W02

Water Temple

Wednesday 15th February 1995

Earth Temple Air Temple Water Temple Fire Temple

Barry: We are standing with our backs to a wall that has veins of ore.

Rob: There is the constant sound of water. A waterfall empties into the pool below it. The surface of the pool is calm. As we draw nearer we can see that the pool is stepped. Near to the wall it is quite shallow, I can see its sandy bottom and small fish. There is a definite edge further out. The water is very blue.

Barry: Just above where the water issues into the pool is head carved into the rock.

Rob: I knew you were going to say that.

Barry: I can't tell if it's a man or a woman. Its hair blends into the water and its eyes are very strong. I can see that behind the waterfall is a dark space like a cave.

Rob: I can see the connections with the last temple, (Earth), that is an inner sanctuary.

Barry: Close to that end is what looks like seaweed. It indicates where sea and fresh water meet.

The altar stone is large, round and flat, and carved with a spiral. It reminds me of the Giant's stone in Zennor. A spring still quietly issues from the back of the stone into a deep pool. It is the first connection between us and the element of water. The pool is cut off by a wall, a barrier.

Rob: Looking on our side of the wall, two staffs and robes are at the far end of the curve. I feel that we should don them. Nothing will happen unless we do. The robes are made of silk and flow and move. My staff has a very slick feel that is almost slimy.

Barry: The robes feel cool and seem to suck themselves to our bodies.

Rob: A head appears. It breaks through the water with long hair plastered to its face. Barry:  It's like the carved figure above the waterfall. Its eyes seem feline.

Rob: Its hair is greenish. It blows water from its mouth and regards us with wide eyes that are not unfriendly. Its hand beckons us with a crooked finger, then it sinks.

Barry: The figure brought the strong smell of the sea with it.

Rob: It was an invitation to enter the pool.

Barry: I suggest that we drink some spring water before we do.

Rob: The cup is there.

Barry: The water tastes strange.

Rob: It is very cold. It almost burns it's so cold.

Barry: The surface of the water is now very still, and there is a quiet that I had not noticed before.

Rob: A loud croak breaks the silence and a toad hauls itself onto the altar stone from the pool, as if to say "Get on with it".

I sit on the edge of the water and pull my legs over into the pool. It is cold, but not as bad as the spring water.

Barry: There is energy in the pool.

Rob: I pick up a pearl.

Barry: Me too.

Rob: The figures head appears, then it dives back by the waterfall.

Barry: The staffs glow a dull blue.

Rob: The snake has wound around my wrist so that I won't loose it.

Barry: The staffs are a way of keeping to paths. They are more difficult to keep to here.

Rob: I swim for the cave. I don't need to breathe. We are pulled by our staffs. As we go down the light dims, but the pearls glow brightly.

Barry: I notice small silvery blue fish.

Rob: They seem curious.

The figure is wearing a skirt made of seaweed.

Barry: The cave looms ahead. It is very large below the surface of the water. Now we are passing under the waterfall and there is a slight disturbance overhead. The water is warmer with a slight sea tang.

We are in a tunnel with different coloured weed brushing against us.

Rob: I can feel gentle currents flowing against me. Ahead is a curtain of weed. As we pass through we enter an enormous cave. It is filled with glowing coral, a strange light, but we can see.

There is a throne in the centre. It is double backed - that is it would seat two, back to back. In one seat is the being we first saw in the pool. Under water his hair seems to rise up above his head in two peaks.

Barry: To one side of the throne is a large mirror. The figure indicates that we should each gaze into it.

Rob: The creature's name is Moran. He is an elemental prince, quite a powerful being. We should have a care, working with this temple will inevitably affect our lives.

Barry: I feel that this temple is particularly important to me. I must move slowly. A great power here. I see myself in the mirror with my reflection repeated many times. I can see myself as a green eyed woman dressed in the robes I have on now. She too grips the staff very tightly. The staff is a link between out and in. The serpent being the guardian. They are important for me as they helped me stay on the path. I must not get pulled away with opposing currents, and do not let memories flow away.

Rob: Swim in the tides of your emotions. Learn and practice cleansing. Cleanse your bodies and minds.

Barry: Emotions are not things to be laughed at or dismissed. They are the body's way of cleansing itself and removing the stress and blocks of life.

Moran wears a large silver pendant around his neck. I see the moon reflected off the surface of the sea.

Rob: I step in front of the mirror.

Barry: You remember stepping in front of the moon before. Promises made to the moon before. They must be kept.

Rob: I see a dual image. A man proud, tall and strong, and at the same time a shrivelled hunchback.

Barry: And me! (Saw the same image before Rob said it.)

Rob: "We hold you to your commitments. You are advancing. You must strive to honour your commitments. Be sure you do not fail. You may become either image there. No threat is made. You are being reminded that we are not playing, but that these forces are not to be treated lightly. Work hard, make more effort."

I feel we should return.

Barry: I can see the Goddess. She stands below the moon, the darkness, (at Penmaenmawr). The sea stretch behind her. She smiles and reminds us of the commitments made to ourselves. She seems pleased.

I feel myself pulled back, back to the altar. I can feel sand and pebbles beneath my feet. The moon has risen. Its reflection shines brightly when the cave is hidden below the water.

Rob: I am reminded not to sit in judgement on myself. The snake tightens on my arm and I too am pulled back.