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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Twenty Two: The First Miracle: July 29, 2002: In the morning, Spirit Guide knew his task. He did not pause for food or drink, but went straight to the fields. There was no one in the fields for, with no rain, there was nothing to do. There was only the pain of seeing the dying plants. Spirit Guide went to the very center of the gardens and lifted his face to the Great Spirit. He raised his arms in supplication and began a song of praise and entreat. Over and over he sang. "Oh Great Spirit, I praise your name. "I praise your works. "I praise your gifts. "Hear my praise, oh Great Spirit. "Oh Great Spirit, our plants wither. "Our plants need rain. "Give your sweet rain, oh Great Spirit. "I praise your name. "I praise your works. "I praise your gifts. "Hear my praise oh Great Spirit." The sun rose slowly from the horizon and Spirit Guide remained steadfast. He continued his plea as the earth beneath his feet grew hot. the sun reached the top of the sky and still he continued in the merciless heat. Then, a small breeze came upon the land. It grew as Spirit Guide continued his song. He felt the breeze, but he looked not away from the sky. He continued his song. With the breeze came clouds out of the West and still Spirit Guide continued. Then a drop of cool water fell upon his face and still he continued. Then more drops came and the drops became a steady outpouring of sweet life giving water. The tiny plants in the fields turned upward toward it. The rain continued as Spirit Guide continued his plea. The Husbandmen heard the rain and came out to stand in it. They gave praise to the Great Spirit. Then they saw Spirit Guide in the field and wondered at it. They came into the fields and whispered and marveled to each other as they watched Spirit Guide and heard his entreat. The rain continued to fall as he continued his plea. Quiet Stalker came out of his lodge to stand beside Soft hand. "The Great Spirit has heard our songs," he exulted. "The great Spirit hears the songs of Spirit Guide, Elder" replied Soft Hand. "I be not certain that he has heard mine." Quiet Stalker looked in the direction of Soft Hand's gaze and saw Spirit Guide. "Ah," he said. "I see now. Think you that Spirit Guide brings the rain." "I be sure of it. I am shamed." "I think Spirit Guide will not fault you." "He need not," answered Soft Hand. "I fault myself. As you noticed, envy fouled my thoughts. Wish I that I had heeded your words." Quiet Stalker put a hand on Soft Hand's shoulder. "I know your pain," he said. "I pray that your heart will heal." "Thank you, Elder. I believe the Great Spirit will provide a way. I need only open my heart." "It is good," said Quiet Stalker. "Now Spirit Guide has brought the rain. I must needs wonder why he remains in the field?" "It is not well for him that he does," said Soft hand. "The rain is cold. A bit feels good. Too much can bring chills and fever." "Aye, perhaps I should speak to him, yet I hesitate to interrupt his plea." "Indeed, we must needs trust the Great Spirit," remarked Soft Hand Wryly. Quiet Stalker smiled. The rain continued on and Spirit Guide continued his plea. People came out from time to time to watch him for a while and marvel at his strength. Long into the day he continued and the rain continued to fall. Then, as evening came on, Spirit Guide began to fail. He sagged slowly to his knees, but continued his song. Finally, he fell to the ground and lay still. Some of the Husbandmen saw and rushed out to him. The rain stopped as they carried him to the lodge of Soft Hand. "Lay him on my mat," said Soft Hand, "then go and bring much soft cloth. Make a fire in my hearth." Soft hand took Spirit Guide's tunic off. He took soft cloths and carefully rubbed his body. Then he wrapped him in robes and moved him near the hearth. He took a bowl and took out his pouches of herbs and roots. He began to crush them in the bowl and added water. He heated smooth stones in the fire to drop into the bowl and warm the liquid. When it was prepared he held Spirit Guide's head up and dripped the elixir into his mouth a bit at a time. It was a potent mix he had made. Still, it took time before Spirit Guide's eyes blinked and gazed upward. It took even longer for his eyes to comprehend. Soft hand held the bowl while he drank the remaining elixir. "Thank you," he whispered to Soft hand. Soft Hand put a hand on Spirit Guide's brow. "It is well. There is no fever. You are spent, but you will regain your strength. Sleep now. It is what you need." Spirit Guide needed no urging. