A few golden rays of morning sunlight fell on Angelita’s face. She slowly opened her eyes and took a deep breath of fresh air. On most days, Angelita was like any other young girl, but today she felt different. During the night, she had had a very strange dream. A brilliant sphere of light had appeared before her. It hovered near her chest, swirling with every color of the rainbow. She reached out to touch the light and a pleasant, tickling feeling filled her body. She felt like giggling as the light began to move closer to her. Slowly, the glowing light began to disappear from sight and fill her heart with so much love that she felt like it would burst! She began to see images of herself walking through the countryside. She thought to herself, what do these images mean? To her surprise, a voice answered her question. This is your journey. You must go. The images continued for awhile, and gradually, the sphere of light that had entered her heart began to reappear in front of her. She looked at the light and nodded, and suddenly it was gone. I am with you. The words echoed in her mind as she awoke.
Angelita opened her eyes. The pleasant glow from the dream still filled her heart, and she ran her hands over her entire body to see if she really was awake. She remembered the words from her dream. This is your journey. You must go. Angelita felt confused. I must go where? Suddenly, the voice answered her. You must visit Grandmother. She quickly got dressed and ran down the sidewalk to the forest path that led to her grandmother’s cottage.
Angelita told Grandmother the dream. When she had finished, Grandmother sat in her wooden rocking chair, smiling, nodding. “Ah, my child,” she said. “You have been called to a very special path. I will help you, but your journey is yours and you must go alone.”
“What journey?”
“The ancient road beneath the stars, The Way.”
Angelita nodded.
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“Grandmother, who is the voice from my dream?”
“My child, this voice is within all of us. Many of us have forgotten to listen to it, though. When you are really quiet inside, you can hear this voice. It’s the voice that tells you things that you wouldn’t ever think of on your own. Some people believe that this is the voice of God or angels. Others call this voice intuition. You have been blessed by this dream, for it has taught you to listen.”
“Grandmother, what must I do now?”
“Sit here, dear child. Sit beside me on the hearth.”
Angelita followed her instructions.
“Fold your hands in your lap, close your eyes, and breathe deeply.”
For a month, Grandmother instructed her in meditation. One morning when she appeared for her lesson, Grandmother smiled, her eyes twinkling.
“Today, my child, we will not meditate. You are ready for your journey. Follow me.”
Grandmother led Angelita up the narrow staircase to the attic. She opened a large, black chest and reached inside, removing a canteen, a staff, and a leather bag.
“When I was a girl, I was also called to this journey, and I carried these things with me. Now, they will accompany you on your journey. These are very special objects. This canteen will carry water to quench your thirst. You must fill it each day, but if you ever run out of water, it will provide.”
Grandmother handed Angelita the canteen.
“This bag is large but comfortable, and will never be heavier than you can manage. It will carry your clothes and food. You must always carry enough food for yourself and one other person and offer food to those in need. So long as you are generous, you will never run out of food.”
Angelita took the bag, which felt heavier than it looked. She slipped her arms into the straps, and the bag felt lighter than before. Her eyes opened wide.
“Finally, this is every pilgrim’s most trusted possession. Take this staff. It will support you along every step of your journey. It will guide you and illuminate your path. You must take care not to lose it along the way, though, for it is very easy to forget.”
Angelita took the staff in her right hand. A smile spread across her face and she leapt toward Grandmother in a warm embrace.
“Oh, Grandmother, thank you so much! It is my honor to carry your things on my journey!”
“Child, tomorrow you will begin to walk. Go to sleep very early tonight. I will meet you just before sunrise and walk with you to the path’s beginning. From there, you must continue alone.”
Angelita lay awake in bed, staring out the window at the stars. She imagined the next morning, saying goodbye to Grandmother. Alone. I’ve never been alone before. As she drifted off to sleep, she began to feel scared.
