If you are joining this story for the first time please start at chapter 1 Red and work yourself forward, thanks and hope you enjoy it.  

6Kallfu-Indigo Blue 

THE CLIMB up the canyon was steep at times; he envisioned the wall of water the Orator had talked about. He thought he heard in the distance a deep, deep rumbling. High above him was a hanging bridge suspended across the canyon. He daydreamed that someday he would sit with Armun on the bridge to admire the view from above. The rumble grew louder as he climbed. Because the height of the cliffs blocked his view, he could only see a short way ahead. As he rounded a corner the sound became overpowering. He looked up and at the top of the canyon wall, as if coming from the stone itself, he saw it―the source of the waterfall. He had seen a lot of waterfalls in his time in Costa Rica but nothing had prepared him for this. From what he could see it fell at least 300 feet. Climbing on, he could see the canyon wall one side of the river began to flatten out, and the cliffs over there grew higher. From this side of the river he could see the waterfall, set back as if to hide from view, tucked in a little side canyon. The young man saw a cabin at the river’s edge. Approaching it, he realized that it was only from that place would he be able to see the entire 500 foot waterfall. When he finally stood before it, beholding it in all its glory and with all its power he saw the “Corral De Aqua.” It was bigger then he had imagined. Though it was still a good distance away, he could tell it was massive and he could not wait to get closer.

            Coming out of the house was clearly Teddy’s brother, Traru, his deep, deep blue eyes looking directly at the young man―gazing into his eyes as if looking directly into Ziggys soul. “So you have come for my waterfall, I knew you were coming today and I am glad you are here. Come, I must show you around.” The young man felt glad too. However, he could also feel a darkness of the spirits lurking in the corners of his mind, waiting for a sign of weakness. He imagined using sage to smoke them out, as his father use to sage the house, with special attention paid to the corners where he said the evil spirits hid. Traru led him to the river where, standing and looking at the Coral, he said, “For forty years I have protected the Corral. I bought all the land as far as you can see just before the big quake. My beloved country, Chile, has gone though many changes since then and there have been many times I was afraid and wanted to sell and leave, but Ruka, my spirit guide, told me to wait … he would send a new keeper with a vision of the future of the Corral. And today,” he said, looking at the young man “he has done that.” He lifted his arm and with two fingers pointed to the sky, and without looking up, he said, “Ruka has sent us a ‘sign.’ This is going to be a very good day.”   The young man’s eyes followed Traru’s arm up past his fingers to the sky and saw, circling just above them, two very large hawks. “I have lived a creative and happy life here but my time has come. I have debts to pay, not of money but of time.”

Geronimo whispered ― “Teddy loves him.”

Ziggy looked at the old man, “Teddy says he loves you very much.” With tears in his eyes the old man started his story. “It was five years ago today. Teddy, his wife, Chimalfe (Dragonfly), and their son, Kono, were here for a Valentine’s Day visit. Teddy was sitting with Kono when Chimalfe asked me to take her to the Corral. Teddy asked me to please watch her carefully as she was still weak from the rough birth of the boy. I told him I would protect her. At the Corral she started to climb, though I pleaded with her not to, she would not stop. She reached the top and stood on the lip of the Corral and dove in and swam to the other side. That was the last time I saw her spirit alive. I heard her scream as she fell from the other side of the Corral trying to climb down. Teddy never forgave me, though many times her spirit visited me to assure me it was her time, my heart is still heavy. Teddy and I have not spoken to this day.” Looking towards the sunset, Traru turned to the boy … “Come, it is time for meditation.”

