The solstice and The Sun Maze

Beside a small quaint village nestled by the sea, there was a great labyrinth, at the heart of which lay a secret that only the sun could reveal. The maze was thick with dense foliage, hedges adorned with spiky plants, and long shadows creeping around every corner. So complex was this maze that many thought it to be impassible—a superhuman feat that only the old gods could accomplish. And for many who undertook this task, it was their undoing. People would wander into the maze with confidence, but after a day’s struggle leave confounded. Some would enter with a plan, and then, after a few hours appear at one of the entrances in a drunken stupor. For you see, the architecture of the maze was not the only thing that made it so challenging to traverse—it was also a puzzle for the mind. They called it “the maze of memory,” for as you passed into the concentric circles of the labyrinth, one uncovered past memory that overwhelmed and troubled the waking mind. And so, much superstition grew, and people shunned the maze out of fear. But as no one had reached the center, the mystery of the meaning of the maze remained.

However, despite how daunting the maze might have appeared, there was a pathway through—at least that is what some believed. For at each intersection, at each crossroads, there were small mirrors that refracted the suns light. Thus, one could make their way through the maze by following the mirrors. But alas at some point, when the sun had strayed out of the sky and the light shining in the mirror vanished, once more the wayfarer would find himself lost in the shadows of the hedges and the hazy twilight of old memory. It seemed futile, but there were some from the cottage that believed on one particular day the mirrors would all connect—that day being the summer solstice, the longest day of the year when the sun reaches the zenith in the sky.

The plan for the voyager was to depart at sunrise when the first mirrors were illuminated, and gradually to make their way to the center, as successive mirrors were set alight. Since the maze was so greatly feared, there were few who were willing to enter, but five individuals stepped forward to volunteer: a musician, a painter, a florist, a cook, and an athlete. Everyone was to enter the maze at one of the five entrances that surrounded the maze and attempt to reach its center. And so much enthusiasm was a brew in the village, though the heroes were still quite frightened…for even if they did find a way to the center of the maze, and if they were to retain their sanity, it was questionable as to whether they would be able to retrace their steps out of the maze.

And so on the dawn of the solstice, the heroes entered into the maze, following the trail of mirrors illuminating the path. As they passed each fork in the path, they recalled many old memories—times when the made crucial decisions in their life. With each fork, they would question their choices and a powerful nostalgia would weigh heavy on their minds and bodies. Although they had the mirrors to guide them, they had all soon become lost in the fog of space and time. When they remembered the past, they began to forget the present—soon being unable to recall why and when they entered the maze to begin with. It was as though the waves of memory had swallowed up their sanity, leaving behind empty shells stumbling around each corner. However, all five of them never lost site of the light, which they followed faithfully despite losing contact with reality. Soon the sun reached the zenith and all five party members found themselves at the center of the maze, exhausted and quite thirsty. Luckily, there was a small pool of clear blue water before them, at which they could quench their thirst and cool their bodies.

Once they had bathed and drank to their hearts content, they lay on the soft green grass and stared up at the sun at the height of its zenith. And as they sat there, the memories that at first were tormenting and scattered became clear and organized. They could remember all their personal reasons for entering the maze as well as the day before…and the day before, and so on and so forth. They were able to remember their teen years and the childhood with astounding clarity, and as their memories began to consolidate, their bodies began to feel lighter and filled with vigor—they became young again. Having drunken from that sacred place, with the sun high in the sky on the longest day of the year, they basked in the sun with bodies and minds refreshed by the spirit of youth.

At that point, they could clearly recall the path that lead to the center and the small blue pool, and were able to retrace their steps with great ease, even without the aid of the mirrors. As they left the labyrinth, it was as though their lives flashed before their eyes in reverse order. In this way, when they reached the entrance, they not only had the body of a youth but they were familiar with its sentiment. And yet even though they had become young again, they still possessed all the knowledge and skills of an adult. With this concoction of this ability and vitality, the five heroes were equipped to share their vision with the rest of the villagers.

Reflecting on the beauty of the pool and the long winding passages of the maze, the musician composed a symphony of great complexity and splendor. It had all the details of an ancient tale yet spoke of the intensity of a young man’s journey. When people from the village heard this music, many wept and it was said that the deaf were able to regain their sense of hearing.

Having been impressed by the view of village and the plains after leaving the maze, the artist painted a sweeping landscape that resonated with the wise yet preserved that indomitable spirit of the origin. It was hanged in the town hall and would preside over the people for many ages to come.

The florist and the cook mixed herbs and exotic plants to great unique and powerful smells and tastes. When people indulged in these delights, they felt that their senses were revitalized. They talked of the good old days yet relished the opportunities that lay in the future.

As for the athlete, he would achieve monumental feats once thought impossible. Lifting great stones and running through the fields at great speed. People sat on the hilltops and watched him run…and many of the young ran after him, trying to catch his shadow.

And so, when the sun finally set on this long day, the village was re-vitalized by the vision and prowess of these five heroes. When the last ray of light faded, the heroes regained their former age. Their hair turned back to grey and their limbs became less supple. Eyes that once saw clearly now needed the aid of steel rimed glasses. But they story of the fountain of youth at the heart of the labyrinth would never be forgotten. In years to come, many people from the village and even those from abroad would enter the maze and search of youth, on a mission to obtain great vision and to bring glory to the people. On the longest day of the year, a chosen few would taste youth once more and would share its spirit with all, leaving an indelible mark on society.