Meeting the Tanagran Triton

After such a glorious retreat on Rainbow Beach I was eager to be on my way to Mudjimba Island. I was excited to meet the women there and to especially see the woman working on the tapestry of my creative future.

But there were stops I had to make on the way. First I want to spend some time with the mermaid calling out from her shell. I wanted to see her before Triton so that I could hear her calming music in order to calm my nerves. Who knows? She may even be able to give me some advice about what to do during my meeting with Triton.

So off I went in my boat with my own captain who was a very nice man called Trebor. Trebor talked to me about Mudjimba as we travelled, telling me tales about the women there and what I might find when I arrived. The water was calm but my eyes kept straying to the snorkeling equipment lying on the seat beside me. Soon I would have to suit up and dive down to meet Triton.

We stopped to spend some time with the mermaid who played her music much more than she talked. But just before we left she did give me a few bits of advice about Triton: “No sudden movements” and “Be mindful of his sadness”. The second piece of advice baffled me as much as I understood the first piece. I reminded myself that during this trip I will let be what will be and try my best to be present in the moment so I put my worries aside and let Trebor sail me to my next destination.

It didn’t take long before Trebor had stopped the boat and started to help me with my snorkeling equipment. It felt strange for a landwalker like me to be wearing such a thing but I was grateful for it when I had finally dived down and as per Trebor’s directions, gone looking for Triton.

In the end it was Triton who found me.

I must have be swimming around too near his lair and he had detected my presence. Quick as a flash he loomed up in front of me, holding an evil looking staff and I tried not to swim away in fright. He regarded me coldly as he cocked his head to one side and bared his teeth at me. Despite his show of mild aggression, I now saw what the mermaid meant. He was sad. He eyes said it all. They glowed red but were filled with such a melancholy that my heart went out to him. I wanted to reach forward and touch his face but instead I reached into the pouch I carried around my neck took out a token which I had made with love for this poor creature who seemed to need it more than me. I pulled out a necklace I had made from the seashells I found on Rainbow Beach. At the time, I had looked for the most cheerful colours I could find to make the necklace and I could see Triton’s eyes light up with pleasure as I held it out to him.

In a gesture of trust that touched my heart, he swam towards me, turned his back, lifted his hair and indicated that I should put the necklace around his neck for him. When I had, he looked down at it and tenderly touched some of the shells. Triton unscrewed the top of his staff and took out a large purple Triton Shell and handed it me. I understood from Trebor that this was the item that would be taken at the port of Mudjimba Island.

I bowed my head in thanks to Triton and then he disappeared as quickly as he had appeared before. I awkwardly swam back up to the surface where I found Trebor waiting patiently for me a few yards away. He moved the boat closer and helped me to climb in but when I tried to show him what Triton gave me, he told me to put it away and keep it safe for Triton’s gifts were for the eyes of only a few.

I put my purple shell into the pouch around my neck and felt honoured to have finally met Triton who proved to me that fears are often scarier than reality.

Image and text copyright Stacey-Ann Cole Soultide

Mystical Sighting

The carnival market had finished days ago and I had been enjoying the quietness of the beach in its natural form. I thoroughly enjoyed the days of revelry, going to the Rainbow Beach drive-in although I had no car, visiting the beauty parlour and receiving a lovely massage and at night drinking Rainbow Beach cocktails with some of the other travellers.

Now I find myself embracing the quiet as much as I embraced the energy of the market. I visit the beach every day just to look and gain inspiration and then I go home to my little hut looking out over the water and paint to my heart’s content. I sometimes write poetry too because the beauty of nature can inspire such words to come to me that must be put to paper.

After my afternoon nap today I came down to the beach again as I felt pulled there by invisible strings. I didn’t question, I just accepted the pull and went with the flow as I had been doing since arriving at Rainbow Beach. Wonderful things have been happening as a result of me not fighting what ‘is’ and here was another opportunity for me to practise living in the now.

I went with only the clothes on my back. No sketchpad, no pencils or watercolour paints and no notebook either. I stood and got lost in the blueness of the sky until gradually I discerned colours where before there were none. So beautiful and rich. I realised that this is how the beach had gotten its name but I didn’t question too deeply why the rainbow I saw in the sky was not at all reflected in the water below.

by Soultide

Random Thoughts

Rainbow Travels

“Now this is more like it,” I thought when my portal finally appeared in front of me as I sat on the couch in my living room. I smiled as I looked at the dark opening that appeared to be cushioned softly in a rainbow. The colours were cheerful and I didn’t feel afraid. So much better than the last time I travelled by portal but we are never given more than we can handle. I was ready, with my special travelling bag, my instructions from Le Enchanteur and my enthusiasm, so I stepped forward eagerly, wondering what my first destination would be.

