If you happened upon this house on an off trail hike, what would you do? Run or go inside? Something else? Knowing how people are, this can go three ways.
Wandering Dark House
#1- During a long hike, wandering off trail, I stumble across a seemingly long abandoned house. Looks like only nature is in possession of the grounds, so I’m going in! …Begin digging around…. Find a cool ancient rusty thimble. Pocket it. Suddenly I get scared by the spiders, raccoons n crows whose home I just barged into. Cobwebs and feathers bombard me. My eyes burn, I sneeze uncontrollably, and I run out screaming!…. Aaaaand trip on that root ….aaaaand bloody my forehead…..aaaand Get stung by a bee. Pull myself up with a branch wipe off the blood from my face. Aaaand that branch was wrapped in…..poison ivy! Aaaaaand now my eyes are swelling shut. Beautiful. I better leave that thimble. That house is possessed! Guarded by a thimble god and has booby traps. Don’t go in go away. Touch nothing and stay out. You’ll wish you had without a doubt.
#2 – During a long hike I stumbled across a seemingly long abandoned building. Peering through a window it revealed crumbling mosaics of a formerly sacred structure. One rabbit hops through inside jumps on a pew stops and looks at me. Almost as if waiting for me to speak. It continues back in to the shadows. A raccoon family comes through does nearly the same. I scratch my head and continue. Looking, searching, peeking about and touching nothing with respect or fear of disturbing the sacred. Who knows? Some things seem best left alone. Like those honeybees gathering nectar. Going here and there through cracks in the front door hanging by rust dust cobwebs and time. I follow them just to the door, confident they see no harm in me. Peeking through, I see light dancing on a statue of Mary joined by crow on her bowed head. Cobwebs strung between her hands she seems almost feral. Satisfied with what I’ve seen I continue on my walk in quiet and solitude, except for the occasional owl hoot and butterflies. I walk home to tell my family of a place so sacred, only Mary and the animals reside. I return with them and say “Be quiet respectful and do not touch. This place is sacred on the inside. Look and listen it will give you much. Take nothing and leave no trace behind.”
#3 – During a long hike, wandering off trail, I hope mother Gaia will answer my prayers to belong to a hidden sisterhood. I stumble upon a seemingly long abandoned house. Looks like faeries or a witch could live there so I’m going in! First, I knock a musical knock, sing hello and enter. I give the rabbit that hops up some clover, plantain and dandelion from my knapsack. I say “Gifts from our Gaia, gifts to you.” Immediately three more rabbits appear. All the same fluffy tan. Each with different ears. They approach and stop, as if waiting for me. I reach in my knapsack and feed the three. Immediately all four completely transformed. They say “You’re fearless, kind, generous and warm. This temple of Gaia has your reward.” The roots transform trees stand up and bloom. The witches say “Welcome home sister mother queen. Here is your room. Say and do what you please. The honey here is heavenly. You’ll learn to love the bees” The further that I enter with each step I ascend. Animals chatter and banter, transform into friends. So ever if you’re wandering and a dark house is what you find. Play a musical knock and sing hello. Who knows what you might find. Beware only of the threads of the mind.
Now wander, and be found.
Lennée Reid is a geeky Unitarian vegan witch poet activist survivor who is trying to make sense of it all and find peace. She performs throughout Cascadia and recently placed 4th in The Olympia Peoples Mic Poetry Grand Slam. Lennée likes organic vegan fair trade anything, road trips and karaoke.
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