Rhuna, Keeper of Wisdom

by Barbara Underwood

  “I’m not afraid. But I’ve noticed something,” she said looking directly at him. “The last two visions were connected to the thoughts I had just before I began the Inside Focussing. I was thinking of my lessons to harness lunar energies before, and last time when I saw the vision of the fire, I was thinking of the description you gave me of that area.”

  Tozar looked awed.

  “Did my father have these experiences with his visions, too?” Rhuna asked him.

  “Not to my knowledge,” he said frowning. “It is a noteworthy progression of events.” He lifted his hand towards Rhuna’s face as if motioning her to keep silent. “Do not…”

  “No, of course I won’t. Maybe it won’t happen if I try. They have to come when I don’t expect them.”

  Tozar grumbled his displeasure with the whole matter, and said that the High Council should hear about her vision the following morning.

  Rhuna went with Tozar to another closed meeting of High Council members the following morning and described her latest vision in detail, including her observation that her two most recent visions contained the same subject matter as her conscious thoughts just prior to practicing Inside Focussing. None of the High Council members said anything about this, but acknowledged it with either a nod or raised eyebrows. Rhuna noticed Tozar’s silence during the meeting, and she was glad when his mood changed once they were outside on the wide paved courtyard.

  “I suggest a special day of recreation!” he said cheerfully, and told Rhuna that she had not yet been on one of the small sailboats that cross the lake, and that the weather was most suitable for it that day. On the way to the boat, they chose some of Atlán’s more exotic foods at one of the many varied food dispensary halls in the city, and enjoyed these delicacies when they had crossed a fair section of the lake. Two Atlan men with sailing skills directed the boat while she and Tozar sat comfortably and enjoyed the tranquility of the lake. They ate dates, a variety of nuts and some heavy sweet bread, washed down with water. Rhuna felt relaxed and elated, especially as she gazed back across the lake which reflected the clear blue sky and twinkled like diamonds in the sunshine. While they enjoyed the sun’s warmth and gentle breeze, Tozar asked her if she was happy, and she told him that despite her visions and knowledge of the Dark Master’s activities, she had never felt happier.

  Rhuna still felt calm and content when she began her lessons in harnessing lunar energy, and was thrilled when her young teacher explained that she could experience this electro-magnetic force that very evening, due to the favorable alignment of stars, moon and earth. Beacon of the Night showed her a diagram etched in a soft metal panel, and showed her the necessary alignments and positions on the earth where the magnetic flow would be strongest at the time of correct alignment. She learnt that the rare occurrences of lunar and solar eclipses provided the most powerful flow of such energies, and that only very skilled, experienced Masters could harness them successfully, without injury to themselves. And she was surprised to learn that many open and raised areas like mounds or small hilltops were aptly suited to this purpose, of which there were several on the outskirts of the city.

  Rhuna was excited but also a little anxious because it was the first evening she had not spent with Tozar, and she wondered how he would spend most of the evening alone, without her. She walked out of the city towards some higher ground, while making polite and general conversation with Beacon of the Night. She liked her young teacher and thought he was always friendly with a pleasant manner. Her teacher’s green eyes had struck her as unusual when she first began instruction with him, and she sensed he was also somewhat surprised by her appearance. Since arriving in Atlán she had seen other people with darker skin complexion like hers, but none of them appeared to share her Zao ancestry.

  “We may stand here,” said Beacon of the Night when they reached a levelled area on a small hillock. “When the sun’s light begins to fade, the flow of electro-magnetic energy commences and shall be most powerful at this location,” he said pointing to a paving stone in the ground. Rhuna assumed the place had often been used for the purpose of harnessing lunar magnetic energy, hence the marker stone set in the ground.

  “Would I feel anything?” Rhuna asked the young teacher. Beacon of the Night thought for a moment and then shook his head.

