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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Eleven, The Teaching: May 13, 2002: As Spirit Guide pondered his life and his fate, he came to many profound questions. Sometimes he would go to Gentlehand for answers. Ofttimes Gentlehand had no answer and he would consult Strong Oak or Spirit Healer for wisdom. After a short time, the three agreed that it was time to prepare Spirit Guide for the rite of passage. Gentlehand spoke to Spirit Guide about it. "I have spoken with the Elder and with Spirit Healer, my son. We are of like mind." "In what matter, Father?" "It is of the matter of your learning," replied Gentlehand. "I learn from you, Father. Is there more I need know?" "Indeed, my son. You have come to me with questions and the replies are beyond my wisdom." "I find you wise indeed, Father. Who would be more so?" "The ones who have given their lives over to pondering and treasuring the works of the Great Spirit." "You speak of Spirit Healer and the Elder, then?" "In truth, I do," replied Gentlehand. "What would you have me do?" asked Spirit Guide. "It is something you know not of, but in the villages of others, where young people grow, there is a ceremony." "Like the ceremony of joining which we shared?" "Like that and not," said Gentlehand. "It is a ceremony for young people who come of age. It is called the rite of passage." "To what purpose, Father." "It is the time when a boy becomes a man and accepts his duty to the village, the people, and the Great Spirit." Spirit Guide's expression showed his surprise. "Have I failed in my duty, Father?" he begged. Gentlehand was immediately filled with regret. "Oh no, my son," he exclaimed. "I am regretful for my words. I have said it poorly. Your deeds are beyond your age. I stand with pride at your deeds. It is another thing of which I speak." "I understood not. I will close my lips while you tell me of this thing, Father," promised Spirit Guide. So Gentlehand explained to Spirit Guide, the custom of the rite of passage as he had experienced it in his own village. It would, of course, be different for Spirit Guide. He would not be instructed in a group of boys and his teachings would be to his special needs. He was, after all, to be the Spirit Guide of the people. Also, he would have the best teachers ever. For the first part of each morning, it was arranged that Spirit Guide would go to the lodge of Strong Oak for his teachings. Strong Oak's methods were not usual. He had learnt a better way while teaching the adult fledglings who came to become of the Quiet Folk. He found that growth is best attained by causing the student to think. In turn, this is best attained by asking questions rather than by the telling of things. Each day he would ask questions of Spirit Guide. As the boy answered, Strong Oak and Spirit healer would listen and aid him through approval or gentle redirection. Both men were surprised at Spirit Guide's insights. They knew he was beyond his years and they quickly set aside the routine teachings. Instead, they began to instruct him to become the Spirit Guide of the people. They taught him as one would teach a future healer. "What is the best way to entreat the Great Spirit?" asked Strong Oak. "When I find a quiet place, I sit and open my heart without petition. It is then that I am most fulfilled," replied Spirit Guide. "That is good, Spirit Guide," said Strong Oak. "I have found it to be a true way. Now, how can you achieve peace?" "I have found that peace cannot be found by seeking. It finds me when I let go of worry and trust the Great Spirit." Spirit Healer laughed with delight. "Your answer is pure and true," he remarked. "Indeed," added Strong Oak. "Now, can you tell us of the nature of illness?" "I know not the nature of all illness, Elder?" "Ponder on it a moment, Spirit Guide." Spirt Guide sat and worried for several minutes. There was no reprieve. The Elders waited patiently. Finally, Spirit Guide said, "I feel that the nature of some illness is cause by a closure of the heart." "How does this cause illness?" Spirt Guide was amazed. "If the heart is closed, the Great Spirit cannot enter," he blurted. "Do I err in this?" "Not at all," laughed Spirit Healer. "I know this to be true. Now, knowing this, how can we heal illness?" "I believe that we cannot heal that kind of illness, Elder. We cannot open a closed heart." "Do you feel that illness cannot be healed?" "Oh no, Elder. Only that we cannot heal it." "How then is illness healed, Spirit Guide?" "We can entreat the Great Spirit and the ill one can try to open his heart." "That is a good start," said Spirit Healer, "but only a start. This is a thing you must ponder on." "Yes," agreed Strong Oak. "We will ask you these things again after a time." "Now how do we seek enlightenment?" asked Spirt Healer. "I believe that we must do our duty and keep our hearts open. When we do this, we grow into an empty vessel. When we are ready, the Great Spirit will fill us." Spirt Healer's eyes grew large with surprise. "Indeed, this is as I believe," he said. "You amaze me with your mindfulness." This is how Spirit Guide's teachings went. Each day he would answer questions before he began his work. After the questions, he would have a day and night to ponder. Ofttimes, he would go into the forest with Grey after tending his mother's tree. There he would ponder his life and thoughts more deeply. One day. when Spirit Guide was gone, Spirit Healer spoke to Strong Oak. "This one will go many lifetimes beyond us in wisdom," he said. "Indeed," agreed Strong Oak. "Very soon he will be beyond our teaching." "You speak true, Strong Oak. It is a good thing and