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teamwork, planning, competence, let go of fear of failure and take a chance
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As Follin fell into a deep sleep, Eve woke to a soothing light which appeared in the middle of her forehead. As she brought her mind to focus on the light she found herself in the High Priestess’s forest glade, the Sanctuary.
Immediately Eve was transfixed by the High Priestess Hera’s beauty. She was tall, pale, almost translucent of skin and soft in manner. The image was fleeting and then faded leaving just a glow, a glimmering shape.
The shape spoke to her. “My dear girl, I have brought you to my Sanctuary to invite you to learn women’s sacred magic.”
Eve was mesmerized by the archetype’s melodious voice coming from her disembodied shadowy presence. She herself was still partly in her physical body and could feel an almost paralysing ecstasy as the Sanctuary’s energy flowed into her.
“You’re Hera, the High Priestess. Follin spoke of you a lot, he holds you in very high esteem,” she said excitedly.
“My dear, Follin is a loving young man, but he is a male. He is yet to become whole, at which time he will truly appreciate my beauty and power. You are a woman, you will learn to know me organically, within your being. Follin has yet to learn to do that, this is not his time. He has many adventures yet to complete before he can be initiated into our mysteries. However, he has touched upon my gifts - but only lightly. It is you that I want and need for a very special task.”
The High Priestess put a glowing hand out to the young woman and touched her in the middle of the forehead. Immediately Eve was fully in the Sanctuary glade itself.
“Madam, am I really here? I mean, am I really in your Sanctuary?” Eve asked, her eyes darting everywhere trying to take it all in.
“Yes, you certainly are. I’ve brought you here so that you can better understand what I am about to teach you while you are in your dream or astral body. If you were to wake up now you would wake up in your own bed, next to your husband. You will learn to experience my Sanctuary in two ways: like this, in your dream body while you are asleep or meditating; and by visiting here physically, though that is very difficult for my Sanctuary is well hidden by magic.” Hera paused to let this information sink in. “With practice you will be able to access my Sanctuary by travelling through time and space in either form, physical or astral. Tonight I have brought you here to introduce you to our Empire’s hidden magic, women’s magic. Women have powers men don’t understand and the Sanctuary harbours one form of magic that binds our Tarot Empire to the land itself. The highest male initiates can only touch upon these powers.” Again Hera stopped to let Eve absorb this information.
“The feminine is power itself. Look at nature, the majority of creatures on our planet are female, some mammals are wholly female. You will meet one, she is my gift to you but it will take time, patience and practice to understand her gifts fully. Almost all insects are female: bees and ants are wonderful examples. Males assist in conception but it is women who take their sperm to create the matter of life itself.”
Eve stood watching the story of life unfold as the High Priestess spoke in pictures, feelings and words.
“I know this to be true, we gestate the baby and give birth, but aren’t men more powerful than women? Aren’t they our protectors?” asked Eve.
The High Priestess’s throaty laughter floated through the glade. “My dear daughter, we create and men protect our creations. We are programmed to nest while men are programmed to protect our nest. That’s just nature’s way. No, men are not more powerful than women.”
It was difficult for Eve to stay in this altered state of consciousness, she felt fatigue creeping through her body. The High Priestess had completed her lesson for this evening and watched, a smile spreading across her face.
“The seeds I planted in Follin seven years ago have finally grown to maturity. The fruit is almost ready for the picking. My dear Eve, sleep now, your journey through the Tarot elemental Kingdoms has just begun.”
⇔
“Follin?” called Eve as she stepped out of the bathtub, “Did you know that women are more powerful than men?”
Follin was looking through their kitchen window enjoying the wonderful view across the valley and up into the snow-capped Hindamar Mountains.
“Huh? What are you talking about? Men are heaps stronger than women.”
“No,” replied Eve, “that’s not what I meant. Women have powers that men don’t.”
“Oh, sure, I knew that. Men can’t make children,” he replied knowingly, “why?”
“I met with the High Priestess last night, in her Sanctuary, and she spoke to me about women’s powers.”
Follin stopped his daydreaming and walked to the bathroom door. “You went with Hera, to her Sanctuary? In the forest? Last night?” He was incredulous.
“Yes, she took me while I was dreaming. She’s beautiful, no wonder you like her,” said Eve. Part of her face reflected her bewilderment and part a wistfulness that she herself was as beautiful as the High Priestess.
“I never saw her as beautiful, Eve, in fact, I rarely saw her in real life at all. I met her in my dreams, and I could hear her voice inside my head.”
