Saturday 28 June 2014

The Seven Mages, the Crow and the Owl

I closed my eyes and when I reopened them I was on a beautiful, long sandy beach. In front of me lay a blue, flat sea flickering back the twilight that was unfolding. On the horizon, lining the sea was a pale white strip of sky.
Just above where the sky was darker was a huge crescent Moon, with its dark side clearly visible. The beach on my left stretched as far as my eyes could see. Lining the sand was a forest made up of long pointed green trees. On my right, the beach turned to form a piece of enclosure that rose to cliffs covered by medium sized trees and shrubs. Just over the cliffs, the first stars where showing.
With my back towards the sea I could see an enormous forest sprawling gently, upwards, towards the faraway mountains with pink snowy tops, abruptly giving way to a darkening sky.
I was besides a well-lit bonfire, crackling in all its glory, casting dancing shadows on the glinting sand under my feet. I wore open sandals, a loosely fitted gown and a long mantel with an embroidered hood. In my left hand I held a long plain wooden staff, slightly taller than me and with my right hand I was scribbling astrological data. On my right fourth finger, I wore a ring with the seven symbols of the traditional planets and I knew that the ring was made with the seven elements associated with those seven planets. Now and again it flashed back the fire light, creating the illusion of thunder flashing on the hand-bound book.
Around my neck I had a medium sized pentagram with the symbols of the five elements that felt alive on my skin.
I closed the book, held the staff with both hands and standing up I looked at the peaceful sea and clear sky becoming darker and darker. I could now see the constellations emerging as a tapestry woven by hidden forces.
And all I could ask in all that stillness was “Why?, Why? Why?”
At that moment I became aware that the crickets where humming and the owls where calling from the trees nearby. I could hear steps coming from behind me and a strong soft voice greeted me:
Hello Apprentice!”
Hello Master!”
Why Master? Why always starting from the beginning?”
You are never starting from the beginning. Every time you are exploring something different. Remember Apprentice, you vowed long time ago to be the Guardian of Ancient Traditions.”
Yes Master I remember. But each time it is painful.”
Apprentice, remember, we are all humble servants of the Divine Will. We are all part of the Divine Goddess”
All of a sudden I was surrounded by six other persons all wearing dark, embroidered mantels with hoods. I couldn't see their faces but I knew they were here to help me, they were all Masters, all Mages. All of them seven then made a circle around me and around the roaring fire.
Master I am afraid”
With your doings, Apprentice, with your many lives, you are weaving a web for the Divine Consciousness, like those constellations in the sky.
Listen to the thread vibrating, tune in to the music of the spheres.
Trust the process Apprentice,
Trust the process.”
All of a sudden a crow cawed and came landing in the circle just as the Mages slightly parted to leave a space for the Crow to land, looking at me from the other side of the fire.
The Crow pierced my heart with his dark eyes:
Are you ready to answer the call Apprentice?
To leave the known for the unknown?
Are you ready to burn,
so to weave the thread,
of the cosmic web
and find yourself?”
I heard the Owl calling and her wings flapping, gently landing on my left shoulder.
Are you ready to answer the call Apprentice?
To leave the known for the unknown?
Are you ready to burn,
so to weave the thread,
of the cosmic web
and find yourself?”
I felt the Owl's comforting weight on my shoulder,
her feathers fluttering softly as the breeze from the sea started catching up.
Are you ready to answer the call Apprentice?
To leave the known for the unknown?
Are you ready to burn,
so to weave the thread,
of the Cosmic Web,
and find yourself?”
With that final call, the Crow cawed three times and left, as so did the seven Mages, but the Owl faithfully remained as I lowered the staff on the ground, knelt and bowed my head on the still warm sand.




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