To the caves

I have been very lax in keeping my journal, from hereon-in I shall endeavour to make regular entries, my memory not being what it once was.

I have been distracted by so many visions, memories, thoughts arising during and after the planting ceremony.  Voices of the distant past softly whispering to me – calling me.

I could still hear them as I walked slowly to the station.  As I approached the ticket office a figure within waved me through – indicating the train already at the platform.  I boarded and took my seat.  No sooner had I settled than the train set off.  As it departed I could hear the siren from the Vulcania calling all passengers to return as it was ready to leave for the next port of call, Owl Island.

Much as I would love to visit I know now is not my time.  I am not concerned about finding my way back to the ship as I have the walnut gifted me by E which, apparently, acts as a transporter which I may need should my own wings fail me.

The train accelerated at an alarming rate, hurtling towards the very tip of the headland – I could not see where the track went – it just disappeared.  Over the edge we went!  The track with the train upon it somehow clung to the side of the cliff.  It was not hanging as a cable car, the track was flat against the cliff face, the train rattling along seemingly defying gravity.  Now  I of all people should not be surprised by this, I know only too well how time and space can bend and curve – what appears solid and fixed not always being so.    However, it was a most peculiar and extraordinary experience – I sitting, still upright in the compartment, not a hair out of place, whilst the train itself travelled on its side.

It is often best not to question these things or examine them too closely, acceptance is safer and gentler on my sometimes fragile sense of sanity.  I am intrigued though.

Not that I had much time for thoughts of any sort.  I felt the train rise and then descend quite sharply, slowing as it did so.

I noticed a definite change in the light and atmosphere as the train came to a halt, both having an indefinable quality of shape as if full yet appearing empty.

Shaking myself down mentally I took up my bag and left the train. As soon as I had stepped down from the compartment the train set off again.  I have taken out my journal here to make these notes before I go further.

Where I am can hardly be described as a platform, nor a station.  I have descended from the train into open meadowland.  I sit here writing on the soft summer grass.   It is absolutely silent, not a sound, no birdsong, no rustle of wind, nothing.  Directly in front of me  is a pathway which leads to what I can only describe as an entrance and as there is nothing else in view for miles around me it is there I must go.

I think I had assumed the caves would be on the shoreline and be large, open, dank  and yet airy, suffused with the salt water scent of the sea.   I had not anticipated that I would  be entering into the depths of the Mother Herself.

Detour

I left the Vulcania with every intention of heading directly to the train station from where I was to board a train taking me on a somewhat perilous, or so I had been told, journey to the caves wherein I would meet with my Dream Master.

The irony of the timing of this venture had not escaped me.  Imbolc is fast approaching, the ritual lighting of candles and fires to welcome  the slowly increasing power of the Sun with its promise of good harvests in the year to come and yet here was I, not for the first time in my life it is true, going in entirely the other direction, headed inwards to the dark when all around are beginning to turn outwards to the sun and the light.

However, on my way to the station I was brushed by someone obviously well versed in the art of shadow dancing.  S/he appeared as a wavering of the light, quite, quite indistinct to most eyes yet I could define a figure within swathed in rainbow silks.  This person laid into my hand an invitation.  It was to the Sementivae Seed Festival and although I knew the meeting with my Dream Master was somewhat overdue, I would not ignore this opportunity to plant for the future before turning inwards.

I followed the sign to the Temple which lay within a grove – a place of great natural beauty and peace.

Above the entrance to the grove:

I entered and was amazed at how the outer look of the Temple belied what lay inside it……as the inside was, in fact, open to nature.  I took my place to sit quietly to meditate on the year to come and to offer up prayers of gratitude.

This place resonated deep within me, transporting me to another time.   I was once again walking in meditation the spiral path of the Tor on Summer Isle.  I was hearing clearly the chanting and footfall of those who accompanied me as I took the circular route to the top, whereupon we would welcome back the light and pray for  fecundity in the year to come.