“She’s teaching me things,” said Eve, a little relieved, as she stepped from the bath, a towel loosely draped around her lithe body. “This is all so confusing though, how on earth did I ever get caught up in this weird adventure of yours?”
Follin laughed as he grabbed her by the waist and swung her around, her towel falling to the floor. “All I know is that you found me and then I found you. I guess it was just meant to be, my love.” They kissed, a lingering kiss that could have led to further adventures.
There came a knock on the door, it was Alice, calling to announce that breakfast was served and they were expected in the dining room. Eve quickly covered herself and opened the door, Alice stepped back apace.
“Mistress, I am your servant, but I don’t need to join you in your boudoir with your husband quite undressed as you are,” Alice blushed. “Please, allow me to dress you and then we can be on our way. In future I will arrive and wake you, then help you dress and escort you both to breakfast. The Emperor and Empress are most exact when it comes to meal times.” Alice blushed once again when Eve led her into their bedroom to be dressed and let her towel drop to the floor.
When she saw Alice blush a deeper hue of red, Eve quickly drew her towel back around her body.
“I’m sorry, Alice, I wasn’t sure if everyone was supposed to be naked when they get dressed by their page. It’s just that everything is so new, so strange and I’m at a loss to know what is expected of us. We depend on your common sense and guidance in the ways of the court,” she said covering her own embarrassment.
This was exactly what she needed to say to Alice. The Page of Pentacles has only one way of coping with change, and that’s by sticking to what she knows best: routines and common sense. Any deviation from the norm would put her head into a spin, then she would become confused and distressed.
“Mistress Eve, that’s a deal. I’ll set the routines and remind you every day until you remember them. As for dressing, I’ll guide you every step. It’s just that you’re so beautiful and I wasn’t prepared for, you know, so much skin on our first date.” Alice smiled, they both started to giggle, it relieved the tension. Her dilemma was now resolved and the Page felt back on firm ground.
At breakfast, the Emperor asked Follin to join him on a tour of his kingdom. He turned to Eve and asked if she was ready to take on her training for the day.
“Sire, not only am I ready but I’m delighted now that I’ve met the High Priestess. I think I’m starting to understand why we’re here.” She looked at the Empress who smiled back, in a knowing, female way. Like co-conspirators, they smiled behind their hands.
“Ah, I see, so now the female fraternity are ganging up on us weak and feeble menfolk?” He laughed out loud, Follin looked at them all quizzically.
The Empress spoke to ease his confusion. “Follin, the High Priestess asked you to introduce your wife, Eve, to her Sanctuary. Your path now takes a turn as does Eve’s. Both of you will begin your special training. Today Eve will start her lessons with Mage Hermes who will provide support and guidance along with myself and Hera, the High Priestess. Mage Hermes will also assist you with your journey. My husband would like to help but alas, these are tough times and he’s busy on urgent matters for the safety and security of our Empire. Your teaching will be passed to the Pentacles Kingdom, of which you have already met their Page, the delightful Alice. Now relax and eat your breakfast. Afterwards, Follin, you’ll be attending the Emperor while Mage Hermes will escort you, Eve, to show you around the castle and begin your lessons in the Empire’s magic.”
⇔
The Emperor sat astride his stallion, a powerful beast, beside him waited his favourite hunting dog looking forward to his daily exercise. Follin climbed onto the same horse he’d ridden almost seven years ago.
“Son, things are not as peaceful as they were when last you visited us. The many kingdoms of the wild lands surrounding our Empire are looking upon us with greedy eyes, but sadly, the power that protects our land is waning. We need both you and Eve to do your utmost to help us ensure the safety of our Empire and our four Tarot Kingdoms.”
At that Follin’s eyes went wide. “Sire, that’s quite a task! What can we do? We’re only two little people. I don’t even have a sword or a weapon of any kind.”
“I believe the High Priestess called upon you to help her secure her Sanctuary? You know this Sanctuary is the centre of our universe. We are an extension of her magical glade and thus we endeavour to protect it. The Empire and Hera's Sanctuary, are one. Without her Sanctuary we would cease to exist on this beautiful planet. There are many other plains of existence, surely, but this one, well, this has so many more... opportunities,” explained the Emperor.
When Follin tried to ask for more information on this subject, the Emperor put his finger to his lips to indicate silence. He put his horse into a gallop and they raced across the hills towards a gap in the valley. They rode into the foothills of the mountain ranges surrounding the Emperor’s castle. For Follin, who had little opportunity to ride, a gallop with the Emperor was more frightening than thrilling. As they eventually slowed to walk their now tired horses, the Emperor began speaking once more.