  “It is possible, but neither I nor any colleagues or students have ever experienced a sensation,” he answered. “One merely becomes a channeling instrument and a temporary reservoir of energies, and this becomes evident when one projects thought energies directly after absorbing the magnetic lunar flows.” He stepped a few paces towards a group of scattered stones nearby and lifted one that fitted into both hands. He placed it at Rhuna’s feet. “When you have harnessed the energy for a comfortable period, attempt to transform this stone into a soft or powdery element.” he instructed her.

  “Will I be able to transform it much faster?”

  “This is the intention, however many students require several attempts before succeeding,” answered Beacon of the Night. “Prepare yourself, Adopted by the Rain. The time approaches.”

  Rhuna looked at the horizon where the sky had turned to soft evening shades. She stepped onto the paving stone and looked at the faint image of the moon which began to emerge in the sky. Beacon of the Night walked several paces aside and stood in a comfortable stance, prepared to wait and observe Rhuna’s first lesson in harnessing lunar energies.

  She closed her eyes and stood comfortably, yet alert. She felt a cool breeze gently whip some hairs across her cheek. She relaxed her mind, as her teacher had instructed, and waited with eager anticipation. After a little while, Rhuna felt a heavy sensation in her legs, and thought it was due to standing in one pose. The heaviness began to creep up her body and cause a push and pull sensation, not unlike the feelings she experienced each time she summoned the Gazing of the Waters. She thought of opening her eyes and telling Beacon of the Night what she was feeling, but decided to wait until after the lesson. She thought about her physical sensations, and how it reminded her of standing in a strong current of water with waves pushing and pulling her body. It felt as if she was sinking ever deeper into the pulling water currents, and when it reached her face, she decided it no longer felt comfortable.

  “Is it enough?” she asked her teacher as she opened her eyes and stepped off the flat stone.

  “Attempt to transform the stone, and it shall become evident whether sufficient time has elapsed,” he responded as he came a little closer.

  Rhuna looked down at the stone and began focussing her thoughts in the usual manner for element transformation. She imaged pulverizing the stone, but before she closed her eyes to intensify her visualization, she watched the stone crumble at her feet.

  “Oh!” said Rhuna surprised.

  “What wonder!” exclaimed Beacon of the Night as he stepped forward to examine the broken stone. “It is remarkable! In such an instant!” Her teacher looked up at her with awe, then down at the stone again to touch the parts that had been almost pulverized. He stood up and looked at her anew. She saw his green eyes radiate brightness.

  “You harnessed a significant amount of energy,” he said.

  “I felt it. A heavy pulling feeling all over my body,” Rhuna explained. “It’s the same every time I summon the Gazing of the Waters.”

  Beacon of the Night looked at her sharply. “You experience such sensations frequently?” he asked surprised.

  “Yes, every time I summon.”

  “This is known to your head teacher, to your husband?” asked Beacon of the Night, still amazed.

  Rhuna said she had always told Tozar and her teachers what she experienced, how she had wondered if these physical sensations were bad at first, and that meanwhile she had become used to it.

  “I perceive that you possess extreme sensitivity to the energies,” he said as they began to descend the hillock. “No doubt your abilities extend far beyond those of most.”

  Rhuna was re
luctant to say more about the matter, and hoped her teacher would not bring up the subject of her father, nor anything to do with the Dark Master. Then she wondered if her young teacher even knew of her father, and what he knew or could remember about the Dark Master.

  “I suggest we continue more prudently, in accordance with your exceptional abilities. Perhaps a simple lesson of harnessing solar energies for cutting and moulding stone and metals? It is difficult for many students, however you may accomplish it easily,” said Beacon of the Night.

  Rhuna said she would like to progress to learn these advanced techniques, and then told him how she had observed a Master sculpting a large stone statue on her homeland of Chinza when she was a girl. To this Beacon of the Night responded with surprise and curiosity, and began asking her more questions about her childhood and how she came to be in Atlán. Their lively conversation ended when Rhuna approached the city center where she lived, and Beacon of the Night said he had enjoyed their conversation immensely.

