Heart-land

      Every true journey is an allegory and every real journey is a vision quest. Our lives are presented
      in terms and in ways that we are not yet concious of -as for instance in a dream.
            Every traveller has to pass through a gateway or a portal , and must be tested - They may be asked riddles or  have to run the gauntlet , but they will be tested, They must be found worthy of such a journey. Yet when you have been tested, the  gatekeeper will allow you through  and everything will be there to help you , although you will still have challenges !
             After all , the place itself  ( like a magnet ) drew you irrevocably  towards it , although you may have thought in your naivity that you had chosen, just as you may have imagined that you choose your partner, pet , friend or lover !
     
                Lucas and I travelled in WestWales, desiring to fish for sea trout in the river Teife, its waters running into the Irish sea at Cardigan . The weather was bad and so we decided to find a hotel or bed and breakfast . We walked through the side streets of Newcastle - Elmyn (Where I had lived some forty years before and also when  I was seveenteen -all those years ago when I came here for the first time .)The place had always held a speacial place in my imagination and feeling for the spiritual.
              We were near to the gateway to the castle  ,a golden dragon was represented over the gateway .A creature that was killed in the middle ages as one of the last dragons of Wales. We tried to find the information bureau but we were told that we had to go to the historic book shop ,
                      We walked into the shop  and met two old bearded gentlemen  (just  like ourselves! )     The atmosphere was extraordinarely friendly , as if we were expected  or that we knew each other from some far past . We exchanged pleasantries  - joked about things  and asked about lodgings and most important about the fishing

                  We were advised to go to the next village -(Cenarth ) go to the White Hart , drink a beer and go from there  ( I personally found this profound advice !) We  realised that we could have spent more time with the " old gents " but we had little time and much to do !However , at this point in the story , it was begining to dawn on me -that many of the personages that I had met , were all characters in  the story that I had written some years ago .A story about justice and injustice played in the middle- ages Many people were waiting in the pub  for us , and they helped us to find accommodation and helped us with the fishing (.If I had been a film director), I would have cast  many of the people for the film ! ( the film about my story -)



                    Life copies art as art mirrors life as Oscar Wilde and the symbolists observed ----

         And even more mysteriously life and dreams give us symbols and allegories that we cannot totally understand at least --------------
                                 
                                           (    Short  extract from my story entitled The Cauldron)

      Lucius(  after cantering down the hill on his horse )  , came to a standstill by the bridge with his three friends ,    he removed his large brimmed hat and threw back his long blond hair .                   ,
                "\ We  should find lodgings here  " said Demian ", and certainly drink a beer ."
".    We  have things to do here   -this is  a place of magic and transformation" . Said Lucius .
         Their voices drowned by the sound of the cauldron  droning beneath the bridge  .