“Follin, the Empire is created from four elements, the Tarot Elemental Kingdoms. If we lose a single one of them we cease to exist. These four Kingdoms surround this castle and the High Priestess’s Sanctuary. We must ensure they survive for our own survival. If we lose one we lose them all. The Sanctuary of the High Priestess ensures the health of all our Kingdoms.”
It was too much for Follin to grasp. The Emperor pushed his horse forwards, finally alighting on a peak overlooking the four Tarot Empire Kingdoms.
“There, look, see that river? If you had an eagle’s eyes you would see the ocean beyond. That marks the boundary of the Cups Kingdom, the kingdom of water. The mountain range you see north of us marks the border of the Pentacle Kingdom, the Kingdom of earth and rock. You will be spending time with them very soon. The King of Pentacles is one of my favourites, a solid, practical, down-to-earth man. He asked that he be the first to teach you his elemental magic.” The Emperor then remounted and together they rode for another hour to the other side of the ridge. There they saw a spire of smoke which must have come from a volcanic mountain peak.
“In that direction is the Wands Kingdom, they rule fire and although I sometimes despair at their party-loving, thrill-seeking ways yet I rejoice in their creative spirit. Over there, near that triple peak, are lightly forested plains that seems to go on forever. That is the Swords Kingdom, with many forests, plains, and a spectacular mountain with three peaks. They rule air and the intellect. They wanted to be the first to train you but I thought the grounding you’ll learn with the Pentacles would be most appropriate at this stage of your journey.”
It was an amazing sight: mountains, valleys, forests, rivers and a smoking volcano. But it would take some time for Follin to process its enormity.
“I like Alice, she told us that she’s of Pentacles royalty. I’d feel most comfortable being with her people first I think,” offered Follin as he pondered the vast scale of the Empire and its Kingdoms.
⇔
While Follin was with the Emperor, Eve was sitting with Mage Hermes watching him prepare a bed of soil for his sprouted garlic.
“Some soils have every quality necessary to nurture the plant you want to grow,” he explained. “Other soils have different or very few properties. There is magic in soil, ancient magic that goes back beyond human time. This soil was brought down from the side of the volcano in the Wands Kingdom. It’s a special soil that contains just about everything a plant needs to flourish. We now honour the garlic and plant each clove above a small handful of crushed eggshells.”
The Mage then placed his crush egg-shells into the small holes drilled into the freshly turned earth. He covered this with a fine layer of reddish soil and then placed the green-tipped garlic clove above it. Lastly, he filled the hole with more soil, then gently patted it down smooth.
“So, every plant, no matter what type, needs special soil, like the volcanic soil of the Wands people, plus eggshells?” Eve asked.
“Yes, well, sort of. Every plant has specific needs, specific foods which it will feed upon. Garlic just so happens to like egg shells. Celery, on the other hand, likes friendship. So we would plant them next to tomato or beans. They get lonely and prefer a friend other than their own species. Much like a goat and sheep, they enjoy their own kind but for some reason they also enjoy the company of other species. Even dogs and cats thrive alongside another species such as humans.”
The Mage next took Eve to the enormous compost bins outside the kitchens.
“Nothing is waste, Eve, even dead animals can be buried beneath certain plants to enhance their growth and their healing powers. See these worms.” He dug his fingers into the compost bin beside him and lifted a handful of wriggling worms for Eve to see. “These little creatures do most of the work for us. They turn our food scraps into living food for our plants. They hold a certain magic to enhance plant life. Everything we might think of as waste is actually an opportunity to create life and vitality.”
Eve took a handful of compost and studied the worms. She noted that some were large, some small and some barely visible.
“If you just sit down here I’ll show you a secret.” The Mage carefully brushed all but a tiny pile of compost from his hand. All that was left were three tiny eggs. “See these little balls, they’re eggs, worm eggs. These will hatch just like chickens and nearly a dozen baby worms will birth ready to do your work for you. This is the magic of compost and the magic of feeding our kitchen waste to workers who make our gardens a haven for our health.”
“I know about worms but I didn’t know they laid eggs. I’ve always put our food scraps on our vegetable garden. Is that good enough?” asked Eve.
