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Back to Wesoomi's Archives The Legend of Wesoomi: Ten, The Tree of Life: May 6, 2002: When Spirit Guide was in his eighth summer, he enquired of Gentlehand about the shrine. Gentlehand told him the story, as he knew it, of his mother and how Spirit Guide came to be. He passed over the details of the birth and told of the burning afterward. He explained in detail about the miracle of the Golden Earth Mother and how the shrine came to be built. He told of how the stone had to be brought to make the shrine right. "How did she come to you?" asked Spirit Guide. "I know not," my son. "I only know that Grey took me to her. I saw that she had suffered a grim ordeal." "And she expired in giving me life?" "Aye, my son. It was her will to ensure your birth, else she might have perished ere she came to us. Her will was much strengthened by that need." "Thank you Father. This knowledge brings a great woe unto me. Yet, I must needs know of it. It is a part of me." "Indeed. I grieve for your pain." "Thank you Father." "We must know that it is the will of the Great Spirit," said Gentlehand. "We are not given to know his plan or his goals." "Aye, father. Still it lays heavy upon me." Gentlehand put an arm about his son and Spirit Guide lay his head on his father's breast. Thus they sat for several minutes. Then Spirit Guide said, "I find this thought that I am to be a guide of men to be strange to me. I feel that I am just a boy." "Indeed you are; but a very special boy to me. I also find this idea of your fate to be strange. Yet, I feel if we trust in the Great Spirit, we will all be guided. When I think that, I think that you could indeed be his chosen tool. Why should you not be?" "Perhaps, Father, perhaps. It is a thing I must ponder as I must ponder the ordeal of my mother." "It is a difficult thing my son. Know that I am near whenever you have a need." "I do Father, and that gives my strength." It took many days for Spirit Guide to absorb this story and to find his peace with it. In that time, Gentlehand remained ever near him. Gradually he found what peace was to be had from it and his work and learning went on. One morning, in Spirit Guide's ninth summer, Gentlehand awoke and Spirit Guide was not on his mat. He looked about and saw that Spirit guide was not inside the lodge at all. Then he arose quickly and went outside to look. He discovered that Spirit Guide was not near, nor was the grey wolf. Gentlehand became frightened. He went about the village and then to the gardens. Still he found not Spirit Guide or the grey wolf. He rushed to the lodge of Strong Oak and burst in. Strong Oak was already awake, but surprised by the sudden intrusion. "What is it, Gentlehand?" he asked. "I have failed, Elder," cried Gentlehand. "Spirit Guide is gone." "How? What has occurred?" "I know not, Elder. I awoke and he was gone." "It must be that he wandered," said Strong Oak. "He cannot be far. What of the wolf?" "The wolf also," worried Gentlehand. "He is gone." "That is good," said Strong Oak. "That one will not let harm befall the cub." "I must needs entreat the Great Spirit that you speak true." "Indeed, let us entreat the Great Spirit. Let us also search for Spirit Guide while we do." "Aye, Elder," replied an anxious Gentlehand. They went out and saw Long Strider outside his lodge. "Please bring our brothers to the lodge of Gentlehand," said Strong Oak. "Aye, Elder," replied Long Strider. "To what end?" "Spirit Guide is gone." Long Strider hurried away while Gentlehand and Strong Oak went to Gentlehand's lodge. "The Great Spirit has brought Spirit Guide to us," said Strong Oak. "Aye, Elder, he has put him in my care and I have failed," grieved Gentlehand. "I think not," said Strong Oak. "The care was not yours alone. The Great Spirit provides in abundance. Do not forget the wolf." At the door of Gentlehand's lodge, Strong Oak knelt down and began examining the earth. He looked at the dew on the blades of grass and at the marks in the earth. "The marks show the boy and the wolf trod here this morn. They went toward the gardens." "I should have marked these things ere I came to you," declared Getlehand. "Even in that I failed." "Do not fault yourself, Gentlehand. Fault is in the domain of the Great Spirit. Be it due, he will see to it. Trust the Great Spirit." "I must trust," replied Gentlehand humbly. "I know not else." "Aye," said the Elder. "I must believe that the Great Spirit did not give us this trust just to take it away." The others gathered and Strong Oak spoke. "I see the tread of the boy and the wolf go here," he said pointing to the trail. "They go toward the gardens. Let us search the far edges and note, if we can, where they go beyond the garden. I sense that they entered the forest beyond." The brothers went quickly to search. They scanned the earth between the forest and the gardens. "It is here," called one. Strong Oak and Gentlehand went to the place quickly. "Yes, I see," said Strong Oak. "Gentlehand and I will follow this trail. Others may wish to remain here, lest they return by a different path. Call out to us, be it so." Aye," said several voices. "Let us go then Gentlehand." Gentlehand needed no urging. He was already crouched low and following the tracks. The others took places