esson 54: The Stone Hallow

"erlin," I said, "I know that I lack practicality, and I've been hoping that the Stone Hallow could help me with that--help me to be more grounded like the Stone Queen, more aware of the physical, able to see the steps from action to results, and the consequences thereof. I feel that the Stone Hallow must be nearby. Can you help me reach it?"
"By what right do you make this request?"
"Right? No 'right' other than by virtue of being human. More by want, need and desire. I believe I've shown my willingness and sincerity by following this quest these many weeks. You can see me in your magick mirror: what can I tell you that you don't know already? I don't demand by right, but humbly request your assistance."

Merlin raises the spear, puts the butt on the ground and touches my shoulder with the tip. The dim bells in the background grow louder, as I think: "It is time." [11 a.m. bong o'clock¹]

I am transformed into a red dragon, and shoot up into the sky like a firework rocket! From the air, I recognize that the two buildings are entrances to underground passages, and I descend and enter through the round low building. Following the tunnel, I realize that it must run directly underneath the roads in the outer world above. There is a meaning here I can't articulate. I make my way along the winding passage until I come to a 'fork' in the path. It is obvious to my dragonly senses that the path to the right is the incoming passage from the tower ruins. I hear a pulsing coming from the other direction, and follow this passage deep into the earth. Now I understand a bit more about places of power on the earth, and that the placement of Merlin's Stonehenge-like table is not so odd after all.

Finally, I detect a faint glow and my adrenaline rushes as I race to its source. I find the Stone in the center of the passage--not in a large cavern or hall or shrine like I expected. It is 'down to earth' and doesn't need an extravagant setting. I curl my body around it, giving it a sort of 'dragon hug.' "Hello, Stone! I've been looking all over for you!" I am reminded of Grendel², who *never* had a treasure such as this! The Stone pulses . . .

[. . . and there's a knock at the door . . .]

. . . and I realize that the Stone, the heartbeat, and the drum carry the same message. A low voice confirms: "The squaring of the circle, the path of the wheel, the repeating pattern which gives the underlying structure of cycles, I contain the cycles, I provide the rhythm and the stage for the dance, the board for the game, without structure there is chaos. Master the basics and move outward in all directions. I am the Philosopher's Stone, turning everything to gold, more valuable than gold, everything glowing with life force, filling its proper place in the Pattern (patterns within Pattern). The miracle of the smallest grain of wheat to the most complex systems of life, simple bliss in seeing the golden glow."

As my mind mulls over these statements, I hug the Stone close to my body and return to the surface, taking the other passage and emerging through the ruined tower. The glow of the Stone shines brighter as we reach the outer world, and extends to all objects within my view. Now I know the secret of alchemy and the Philosopher's Stone! Thrilled, I return to Merlin to show him this wonderful Truth. He takes the Stone from me and lays it on the table. The Stone disappears, but the pattern remains.

Touching me on the other shoulder with the spear, he transforms me back to myself. "Well done," he comments. Taking my Tarot cards from my bag, I lay out cards on the pattern.

esson 54 Part II: Augury of the Stone of Wisdom

Note: I had such a wonderful insight yesterday, and just with typing this up realized how relevant is it to this meditation, especially to what the Stone had to say. It's about laundry. I was looking at my clothes on the line, and thinking about what a nice, orderly thing it is to do laundry. You start with a chaos of dirty clothes, and through the process of sorting, washing, hanging, folding, and putting away, you complete the task. Now, if I could just do *all* my piles that way! Like the one on my desk for example. (But every sheet of paper is its own 'load.')

1) At certain times of the day, the church bells ring for 15 minutes. They go: "BONG, BONG, BONG, BONG . . ." loud enough to cover the gurgling sound of my water pipe. = P {go back}

2) Grendel is the dragon from Beowulf. What a great book. {go back}