LUMINA

I am Lumina, A star seed among billions of star seeds Gathering from the star nations of the Universe In my cells I hold the secrets of creation, and the elements The beauty and soul of Great Mystery

One day a star seed fell upon the earth and lodged deep within the soft rich soil on the forest floor. The seed lay dormant for a very long time. Season after season would bestow it's gifts upon the earth and be absorbed by the gestating star seed beneath. Gradually the star seed began to take form and shape from all that it became aware of and emerged into the light as a tiny female, for it is within the dark, the great void, that feminine energy evolves.

This female creature was quite helpless and dependent upon all that surrounded her for her survival and shelter, for she was no longer protected within the womb of the earth.

A butterfly, brown and orange and gold, came to light nearby, and seeing the bantam nymph, took ruth on her.

The butterfly carried her off to a lofty tree branch where, under a great broad leaf, encircled her in a cocoon to protect her from the harshness of the weather. A great wise owl watched over her and spoke to her of the beginning of earth. He told her of the written words of creation and what the most common beliefs were in the forest. He protected her at night from predators who might wish her harm or swallow her up in their hungry need.

The diminutive damsel continued to develop within the cocoon, watched over and sustained by the butterfly and taught by the owl.

The butterfly stayed close to protect the cocoon and it's treasure inside. It fanned the hanging chrysalis with it's wide wings in the heat of the day, whisking away the dust and the pollen that drifted on the wind and settled on the hanging cradle.

The butterfly hummed soft melodies to soothe the young creature and sang to her songs of the wonders to be found on earth. The great owl flew about at night, warding off anything that might be curious about the thing in the chrysalis. She was so protected and cared for.

Finally, one morning, the cocoon withered and dried in the heat of the sun and the maiden emerged into the daylight as a blossom springs from a bud. She was physically complete and just behind her shoulder blades were gossamer wings.

The butterfly called her a fairy and named her Lumina for the stars from where she had come and for the light she had been born into. She was exquisite in her beauty, perfect in form, and so anxious to start her life on earth.

At first she was quite timid about taking a step beyond the protection of the broad leaf, but at the patient urging of the butterfly and the cautioning council of the owl, she ventured further and further each day until she was comfortable to sit at the end of the tree branch and view the scenery about her.

The forest was lush and green and full of sounds and shadows and filtered light and fragrances. She breathed in deeply. She stood and fanned her wings and ever so carefully she began to rise, feeling the space between her feet and the branch widen, as she lifted gently into the air. She was caught in a slight updraft and continued to move upward. She then floated away from her safe haven, and into the morning.

Lumina flew about the forest, in and out and around the trees, lighting here and there for an instant and immediately setting off again in another direction. She was intoxicated with the pleasure of this feeling of freedom and curious to see everything in the forest.

She swept down to the forest floor and landed on a toadstool and watched the crawling creatures skitter among the mulch.
She flew to a deep green pond and landed on a lilypad sitting like a little princess on a throne in the center of it's flower. She splashed her tiny feet in the warm water and laughed as a startled fish jumped in front of her. She wrinkled her nose at a frog nearby and croaked back when he called to her.

She flew into the hollow of a tree and stumbled upon a nest of baby wrens all chirping wildly for food. She played tag with he bees and tasted the sweetness of honeycomb.

She danced upon the sunbeams shining through the trees, she flew to the very edge of the forest and peered at the vastness beyond. It was all so new, so exhilarating, so.......................she had to see more.

Lumina let herself drift on the wind for awhile, then spread her wings, stretched her body, and took direction straight ahead.

She did not hear the cry of the butterfly on her tailwind or the warning of the owl, admonishing her against unforeseen dangers.

She was free and she could fly.

TERRANIA

I am Terrania, of this earth I seek the knowledge of her strengths and weaknesses, the nuance of her colors hues within hues within hues within hues And I set my claim upon her territories

Carried swiftly by the thermals, Terrania was swept out of the forest into a meadow, a sea of golden grass and wildflowers. She could hardly catch her breath, and her ears were whistling with the wind. Her hair streamed out behind her and her little wings were held rigid against her back. Suddenly aware of the velocity at which she moved, she was fearful of plunging downward. That is precisely what happened, for the wind shifted , as the wind does, and down she went with a great thump upon the ground.

"What has happened here?" she thought. She must have taken a wrong turn. Where was the forest and the butterfly, who cared for her and nurtured her and where was the wise old owl to protect her? Her rump hurt, she felt foolish and she was lost.

