The way the story is told, Snow White was awakened by a kiss from Prince Charming. It is a cute Disney story, and it has drawn a fair amount of snarky commentary about women being rescued by their prince. I think that surface view of the story is appropriately dismissed. But the myth goes much deeper than that modern interpretation.
For me, the myth of Snow White has a new and deeper meaning about awakening. It has become an archetypal tale of the awakening of the feminine in each of us, whether we identify as male of female. The kiss is indeed a magical touch that awakens the feminine in Snow White but it also awakens the feminine in the Prince. Snow White and the Prince are as one.
What has been asleep is now able to be brought into the open. What was touched can now be embraced. The deep compassion evidenced by the Prince awakens and summons the wise, rich and beautiful feminine that dwells in all of us. This awakening magic happens no matter which gender we identify with.
The shallow, one-sided and popular telling of the Snow White and Prince story does not convey the deeper richness embedded in the myth. The wise feminine in us may lie dormant and asleep, but it can be awakened by compassion shown by ourselves, another person, or both. The magical kiss can come from many and surprising directions. It can happen many times and with different kids of intensity.
In this view of the story, the wise feminine also penetrates and awakens the compassionate male. For me, a different kind of awakening than I often have perceived. I am awakening now with a smile of recognition of what has always been, but was not so obvious to me. All these years, my muse companion has truly been feminine. She has walked both beside and within me. She is a lovely face to awaken to.