A Wizardly Soliloquy
by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart
A Wizard's mind works in a different way than other people's. He
discerns patterns where others see none. (In fact, this is the very
definition of "magical thinking" in the official Index of
Psychopathology^) And most of the Wizard's lessons are designed to
impart that unique perspective.
The Wizard is an essential component of the legendary saga of The
Hero's Quest. His role is to mentor the young Hero, teaching him to see
beyond the appearances of the world. To perceive the patterns which
underlie and connect all things, the way Obi-Wan Kenobi teaches Luke
Skywalker about The Force.
Sometimes the Wizard may even train or apprentice the Hero in the
magickal arts — especially when these are an integral facet of a martial
arts discipline, as depicted in the Kung Fu TV series, the movie Conan
the Barbarian, The Karate Kid films, The Matrix, and, of course, the
Jedi Knights of Star Wars.
And the Wizard is the one who explains the situation to the Hero
before sending him out upon his Quest. At the point in the story where
it comes time for the Hero to take up his Mission — his Quest — the
Wizard takes him aside and lays it on him. The Wizard explains what's
going on in the world that requires a Hero; what forces are gathering;
what journey must be undertaken, and to where; what powers must be
confronted and overcome; and what must be done to restore the Balance.
Imagine, if you will, that you are sitting around a campfire at the
edge of the Uncharted Lands. The old man who has accompanied you here
gets up, throws another log on the fire, and says something like this:
"This is a place between the Worlds, and this is a time outside of
Time. It is not by mere chance that you have come here this night, but
there is a larger purpose, a grand design, a great task that awaits you:
"For this is a time long prophesied. Such moments occur periodically
in the course of history, when the opposing forces of Life kanji Entropy
must come to a head. The world has gotten out of alignment, and the
eternal balance of light and dark has become disrupted. The Dark Lord of
Death and Entropy has begun to extend his domain over the world of the
living.
"This has happened before, and you know the legends of such previous
times. But each time the cycles bring these opposing forces into
confrontation again, the stakes get higher. Now they have reached the
ultimate: we stand on the threshold of planetary illumination, or
planetary annihilation. The outcome is by no means certain.
"You are needed now, and it is for this very mission that you were
born on Earth in this incarnation. Know that you have been guided to
this very place, on this very night, for this very purpose. At such
momentous times as these, the forces of Life and of Entropy call forth
their eternal champions. It is your destiny to be a noble Hero of your
time — a time that will be sung of in all future ages.
"Your Quest is to journey to the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness,
wherein lies the World Fulcrum. There you must confront and defeat the
Dark Lord and restore the Great Balance. If you fail in your quest, the
world will be plunged into a darkness such as has not been known in 65
million years. If you succeed, the emerging conscious lifestream of
Earth will be free to make the greatest leap in evolution since the
first lobe-finned fish crawled out of the ancient swamps onto dry land.
"But be warned, The Dark Lord has become immensely powerful. He is
supported by legions of armies, and his evil corruption has spread into
every facet of the world of men: governments, corporations, churches,
financial institutions, the military., power companies, the media — all
these and more are his willing slaves and trample each other in their
.rush to do his bidding.
"You cannot hope to defeat him by force of arms, for the deadliest
weapons ever conceived are his own. And he also controls the wealth of
empires, with power to buy and sell the very Earth you stand upon. He is
the very father of lies and deceit and can turn even your own parents
against you. To oppose him, you must learn his weaknesses and make them
your own strengths: love, compassion, magic, purity of heart and
nobility of soul. Your life has prepared you for this Quest, and your
path has brought you here.
"For yours is a magical journey, and upon it you will meet denizens
of the spirit realm. You will be challenged, and you must respond
appropriately. You will gather Companions, courageous, he artful and
true, and they will come through for you when all seems lost. And you
will be betrayed by ones you have trusted. You will learn painful and
valuable lessons, teaching you what you will need to know for each leg
of your journey.
"I can say no more; nor can I accompany you on your journey, I can
only tell you to follow the Path of the Heart.." |
The Well Worn Path
Journey CD
This relaxing and vivid audio journey introduces you to each of the
cards from the Well Worn Path.
Gentle music and a soothing voice guide you through this journey of
almost 60 minutes.
This CD will not only deepen your understanding of these wonderful
cards but it may lead you to discover your own personal connection to
these powerful images. |