She heard something rustle in the tall grass and she stifled a cry with her tiny fist. To her horror, a rather large and long creature with a million legs moved ever so near. She tried to find a place to hide but he saw her anyway. He told her to step out where he could see her and, not knowing what else to do, she obeyed. He looked her up and down and said that she was the most beautiful little bug he had ever encountered and would she care to accompany him to his place.

He said she could ride on his back and it would take no time since he had so many legs to carry them swiftly through the grass.

Terrania, no longer afraid, but now rather curious agreed, for the creature seemed so cheerful and friendly. She climbed up on his back and got the ride of her little life. It was exciting, it was fast, she was quite impressed with the motion of his undulating body and where it carried her. She was seeing things she had not seen before as they moved through the foliage. New plants, new creatures, new colors, deeper, richer, more intense.

The Millipede lived under a huge log, which was not very pleasant in odor, something rotting in there perhaps The place looked safe enough to Terrania. He invited her to stay with him, until she could find her way back to the forest, he said. She believed, she had no reason or experience not to. So she stayed.

At first it was all so interesting, though she longed to see the forest and dance in the sunlight and splash her feet in the pond.

Here she lived almost underground, none of the creatures had wings that were used for flying, they rooted around in the dirt beneath the tall grass.

The Millipede brought all his creature friends round to see his new guest. They marveled at her tiny perfection and her lovely delicate wings. She was the center of attention and put on display quite often. She was so admired for her beauty and charm that even the odd beetle whispered promises of gifts and pleasures if she would run away with him. But she remained.

The Millipede told her that he worshipped her beauty and that he wished she would stay with him forever, and Terrania was so happy for the attention and after a while she quite forgot about the forest and all the wonderful things she had hoped to see.

The Millipede took care of her just as the butterfly and the owl had done. She was safe, she was protected. She was wrong.

One morning, the Millipede, for some unknown reason, woke up in a foul mood and told Terrania he was tired of looking after her.

He yelled at her, saying she must start to pull her own weight about the place, cleaning, gathering food and feeding him for a change. He told her that it was time she took some responsibility for her own existence and earn her keep.

Terrania didn't understand this attitude. She asked the Millipede what she had done to disappoint him and he hit her with one of his legs, the same leg that had stroked her hair and ever so gently held her tiny hand and caressed her arms.

The creature turned from Terrania knocking her down and moved out of the hollowed log. Terrania was aghast, she had never known such anger and could not understand why it was directed towards her.

The next morning, having spent time pondering her dilemma, and after the Millipede had left, Terrania decided to it was time to leave this place. He had warned her, that since she did not know the territory, she might be beset upon by some danger or fall into a pit, or be bitten by a poisonous snake or swallowed up by some predacious creature.

The Millipede had been quite emphatic that she remain within his domicile. But fairies are curious by nature, and now confused and angered by this new circumstance, she felt she must flea this place. She knew it was time to be free and investigate the world around her.

Tentatively at first, and then gaining more courage, Terrania moved further and further away from the Millipede's log. She sniffed the heavy earthy smell of her surroundings and it brought back a fleeting image of a dark soft place somewhere in the back of her memory. She dismissed it.

Terrania had no idea which direction to take because she was at ground level and could not see very far around her. Each time she tried to fan out her wings, there was no updraft to carry her and the grass was so dense, she couldn't even really get a good wing spread anyway. She had to be content to move on foot, as did most of the creatures she had seen in this place.

She saw that everything growing close to the ground took on the color of the earth and as the taller plants and flowers rose higher their colors were brighter as they reached upward for the sun and her eyes settled on a deep red flower.

Just as Terrania was climbing onto a large twig so that she could admire the flower, a shadow crossed over her and she was startled. Something huge was coming down on top of her and she froze.

She cried out and the shadow hesitated.

The grass in front of her separated and a large black nose and wide brown eyes on a tan face poked through. A soft snort greeted her. This creature had an enormous head and ears that seemed almost as tall as the grass. It was a deer, she had heard and seen them at the edge of the forest, where they sometimes slept under the trees. She knew it to be a gentle, rather timid animal, so she was not afraid after all.

She struggled up the branch and onto the deer's nose. It slowly raised it's head above the tall grass.

Terrania could once again see the bright sky and she momentarily forgot about the rotten log and the angry Millipede and she let the deer carry her away.