Rainbow hands reached out and circled me in a wonderful hug and I closed my eyes as I was lifted off my feet and felt cool air rush around my body. The rainbow arms squeezed me a little tighter in reassurance. I knew not to open my eyes until my feet touched the ground and when they did I gasped with pleasure at the sight before me.

It was like no other market I’d ever seen. The colours were so bright in the sunshine that they almost hurt my eyes. All types of music were being played which I would have expected to sound awful but everything was in harmony, the music, the voices, the rhythm of the waves on the water. So many smiling faces, friendly and open, making me want to smile along with them. The faces of the market sellers and their customers were of many colours too. In another life, I could have felt lost and scared but in this life I stepped forward as eagerly as I did into the rainbow portal….. The portal! I spun around and I was just in time to see the rainbow arms that had held me so tenderly waving goodbye. I felt safe.

There was so much to see and smell and hear and feel. I experienced it all as much as I could in a few hours and was satisfied. I reached the water’s edge at dusk and saw the travelling stage that Enchanteur had told me in her instructions that I was to board. I waited until it had docked and joined those of my fellow travellers who were already on board. Some of them looked nervous, some were excited and some were even sitting there looking quite pleased with themselves! I was definitely in the nervous category but I pushed the feeling down and awaited my turn.

It came soon enough and I found myself on stage looking out at the beautiful market carnival which was still in full swing on the dock. I gathered my courage and wrapped it around myself. My something old, I told my friends, is the same gift I gave to the muse: my fear. It will be a constant struggle to let it go completely but I will do my very best. My something new is what I’m replacing the fear with: courage and self-belief. My something borrowed is a funny shaped hat that an old man put on my head at the market carnival because he said the vibrant orange colour would suit me and bring me joy.

I finished my pageant offering and stepped off the stage smiling and listening to the supportive applause of my fellow travellers. I thought to myself that the hat has certainly been doing a jolly good job so far and I wondered what other adventures the coming days would bring.

Soultide
Random Thoughts

Preparing for another Soul Food Journey

Enchanteur is taking us on another creative journey and as it is one of my 2008 resolutions to immerse myself in creativity, I am so looking forward to it. I’ve been wondering what form my creativity will take this year so it will be interesting to find out.

I will be travelling with many old friends and some new ones and I think we’ll all have a good time and by the end of our journey be very familiar with each other and our own authentic voices. Plus us old timers have been promised some new activities on this adventure, which is exciting.

My bags are almost completely packed and I’ve put my special journey bag given to me by Enchanteur into a pouch around my waist so that I won’t forget it. It includes a packet of dream seeds, spectacles, a candlestick, a tiny anchor, a medallion with the imprint of the Unicorn and a set of wings. There will also be one new item and we’re all wondering what it is. Some of these items were so useful on my previous journey and I’m sure they’ll be invaluable again.

The anticipation is building as we can all feel the presence of the muses watching us with curiosity and feel our own creative engines revving up.

I’m keeping a look out for my portal to Lemuria which could present itself at any time during or after the Twelfth Night. I can only hope that this time my portal experience will not be as scary as last time.

Soultide
Random Thoughts 

Eldorado Nugget

I finally left the cavern with the beautiful and peaceful pool. It would have been so easy to stay within the comfort of that cavern and forget my purpose except for the fact that my dreams at night were becoming more desperate.

I saw images of someone (probably me) wandering lost through long dark passages. Images of someone (probably me again) holding their head as if it would explode at any moment. These were images I couldn’t ignore for long because during my waking hours, whenever I looked into the pool, I would see them there too.

I was being told something and there was no mystery to its meaning. I needed to move on through the mine, complete the journey and come out the other end a more rounded character. My thoughts turned to Oliver and Beatrix often during this time and I was suddenly suspicious of the dreams and images in the pool. I thought I was safe from their eyes whilst in the cavern but apparently not. But they always seemed to have my best interests at heart and they had never wanted me to sell myself short. So I had to keep moving on.

I kept walking and suddenly my dreams were coming true before my eyes. The passageways and tunnels were very dark but there were parts of the walls that glowed and pulsed like a heartbeat when I touched them. I did not remember this from the dreams but whoever said that dreams were the truth? Surprisingly, the pulsing reassured me even though at first I was scared. I had thoughts of the mine being alive and any minute now it would close its walls and squeeze the life out of me. But the rhythm of the pulse was soothing and the walls gave me warmth when I touched the lightest parts. Maybe the mine wasn’t the obstacle course I had always imagined. Maybe it was on my side. Maybe it was supposed to help me on my journey.