The glowing sphere appeared again in her dream. Its rainbow colors seemed more vibrant than before and her heart filled with joy. She greeted the sphere with laughter, and it began to sparkle and twinkle. She held out her hands to the sphere and two rays of light met her hands. She closed her eyes and felt a warm, loving energy travel up her arms and fill her body. I’m scared, she said. The voice answered, Do not be afraid. I am with you always. Angelita felt the knots in her stomach relax. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes. To her surprise, butterflies began to fly out of her navel! There were thousands of them in every color of the rainbow. She laughed with glee as the butterflies fluttered around her, landing on her shoulders and nose. As they flew away from her, she felt very calm and relaxed. Her fear had just been butterflies in her belly! Do not be afraid. You are never alone. I am with you always. The words swirled around and around in her mind and lingered long into the next morning.
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When Angelita arrived at Grandmother’s house, the sun was just beginning to rise. Grandmother stood in the kitchen, packing some things into her bag, and she smiled when she saw Angelita.
“Good morning, my dear child. What a beautiful morning it is to begin your journey!”
Angelita told grandmother about her dream. “And that wonderful energy from the dream was still there when I awoke, and much stronger than before!”
“Yes, my dear. I can see it. You are glowing!”
Angelita looked down at her hands and noticed a faint golden glow surrounding them. She walked to the mirror, and saw the same golden light surrounding her whole body. “Grandmother, what is this light?”
“Child, you have been blessed with the gift of vision. This light is always there, around everyone and everything, but most of the time people can’t see it. We’ve forgotten how to see it. But now that you have regained this special vision, you will be able to see it around people, around animals, around trees, rivers, rocks, around everything! It will protect you on your journey.”
They walked along a path through the forest. Angelita saw the glowing light around everything, just as Grandmother said she would. She delighted in using her new vision, and skipped along the path. She felt happy to be walking in the forest with her Grandmother on such a beautiful day, the first day of her journey. After a few hours had passed, their path crossed another wider path. At the edge of the new path stood a large chestnut tree with a seashell tied to one of its lowest branches and a bright yellow arrow was painted on its trunk. Grandmother sat down on a large stone beneath the tree and opened her bag.
“Dear, sit down here and rest. I have made us lunch.”
Angelita was very hungry and ate the sandwich very quickly. She drank from her canteen and then lay down against her bag to rest. She quickly fell asleep. After a short nap, she jumped to her feet, ready to keep walking. Grandmother remained sitting on the rock, smiling at her. Angelita felt the butterflies return to her belly.
“Grandmother, isn’t it time for us to continue walking?”
“Yes, my dear, it is time for you to continue. This path marked with the seashell is The Way, the path for your journey. From here you must continue alone.”
Angelita’s heart sank. She had known that this moment would come, but hadn’t expected it so soon.
“Have you filled your canteen?”
“Yes Grandmother. I’ll refill it in this stream.” Angelita walked to the edge of a brook and knelt down.
“I have packed several days worth of food here. Open your bag and put it inside.”
Angelita placed the bread, cheese and fruit inside her bag, which also carried a change of clothes and a small blanket.
“Do you have your staff?”
Angelita picked it up and smiled halfheartedly.
“Now I have a surprise for you.” Grandmother reached into her bag and pulled out a small bamboo flute. “The one thing I wish I had on my journey was a flute. Music can fill you up with so much joy and love. And when you play, you will make many other people happy, too.”
Angelita took the flute and smiled in wonder. “It’s beautiful, Grandmother. But I don’t know how to play it!”
“Don’t worry. You’ll have plenty of time to learn as you walk. Now you must go. My love will be with you every step of the way. Remember the words from your dream, Do not be afraid. You are not alone. I am with you always.” Grandmother embraced Angelita and waved goodbye as the child walked away.