  When she opened the door to her home, Tozar stood up from the seating cushions and greeted her with a hug and kiss.

  “No doubt your first attempt to harness lunar energy was successful?” he said cheerfully. Rhuna told him that it was, and that Beacon of the Night was astounded, as she was herself when the stone crumbled so quickly before her eyes. She also told him about the long conversation with her teacher that ensued on their return to the city, and that he had asked her many questions.

  “You are the object of much wonder,” he said, giving her another kiss on the face.

  During the days after her lunar energy harnessing experience, she often thought of how quickly she had transformed the stone, and wondered whether she could hasten the transforming work she was engaged in at the lake’s shore. By now the work had progressed well, and she was involved in transforming other elements to the required building blocks. She had already attempted transforming water in a block mould, but found it required intense concentration for a length of time. She recalled how Tozar had transformed water to a solid building block, and that he also found it difficult at first.

  Rhuna’s task for the day at the lake was to transform ordinary sand, which she had performed several days earlier already. She began the usual procedure for transforming, and closed her eyes to focus. As usual, she opened her eyes at regular intervals to check her progress, and she had taken note that on previous occasions, it had taken five such visual checks until the stone was formed properly. This time, Rhuna only checked twice before the stone had become solid and dense. She stood upright and looked around for her supervisor. When she had caught his attention and he had approached her, she told him how much faster the transformation process was in this case, and that she had recently had her first experience of harnessing lunar energies.

  “It is not uncommon to find that the harnessed forces continue to strengthen one’s focussed energies for several days thereafter,” responded the supervising Master. He told her that in a few days, her time required for transforming would return to normal, and that he was pleased to hear that her first lunar harnessing experience was so successful.

  That evening, Rhuna was once again in high spirits due to her good results and fast progress, and Tozar listened intently to her detailed description of all the day’s events. When he had also told her about his day, he went to summon messages by means of the Gazing of the Waters. Rhuna stayed seated on her cushion and began to practice Inside Focussing. When the usual vibration was interrupted by a hum, she immediately knew she would receive another vision. She held her breath and allowed the process to run its full course.

  Rhuna saw only a brief image of the Dark Master. He wore the usual dark garments and his face appeared dark around his eyes. She saw that his expression was of deep anger, and his fast, determined walking strides impressed on Rhuna the strength of his emotion. She saw a sparse forest of medium-sized trees around him, and he was carrying a light-coloured bag. The vision ended and she opened her eyes. Then she got up to tell Tozar.

  “You are becoming accustomed to receiving such visions,” he said after she had described the vision to him in a calm manner. “I prefer that it were not so.”

  “I’d rather I wouldn’t be upset each time, if I continue receiving these visions,” responded Rhuna.

  “Of course. I meant, I would prefer that you not receive any visions,” said Tozar. Then he quickly changed his tone and said that the vision sounded important enough to interrupt Revealer of Brightness during his evening rest.

  “It is indeed most noteworthy,” said Revealer of Brightness when he heard Rhuna’s description. “We can assume that our dispatch of investigative parties to outlying regions may force him into action,” he said as he turned away from them in deep thought. “Or he is merely moving from one area to another for a purpose unknown to us.”

  “Force him into action?” repeated Tozar alarmed. “I must confess, this possibility had not entered my mind.”

  “Though mine,” said Revealer of Brightness. “You shall recall, Harbinger of Solace, that I knew him well.”

  Rhuna felt a chill run down her spine as she heard the bitter tone in those last words.

  “Perhaps we should order the investigative parties to return? It is not wise to provoke him!” said Tozar agitated.

  “No. We must proceed on the chosen course of action,” said Revealer of Brightness, slowly pacing a few steps as he pondered the matter. “Most probably our dispatched parties serve to benefit a people in a border region under his control, otherwise he would not be moved to act. If indeed he is reacting to our actions,” he said lifting a finger to remind them that he was only speculating. Tozar calmed down and said that he hoped the vision meant nothing of such significance, but that he also trusted the old man’s wisdom and discernment.

