esson 48: The Grail Hermit

fter releasing the bird [see Lesson 47], I enter the glade and look around. It's very still and peaceful here, and I can hear the crackling of a fire. I seek it out, and come upon a small clearing. A hut on the far side bears a grail symbol on its curtained doorway. The rich, colored fabric seems out of place here on this simple shelter.

In the foreground, sitting against a carved stone, is the Grail Hermit, writing in his book. "Welcome, visitor," he says. "Come and dry yourself by the warmth of my fire." My clothes are wet from the freezing rain I just came out of, and I'm happy to take him up on this offer.

Sympathy and understanding fill his eyes as he looks at me. "Rest," he says. "The quest will wait for you. Regain your strength for the struggles ahead."
"What can you tell me about my further struggles," I ask.
"I can't give you details, if that's what you mean," he answers. "We all have our own individual challenges, but we are equipped to meet them. If you are prepared in your heart to face any and all dangers in the future, and trust yourself and the universe to meet them successfully, you will do so, and you will gain in strength and understanding. This book contains some examples; maybe you should have a look at it."

He rises, hands me the book, and walks into the woods, with a dove flitting from branch to branch above and along with him. I relax by the fire and read about deceitful selfish people, capricious nature, dragons and devils, long roads and barren lands. But through it all runs a thread of overcoming, and finding an inner peace which makes problems into interesting challenges and struggles into adventures. I drift off to sleep, and dream of a turning water wheel with eight cups filling, then emptying, then filling again in an endlessly repeating cycle. The flow of the river beneath it powers its rotation.

I awaken to see the Grail Hermit once again seated and writing in his book. "Did you rest well?" he asks.
"Very," I reply.
"Why don't you come inside and share a meal with me?"
We rise and enter his hut. On the left is a simple cot made of sticks and covered with a patched blanket. Feathers and fluff stick out from under the blanket, and it reminds me of a bird's nest. On the back side is a table, supported by the wall and two legs. There are three can chairs around it. Seemingly handmade books are stacked up to the right and hanging on the wall around the door are a few basic tools--a small saw, hammer, knife, scraper . . . . A pole in the middle of the hut supports the roof, and a number of different-sized animal skin bags hang from the rafters, as well as bundles of herbs. From a low chest, he removes two wooden plates and cups, a loaf of bread, a jug of water and a pot. He pours a cup of water for me and says, "Make yourself at home. I'll be back shortly." He takes the pot, water and some herbs and steps outside.

I sit at the table and gaze out through the spaces in the wall. Behind the hut, the woods are lovely, dappled with sun, shadows and birdsong. I relax, letting my mind drift and remembering my dream. I don't try to interpret the symbolism, because I understand the meaning well enough without attempting to analyze. The Grail Hermit returns and fills our cups with freshly-brewed tea from the pot. He breaks bread, saying a blessing over it, puts pieces on each plate, and we eat. The bread is the tastiest I've ever had, and the tea is wonderful. After the meal, I feel satiated and relaxed, yet alert and awake--simply refreshed. Afterwards he selects a few herbs, cleans and mixes them, and puts them in a bag, which he hands to me.
"This is a really excellent mixture for tea," he says. "It makes you feel peaceful without making you tired; in fact, it enhances your energy and strength. Take it, and travel in health and good spirits."
"Thank you," I say, "but I have nothing to gift you in return."
"I understand. But I am a hermit and don't need much. Allow me to do for you, and, when the time is right, pass the favor on. But you know that already."

The dove flies off to the north, the Grail Hermit grins, and I head off to the north.

[As I finished this meditation and checked the back of the book for the date of the next one, the book opened to Appendix Two--Bach Flower Remedies!]