View from the Tor across the Summer Lands (Avalon):

I was connected to the earth beneath me, feeling my roots sinking ever deeper into her welcoming arms, the energy of the earth rising in me, awakening the snake energy which lies within us all, travelling from the base up through the spine.  I am at one totally at peace, connected and energised.  I am ready for the journey which lies before me.

High pitched singing brought me back to the present.  Slowly I returned, my vision adjusting itself to the here and now.  Stretching and looking about me I saw the masks hung to one side of the Temple.  I was instructed to focus and choose one to wear for the planting.  I chose a simple full-face one – the blue of which drew me to it, it being the blue of our robes on Summer Isle.

I was feeling quite wistful as I made my way down the path towards the meadow, holding the small hand-crafted pouch which contained the seeds.

On reaching the meadow I closed my eyes and let my feet guide me to the correct planting spot.  On opening my eyes I saw before me a small stone circle,  it looked to be a medicine wheel and I knew this was my place.

I sat in quiet contemplation for a while, offering up my prayers for the futures of us all whilst very slowly and deliberately planting the seeds.

I stayed a while breathing in the wonderful surroundings, reluctant to leave the warmth and peace of this place that reminded me so much of  my ancestral home, but I knew I must.

It was time.  I arose and set out for the station.

It started with a dream …………

I awoke this morning with a start.   The dream I had been having was so real, so lucid it took me some time to re-orient myself to my surroundings.   I sat up and had some water, seeing a note that had been propped up against the glass I took it up and read it.  It was an invite from E to join the precarious ride on the Train of Thoughts on the Island of the Temple People.   This train would take me to the deep, dark caves within which I would meet with my Dream Master, who would lead me to the Land of Dreaming.    Now there’s a coincidence!   The dream I had moments ago awoken from was very similar in that this too was the beginnings of a journey to meet my Dream Master.  It was obviously a portent which indicated I was well on the mend.   In the lucid dream I was in a Maiden form and I feel that for the journey ahead I should remain in my present state of Apprentice Crone, I have the sneaking feeling that to enter the caves will take someone with more experience than a Maiden, in all her innocence, could bring.

I will pack a few things to take with me, my cloth journal which is essential and will be my record of my time in the Land of Dreaming, the gifts from E – the walnut and bag of essentials, pens and pad and my special stones.  My needs are few and I prefer to travel lightly, but I do have the sense that I shall be gone a long time, although when one travels between the realms time becomes irrelevant.

Before I leave I shall offer up prayers to the Mother to watch over us all.

Gwaelyan I shall leave on the Island of the Temple People to enjoy the various festivities and to visit with old friends as she wishes.  She is a wonderful apprentice and an excellent friend, it will be a great gift to her to have time for herself – it has been a while.

So….I shall make ready.  It is time to depart for the Island.

M.

Morgaine surfaces

Forgive me for not introducing myself before now, I have been suffering from some malady which laid me low.  Poor Gwaelyan has had to sort everything out and she has done a wonderful job, my cabin looks and feels like home.  I barely remember anything of coming aboard or the ensuing days, except for an awareness of a lot of laughter and song, it is a shame I missed all the fun and games.  However,  I am sure there will be more to come.  I understand that we are docked at The Island of the Temple People.  Once I am fully recovered I shall go ashore and meet up with some old friends.

A little about myself.  At heart I am a reclusive yet I venture out into the world to find community within which to learn and to grow.   I was not at all ready to begin another journey but The Mother insisted, She said it was time and when The Mother speaks, I listen.  I was named after Morgan le Fey, the Lady Morgana , an ancient descendant of mine and with whom I have some attributes in common.  Although under the influence of  fever I have been acutely aware of the presence of those belonging to the Faerie, they have a resonance to which I am attuned.  More of that later no doubt.

As I am emerging I can see my way forward perhaps.  I am an impetuous, stubborn creature, born a child of the fire, I do not wait and always think I know best.  I started out on this journey with reluctance in my heart, my whole being already consumed by another only-just-begun journey of the inner variety but as the fog in my brain clears I can see that they are interlinked, conjoined, one with the other.  Of course, in my rashness I set up two journals, two very separate journals – what do I do now?

