When I closed my eyes at night, I could picture the alter I had at my house for Aurora. Making sure to pray hard and ask for my travel to Myra to be a safe one. I wasn’t entirely sure where I was even going but I knew that if I kept going in the right direction and kept my heart and soul open, I would be led there. A city filled with people sitting in their own homes at the same time praying to Aurora. It’s been about four days since I left and hadn’t had much success out here. I could only sleep for the night and hope in the morning that she would guide me in the right direction.
I woke up to the sunlight piercing through my eyelids. Packing up my few belongings and continued in the direction of Myra. The further I walked the more uneasy and unsure I felt about the entire thing. I had been asking Aurora for help for days and never got an answer or sign. I was starting to think that maybe I was wrong, and this journey was for nothing.
I didn’t want to waste any more of my time and considered turning back, but I could see in the corner of my eye that a rabbit was stuck in a trap. I locked my eyes with it and couldn’t seem to make myself walk in any direction but right towards it. Setting it free to run back into the wild and have another chance at life.
As I walked away, I noticed the sunny sky seemed to become grey and the air around me turned into a fog. Walking towards me I see a figure that is mostly covered by a long black cloak. Almost nothing on them is visible but as they get closer, I can see into their eyes. I don’t feel scared and instead the eyes filled me with feelings of calmness and trust. The figure spoke.
“I am Amara, the wanderers guide. I am here to help you on your journey.” She spoke.
“How do I know you are telling the truth?” I ask.
“Look deep into your faith and you know that I am here to help. Trust me to point you in the right direction of your future.”
My future? I hadn’t even thought much of what I would do once I arrived in Myra. It was more about getting there for now. Amara seemed to know things and I could feel something inside of me telling me to trust her advice.
She pointed me in a direction almost opposite to what I was planning on. I agreed and we walked together through a forest. Making seemingly random twists and turns that took longer that a straight line. I didn’t understand until I reached higher ground and saw that she had led me perfectly around a den of bears that could have killed me.
That didn’t mean the rest of the journey was easy because I soon learned that Amara had a tricky side and enjoyed playing tricks on me. Nothing malicious, she was just having fun and I was the one there to get the brunt of it. She had led me in circles on more than one occasion when I would forgo thinking for myself and instead followed blindly. I would find myself stepping into a puddle she said was only an inch deep but went up to my knees.
During the nights I could get more glimpses of what she could really do. Letting me peer into her eyes where I would see myself. Not a reflection but what looked like me in the future. Standing in front of a bunch of people. I didn’t know why though and no matter how many times I asked I wasn’t getting answers. I could only close my eyes, picture my alter, and pray to Aurora before falling asleep.
On the final day of my journey Amara wanted me to go through a cave. One that seemed very unsafe and dangerous. I would have rather been safe and walked around or even over it. “I’m scared.” I told her. “Do you believe that Aurora protects you?” “Of course, I do.” “Then let go of the fear and follow the path intended.”
She didn’t talk much and when she did it was always cryptic. I learned not to ask more questions because I wasn’t going to get any answers from her. I walked into the dark cave, and it was as dark as night. It reminded me a lot of night and since I couldn’t see anything else my mind started to picture my alter to Aurora. Then I almost tripped over something; stumbling and trying to catch my balance before I fell.
I picked up the item and tried to look at it, but it was far too dark. I had to keep going until I was out the other side of the cave. It was a crystal. Wait, no. I had seen this before in ancient books that talked of gods. This was a crystal called Auroras Embrace. Said to be shown one day to the person that would lead others to believe in her. Was this the reason Amara insisted that I went through the cave?
I kept walking and could see the city in the distance. The crystal still firmly grasped in my hand. Afraid that if I even loosened my hand, it would be lost forever. Before I could enter the city Amara appeared in front of me once again. Reaching up her hands and finally removing the black cloak that had shielded me from her this entire time. And now I understood why. There had been many interpretations of an entity created by Aurora. Amara matched those ideals and images exactly with her mask and demeanor.
