I didn't prepare myself for a journey this time. Rather, I wanted to work on my Medicine Drum. I brought the Drum to the ledge and I began to imagine what images should be painted on it. I would like Tortoise in the center, as my first guide; Eagle on top as my guide to the World Above; Whale on the bottom as my guide to the World Below. On either side of Tortoise I picture the gifts of the Goddess and God, the glowing stone and the musical golden Acorn. As hard as I tried, I felt frustrated because I couldn't get the images clear in my mind.
I decided to visit with Wild Woman. I shifted to Hawk and flew to the woods where she was. She was waiting for me, and I shifted back to human form. I jumped in her arms and she gave me a big hug. She swung me onto her back and gave me a piggy-back ride along the trails, running and laughing. We ended up in a pine needle grove where I have spent much time in the World of Form. I started to clear debris out of the old fire pit that I made many years ago, and gather twigs to start a fire. Laughing silently, Wild Woman climbed the large pine in the center of the grove and shook the trunk so that many dry branches fell to the ground.
I used these to build a careful tent of twigs in the fire pit. I tried to use my lighter to start the fire. I saw Wild Woman staring at me with a puzzled expression, and realized how unnecessary it was. I stood and turned to the South and raised my hands toward the sun. I concentrated on building up heat into my hands. I felt them begin to glow. When my hands were hot enough, I held them over the fire pit and the dry twigs all caught fire at once.
After only a few moments of staring at the fire, Wild Woman lifted me onto her back again and ran through the woods. She brought me to the Waterfall and waded across the stream. Behind the falls to the side was a small cave. It had a dusty floor and damp walls, and a small stream trickled through the back.
It seemed that Wild Woman wanted to give me something, so I asked her if she had a gift for me. She stared at me solemnly for a moment, and then in my mind I heard YANNA!
Wild Woman had offered her name as a gift!
I gave her a big hug and laughed with her. I wanted Yanna to know my name, so I began to show her who I was.
I spread my wings and showed her Winged Man. I then began to rapidly shift forms to show Yanna my different aspects.
I am Hawk; I am Crow; I am Eagle; I am Tortoise; I am horse; I am groundhog; I am Otter; I am Snake; I am Wolf; I am Coyote; I am Fox; I am Whale; I am Dolphin; I am Monkey; I am Cloud; I am Tree; I am nest and baby Bird; I am Kate; I am Flame RavenHawk; I am Glowing Light.
As I shift to the pure form of Glowing Light, Kate remains in the cave before me standing silently. Her eyes are open, but she is motionless. I see her white aura surrounding her. The light is dense and strongly glowing. In spirit form of Glowing Light, I enter her aura. As I pass through the light, I can see a round ball of black located in her chest and solar plexus region. The ball appears smooth and solid. As I concentrate, I am able to create an opening in the sphere. I enter. It is very dark, so I hold out the glowing stone of the goddess. White light flares out from the stone, but nothing is revealed. I know that this ball of black energy needs to be transformed and removed, so I begin to sprinkle the water I had gathered from the Spring of New Life all about the inside of the ball. Replacing the flask into my Medicine bag, I hold the stone in my left hand and the acorn in my right. I try to concentrate on the contents of the sphere. I sense it hides dark memories. I try to recall happy memories, and place them into the sphere. I gather love into my heart, and send a strong stream of healing energy into the ball. I tell Kate that this ball will now begin to open, and she will start to see that which is hidden.
I back slowly out of the sphere, leaving the opening so that the white light of her aura may enter. I knew it would be awhile before the black ball would dissolve, so I gazed at the sphere and pictured it getting softer and less painful to carry.
I step back into the cave, and bring Kate back within my body. I am Winged Man once again. Yanna gives me another big, comforting hug, and I cry a little thanking her for her deep gifts. The journey ends.
~Flame RavenHawk