I am very far from new to this earth and I frustrate myself in that I do not wait, do not trust somehow.  However, in the rashness often the unexpected grows and it could be it was time for a new start – rather a cyclic returning to roots and from those roots this new beginning.  The Mother once said to me that I compartmentalise everything – I shrugged as I saw nothing amiss in that.  Now I am beginning to see how it can hinder.  I have compartmentalised these two journeys which are, in fact, one and the same.  Well I will find a way.  For now I am here in my cabin recuperating still and I am delighted at last to have joined  you all wholly – in spirit at least, the body will follow.

M.

A message from Gwaelyan

For many months now my Lady Morgaine has been on retreat, withdrawn from the world relearning and honing her skills in the Shadow Arts. However it seems we are to cut this retreat short as a messenger arrived a few days ago bringing news that a new and exciting journey was to begin, the mode of transport a cruise ship, the SS Vulcania. Now who could resist an invitation such as this. So here I am packing as per my Lady’s instructions. There is much to do and only a few days within which to complete the necessary preparations so I must away now but I will be back soon enough once we are underway.

Gwaelyan

As this journey ends…………..

a new one begins …… seems like two but is, in fact, only one, only ever one ……………………..

Tapestry revealed?

Tuiren motioned me to sit on the bench.  I looked around the weaving shed – there were canvases and looms with tapestries both stitched and woven in various states of progress.  Also hanging on the many hooks which lined the walls were large hessian bags with initials on each one.   I looked at the tapestry which was directly in front of me, the one I had seen on entering.  Tuiren smiled and shook her head, “This is not yours”, she said.   She wandered over to the bags and selected one which had a J inscribed on it.   She also picked up a canvas which had some indication of stitching upon it but with loose threads hanging.   She brought both over to me and sat down beside me.  She laid out the canvas on the table before us, looked at me and said,

“Well, what do you think?”

I sighed deeply already getting the significance of what she was showing me.  I had come here expecting a completed piece of work but, of course, I am a work in progress so the tapestry would naturally reflect that.   I looked to her and smiled saying,

“I understand.  These stitches are the steps I have taken already…..the threads hanging are those steps I have yet to complete, the stories I have yet to finish, the words I have yet to speak.”

Tuiren handed me the hessian bag.  I looked inside to find spools and hanks of different coloured yarns and threads.

“You are to take the canvas and the threads with you and as you continue through your life, record the steps, the words, the pictures.  Are you disappointed?”

Surprisingly I was not and said so, “Actually no…after the experience of my first night here and how you explained that to me, I have a greater understanding of what the message of this particular journey is and it is basically this: I am in charge of my own destiny,  hence there is no completed tapestry, no final picture or story, how could there be, I am still living my life and in that I continue to journey.  I also am acutely aware that there are stories I want to tell to complete my own healing.  The reticence I have felt in doing so is lifting.  You are showing me, both with the adventure last night and this weaving shed that the connection/s I thought I had lost are still alive, they are where I left them when I stopped ‘stitching’ and all I have to do is to pick up those loose ends and continue where I left off.  I have everything I need.”

Tuiren packed the canvas into the thread bag and handed them both to me.  She then embraced me in a way that felt totally complete.

“Time for food”, she whispered as she let me go.  We walked back to the cabin, the smells of cooking wafting down reminded me how hungry I was.  I was feeling very calm and at peace with myself for the first time in a long while.  It felt good.  Katha dished up plates of herb rice with beautifully spiced vegetables whilst Danu poured the tea.

“There are many places for you to visit within Lemuria – do not be in a hurry to leave, tread the path that many before you have travelled, along the Soul Food Silk Road.  I would recommend you visit White Owl Island first, followed perhaps by Ithika -  you will find much to your liking I am certain.”

“Oh I will, thank you,”  I replied.  There was indeed so much within this domain that I wanted to explore and experience.