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Angelita walked through the forest for the rest of the day. When it began to get dark, she found a soft, mossy patch beside a tree and took off her bag. She hadn’t felt afraid all day, not even when she had left Grandmother, but night was closing in. The trees rustled in the wind and she jumped as she heard something moving about in the dark forest. What was that noise? What if it’s a bear? Her imagination ran wild, but suddenly she heard a voice from within. Remember your staff. It will light the way. She looked over at her staff, which was leaning against the tree, and picked it up. It’s just wood, she thought. Suddenly she remembered that she had been glowing that morning. She looked down at her hands and the faint glow reappeared. You must remember to see, her inner voice told her. She concentrated on the glow and it became brighter and brighter. In a rush, a burst of energy ran from her hand to the staff, and its end began to shine like a flashlight. She held the staff out in the darkness, searching for the source of the rustling she had heard. Two shiny eyes peered back at her from the darkness, then two more, then four more. She gasped. The light of her staff shone onto two creamy white antlers floating above two of the eyes. Deer! I’m afraid of a family of deer! They watched her for a few moments, preparing to run away. Off, she thought. The staff’s light faded. In the darkness, she could no longer see, but she could sense that they were still there, grazing in the forest. I need to eat some food, too! She pulled a shiny red apple from her bag and savored every bite of it.
After dinner, Angelita removed the blanket from her bag and her new bamboo flute tumbled out along with it. She picked it up and placed her fingers over the holes. The woody fragrance of the bamboo was pleasant. Angelita closed her eyes and lifted the flute to her lips. She imagined herself playing a beautiful melody, took a deep breath, and blew. Nothing happened. Oh, well, she thought, and put the flute away. In the faint glow of the forest, she could see the family of deer settling down to sleep nearby. She pulled her blanket close and as she drifted into sleep, she remembered the words of her inner voice, You are not alone. Tonight the deer were her guardians, and she felt safe.
Angelita walked for many days. The path meandered through forests, over rolling hills, and into endless fields of wheat. After walking alone for more than a week, she was surprised when she an old man on the path. His hair and beard were long and gray, and he wore no shoes. He was sitting on the ground next to his donkey when she met him.
“Hello,” she said, almost in a whisper. She hadn’t spoken in days.
“Hello, little one. What are you doing, walking all alone on the path?”
His question made Angelita a little nervous, but she replied with confidence. “I am walking The Way. I have been called to this path. I have walked alone for many days.”
“Ah, I see,” he replied, a twinkle in his eyes. “You must be a special child. My name is Matthias. I, too, have been called to this path. I have been walking for a long time.”
Angelita began to feel less nervous. She sat down next to him and opened her bag. She pulled out a piece of bread and some cheese. “Would you like some food?” she asked.
“That is very kind of you,” replied Matthias. “I haven’t eaten in several days.”
Angelita gave him half of her bread and cheese, and they ate in silence.
When they were finished eating, Matthias spoke. “What is that wooden object sticking out of your bag? Angelita looked down and her eyes brightened. “Oh, this is my flute. My Grandmother gave it to me the day I began my journey. I couldn’t play anything at first, but now I can play a few tunes.”
“Will you play for me?”
Angelita took the flute from her bag and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and a sweet sound filled the air. When she finished playing, Matthias sat beaming at her. “Dear girl, you are an angel, and your music has filled my soul with great joy. What a blessing you are!”
Angelita smiled and put her flute away. As she closed her bag, she noticed that they had eaten all her remaining food. “Matthias, how far is it to the next village?”
“It is very far, my child. That is why I stopped here to rest. I ran out of food several days ago. I was feeling very tired and hungry and could not go any further. You saved my life, dear child.”
“But Matthias, there is a village just a few miles back!”
“Child, what is your name?”
“I am Angelita.”
“Of course it is, little angel! I have come from the other direction, and there are no villages for two more days.”
“Oh, Matthias! Two days! We have just finished the last of my food. What will I do?”
“Don’t worry, Angelita. The Way always provides for us. As I sat here feeling hungry, you appeared to me, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, I suppose so.”
“You must trust that you will be taken care of. The Way will provide for you, too.” Matthias stood and gathered the rope attached to his donkey. “I must continue my journey, dear Angelita. I will not forget your kindness or your beautiful music.”