In her hands appeared a staff and she presented it to me. When I took it I felt the crystal’s energy pulsing and put it in the opening of my staff. It glowed brightly and I realized that I was meant to have and use it. It was said to have healing powers and as if Aurora could hear my thoughts, I saw a hurt man only about 300 feet from the city. He was clutching his leg in pain. I pointed the staff at it and watched as the power of Aurora’s Embrace healed him.
He looked at me in a way nobody ever had before in my life. I told him that he was healed by the faith and love of Aurora. I continued into the city of Myra and saw how my journey was not at an end. In fact, it was now only the beginning as I understood my future and what I had to do.
People worshipping alone in their homes was not the right way forward. I gained followers that believed in me being a priest and starting a church to worship her as a group. To speak to each other and how we trust and have faith in Aurora to watch over and protect us. Over time the church grew and I saw myself being the person in the eyes of Amara that night.
I told my story of being led to Myra and what Aurora had done for me. She had tested my faith and I had been rewarded when I did not falter from it. I showed people that didn’t believe or understand the importance of gods. The church and following grew and to this day I have yet to see Amara or get a sign from Aurora again. The staff in my hands and faith in my heart is enough to know that they are always there. Watching me from a beyond that I cannot see.
Now when I close my eyes, I no longer picture a small alter that would be next to my bed. Instead, I picture the large monuments at the church and group prayers I lead. Seeing the faith in the eyes of everybody that had never seen Aurora or her messenger for themselves. Instead, just opening their souls and trusting that she is there despite not being able to see her. That she is there and willing to help them as long as they continue to believe and worship her.
I know that others in Myra and even farther places believe that other gods are more important. I don’t dismiss the things that they say because I can see the faith within them too. I enjoy it because I know that if our beliefs were aligned perfectly and everybody was united there would be no passion. No vigor and fire within a person to prove to others and more importantly themselves what faith really means to them and why it is so important.
Whims of the Faithful Wanderer
When I closed my eyes at night, I could picture the alter I had at my house for Aurora. Making sure to pray hard and ask for my travel to Myra to be a safe one. I wasn’t entirely sure where I was even going but I knew that if I kept going in the right direction and kept my heart and soul open, I would be led there. A city filled with people sitting in their own homes at the same time praying to Aurora. It’s been about four days since I left and hadn’t had much success out here. I could only sleep for the night and hope in the morning that she would guide me in the right direction.
I woke up to the sunlight piercing through my eyelids. Packing up my few belongings and continued in the direction of Myra. The further I walked the more uneasy and unsure I felt about the entire thing. I had been asking Aurora for help for days and never got an answer or sign. I was starting to think that maybe I was wrong, and this journey was for nothing.
I didn’t want to waste any more of my time and considered turning back, but I could see in the corner of my eye that a rabbit was stuck in a trap. I locked my eyes with it and couldn’t seem to make myself walk in any direction but right towards it. Setting it free to run back into the wild and have another chance at life.
As I walked away, I noticed the sunny sky seemed to become grey and the air around me turned into a fog. Walking towards me I see a figure that is mostly covered by a long black cloak. Almost nothing on them is visible but as they get closer, I can see into their eyes. I don’t feel scared and instead the eyes filled me with feelings of calmness and trust. The figure spoke.
“I am Amara, the wanderers guide. I am here to help you on your journey.” She spoke.
“How do I know you are telling the truth?” I ask.
“Look deep into your faith and you know that I am here to help. Trust me to point you in the right direction of your future.”
My future? I hadn’t even thought much of what I would do once I arrived in Myra. It was more about getting there for now. Amara seemed to know things and I could feel something inside of me telling me to trust her advice.
She pointed me in a direction almost opposite to what I was planning on. I agreed and we walked together through a forest. Making seemingly random twists and turns that took longer that a straight line. I didn’t understand until I reached higher ground and saw that she had led me perfectly around a den of bears that could have killed me.
