Such a thing had never happened before, Hortensia could hardly believe her ears. Of course the gnomes had heard of humans who wanted to stay connected with their world from the stories that had been handed down by the Venerables. But most of them thought that history had proved time and again that such experiments were perilous in outcome, and unlikely to stand the test of time.
Yet here was a young human admitting that the gnomes way of living offered something of great value and that he wanted to protect them, and make their forest home a refuge and haven for humans and gnomes. Such a thing had never been contemplated by most of the gnomes. They mostly viewed humans as short lived and desperate to change a world with little thought of the consequences.
Archimedes stood up,' Harold you are brave and kind in your thinking,' Aunt Mildred snorted loudly, 'but I do not think you realise that such an experiment as that which you are proposing - offers much to your world and little but danger to ours. Humans have a long record of Destroying as they develop and not valuing the wisdom of nature until too late, sadly it seems they tend to destroy what they do not understand.'
The Old Lady sighed and put her hand on her son's arm, 'you see My Dears - for the time that is left to me, I will be here too and I will guide and work with Harold so that the two of us can find a way that helps us all. What perhaps you do not understand, is that the forest is in danger and that if we can find a proposal that is acceptable, than we can save it from being destroyed. If we are unable to find a way forward together, than the forest will be purchased compulsorily and all of our homes and way of life destroyed.'
There was silence all around, Hortensia looked up and could see fear and confusion on her friends faces.
Archimedes stepped forward again.'Such things have long been foretold by Eleanora, we have no choice but to go forward with courage into an unknown future. If we are part of the changes, then much good is possible - even with the dangers.' he spoke loudly as many of the gnomes were muttering and talking amongst themselves.
At last Eleanora stood forward with Hector close behind her looking fierce and wild and protective of his precious sister. Eleanora walked up to Harold and The Old Lady, gazing at them with her hands outstretched. She spoke quietly ' what is coming has not been tried for many an age. We will have to take much care and we will have to trust each other even when we do not understand and learn to listen for the unknown - even when fear is in our hearts. I trust you and give you my word that I will work for the good of us all and for the peace that this forest holds for the future.'
Harold and The Old Lady were held in the blue light of her eyes as the gnomes gasped in shock.
A pledge has been made and the trees began to rustle all around as the news began to travel - change was present amongst and all around, above and below in their hearts and minds and lighting the way forward for their spirits.
Tuesday 27 March 2012
Monday 19 March 2012
The music begins.............
'Hold steady' said Hector as he saw his sister Eleanora's look of shock at the sight of the humans entering the Sacred Clearing, 'Nothing we can't handle with a bit of adjustment'. 'Adjustment!' thought Eleanora, 'they're huge and so very different and in our most special of special places. Still, I have come a long way for this meeting and agreed to be here'. So she wiggled her toes to get over the shock and tried to find a welcoming smile.
Baby Harriet was waving at Harold from her Mother's arms as Hortensia walked forward and greeted the two humans with the traditional gnome greeting of, ' Peace in your heart, peace in your home and peace all the days of your life'. The Old Lady smiled warmly and following Archibold's directions to their prepared seating area, perched gently on one of the larger hummocks of moss covered by a vibrant collection of the gnomes best tablecloths.
Baby Harriet was determined not to let Harold sit down without her, and held out her arms for him to pick her up and hold her, as he sat down too. The other gnomes looked on in amazement. It has to be said that some of them had hidden behind tree trunks and bushes at first sight of the humans. But as they saw Harriet crawling up the arm of Harold's jacket and gazing out at them from her soft nest in Harold's breast pocket handkerchief, most of their anxiety began to evaporate. Harold himself had a rather silly and soppy expression on his face and kept looking down at her and smiling too.
Archimedes stepped forward,' Welcome Honoured Guests, we are much delighted by your presence here today. We have a question that we must ask before we begin and it is of much import for you both. Do you want to remember today as it is now here together, or simply as a dream that you may recall. The decisions we make today will remain with you and your wiliness to carry them through, but only you can decide if you want to carry the knowingness of our world within yours'.
Of course The Old Lady instantly knew that she wanted to remember, but Harold felt confused. He wanted so much to belong to the world he thought of as reality but found himself excited at being with the gnomes. He looked down into baby Harriet's violet blue eyes and found the answer from within his heart. 'Yes, I want to remember today as it is now'. Archimedes and some of the older gnomes sighed deeply - accepting being seen and entwining their destinies within human time was a big step to accept for them too - a matter of deep trust and not a little risk.