around the edge of the village to watch for Spirit Guide. The pair were but a few minutes into the forest when Spirit Guide appeared coming toward them. The wolf walked beside him. Gentlehand was hard on the trail looking to the earth, thus Strong Oak saw them first. "They come," he said. Gentlehand looked up and saw them. He raised his eyes upward and spoke to the Great Spirit. "Thank you, Great Spirit." Strong Oak added his praise to Gentlehand's. Spirit Guide came toward them with a great smile. He carried a small plant cupped in his hands. "Good morn, Father," he said. "Good morn, Elder. What do you in the forest, this morn?" Gentlehand looked astonished. "We come to search for you," he blurted. "To what end?" he queried. "What has occurred?" "You were lost," blurted Gentlehand. "Oh no, Father. I was not lost," said Spirit Guide. "I was here in the forest with Grey." Gentlehand's mouth moved and he made sounds, but no words. He was perplexed and his acts showed it. Strong Oak put a hand on his shoulder to calm him. "You were not in the village," said Strong Oak. "We feared for your safety." "Oh!" said Spirit Guide, in understanding. "You need not have feared. Grey was with me." "So I see," smiled Strong Oak. "But we could not know that. No one so spoke to us." Then Spirit Guide grasped the issue. "I have been careless," he said with chagrin. "I did not tell you ere I left, Father. I thought not to do it. I have grieved you." "It matters not now," rejoiced Gentlehand. "You are safe. Naught else matters." "Thank you Father. As ever, you are generous. I am fortunate in your care. I regret the grief I have brought you." "It is enough," said Gentlehand. "Let us put it aside now. You are safe. I am filled with joy." "What carry you in your hands?" Queried Strong Oak. "It is the tree for which my mother sent me." "Your mother? The Golden Earth Mother?" "Aye, Elder, The Golden Earth Mother and my own mother." "You speak true," said Strong Oak. "What be this tree for which she sent you?" "It is the tree of life Elder." Strong Oak looked closely at the plant and saw that it was a black walnut seedling standing in the mound of soil in Spirit Guide's hands. Parts of the nut shell had been scooped up with it. "How did your mother send you for this?" asked Strong Oak. "She spoke to me in a dream. She told me to go to a place in the forest where I would find the tree of life. When I awoke, I did as she said. I followed the path as I was guided and found this tiny tree where she told me it would be. I was bringing it back when you found me, Elder." "What is the purpose of this tree, Spirit Guide?" "It is to mark the Shrine of the Golden Earth Mother, my mother. There I am to plant it. It is given to me to care for it until it firmly grips the earth." "I see that this is a good thing," said Strong Oak. "Yes, Elder," agreed Spirit Guide. "The tree will grow tall and live long to mark and shelter the Shrine. So long as it lives, so long will the Golden Earth Mother remember the Quiet Folk and their kindness to her. So long will the Quiet Folk and the shrine have her protection. She so spoke to me." "This is a great thing. It is blessing on our brotherhood," said Strong Oak. "I am filled with joy." "Aye, Elder," said Spirit Guide, "and my mother has spoke to me. I know she is well and in the service of the Great Spirit. I too am filed with joy." "Indeed. This is a great thing for you. Let us go now, so you may complete your task." The three followed the path back. They went through the gardens and the village to the Shrine of the Earth Mother. The other villagers followed along. "What has occurred?" asked one. "Spirit Guide brings the Tree of Life," answered Strong Oak. "He was sent by the Golden Earth Mother to bring it. It is to mark the Shrine and to bless us." At the Shrine, Spirit Guide knelt upon the ground. Using his flint knife, he cleared a spot near the door and dug a small hole. There he planted the tree, where it would receive the sun and be sheltered from the strongest winds. Then as he stood he looked up to Spirit Healer. "Let us raise our faces to the Great Spirit," said Spirit Healer. The assemble men looked toward the sky and Spirit Healer began a song to the Great spirit. he offered praise and thanked the Great Spirit for the tree and its protection. He offered strong thanks to the Golden Earth Mother. When he finished, the sun slipped out from behind a cloud and shone upon the shrine and the tree. "It is a good sign," said Spirit Healer. In the days and summers which followed, Spirit Guide never forgot the tree or his duty to it. Each day, after his work, he would check the tree and provide whatever it needed. Often, Gentlehand came with him. Often, they entered the shrine together and felt the sacred sense of the place. They never spoke, but stood together at the stone. Travelers continued to come from far distances to meditate at the shrine and to see the cub which the Great Spirit delivered into the keep of the Gentle Folk. Spirit Guide, though polite, did nothing to encourage them. He continued with his own work and learning. He often went into the forest with Grey to ponder the fate which had befallen him. He never failed to tell Gentlehand when he did. Back to Wesoomi's Archives
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