You are in a forest glade. The trees are changing their colours, tis the onset of autumn. The leaves on the trees are hues of red, gold and the occasional green leaf. The forest floor is covered with leaves in various stages of decay and the scent of the forest is slightly mouldy, overshadowed by the scent of pine needles which lie scattered hither and thither.
You look around you and see how the trees curve gracefully up into the entwined canopy of the forest. Shafts of light break through the canopy and dust motes dance in its light. A shower of butterflies appears out of nowhere. The butterflies are sparkling white and yellow, they look like snowflakes loathe to fall onto the ground. They twirl and dart here and there, never motionless for a second. Abruptly they wheel around and disappear into the gloom of the forest.
The forest is silent, there are no birds singing, no insects chirruping, the only sound you can hear is that of your breathing. As you look around you, you can see beasts of the forest peeking at you from around trees, under shrubs and down from the branches of the trees. You see a brilliantly plumaged scarlet bird. It stares at you intently before winging its way silently in the direction that the butterflies went. A shy deer steps out from behind a tree and minces delicately across the living carpet of the forest floor. It follows the scarlet bird.
Intrigued now, you walk after them, curious to see where it is they are going. As you walk deeper into the forest, you notice that the colours become more brilliant, more defined, as though the artist has been more careful. You continue walking and see lots of animals, birds and insects, from the lowly ant scurrying courageously across the leafy floor, to the owl, swooping on silent wings from tree branch to tree branch, beautiful and strong.
Eventually you reach a stream where the animals are congregating. The shy deer stands beside the snake, careful to not trample on it with her sharp hooves. Amazed you take in the scene before walking forward. The animals make a place for you and you feel welcome. Seating yourself at the edge of the stream, you look around you. The water is clear and when you dip your fingers into it, it is icily cold.
As you start to wonder why all the animals are gathered here, and only on this side of the bank, a silver unicorn steps out from behind a tree. The noble lines of his head bring tears to your eyes and a lump into your throat. You have never seen such a beautiful creature before. You didn't think that innocence still existed in the world.
The unicorn steps forward to the stream, and lowering his head, he drinks deeply. All the animals and yourself are still, waiting to be told the reason for the summoning.
The unicorn finishes drinking and shaking his head, he stamps his foot. All focus their attention on him. He speaks without words.. yet you can understand perfectly. His words are harsh and uncompromising. He tells of a world that has lost its innocence, of how he is the only barrier left, without him the world would loose all innocence... he tells of how slowly, day by day, he is failing.. his spirit is giving up and that he has gathered all here to ask for help.. to try to find a solution.
Some of the animals drift away.. you want to follow them but feel ashamed.. the unicorn looks at you and says that you do not have to stay... you start to stand up and then sit down again.. unwilling to leave this beautiful creature to face the coming darkness alone.
As you look closely at him, you see that his coat is dull.. like silver that needs to be polished... that his horn looks weak and brittle.. and his hooves are ragged and unkempt. You ask him if you may groom him and ease his hurts and he nods his head.
You wade into the knee-deep stream. The water is icy and pure. You reach the other side of the bank and tearing off the bottom of your robe you scrunch it into your hands and gently start to rub his dull silver coat. As you do so, you ask that healing will pass from your hands into his body. You rub his coat in little circles, firmly but gently, starting at his shoulder and working your way across the whole one side of his body, before ducking under his head and starting to work on the other side of his body.
When you are finished, you rinse the piece of your robe in the stream and gently clean his eyes and nostrils,concentrating fiercely on channelling healing into him as much as you can and as much as you are allowed. As you reach up to gently brushagainst his horn, you notice that his coat is looking better. It is now shiny and he does not look as gaunt as he did. As you brush his horn gently it begins to glow gold and this slowly spreads along his whole body until he is a golden glowing fire.
Wise brown eyes look at you and he thanks you for your caring and compassion. With a dawning sense of wonder, you realise that while you were concentrating on him, you had been healed yourself. All the aches and odd pains that you never knew had been troubling you had disappeared and you thank him for the gift returned.
The unicorn turns and walks into the forest after telling you that he has regained his strength and he will once again be the barrier that keeps innocence in the world. You stand and watch him depart, feeling a little sad yet joyous that you could help such a magical creature.
The animals disperse quietly from the other side of the bank as you wade into the stream again to follow the little path to the forest glade. As you walk along it seems as though the trees are bending their branches in benediction to you, leaves are falling softly before you, making the path easy to tread. Bird song fills the air and competes with the chirruping of insects. Clouds of butterflies twirl and swirl before you, you laugh and join in the dance of life. Birds circle all around you, singing out their joy and shy deer show themselves briefly to you before darting off into the forest.
You reach the glade
and sit down in the middle, glad that you could have
some small part
in healing the unicorn. As you sit quietly, the sounds
of the forest retreat
into the background and you find yourself back
where you began
this journey.
WildSpirit© 1999
