The Owl Of Destiny

Hungry but determined, Herman began his long walk from the market to his father's barn. He had gone there to get some medicine for his dad to no avail. Disappointed, he wanted nothing more than to get home quickly. It was getting late, but observing the sunset while partaking on his journey was therapeutic in itself. The Sun portrayed a radiant mix of violet and orange. Although Herman had a far distance to go, the vibrant colors of the Sun filled his body with energy, and a warm feeling of love swept throughout his entire body. Herman began pondering the human condition. "If we are all a part of a so-called supreme consciousness, how is it that we are all so different?" he thought. Then it hit him. "We are not as different as we believe we are. We all experience the same range of emotions at some point in our lives and share similar senses of this existence; via taste, touch, smell, hearing, and eyesight of this natural world. What if pure consciousness is nothing more than a formless entity experiencing life on a tangible physical plane simultaneously through the eyes of each of us?" Herman thought to himself. "It is a concept I truly will never be able to perfectly articulate. Language in itself limits expression." Herman concluded.

These ideas had Herman completely captivated him when suddenly the most beautiful owl with majestic black feathers and piercing fierce eyes presented itself on the edge of a barn fence adjacent to him. It flew in a complete circle only to return to its original position. The owl seemed to be beckoning him to follow it. Herman was truly tired and worried about his father; however, his instincts instructed him to follow this beautiful creature, so he decided to trust his intuition and follow the owl. It flew directly above Herman in a specific circular motion while seemingly directing him towards something.

The moon set in, illuminating the dark dirt roads. Herman was mesmerized by the beauty of his surroundings. He walked these roads frequently, but he never noticed how charming the environment was. The animals of the night, the well-constructed barns, and the glistening stars were all constructs of mother nature. He felt grateful to be in its presence. The owl stopped abruptly at what seemed to be their destination. The owl pinned itself on the roof of a small red barn. It then flew towards the entrance. Then flew back to its original landing spot, once again pinned on top of the barn. Herman interpreted this as a sign to enter. As he walked towards the entrance, Herman felt goosebumps sent throughout his whole body. Herman felt a flow of energy surge to the crown of his head. He pondered why this phenomenon was taking place. Herman opened the barn door and saw an old gentleman resting on top of a bed of hay. The man jumped up excitedly and greeted him as if he already knew he was coming. "My other half has arrived!" beamed the old man.

Herman was a bit confused but simultaneously intrigued. For some odd reason, he felt as if he had met the man before but was sure he hadn't. "Where is this feeling of familiarity coming from"? wondered Herman. "I see that you have met Gaea, the owl of destiny," spoke the old man. "Yes, the owl seemed to be communicating with me through its eyes," Herman replied. Herman then quickly surveyed the barn. He saw many herbs and plants being harvested. He thought how strange it was for the man to be surrounded by plants in a barn and theorized that he must have been a shaman or an alchemist. "A Shaman within a barn? How do these plants survive here?" Herman thought to himself. He always associated such men with deserts. His perceptions were influenced by books he had read in the past. "Do you need something to drink? "After walking such a distance, I know you must be parched," asked the man. Herman wondered how the man knew he had walked so far; however, he happily took the drink with gratitude. Herman gulped the crisp and cold coconut water. "Nourishing and tasty isn't it?" expressed the old man. Herman nodded in agreement. "Now, let's get down to business. I have to leave soon, and I need someone to watch over my medicines and help the people along the dirt roads. I am leaving on my journey tomorrow," said the old man. Herman was even more intrigued; he didn't see any medicines around the small barn, just plants and herbs. He also wondered where the man was going. Nothing seemed to make any sense momentarily. "What medicines?" Herman asked. The man chuckled. "Don't you see all these herbs and plants? They are medicines in the purest form!" the man chimed. "You were able to read the flight of Gaea, so I know that there is a deep wisdom hidden within you ready to surface." said the man. Gaea, the owl, then flew to the man's side. The man petted the beautiful barn owl of fate; Gaea then turned its attention to Herman. "As you may have conjectured, we are all interconnected on this plane of existence. The human condition is plagued with the illusion of individuality and the constant need for more. Still, the more that you acquire, the more you eventually will have to lose," said the old man. Herman was silent, attentively listening, for his thoughts mirrored his own. "I live a life of solitude and service because it is the very act of giving that I can receive happiness. Imagine living a life where you have knowledge of the vitality of herbs and keeping that information to yourself? While the people around you are unhealthy and in need of healing. That in itself would bring severe depression to my soul. I would unintentionally create an environment that mimics my idea of Hell. Who would I share my so-called good health with?" explained the old man. Herman nodded in agreement. The old man continued, "We were connected by fate; Gaea read your soul and the yearning you have to be useful to this world. I have written down all of my recipes for healing the human body, healing the mind, and metaphysics of the soul. It's a lifetime of work from observation and interacting with nature. Our connection was first established by our birth to the natural world. We all share this connection. Our special bond was strengthened by sharing similar surroundings in this small but beautiful town. Our desires were finally cemented to become useful and comprehend the physical world and its relation to the cosmos. It is then that destiny set up an arrangement of events that would eventually link us together. A specific formula designed by fate and energy" articulated the old man. Still quiet and attentive, Herman suddenly remembered that he had dreamt of the old man's voice before. He had wondered why the old man seemed so familiar, but it suddenly all made sense. He hadn't seen the old man's face in his dreams, but he definitely had recalled his voice. "We all are truly connected, strengthened by our thoughts and what we give our attention to," Herman thought to himself. The old man gave Herman a thick book constructed of strong plants and wood. It was beautifully carved and smelt earthy. Herman felt goosebumps arise once again throughout his entire body. "I have to go now, but everything you need will be in this book. Gaea will show you how to read the signs and omens of the outside world. I do not know if I shall ever return, but I am sure that the herbs will continue to heal anyone who needs to be healed. You don't seem surprised or perplexed over this, so I assume your soul has readied itself for it. Do you have any questions?" asked the old man. Herman knew that his life was about to change drastically. Still, surprisingly he wasn't overwhelmed, nor did he have any questions for the old man. Everything just felt right, and although he normally questioned everything he came across, he felt no need to question the situation. He felt at peace, but he did wonder where the man was going and decided to at least ask him that. "So, where are you traveling to?" asked Herman. The old man picked his bags up and smiled. "I don't know, but I dreamt for one year and four days of your arrival. Gaea told me that other people needed my help, but I could not leave here until my successor was ready to take my place. I will follow the flight of the birds and the cycles of the day. I don't need much anyway. Everything I own truly isn't mine but a temporary gift from the universe due to my endeavors. Thanks to my due diligence, ability to create for myself, and faith, everything I need will be given. My need for less isn't an absence of ambition. We all need to work hard in one way or another to maintain. It is a rule of the universe; however, the individual who doesn't become attached to anything or anyone avoids the unhappiness of not having," stated the man as he began to exit. Herman comprehended entirely and wished the man safe travels.

He watched the man disappear into the night as he turned to Gaea. "Well, I guess it's just you and me, Gaea, he proclaimed. The old man never even told me his name or asked for mine." The owl made a loud purring sound. It then flew over towards the old man's bed. Herman followed. He then saw another small book titled "Medicines for the blood." Herman picked up the book, and a small note dropped out. The notice stated, "Herman, this is specifically for your father, Amor Fati. Love Nirva." Herman's eyes watered, and he immediately went to work. His first mission was to heal his dad.