Gate: Eight of Wands

I stepped through the vision gate and found myself standing on black, shining stone like polished obsidian. Crystals of the same type of rock were falling all around me. When they hit the ground, they pulverized with a sound like glass breaking.

At first, I put my arms over my head to protect myself from the falling stone but I realized that they were not striking me. Though their pattern seemed to be random, the reality was anything but random and the shining stone was actually performing a complex and choreographed dance as it fell from high above.

Crystals continued to fall like a rainstorm as I walked through this strange landscape. I could see neither plant nor animal life, only shining stone upon the ground and falling from the sky. After some time and exploration of the realm, a stone staircase rose out of the rocks beneath my feet and I began to ascend the smooth black stone steps.

“I require a guide,” I said aloud, putting one foot carefully after another upon the stairs. A circle, made of the same stone that comprised everything else, came out of the ground in response to my summons. It reflected my face back to me like a black mirror.

“A guide, a guide, a guide,” my voice echoed back out of the circle.

“Hello, my friend! My name is Heidi and I require some assistance through this world,” I said. “I seek the true nature of those who dwell here.”

“Assistance through this world, this world, this world,” the circle mimicked me, floating to the height of my shoulder as I continued up the stairs. I closely watched my face’s reflection on the smooth surface of the shining stone. Her mouth didn’t move to form each word I spoke like a true reflection nor did the voice repeat my every word like a true echo. She chose the words and actions that she wanted to repeat and the effect was somewhat eerie.

“Do you have no words of your own?” I said. “Usually my guides are quite talkative. Not that I’m complaining really, I appreciate the companionship as much as the conversation.”

“No words, no words, no words,” the stone mirror said. “Not complaining, not complaining, not complaining.”

“Do you have a name?” I asked when the vibrations of her response finally died away. “If we can’t communicate effectively, at least I will know what to call you.”

“Echo, Echo, Echo…” the mirror said clearly using my face and voice. Then, she became silent despite my further attempts to draw her out. As I continued to climb the steps, she floated breezily beside me, a quiet presence who gave me courage to venture onwards. Every once in a while, I could swear the face in the mirror was being silly, sticking her tongue out at me and making funny faces, but when I turned to look directly at her, Echo returned to sedately reflecting my expression.

The stairs continued upwards a long way. On either side, facing inwards, stone lion statues with wings lining the walkway appeared. They were made of the same shiny stone as the stairs and Echo. I passed countless winged lions until finally, we approached a throne at the very top of the black stone steps. A final set of wings unfurled on either side of this throne with their tips indicating the very center, where a figure sat. Light descended from on high and illuminated the chair.

I took the final steps, grateful to have finished the long journey, stood before the dark throne and bowed my head in respect. “Hello,” I said to the spirit who sat upon it. “Who are you, Great One of the Winged Lions?”

“Who indeed,” he replied curtly. “Who asks?” The being leaned forward in his seat and put his elbows upon his knees as he gazed intently at me. I could feel his sight upon me like a heavy weight and I shook myself lightly to escape the sensation of the increasing and uncomfortable pressure. Though his visage was wrapped in the shadows and natural darkness of his realm, I could perceive blonde, curly hair and the barest indication of angular features and cutting cheekbones.

Echo left my presence, flew immediately to the being’s side and began to reflect his face and movements though his countenance was as shadowed in her reflection as it was to my eyes. “Who asks, who asks, who asks…” she echoed.

“My name is Heidi. I have come seeking the true nature of this place and you,” I said. “I have traveled a long way to speak with you and appreciate anything you may have to teach me.”

The spirit leaned back upon his throne and I felt the pressure of his intense attention abating somewhat. “I am Narcissus,” he said, coldly. “I care not how far you have come nor how far you will yet go.”

“Narcissus, Narcissus, Narcissus…” came the echo from the mirror.