“We’ve discovered that burying our scraps makes it easier for the worms to do their magic. We then add the compost to some of our healing plants to increase their potency.” The Mage took Eve’s hand in his and walked her into the kitchen where the hustle and bustle of so many staff made her head spin. He went straight to the kitchen waste bin and pulled out a bucket of scraps.
“This is your first test, turn this into food for your parsley, angelica and lemon balm. Walk me through what you are doing and why.”
By this time some of the kitchen staff were watching and asked Eve what she was doing. They knew that Eve and Follin had arrived from the Mystic Isle and were curious.
“I’m making compost for our plants,” replied Eve to the various queries from the staff.
“Aye, that be simple ‘nuff m’lady, just throw it on the ground and up will spring yon carrot. Them tops are ready for planting, if ‘yer careful ‘nuff,” said one aged kitchen-staffer, busy shifting a bag of flour fresh from the mill.
“Why thank you, sir, I shall give that a try too,” said Eve, delighted that the Emperor’s staff were just as prepared to help as the Mage himself. Mage Hermes and Eve walked to the Mage’s herb garden and sat on some wooden logs.
“So now you know another secret, some plants don’t need seeds or bulbs, some can be cut and planted immediately for another crop,” added the Mage, shifting his bulk to sit more comfortably on the log’s uneven surface.
“I’ve grown carrots and turnips like this before, my father taught me when I was a child. It certainly speeds things up, but not all of them survive,” answered Eve.
“I know Eve, I taught your ancestors this method. But there’s a reason I want you to start from the beginning. I want you to know exactly what and why from my perspective. Now let’s work on your composting. Start your garden bed over there, on virgin ground, and let’s see how you go,” instructed the Mage delighted to have such an astute student.
The lessons progressed each day and Eve enjoyed every second. Some things she already knew and some she didn’t. All in all just knowing that what she had been doing all her life was correct, made the lessons so much more enjoyable.
⇔
Follin, on the other hand, struggled. His lessons covered the history of the Kingdoms and the current political situation - and he was not in the least bit interested. He learned by ‘doing’, not by ‘listening’. Follin recalled the many times in school when he was called upon to answer a question in class and everyone laughed at him because he couldn’t remember a thing. The teacher would then flog him mercilessly. The beatings were to no avail, his memory was worse after a beating - and thus he remained the class fool. This memory now flooded his mind and body until the Emperor told him that if he didn’t learn the history of the Empire he was putting everyone’s lives at risk.
Follin’s eyes widened and he asked, “Do you mean that we could all die? Eve and I as well?”
“Yes, that’s right. We are bound to the Sanctuary. If it dies we disappear - we just cease to exist. The Sanctuary is bound by the balance between the four Tarot Kingdoms. Knowing the history of our Empire, its four Kingdoms and the Wildlands beyond, plus the political landscape within and beyond our homes is critical to a ruler – and to his advisers. If one of our Kingdoms is compromised by a poor choice of trade or even of marriage, it could put the Sanctuary out of balance, which compromises the Sanctuary’s integrity. It wouldn’t take long before our entire social and ecological system was in danger of destruction. Instability and disharmony in our Empire is real my son, it’s very real and sadly very close.” The Emperor sat on a rock over-looking the mountain ranges which formed part of the Pentacles Kingdom.
“I don’t want to put you and your wife under pressure but we need you to study hard. Fortunately, I have a guest arriving tomorrow who may be able to speed things up. Don’t stress, stay focused and use the skills the High Priestess and my wife, the Empress, taught you while you were on your journey through the Major Arcana.”
⇔
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The following morning they woke to a bright blue, cloudless sky. While Eve went off with Mage Hermes, Follin was introduced to the Emperor’s guest, Sir Dale, a tall, angular Knight of Pentacles, a warrior of renown. He was visiting his cousins and friends in the Emperor’s court and was requested by the Emperor himself, to take Follin on, temporarily, as a squire.
As one of the knights three squires, Follin felt uncomfortably out of his depth. He knew nothing of how a squire should behave and nothing about swordplay, armour or caring for a knight’s horse and equipment.
“You’re damn useless, Follin,” exclaimed Mavor, the head squire, watching Follin fumble with the knight’s saddle. “We’ll have to do most of the work ourselves while you fluff around making mistakes. Or worse still, crying that your arms are sore and your hands cracked and bleeding.” He turned to his number two, Allen, who snickered along with him.
“I’ve been ordered to teach you how to serve our lord properly, as a squire should. Sir Dale is a hero in our kingdom, a real hero, not just the romantic ones the Swords and Cups sing about. He’s saved our Kingdom single handed, as well as led our armies against the Wildlanders, countless times. He needs the best service and we’re it. I don’t expect you’ll last very long.”