'Then let us begin'. Archimedes and all the Venerable gnomes stood together in the silence within the circle of the great trees. Slowly the singing began to ease open the silence, filling the air, swirling and weaving in the sunlight. Both The Old Lady and Harold found their eyes filling with tears as they listened. When the wisps of music floated away, everyone fell into the warmth of the beautiful silence, comforted and at peace from within themselves - ready too, after all the excitement - to face the serious questions that challenged them all.
Baby Harriet was waving at Harold from her Mother's arms as Hortensia walked forward and greeted the two humans with the traditional gnome greeting of, ' Peace in your heart, peace in your home and peace all the days of your life'. The Old Lady smiled warmly and following Archibold's directions to their prepared seating area, perched gently on one of the larger hummocks of moss covered by a vibrant collection of the gnomes best tablecloths.
Baby Harriet was determined not to let Harold sit down without her, and held out her arms for him to pick her up and hold her, as he sat down too. The other gnomes looked on in amazement. It has to be said that some of them had hidden behind tree trunks and bushes at first sight of the humans. But as they saw Harriet crawling up the arm of Harold's jacket and gazing out at them from her soft nest in Harold's breast pocket handkerchief, most of their anxiety began to evaporate. Harold himself had a rather silly and soppy expression on his face and kept looking down at her and smiling too.
Archimedes stepped forward,' Welcome Honoured Guests, we are much delighted by your presence here today. We have a question that we must ask before we begin and it is of much import for you both. Do you want to remember today as it is now here together, or simply as a dream that you may recall. The decisions we make today will remain with you and your wiliness to carry them through, but only you can decide if you want to carry the knowingness of our world within yours'.
Of course The Old Lady instantly knew that she wanted to remember, but Harold felt confused. He wanted so much to belong to the world he thought of as reality but found himself excited at being with the gnomes. He looked down into baby Harriet's violet blue eyes and found the answer from within his heart. 'Yes, I want to remember today as it is now'. Archimedes and some of the older gnomes sighed deeply - accepting being seen and entwining their destinies within human time was a big step to accept for them too - a matter of deep trust and not a little risk.
'Then let us begin'. Archimedes and all the Venerable gnomes stood together in the silence within the circle of the great trees. Slowly the singing began to ease open the silence, filling the air, swirling and weaving in the sunlight. Both The Old Lady and Harold found their eyes filling with tears as they listened. When the wisps of music floated away, everyone fell into the warmth of the beautiful silence, comforted and at peace from within themselves - ready too, after all the excitement - to face the serious questions that challenged them all.
Monday 12 March 2012
Before the changes.......
As it was, the gnomes started arriving very early for the meeting - mostly because the day was one of those radiant, shimmering with hope and the warmth of early sunshine Spring days - and also because the meeting seems an irresistible opportunity to have a picnic. Now picnics are an exceedingly special event in the lives of gnomes, you can picture the baskets and hampers, the extra cushions, etc, but what you probably don't know about it is that gnomes also like to include a nap after enjoying their picnics, hence why they all arrived so very early.
Hortensia and Archibold had brought extra of everything just in case, the thought of someone missing out on a delicious morsel was against all the gnomes codes of hospitality and thought of as down right mean. Everyone had tried to make something in an extra large portion size for their expected visitors and large cloths were being joined together to make a seating area for the two humans. Possibly because they felt more than a little nervous, the gnomes soon settled down to enjoy their picnics and to playing Toss The Hat and all the usual races and ball games.
Soon most of the pies and rolls, cakes and buns had been eaten, and the Sacred Clearing began to resound to the gentle sound of sleepy gnomes snuffling and snoring as they drifted into a collective and restorative afternoon nap. All that was except for Eleanora, Hector and Archimedes and Aunt Mildred and Uncle Humperdinck. They sat together quietly talking through their worries and proposals for the future of the forest.
'What we need to consider is that Harold is not the confident boy that so many of us remember, he has been much diminished by his life in the city.' Aunt Mildred spoke first, 'He has brought this situation to a head by trying to prove himself in a world that cares little for what comes after their actions have caused chaos'. Archimedes smiled at her, 'which is my we are here today, nothing is an accident and we have known for long that changes are happening in the deep music. We are all speeding up and humans are at last realising that they have responsibilities for more than themselves. Harold is simply a man of his age and if we can begin to trust that the music has a part for him to play as well....then something that is good for us all may yet prevail.'
