Escaping the Demon of the Ethers

A few moments of waiting became an eternity of fear standing before the Demon of the Ethers. I clung to the words of the goddess and keeper of the volcano, “Beware of the smile.” Her words shook me into action.

Several of them came at me from around the sharp corners of the cavern. They were reddish in color with evil fangs or wings. Some were riding beasty animals unfamiliar to anything I’ve ever seen. By their intense, beady eyes, each had a singular focus—to slay and devour me.

My own eyes shifted from one beast to another. Assessing the situation, I struggled for my voice. Straight from the gut there wasn’t a sound. Not even a whisper escaped my lips. No rumble from my belly shook the vocal chords enough for sound to carry through my being. I was voiceless. This frightened me more than the demons devouring my flesh. It was too close to old memories from my life; the continuous nightmares of screaming from the inside out without sound. More than once, experiencing the clattering of my inner roots grabbed by fear; facing the death rattle of my soul.

Fumbling, my hands reached into the E bag digging. “Digging for what,” I asked myself as fear gripped my chest. I dropped each item no sooner than I felt it in the bag. I was feeling for something specific but without consciously knowing what. The Gau box, the seeds, candle, and other items brushed my fingers as I allowed them to fall back into the bag. Time wasn’t on my side. I had only moments before the beasts approached the other side where I stood with no opening to escape this inferno of volcanic anger.

Abruptly and by surprise, I found it. Deep in the inner lining of the E bag was the small object I was fascinated by since beginning this journey. Quickly, I slipped it out of the bag before the demon could see what I had.

It hit me at that moment and it hit hard. This is it! This is what the Demon wanted from the bag.

A new surge of energy flooded my body and fused my spirit with fire. Moving my fingers as fast as I could across the “time cutter”, I turned the dial until I heard the faint click and then began spinning it between my thumb and index finger. The object started spinning so fast it levitated from my hand, rising over my head. As it spun, a multicolored light expanded around my body, pulling me up while spinning me in a counterclockwise position.

The demon and his beasty crew were no match for the tornado force of energy pulling everything upward. Spiraling up, the demon did not know how to fight this kind of magic. His archaic methods belonged to the underground creatures who only knew the ancient past. They were not a part of the future and could never be.

As I continued spinning, thoughts drifted to the demon. “This is why the Demon of the Ethers strongly desired possessing the time cutter”, I thought. “With it in his hands, he could set the upper world in motion to fall back – to fall back into his domain where he would remain the Ruler of all Destruction.”

My attention faded as I moved at lightning speed spinning in a web of light, color and whirling patterns.

All of a sudden, I was feeling lighter and more settled. The spinning slowed, my breath was returning to its normal ebb and flow. I could feel my eyes smoldering in sacred violet and my heart resting into my soul’s tapestry of beauty and grace bringing me back.

I heard music, a song…

Close your eyes, start a journey to a strange new world
Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before
Close your eyes and let music set you free
Only then can you belong to me

Floating, falling
Sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me
Savor each sensation
Let the dream begin
Let your darker side give in…

“Genece, Genece,” a booming voice yelled my name. “Wake up! We must hurry if you’re going to remain on schedule.”
My head slowly turned towards the opening in the tiny hut. I could see the shadow of an old woman standing in the entry.

She appeared to be speaking to me. “Where am I,” I heard myself speaking in a soft voice.

“What,” she questioned, “you are in your hut. Yes? Remember? Last night you danced and sang with old women until you were saddened by the music and I walked you to your hut. You have dreamed? Yes?”

Uuuuuhhh,” I don’t know. Maybe. I mean, I think so. No, I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

“It’s okay. It will come back to you when time is appropriate,” she stated.

Standing up, I could see the palette of blankets on the floor along with my E bag and Triton’s gift. I neatly folded the blankets and placed them where I had found them before preparing to leave the hut.

Reaching my hand to my neck, the coral necklace was there.

I remembered, “Please, please! Please tell me I still have time. Am I too late to leave my gifts for the goddess and keeper of the volcano?”

I kissed the gifts with gentle lips, smiled deeply and gathered my things. All in hand, I reached inside the E bag to feel the time cutter. It wasn’t there. It never was. Nor was the Demon of the Ethers. He was only a dream, only a dream.

I kept smiling as we walked together in beautiful silence to the sanctuary where I kneeled down with humble heart and left Triton’s gifts except fo the necklace for the goddess and keeper. It all belonged to her now.

My lesson was learned. I no longer would weep to the faint internal chant, “only then can you belong to me.” For now, I am content in where I belong. I belong to the stillness, beauty and grace weaved as the tapestry of my soul.

I shall make my way to the hot springs in celebration then onwards to meet the Mudjimba women. Touching the necklace, I have a gift to deliver.

Smiling.

–genece hamby
http://sanctuaryofstillness.wordpress.com