At the cave entrance, I began by painting an image of Tortoise on the wall of the ledge area using red paint I made from crushed stone and saliva, and using a brush I had made from my own hair tied to a twig with rawhide. When I was done, the painting of Tortoise lifted his head from the rock wall and stared at me. If a Tortoise could smile, this one surely did.
I entered the Cave and found my circle of light still intact. I made it strong again with my athame. I sat cross legged in the circle and stared into the cave ahead of me. I concentrated on my reasons for entering the cave, and what I wished to accomplish. The circle began to sink into the floor of the cave, taking me with it. I sank deeply beneath the earth, watching rocks and soil and roots glide by as I was lowered.
I found myself in a field surrounded by trees whose branches were actually the roots of the trees above me. There was light, as though the sun were shining from behind clouds. Here in the field a beautiful black and chestnut stallion stood grazing. He stared at me and agreed to take me to a place where I could introduce myself. I gratefully thanked him and mounted his bare back.
He ran so swiftly through the woods and fields and streams
that the landscape blurred as we passed. He finally began to climb a mountain that stood alone and towered over the rest of the landscape. He stopped on a ledge near the peak, and I dismounted. I tried to ask Horse his name, so I could properly thank him, but he merely turned his tail to me and returned down the mountain. When Horse left, I saw that Horse had not followed a path up the mountain. There was no trail down off the ledge, and I knew that the only way I was going to get down off the mountain was if I was accepted in this world and learned how to use my wings without help.
I faced East, where I could see fields and said "To the East, and to my Brothers and Sisters of the air and wind. I am Winged Man. Be my friends and guides and teachers. I am Winged Man! I welcome you into my heart!" I proceeded to greet my brothers and sisters in the South, West, and North in a similar manner, offering my name and welcoming them into my heart. I waited for a response and none came, so I took a deep breath, spread my wings, and leapt off the ledge.
A current of warm air caught my wings and lifted me up to soar over the forests below. I was not used to flying however, and my arms became tired from carrying my human body. I Shifted to Hawk form so that I could soar on the thermals. Soon, I began to be buffeted by strong winds, so I shifted to Crow form so I could use Crows' strong, tireless wing beats to carry me. Even in Crow form, my wings quickly tired against the wind, though, so I decided to return to my circle of light and end my journey. I shifted back to Hawk, and with Hawk's keen eyes I found the field and circle where I had started.
I landed and resumed my human shape again. A groundhog stood outside my circle on his back legs, nibbling on a spray of clover. He looked at me, and told me that my journey wasn't done yet. He swung his head toward a tunnel of trees that I had not seen when I first arrived. He told me that I should follow the tunnel.
I walked down the archway and saw a glowing light at the end. I followed, shading my eyes, until I reached the light. I knew it was the Goddess, for she was so bright that I could not look at her, just see her glowing outline. I noticed that there was a second glowing figure seated just behind her. They were both seated on throne-like chairs woven out of branches and leaves.
As I approached the seated figures, my knees buckled and I was forced to the ground with my arms pinned to my sides. I felt a cramp deep within my stomach that doubled me over, and I rolled to my side in the fetal position. Goddess spoke to me in a voice that echoed through my head and said "So winged man, where are your wings now?" Each time I tried to move my arms and stand, I was hit with another crushing cramp and Goddess would repeat her mocking question. Finally she said to me "You must learn to walk before you can learn to fly." With that, I was finally able to rise to my feet and release my arms.
Wrapping my wings tightly around myself for protection, the second figure now rose and stood before me. I found my arms and legs outstretched as I stood there, and I could not move. I saw that the second figure had antlers, and I knew him to be the horned God. As I stood in front of him, spread-eagle, he stripped my clothes from me until I stood before them naked. I became aware of my genitals hanging vulnerable between my legs, and I shivered. In two strokes, the Antlered figure sliced off my testicles and penis. I lifted my head and howled. Goddess stood and placed her hand on my wound and it healed, and hair grew to cover the scar. By this, I became marked as one who was both Man-yet-not-man and Woman-yet-not-woman. Because I was both, I could not be marked as either. I was made androgynous.
The God then gave me a leather tunic that fit over my wings and came to above my knees, a breastplate of woven wood, and a belt to help hold it in place. Together, they dressed me in my new garments. When I was dressed again, they stood on either side of me and enfolded me in a warm embrace. The Goddess then handed me a round white stone that glowed with its own light. The God handed me a golden Acorn which made music. I solemnly accepted these gifts and placed them within the Medicine pouch tied at my waist. I spread my wings, and plucked a single pinion feather from the ends of each of my wings, and gave one to each of them in thanks for their wisdom and their gifts.
I returned down the tunnel of trees to where the groundhog waited by me circle of light. I thanked Groundhog for his guidance, and guardianship of the circle, and sat within it again. I rose swiftly and returned to the Cave once again. Shaken, but still in one piece, I added a few pieces of wood to my sacred fire.
My introduction was complete. The journey ended.
~Flame RavenHawk