PRESTONIA

I am Prestonia, I offer peace and tranquillity to a troubled world I bestow a welcoming hand and words of encouragement a safe place to rest for the traveler lost in time

Prestonia slowly opened her eyes and immediately felt secure in the enfolding petals of the large rose colored flower. It's great yellow stamen drooped over her like an umbrella, shading her face from the sun. It was so quiet, so peaceful here at the edge of the meadow near the forest. She stood and stretched her little arms and spread her wings in the sun and heaved a great sigh of contentment.

How long had it been since she had come here with the gentle creature? How long had been since the deer had been killed. She missed the deer.

It was a frightful the day, the day he died. She didn't want to remember it but it kept coming back to her.

They had been frolicking in the field, she flying about in circles and Deer jumping about chasing her.
They were so preoccupied with the fun that they had not sensed the peril. Deer are normally so sensitive to changes in the wind that carry the scent of danger but it was such a carefree time and they were careless.

There was a loud report, a sharp cracking sound and Deer went down. One moment they were enjoying their playfulness, the next moment, it was over. And Prestonia was alone.

She had flown to her safe flower, the large red one and shivered through the night.

She remembered seeing two men running towards the dead deer shouting about the good kill, their accuracy at aim, their prowess as hunters.

Oh, she knew about hunters of all sorts. There were always predators to fear. That was the nature of things, but these men were not hunting for food or survival. They hunted for sport.

She wondered if they would make a trophy of her lost friend. She had heard from Deer that sometimes humans even put butterflies in jars or pinned them to paper. She would certainly fit in a jar but the thought of being pinned to a piece of paper made her shudder. Why did humans do such things?

She was so grateful for her flower and she still had friends about her. The bees came and shared nectar with her and buzzed about the news of the meadow and the rumors drifting about the forest. She had heard tales upon tales of all the different creatures and their habits. Who was chasing who, and who ruled over who, it went on and on.

Everyone had a story. Everyone had their own interpretation of every story and everyone had their own opinion of the interpretation of every story.

Sometimes her mind was filled with so much information, it was hard to dissimulate what was real and what was opinion. So she quietly nodded her head in the places she was expected to comment and listened intently. She eventually accumulated a rather extensive education about the world in general. At night, when she was alone, she gazed up at the stars in the sky, surrounded by night sounds, crickets chirping, owls hooting in the distance, tree frogs singing in the forest, and she felt the quiet in her heart.

Prestonia decided that she would consider all the information, stories and advice that had been offered to her but she would start to ask questions about the truth of it all. What were the right questions?

Prestonia decided to leave the meadow, to seek out new places and companions. She was anxious to learn more but no longer trusted the validity of what she had already been told.

Wings spread wide, Prestonia flew up and away from the meadow and the forest beyond, and headed towards the sun in the southern sky.

WARRINIA

I am Warrinia, carrier of the torch Seeker of truths Defender of cause, champion of effect I stand at face value to the world And pledge my oath to defend my rights

The air was thick with moisture and pregnant with the promise of rain, the clouds moved in mighty waves across the horizon. Thunder rolled in the distance and the crack of lightning was like an explosion in the somber sky.

Warrinia knew she must find shelter before the onslaught of the torrents of rain that would come with the building wind. If she did not, she might be blown off course.

It had been an arduous journey, filled with hidden dangers and unusual occurrences. Warrinia paused on many occasions to seek direction from creatures who seemed very obliging, meaning no harm to her tiny person. She had set out on this trip with an anxious heart to find the some truth in history, for it seemed to her that the truth in history was subject to the interpretation of the teller at the time and reflected the tellers' point of view.

She had no conception of what she would encounter on this somewhat bold adventure. She had been raised cautiously in the forest, and when she left, she had been bruised in the bush. She had been rescued and transported briefly to a place of peace but that protection had been terminated as well. Her only salvation was to move forward on her own, to utilize her own intelligence and strength to find the design of her destiny.

She sought shelter from the oncoming storm and swept down to a small stand of trees sitting in the middle of a field.

Warrinia was just about to crawl into an open knot in the branch of a tree when she heard a loud squawk right above her. She looked up and saw a huge black crow peering down at her. She inquired if she was intruding in the crow's space and he answered that no indeed, he was quite glad for the company. He said it wasn't very pleasant being alone during a summer storm. She was, she discovered, grateful for the companionship, for she had felt some trepidation about the storm herself.

