Soul Food Silk Road Advent Calendar 2005

http://www.outbackonline.net/Advent%20Calendar/Main%20Page/AdventCalender2005.htm

Today, I traveled to the 2005 Advent Calendar & I started with Day 1.

The Night Before the Journey

Last night, I made my preparations to journey on the silk road. Sitting in silence, I looked intently on the red heart-shaped candle I had lit. What did I expect to find on this journey?  Pondering, I realized I was skeptical and full of doubt. Could I erase it all? No. It was an honest answer that I felt saddened to admit. Yet, also liberating because I knew I would still go & perhaps it was good to acknowledge these things now.

Finding the Door

I’ve meditated and made a map of my heart, to help prepare for the journey ahead. Ready, I packed my bag and step up searching for the door. I see the wall and step towards it. Now that I am closer, I can feel a soft breeze hitting my cheeks. Stepping back, I see the door:

Trunk-shaped door, with Morpho butterflies clustering.

I do not see a knob or handle. I feel around the trunk, trying not to disturb the butterflies. At last,   I realize one butterfly is not moving. I carefully reach towards it, it is wood. I twist it, a luminous figure appears. She’s pale blue, her wings like the butterflies, only they fill the room the width of the room.

“Welcome, visitor. Enter these lands, do not look with your eyes but with your heart. Toss aside possibility, embrace the impossible  and your expectations will be fulfilled.” Feeling nervous, I step through uncertain what to expect.

Traveling the Lands

I’ve been following the path, on either side enormous pines, willows and dogwood trees as far as the eye can see. I feel I’ve been traveling for days because of the eerie silence. I should feel tired, by the many miles I have walked. I am exhilarated instead.  As I continue to walk, it appears there is something in the middle of the path. I cannot tell what it is yet.

A massive oak, that is what I am looking at now. Its branches stretch beyond what I can see. On each branch, white doves. Its roots look like gnarled fingers clutching the ground. I think I hear humming and I look around. There is no one aside from myself. I lean against the oak and when I do the humming is louder. Startled, I place my ear on its bark, feeling foolish but I still listen. I close my eyes, lost in the music. I feel a tugging at my hand and open my eyes. Standing before me is an ancient woman , stooped with her hands gripping the tip of her cane.

She does not say a word, merely taps the trunk of tree three times. Puzzled I am about to speak. She puts a finger to her lips for silence and settles down on the grass. Impatient, I begin to pace until the crone grabs at my ankle & taps the ground with her cane.

Meditations with the Crone

I feel as if I have been sitting for ages. I am restless, yet every time I move the crone opens her eyes and gives me that look that all mothers give their children when they are misbehaving. Still no words have passed her lips. I give up and close my eyes as well, listening.

Silence.
Listening.

I feel a tapping on my knee. I open my eyes, it is the crone. She hold a cup, indicates that I should drink. I take the cup from her. Right away I notice a strong oder, it does not entice me to drink. I raise a quizzical eyebrow. She stares right back. Gathering courage, I drink. It taste as awful as it smells.  I begin to wonder if she conspires to end me when I hear the forest sing. No, not the woods but its occupants.  I blink and can see that the woods are not empty but full with creatures of imagination. Gaping in  wonder as inspiration strikes. Smiling the crone transforms, it is the lady who greeted me. She snatches a butterfly flitting in the air, places it in my hand.

I find myself back in the room, confused. Did I dream?  I look into my hand, a jeweled butterfly. I can hear a hum, of music. I smile, it is the tune of the enchanted woods. Eagerly, I rush my desk ready to transcribe my adventure.

*I had a hard time with this exercise at first. I do not meditate & have never really tried guided imagery of any kind. I was tempted to give up after a few minutes but I was determined to stick with it. I am glad I did b/c b/c I did have some art ideas that were inspired by this exercise & think I might journey more on the Silk Road.