Eleanora looked at Hector and then speaking gently said 'we have to go forward my Dear Mildred, there is no way back without causing harm which will condemn us all to dispersal, let us accept where we are today and welcome with courage what is ahead'.
The five Venerable Gnomes sat in silence and waited for the others to wake up, and rather nervously it has to be said, for their most important human guests to arrive.
The Old Lady and her son were walking through the wood together for the first time in several decades. Because she walked a little more slowly than Harold would normally have walked, the two of them started pointing out some of their favourite trees and sights along the way. Neither of them felt comfortable about mentioning that they were going to a meeting to discuss the future of the forest with the gnomes. They both knew that the other had seen and befriended the gnomes, yet neither felt comfortable discussing such an unbelievable reality with each other.
'I suppose that we are between the worlds', thought The Old Lady, 'perhaps we will have to always keep this secret'. Her son held her arm and they softly walked in companionable silence the final part of their journey. The forest seemed utterly still and suspended in anticipation as the two humans began to walk towards a future of strange possibilities and unknown outcomes.
Hortensia and Archibold had brought extra of everything just in case, the thought of someone missing out on a delicious morsel was against all the gnomes codes of hospitality and thought of as down right mean. Everyone had tried to make something in an extra large portion size for their expected visitors and large cloths were being joined together to make a seating area for the two humans. Possibly because they felt more than a little nervous, the gnomes soon settled down to enjoy their picnics and to playing Toss The Hat and all the usual races and ball games.
Soon most of the pies and rolls, cakes and buns had been eaten, and the Sacred Clearing began to resound to the gentle sound of sleepy gnomes snuffling and snoring as they drifted into a collective and restorative afternoon nap. All that was except for Eleanora, Hector and Archimedes and Aunt Mildred and Uncle Humperdinck. They sat together quietly talking through their worries and proposals for the future of the forest.
'What we need to consider is that Harold is not the confident boy that so many of us remember, he has been much diminished by his life in the city.' Aunt Mildred spoke first, 'He has brought this situation to a head by trying to prove himself in a world that cares little for what comes after their actions have caused chaos'. Archimedes smiled at her, 'which is my we are here today, nothing is an accident and we have known for long that changes are happening in the deep music. We are all speeding up and humans are at last realising that they have responsibilities for more than themselves. Harold is simply a man of his age and if we can begin to trust that the music has a part for him to play as well....then something that is good for us all may yet prevail.'
Eleanora looked at Hector and then speaking gently said 'we have to go forward my Dear Mildred, there is no way back without causing harm which will condemn us all to dispersal, let us accept where we are today and welcome with courage what is ahead'.
The five Venerable Gnomes sat in silence and waited for the others to wake up, and rather nervously it has to be said, for their most important human guests to arrive.
The Old Lady and her son were walking through the wood together for the first time in several decades. Because she walked a little more slowly than Harold would normally have walked, the two of them started pointing out some of their favourite trees and sights along the way. Neither of them felt comfortable about mentioning that they were going to a meeting to discuss the future of the forest with the gnomes. They both knew that the other had seen and befriended the gnomes, yet neither felt comfortable discussing such an unbelievable reality with each other.
'I suppose that we are between the worlds', thought The Old Lady, 'perhaps we will have to always keep this secret'. Her son held her arm and they softly walked in companionable silence the final part of their journey. The forest seemed utterly still and suspended in anticipation as the two humans began to walk towards a future of strange possibilities and unknown outcomes.
Monday 5 March 2012
Stillness and preparations for the Big Meeting........
'Stillness' thought Eleanora, 'I must find a moment to sit in stillness'. She had been up in the night worrying about the big meeting planned for the afternoon. The gnomes had delivered what was to them was a giant message on the lawn outside the Old Lady's patio doors. Spelled out carefully in pine cones and in modern English, were the words - MEETING IN THE GLADE AT 3PM TODAY, PLEASE COME - ALL WELCOME! The problem was that though all the Forest Gnomes knew Harold was Harold's name, no-one seemed to know the Old Lady's name.