I remembered that at some point I was supposed to join with the other travellers to continue our journey up the Kerith.   I had no idea where anyone else was or what they were up to but it felt like it wasn’t anything to worry about.

Mudjimba – Day Two

I awoke feeling disoriented and with a mouth that felt as though it were full of sand.   As I came to I realised it was full of sand.  I had been sleeping with my mouth wide open and part of the beach had drifted into it whilst I was oblivious.  I stirred my body and stood up, shaking myself free of all the sand that had invaded every crease and crevice .   Oh how I ached, my legs were so sore and the rest of me was faring little better.   Hang on a minute, I am still on the beach!  How come?   I was led up a mountain last night, well a large tor at least.  I saw the village.  I saw the waterfall.  I danced all night with the women and drank a fair amount of something deliciously and seemingly innocently fruity yet lethal!  My head had the distinct feeling of not being securely attached to my shoulders.  What a night that was.   I am definitely in the midst of a hangover here and what’s more I have no recollection of returning to the beach.   I slumped back down onto the sand.  Everything was as I had arranged it before napping yesterday.  Ti was fast asleep still, not that she was capable of telling me anything anyway.   Oh my feet…they are so sore and blistered – I did not do that dreaming! I looked around me with great care, any swift turn of head could be disastrous resulting in my losing consciousness or so it felt.   Nothing.  Well no-one in sight.  The beach was as it was, surrounded by lush green vegetation, lots of sand stretching some three miles or so before curving away from sight.  Turning gingerly to look behind me I could see large hills in the not so far distance.  This is all very peculiar.  Memories from the day before were coming back.  I was sure I had been told that I would sleep in the house of Katha and Danu today and when night came I would be taken by Tuiren to her weaving shed to see my tapestry.    Perhaps it had all been a dream, I may have been sleep walking hence the blisters, but it was all so real.

I sat, there being nothing more I could do for the moment.  I reached for my bag to get some water and fruit out.  My mouth felt truly disgusting and I was very dehydrated.  I drank most of the contents of the water bottle before thinking better of quaffing the lot.  I ate an apple and a handful of berries.  That would do for the time-being, I had no idea how long I would be on this island and had only bought sparse supplies.   I wandered down to the sea to rinse myself before proceeding.  I figured I had better start exploring as I was not going to work out what had or had not happened by just sitting here pondering.  The sea water was wonderfully refreshing for my feet and legs, hopefully I would discover fresh water further inland where I could clean myself properly.
I gathered up my belongings, putting Ti back into my breast pocket and started on up the beach.  Which way to go?  I could see several openings in the vegetation and decided to pick a path at random.   I had gone no more than a few feet when I could have sworn I heard whistling.  I stopped.  I listened.  Nothing, save for birdsong and the sound of the sea.   Sighing I started off again…there it was again!  Oh for **********!  I was not in the best of moods it has to be said.
I shouted hello.  Nothing.   I shouted again…..a whistle came in response.   Honestly I could have cried with sheer frustration, why the games?   Probably a “lesson” in there somewhere for me eh? Humph!  I was not at all best pleased I can tell you.  In fact I could feel my temper rising rather rapidly.   I stopped.  I looked all around me.  I could see nothing but the vegetation which was very dense so it would have been unlikely that I would see anyone anyway.   I sighed to myself.  Might as well go on I guess.   There was the whistling again.  Right that was it! I screamed at whoever it was to show themselves or shut up.  Honestly, yes, there were a few expletives in there.  I am not proud.  I could hear laughter, chuckling .  Oh yes very funny.  Here I am on an island with no means of getting off as far as I know, feeling like the wrong end of a donkey, lost, tired, frustrated and aching all over and all they can do is giggle at me.  Very sisterly I don’t think.    Ok, I say to myself, calm down now, breathe.   I tried to calm myself as best I could, breathing deeply to try and relax. Underneath my anger there was fear.  I had thought this island would be a gentle place with wise elder women on it who would teach me about my future, not a place of teasing wenches getting their laughs at my expense, that wasn’t the deal at all – I moped.  Oh good grief I was actually moping, pet lip included!   I had to groan at myself.

