Cauldron

She is imprisoned inside that castle. She is held within its strong walls, beyond a closed gate, behind a palisade, out in a deep lake, at the end of a narrow, slippery bridge. I need her to be free so I can truly live.

What must you do to set …

I have come to the place of truth. This place could easily kill me, like it did the men whose heads top the palisade. So here I am, so close to it, within touching distance of my test. The horror is total, and it seems that there is no turning …

Stuck here. Stuck on this very small tussock, alone, damp and cold. There is no way out. There is no way back. I am lost and without hope and so, so afraid. Will I die here?

Do you choose to die here?

Sometimes the situation seems hopeless. So many things …

I am in the water. I am being swept along in a strong current. I am drowning. I am sinking. I am too disorientated to swim. Will this be the end of me?

What will stop you from drowning?

Sometimes life just picks us up out of our routine and …

It has been tough going through the undergrowth. But here is a stream and a boat. All I have to do is loosen it from its moorings and let the current take me.

Do you allow yourself to go with the flow?

"Just go with the flow," people say. That's …

The battle was hard and bloody. I fought as bravely as I could. But we have been defeated. We have lost our home and our land is burnt. All we have now is ashes. And I can't help thinking I could have fought more bravely...

What do you feel guilty …

This is a place of stillness. It is a sacred place. Here, I come to listen, and to hear. Here, I receive the blessings of the Light.

Do you take time to be still?

We must make sacred time and sacred space. We must learn to be still and listen …

The drop to the river below is breathtaking. It is so deep you can't see the bottom without leaning over the edge a long way. It is precipitous. And the only way across is a crumbling bridge. The fear of the depths grips me. But it is only this fear …

Holding on so tight. Holding it all in. Because if I let go, the viper will strike, battle will be joined, and I will get lost in the dark forest. So I hold the balance, keep the peace, stay silent.

What are you hanging on to?

Stop holding on so …

A sword rises. Light reflects from its blade and sets off its keen edge. We are given a glimpse, a flash of truth, a lightbulb moment. This is a new idea, a new beginning.

What strikes you?

The Sword Hallow imparts one simple but eternal truth: you are the Light …

He sits in a high place, taking a wide view of the Land. His judgment is as keen and sharp as his vision. His mind is precise and rational. He draws clear lines between right and wrong.

How do you discern the gold from the dross?

The Sword King's sharp …

She uses her razor sharp mind to cut a clear path through her thoughts. What is helpful and what is not? What encourages me on the path and what drags me down?

Are these thoughts helpful?

Her mind is the Sword Queen's keenest weapon. She keeps it sharp and clean …

There is no doubt of his courage. He understands the plight of the land and calmly but insightfully speaks up for justice. He defends sovereignty with his words and cuts through difficulties swiftly.

Do you speak out for justice?

His mind is his weapon. He keeps it well-honed so he …

The Sword Maiden knows instinctively what is needed. Her sharp mind sees the way forward in an instant, and she takes the necessary action. In order to find the Source of Wholeness she will sacrifice her hair, her reputation, her very life.

What will you sacrifice for the good of …