The Journey Begins and Ends

Early next morning the Wondersmith prepared for the journey to the Underworld.

He cut a hazel wand for his pocket, and then he walked around the sacred well three times. Ronan asked why he was doing that. His father explained, “The well, according to our customs, symbolizes our home, and we gather strength from it for our journey.”

His impatient son was very excited. In his anxiety, he failed to take his walk around the well. “Let’s go,” Father, he said impatiently.” Then he said a quick, sad goodbye to his faithful dog and kissed his mother.

He and his Father both set out for the Black Water, walking east into the face of the rising sun. The narrow path led them downward as they felt a strange warm breeze, and the sun faded.

Descending into the darkening day, his father asked him to make the journey shorter.

The puzzled boy replied, “We cannot fly like hawks, zooming through the air. Running rather than walking might do the job, if you are in a hurry.”

The Wondersmith stopped and turned back toward home.

“You are not ready for this journey. You don’t understand your role yet,” he told his sad and confused son.

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