The Tiller

With fingers on the keyboard, I am ready to describe the journeys that have maintained the same thrill as the first time, many times since. I recall the same feelings, that still arise today, as they did that first time that I let Golinda and Gallopatrot direct me, as a loadstone, down a road less travelled.

At the onset of the journey, we move slowly, taking time to observe the characters on the pilgrim’s road, that leads to Nemeton, a sacred space found in nature. We travel with other aliens who have established themselves, in foreign lands, where their populations have become more numerous than in their place of their origin. We are strangers living in a strange land, visiting our estranged origins.

Golinda is always ready to try to communicate. “I am the self-proclaimed humble fool. The more I learn, the less I understand. I know the limits of my ability to translate bits of many languages, spoken and otherwise. They often leave me get confused when I notice that what I thought exists disappears.”

Golinda, always striving for perfection said, “I depend on Gallopatrot when doubt haunts. The reptilian brain helps me wander along my soul’s journey.” She laughed fondly, while regarding her dear companion, then continued.

“I am an explorer with a poor sense of direction. I set my shoulders and with my head looking straight ahead, venture forward into the unknown with Gallopatrot. I have been trained by the masters who have passed on knowledge from the pharaohs, druids, shaman and others who are aware nature. However, I get lost in thoughts that often cloud clear thinking, and judgement, even when my compass is set. When I am uncertain as to what forms of ancient wisdom direct me, I depend on Gallopatrot.”

Gallopatrot nodded saying, “It is after hours of over thinking, in the moments of ‘no thought’, that Golinda’s dark DNA responds to the dark energy and dark matter of the universe. Then I can follow her lead along the course of nature’s force.”

Golinda added. “I often find myself peeling an emotional onion, that makes my eyes water. The tears help me see more clearly. They become a sea in which I travel with anticipation combined with fear, dread, hope and excitement. Then I put a smile in my heart and a twinkle in my eye, to see what might be and heed Gallopatrot’s guidance.”

Gallopatrot said. “I show her the pot that fills and empties and then help her find the north star, that dimly shines beneath the layers of mist.”

Golinda added, “ I was so surprised when Gallopatrot showed me how, in the southern hemisphere, the pole star is found by following a cross.

Gallopatrot explained, " We need to respect and be open to unknown possibilities. We have to accept not knowing precisely how the world truly conforms to our limited understanding of it. Each individual translates their own conscious and unconscious understanding of experiences, rumors, whim and myth.”

Gallopatrot had shown Golinda how to take a lateral shoot from the base of the tree of life and make a tiller that can steer a boat forward from behind or form the shaft of a crossbow that shoots a message straight along a trajectory or a tiller to prepare the soil for seeding. At first, Golinda thought that what Gallopatrot suggested was science fiction, sci-fi, but later understood it is best described as psi phi.

Gallopatrot explained, “Poseidon, kind of the waves held a trident that forms the letter psi. The trident is used in various scientific and mathematical contexts. It represents the wave function in physics.”

" Psi and the psychic power of the mind/soul Psi is the unknown factor in extrasensory perception and psychokinesis experiences. Psi has the power to find the point that unites diverse potentials of apparently opposite paths, such as science and religion and matter and energy. Mental manipulation is a tool in which the creative and interpretive mind can translate physical and psychological phenomena.

Phi, in philosophy, is the apparent motion caused by the successive viewing of stationary objects, such as the frames of a motion picture. In physics, phi is known as the golden ratio, a mathematical concept thought to represent perfect beauty. Nature often comes very close to the divine proportion that Leonardo da Vinci called the golden section, that is associated with the Fibonacci sequence, found by adding together the two preceding numbers. This sequence goes 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34 and so on. Phi influences nature, and psi, at large and small scales.

Golinda beamed peacefully at Gallopatrot. “Gallopatrot helps me when I am at a loss about how to pursue making a change. I imagine my thoughts, then share them with others. This often creates a transformation. I explained the psi phi phenomenon to a number of pilgrims and days later, they approached me sharing their Chinese whispers version of this lesson.

Gallopatrot smiled saying, “It is easiest to put in the 10,000 hours for rote learning when it supports what you are keen to know.” Gallopatrot added, “I cannot teach the way to travel to Nemeton. Each time the path follows a different road. However, Nature usually provides messages that awakens the spirit that is able to integrate knowledge that is retained from learning and experience."

Golinda said, “Gallopatrot taught me to quiet myself and listen to nothing."

She did just that. A bird started chiming. Golinda said, “I hear a corvid and my brain sands resonate.. Without warning, Nature’s wordless voice whispers its messages causing neurological cascades. A current of electricity flows from the centre of my cerebral universe, through my body, down my elbows, to my fingers where thoughts become manifest as words. I deliberate how to place the pieces into a puzzle that will make a map that can directly and indirectly influence the future.

“Corvids are birds of the crow family. They are considered spiritual messengers because they are observant and mindful of opportunities or challenges ahead. With keen perception and awareness of their surroundings, Corvids caw and cackle, chit and chat and offer intelligent guidance of how to face the mysteries of the unknown to their community.”

Gallopatrot smirked while adding, “Crows warn their collective murder. Ravens warn their collective unkindness. Blue Jays call to their shout, scold, band or party. Choughs warn their chatter. Magpies form a conventicle, (a secret meeting of those with nonconventional views), and warn their mischief, congregation, charm, tribe and parliament.”

Golinda opened her eyes wide. “I believe Mankind is most like a magpie. Both man and Magpie look stately, in formal attire, both act territorial and aggressive, both constantly look to optimize what they can, and take shiny trinkets they see or copy words that they like. Copying is the utmost sign of respect and yet, it often feels like trespassing. ”

Each time I write, is like the first time. I still feel the same charm and mystery as during my first journey when Golinda and Gallopatrot accompanied me to a sacred space. Experience has helped me recognize the pattern of each journey. My intention is to examine versions of messages floating in the air, that repeat in a way that would make Fibonacci proud. I find them on a road that first appears at the farthest horizons of what cannot be seen in more than a dream. At the point where truth of hidden knowledge meets artifice and contrived illuminations, will is transformed to action and they take me on an adventure that leads to Nemeton.

However now, when I arrive at my little paradise, I notice something has changed. When I revisit this place of my dreams, it is easier to see the dark aspects. I accept being the perpetrator at the same time as the dupe. Visitors change the actions of businessmen, politicians, scientists and society, who imagine solutions to problems and ways to increase profits. They unwittingly cause more problems for the next generations. Commercialism and profit easily change sacred places into carnivalesque tourist spots. Pop-up shops and activities support the community and allow people to trade for little treasures. Thieves are more common.

I try to steer the reader but never know what aspects of my story they will glean as a treasure. When I have worked my thought seeds into fertile ground, some words will become the reader’s own thought and each individual translates my work into their own context. I shoot the arrow as straight as I can, to deal with uncomfortable aspects change, and influence future change. The words I write weave knowledge of the universe, the stars, and nature, with data that resonates the volatile vaporous spirits of my heart. Golinda and Gallopatrot have helped me move the tiller. Applying pressure to the outer edge, results in Newton's third law: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. Br’er rabbit understood this aspect of nature when he told the fox not to throw him into the prickly brambles, where he had grown up.

As this adventure ends, Golinda and Gallopatrot disappear. All that is left are these words. Perhaps they might provide a map to a conventicle, where there is a purpose, that includes sharing learning and dialogue, with the potential for positive mutual support and change.