Angelita hugged Matthias, and watched him walk away. Her lower lip began to tremble. She had followed Grandmother’s instruction. She had shared her food with Matthias. But now she had no more food, and the path stretched on and on. What will I do? Tears began to stream down her face, leaving glistening streaks in the dust on her cheeks. She looked ahead and saw nothing but fields of wheat. Glinting in the afternoon sunlight was a small stream. At least I can fill my canteen, she thought. She wiped the tears from her face and made her way to the stream. She dropped her bag on the ground and took off her shoes. She unscrewed the cap on her canteen and walked to the edge of the water. The deeper, colder water was out toward the middle of the stream. She considered which stones looked the most stable, and stepped on one, then the next, then...
“Aaaahh!”
Splash.
Angelita looked up, surprised, and burst out laughing. The icy water flowed all around her, and it was so refreshing! She filled the canteen and tossed it to the shore. Then she lay back in the shallow water and let it flow across her, washing the dust and sweat off her face, her arms, her legs. After awhile, she pulled herself out of the stream, dripping wet, and fell into the dry grass on the shore. Angelita listened to the water for awhile and her inner voice began asking her a question. What is the melody of the stream? She took out her flute and began to play. As she played, the stream taught her many things about music. When she finished playing, the peaceful gurgling of the water lulled her to sleep in the warm afternoon sun.
Angelita awoke as the sun was setting over the wheat fields. She put her shoes back on and picked up her bag and staff. At least my canteen is full, she thought as she began walking. She walked until it was nearly dark and chose a place to spend the night. She realized that she had never been hungry before. Her stomach rumbled as she pulled her blanket up to her chin. The night was clear and thousands of stars twinkled in the heavens. She thought about Matthias walking in the other direction and imagined him sleeping in a field much like hers. She chose a star that twinkled brighter than all the others. Matthias’s star, she thought, and as she was falling asleep, she sent him wishes and prayers for his journey.
The bright orange sunrise awoke Angelita. She packed away her blanket and began to walk. She was hungry, but there was no food. The landscape stretched out in front of her, seemingly endless and never-changing. The wheat rustled in the wind. After a few hours, she began to feel that the wheat singing to her. She smiled to herself, enjoying the concert that surrounded her in every direction. Fat white clouds danced across the midday sun, and she enjoyed the moments of cool shade that they provided.
Late in the afternoon, she began to feel weak and tired. She hadn’t eaten in a whole day. She sat down on the ground to rest. She thought about her grandmother’s words, that she would never run out of food, and she began to feel frustrated.
“Ok, I shared my food. I gave Matthias what he needed,” she shouted to the ground, the sky. “Grandmother told me that I would never run out of food, but here I am. I’m hungry!” she whimpered. She waited for her inner voice to answer her. Nothing. She sighed deeply, stood, and began walking once more.
She walked very slowly for nearly an hour. She felt dizzy and weak. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Her eyes followed the dusty path on the ground. Look up! her inner voice prompted. She followed the voice, but saw nothing but the dusty path continuing straight ahead through the shoulder-high fields of wheat. To the right. She glanced past the wheat to a distant hillside. On top of the hill stood three trees. She hadn’t seen any trees in several days, and decided to leave the path to rest in their shade. She made her way through the tall wheat and climbed the steep hill. As she approached the trees, she noticed something hanging within their boughs. Apples! Red, juicy, ripe apples! She dropped her bag and ran the rest of the way to the trees. She picked an apple and bit down into its juicy flesh. Food had never tasted so good! She ate one apple, then another, then several more while sitting in the shade of the apple trees. The sun began to disappear, and she walked halfway down the hill to gather her bag and then filled it with as many apples as she could carry. Before she fell asleep, she hugged each of the trees for the generous gift of their fruit.
