The next day, they walked to a sandy cove on the western side of the island, facing the open sea. The cove was part of a long and wide horseshoe-shaped beach called the Bay at the Back of the Ocean. In contrast to the pebbly shore of the south end of the island, the western beach was covered in fine, powdery sand.

Bébinn had brought a blue woolen blanket and a basket of provisions. She spread the blanket on the soft sand and laid out an assortment of beautifully cut fruits, shelled nuts, spirals of cheese, oat cakes, and fragrant honey-wine in a lovely silver cup.

“What do you feel as we sit here on this soft woolen blanket surrounded by all of this food?” Bébinn asked.

“I feel surrounded by comfort and beauty—the beauty of the bay, the warm sands, and the carefully prepared foods. The white birds flying above us feed my spirit and nourish my heart. I feel that all my senses are comforted at once. I could not wish for anything more.”

“Exactly. We came here today to experience pleasure: beauty, harmony, and the fulfillment of desire. Go ahead, enjoy yourself—eat anything you want, and have some wine too.”

Aífe ate until she had had enough and then stretched out on the blanket, basking in the sunshine, perfectly content.

“I want you to continue eating,” Bébinn said.

“But I’m not hungry anymore,” Aífe murmured, too content to move.

“Nevertheless, I want you to finish the entire bottle of honey-wine and eat all the remaining food. I am going for a short walk, and when I come back, I want it to be gone from sight.”

The pleasant morning had turned into something else.

Aífe did as she was told and soon felt terrible. She had an upset stomach and a massive headache as she waited in misery for Bébinn to return. At last, Bébinn reappeared. She had filled the empty food basket with fresh mussels and packed them in cold, wet seaweed to take them back to the Main House. The sight and scent of the mussels made Aífe dizzy.

“How are you feeling?” Bébinn asked innocently.

“I think I am going to be sick,” Aífe replied. She stood up and ran behind a nearby rock, where she vomited up everything she had just eaten. When she returned, Bébinn patiently continued her instruction as if nothing untoward had happened.

“Today’s lesson is about desire and how to handle it properly. When we feel a desire for a something—a person, an object, a place—we have to ask ourselves if the object of desire is truly helpful to us or if it is just a mindless craving. Sometimes we have emotional cravings that lead to compulsions, and these can harm the beauty and balance of our life. Addictions to food, music, beautiful clothes and jewelry, alcohol to excess, cravings for sexual pleasure and other mindless habits can ruin friendships and destroy lives.

“On this path we do not deny ourselves pleasure. If we have a strong desire for something, we experience it completely, and then we learn the consequences of fulfilling that desire. If the result does not bring balance, vigor, confidence, beauty, harmony, and happy relationships into our life, then we let it go, whatever it is. We enjoy all the things that life has to offer, but we strive for balance and moderation in all things.

“The seat of desire is pooled three fingers below your navel, here …”

She showed Aífe how to find that particular spot, using her hand to demonstrate.

“We have to learn the difference between healthy fulfillment of our hopes and dreams and compulsive cravings. Now that you have had this experience with food and drink, you will be able to recall the lesson whenever your blind desire threatens to take control. This lesson is called mían, or the test of desire.”

Bébinn reached into her pouch and pulled out a clear, polished amber nugget, a stone the color of liquid sunlight. “This is for you—a gift to remember this day.”

“How could I ever forget it?” Aífe said with a rueful laugh. “Amber is a stone I am very familiar with. The women of Ériu often wear it as a talisman of protection and as a symbol of rank. Ethne, my teacher, has a large piece that she carries with her when she attends a woman in labor. She has the mother-to-be hold it in her hand. She says it helps cut the labor pains.”

Bébinn explained, “Amber is protective and soothing because it’s a perfect balance of fire and water. It brings peace and harmony to turbulent emotions, and it, along with all orange stones, has an affinity for the female and male reproductive organs. You can place an orange stone like amber over the spleen or reproductive organs to heal and balance them.

“If we use such a stone in our spiritual practice, it will enable us to channel our creative and sexual energies to spiritual development. It can also help us transform our desire for material objects and substances into a desire for a harmonious life filled with beauty.

“Are you feeling better now?” Bébinn asked.

“Yes, thank you, I am.”

Aífe fingered the amber nugget all the way back to the Druid settlement; her stomach and senses were soothed by its smooth, honey-colored form.