That didn’t mean the rest of the journey was easy because I soon learned that Amara had a tricky side and enjoyed playing tricks on me. Nothing malicious, she was just having fun and I was the one there to get the brunt of it. She had led me in circles on more than one occasion when I would forgo thinking for myself and instead followed blindly. I would find myself stepping into a puddle she said was only an inch deep but went up to my knees.
During the nights I could get more glimpses of what she could really do. Letting me peer into her eyes where I would see myself. Not a reflection but what looked like me in the future. Standing in front of a bunch of people. I didn’t know why though and no matter how many times I asked I wasn’t getting answers. I could only close my eyes, picture my alter, and pray to Aurora before falling asleep.
On the final day of my journey Amara wanted me to go through a cave. One that seemed very unsafe and dangerous. I would have rather been safe and walked around or even over it.
“I’m scared.” I told her.
“Do you believe that Aurora protects you?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then let go of the fear and follow the path intended.”
She didn’t talk much and when she did it was always cryptic. I learned not to ask more questions because I wasn’t going to get any answers from her. I walked into the dark cave, and it was as dark as night. It reminded me a lot of night and since I couldn’t see anything else my mind started to picture my alter to Aurora. Then I almost tripped over something; stumbling and trying to catch my balance before I fell.
I picked up the item and tried to look at it, but it was far too dark. I had to keep going until I was out the other side of the cave. It was a crystal. Wait, no. I had seen this before in ancient books that talked of gods. This was a crystal called Auroras Embrace. Said to be shown one day to the person that would lead others to believe in her. Was this the reason Amara insisted that I went through the cave?
I kept walking and could see the city in the distance. The crystal still firmly grasped in my hand. Afraid that if I even loosened my hand, it would be lost forever. Before I could enter the city Amara appeared in front of me once again. Reaching up her hands and finally removing the black cloak that had shielded me from her this entire time. And now I understood why. There had been many interpretations of an entity created by Aurora. Amara matched those ideals and images exactly with her mask and demeanor.
In her hands appeared a staff and she presented it to me. When I took it I felt the crystal’s energy pulsing and put it in the opening of my staff. It glowed brightly and I realized that I was meant to have and use it. It was said to have healing powers and as if Aurora could hear my thoughts, I saw a hurt man only about 300 feet from the city. He was clutching his leg in pain. I pointed the staff at it and watched as the power of Aurora’s Embrace healed him.
He looked at me in a way nobody ever had before in my life. I told him that he was healed by the faith and love of Aurora. I continued into the city of Myra and saw how my journey was not at an end. In fact, it was now only the beginning as I understood my future and what I had to do.
People worshipping alone in their homes was not the right way forward. I gained followers that believed in me being a priest and starting a church to worship her as a group. To speak to each other and how we trust and have faith in Aurora to watch over and protect us. Over time the church grew and I saw myself being the person in the eyes of Amara that night.
I told my story of being led to Myra and what Aurora had done for me. She had tested my faith and I had been rewarded when I did not falter from it. I showed people that didn’t believe or understand the importance of gods. The church and following grew and to this day I have yet to see Amara or get a sign from Aurora again. The staff in my hands and faith in my heart is enough to know that they are always there. Watching me from a beyond that I cannot see.
Now when I close my eyes, I no longer picture a small alter that would be next to my bed. Instead, I picture the large monuments at the church and group prayers I lead. Seeing the faith in the eyes of everybody that had never seen Aurora or her messenger for themselves. Instead, just opening their souls and trusting that she is there despite not being able to see her. That she is there and willing to help them as long as they continue to believe and worship her.
I know that others in Myra and even farther places believe that other gods are more important. I don’t dismiss the things that they say because I can see the faith within them too. I enjoy it because I know that if our beliefs were aligned perfectly and everybody was united there would be no passion. No vigor and fire within a person to prove to others and more importantly themselves what faith really means to them and why it is so important.