The Seventh Direction

PART TWO: Inner Space. Episode 22

                                                                                             [Wyl narrates —A.A.]

                                                              2 

                                              STRANGE MAGIC

___Whitestone Glow

I was a bit surprised to see Pa up early, entering the kitchen as I gathered the last of my supplies from the pantry. He caught me with my paw in his tobacco tin, but his only words were those of caution as he forewarned me of the wildlife in the area, and carried on about some bear and her cubs recent visit to our compost bin. I raised a brow, nodded, then peeled out to the shed to grab my gear.

                              ........................

The rain didn't faze me this morning. In fact, the rain was wonderful because I had three whole days to pursue my adventure. Entering the storage shed, I pulled on the light cord, heard its chatter . . . and was taken back a little, and my head rang in an old moment of frustration as I saw my gear all tangled up in a mess of prehistoric radio wire, and fishing line, and God knows what else. Never mind, I said to myself, and proceeded to untangle it.

                              ........................

I was all set now. An hour or so to do my chores, and then I'll be "outta here." Headed for the old chicken shed, I heard a rap-rap rapping and looked up to the second-storey window. There was Ma waving to me, silhouetted by a soft-glowing night-light. I waved back, but her motions were for me to go on ahead, to leave the chores and head out on my journey. (Thanks Ma.) Dawn was near breaking, so I grabbed my stuff and set off.

My thoughts flowed while intently I strode, for up ahead lay Whitestone, my friend and destination. Time seemed to fly by. I must've been daydreamin' because I walked right past the large boulder, and heard:

'Now I walk with you. Do not forget who I am, what I am, and where I am.'

"I'll try not," I said aloud, thought: You're my best friend, and kept on walking.

Nearing the fork in the trail, I could hardly wait. More friends up ahead. I looked forward to this part of the journey especially, because with a few steps downward onto the path leading into Valley Forest all signs of the settled world vanished. The massive trees guarding the fork would close that part of life behind me, I thought—for a little while.

Here they come. The massive Sentries. Communion with them really opened My World to me; and as I neared the three guardians of the Valley, I felt the Whitestone Glow within. Ever since my first encounter with these mega-trees a greeting or some kind of interchange between us never failed to occur. There was always something between us here, in this place. We always had something to exchange with each other as we touched in. But . . . yet, looking back there now, the memory of our past-rituals seemed far and away strange.

The three Sentries that marked the way in. Today as I stood before them, our energies met—and I felt their raw, natural power impressing upon me more deeply than ever before. Sparks and flashes, then memories from dreams, magical dreams, came streaking through the blur of the recent past. I felt a strange presence in The Wood, and my head rang for a moment as if—well, let's never mind that now, shall we? Moving on (the rains had ended) I found myself kneeling, asking permission to enter the Valley Forest . . . and the Whitestone glow within spun brilliant, into a ball of light. The answer was clear. Acceptance was noted, and I withdrew to my pack to ready an offering.