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep and untroubled sleep. For all of the night and much of the following day he slept while Soft Hand kept vigil over him. It was early evening when he awoke. He saw Soft Hand watching him. "You have ministered to me, Elder. I am in your debt." "Nay. It is I who am in debt. I doubted you and I reproached you. I am shamed by it. I beg your leave." Spirit Guide reached up a hand which Soft Hand took. "It is enough. Let it be. The Great Spirit provides. Our fields have rain and your elixir has healed me. It ends well." "Indeed, Spirit Guide. It ends well." "Then let us be brothers." "I am honored." After that day, Spirit Guide and Soft Hand were bonded as friends and brothers. The rains continued to come as was normal for this valley. The crops thrived and all knew there would be a good harvest. Often, when Spirit Guide was not in the fields he would be with Soft Hand. Soft Hand began to teach him of the healer's arts. It was a compelling study for Spirit Guide. He was eager to learn all that Soft Hand could teach him. On good summer days, Soft Hand would take Spirit Guide into the forest and meadows around the village. There, he taught Spirit Guide to recognize and gather the herbs, barks, and roots which were healer's source of remedies. They gathered many of these as their friendship ripened. As he learned from Soft Hand, Spirit Guide practiced the arts of healing and began to help the villagers. He drove out evil spirits and healed boils in some. These were simple things and miracles were not needed. Soft Hand was pleased with Spirit Guide's help. As they wandered the forests, one thing Spirit Guide noticed was the various fungi which thrived in the forest. He had seen many of them before, but one was new to him. He picked on of these and was about to consume it when Soft Hand stayed his hand with force. "What?" said Spirit Guide. "You must never eat that one," admonished Soft Hand. "It is bad." "How bad?" asked Spirit Guide. "I have partaken many fungi." "Not of these," insisted Soft hand. "These be bad. The mushroom is called Wesoomi, that which brings shaking and death. Any who partake perish in pain." "How know you that?" "I have heard the tales and I have seen. One cub of the village did partake. I ministered to him, but to no avail. There is no remedy. Many days he suffered, first with fever, then with chills. In the last day he began to tremble. Then he shook and writhed about on the mat in great pain. Then his whole body was rigid and his eyes were open in terror, but he could not move. Then his bones broke from the pressing of his own flesh and he died before me. It was very bad." "I see," said Spirit Guide and he tossed the fungi to the earth. They continued on, searching for the healing herbs and fungi. Then while Soft Hand was busy selecting leaves from a plant, Spirit Guide heard a clear command in his head. His mother spoke to him. "You must take and eat a small piece of the fungi Wesoomi." Spirit Guide did not hesitate. Quickly he bent and select a small sample and bit off a smaller piece. He swallowed it quickly and dropped the remaining piece. Soft hand turned from his task and looked at Spirit Guide. "You appear troubled, my friend," he remarked. Spirit Guide smiled and said. "I be not troubled. I sometimes hear the voice of my mother." "Ah, said Soft Hand. "I too sometimes hear my departed kin speak, but only in my dreams. Your spirit must be very open to the domain of the Great Spirit." "Yes," replied Spirit Guide. "I so believe." "It is good, my friend." That eve, as Spirit Guide retired, he closed his eyes and went into a deep trance. He dreamed in a new way. Spirit Guide found himself standing on a rise in the center of a green meadow. At one edge of the meadow was a huge lodge made of golden stone. Its walls were taller than the trees about it. Spirit Guide felt beckoned to that lodge and he walked toward it. When he reached the wall, a door swung open and he entered a large golden room. Upon a dias opposite the door was a shining white chair upon which sat his mother. Spirit Guide approached her. "Where be this place, Mother?" he begged. "You be in the domain of the Great Spirit. You are granted leave to visit." "To visit, Mother?" "Aye. You may return. Most who come into this domain have no leave to return." "Be this where departed spirits come to reside." "Some are allowed this far. Not all. Ask no more of that." "Aye, Mother, but why be I here." "You be here to be instructed." "I am humbled." "Indeed, as is fitting. Now harken my words. "You have partaken of the sacred fungi Wesoomi. That is what brought you to this domain. When you return, you must continue to partake. You must add a bit more each day. In one moon's time you will begin to change. Then you will become very ill and suffer great pain and fear. Soft Hand will minster to you. You must listen to him and do as he tells you. He is a true healer. "In your illness, you will have many deep sleeps. In those sleeps, you will again come here for your illumination. It will take many sleeps for that. It is given you to know the wisdom of the Great Spirit." "I am humbled, Mother. I will do as you say." "It is well." With that the dream faded and Spirit Guide returned to normal sleep. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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