“Okay”, I yelled, “I get the message”.

Wolf whistles hit the air.    First one, then another showed themselves.  I knew I hadn’t been dreaming.   There were Katha, Danu and Tuiren.    They came up and hugged me hard.     I had questions but now probably wasn’t the time.

They led me back to the beach and we walked along it towards the east.  Nearing the point where it curved sharply around we veered off into the greenery again.  There was a very definite path.  It opened out into a clearing with huts, ordinary every-day huts.  Nothing fancy just nice little wooden cabins.   My brow furrowed, I was very confused.

“All will be explained”, remarked Tuiren.  “Let’s get some food first”.

We headed towards one of the cabins.  They really looked like the cabins you get in those quasi-rural holiday parks, sort of wooden prefabs with wooden window ledges and the sort of windows that children always draw, complete with tied-back curtains.    We entered and the inside was a bit of a shock.   The door opened into the main room which was very plush in the way it was furnished.   Beautiful stone flooring with tapestry rugs in bright, bright colours.  Two large deep blue sofas which looked like they would swallow you whole – of modern design but obviously built with comfort first and foremost in mind.  These were set around a large fireplace that housed a cast-iron woodstove.  The walls were covered in all sorts of artworks, large and small and there were massive bookshelves either side of the fireplace which must have housed hundreds of books.   What a fabulous room.  It was very warm and inviting, but was not at all what I had expected.     We went through into the kitchen which had a fabulous butchers block table in its centre around which were four ladder-back chairs.  Katha motioned for me to sit down in one of them.  Tuiren sat opposite me whilst Katha and Danu made tea and some food.

“I can see by your face that you are a little perplexed”, smiled Tuiren.
“To say the least”, I replied, “I don’t understand”.

I was given a large mug of tea .   “You drink that and I shall explain”, said Tuiren.      “When women come here, it is often because they want to know what their future holds, or what lesson it is they need to learn, or what they need to do in order to proceed along their chosen path, or even to find out what that path is.”

“Indeed”, I nodded.

“In a way that is exactly what the tapestries are about, but before we take each one to see their tapestry we have to clear their heads of the romantic, idealised notions that they often carry with them.   Is it not the case that what you encountered last night was exactly what you expected, or would have anticipated?  That is a rhetorical question, it needs no answer.   You expected to meet a community of women living an idealised life, in your case, one born out of romantic notions of the past.  That is not to say that what you know and what you would like to see are not true but more that they are one dimensional.  Everyone living in harmony, with communities of women who are the spiritual leaders and who guard the gateways.  A world far removed from the reality of your modern day one.”

I was beginning to feel a little saddened.

“We took you on a journey last night to that very place.  The one in your imagination, complete with the waterfall which we know you are aware was one of the gateways to the otherworld.   We wanted you to experience your own imagination, your own connection to the distant past.   Don’t misunderstand what I am saying.  I am not telling you that what you see is not true, for it is, very much so, but it does not exist in your world any longer.   Do you understand what it is that I am telling you.”

“I think so”, I said, “You are telling me to let go of the past?”

Tuiren smiled such a warm smile at me.  “I am telling you that you cannot find that specific place in your world any longer, but that does not mean it does not exist.  I know this is confusing for you, but you are in danger of spending many years exploring paths of which you already hold a great deal of knowledge, even though you may not be consciously aware of that fact.  In time I think you will indeed be telling the stories of these places and these times, but there are other things you have to do first, that is all.”

I was beginning to understand what it was that she was telling me.

“I think what you are telling me is that what I am wanting to do is to start at the end, to start with the pure rather than getting my feet well and truly dirty by starting at the beginning with this life I am in.  I need to do the groundwork.”

Again that smile.  “Come with me”.