The crow asked Warrinia how it was that she came to this place and she explained that she was a seeker of the truths of history.

Crow thought she was a strange little bird, but he said that it was no coincidence that they now shared the same branch.

Warrinia had no idea what the crow meant by this revelation but she was willing to listen and it would help to pass the time.

Crow told Warrinia that he was the keeper of the sacred Laws of the Universe and that he knew the mysteries of creation.

Crow said that he could magically bend the laws of the physical universe and actually shift his shape. Crow further explained that he could see the physical world and the nether world as history interprets them, but they were an illusion. He said that there were billions of worlds and an infinitude of creatures. All were created to be different and unique and wonderful as was intended.

Warrinia asked the crow how he learned all of this during his brief time on earth and Crow said that he did not live on earth time; he lived in world that had no sense of time.

Crow explained that Warrinia must not look at her life and the events that had occurred from her singular point of view. She must reflect on the significance of the occurrences she had experienced and to understand why they had brought her this far. Crow warned Warrinia that she must speak out in a powerful voice when issues seemed out of harmony, out of balance or unjust to her.

She must look at the world with two eyes, both looking in different directions.

Warrinia felt she was getting lost somewhere in the semantics of Crow's speech and asked him to pause so that her whirling brain could digest some of which he spoke.

She told him that she wanted to find her purpose for being on earth, she wanted to find a peaceful place to stay. She wanted to be free to fly and dance and sing, but mostly, she wanted to find someone just like her. She did not want to be alone.

Crow cocked his head and looked at Warrinia first with one eye and then the next. Crow calmly said that she must put aside her fear of being alone and that once she found her personal integrity, and learned to be her own guide in all matters, her sense of aloneness would vanish.

All during the time the crow was speaking to Warrinia, the storm raged about them. It was as though they were sitting smack in the middle of the eye of the storm and the turbulence left them untouched. When Warrinia finally realized this and pointed out how lucky they were to have been spared any discomfort, Crow merely commented that the physical laws of nature could be dispelled and bent to create a more peaceful place. It was a matter of balance. Then he was silent.

Warrinia would have like to have spent more time with Crow, but he now seemed pressed to move on and she had her own journey to continue.

She was grateful for the storm and for choosing the exact place to land, where Crow just happened to be, and she appreciated the words he had imparted to her.

Although she did not understand most of what Crow had said, Warrinia felt they would have significance for her in the future.

STELLARIA

I close my eyes and see the tapestry of the night sky The images unfold in glorious color Moving in a procession, stories unlimited Enter my mind and fill my heart with joy

The brilliance of the sunlight was almost blinding as Stellaria paused beside a small creek to quench her thirst. She had been flying for days, sometimes without rest for many hours, since this country was sparsely treed. The landscape was arid with only a small oasis of shrub here and there for shade. Yet she admired it's stark beauty and the golden color of the land in the daylight.

She found a little shade under a desert pine and rested her weary body on a bed of fallen needles. The day's heat was at it's fullest with the noonday sun and she immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Stellaria wasn't sure if she had woken or was still within the dream, but she was no longer in the place where she landed earlier that day, or whatever day it was. She had been walking in her dream for what seemed like a very long time. The sky was dark and sparkled with stars and the moon was full and bright enough to see the craters of it's face.

Stellaria was moving though a canyon with narrow rock walls so that she could faintly hear the echo of her footsteps upon the hard earth. She thought this was quite odd, since she was so tiny, the sound of her footfalls would hardly be discernible.

She heard a small cry in the distance. She stopped, catching her breath and waited to move on. Was it her imagination or had something moved in the shadows just ahead where the rock jutted out over the canyon floor.

Cautiously she began to move forward, and again she heard the same cry. It was a small plaintive voice and the thought occurred to her that in all the places she had been, could she meet another of her kind in such a remote location.

Spurned on by this thought she moved forward until she was beneath the rock overhang. Underneath the shelf was an opening. But whatever lay beyond that was impossible to see. Perhaps more darkness, perhaps danger.

Again Stellaria heard the faint call, and it came from within. She mustered all of her courage and stepped into the darkness. She took very long breathes and tried to compose her apprehension and the pounding in her heart.

She inhaled the coolness of her surroundings, the musk of the dirt and the dampness of the rock and she began to feel less agitated.