Eventually, I reached an intersection and in the middle of it, there stood an altar. The air was fresher here as well and it reminded me of being by the pool. On the altar rested a large book as thick as my thigh and probably as heavy as a door. As I moved closer the pages of the book seemed to reflect light from somewhere. I looked up and saw that there was a circular opening in the ceiling of the mine and I could see the sky above. It was night outside and the moon seemed to be directly overhead keeping the stars company in the sky.

I looked back down to the book and gasped as I realised that the pages were made of thin mirrors mounted on thick paper, somehow bound intricately together to form a Book of Mirrors. I kept turning pages and they all seemed to be mirrors. No writing, no artwork, nothing but mirrors. I didn’t understand it and I leaned forward to look at myself maybe hoping to see someone or something else. I saw almost what I expected. Dirty skin, a mop of curly, messy hair on my head, eyes that looked tired and a mouth that looked hungry and thirsty. My brow was furrowed in confusion. And then words appeared on the mirror I was looking into.

WHERE IS MY ELDORADO?

I was even more confused now. I had some notion of what Eldorado meant but where was who’s Eldorado? Mine? Someone else’s? The book’s?

Not being able to think of anything else to do and having used this method before, I closed my eyes and relaxed, seeking the answer within. I have no idea how long I stood there meditating but when I opened my eyes, I felt less tired and my head was clearer. As I looked into the mirror again, the words were still there and I read them aloud this time.

“Where is my Eldorado?”

This is answer that came to me:

Eldorado

A place, a time, a person, a thing?

Any and all

Searching forever and never finding

Looking in the wrong place

Not asking and listening

Not being quiet and still

Be quiet and still

Ask and listen

It is often inside yourself

What you desire and seek

From the outside

But outside things do not change

Unless you change within

My Eldorado is sleeping

Deep in my soul

It is where the real me lies

Waiting for when I have the courage

To give up the fake me

And be true to myself

When I can look in the mirror and not feel guilt

And anger

And resentment

And sorrow

But peace

And calm

And hope

And love

Where is my Eldorado?

Within myself

by Soultide

Stalling at the Pool

It has been so lovely here

And I could stay forever

But I must move on

No matter how much fear grips me

There is a whole mine to explore

Full of treasures yearning to be revealed

But I fear what finding these will reveal about me

I need to move on

No more stalling at the pool

The elixir is waiting

And I must grow some more
by Soultide

Breath of Fresh Air

I press my hand into the handprint which has appeared right in front of me at shoulder height.  The handprint wasn’t there a moment ago, but it was this same door which only moments ago, welcomed my Sloughing Stone and turned it into a sparkling gem to go along with the others decorating the door.   This same door which was made out of the strange wood which seemed prevalent in this part of the world.  I wondered whether I’d be able to take a sample back with me when I returned home.  I swallowed a gulp of air as I watched the wood move around my hand, shifting, pushing, molding to its shape.  I resisted the urge to pull my hand away fast but made the decision to try to be brave instead.  I also wanted to close my eyes but made them wider instead.  I was determined to break out of my old patterns of living as I didn’t see any other way to survive the journey ahead.

The wooden door had finished it’s molding and was holding tight to my hand.  I wondered whether my hand would ever be the same again and turned my head to look behind me.  I hoped that Annie might have come back and followed me down the tunnel to keep an eye on me but it seems I really was on my own.

The door began to warm around my hand and I stifled a whimper as I also tried to keep still.  The wood around my hand was glowing a strange yellow colour and my hand felt like it was immersed in almost too hot water.  Shivers and warmth ran up and down my arm but still I didn’t move.  Then suddenly everything abruptly stopped.  The heat went away as did the glowing and my hand fell away to my side.  I anxiously inspected it expected to at least see some evidence of what it had been through but my hand was fine.  In fact the skin seemed smoother and softer.  As I drew a sigh of relief, I heard several loud clicks and the large door in front of me swung inwards.  Unexpectedly the air that rushed into my face was as fresh as a meadow of daisies.  I frowned in puzzlement and pushed the door further open.

Spread before me was a large cavern dominated by a shallow pool of clear water.  On the far side of the cavern beside a doorway, was a small fountain trickling the same cool water down a smooth curved stone which then deposited the water into the pool.  I couldn’t see why the water in the pool wasn’t overflowing but there must have been a tiny drain somewhere keeping the water level steady.

