The mysterious threshold between the fourth and fifth houses marks one of life's most profound transitions—the journey from our family roots to authentic self-expression. As we cross from Cancer's lunar realm into Leo's solar domain, we face the challenge of leaving familiar patterns behind to discover our unique creative voice.

Through the Algonquin fairy tale of "The Rough-Faced Girl," we discover a powerful metaphor for this astrological passage. Unlike her more familiar Grimm Brothers counterpart, this indigenous Cinderella figure encounters Strong Wind—a warrior with the power of invisibility who can only be perceived by those who speak truth. His invisible nature symbolises the fourth house's hidden ancestral patterns that shape us from below conscious awareness.

Scarred and disfigured by jealous sisters, the Rough-Faced Girl embodies the wounding that can occur in our family systems. Her patient endurance represents the unglamorous but essential inner work of the fourth house—tending the hearth, sweeping ashes, and maintaining dignity despite having her beauty and worth denied. Yet unlike others who attempt to win Strong Wind through deception, she alone speaks honestly, admitting she cannot see him until suddenly—she does.

This moment of truthfulness becomes her liberation. Her perception that Strong Wind pulls his sled with the rainbow and uses the Milky Way as his bowstring connects her to cosmic forces beyond ordinary sight. This symbolizes the fifth house awakening—when we align with our authentic nature and discover the life force that flows through creative self-expression.

The story illuminates how all the houses build upon each other: her disfigured face (first house persona), her tattered rags (second house resources), her sibling relationships (third house), her family wounds (fourth house), and finally her transformation through truth-speaking (fifth house). Through her journey, we glimpse how healing becomes possible when we honor both our roots and our unique creative spirit.

What ancestral patterns are keeping you invisible to yourself? What truth must you speak to cross your own threshold into authentic self-expression? Join me next time as we explore the playful, pleasure-filled realm of the fifth house.

I found this fairytale in a compilation of Cinderella stories from around the world: Cinderella: the Ultimate Collection

The story of the Rough-Faced Girl was explored in the 90s by Rafe Martin and David Shannon. Their book is here. 

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