Athena Chapter 2: Part 2: The Wanderer Returns

"Vala of the Pole Star" by Olivia Robertson

Fellowship of Isis Liturgy

By

Olivia Robertson

Athena - Arcadian Awakening

2. Valhalla: the Golden Apples of the Sun

Part II. The Revelation: The Wanderer Returns

“The Goal and The Path are One.”

Visitants:

Path Guide: Elaine Priestess of Alchemy

Helper: Aiden, Priest of Alchemy

Oracle: Deirdre

Elaine: To understand our roots in the past, we need to invoke the Deities of Destiny. Let us seek the Oracle of the Goddess Vala, Queen of Spirits, who dwells in Her Holy Heaven, Valhalla.”

Aiden: (raises staff) Divine Vala, Queen of the Valiant and Defender of the helpless, You who reign in Divine Reality in Heaven while we struggle in dramas on earth, help this man to achieve his Quest to find Eternal life, the Goal of us all.

ORACLE OF THE GODDESS VALA

All that is – is mirrored in one small seed. Those who aim at their own greatness cut at the very roots of the tree Ygdrasil, the immortal ash that is within and without all nature. Men are ever in such a hurry! Sit with me, Frey, on some pleasant grassy slope. Here you may enjoy many lives, and face the fiery heart of a volcano or black depths of a well, yet receive no hurt.

The time has come for humanity to achieve travel in all-Time, All-Space. You long for adventure. So be it! Harken ... Lost in the icy wastes of a mountain, frozen from all love and joy, is an imprisoned woman. She neither moves nor speaks nor weeps. Her sleep is dreamless as she is caught in No-Thing My son, rescue this maiden soul, bring her home to Valhalla. But in the attempt you may lose your life.”

End of Oracle

Elaine: We give thanks to the Goddess Vala for Her Oracle.

Aiden: (to Frey) Are you willing to undertake this task though it may lead to your own death?

Frey: I undertake the quest. I have always wondered why young men, including myself, yearly risk our lives trying the impossible – reaching the summit of the Pole Star Rock! It points towards the Pole Star. Warning notices forbid climbers to make the attempt. But as our long winters darken the world, mothers bar the shutters of windows when darkness comes, to stop their young sons seeing the deadly peak. They have heard of a beautiful ice-maiden who dwells there luring would-be lovers to their death. I believe in this legend because I have met Odin’s god-like gaze.

Elaine: You are ready to make the ascent. I shall be your path guide. You will not see me – only hear my voice. In trouble you may call upon the Helper, Aiden, who can aid you in this sphere – and the next.

TRANCE JOURNEY

Music.Violet and green lighting.

Frey: How real this snow is I could forget the Temple ... just be here in this blinding storm. But I can hear the soft voice of Elaine – I hear the sound of sea birds from their rock nests ... I am making my way through the lower slopes of the Pole-Star Rock. I make extremely slow progress. I have been here for hours … I am exhausted but I shall not turn back … Now I am high enough to face the summit itself which blots out the stars. It is like a terrifying cathedral of ancient Giants! But then I see a wraith-like mist of snow crystals that hides the peak, and the Pole Star behind it.

Ah! It is the form of the most exquisite woman I have ever imagined. No. She is no Woman. At last I behold a Goddess! She is far beyond mere earthly woman. She is robed in snow and shines like ice and her head is crowned by the Polar Stars. She looks into my eyes and I am in Heaven of ecstasy. I hold out my arms to her, releasing my hold on the rocks – between me and her is an abyss. I can turn back now – or leap over the abyss to bring her escape from this icy hell … I can reach her by a rainbow bridge. I make the leap and fall into total darkness.

I must be dead. I have fallen down a well that seems miles deep I fall through black cold water *****

This is ridiculous. I’m back in that ski resort with noisy visitors. Some kindly men have carried me in front of the fire and women chafe my hands and rub my face – and give me brandy. I hear one of them say to the other: “Another of them! Welcome to Spirit World, young man! You’ve joined the land of the Goddess Vala – you have won the honour of being admitted in Valhalla, for you have died a hero.”

I look around me with astonishment. Those who had presented themselves as vulgar visitors on a skiing holiday, gazing at our volcano – are no less than the Norse Gods and Goddesses! What I took to be a convivial Bartender is the mighty Thor. Two or three Valas, co-workers with Vala, are indulging in intellectual discussion with Logi, who is explaining his use of magnetism for his use in their space travel.

Two other Valas are tending to my needs. One of them says to another: “He’s really had an easy transition. Violent Deaths are often less traumatic than slow dissolution. That’s why adventurers are apt to end up here. Vala’s Hall is for active service within the Land of Asgard.” She addressed me. “We Valas like to help those who face initiatory death. It can be quite a shock.”

I look around for Help. How about Aiden? I hear his voice very distantly: “You already had a Guide but rejected Him as The Devil! Look for a patch over one eye!” I look round. And there, sitting at a table is Odin! Curious – for a moment he reminds me of my old School Master – the one who annoyed me by saying I was spoilt. At first I could not see his companion. She has her back to me. Then Odin beckons to a vacant chair, and I sit down.

“This is delightful,” he says smiling. “It’s so pleasant to have Freya with us!”

Then I can see the woman now that she has pushed back her woolly cap to shake off the snow. She looks into my eyes. She is the Icy Goddess of the Pole-Star. I am totally taken aback…

She laughs and says: “Frey, answer me this riddle. ‘What is it that dwells on the peaks, is lost in the abyss and sits all the while in the tavern in Spirit World?’”

I cannot answer. She replies: “The Golden Apple of Eternity is within Goddess and wanderers, earth humans and spirits. Frey, you are still alive in a physical body, and so am I. And there is much work to be done. Who knows? We may meet.” ******

END OF TRANCE

Frey comes back from trance in ecstatic state. He puts it down to having found Valhalla. But Aiden comments that his twin Freya has something to do with it! It should be interesting to meet her.

Reports are shared. Thoughts of Hope and Courage are sent forth. A happy few days are enjoyed by the group, including a trip to the volcano but not too near, delightful though Valhalla sounds.

Arcadian Poem by Olivia to the Valhalla motif by Wagner

Love shines like gold in Holy Vala’s Hall

Where dwell the Gods and Goddesses in bliss.

There grows the Tree of Life above the Well of Truth.

Sun’s Apples gleam in Freya’s leafy groves,

Celestial food that brings eternal life.

A rainbow forms an arch

Uniting Heaven and Earth.

Birds call their song of hope to Wandering Souls,

Pilgrims in search of their lost Heaven.

Within the Mother’s Home

Lies hidden the Source of Life.

Note: These Rites may be used for meetings of the Muses Symposium and the Arcadians.

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