Mavor roughly grabbed at Follin’s hands and held them. “Allen, look at his hands, they’re soft like a babies bottom.” The two squires roared with laughter. “Now get to the stables and shuck out the mess there. I’ll work you till you bleed, and don’t think you can whine to our Master, he doesn’t need a whining sop to babysit for the Emperor.”
Follin felt miserable, humiliated and useless. His head dropped as he followed the older youths to the stables. Mavor grabbed the three pronged, wooden mucking fork and threw it at him.
“We’ll be back in an hour. If these stables aren’t mucked out properly, then we’ll have to show you how we treat lazy asses in the vale,” called Allen over his shoulder. They left Follin alone to get on with his task.
It appeared easy enough, raking and forking the manure and straw into piles, then shoveling them into a wheelbarrow to dump into the compost-style bins outside. But after a while, Follin’s back hurt, then his hands started to crack and bleed in the cold, dry air. The squires didn’t return until it was time for lunch, but Follin had only been able to clean out half the stables.
Mavor called his partner over and they both looked inside. Sir Dale had four horses but only two stables were presentable. Follin was terrified and worked as hard as his exhausted body could but he was simply too tired. Unused to this style and method of work he was ready to collapse.
“Well, no lunch for you, worm, you’ve hardly done an hour’s work,” Mavor stated then winked at Allen. Pretending to leave, they then swung around and leaped on Follin, knocking him to the ground. “You’ve made us look bad, worm, you deserve what you get. Come on Allen, let’s show this islander worm what we do to bludgers and slackers.”
The two squires dragged Follin by the feet to the water trough where they held his head under the water until he stopped struggling. They then let him up for air. Follin was only semi-conscious so they revived him with a sharp slap to his face.
“You’re pathetic! We’ve just started and already you’ve given up! It looks like we’ll have to demonstrate what we do with losers who give up too easily as well.” The boys then stripped him naked and threw him into the filthiest stable. Follin slipped and fell among the horse droppings and urine-soaked straw. Then they prodded him with the straw baler, the wicked, sharp-pointed fork that drew blood each time it touched his pale skin.
Mavor and Allen left him there to finish the final two stables covered in manure and straw. Follin had no strength to even get up. He just curled into a ball on the stable floor and sobbed in despair. The squires returned at sundown and sent Follin back to his rooms. They threatened that if he didn’t pull his weight tomorrow they’d do the same again.
“Don’t think Sir Dale will want you, he needs squires who know how to look after a knight properly, not burden them,” Allen shouted at Follin’s bloodied and bruised back.
Follin was completely exhausted. He didn’t attend dinner nor supper, and his wife finally found him asleep in the bath-tub. Eve was horrified at what she saw. She didn’t know what to do so she raced off to find Page Alice. Alice recognised the urgency in Eve’s voice and followed her back to their rooms.
“Those brutes!” she said when she saw Follin’s bleeding hands, the bruises and cuts to his skin. Together the two girls pulled him, barely conscious, from the bath and dressed his wounds.
“I’m going to have a word with Sir Dale, he’s an honourable man, a warrior through and through. If he knew what his squires did he’d have stepped in and stopped them straight away. The rotten mongrels!” Alice swore softly.
Eve was silent as she slowly spoon-fed her exhausted, miserable husband with a bowl of broth she brought back from the kitchen.
“He’s a hard worker, I’ll give him that, but whatever it was he had to do today must have broken him. And those squires have surely ill-treated him. I don’t mind hard work, but bullying, I’ll never tolerate. Tomorrow I’m going down to the stables to have words with them.” Eve finally spoke her mind. Her voice was hard, it quivered violently with suppressed rage and pain.
Alice helped her dress Follin in his night clothing and put him to bed. Together the girls pulled his blankets over and left him alone. Walking out to the lounge room they sat in front of the fire in silent deliberation.
“Eve, if you don’t mind, I think I’m the best one to deal with this. I know Sir Dale, he’s my cousin, we’ve always got along well. He’ll listen to me. If you say anything he’ll think you’re just a meddling wife.”
“Thanks, Alice, I think I’m a bit too emotional at the moment to think straight.” Eve’s voice was soft, it sounded like she was ready to collapse herself. Covering her face with her hands she sobbed, “I’m afraid that we’ve made the wrong decision in coming here. We should have stayed in Saoirse. At least we were happy there.”
