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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Sixteen, Spirit Guide's Mission: June 17, 2002: Even with the prophecy of his mother and with the sign on the day of his passage, Spirit Guide was troubled. It was a great destiny foretold for him. All others were sure of him. It was his alone to wonder about his own strength and his own wisdom. It was his alone to wonder at the how of his duty. It was his alone to wonder at what he must needs do to gain the wisdom foretold for him. It was well to trust the Great Spirit, but he felt that more was required. He sensed that some sacrifice was his to perform. After several days of pondering, he spoke to Gentlehand. "Father, it is time, I feel, to seek the counsel of the Great Spirit through my mother," he said. "This could be true. I so believe," said Gentlehand. "Your mother has already counseled you once." "Indeed, about Grey and about my destiny." "And now?" "I would know what I must do," replied Spirit Guide. "Do you have a plan?" asked Gentlehand. "I do, Father. I feel I must needs cleanse myself for many days. I must open myself. Perhaps then, my mother will come to show me the beginning of my path." "How will you do this?" "I must go alone once again into the forest to cleanse myself and await my direction." "Then you must needs act soon. The winter will be upon us soon enough." "Aye, Father. I plan to go at first light." Gentlehand could only smile wryly. "As always, you do not delay when you have come to a plan." So it was, that Gentlehand stood in the gardens and watched Spirit Guide as he moved into the forest. Once again, he whispered his own entreat to the Great Spirit and the Golden Earth Mother. Spirit Guide knew where to go. It was a spot which had grown sacred to him. He went to his shelter where the streams joined. He had built well and it stood as he had left it. There he began his cleansing and songs of entreat. He knew this was to be a long ordeal. It would be a test for him, but his will was strong. Indeed, the ordeal was longer than even he had thought. It began with a waning half moon and he was still without insight as the following first quarter passed. His strength had waned, but his will remained. If he was to perish here, he was prepared. Just as his mother had so many summers ago, he had done his best. His thoughts began to wander and dreams tormented him. He lay, much of the time, in an unreal land of half dream. Days passed. Then, late of one night, his thoughts cleared. He knew someone was near. With little strength remaining, he crawled from his shelter and leaned his back against a tree. Then, out of the forest came the Golden Earth Mother. She stood before him, slim and beautiful in golden radiance. "You come," he whispered. "I come because you have asked guidance," she answered. "You entreats have been heard." "I am thankful, Mother. tell me, what I must do." "There will be a learning time for you my Son. You must journey." "To what place?" "To many places, over Fertileland and amongst the Nation of People." "To learn from the people?" "Indeed. The wisdom of the Great Spirit resides in the people." "And they will show it to me?" "From them you will learn much and you will teach it back to them." "This is a riddle for me," remarked Spirit Guide. "Will I teach them what they already know?" "It is the riddle, my Son, for the people know, yet they do not know." "How is this so?" "I will tell you this tale. When the Great Spirit created the People, he breathed his own spirit into them. Thus they knew the wisdom of the Great Spirit. This was good. Then the people wandered over the land and the nation grew, but there were many things to attract the people. They learned of these new things and the wisdom of the Great Spirit faded in their thoughts. Now they practice the rites and they say the words, but these things are in their heads. In their hearts is an empty space." "They have the practice, but not the spirit of the practice." "Yes, my Son. You speak with wisdom. So, they know and yet they do not know." "Then, it is mine to take it from their words and put it back into their hearts?" "Indeed, that is the first part of you destiny." "There is more?" "There is much more, for you are indeed the chosen one." "I beg for the strength to be worthy of this honor." "You will find such strength as is your need." "What further must I do?" "As you journey to learn and teach, you will come upon a village. There you will tarry." "How will I know it?" "The memory of the place is in the spirit of your ancestry. You will know it." "What will I find there, Mother?" "There, you will be lead into the forest where you will undergo a great ordeal. Many days of suffering will befall