Thalia followed the guidebook and signs to the Tholos. As she climbed upward, she smelled the pine trees before she eventually arrived at a grove of the trees. On either side of the entrance path leading into the grove were snakes on the trees. Their serpentine motions reminded her of the medical caduceus and of the chakra-energy swirls ascending from root to head, weaving in the familiar sine-wave pattern.
When she thought of this energy, and how we are all energy, she became aware of her third chakra starting to knot, quickly slipping into the total wounding of the fourth chakra—the heart. She remembered her recent flash of anger, quickly turning to hurt and disappointment, and in turn, feeling the tears catch at the fifth chakra—the throat—as the pressure built up before tumbling out yesterday. For the moment, it didn’t seem fair.
Right now I feel some anger and, by hook or by crook, these snakes won’t keep me from entering the grove. I stride in, with no fear even as I don’t want to become a woman as obnoxious as many I’ve known as they claimed their power and were determined not to allow a man to control them. No, I don’t want to be like that even though it seems they get what they want because of their sometimes arrogant, demanding ways. Maybe I need to change what I want, or better yet, allow for the real things I desire and release the old wants and needs.
She approached a clear pool. I would love to sink into the soothing water. She hesitated, then slipped off her clothes and melted into the warm water. So clear… so wonderful… Finding a comfortable, sloping ledge just perfect for reclining and being mostly submerged, she found, as always, in a warm bath, concerns and heartbreak wash away. I always feel better in the water. I really wish I could be gently floating in a hammock in the ocean, or even in a lake, able to view the beautiful surroundings, as I am dying. Would be easy to drift away with awareness and gratitude for my lives as I leave it all behind and transform higher. As she floated and closed her eyes, she relaxed easily into a place of peace, of the Oneness of All things. She breathed deeply, releasing her inner toxins carried on air currents as well as those toxins carried on energy waves.
She lost track of the time.
With a start, she climbed out, noticing her discarded clothing had been somehow replaced without her being aware. Her satchel was gone, too. Not that I’ve needed anything in it recently. But it is was a leftover from the “be prepared” days, and frequently something within was helpful. How much makes sense to be prepared and how much is trying to stay in control? Always a thought. As she slipped into the long flowing white gauzy dress—flowing and free—she was aware of a voice nearby saying her clothes and bag would be returned afterwards and to please follow. The hazy outline of a woman led her into the Tholos. The music is so faint I am not sure if it is coming from within or without. An altar! I don’t have anything to leave on the altar, for even my concerns and questions are gone, so I’ll offer my gratitude such places even exist.
In respect, she nodded at the altar as she passed and continued to follow the misty outline down the tight, circular stairs, which reminded her of the winding stairs at the satsanghar at Dera. This memory further centered her as it re-set her priorities.
Moving towards a labyrinth, she entered it, walking slowly and mindfully. Such a serpentine way to walk—with folds undulating this way and then, that. Perhaps that is why snakes guard the entrance. This labyrinth reminds me of the first time I walked one—the huge canvas one at the Hospice Volunteer Inservice, so large I had a hard time finding a room large enough to hold it. Needed to use the auditorium at the Health Department. That kernel blossomed into the outdoor one at the new hospital built from our prompting. To walk the labyrinth, tucked down low among the trees and near the fountain, between the overwhelming emotions emanating from the hospital on the hill and the overwhelming frantic-ness of the nearby traffic, seemed surreal. The hollow the labyrinth was in was outside it all, in its own space and time. As I am now…
She weaved in and out the folds of the labyrinth, getting ever closer to the center and finally reaching a small pool where water bubbled up. She realized she was alone, but wasn’t sure when the wraith had disappeared. Reaching down into the water, she let the bubbles play with her hands. She drank from cupped hands, then allowing the water to pour over her head and onto her heart.
A mossy area on the side of the pool formed by the underground springs looked so inviting. How comfy looking! Maybe I’ll just lie down here, I feel so dreamy. Eyes closed, she listened to the murmuring, bubbling spring, and inhaled a sweet smell. Is this the effects of the ethylene vapors the oracles used? Plutarch said it was as if “the adyton was sending forth the essences of the sweetest and most expensive perfumes from a spring.” Or is this from my being relaxed and un-anxious, everything harmonious… peaceful… our natural way of being…
Floating… drifting… She watched facets of her life as if she were in a boat with the people and events lined up along the banks in vignettes of moments. This isn’t exactly my life flashing before my eyes so I guess I’m not dying. More like a leisurely stroll through my life. Maybe I can discern patterns better this way. Yes, I was such a serious child… don’t make noise… don’t run in the apartment… everything will be better. Mostly a serious child with bursts of fun. Mostly vigilant with moments of trust… look at the lilies of the field… quietly reading and writing… processing my life, processing me. The woman over there looks like Thalia, Muse of Comedy, from the Mouseion. What is she saying to me? Oh, “Lighten up. Ride the rainbow.” What rainbow? I don’t see a rainbow.
She was floating in the sky now, amidst the stars as comets whizzed by, way above any river of events. That comet seems close, and it’s coming closer. I thought the tails of comets contained ice and rock, but this one seemed to sparkle. Maybe the limited light is reflecting on the ice. One particularly interesting piece drifted close, so she grabbed onto a natural outcropping on it and rode the comet. I guess this is what Muse Thalia meant. What an exhilarating feeling! Like a roller coaster, but way higher. What was it that Aristotle called a comet? Oh yes, a star with hair – kometes – hair of the head.
The comet plunged on in the dark sky. In the distance was a smudge of something. She and the comet drew ever nearer. It was revealing itself to be a planet, growing ever larger as they approached. Down they flew. Are we going to crash? Maybe I should get off? Maybe I should wake up from this dream. an I wake up?
Moving through a layer of clouds, she recognized they were going to crash into a rainbow—a huge rainbow. Before she could duck or hop off—or wake up—she was immersed in the rainbow.
Ohhh! So many colors… so beautiful. Droplets of mist of all colors. Looks like a box of crayons. Her ice chunk was melting as comet and rainbow merged. She was on her own—flying downwards with the rainbow. As it approached the ground, she could see this part of the rainbow wasn’t made up of mist or water droplets, but what appeared to be, shavings of crayons and colored pencils, of pastel chalk and paints. Bits of the alphabet were interspersed: letters, words, phrases. Even snatches of music notes and chords played.
This is the rainbow my Muse Thalia meant. The Rainbow of Creativity—lighten up—ride the rainbow—be creative. Ram Das said, “Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” Lighten up! Laughing, giggling, enjoying the blend of color and words and music—she couldn’t help but to dance amidst it all. Swirling, twirling, as the rainbow eased her down to the ocean and the beach. She saw people on the sand, arms upraised, reveling and dancing in the creativity rainbow, as she gently landed.
What a ride! The Creativity Rainbow from Tholos. What beauty! Do I wake up now or am I already awake?
(see also http://enchanteur.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/rainbow-from-tholos/#comments and http://cityofladies.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/rainbow-from-tholos/#comments)
(came across this quote by Robert Fulghum weeks after writing this post: “Maybe we should develop a Crayola bomb as our next secret weapon. A happiness weapon. A beauty bomb. And every time a crisis developed, we would launch one. It would explode high in the air – explode softly – and send thousands, millions, of little parachutes into the air. Floating down to earth – boxes of Crayolas. And we wouldn’t go cheap, either – not little boxes of eight. Boxes of sixty-four, with the sharpener built right in. With silver and gold and copper, magenta and peach and lime, amber and umber and all the rest. And people would smile and get a little funny look on their faces and cover the world with imagination.” )
healing haven 