You
are standing in a clearing on a hill, surrounded by woods.
Before
you stands a stone tower, the surface half-covered with moss.
There
are ancient symbols carved into the stones and as you try to decipher them you
notice a rough wooden door, dark with age.
You
pull on the latch and slowly, the door opens enough to allow you to enter.
Inside
it is quiet. Light filters in from windows high above and the air smells of
wood smoke and blackberries. The floor is smooth and worn. There is a stair to your left spiraling
upward and to your right leading down.
You
turn to your left and begin to ascend the stair. The stone steps are even and smooth and easy
to climb. The light and air are warm and
fragrant. You can see glimpses of blue
sky through the high narrow windows above you and you climb step by step up and
around and up and up and up and around.
You can no longer see the door but you keep climbing wondering when you
will reach the top. Just as you are
considering turning back you come to another door.
The
stair continues to spiral even further upward and you consider continuing your
ascent but you notice a hammer hanging by the door.
The
door is a warm golden wood finely carved with intricate spirals and graceful
symbols. You test the latch and the door
opens smoothly and easily outward into an orchard, filled with the sunshine of
a bright summer day. There is a path
through the trees in front of you lined with blackberry bushes full of ripe
black sweet berries.
You
hear the sound of a hammer striking an anvil in a regular rhythm and you follow
the orchard path to the source of the sound.
The trees are large and in full leaf and you cannot see beyond the ones
immediately surrounding you. But you keep following the sound until just when
you begin to think that the sound is actually your own heartbeat you step out
from the next tree and find a roofed structure with no walls.
Beneath
the roof is a Forge. The coals are
glowing and a woman stands at the anvil beating the metal she is working, with
the hammer in her hand. She is tall with a strong body and a presence that is even larger. She seems to take up all the space within the forge. Her short red hair, her entire body, seem to glow with flame.
She plunges the
piece into the basin of water beside her and the steam rises. She then looks at you with bright hazel eyes and smiles a warm
and welcoming smile, wiping sweat from her brow with her forearm.
This
is Brighid, the Goddess of Smiths, the Mother of Midwives, and the Muse of
Poets. Warrior, Healer and Fiery
Arrow. Go to her and she will transform
you, speak with her and she will heal you, listen to her and she will inspire
you.
When
you feel it is time to go, thank the Lady and take your leave of Her. Follow the path through the orchard back to
the tower. The door stands open and you enter and descend the stair then pass
through the open door to the place where you began.
