Cast Out of the Garden...of the Past - Of Witch Hazel, Lady Sabriel and the Making of The Lady of Forest and Field

Standing among the crowd of cheering villagers these thoughts (mentioned above) play on the edges of your mind. As your concern begins to take shape you hear a familiar voice and suddenly you find yourself racing back through memories gratefully left alone for some time now.

Though you stand in their midst, the cheering crowds seem to go into slow motion around you and their jubilation grows more and more distant as you pull back into the past within your mind. Though only a memory, the familiar smile of you mentor, the high priestess of the local temple of Gia, brings you peace of mind as it did so often when you were a young girl and an aspirant to Gia's order. 

Background to this memory:

Eve was always a curious young woman of her village. It was a trait that was commonly connected with both of her locally well known parents. As a result she was referred to as "doubly cursed to get into things". This time she had messed up pretty bad...but it was so mysterious! So fascinating! She simply had to see what the druids did at their mid-summer celebrations...which was highly forbidden.

So, having observed carefully at one of the smaller celebrations last autumn, she had taken an acorn and, while standing at the edge of the druid's clearing that afternoon, just like a priestess 5 times her senior, she turned herself into a young oak sapling in order to watch the event. Unfortunately she didn't have it quiet all together and the spell wore off just as the event began...Much to the unhappy amazement of the druids.

Now, at the temple, standing in front of the Lady Sabriel the smell of burning sage fills your senses as the high priestess ritually smudges you. 

"Your penance will go by faster than you think, my little oak." Wry smile and a wink.

Your eyes are welling with tears but you are just able to keep them from spilling over. Sabriel smiles and caresses your cheek. Raising your face with her hand she brings your eyes to meet her own.

"You may be a powerful druid one day, daughter of Gaia, but you must also be wise."

Looking into your eyes she pauses for effect, "Patience!"

Again the smile that could light up a room. She steps back from you still looking into your eyes.

"An oak struggles for centuries to create its magnificent crown which will rival that of any king. We must learn the oak's patience. Nature is the greatest of teachers, Eve. Listen to her and you will never fail." She smiles and the memory changes. 

Years later, you are a preparing for your initiation only days away. Participants are streaming away from the temple after a wonderful ritual to honor the Orb of Tae when you hear your name being called. An older Lady Sabriel approaches though the crowds. Smiling warmly at your greeting, she kisses both of your cheeks. As she does so she presses several small round objects into your hand.

Smiling, you're about to ask what she is giving you when you notice the look in her eyes. This is not your normal greeting...

Since that day you have marveled at how two words could have upturned your life as much as those did.  With that smile that captured your heart as a small child and had brought you into Gaia's temple she said simply, "Honor me." 

It wasn't clicking. You stammer, "I...I... Of course, Lady Sabriel. I..." She is already walking quickly back to the temple. Confused, you look at your hand. Your fingers are wrapped around her gift so tightly your knuckles are white and the small items pinch the skin. Slowly the fingers open. 

Three large, beautiful acorns. One of the sharp acorn points has broken the skin of your hand and the children of the sacred oak are smudged with your blood. Your heart skips a beat as you allow the ramifications of those three acorns to sink in.

Looking up, Sabriel is already gone. Lightly touching your fingertips to your lips, a tear drops from your cheek as you whisper, "No."

There is a tug at your hand and all of the sites and sounds of the moment come roaring back. Lost among the happy villagers was a short and gnarled old woman who somehow made her way to your side and pulled at your hand. You look down and meet witch Hazel's up turned gaze and her smile minus a couple of teeth.

Still holding your hand, "I woke up this morning thinking about you, my young beauty. Praise be to Gaia. Lets look at you now. You're just like an oak sapling working on your crown, aren't you? I can see it! I sure can. An old woman of the Erde knows these things. Praise be to Gaia and her mantle upon Erde." She cackles as she tugs gently again on your hand.

She continues to look up into your face, her eyes sparkling warmly. "Blessings of the Erde be upon you and your friends here, my beauty. No need in worrying about those who didn't return with you. You know, the way I see it, everything has a job to do. A bird flies somewhere, picks up a seed, shits the seed out, a plant grows. Bird's got a job, shit's got a job, seed's got a job... And you have a job my beauty. You have a job too, don't cha?"

Leaning in she reaches up and touches your cheek. "I felt directed to tell you, my beauty. You have done so well, my love, you and your friends here. All of us thank you. Gaia thanks you and Nepenthe thanks you. You know who Nepenthe is now don't you, daughter? It's not just a river, now is it? Yes. As I've said, we all have a job, don't we, my young sapling."

She steps back pressing the palms of her hands together in front of her lips and looks at you with affection. "You know where to find me if you need anything, daughter of Erde." 

She cackles again, raises her eyes and hands to the sky and dances about a bit and then she disappears into the crowd.