I follow her out of the kitchen door and into the garden at the rear of her cabin.  We follow the path through the vegetable garden, the herb garden and the flowers to the shed at the end.    She stops at the door and turns to me.

“I believe you have something for me?”

I grin and rifle through my bag.  My hand alights on the coral gifted to me by the little boy.   I hand it to Tuiren who literally glows with pleasure at the sight of it.

“Thank you.  Come in.”

She leads me into the weaving shed and there before me is the tapestry.

“This is your tapestry”, she says.  “Sit down and we shall discuss it”.

Mudjimba – Arrival

I walked up onto the beach, glancing over my shoulder for one last look at Gruff as he became a mere dot on the horizon.   I sat down on the warm sand, Ti climbing out of my pocket to go sun herself.

So much had happened since I first arrived through the portal onto Rainbow Beach merely by taking one step after another and now here I was on Mudjimba.   Even though I was so excited to be here I decided to take a nap as I was dog-tired and there was no-one around.  I wanted to be refreshed before I set off to explore the island.

The next thing I knew I was surrounded by women chanting, their voices rich and sonorous, resonating deep within the earth.  We were walking uphill – I looked up and saw that the incline we were on was almost vertical, I wasn’t sure my legs would hold up but as we were taking a circulatory route I hoped the climb would be gentler than it looked.  We were surrounded by lush and verdant undergrowth, plants I had never seen before with the most wonderful brightly coloured leaves, some with spikes, some with flowers and others with what I assumed were fruits.   It was as if each one were trying to outdo the other in their splendour.   I was amazed they could grow so well from what appeared to be rock underfoot.  It was difficult to take it all in, the women, the scents, at once earthy, yet spicy and fruity, the sounds of their singing, the bird calls, the insect noises and so much colour – a total assault on the senses.  The women themselves were like the plant life in that they were many and varied in size, shape and hue although in terms of age they seemed to all be elderwomen.  No-one was speaking, not to me, not to each other…there was only the singing and the sounds of nature all around us.  In the distance I could hear the sea but closer to there was a roaring and whooshing that was clearly water and probably heralded a waterfall.  I wondered if that was where we were heading.

On and on we went, round and round, up and up…the roaring getting louder and louder.  To be perfectly honest I was getting a bit hacked off what with all the singing and no-one speaking to me but thought I had better keep my own counsel for the time-being, after all I had no idea what was in store for me.  I didn’t have long to wait.  We rounded a corner and came upon a large outcropping which overhung the path we were on almost obliterating the view ahead.  I watched as the women in front of me slipped into single file and had to flatten themselves to the ground to get through the small gap left by the rock…I followed suit as did those now behind me, we were like a string of snakes sliding through, although I suspect nowhere near as graceful.  No easy escape then should the need arise!

The waterfall was now before me, rising hundreds of feet into the sky – a magnificent sight.   At the base of the fall was a large lake from which, in turn, flowed a stream that I could see now meandered down the hill we had just climbed.   How odd that I had not noticed it on the way up, perhaps the plant life hid it.    The lake itself was surrounded by steps of land reaching up into the rock face either side of the waterfall.  Clearly these were cultivated in part, crops were visible on the far side of the lake.  On this side were what I assumed were dwellings, their homes.  There were many of them scattered over the meadow in front of me and on the steps behind. They were all of them round, somewhat like traditional hogans although nowhere near as big and looked to be woven from reeds or plants of some description, although I would have to get closer to be sure.  They would each accommodate two people at most I would think and those closest to the falls were sheltered from the spray by shrubs which had obviously been planted deliberately for the purpose, the leaves of which were enormous and acted as natural umbrellas.

