The North Castle Journal - Chapter 25

My duties with the young singers had ended for the semester, the North Castle staff was off, and I began my preparations on the following Monday. 1

I rose at dawn and did not break my fast. When I came to the basement early in the morning I found a tallish rounded structure made of bent branches covered with hides having an entrance on one side. I surmised it must be the purification lodge although I had never seen one before. I peeped inside and saw that a pit had been dug into the basement floor and inside of it were hot coals and on top of them rocks. "Oh dear! The lovely cobbled floor..." I thought. Right then Lord Pyr appeared. He was dressed as a Lakhota warrior and I thought he looked devastatingly handsome with long hair, eagle feathers, face paint, and a bare torso... 2

"Don't worry about the floor, little one. When we're finished I'll restore it to its original state. Are you ready?"3

"Yes, Master."4

He waved his hand and the jeans, T-shirt, and sneakers I was wearing were replaced by a very soft buckskin woman's robe decorated with porcupine quills in beautiful geometric designs and a matching pair of moccasins. "But I don't want this beautiful dress to get all sweaty!" I thought. 5

"Please, little one, I can replace the dress. To have a successful vision quest you can't be sweating the small stuff. Pun intended. Ok? Come."6

He led the way into the lodge and closed the opening flap. Then from a beautifully decorated rectangular pouch tied to his waistband he took out two bundles. 7

Opening the first bundle he said, "This is sage. You spread it on the floor to drive out everything bad," and he broadcast it over the cobbles. He then opened the second bundle and I recognized the aroma of sweetgrass. He thrust the bundle into the hot coals and when it began to smolder he walked with it all around the lodge, smoking it, chanting in a language I assumed to be Lakhota because I heard the word wakan several times. He continued to speak as he also directed the smoke onto me. He placed what was left of the sweetgrass bundle on the coals. I then noticed there was a bucket of water in the lodge and he poured some on the hot rocks, making steam.8

He then invited me to sit on the floor. I thought the floor would be cold but the hot coals had transferred their warmth to the cobbles.9

"I prayed for you, little one, so that you might find the answers you're looking for."10

"Thank you, Master."11

We sat there in the vaporous hot silence for a while. Every so often he would get up and pour water over the hot rocks to keep the steam going. Then he materialized a wooden flute and began playing soothing music. I felt very much at peace. He looked at me and I smiled.12

When the purification was ended, Lord Pyr took my hand and we were transported to a place where there was a small waterfall. He led me to a little cave behind it, instructed me to bathe, and disappeared. I removed the sweaty buckskin robe and entered the ledge under the falls from behind. The cool water was wonderfully refreshing after the heat of the lodge! When I came out from under the fall I found a towel and a clean robe with matching moccasins waiting for me, draped on a rock. This set was pure white! I dried myself off and when I lifted the robe to put it on, I noticed it had the aroma of sweetgrass all over it. When I was fully dressed Lord Pyr reappeared, held my hand, and instantly we were back in the basement. The lodge along with everything in it had disappeared and the floor was in perfect condition. 13

Along the wall facing the ever present "throne" chair where the carved table had previously been now stood a wooden frame with a futon-type mattress covered by a white cotton sheet. Next to this sleeping pallet was a jug of water. There was also a folded blanket at the foot of the bed.14

"This is the blanket my father gave me when I went on my vision quest, little one," he said reverently and I understood how special it was to him.15

"Ok. You're all set. I'm going to leave but you need not be afraid. Remember my mind is linked to yours and if anything truly disturbs you, I'll be instantly aware. There's a door inside your soul that opens into the Universe. Open it and enjoy the view. You will know who you are, your questions will be answered, and all will be clear to you."16

"Thank you, Master," I said, and he was gone. It was time for soul searching of a different type. I draped his blanket over my shoulders and sat down on the pallet resting my back on the wall.17