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Weeks passed. The path wound its way across fields and plains, through dense, dark forests, and across high mountains. Each morning, Angelita awoke and meditated. She walked each day until she was tired, and then stopped to rest. The sun tanned her skin a deep golden brown. Usually she walked alone, but occasionally she met other people along the way. Each day she played the flute, sometimes for other people, and sometimes as she sat alone in the countryside. She played duets with the wind, the water, the wheat. Her inner voice became stronger, sharing its great wisdom with her.
One day when Angelita was half-asleep in the shade of a small tree, Grandmother appeared to her. I will see you by the sea. The words echoed inside her as she awoke. She leapt to her feet, suddenly excited by the thought of seeing Grandmother. Late in the afternoon, she began to taste the salty air, and as she climbed to the top of a steep hill, a vast expanse of sea stretched out before her. She gasped and tears began to spill down her cheeks. It’s so beautiful, she thought. Grandmother must be nearby, but I will spend one last night here by the sea. She sat quietly on the hillside and watched the sun sink into the ocean. As the last few rays of light faded into darkness, she played a hauntingly beautiful lullaby on her flute. Good night.
Angelita awoke with the sunrise, its deep oranges and pinks glittering across the sea. She walked for awhile, and in the distance a tiny lighthouse became visible, perched on a steep cliff over the sea. The end of the path. She nodded and continued walking. The lighthouse grew closer and closer. When she finally arrived, she saw Grandmother standing on a large rock, gazing out at the sea. She slowly walked over and stood beside Grandmother. Grandmother reached down and took Angelita’s hand, and the two stood silently on the rock, watching the sea, swirling, churning, crashing in its never-ending journey.
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Angelita smiled at the bright, eager child sitting next to her. She took Maria’s hand.
“My child, don’t be afraid. It is a blessing to be called to a journey but not everyone listens to that calling. It is not an easy journey, and you must go alone. Long, long ago, I had a powerful dream, much like yours. I was very excited, but also scared.”
“Grandmother, you were scared?”
“Oh, yes. Very much. Especially during my first night alone in the forest. My Grandmother told me that no matter what happens, we must trust The Way and everything will work out beautifully. She was very wise, and though things didn’t always work out exactly as I wanted them, she was right.”
“Grandmother, tell me about your journey.”
“At first it was a little scary. I didn’t know where I would find water, food, or a place to sleep would be along the way. I missed all the familiar comforts of home, my friends and family. But it was a mystical journey, and soon my fears left me. It’s hard to explain, my dear, but you will soon see for yourself. Along the way, something magical happens. Everyone you meet along the path is wonderful. There are no strangers, everyone is genuinely helpful and friendly and generous. Every flower greets you with love. Every tree extends its branches to provide you shade. Every insect sings its song to you. Even the dry wheat rustles its melody as you walk by. The cracked, dusty earth catches your every step, and the gurgling streams laugh with joy to meet you, at long last. The sun bathes you with its radiance all day long. When you get very, very tired, a rock happily offers you its back to rest upon. And when you feel sad or afraid, the breeze comes along to caress your entire body with its gentleness. Day after day you walk, and day after day you feel the silence growing inside. Your inner voice becomes your great companion, whispering secrets of understanding in your heart’s ear. The longer you walk, the more love you feel, because you begin to understand that no matter where you are, you will always have that love, waiting for you in the most silent parts of yourself. That love can grow so great that it expands outside of you. At first, it grows to include you and your backpack. Then it starts to grow around the trees and the path you’re walking on. Then it keeps getting bigger until it holds the whole countryside within it. It keeps expanding more and more until you feel your family and friends inside, too, even though they are far away. With a love that big, everywhere you go feels like home. With so much love around you, there is nothing to be afraid of, nothing to worry about. Each day you keep walking and loving, and one day you realize that you have become really, really happy. These are the gifts of the journey, my dear one.”
Angelita smiled at Maria, who was glowing with the radiance of a rainbow. Had so many years passed since that day she had sat beside her own beloved Grandmother? Angelita stood and extended her hand to Maria. “Come with me to the attic, dear child.”
The journey continues...