Stellaria moved forward keeping her hand on the moist wall for guidance. She could feel the ground beneath her sloping downward and she became emboldened with a sense of anticipation. Also, she was aware that the tunnel was no longer pitch black but faintly lit buy a distant glow ahead. She moved toward the light.

The rock gradually opened up in front of her and what she saw was truly amazing. She was standing in a crystal cave, the walls covered in all manner of crystals, different in light and varied in color. She placed a foot forward and stepped onto one of the stones, it gave off a faint pulsing glow and a soft tone emanated from it. She stepped again with the other foot and the same thing happened, a faint pulsing glow from the crystal and then another tone.

Stellaria continued moving ahead absolutely fascinated by the sound and light emitted with each step she took.

Looking more intensely around her she realized that there were alcoves in the cave and within the alcoves, living forms. Some of the forms were sitting and some were bent forward as if in sleep. As she passed by one particular spot, the tone she created elicited movement from within. Stellaria turned and saw one of the beings lift it's head. Leaning closer, she found herself staring at her exact likeness, only this creature was dark and shimmered in the soft glow of the cave.

The dark fairy opened her eyes and looked into the face of Stellaria. A smile of recognition passed over her face. She stood and stretched her small body to it's full height. She smiled again and took Stellaria's hand in hers and turned and led Stellaria farther into the crystal expanse. This time, each step they took produced musical tones, harmonious tones. The melodic symphony of their steps accompanied their journey through the cave.

Neither spoke during this time, it was as if they did not wish to break the silence of their union. The dark fairy drew Stellaria to a flat crystal and they sat facing one another. No words were necessary, for their minds melded and each knew the other's thoughts instantly. Stellaria thought that the dark fairy might be a sister but the dark fairy denied it. She implied that she was the other half of Stellaria, the hidden self, the self yet unknown and unrealized. The dark fairy showed Stellaria how to quiet her heart and clear her mind and allow the pictures of her past to appear.

As Stellaria let go of her thoughts, her mind filled with a deep blue light and millions of twinkling scintilla began to shine in her head.

She saw shooting stars and crashing comets and exploding gases on fiery suns. She saw asteroids hurtling through space. She saw winged creatures, all white and diaphanous swirling about the cosmos. She saw the creation of new stars, the vortices of black holes to other dimensions. She saw herself as a light being with millions of others just like her drifting through time, captured in the gravitational pull of some life bearing planet, there to become a part of all that lived and breathed and evolved.

And she knew in her deepest memory, that she was not alone.

VENTURA

I am Ventura, I come from within the space between the in-breath and the out-breath the Sacred heart within the heart the place of birth, the womb, the way of the truth yet unborn.

The cave was dark and still and silent and Ventura could barely hear her heartbeat as it pumped the blood through her veins. This place she found herself in was so peaceful, that she barely remembered how she had come to be here. She thought she had awaken from a dream.

The air was heavy with moisture and the musty smell of dirt. It filled her nostrils with liquid pungency, yet it was not offensive. It was as if she knew she could breathe under water, that she had done so sometime far in the past. Ventura could feel her feet sink into the soft earth and it was cool and reassuring. She sat upon the ground and wrapped her arms about her legs and began to rock back and forth, back and forth. As she rocked, she hummed softly to herself and the rhythm of her body was in sync with the beat of her heart and she felt the pulse of the earth beneath her. he dug her toes deep into the dirt as she rocked back and forth, back and forth.

Memories flowed into her mind like images on a reel. She saw orange and black wings sweeping across her face. She saw great golden eyes holding her attention. She saw herself dancing on sunbeams and moonbeams and floating in the air amidst a canopy of green.

She saw all manner of creatures around her, chattering, conversing, laughing, crying with tales of woe and wonder. She saw herself chasing rainbows. She luxuriated in her reverie.

There was movement behind her, a low growl and she was startled out of her trance. She turned and saw a large hulk moving towards her. It was a bear and she was right in it's path. She had no place to run, nowhere to hide, so she stood to face it head on.

The bear nearly bumped into her but stopped short when it saw her. It huffed at the intrusion in it's cave and it's breath nearly knocked Ventura over.

"Why have you come to my cave" asked Bear.

"I don't know how I came to be here, I think I woke up here", replied Ventura.

"Well, I came here to sleep through the winter. I am heavy with food, and the cub that grows inside my belly, and I must have my rest", said the bear.

"I wouldn't dare disturb you but I don't know where else to go. It seems I have journeyed for a long time and I am somewhat weary myself. Would you mind if I stayed?" inquired Ventura.