The sound of the trickling water, instantly soothed my nerves and I stepped into the cavern.  I willed my feet to keep moving as I looked around.  The cavern wasn’t that big and had a path the wound around the edges of the pool towards the doorway on the other side.  As I neared the pool I could hear voices.  They were sweet and melodic and I realised that they were singing a strange kind of song using words I didn’t recognise as any of this world.  The sound of the singing and the trickling of the water made my body feel completely relaxed even as my mind wanted to shout caution.

I don’t know how long I stood there staring at the pool but after a while I  heard quiet clicks behind me.  I looked around and noticed that the door that allowed me to enter the Alluvial Mine had closed and there was now no going back.  I returned my gaze to the pool and for the first time noticed a scooped out stone perched at the edge of the pool.  It drew me and invited me to sit down.  The voices still sang and the trickling was still constant but my mind was now as peaceful as my body.

by Soultide

Leaving Behind

Beatrix sent me on my way with a hug, a penetrating look and clean spare clothes. Oliver, Mule and I travelled for several days in good company. The landscape seemed to change everyday becoming even more beautiful than the day before. The air was fresh, the foliage green and bright, the animals shy and wary and I woke up every day feeling energetic and happy. A lot of that had to do with the tasty, healthy meals which Oliver cooked for us. Wanting to help, I cooked us a meal one night and after a restless sleep, we both said nothing the next morning when Oliver resumed the cooking duties. I discovered that Mule had a playful side and a sense of humour that Oliver seemed to bring out in her. She kept us entertained and it was fun, like going on a hiking trip with good friends. But then we neared our destination and I remembered where I was going and what I had to do there.

Fear in its many forms gripped my whole self so I complained and tried to convince Oliver that we should go back or wait a while before going to the mine, but as we neared the entrance to the cave I could tell that Oliver was reaching the end of his tether with me. I saw the smiling face of Annie Marshall waiting for us and I slowed down almost to a stop. Mule nudged me with her nose, effectively telling me that she’d had enough of my nonsense too.

Annie Marshall looked just as Oliver had described. She was wearing a turban on her head, a lovely smile on her rugged face and a loose dress with loose trousers underneath. On her feet were soft cloth shoes with rubber soles. There was a fine layer of dust all over her as if she’d spent a lot of time in the cave before we arrived. I was surprised and pleased when she kissed Oliver warmly on both cheeks and did the same to me. Oliver never mentioned much about her personality but said that I would like her. And I did. She made me feel better about the mysteries that lay ahead for me.

I was sorely disappointed when Oliver said he had to get back to the farm house and Beatrix. In the back of my mind, I must have been hoping that Oliver would offer to go with me on my journey, even though I knew I had to do this alone. Oliver hugged me warmly, kissed my cheek, told me I’d do fine and left me with some more dream seeds which he said to use sparingly. I hugged Mule and thanked Oliver for looking after me so well. I felt tearful as I watched him and Mule walk away. I loved him for never letting me escape into fantasy when I needed to face reality. I would also miss his cooking.

Annie guided me into a cavern that took my breath away. I gazed at the images of those who had come before me. The drawings and markings on the cavern walls were of varying skill but they all had two things in common - Red, chalky lines and a purposeful intent. I saw roaring lions, peaceful swimming fish, birds building nests and men fighting off monstrous creatures. Annie handed me a piece of thick red chalk and for a moment I didn’t know what my mark would be. Then I knew. I drew a picture of Mule as best I could. To me she represented the attitude I should adopt on this journey. She was always, gentle, strong, kind to herself, willing, open to life, flexible. I found it funny that when I feared I wouldn’t find the answer to something, the answer came from within myself.

Annie nodded approval as if she knew why I had drawn Mule on the cavern wall. I gave her back the chalk and she allowed me to walk around the large cavern for a few minutes and I noticed things I hadn’t before. There was a small wooden table and chair. Resting on top of the table was a pair of reading glasses, a book and a small lamp. Sitting in one corner was a bag full of mining tools and gear. The last thing I noticed which should have been the first thing I noticed, was a large door made out of the same strange wood that I’d noticed in Beatrix’s and Oliver’s houses. It’s face was adorned with large and small jewels like I’ve never seen before, which seemed to have been placed randomly. It had no discerning design but was beautiful nonetheless. I could tell it was very thick and solid.