  The following days passed without incident, and there were no unusual reports from any of the parties approaching the outer regions of the Atlan Empire in the north-eastern part of the land. Rhuna thought about this latest vision and how she had remained calm during it, as well as Tozar’s words that he preferred she had no visions. It disturbed her that she caused Tozar this unease, but she also felt confident that no real harm could come to her. During her lessons since the evening of harnessing of lunar energies, she had noticed that her powers of concentration and projected thought had increased considerably, and this gave her a sense of confidence and security.

  Rhuna described her newfound confidence to her young teacher when ten days had passed since the harnessing of lunar energies, and she still noticed a considerable increase of concentration strength.

  “It is uncommon,” said Beacon of the Night, “however I perceive you yourself are uncommon in many respects,” he said in a flattering manner. Rhuna assumed he knew about her father’s special abilities, and asked him if he thought she should continue to practice the harnessing of lunar or other energies in this way.

  “If your mental faculties are enhanced in moderate stages, I foresee no harm or negative consequence,” he replied. Rhuna noticed his shiny green eyes as he sat opposite her during their lesson. “I have acquired recent reports from Masters in various colonies who are exploring the means by which to increase their skills. The perfect pyramids in Safu, for instance.”

  Rhuna remembered the glorious visions she had seen in the Gazing of the Waters when the second pyramid was still under construction, and told her teacher she had always been in awe of the giant structures, but that she didn’t fully understand their function.

  “Very well,” began Beacon of the Night as he leaned forward to instruct Rhuna. “You are aware of the geometric significance of the pyramidal shape and its correlation to earth and cosmic energies, are you not?” Rhuna nodded. “Observations using small or truncated pyramid-based structures have resulted in the findings that a full pyramidal structure would harness and also contain considerable energies. Hence the enormity of the undertaking in Safu on a location most propitious to lunar, cosmic and ea
rth energy forces.”

  Rhuna recalled the visions she had seen of the golden pyramids. “The area around them is flat and dry, only sand. Isn’t it unusual for such a place to have all the positive energy flows?” asked Rhuna.

  “According to the common laws of Plant and Earth Harmony, yes. However, for the purpose of these structures, this site was chosen for its intersection of certain magnetic lines which flow around the globe. In fact, this location is one of the few places known to us where more than three such magnetic streams intersect, hence its suitability for a harnessing station.”

  “Harnessing station?” asked Rhuna.

  “It is the new term used by the Masters in Safu who have begun using it as both a point of harnessing energies, and also of re-energizing their mental faculties by resting in a small chamber in the pyramid’s interior.”

  “Resting inside it?” asked Rhuna amazed.

  “Precisely!” Rhuna noticed that the young teacher was enjoying his instruction. “There is no mental effort required when the pyramidal structure serves to attract and store the required cosmic and earthly energies, and one merely rests to make the mind receptive to the energies collected it its interior chambers!”

  “This is an exciting new discovery, isn’t it?” asked Rhuna. “Isn’t there such an intersection of magnetic streams in Atlán where we could also build such harnessing stations?”

  “No, it appears there is no such suitable location in this land,” said Beacon of the Night shrugging his shoulders, “however, you may construct a small pyramid for your personal use.”

  “What?”

  “Yes. It is not uncommon for skilled and experienced Masters to construct a small and simple pyramidal harnessing site to stand upon for a certain length of time, perhaps once or twice each lunar cycle, in order to re-energize oneself.”

  Rhuna was surprised. “You’re saying I could also do this?” she asked with astonishment.

  “Of course!” smiled her young teacher. “You demonstrate outstanding skills in transforming any element to the desired stone block needed, and you have studied the theory of geometry and mathematics.”