"Be my guest", said Bear. "It is quiet, safe and warm here, and we could take turns telling stories until we fall asleep. Would you agree?" asked the Bear.

"Indeed, I would be most grateful for this quiet time to reflect on all that has happened to me and I do feel safe in this space" answered Ventura.

"So it is said, so it shall be", said the Bear.

During their time in the cave, Ventura and Bear came to know each other well. They found that they had much in common, even though they were so diverse in size and experience. Bear told Ventura of her many adventures in the forest and the hills.

She told of how she foraged for food, ate the sweet berries on the bush in the warm summer months, and clawed open rotting logs for tasty tidbits and grubs.
How she dared the rapids of the rushing rivers to fish for the salmon that came home to spawn. How the Ravens and Eagles would vie for the catch of the day.

Ventura thought Bear to be so brave and so free, but Bear told Ventura that she was much impressed with the stories and images that Ventura told her from her own dreams. She said that Ventura spoke with great knowledge about her life and experience thus far, and she asked Ventura what it was she expected from life.

"Why I expect to find my own purpose and the truth of that purpose", exclaimed Ventura

"From whom?" queried Bear.

"From everyone, every creature, every thing I meet, surely someone must know", replied the Fairy.

"But since every living being is so different, wouldn't their truths and their paths be different too?", asked Bear.

Ventura pondered this but missed the point.

Bear explained, "You can only know your own truth, what is inside of you. To know every other being's truth would only clutter up your mind and confuse you, you would be following here and there and everywhere. It was not intended this way, for if it was, there would be no need for existence, there would be no journey to a better place.

All things seem to exist in a different way yet they are connected. Predator to prey, thunder to rain, sunshine to growth.
One does not exist without the other, but each has a different purpose or place in the great scheme of things. As you continue your journey and gather knowledge, you will remember your purpose and find your own path" concluded Bear.

Ventura and Bear drifted off to sleep and to dream in their own ways.

CONSILLA

I am Consilla I come to seek the council of the sisterhood of my tribe I stand before all things in truth And light and beauty To share the quickening

Consilla awoke abruptly, as if prodded by some unseen force. There was something she had to do immediately and for the life of her could not think clearly what it was. Something in her dream, something of great import and she had been told she must carry the message forth.

"Stupid, stupid creature" she thought. " I was just there, I heard it and now I cannot remember what it was. Perhaps a breath of clear fresh air might blow the dust webs from my mind".

Consilla rose from her bed of soft pine needles in the cave and moved out into the light of the morning. The air was crisp but held a hint of the promised warmth of springtime. She had been asleep for a very long time and now she looked forward to the change of the seasons.

The sun was breaking through the branches of the tall trees and the air was filled with the promise of awakening, of new beginnings. With a hopeful heart Consilla set out into the morning.

After a short time, she could hear rushing waters and just beyond a huge rock, saw mist rising through the air. She had just stepped out onto the bank by the waterfall, when she heard laughter nearby.

Consilla fell back into the protection of the bushes and waited for the sound again. There it was. It seemed to come from behind the falls.
She crept forward along the rocks and there, through the curtain of falling water, she saw them.

There were five, tiny, frolicking, dancing, darling, winged, silken, brilliant little fairies, just like her. She watched the five at play, barely holding her breath in expectation.

Oh great day indeed, for Consilla was certain now that she had found her home, her family and she rushed through the waters and announced her presence with a great splash. Her arrival was greeted with great screams, for she had startled the small group in a very big way.

"I cannot believe my good fortune, I cannot believe I have found you at last!" exclaimed the excited Consilla.

"Who are you?", the others cried in unison.

"Why, I am Consilla, I am just like you", explained the newcomer. "I have traveled very far to find you, I just can't believe it, I am so thrilled to have found you."

One of the fairies who seemed to take command stepped forward and looked her over and said, "You're not from these parts are you, or we would have known about you before. This is our forest and we have been here forever and we would have known about you before".

"Well I know I am not from here exactly, I have searched far and wide for someone just like me and here you are and isn't it wonderful", babbled Consilla.

They all surrounded Consilla scrutinizing her from head to toe. "She sure looks like us doesn't she", said one of the fairies."

"Perhaps we should present her to the others and let them decide if she is one of us or not?" queried another.

"There are more of you?" asked the incredulous Consilla.

