Oc and Chuen Awaken

Chuen awoke before dawn. The entire dwelling seemed to come alive all together. Oc blinked at Chuen and asked, “what did you dream?”

“I dreamed of being at home, but it wasn't where I live with Mommy and Daddy and my sisters.  It was a round house made of beautiful wood and it was where I lived. “ 

Oc nodded sagely and said, “I dreamed of my two people. They may be in trouble. I feel like I need to get back to them as quickly as possible.” 

Chuen shuddered to think of all the chaos there would be while people looked for them. The second day here, they had cried all day in anger and frustration of not being able to be found. They were now a little brown monkey instead of a human being. That alone freaked them out, if you didn't even factor in the whole lost thing without a grown up in sight, not even people. Everybody was an animal from bobcats, turtles, thrushes, everybody they had seen seemed perfectly human except they weren’t; they were all animals. This dumbfounded and escaped their logic like a dream does.

This is what Chuen had decided: they were dreaming an extended dream that felt more real to them than anything they had ever dreamed before. Just knowing they were dreaming, being aware of this fact, made it seem more real and less real. They would wake up from this crazy experience if they could, but nothing they did woke them up. They had jumped and twisted and turned. Scampered up and down trees like the monkey they now were.  

By the fifth day of this journey, Chuen accepted their name and the fact they were a monkey. That was something else they didn't understand: how their name could irrevocably change. They  were not Willow any more. And Oc was no longer Scout. Oc talked to them without vocalizing with no sound Chuen could hear. Oc's voice sounded in the mind with great clarity. Chuen could formulate an answer to Oc, speaking directly to them without moving their mouth. This is how everybody talked here.  

When Oc and Chuen awoke and emerged from sleep on the day of Ben, the Bobcats led them outside to greet the dawn. Dark shades of blue and black softly gave way to brilliant greens, fifty thousands shades of green.glowing from within as night became day.

They proceeded to a nearby river. The Bobcats began wading in the water and urged Chuen and Oc to follow. The water was startling clear and cold. Oc swam furiously to keep up with the others, being such a small animal. Chuen noticed their difficulty and scooped Oc into their arms. Once everyone immersed themselves in the electrifying water, all emerged, and shook themselves dry with vigor.

Bees and a pair of Armadillos came to the pool. In awe, Chuen and Oc watched the Bees swarm over the water and dive bomb into it, and  quickly, back out. The Armadillos took a bit more time, immersing their strange hard shelled bodies into the water. Two thrushes flew in next, performing a unique baptismal. Woodpeckers, gazelles, coyotes, raccoons, fawns, macaws - the variety of animals was astounding. Vultures, owls, pumas, hummingbirds, weasels, eagles, quetzal bird. 

The crowd grew and grew. Finally the silent people (because they were all people despite their species), begin walking in single file towards the rising sun. They went over a rise where lay another hill with a circular path winding around it. Everyone followed the path around the hill four times growing closer and closer to its green-clad sides with each revolution. Oc noticed a small door leading inside the hill. An eagle and an owl fanned smoke onto each person, sweeping them from head to foot and back again with their wings. A bright hummingbird dripped a sweet fragrance onto each person's crown. Then each dropped low, entering through the small door and tunnel. A short crawl later, and the room opened into a big round orange clay bowl.Everyone sat or perched in this circular space in complete silence. The relief of a large eagle resided in the clay in the center of this space. Directly in the center was a fire and within it glowed many hot rocks.

A spotted fawn pushed a bowl of liquid around with her nose. Everyone partook with a small swallow including Chuen and Oc. Last, A large jaguar emerged from the tunnel, took the seat left vacant in the north,  and sat with his tail switching looking around the sacred space. 

Armadillo began the council by asking all to turn to the east and a chant honoring East rose in sound. Each direction was intoned and then the center.  

Eagle began to talk. “ We thank Armadillos for beginning this ceremony. She is of the Ben energy, on whose day this council now meets.”

He continued,  “As you all know these are auspicious times. We are close to the solstice, when the wheel turns and resets itself into a new era, eons in coming. We ready ourselves for the changes being wrought as this solar system moves through space. This is the last solstice before the revolution and resetting of the Days. We have much work to do.”

“UpperEarth is not taking this ride through space and all the changes it brings with any grace. They have so poisoned their earth, air and water  and spirit so all are in danger of mass extinction.

“We welcome Chuen and Oc, visitors from the Upper Realm. They dropped into MesoEarth when Ik blew in 12 days ago. BobCat discovered them yesterday on the Eb day,  before sunset. 

We enter into the The Men Trecena in day atfter tomorrow. This is the Trecena of Vision, of the Eagles' Eye View. This is an appropriate time for us together in MesoEarth to hold a collective vision in crystal clearness for the next thirteen days. There are many ceremonies and rituals as our tribes are gathering from near and far, heralding in the birth of summer, the waning time of year. That which hot and bright begins to subside.  The Descent into Darkness begins at the Solstice.

Today is Ben. Our local tribes are gathered. On this day we pray, dream, contemplate on being at home on our Earth, in our bodies, treating the land, water air and each other with respect . Today, also we welcome Chuen and Oc who are misplaced from their home. They are from the Upper Realm, as you know.  Let us listen to their story. 

Eagle placed in front of Oc a thick stick, inset with turquoise and aquamarine stones, topped with a very clear crystal whose center held a dark brown citrine incursion surrounded with  smokey blue gray quartz. There were the bright feathers of the quetzal bird tied near the top and intricate beads. Oc understood this to be a talking wand and knew as long as they held this, there would be no interruptions.

“We were a small pet dog and a young girl where we came from,” Oc began. “I have two people I take care of. I must get home to them because I sense they are in great danger. I don't know how we got here or why. I do not know why my powers of communication have deepened so dramatically. I do not know why Chuen is a monkey and called Chuen. I do not know how to get home.” With that small speech, Oc handed the Talking Stick back to Armadillo who offered the stick to Chuen.