Annie spoke for the first time since I’d arrived, “This door leads to the Lemurian Alluvial Mine”. Annie’s smile was gone and her eyes sparkled at me as she said “You will decide which of your old selves to leave behind. Pick one which is particularly destructive and restrictive and leave it here on this side of the door. You must begin your journey already willing to change and grow.” I stared at her feeling puzzled at the familiar tone in her voice. She sounded just like Oliver when he was talking to me about the reality of my journey.

“How do I do this Annie?”

Annie looked herself again as she smiled brightly, shrugged her shoulders and left me in the cavern alone. My heart was beating fast as I thought hard about what I needed to do to proceed. I stared at the door and looked closely at the jewels there. They didn’t look as if they were glued on so how did they stick? Some instinct told me not to touch them but they had given me an idea. I searched in my pack and pulled out the pouch which Enchanteur had left for me. I felt around inside and found what I was looking for by its warm feel. The stone I’d first encountered as I’d gone through the portal was now in my hand feeling almost hot on my skin. I closed my fingers around it and thought of my most destructive trait and willed it into the stone. It grew hotter but I didn’t let open my hand until it suddenly started to cool. The stone was glowing slightly and all the jewels on the door were glowing in response and I realised that I was supposed to put the stone into the door somehow. I held the stone between two fingers and held it near the door. I jumped as the wooden door made a sucking sound and seemed to reach for my stone. The stone leapt up and became almost fully absorbed by the wood then it flowered before my eyes and became a multicoloured jewel like the others in the door. Who knew procrastination could look so good when left within a jewelled wooden door?

by Soultide

Hoping to Appease

I wake up in a clean bright room, on clean fragrant sheets and in a clean new dress. Deciding not to think too hard about how I got into a clean dress, I get out of bed and go over to the window. It’s a beautiful day and I wished I could stand here all day and enjoy the view but I needed a shower and some food.

I had assumed I was still in Beatrix’s house but when I opened to door and peeked out, I recognised nothing of the room beyond. I felt a trickle of fear but then decided to go looking for the owner of the house. I padded barefoot on the wooden floors made out of that same strange wood. It felt odd, kind of soft and spongy but still stable.

I found Oliver in the kitchen preparing something that smelled absolutely delicious.

“Hi Oliver,” I said.

“Oh hi, Soultide,” Oliver said peering at me over his shoulder. “Are you rested?”

“Yes, I feel a lot better than I did yesterday. Sorry for losing it”

Oliver laughed and said “Yesterday? You’ve been sleeping for four days.” He laughed again, obviously very amused at my confusion.

“How can that be?”

“You had reached a level of exhaustion that is only achieved by those who journey through Owl Creek Valley and along the Owl Creek Road. It is no ordinary journey and for ones such as you, there needs to be extra guidance.”

Oliver was making no sense and he seemed to have lost his ability to explain things clearly to me. I didn’t know whether to be worried about him not being clear or myself for not understanding. Oliver showed me the bathroom where I could shower and told me that everthing I needed would be there and so I thoroughly enjoyed my shower and returned to the kitchen even more hungry than before.

Oliver set the food out on the table and I forgot about everything else except my stomach. We both ate heartily of the homemade bread, scrambled eggs, honey, herbal tea and fruit juice.

As we digested our food and made chitchat, Beatrix knocked and let herself in. Her face was bright and smiling, like the day outside and it made me happy to see her. Instinctively I knew that she and I had to have a conversation and maybe now was the time for that. Oliver cleared the table and excused himself from the room, giving me one of his famous smiles as he left. He said he’d see me later when I’d got my things together and was ready to leave.

That brought my reality crashing home. Beatrix spoke and I listened. The first thing she told me was that normally the journey from a portal to Owl Creek Valley could take months due to wights and other undesireables causing delays and tricking travellers in order to stop them from getting to her. She told me that she was working with Enchanteur to help guide a group of travellers whom Enchanteur wanted to start of their journey into the mine to search for the creative grail also known as the elixir of creativity. I was one of these and there were many others too. She told me that before I would be allowed to enter the mine, I needed to give something to appease Enchanteur who is also known in these parts as the Lady of the Mine. Beatrix couldn’t tell me what but she said I’d know what was appropriate if I looked into my heart and listened to my inner voice. I didn’t know what inner voice she was referring to but I nodded understanding all the same. Beatrix left me to absorb all of this information and told me that I had to be ready by tomorrow. I fretted but later Oliver calmed me down and suggested I go to my room and meditate. Instead I wrote this:

