A Child’s Soul

A Child’s Soul

The night wind whistled through the cracked windows, making the candles on the altar flicker and dance. She was ready for the arrival, even though she had a bit of apprehension of what she had to do. Finally the knock on the door came, she let out a shaky breath as she went to answer. He stood at the doorway, hye looked far more haggard than the last time. She could feel his apprehension, this was no game, his fear outweighing his hope.

She led him to the table, gesturing him to the chair. She didn’t speak yet, as she began to gather her tools and lay them out in order before her. Her Tarot deck was old and worn, it was her favorite, almost alive with her thoughts and energy she placed into them for many years of use. She pulled specific cards, 13, to help with the intent of the journey. The candle was placed in the center, the flame becoming steady as if to indicate that everything in place was ready for what she was about to attempt.

“Did you bring the stone?” she asked him. He jumped slightly at the question, a ball of tension ready to burst.

“Yes” he whispered, clearing his throat he reached into his jacket pocket and produced a small white quartz stone, jagged on one side and worn smooth on the other. “I found this one in the forest, popping out of the path as you said I would. It’s so small though, is it going to be good enough?”

“It’s perfect, you did very well. It will do perfectly. A soul fragment is energy, as we discussed last time. Size isn’t important, I just need a vassal for the energy to bring it back to you.” She took the stone from him and placed it on the card that represented her, she picked the Fool card for herself as she was going blindly into the unknown. She would need the courageous abandon of the Fool to leap off the cliff and trust in the powers that be to accomplish what needed to be done.

She was a quiet Hedge Witch, helping others when they had need, mostly keeping to herself in her tiny house that abutted a graveyard and woods. This man needed a Shaman, his life was falling apart. He had searched for one to help him, but they were too far, too busy, or too expensive for his needs. He was nearing 50, his life was rife with trouble. It was as if his heart was damaged, a darkness that he couldn’t overcome. Haggard with all the pain and strife he went to counseling, with little progress. In his desperation, he sought a Shaman, who gave him an answer. His soul had been fragmented, his inner child was missing due to a terrible trauma. If he could retrieve this soul fragment, and integrate the child within him, he could become whole and his efforts at finding peace would bear fruit.

This was something outside of the realm of the hedgewitch, but hearing his story made her want to do whatever she could to help him. She knew she would have to travel to the spirit world and find his child, and bring him back. This was definitely something only Shamans did, as they travel to the spirit realm often with their animal guides. Her experience in the spirit world only consisted in the dream world. She had no guide, except her cat. She only had determination and a strong will that could only be explained as pure hard headed stubbornness. She looked straight into his eyes, and she could see the fear and the hope staring back at her.

“Remember, no matter what you hear me say, do not speak until I return. I will find your lost child, so just sit tight until it’s done. Do you understand?” She asked.

“Yes, I won’t say or do anything. I’ll be quiet.” He responded.

She breathed out all her breath, then began the process of “travel”. Focusing on her mission, she began to feel herself tearing painfully from the material world to the spirit world, her skin feeling as if it was set aflame. She paid it no mind, as she understood the process would be painful in the beginning.

She found herself in a small circle of a field, surrounded mostly by forest with a hill to one side. As she looked around, she heard birds singing, a slight breeze blowing across her face. She called out to the child, hoping for some kind of direction. Suddenly the mouth of a cave opened on the side of the hill. She felt uneasy, but again, that stubborn side kicked in and she approached. She stepped gingerly into the mouth of the cave, it looked much larger on the inside. As she continued, she noticed what looked like a firelight ahead. She whispered the childs name, feeling like this place was not welcoming her. Still, she pressed on, but very quietly.

As she came closer to the firelight, she saw 12 men and women standing around the fire, and behind them all sorts of animals. They seemed to be having a meeting, speaking with passion more than arguing. Whatever they were doing, she didn’t care, she just wanted to retrieve the child and get out of there.

She imagined herself to be weightless and silent, hoping to get past these people to go further into the tunnels of the cave. She had such a strong pull, she knew the child was somewhere close. She just needed to find him and go home. Suddenly, the animals around the people raised their heads looking directly at her. The people noticing this finally noticed her as well, some shouting at her demanding she identify herself.

“Well, damn.” She thought. She now began to shout as loud as she could for the child, and took flight down the tunnel. She wasn’t sure how she did it, but it was as if she was flying. But she had to be fast, wherever this was, it seemed a private club and outsiders were not allowed. Suddenly she saw him, what seemed so far into the tunnel, a little boy waving to her.

She needed to get to him. The others shouted at her to stop, and then the chanting started. Suddenly the tunnel started to fold in on itself. She would never reach him in time, so she called out to him to run to her. Suddenly she saw a Raven to her left, flying and keeping pace, and as if riding the tailwind of the raven was a man. They locked eyes, he could stop her right then if he wanted. She sensed this, and in her panic surged as fast as she could, imagining herself to be a dragon to outpace the raven. Shouting to the boy again, he was running as fast as he could towards her, the tunnels folding close behind him. She Reached out to embrace him, catching him up into her arms. “I am going to bring you home” she told him. “I know” he replied.

But how would she get back? She had to, that was the only answer she had. Suddenly she saw the man with the raven, and he smiled and laughed. “Help us!” she called to him, and with a wave of his hand she found herself back in the small field with the little boy holding her hand. The man was before her, the raven perched on his shoulder. “Thank you. I just want to bring him home.” she said to the man.

“I know, and it is a good thing for you to do. We would have helped you, if you only asked. We have been protecting the souls from the evil that would devour them before they can be placed back with the people. How did you find this place? You are not a Shaman, yet you were able to enter our sacred place.” He seemed kind as he asked her, patient yet a bit of mischief played across his smile.

“I just had to, that’s all. Can you help me get back?” She was tired, and just wanted to finish the assignment. She wanted to go home.

Suddenly the ground began to open, and in her hand was no longer the boy but the small stone. “Go in peace my sister, the boy is in the stone. Have the man keep the stone on his body for three days for the child to return to his soul. He will be whole again, but he will have to work with the pain of the child to heal them both. It won’t be easy nor a quick fix, but it will be a long lasting experience that will bring him peace. You are now responsible for this integration, and must help him through it.”

“I understand, thank you.” With that she jumped into the opening and “landed” in her chair at the table. The stone was no longer on the card, but in her hand. She looked at the man seated across from her, his face was devoid of color and his eyes wide. The flame was out, tho the candle still had plenty of wax to burn. Carefully she stood up, cradling the very precious stone, and placed it in his left hand.

He felt the warmth and began to cry. His voice cracking, “Now what?”

She smiled, placing her palms on his wet cheeks, a softly spoke “Now your adventure begins. I know how to help you, but patience will be the key. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” he replied. At that, she began to tell him the process, this time with confidence in her ability to truly help him find his peace.