the bees were able to keep their honey production hidden from everyone. But an elixir as enchanting as theirs could not be kept secret forever. Soon, creatures from near and far approached the hive and demanded that the bees share their honey.
Frustrated by the greedy trespassers and their neverending desire for more honey, the queen bee went to visit Jupiter. Surely he, the great sky god, would understand the plight of the honeybees.
When the queen arrived at the castle in the sky, Jupiter and his wife, Juno, greeted her warmly. The bee, hoping to sweeten her luck, offered the god and goddess a jar of the hive’s best honey. As the hive leader, the queen oversaw the creation of all elixirs. She knew that this batch was infused with borage, orange blossoms, and jasmine flowers—a recipe that she believed could persuade even the harshest of critics.
Within just a few minutes, Jupiter and Juno consumed the entire jar. As the pair licked the stickiness from their fingers, the queen bee asked if they enjoyed her gift. Was the honey good enough that she might request something in return?
The gods were intrigued.
“Anyone who can create something this sweet deserves our attention,” said Jupiter.
“What can we do for you, dear queen?” asked Juno.
The bee told the gods everything. She explained how her hive worked day and night to transmute flowers to honey, only to have their hive raided by outsiders.
“But, don’t you want to share the fruits of your labor?” asked Juno.
The queen faltered. “Well…yes,” she said. “But what if you gave us something to protect ourselves? That way, we might choose how much and with whom to share our honey?”
Jupiter glanced at his wife. She seemed troubled despite what the bee believed to be a simple request.
“So, you want a weapon?” asked Juno.
“Yes!” said the queen bee. “Maybe just a little needle that we can prick someone with. But only if they get too close to our honey.”
Now it was Jupiter’s turn to look irritated. “You would dare prick me with a needle?”
“No! Never you, Jupiter!” insisted the queen bee. “Or you, Juno!”
The bee desperately wished that she could start over. Perhaps she hadn’t explained herself correctly. “I just think that if we could protect ourselves, that we could make even greater honey!” she said.
The queen stumbled over her words, trying every story and promise to assure the gods that her wish was born from love. But it was too late. Eventually, Jupiter raised his hand to silence her.
Juno leaned over and whispered something in her husband’s ear.
“Ah yes, sweet wife, you are the voice of reason amidst chaos,” said Jupiter. Juno smiled, and Jupiter continued. “The queen of the gods agrees with the queen of bees. You and your hive shall have the protection you desire. But like all things, it comes with a cost.”
“I thought the honey might be payment enough,” suggested the bee.
Jupiter laughed heartily. “Oh no, there isn’t enough honey in the world for that,” he said. “But I will grant you the weapon for which you asked. I call it a stinger. With one prick from the stinger, your enemies will retreat in pain.”
“That sounds marvelous!” exclaimed the bee. “Now then, I will just be on my way if we’re finished—”
“But,” Jupiter interrupted, “anytime a bee chooses to use this weapon, they will pay for it with their life.”
The queen buzzed with rage. “But why?” she asked. “We only want to protect what is ours.”
“Well then, you have a choice,” said Juno. “You can spend your days safeguarding the honey at the risk of death. Or, share the joyful elixir with others and live as long as the gods intend.”
With a wave of his hand, Jupiter dismissed the bee from the castle in the sky. When the queen arrived back at the hive, the workers celebrated her victory. As they admired their new stingers, the workers begged the queen to explain how she convinced the gods.
What did Jupiter say?
Did Juno like the honey?
Did the gods bless the queen with any parting words of wisdom?
Needless to say, dear readers, we already know the answers. But now it was time for the queen to tell the rest of the bees what she had learned.
Be careful what you wish for or end up with a tale of regret much like Jupiter and the Bees.