"Of course, this is the Fairy Forest, we all live here. We will take you before the Wise Ones and let them decide if you belong or not", retorted the first fairy. And with that, they ushered Consilla into a breach in the rock behind the waterfall.

The rock opened up into a clearing bathed in sunlight and soft color. And everywhere, as far as she could see, Consilla beheld a host of fairies and her heart soared with happiness.

The five fairies took her to a small group sitting off a short distance and as all gathered about to see the newcomer, Consilla noticed one beautiful fairy who stood apart. She was gently nudged toward this fairy as the others kept slightly back.

"Greetings little one", spoke a mellifluous voice. "So, you have come to join us. Forgive the others for their abruptness, for they fear the unknown.

We have been here for many centuries without intrusion and your coming is a surprise to most. However, it was foretold long ago that one such as you would come bringing news of the outside world. We ourselves, never venture beyond the forest for fear of discovery and disillusionment. Come, sit with us in council and tell us of your life".

And so Consilla sat among the council of fairies in the Fairy Forest and told them of her life and the long journey which had brought her to this place. She shared her visions, her dreams, her fears and her fantasies. She told them of the creatures and places she had visited and the lessons she had learned along the way.

All sat in silence and respectfully listened to her tales.

No one interrupted for she spoke with such passion and eloquence that each felt caught up in their own memories.

When she could no longer speak the words or recall another reminiscence, they feasted and danced, and laughed and sang together.

It was the best day.

TITANIA

I am Titania A Queen of the Fairies I have learned many lessons in this lifetime I have been lost and found my way back I am gifted with the memory of the ancients

Titania sat and watched her fairy sisters all bustling about the business of the day, hunting and gathering food to sustain them. Laughing joyfully and playing amongst themselves.

They had a good life, they had been protected by the forest and their isolation for a millennium. Yet, as she sat lost in thought, it occurred to Titania that the harmony and peace they enjoyed was surely a gift from some greater source.

That greater source was the Creator of all things. The beautiful world in which they lived. The forest, the river, the waterfall. The birds, the insects, the mammals who shared their existence. The thunder clouds which brought the rain, the bright and mighty sun which shone upon them and brought new life springing forth after the quiet time when all slept. And beyond, vast oceans of living creatures, so unknown and unlike all other beings.

The expansiveness of her thoughts as they enveloped all that could be possible carried her out of herself and to a high, high place and from there she saw it all.

She saw the fiery explosion of the distant star that created the earth and the cooling tides of the oceans, the eruptions from deep in the core which pushed forth mighty mountains and deep valleys that were to become the landscape. She saw the first living cells emerge. She saw these cells split and evolve into many different species and each dependent upon the other for life.

She saw the spider weave it's web and in that web the silken thread, so delicate and beautiful that binds all things together in a pattern of beauty and purpose.

Titania knew in an instant that time and the meaning of time was a great circle, a continuum, to be repeated over and over again, cycle after cycle, cell by cell, creature by creature. She knew that though different, all things moved within the circle in a mosaic of mystery and wonder, each fitting perfectly in place. She held her arms open and felt the light of knowledge pass into her heart and spread through every part of her until it flowed from her fingertips and her toes and burst out of the crown of her head like a great shower of sparkling droplets, cascading in effervescence to the earth.

A realization came over Titania, that nothing stayed still and that she herself had been content in this place for a very long time. She had taken for granted the life she lead, that she had closed herself off from the outside world. She went to her fairy sisters and told them that it was time for her to move out of the forest.

Because the Fairies had stayed so long in the forest, they had forgotten where the forest started and where it ended and what was beyond. They worried that Titania might not find her way and be lost to them. But she assured them that the way would come to her when she needed it.

That night, as Titania slept, she dreamt and in that dream she saw herself flying above the forest floor. She was not alone, for beside and around her were faces, old faces, red skinned faces carved deeply with the lines of a million lifetimes. They smiled upon her and the blackness of their eyes sent little shocks through her body. She knew they would show her the way back to the beginning and she trusted with all of her being.

It was not long before a gentle hand directed her to a large rock below her, with an overhang and beneath it a cave. She drifted towards it and was not afraid.

Titania found the opening in the cave to the outer world and stepped through.

She saw before her a circle of light, a flickering fire and gathered around were the people. They had the same faces as the old ones who had been her companions on the journey back out of the forest.

An old man, squatting beside the fire looked up at her and said, "It is time you came out of your cave, for we have known for a long time that the fairies live in the caves in the forest. We have known that some of you enter our world. You come, not as yourselves, but changed.

