A few days before her departure, Ayana was busy packing and saying farewells to friends and the village elders. Her intuition was calling her to find and explore the underground world in the Mystical Caves of Sanuela. As she filled her bag with the items Ignisia had inwardly told her to bring, her nerves buzzed with excitement, a mixture of anticipation and curiosity bubbling inside her.
It took her some time to say goodbye to everyone she loved. Her friend Amun had been travelling for some moons now and wasn't around. She missed him a lot, and that felt almost good. Her love for him was something very special. Perhaps they should get together after all, she thought. How long would she be gone, and would Amun be back in the village when she returned? This left her uneasy and uncertain.
Ayana had heard stories of the Mystical Caves, a sacred place deep within the forest where ancient knowledge and wisdom were said to reside. Several years prior, she had discovered them for herself and experienced a profound opening of the heart. Now, as she set off on her journey to become a priestess of Sanuela, she felt the calling to find this magical place once again.
Kofi was of course always somewhere around. Ayana gave him a long hug, feeling deeply into their connection with each other. With him, everything felt nice and fluid. She always felt grateful when they were together. She liked him a lot, and she knew exactly that he wanted her more than anything. But when his love was so strong, then she wanted to make sure that she could hold and embrace it completely, and that she was able to return it. In one way, she felt drawn to make a choice, but at the same time, she was hesitant.
Ayana had informed her family that she would be gone for at least one moon. At first, everyone was concerned for her safety and wellbeing, but Ayana was determined to go. Despite their worries, her family and closest friends were supportive and gathered around her at the start of her journey; it was Sanuela's tradition to accompany the beginning of a journey when someone was going away for more than a few days. Turning back to wave goodbye, Ayana felt a surge of warmth and gratitude for those who had come with her, those who believed in her.
Ayana felt a tingling inside. She was embarking on a journey to the sacred caves, accompanied by her spiritual guide, Ignisia. The fire fairy butterfly, who had become Ayana's closest companion, flew a large curvy figure-eight before Ayana´s eyes. "The Mystical Caves are not a place that can be reached through physical means alone, Ayana," she felt in her mind and heart. "It is foremost a place of the spirit, and can only be visited by following your intuition."
Ayana nodded, understanding what Ignisia was saying telepathically. "So, how do I do that?" she asked in her mind.
"I cannot teach you, Ayana," Ignisia answered. "It's something that you must discover for yourself. But I can tell you this, when you feel called to go in a certain direction, trust that feeling. And when you feel unsure, listen very carefully to the sounds of the forest. All the beings know the way. They know and intuitively feel your task, and they will guide you."
Ayana took Ignisia's telepathic words to heart. She closed her eyes, hearing the chorus of the woods surrounding her. She could hear the rustling of leaves, the chirping of birds, and the whispering of the wind. A sense of peace and knowing washed over her, and she knew that she was on the right path.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the sounds of birdsong became louder. The gentle trickle of the streams mingled with the cheerful sounds of frisky woodland animals and the whisper of Ignisia's wings fluttering behind her. Ayana felt a strong connection to these beings that shared the forest with her, a bond that brought her comfort and assurance.
A warm, comforting air embraced her, a crisp yet inviting scent of the trees intertwined with the sweet fragrance of wildflowers. Though Ayana had wandered these woods many times, everywhere she looked, she always noticed something new – from the greens to the blues, to the golden rays of sunshine that shone through the trees.
There was a sense of peace and companionship as she moved through the forest. Her guiding animal spirits were always there, always with her, she felt that stronger than ever before in her life. She remembered what Ignisia told her: they knew what task she was taking on. They were her companions in the Cosmic Theatre Dream of Sanuela, as she used to call her surrounding world. Others of her age simply called it 'reality'.
Ayana followed the calling of the animal beings further into the woods, feeling more and more connected to the spirit and guidance of Goddess Sanuela. The wind rustled through the trees, like a warm embrace from the goddess herself.
As the night descended, Ayana and her companions found themselves in an area of the forest that was even more mysterious. The tree beings rustled secrets to one another as they swayed in the breeze, and the stars twinkled brightly above.
Suddenly, most of the animal sounds ceased. Ayana felt the intensity of the place and was not sure how to interpret the sudden hush and heightened energies surrounding her. She placed her hand over her heart and drew in a deep, calming breath. Then she realised, there was a tall wall of rocks emerging from the woods ahead of her, offering the shelter she sought for the night. She thanked her guides for leading her to this place. She felt safe knowing that she had good company during her journey and was comforted by their presence as she settled down among the rocks for some much-needed sleep.
The following morning, after a peaceful night's rest, Ayana awoke to an invigorated feeling, refreshed and ready to continue her intuitively guided journey. As she emerged from the shelter of the rocks, she felt a strong sense of purpose and direction that had sometimes eluded her before. Her magical discovery of this sleeping and resting spot was a great reassurance to her that she was doing well on her guided path.
The woods around her were bustling with life and activity. Trees swayed in the wind, and Ayana could hear the rustling of leaves as squirrels ran through the branches. Sunlight shone down through the branches and the morning dew glistened, turning the grass a bright emerald green. Her animal guides had been leading her the entire journey, and were always by her side in tranquil fellowship. Everywhere she went, they were there, keeping vigilant guard.