Archibold had been waiting for the Old Lady's post to arrive for several days in a row to try and read her name on an envelope. He had even tried climbing up the front door, pushing and then propping open the flap of the letter box in order to squint at her name on the letters on the mat. Luckily he had survived a nasty squeeze, for when leaning in a bit too far, the flap had come free of the bit of wood he had made as a prop - and snapped shut around his tummy. As he sat on the front step afterwards rubbing his poor bruised tummy, he had been very grateful for the padding around his middle and the very sensible tweed jacket and waistcoat that had protected him. He had made out a Mrs and the first initial on an envelope just before his accident, but that was all. So the message on the lawn remained as planned, simple and to the point.
Eleanora had found herself wondering what the L stood for, It was in fact Letitia but as this was not a name in common usage with gnomes, she didn't think of it. She had been leaning more towards Lavender or Lilac as possibilities, mostly it has to be said as they were two of her favourite plants because they smelled so fragrant. She thought that Harold's name starting with an H was a very good omen. Gnomes are partial to names beginning with Hs - think of the ones that we know; Hortensia, Hector, Horatio, Harriet, all gnomes revere the stabilising qualities that a name beginning with an H can bring.
Eleanora continued with her walk, the wind was up and the tress were whispering and rustling with anxiety and feeling of change. She found that her feet had made their way to the Sacred Clearing, so sitting on a mossy hummock she shut her eyes and began to listen. Soon a little song was expanding in her heart and she felt the kindness of the great stillness all around. 'This is how we must begin' she thought, ' we must remember to be carry peace within us no matter what we encounter'. She knew it was a tall order when so many of the gnomes were frightened. She herself couldn't quite remember the last time that she had met a human, let alone two. However she felt reassured that both Mildred and Hortensia and little Harriet had all vouched for the character of the Old Lady and Harold.
She was so deep in her thoughts that didn't hear Archimedes arrive at the edge of the clearing. Leaning on his stick, he gazed at Eleanora. He had always thought her beautiful, but in the morning light with her long radiant hair all around he remembered how much he had longed to begin courting when they had both been young. 'Wise she was to know better, we had our destinies and to follow them was the right path'. Eleanora opened her beautiful blue eyes and gazing right at him smiled, Archimedes felt as though sunlight was shining in his heart and bowing low, doffed his hat.
Archibold had been waiting for the Old Lady's post to arrive for several days in a row to try and read her name on an envelope. He had even tried climbing up the front door, pushing and then propping open the flap of the letter box in order to squint at her name on the letters on the mat. Luckily he had survived a nasty squeeze, for when leaning in a bit too far, the flap had come free of the bit of wood he had made as a prop - and snapped shut around his tummy. As he sat on the front step afterwards rubbing his poor bruised tummy, he had been very grateful for the padding around his middle and the very sensible tweed jacket and waistcoat that had protected him. He had made out a Mrs and the first initial on an envelope just before his accident, but that was all. So the message on the lawn remained as planned, simple and to the point.
Eleanora had found herself wondering what the L stood for, It was in fact Letitia but as this was not a name in common usage with gnomes, she didn't think of it. She had been leaning more towards Lavender or Lilac as possibilities, mostly it has to be said as they were two of her favourite plants because they smelled so fragrant. She thought that Harold's name starting with an H was a very good omen. Gnomes are partial to names beginning with Hs - think of the ones that we know; Hortensia, Hector, Horatio, Harriet, all gnomes revere the stabilising qualities that a name beginning with an H can bring.
Eleanora continued with her walk, the wind was up and the tress were whispering and rustling with anxiety and feeling of change. She found that her feet had made their way to the Sacred Clearing, so sitting on a mossy hummock she shut her eyes and began to listen. Soon a little song was expanding in her heart and she felt the kindness of the great stillness all around. 'This is how we must begin' she thought, ' we must remember to be carry peace within us no matter what we encounter'. She knew it was a tall order when so many of the gnomes were frightened. She herself couldn't quite remember the last time that she had met a human, let alone two. However she felt reassured that both Mildred and Hortensia and little Harriet had all vouched for the character of the Old Lady and Harold.
She was so deep in her thoughts that didn't hear Archimedes arrive at the edge of the clearing. Leaning on his stick, he gazed at Eleanora. He had always thought her beautiful, but in the morning light with her long radiant hair all around he remembered how much he had longed to begin courting when they had both been young. 'Wise she was to know better, we had our destinies and to follow them was the right path'. Eleanora opened her beautiful blue eyes and gazing right at him smiled, Archimedes felt as though sunlight was shining in his heart and bowing low, doffed his hat.
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