It is you I have come to
Instead of staying safe
Not by choice
But by urgings and intuitions

The journey I took here
Felt shorter than it should have been
And I know that was you
Some magic of yours, some power

I ask that you use this power
To help me on my way into the deep earth
To show me my own power
So that I may learn as I need

I will see this to the end
Even though I know not what awaits me
Curiosity is mingling with apprehension in my gut
Such typical feelings
But my own nevertheless

I give you these verses now
Only the first of more to come
And I will be open to the flow
With a creative woman’s heart
In the morning, I was ready with my pouch, my equipment, my gift and an open heart.

by Soultide

No Turning Back

With all the pressure to ‘dig deeper’ I decided it was time to leave. I planned on retrieving Mule, setting off back the way I came and finding some way back through the portal. I congratulated myself on getting this far, but who was I kidding thinking I could go into a mine, find what I’m looking for and make it back out again? That’s not the way life works, I thought, plus I didn’t even know what I’m supposed to be looking for.

I got up from the chair, wishing I could just sleep for days, and headed towards the door. I didn’t bother looking at Beatrix and Oliver. I didn’t want to know what they thought of me. As I reached for the door knob Beatrix spoke, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“Do what?” I said without turning around.

“Whatever it is that’s in your mind to do. Are you trying to run away? Hide? Magic yourself home? It won’t work.”

She sounded so smug that I got angry. I spun around to face them and was met with more pleasant smiles. It infuriated me more.

“Look, you two! I didn’t ask to come here! I was practically pushed through that portal and there I was, travelling for two whole days to get here and then I’m told about some deep dark mine that I’m supposed to go in and find something and that I should dig deeper! None of it makes sense! I don’t know what I’m doing here and now I want to leave! Why are you trying to stop me?!” I was practically stamping my feet in fury.

Beatrix and Oliver looked at me calmly but the smiles were gone. I felt momentarily triumphant about this until I realised that they were looking at me as if I was a spoilt child having a tantrum.

I backed away as Oliver stood up and walked towards me. My back hit the door just as he held me by my shoulders. He looked into my eyes deeply and said “We can’t stop you from leaving, Soultide but you know in your heart that you are talented enough to go on and finish this journey. We know that without knowing you properly, so why don’t you know that about yourself?” I swallowed loudly and he let go of my shoulders but didn’t move away. He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked at me in that ’specimen’ way again. Beatrix shifted in her chair but Oliver’s eyes were mesmerising me.

“I…,” I said

“If you walk out of that door,” Oliver said seriously, “you’ll have left a part of yourself undiscovered. You’ll have let yourself down and then wonder what could have been for the rest of your life. I know you’re scared of not knowing what’s to come but there are times when you have to believe in yourself and your ability to survive anything that life throws at you. Don’t you want to grow? How are you gonna do that without new experiences? You’re not alone Soultide. I think you already know that others are with you on this journey, they just happen to be taking different paths. You have us, you have Enchanteur and yourself. There’s nothing more you really need.”

Oliver gave me one last, meaningful look and went back to sit down beside Beatrix, who was looking at me intently. I was moved by Oliver’s words but fear still clutched my heart. Everything will be better if I could just get back home. I turned and opened the door, determined to run as fast as I could back to the portal and home.

Unfortunately Enchanteur was there to ruin my cowardly plans.

There was a tiger sitting on the doorstep looking up at me. A large, beautiful tiger with hard, glinting eyes. My mouth was open so wide, I could feel air rushing down my throat. I took several steps back and almost fell over my feet. Enchanteur (for who else could this tiger be?) licked her paw languidly and said, “Where do you think you’re going?”

I gather what little courage I have left and manage to slam the door closed on that frightful sight. I am now well and truly being forced to face the dreaded alternative. Knowing that if I tried to run, Enchanteur would pursue me by day and haunt my dreams at night, I now had only one option. Stay here with Oliver and Beatrix, learn as much as I can and then go into the Alluvial Mine. I collapsed on the floor in exhaustion.

by Soultide

Meeting Oliver

“Hi Soultide,” says Oliver. I look up at him with surprise because I realise he’s not as old as I first thought. He doesn’t actually have that much grey in his hair and his pleasant expression makes him look even younger. Could Oliver possibly be in his sixties like I imagine Beatrix to be? I realise I haven’t answered him.