The animals showed Ayana the easiest way to pass through difficult terrain and where to find the most tranquil places among the trees for times of rest and contemplation. Whenever they encountered a stream, she would pause at its banks to drink and dip her feet in its running waters.
Throughout the day, Ayana felt the special bond between herself and these spiritual guardians of the forest. They were helping her on her path, offering guidance that only those intimately connected with Goddess Sanuela could provide.
Ayana continued onwards on her journey until eventually nightfall came once more. Darkness descended and surrounded her as she rested in a solitary corner among the towering trees. The energy of the night seemed tangible, with an aura of peace and tranquillity in the air, wrapping around her like a protective cocoon.
As Ayana lay down to sleep, she felt something special happening inside of her; she felt a deep warming embrace from Mother Goddess Sanuela in her heart, helping her to feel securely rooted to the earth. In this peaceful haven, Ayana′s spirit opened, and she was soothed and comforted by loving vibrations. She realised, the goddess that dwelled within had been there with her on every step of the journey – encouraging and aiding her as she went deeper into the connection with herself. Ayana gave a silent thanks to Goddess Sanuela as she drifted off into a serene dreamscape. She knew she was always safe and never truly alone in the embrace of this divine being.
Awakening, feeling refreshed and revitalised, Ayana looked around her, feeling the comforting embrace of the Divine Feminine that had been awakened within her the night before. As she stood and stretched in the morning light, she saw that Ignisia had once again returned to her side, quietly waiting for Ayana to continue on their journey together.
The sun shone brightly as they began their trek, illuminating the path of possibilities ahead of them. Ayana had been walking for several days, and her food rations were nearly depleted. But her intuition, the wise animal beings, and Ignisia thoughtfully guided her in finding enough food along the way. Water was never a problem, for the lush forest offered numerous brooks.
Ayana found mushrooms growing on damp tree trunks, and with Ignisia's help, she was easily able to identify which ones were edible. Gathering them into her bag as she walked, she could have a snack or a meal later. Other times, they spotted hazelnuts, walnuts, and chestnuts. Ayana relished the way they crunched in her mouth, satisfying her hunger on the way. Ignisia pointed Ayana in the direction of berry patches along the banks of the streams. In some areas, the air was ripe with the smell of blackberries, raspberries and blueberries. Ayana would pick them for breakfast or when needing energy during the day.
At times, Ayana couldn't hear or feel the presence of the animal beings around her, yet their inner connection stayed, providing Ayana with a deep sense of love and protection.
She had been on her journey for many days and on this night, she decided to take a night walk while the full purple moon was shining brightly above her, illuminating her path through a dark and winding canyon. Ayana was unafraid as she moved forward, knowing her faithful companions were right beside her on every step of the way. A cool breeze blew through and Ayana could hear the faint call of owls perched in the nearby trees. The canyon walls were jagged, with rocks of all colours and sizes. The moonlight glinted off the leaves in the trees, casting dancing shadows onto the surrounding stones and reflecting different shades of blue and green. Ayana could sense the presence of a sacred energy hovering in the surrounding air. As she moved further on, she noticed that some rocks were engraved with peculiar symbols and markings unfamiliar to her.
Ayana could hear the distant sound of waterfalls and streams burbling between the rocks, while bats fluttered in the night sky and small animals scuttled across the canyon floor. She took a moment to look up at the sky and admire the stars twinkling above. It was as if she could see into another world, one full of wonder and possibility. She felt an inner connection to all living things around her, as if they were linked by an invisible string.
Wandering through the canyon, she encountered an abundance of tree beings that had grown tall and strong despite the bleak environment – branches twisted and reaching out to them, a reminder of life's resilience even in the tiniest space at some rocky corners.
Beyond them, Ayana saw high mountains looming ahead. The sight took her breath away as she realised just how far she had come on her journey and felt excited and eager for what was to come. Ayana silently thanked Goddess Sanuela, Ignisia, and all the animal beings for their unwavering guidance throughout this entire adventure – for showing her what it truly meant to have faith in oneself and in life itself. She knew whatever happened next, she would fondly remember these moments.
Eventually, after days of travelling, Ayana and Ignisia reached a clearing in the woods. Ayana inhaled in wonder, standing at the edge of a shimmering brook. The feeling of magic in the air was palpable, and Ayana knew that this was the place she had been searching for. The sparkling surface of the water danced over the smooth rocks, nestled between the lush greenery. Amidst the picturesque landscape, the opening of the holy caves peeked through. At last, after many days of walking, they found the Mystical Caves in the depths of the woods. Ayana took a deep breath of the crisp air and stepped forward into the cave, knowing she was on the right path.
As she felt her way through the entrance, there was a sense of deep reverence that seemed to reach into her soul. Images began to form in her mind: visions and memories, powerful and magical, symbols and rituals that she could not explain. The feeling of reverence remained, and she knew that deep within her was the key to unlocking the wisdom that this place held.
Ayana stepped inside and devotedly bowed her head in prayer, feeling the divine love that was present in this sacred space. Ayana knew that she was now on the path to discovering some ancient secrets of Sanuela that would lead her to becoming a High Priestess.