a difficult one." "We can only trust the Great Spirit," said Strong Oak. "He will provide what we lack." "Aye," said Spirit Healer. One day, in his eleventh summer, Spirit Guide was on one of his wanderings in the forest with Grey when the wolf stopped suddenly. She emitted a low growl deep in her throat. Spirit Guide stopped in mid stride and remained frozen in place. Grey growled softly again. "What?" said Spirit Guide softly. "Where?" Grey looked intently ahead of their path. "Come then," said Spirit Guide. Carefully, without a sound he crept toward a thicket a few strides away. Grey followed. Neither took their eyes from the direction Grey had indicated. It took them several minutes to reach the thicket and blend into it, just in time. They watched the trail from within as a stranger come into view. Grey bristled, but made not a sound as the man approached. It was a grown man, but of a different look that the Quiet Folk. He looked different than any traveler that Spirit Guide had ever seen. He moved, not as well as Spirit Guide had, but still with the stealth of a hunter. Yet, he was not hunting. He had no spear and his bow was not in hand. It hung on his shoulder. As he passed, Spirit Guide felt a strange sense of evil which seemed to flow from this man. It caused a shudder in Spirit Guide and he noticed that Grey's hair was standing out from her body. Her tail was straight back and her nose remained pointed at the stranger. Her entire body was tensed for attack. When the man had passed, Spirit Guide sat on the ground beside Grey. He put an arm about her and let a slow breath escape his lips. Grey too let her muscles relax a bit. "He is going toward our village," whispered Spirit Guide. "I feel we should follow him, though my heart trembles at the thought." Spirit Guide rose and began to move toward the trail. Grey quickly got in his way and hindered his motion. "What?" asked Spirit Guide. "What is wrong?" He began to move around the wolf. Grey got in his way again. Then she began pressing against his legs. "You want me to go this way?" Grey pushed again. "Very well. I will follow you. Go!" Grey led off and Spirit Guide followed. After they were many paces off of the trail, Grey turned again toward the village. "Very well Grey. You are right. We will pace him rather than trail him. It is better." Grey, with the better ears and nose, knew the exact location and direction of the stranger. They were able to stay apace of him. Later, as the sun was close to the earth and shadows were long, the stranger came to the gardens of the Quiet Folk. Spirit Guide and Grey watched from a distance as he was greeted by Gentlehand. "Good eve, traveler. Welcome to our village." "Good eve," said the traveler. "What village be this?" "We are the Quiet Folk," smiled Gentlehand. "Come, meet our elder." Gentlehand led him to the longhouse where the people had gathered for the evening meal. He introduced Strong Oak. "Welcome traveler. What be your name?" "I am Quickfoot," said the man. "I come from a village West of here, near the big water. We are called Bandar." The man said it proudly, almost as a challenge. It was clear that he did not fear recognition. By this time, Strong Oak had been told of the Bandar by many travelers. He also knew of the Bandar from the mother of Spirit Guide. He remembered all of that. To Quickfoot, he gave no indication of recognition or knowledge. "We are about to take our evening meal," said strong Oak. "Our fare is simple but adequate. You are welcome to join us." They went into the longhouse and took bowls from the stack by the door. They sat around the circle where the food was passed. It was goats cheese, bread, and fruits. Each partook as to his need. As they ate and talked, Spirit Guide slipped in and sat quietly near the door. Quickfoot asked many questions and Strong Oak answered each one in turn. He told of the life of the Quiet Folk. He told of the birth of Spirit Guide, but neglected to introduce him. He described the miracle of the Golden Earth Mother, and told of the building of the shrine. There was no fear in the telling as the story of the Quiet Folk and the miracle of the Earth Mother's ascension were by then known throughout the land. When the meal ended Strong Oak asked Quickfoot if he wished to stay in the longhouse for the night. He quickly accepted and the others left him alone. Outside, Strong Oak waited for Spirit Guide to speak. "You know of the Bandar, Elder." "Indeed," said Strong Oak. "I have heard many times." "And from my mother." "And from your mother, Spirit Guide." "I fear this one, Elder." "As do I, Spirit Guide, and I fear for you. He knows you not. I saw to that. Let that remain true." "Aye, Elder, but what should we do?" "I think, nothing. He has done no harm yet. I would trust the Great spirit in this thing. If he leaves come morn, there is no harm." "Indeed, I listened to you," said Spirit Guide. "He learnt nought that is not known to most of the nation." Strong Oak smiled. "That was my wish," he said. "But what of this night, Elder?" "Brood not on that, Spirit Guide. I will set a watch." So the watch was set, but the traveler caused no trouble. In the morn he gave thanks and took his leave. In truth, the traveler was a Bandar warrior. Crazy Wolf had hear the tale of Spirit Guide and of this village. He had sent the warrior to discover if a raid would be useful. After his visit and the simple food, Quickfoot knew that a raid would not gain sufficient plunder. He so reported to Crazy Wolf. Thus the Quiet Folk continued to enjoy the protection of the Golden Earth Mother. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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