you. This cannot be evaded. It is yours to suffer." "I will suffer whatever I must in my service." "Indeed, my Son. As must we all. Peace and wisdom come out of suffering." "Will I learn from this?" "Indeed, my Son. You will be filled with the wisdom of creation. It will be yours to know the truths show to none before you." Spirit Guide trembled. He was wise enough to know that this knowledge of the Gods would indeed be a heavy burden for a man. A duty more than an honor. "I am indeed humbled. I would not seek such an honor. I pray I can sustain it." "The Great Spirit will sustain you, my Son. As he does me." "Thank you Mother. Your words comfort and strengthen me. When am I to begin my journey?" "When the first new blades of grass show, you must begin." "Thank you, Mother." "Now you must rest. You have lost much strength in your cleansing. You must wait here. Someone will come to help you." " This time, I was not afraid. I know the Great Spirit will provide. I simply wondered at the how of it," smiled Spirit Guide, ‘for I am weakened indeed." "Someone will come," she said. "Now, know this. The Great Spirit is the father of all beings and things. He is my father and your father. He provides in plenty. Trust in the Great Spirit and you can do all things. Nothing is beyond your power when you are one with the Great Spirit." Spirit Guide closed his eyes with a smile. His mother's words were inscribed in his heart. They were words he would repeat ofttimes to many students over time. "The Great Spirit is the father of all beings and things. He is my father and your father. He provides in plenty. Trust in the Great Spirit and you can do all things. Nothing is beyond your power when you are one with the Great Spirit." Spirit Guide fell into a deep exhausted sleep. He dreamed many dreams. In one dream, he seemed to awake and Little Warrior was in his shelter, kneeling beside him. He held Spirit Guide's head in his arm and dripped water into his mouth from a cup. Then he carefully placed bits of cheese and bread into his mouth. He smiled down at Spirit Guide. "You are in a difficult trial, my friend," he grinned. "Did the Great Spirit forget about you?" Spirit Guide tried to answer, but he had no strength for it. Little Warrior laughed and dripped more water into Spirit Guides mouth. "Never mind, my friend. Save your strength. You will need it." Spirit Guide slept again. In the next few days, he awoke many times and each time Little Warrior was there, caring for him. It was a strange time for Spirit Guide. While Spirit Guide suffered his ordeal, Gentlehand became more and more concerned. The half moon came and still there was no sign. Finally, Gentlehand could no longer wait and trust. He informed Strong Oak, then he set out to find his son. He had some thoughts about where to go from the tales Spirit Guide had told him of his adventures. He went through the forest with great worry until he came to the shelter, just as Spirit Guide had told him of it. There he found his son, in a deep sleep inside. Beside him was a cup of water, some bits of bread and some cheese. From whence it came he knew not, for no one was about. Gentlehand knelt beside Spirit Guide and touched his cheek. It was well. There was no fever. He sighed in relief as Spirit Guide opened his eyes. "Father," he said, weakly. "I am here, Son," answered Gentlehand. Spirit Guide looked about. "Did he go?" he asked. "Who?" asked Gentlehand. "Who was here?" "Little Warrior. He brought me water and food." "I see the food and water, Son," said Gentlehand. "Little Warrior, I see not." Spirit Guide blinked in confusion. "He was here but a moment ago, Father. He fed me." "It is clear that someone fed you." "I know. It was like a dream Father, but I saw him kneeling over me." "Strange," said Gentlehand. "Why would he come and why would he then leave you?" "I know not, Father." "Time to ponder that later," said Gentlehand. "You are much weakened. I must get you strong enough to journey again." "Aye, Father. It is time to go home." "Past time, I think. Did you find the answers you sought?" "Aye, Father. She came to me, as I was sure she would; my Mother. She told my what I must do." "That is good, my Son. It is enough for now. We will talk of it later. Eat now and drink, then rest. I will be with you as long as needs be." "Thank you, Father, but what of Little Warrior. Did I dream it?" "I know not, my Son. Should he return, I will wake you. If not, we must needs ponder on it later." "Aye, Father. I am in your hands." Spirit Guide closed his eyes. Little Warrior never returned and a few days later, Gentlehand took Spirit Guide home to regain his strength. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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