The Quest of WE

In a valley far from here, in a time different than our own time, lived a group of 25 people. Good people they were in their hears but oh did they squabble and argue and bicker and fight. They liked to do just what they wanted to do whenever they wanted to do it – so, nothing really ever got done. The crops rotted in the field., and the bread was always hard and burned, which only made them bicker more. It’s your fault one would say --- Well, if you weren’t off fishing -- another would say. But you --- No you ---. Life was a real twiddle!

One day an old woman came through town. A story teller she was. She would tell stories and in payment the village would give her a place to sleep and food to eat. But because everything was such a twiddle, the barn where she might sleep had musty and soiled hay and the bread was inedible and the stew was, well, indescribable --.  She listened as people did their usual complaining and blaming and after some thought she said, “You know what?? you have too much MEness and not enough WEness. ME ness is absolutely necessary you know, but if you want to live together you also need WEness”.

“WEness?? What's WEness?? and how can we get it?” The old woman replied, “In the land of the Purple Sun,” she gestured with her long thin arm to the east, lies a box. and in this box are wisdoms put there by the ancient ones long ago. In this box are the Wisdoms of We.”

“Wisdoms of We?? What are the Wisdoms of We?” voices could be heard whispering. “How would we get this box,” young woman asked? “I'll get it” shouted a boisterous voice. “No, I'll get it” another yelled. “No me!” “No Me!” “I'm the best runner.” “Well I'm the smartest!” “Well-.” The sounds of “Me, Me. Me” could be heard throughout the throng. The roar of the MEness was deafening.  No one was listening; everyone was talking or shouting. They were in their usual twiddle!

The old woman just shook her head, crossed her arms over her chest and waited, tapping her foot making tsk. tsk sounds until finally the crowd began to quiet.  “Who should we send?” several voices could be heard asking at once. You could still hear a few. “Send me.” “No, send me.” “I'll go.” “Me.” “Me.” voices in the background, but they were quickly quieted by the loud, long shhhhhhh from the crowd.

“If you are to find the Wisdoms of We” the old woman began, “you must all go! It is a difficult and dangerous journey. You will meet many challenges. But only if you all go and meet the challenges together will you be able to find the box.”

As is often the case when we do things of great importance, it took a long time to prepare for their journey. Their plan was to be ready by the first full moon. Some of their traveling would be done by night and the moon would light their way. It was two days till the full moon of September, the harvest moon. They met the evening before they were to leave. They all sat in a large circle. A fire burning in the middle. The almost full moon and the heavens full of stars were lighting the night. The old woman sat with them.

She said in a hushed voice “You have prepared well. I can see you have made ready all that you will need. You have worked hard. The way is long and dangerous. There may be times you want to turn back. Times you will lose your courage.” She reached into a bag that hung at her waist and pulled out a small, smooth, shiny stone. “When you are afraid, touch this stone. It carries with it the strength from the earth. It will give you the courage and strength to go on.” She passed out the stones Soft thank you could be heard as people murmured their appreciation.

The woman talked as they sat around the fire. Her words were like the sounds of the wind in the leaves on a soft autumn night She spoke of their journey and talked of trust and courage and beauty and the earth, being honorable and sharing. The people listened and heard. There were nods of the headc murmurs of “yes, yes.” Inside themselves they all knew they could do this together. A hush fell over the group as the woman talked. Get a good night’s sleep she ended. You will travel at dawn.

Dawn brought a sky of golds and pinks as the people began their journey.

As the old woman had said, they first came to the mountains of Gorum where they passed through without challenges and came to the sea of stones. The sea was a sea of lava; a hot sea of stones, bubbling and boiling. To touch any stone would mean certain death. A small raft was on the shore; Their only means across to a labyrinth of mazes and tunnels. “How will we cross this inferno?” they said. “The raft will not hold us all. They sat and talked, one person at a time. They listened. The challenge was great. They could not lose one person to this fiery sea. They would have to help the youngest and the oldest. Finally a plan was made. They all knew the plan. They were all committed. They all had to work together or they would not make it. Some were afraid, others offered encouragement. Stones were pulled from pockets and touched and rubbed. What a feeling of success as they all gathered on the other side. “Hurray we did it!!” they cried.

They traveled only by day now as the moon had long; passed its fullness and now only a sliver could be seen. They traveled many days until they came to the Swamps of Mordu. A huge spider web blocked their way to the entrance of the swamp. A web of such beauty yet such danger …  to touch any silken strand would close that hole thereby reducing; the number of openings whereby they could all pass through. They planned. They listened. They all knew the plan. They were committed.

“Hurray Hurray!” they cried as they all reached the other side. But their celebration was short lived as they found themselves at the entrance to the Swamps of Mordu. Marsh birds and the lonely call of a loon could be heard through the thick fog that circled gray and cold around their feet and masked the dangers that lay ahead. Many shivered. This was the home of the Morgs, huge dragon-like creatures that lived beneath the surface of the swamp.; guardians of  the land of the Purple Sun. Their only means across the swamp were 3 small rafts and silence. Silence because the Morgs would be called up by the slightest sound of a human voice. Again they planned, listened, knew the plan and were committed. With great care and silence so quiet it seemed the world stood still, the people crossed. They used signs and gesture but not a sound.

-

An ancient Megalith marked the entrance to the Land of the Purple Sun. Carved on the stone was the message .A riddle you must answer before you may pass through my portals:

This thing all things devour
birds, beasts, trees flowers,
gnaws iron, bites steel,
Grinds hard stones to meal
slays kings, ruins towns,
and beats high mountains down.

What is it?

The people thought long and hard, They discussed possibilities. They listened. “I have it” a young boy finally said. “It's Time ” With this success, they passed in to the Land of the purple Sun and the sky became lavender and far to the west a sun, as purple as a King's royal robe. or as purple as the deepest amethyst, was beginning to set.

“Where do we go now?” The people said. We are in the land.  How will we find the wis..”  Before they could finish their sentence they saw a cottage in the distance sitting near a grove of trees.  As the people approached the cottage the door was suddenly flung open and out came a rather plump little woman with a round, lumpy face and a pair of sharp eyes. Her hair hung like clumps of marsh weeds.  She wore a dark, shapeless robe. Her feet were bare and quite large.

“What can I do for you?” she said cheerily.

“We look for the wisdoms of WE,” the people said.

“You have come to the right place” she smiled.

Are you ready for know the wisdoms?”

“Yes, yes,” the people chorused in unison.

“Well, follow me then” she said with a twinkle. She led them to a place of trees and bushes. and handed them a packet of worn papers. One by one the people read the papers and closer and closer they came to the box, the box that holds the wisdoms.

My story ends here. You should know that the people found the box. They celebrated for days. Such joy. They took the box back with them to their village and I'm sure to this day you will find it there .

What are the wisdoms you may ask?

Journey with me on our quest and you will find out for yourself!

Wool to keep each other warm with words and action

Ancient scarab – Knowledge

Bear – Courage to accept challenge

Crystal – Everything we have comes from the earth

Gold – in everyone’s loving heart.