This is an illusion. Sometimes you come as the Dragonfly, and we see you everywhere, in the harvest time. And we are happy to see you for we know that it is time to gather that which has grown from seed and born fruit. It is the time of the corn and the pumpkin. It is the time of the hunting and gathering for the long winter ahead. We count the moons until you return for it is a sign of the changing season. Come sit and sing and drum with us, for we believe in the fairies of the forest of the inner world".

ANTIQUITA

I am Antiquita I come from centuries of singers I travel throughout the galaxies Singing the songs and stories Of the Universe Listen, listen with an open heart

The old fairy sat quietly and patiently and waited for the others to come. The young ones were always late, no conception of time beyond the moment. That was as it should be, she too was like them so very long ago. The waiting gave her a moment to reflect on the long life she had lead. The hard lessons she had learned. The lessons were always harder on the young for they had no experience from which to draw a conclusion to a dilemma.

Well, never mind, they were gathering around the circle now and it was her responsibility to teach them the stories of their ancestors.

"Grandmother, will you tell us the story of the great wars?" asked a young maiden.

"Are you so anxious to hear of conflict and victory?" replied the old fairy.

"Those are always the best stories, they are so full of action and great warriors and heroes, yes they are truly the best stories", and then the young ones were all chattering and imploring and urging Antiquita to tell them tales of battle and blood. Or better still, tales of strange creatures with curious ways.

Not today.

Antiquita knew that her time in this life was coming to an end and that she would move on to the next world with her ancestors.
She knew that it was important for the young ones to know about the Creation and the Cycles of Life, so that they might be better prepared to pursue their individual paths.

So she hushed them quiet and told them to move in close, for she was going to tell them a story.

"I came of this earth but not of this earth, for this earth is a particle in the spectrum of all that is, all that ever was and all that ever will be. I came in a time when I felt the quickening in the pulse of the heart, the Mother Earth and in all of her children. I felt the great anguish in her cry for peace and harmony. And I wanted to save her, but in order to do so, I had to become her, a part of her that went beyond the cycles of life, death and rebirth.

All things come and go and return again to renew the cycle. But I had to be stronger, to be something beyond the ordinary, so that I could protect her.

I was called upon from the star nations in the galaxies of the universes beyond and beyond and beyond. From those star nations came other light beings, who carried the knowledge of all that is or all that ever was or all that ever will be. We came as star seeds and planted ourselves in the womb of the earth, to wait and watch and to be born when the time was right and we were ready to become children of the earth.

We were different from all the other creatures, not of greater importance, but distinct. We had the same instincts for survival, but we seemed to be able to go beyond the instinctual, to make choices, based on revelation and experience. It was our intention, our direction, our instruction, to be the caretakers of all that existed on earth.

But I have failed, we have failed, for we have forgotten how to take care of our Mother. Because we forgot where we came from and what was our intention in the first place. We thought only of our own survival and we became arrogant in our methods. At first we took from the earth only what we needed, but we got greedy and took more. Then we worried that others would see what we had and want it for themselves.

We became so progressive in our endeavor to achieve more and more and to protect it that we developed extreme methods to accomplish this.

We expanded our species throughout all the lands so the land could no longer sustain us. We stripped the earth of the very properties needed for the earth to survive. And when we were done, we fought amongst ourselves to lay blame.

The time for blame is past, the time for remembrance and regeneration is present.

You must always remember what the intention and purpose of our existence is. This is the intention of the Creator and the Creator comes from the Great Mystery. To give back the life that the earth gives to us, to walk and talk with respect to all the children of the earth, to love all things equally for we are a part of all that is, all that ever was, and all that ever will be.

This is your legacy, this is your destiny, this is your purpose."

Antiquita closed her eyes to indicate she was finished with the story. The young ones lingered a moment or two longer out of obligation, but then scampered off to find new adventures.

As she slowly opened her eyes, Antiquita heard one of the young fairies snicker to her friend, "What a weird story from that crazy old hag, I hope I never get to be as ancient as her".

Antiquita smiled, her face wrinkled with deep lines of wisdom and humor, and knew she would.

ELECTRA

I am Electra I come from the Storm Clouds I ride across the skies on bolts of lightning Proclaimed by the Thunder Beings So that all will know, that I, Electra, have arrived

and down she went with a great thump upon the ground.

The Beginning…..