The Gateway

Coming out of the darkness has me wandering among pitfalls and illusions. Lesson after lesson was taught to me through a myriad of sources. A trip to the park in an effort to surround myself with aspects of divinity resulted in many hugs given to mighty oaks, native maleleukas, and a stray black cat with yellow eyes. I took offerings found on the ground, being careful to give something back to the donor. I walked through lakes shared with ducks and swans and egrets. I shared my lunch with families of raccoons who graciously took morsels from my outstretched hand.
It was a lesson in mutual respect for living things.
 

The week after, a tree branch large enough to kill a child fell without reason or warning onto the roof of my moving car, with such impact that the dent touched the top of my head. Later inspection of the car revealed a small scratch, such as one made by a twig.
Karma was at work.

Glimmers of light began to trickle into my consciousness, and as I foolishly ran to embrace them, just as quickly they disappeared, plunging me into darkness yet again. I reached out to brothers and sisters across the world, demanding a roadmap, assistance, and a way out. Many times I was told by the elders, the wise ones, to find within that which would allow me to soar, yet I was blindly, desperately seeking a rescuer.

Each time I would give away my power, the darkness would envelope me, isolate me,
and leave me vulnerable and weak.

I was ready to learn to find the light.

Finally, a brother from across the ocean taught me my most valuable lesson, and through perfect love and patience, through long expensive hours on international connection, through unselfish giving of resources necessary for my growth, I was able to discover the gateway. The gateway has led me to many more lessons, many revelations, to a place of enlightenment
and wisdom and safe, unending light...

The Gateway to the Soul.  It was there from the beginning.   So shall it be for Eternity.