“Hi Oliver”

Oliver comes to sit down on a chair between Beatrix and me and he’s not taking his eyes off me at all. I’m thinking that maybe he’s wondering whether to let someone so dirty and straggly-looking into his house. He was still smiling at me however and I got the sense he found me interesting, as in a scientist-looking-at-a-specimen sort of way. In ordinary circumstances maybe he would have second thoughts, but these were no ordinary circumstances. Oliver’s studying of my person was starting to make me feel uncomfortable. I looked at Beatrix who was looking at Oliver and in my tiredness and frustration I said to Oliver “What? What are you looking at me like that for?”

Oliver says to me kindly, “Soultide. You need to dig deeper.” I tremble at his words and stare at him in astonishment. He continues, “From now on, you will need to work harder to move forward. You will never find what you’re looking for unless you work the Alluvial Mine. You have the tools, now find the will.”

I look over at the bag of mining tools lying on the floor, that Mule had been carrying for me. I’d been ignoring them for the whole journey, imagining all kind of reasons for Enchanteur to have left them for me. Maybe she’d made a mistake? Maybe these were for someone else? I’d seen the others in my dreams and I knew there were people on a similar journey to mine. With Oliver’s words, came the reality of my situation and I could either run and hope for the best or dive in head first and see what comes at me.

As I looked at the kind, patient, determined expressions of Beatrix and Oliver, running seemed more and more like a remarkably attractive option to me.

by Soultide

Arriving at the Farmhouse

Just as my feet are beginning to really hurt and I’m gasping for a drink, I see the farmhouse that Enchanteur told me about in my dream. I feel both relief and anxiety. I know it is just a pit stop along the way, I know that I’ll be told where to go next and I know that the challenges I must face are getting closer. I also know that the Keeper of the Mine will be able to give me something cool to drink, let me rest my aching body, point me in the right direction and hopefully give me some friendly advice. So I walk on with these things on my mind.

There is Enchanteur standing by some orange trees, slowly peeling the skin off of one and watching me as I approach the farmhouse. It’s becoming quite strange to see her and hear her in my dreams and then catch glimpes of her when I’m awake. The only difference is that in my dreams she speaks and guides and reassures and encourages, kindly but with a no-nonsense edge. I’ve been wondering for days if her’s was the voice I heard during the spectacle ‘incident’ but I’m not sure. Mule is panting beside me and I realise she must be as thirsty as I am.

The farmhouse is painted blood red, even the roof. The door however, is black. I feel strange as I reach the door and raise my hand to knock. The black door reminds me of a wide, yawning mouth and a strong feeling of deja vu engulfs me as I knock on the door and hear footsteps inside.

“Hello, Soultide. I’ve been expecting you”. The Keeper of the Mine smiles at me and holds out a glass of cool refreshing water. How did she know? I reach for it but hesitate when I hear a noise behind me. A black man with greying hair and knee high boots is bending over and pouring water into a trough for Mule, who is drinking thirstily. He straightens and smiles at me in welcome, then walks away towards a barn. I turn back to the Keeper who has disappeared from the doorway. I hope I haven’t offended her by being so distracted so I tentatively step into the darkened room beyond the doorway.

Everywhere I look is wood. Wooden furniture, wooden boxes, wooden legs on the sofa, wooden spoons in the kitchen area. Why does the wood stand out so much? There must be something strange about it. Some sort of unnatural quality. Maybe the whole house is made of this stuff and that’s why it feels so weird in here. There is the Keeper sitting at the wooden table and on a wooden chair. The glass of water is opposite her, in front of another chair, pulled out just so, waiting for me to sit in it.

I slowly lower myself into the chair, watching the Keeper, hoping she’ll speak first and of course, I drink the water almost in one gulp. As I watch her, I’m taking in her appearance. She’s wearing a simple blue cotton dress, kind of like mine but a little bit more stylish and a whole lot cleaner. The Keeper must be in her sixties but her light brown skin is almost wrinkle free. She has an earthly beauty about her and her dark brown eyes have many tales to tell. I feel a bit lost as I look into them.

“Right. Now let us discuss why you are here”. The Keeper’s voice made me jump. I’ve been severely jumpy since the ‘incident’ but I really need to calm down. I decide that I should find out her proper name since she knows mine.

“What do I call you? Keeper of the Mine? Keeper?”

She smiles patiently and says “You may call me Beatrix. This is Oliver, your Home Host” The black man suddenly appeared from an adjoining room and gave me another smile.

by Soultide

Spectacle Surprise

So I place the spectacles on my nose and smile at Mule who is busy munching on another carrot. I say to her “Wish me luck on my exciting adventure!” I look through the mauve tinted spectacles and wait for something to happen. I imagine seeing my dreams come true in full colour as if watching a film or maybe what my final destination will be or even some beautiful enchanting scene to uplift my soul.

