Healer

Well known by nearly everyone in the river valley, Elie Moon was very active, seeing many folks per day. Elie was a fine healer, and part-time forest fairy, often found among the lush folds of flora and secret critter spaces, where smallness is a desirable attribute, and harmony of nature, the daylong song.

For decades friends, neighbors, even strangers came to Elie Moon looking for relief. She healed with her kind words, rare herbs, and her hugs, long, medicinal hugs when the healing powers are re-absorbed.

But then, a scourge of pain began to overshadow Elie's typical joy. Too many toddlers hoisted to her shoulders over the years. All the valley's doctors argued over her worsening state. They debated the best course, but Elie distrusted their certainty. She realized her own healing must be whole, self-generated- doctors only know what they know, or guess.

But, Elie Moon needed something she'd not named or yet identified. Her own herbs had helped, but the pain persisted, reducing her days to immobilized isolation, unable to see her visitors. Hugs were totally out of the question. She began to have sad, perilous thoughts, urges of despair very unlike her persona. The spiritual fatigue of chronic pain wears down even the strongest souls, like a Devil's erosion.

Frustrated and exhausted for several nights, Elie finally fell into a deep transformation of sleep, deeper than a fairy's usual brief slumber, soon floating backward thru dimensions of primal dream, with flickering low lights, blue walls, and dense fog.

Coming down into a green clearing, Elie distinctly saw an odd trio of greeters: two tall, solemn ravens, and an old, stout owl who spoke right up in a crisp voice, not bothering with introductions.

"The Fathers of the Forest grow them in the Highest Places, and the Mothers cure and prepare them. You don't have these herbs, they're not found anywhere while awake. One, an herb that greatly expands your breath. Breathing helps moderate pain. The second, the herb of forgiveness, but this one is only for you, for past self-blaming, any choices made but regretted, you know them all." The owl went silent as the ravens dropped two small pouches. Elie bowed, most grateful, and in wondering awe.

Hours later, swirling back thru breaths of reverse-blue to emerge from the sleep of a lifetime, Elie Moon, refreshed and hopeful with rest and insight, knew just how to go forward in her own healing, and her continued good works.