Everyone was now through the natural gateway, or slither-way as seemed a more apt description and we wound our way into the village.  Still no-one spoke…this was becoming tedious, my impatience poking through my skin again – even in the midst of such an adventure I was still capable of being a pedant!  I chuckled, raising my eyebrows at myself.   As we approached a cluster of houses I could see there was a small group of  half a dozen or so women sat together on small stool-like affairs, the welcoming committee perhaps?   The singing gradually slowed to silence as we came close to these women, those around me receding leaving me standing alone in front of them.  I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to do, bow, curtsey, genuflect…I had no idea, so I simply smiled.   The women before me were older than those that had accompanied me who were nearer my own age I guessed, although it is never easy to tell and at this precise moment I felt to be a child of about seven, a little anxious and shuffling of feet!  I wondered if these were perhaps the elders of the village, the old women from whom the island gets its name.    They smiled back at me, standing now, peering into my eyes as just about everyone I had met so far had done so before them.   They were certainly a mixed bunch, but it was obvious that theirs had been lives of hard work and learning, that much was clearly etched into their fabulous faces.

“You are mine”, so said the third one from the left.  “My name is Tuiren, I am your weaver and tomorrow I will take you to your tapestry.  Now it is time to welcome you.  All is prepared, tonight we shall feast and make merry until the moon disappears and the sun returns.  You will then rest, waking once the moon rises again into the sky when I shall take you to the weaving sheds.   All here are friends so go and enjoy yourself. “

The women seated themselves again and a couple  from the group that accompanied me on the climb took me by the hand, “We will show you where you are to stay”.  I bowed my head to the elders, thanked them and turned to go with these women.  “I am Kathla and this is Danu.  You will share our home for this part of your stay – we will have great fun tonight.”

Gifts

I clambered aboard with Gruff’s help – what a change had taken place in him, that which I had sensed underneath his stern exterior was now shining through and I do mean shining – he had a completeness to him that was not apparent before.

In my absence he had erected a makeshift screen for me to change behind – it seems he is a man who required proof of intent before affording any respect. I gratefully slipped behind the screen, peeled off the wetsuit which was as difficult, if not more so, as getting the thing on in the first place! This is not something I ever intended doing again. Whilst separating rubber from skin something fell out and dropped to the floor, I continued my struggle to peel, whatever it was could wait. Once clothed and comfortable again I stooped to pick up, well, what I thought at first look was a shell – Gruff appeared at my side:

“You are indeed honoured”.

I jumped – it was the first sound he had made and what a beautifully sonorous voice he had, such a shame he used it so sparingly. I turned the shell over and over in my hands, it had the iridescence of abolone but not the texture, this was pliable with an almost leathery quality.

“It is a scale – a gift from Triton”.

I looked to Gruff questioningly.

“A scale………..from his tail”.

I didn’t know what to say so remained quiet. I was hoping that once on the island I would have the time and space to meditate upon the gifts I had been given. For the moment though I had no ideas let alone answers – I was, after all, at the beginning of my journey.

Gruff set to and made for the island. I, for once in my life, was feeling relaxed and at peace, content to allow what was to be, be and not try to control or second guess events.

I put the scale in my bag. In doing so my hand fell upon the stone which the vendor women had given me. A voice in my head told me this was meant for Gruff, unsure why this was so I decided to go with my instinct and removed it from my bag.

It took no time at all to reach the island.

“I will be leaving you here”, that delicious voice again.

I felt a true pang of sadness on hearing this – I was quite sure this was an extraordinary man and I would have liked to get to know him better. With such mixed emotions, excitement and curiosity for the oncoming venture, disappointment at leaving this man behind, I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder. With the stone in my hand I approached Gruff. He clasped my hand in his conveying such warmth and such gentle strength I almost cried. There was that look again – all the people I had met so far had this way of looking right into me, or so it seemed, but with no discomfort on my part, in fact if felt perfectly natural. I held out my other hand to him, the stone laying in the palm, offering it to him. He looked at the stone and then up to my eyes again – I thought I saw tears in his eyes now – a huge smile spread across his face as he took the stone and held it firstly to his chest and then to his brow. I felt an inkling of understanding pass through me……..connection!

Time to go. I looked at him, smiled and stepped out of his boat into the shallow waters. I stopped once to look over my shoulder and wave to him then continued to walk slowly up to the empty beach.