However, Mule and the valley that is spread before me start to shimmer and then disappear with a pop. I jump and hope that this sudden blindness does not last. The whole world truly seems to be black and empty. There is no sound and I can’t see over, under or around the edges of the spectacles. Every which way I turn my head it’s all the same. Black nothingness yawning before me, trying to suck me in. I lose all sense of balance and time but I hold on and wait, trying to be brave and see this through.

Just as I decide to give up on braveness, embrace my true inner coward and rip the spectacles off my face, I hear an echoing, haunting voice say “SOULTIDE. YOU NEED TO DIG DEEPER”

At that point I do rip the spectacles off and stand there panting and blinking and grateful for my renewed vision. I hurry over to Mule and feel reassured as I touch her warm back. I’m tempted to drop the spectacles onto the ground and stamp on them like a madwoman but instead I resentfully shove them back into my pouch.

Mule nudges me with her nose, as insistent as that scary voice, both telling me to get going or suffer the consequences.

by Soultide

Owl Creek Travelling

The air is fresh this morning and I wake up bright and energetic. In my dream, le Enchanteur told me that I should travel along Owl Creek Road, across Owl Creek Valley until I see a farm house. What I would find at this farm house, she would not explain but in my dream, I saw flashing images of a woman waiting and a deep dark cavern.

As I expected the mule assigned to me is tied to a nearby tree, almost identical to the one I slept under last night. I gathered my few things and walked over to it. It greeted me kindly and I gave it some pieces of carrot whilst I munched on a juicy sweet apple. There are fruit trees everywhere here in Owl Creek Valley and I’ve gathered up a whole bag full.

We walk and I talk to the mule, who listens attentively. I hope the apple core I’ve dropped on the ground, grows into a lovely big apple tree. I can see a brightly coloured cloak up ahead, looking suspiciously like the one I saw retreating into the bushes yesterday. This time le Enchanteur (who else could it be?) is not hiding but watching me as I walk past. I know not to approach her. She has other ways of communicating and when she wants to speak to me directly she will. I’m happy with that. She gives me a faint smile of encouragement as I glance at her and I see something mischievous glinting in her eyes. I feel a lot better now that I know she’s watching over me.

The dream I had last night gave me some other information too. There were images I’d prefer not to dwell on, ghost towns, a mysterious shadowy woman and that dark cavern again. I try not to worry but I know that I’m heading towards challenges I’ve never faced before.

As I rest and wash my dusty feet by a little stream, I look up to see the horizon shimmering with heat. I splash water on my face and drink some of the cool, sweet water and enjoy the sensation as it travels down my throat. The mule is enjoying it too by the slurping sounds I hear. The weather is hot, but bearable. I only have a loose cotton dress on anyway so my skin is able to breathe.

I set out on my journey again but this time I decide to wear my spectacles to pass the time. I should see many interesting things through those glasses.

I hope this journey is not a long one. There is only so much talking you can do to a mule.

by Soultide

Portal Panic

Well I guess this is it. This antique wooden door with stained glass windows. The portal. I swallow a lump in my throat as I reach for the handle. It’s a round, shiny brass one. I turn the handle, push open the door and whoosh! I’m almost sucked inside a black hole. I’m holding onto the door for dear life and of course my eyes are closed - tightly. Whatever was trying to suck me in relents after a minute and I open one eye and then the other.

The meadow scene before me looks quite harmless, colourful, beautiful, smells like flowers, but I hear a rustling over to the right and see someone disappear into some bushes with a colourful gown trailing behind them. I frown and move forward, almost stepping on a lumpy, drawstring bag. I look around furtively and then bend to pick it up and peek inside. I squint, perhaps expecting another whoosh! but I see only a few items which may be of some use in this other world I’ve stepped into. A couple of wings, some dreams seeds and the like. One thing glows at the bottom of the bag and begins to warm my hand through the material. I reach for it ( a smooth, round stone) and it glows more and feels even warmer, almost hot. I decide not to draw any conclusions at this point. If I am going to survive this adventure, then I should keep an open mind. Putting the stone back, I draw the top of the bag closed and take a very deep breath.

I gaze at the meadow before me and realise that there is something dark and broody marring the horizon, like a blemish on a clean white sheet. Clouds? Rain? A ripple of apprehension goes through me tinged with a little bit of excitement. Not too much, just a little. Enough to carry my feet forward.

by Soultide