River Guardian

Story

Waterways are a land’s lifeblood. Not only do they carry life-giving water, they also channel subtle energies that adjust and balance the land’s primal life force.

Fairies are passionate about tending and caring for waterways. In unrehearsed yet intuitive concert, they coax the best from both the water and the surrounding land.

One particular fairy might adopt a stretch of river and make it her own. In doing so she becomes its guardian and devotes her life to providing unending support.

Today, as the shadows lengthen and dusk descends, a fairy sits on a rock and hums a song to the river.

Guided by an intelligence that oversees the entire land, her magic arises with little effort. She is a willing conduit, and the life force flows easily through her. As her hands glow with tingling warmth, the nurturing magic floats out over the water.

To most people, lost as they are in their day-to-day distractions, water appears so unformed, so totally forgettable. How blind they are.

In its own watery way, a river lives and breathes much like we do; it certainly has comparable sensitivities. When dismissed so nonchalantly, it feels intense pain. And when such pain repeats endlessly, a river can fold in on itself and slide into deep depression. Then its waters turn sour, a blight on the land.

The fairy reminds the river of its true being. She hums tunes that originate far beyond thought, reaffirming the river’s authentic place in the cosmos. With her magic and her song, she simply makes a watery life worthwhile again.

The river responds to this unconditional love and relaxes, remembering why it is here. To flow endlessly, bring life to the land, and gurgle in joyous celebration of all creation.

Yes, that is a river’s purpose.

Far into the deepening evening the fairy’s hands continue to glow and caress the river.

This is her calling. She knows none greater.