⇔
The following morning Follin was up well before dawn and mucking out the stables. No one else was up. Eve tried to stop him but he brushed her aside. The depth of his humiliation drove him to work the shame from his memory. He had been in this place before. He recalled those years of shame struggling to hold on to what little pride he had when forced to sit in the ‘fool’s chair’ at school.
Sir Dale arrived mid-morning to draw his horse for training. The two squires were with him.
“Follin, I see you’ve cleaned my stables, and a damn fine job you’ve done too. But come over here and stand by me, I want to talk about other tasks I’ve planned for you.” Follin was near collapse so this was a welcome respite.
The knight felt his biceps and his shoulders and poked and prodded his body here and there. He pretended not to notice the blood-soaked rags which Follin had wrapped around his bleeding hands so that he could grip the wooden, three-pronged fork.
“Just as I thought, you’re wasted mucking out these stables. I’ve something far more important for you. I’m going to hand you over to Ivan, the Emperor’s swordmaster. I need a proficient swordsman at my side and you’ve the build and musculature for it.” Turning to Mavor he said, “Mavor, fetch Ivan for me. From now on Follin will not muck out the stables, we have enough staff for that. You two will continue with your tasks and leave Follin in the hands of the swordmaster.” Sir Dale paused to look intently at his two squires. “Is that clear?” He continued to stare them in the eye until they nodded and left to find Ivan.
⇔
That evening Follin returned to their rooms, he called to Eve.
“Eve, guess what? I’ve started learning swordsmanship. I’m going to be a man-at-arms,” he said proudly. He had no idea that Alice had spoken to her cousin of the mistreatment he’d received.
“And tomorrow we’ll be going with Sir Dale to the Pentacles Kingdom. I’m to learn swordsmithing, or blademaking or something like that. He said that if I study hard I might be allowed to forge my own sword.”
“I know,” replied Eve, a twinkle in her eye. “Mage Hermes told me. He said that I’m going to learn more about the craft of healing and working with Pentacles magic. Mage Hermes said I needed to go to the kingdom of the Pentacles to learn more about soils, rocks and earth magic. He’s coming with us too.”
Eve had seen the Mage earlier and was now treating her husband’s cut and swollen hands with a special healing balm he’d given her. Although Follin had difficulty holding a sword he felt that he had done well enough to prove that he would one day swing a blade as well as the rest of the men-at-arms.
The lovers were both in a good mood that night when they attended the common room for their meal. Rarely did the Emperor or the Empress eat in the common room. It was here that the two Mystic Islanders felt most relaxed. They enjoyed mixing with the household staff, more so than with the courtiers of the formal dining room.
Page Alice was there. “Sir Dale said I’m to come along with you to the Pentacle Kingdom, my home. I’ll be your maidservant, Eve. He said it was time I learned how to tame a mistress from the Wildlands.” She was so excited she couldn’t stop giggling.
The three of them spent hours with the rest of the staff discussing topics as diverse as the failing energy of the High Priestess’s Sanctuary to the price of hops for their beer brewing. The Emperor and Empress walked freely chatting and engaging with their guests. It was a relaxing and fun time for the entire household staff and their young guests.
Follin understood only too well that his quest in the Empire would not be easy. Although he was a favoured guest of the Emperor and Empress, he certainly wasn’t going to be given an easy passage through his initiations. He had survived yesterday and today, but would he survive tomorrow? His main ambition at this stage was to show he could perform as well as anyone at whatever task was handed him – he needed to prove he wasn’t a quitter. As his father used to say, ‘by-hell-or-high-water I’d rather die than show weakness.’
By the time they were ready to leave on their trek to the Pentacles Kingdom both Follin and Eve had begun their apprenticeships. They had passed through the initial stages of resistance and fear of change and knew that their quest warranted their very best effort. Despite what they had learned previously they soon found that they really knew nothing.
⇔
Follin’s meditation – Three of Pentacles:
Follin sat up late on their last night in the Emperor’s castle and studied the third picture. It was of a stone mason working at his craft. In the image it appeared that the craftsman’s work was being appraised by two well-dressed guildsmen, perhaps they were masters of the craft? Follin wasn’t sure.
‘That’s me,’ he realised. ‘I try my hardest but I’m fearful that someone will notice all the mistakes I make. I guess it means I should just do the best I can despite my fear of being judged. I need to remind myself to stay focused, that the very act of working to my best ability will be own reward.’