E14

Earth Temple

Wednesday 30th November 1994 (10:10pm)

Earth Temple Air Temple Water Temple Fire Temple

Rob: There is a large cave between us and the cave. It crackles and spits, and gives off a heavy scent. It's light is reflected in the Green Mans eyes, making them glint.

Barry: Winters chill is in the air. It is dusk, a fog or mist is beginning to lie. The grass is dew soaked. The Green Man's eyes seem strong. It is hard to make out the features in the mist, but his eyes stand out.

Rob: The mist cuts us off from the forest. I start too move around the fire towards the cave. A figure steps out from behind the North most rock, a tall thin wiry man, with angular features. He is dressed in a sweeping cloak of dull brown. He wears a pointed hat that is bent over at the top. Under the cloak he wears black trousers, soft boots and a rough jerkin. He carries a staff clad in iron, top and bottom. He gives off an aura of power. His eyes are like those of the Green Man, (no whites), they glitter in the firelight.

I ask "Who are you", and he replies "you would do well to ask that yourself".

Barry: He is asking what we can hear. The fog amplifies the sounds from the forest. I can hear the sounds of a bridle and horses, there appears to be a hunt. They are chasing the forest animals. He says that this is a link between when we were at one with animals and what we are now. The stepping-stone away, and the stepping-stones back.

Rob: We create a chasm between ourselves and our power by being unaware of it.

Barry: He says we are too reliant on our vision, and have not explored our other senses, other ways of reaching our true selves.

Rob: He bids us follow, and heads for the cave. He enters very quickly. I follow.

Barry: I follow.

Rob: There's little room in the cave. He stands by a hole that leads down. He says that our journey is like that of a miner, down into the earth for precious things concealed. There are many layers to dig through. Mines suffer from flooding - the analogy is to emotions interfering with the work. A mine needs a pump - emotions purged. A mine has bad air, so the mind can become confused, and prey to strange ideas.

The mine has a danger of collapse, to prevent this tunnels are shored up. We examine the routes in our minds to track back. He invites us to enter the hole. He will be our guide. We may call him Nathan.

Barry: Dropping into the hole, it is dark. I follow a continuous helix path. I see a vision of the circle above. In the circle are ten figures with staffs by the cave entrance. Each is dressed in animal of power robe. Each has their own complex dance. One of our problems, (and theirs), is that we do not relate to all of the aspects of our lives. Each segment does not flow into the next. I feel we are deep inside a cauldron, where the earth springs from. This is the melting pot of our selves. I feel my body separated out floating with a liquid, each part dissolved into atoms, which intermingle. This route is the cauldron of Cerridwen and the grail.

Rob: I felt layers of myself to be stripped away. I am in total darkness. Within the darkness, there are sides of me, which are buried. There is no way of telling good from bad, and it is unnecessary. The effect to ones innermost being cannot be easily undertaken or achieved. A point of reference or ideal is needed. Strength and tenacity, earthly qualities are needed.

Barry: I have a feeling that when you are re-born a ladle is put into the soup. Only at this level that all of you is retained. Various aspects of you go out, and return with what you have learned.

Rob: I have the sense of being suspended. This is the earth of earth. Of all vibrations this is the slowest. This point is the nadir of time.

Barry: Nathan, I ask that you reconstruct my body.

I can see his staff. My body is pulled out of the soup, starting with the feet and working up. I find myself back in the cave. I feel lethargic, he says that this will pass.

Rob: I sense Ghob.

Barry: I feel that Nathan is an aspect of Ghob that is former or builder, and also guardian of the deep well. His eyes are dark and deep, and reflect his knowledge of the deep well. We would do well to mark this fact in our future journeys.

Rob: When we have reached the earth of earth, we are able to effect changes. I choose to do so. I am returning to the cave. I exit into the dusk. Darkness gathers.

Barry: I see two cups outside. They are thick earthenware mugs. Nathan asks if we need refreshment. I drink, it is a strong heavy mulled wine and tastes of cinnamon and fruit.

Rob: It is time to return

Notes: Nathan - Hebrew - gift.

Further to the mine analogy. An explosion, a build up of things reaching a critical point. The need to tackle things and not let them build up.