Just up the river a short way was an altar filled with many small items, such as blue stones, animal statues, and other treasures. Lighting an indigo blue candle, he picking up a large bundle of sage and held it over the candle until the tip of it glowed. Then moving about the area, he waved the sage about as he chanted. Setting the bundle down still smoking, he knelt down facing the sunset. The young man knelt beside him.  “Thank you Almighty Spirit, for all the blessings you have given me, thank you for teaching me that I am worthy of your gratitude and thank you for this day and your deliverance of my replacement. I know he will pass the challenge of the prophets, as I have seen his future happy life here and I thank you for that.” Bending over and bowing to the sunset, the old man, prayed. “Praise be to Mohammed, praise be to Allah, praise be to Buddha, praise be to Gandhi, to Osho, the Dalai Lama, and praise be to Jesus Christ. Thank you and all other prophets like you for living in light, kindness and truth. Thank you for showing me how to do the same.”

The young man was mystified that here in this remote place, the old Mapuche man was aware of all religions and that all were included in the same “God’s Light.”

The old man sat up and assumed a yoga position, the same one Ziggy had seen his dad use when meditating. Ziggy also assumed the familiar position and for what seemed like hours they sat in silence. He made a promise that day, a promise to himself, that as long as he lived he would treasure this gift from God and like the old man, thank Him every day and every night.

“Come, it’s getting late. We must eat and sleep and then tomorrow early we will go to the ‘Corral De Aqua’ so you can meet your destiny.”

The young man lay outside on the mat, covered by the large skin the Mapuche guardian had given him, and looking up at the stars, he saw at last his own light. In the great roar that he heard coming from the Corral, he felt his power. He was confident in his strength. He could feel the place his ability to believe he deserved all of this was taking and he felt home!

            The young man awoke feeling cold and his face was wet. He looked around and everything was covered in a blanket of white―the snow the Orator had predicted. He shivered and thought about the fires burning in Brazil and knew that something had to be done.  Traru came out of his hut and with great cheer wished him a good morning and said “Young man, I see the gods have sent a message. I have lived here over forty years and in all that time it has never before snowed in February. Come, we must meditate before we eat,” so they dusted the area around the altar and knelt. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. For all you will do and for all you have done.” The old man prayed on, “You color our world white this day, the sign of a new beginning, a fresh start, a blank canvas. Give us the colors needed to paint this day in all your glory, our masterpiece.” They sat facing east. Stretching out his arms and pointing them north and south, the old man continued:  “In sending all my energy to the poles of the North and South, I ask God to give balance to the earth.” Moving his arms to the front and cupping his hands facing the ground, he prayed.  “To the center of Mother Earth, where her child lives, I send my healing energy so that as she heals us, her children, we can help heal her own inner child.” Moving his hands forward and shaping them as if he were holding the earth, he began to help it spin by blowing a deep breath over it. “Feel my breath as it blows away the poisons in your air to help you breathe.” Then holding his hands above his head, he offered: “I give praise to the spirits that guide me, to their wisdom and to the strength this boy will need on this day.” Moving his hands higher, he went on: “To all the prophets who lead by light, love and knowledge, I give praise and send you my energy. To my one true sprit, take this healing power and spread it out over the earth.” The boy could feel the wave of energy coming from the old man as it passed on its journey. “Take this energy and multiply it a thousand times and give it to those in need.”  The old man chuckled as he blew into his hands. Ziggy sensed the smiles on all the needy children of the world as this warm healing power passed through them. He realized the world had become a better place because of this old man, and he smiled.

“Come, let’s eat. We have a long day ahead of us.” Traru brushed himself as if sweeping his body with a small broom. Folding his hands and facing toward the east, he said, “I call in all the animals of the deserts,” turning south, he continued, “I call in all the guardians of the south pole.” Continuing his circle and facing west he said, “I call in all the animals of the ocean,” then turning to face north he chanted, “To the polar bear and the other animals of the north pole, I call you in and I now ask for all your guidance, your strength and your knowledge to keep us humble and clear as we move through this day. He bowed and then turned and headed for the hut. Ziggy followed.

A table filled with fresh bread, nuts and fruit awaited them. Ziggy took the bag he had left inside the door and added the fruit from Alexia to the feast. Traru put two large wooden bowls on the table, then, handing a knife to Ziggy, he asked, “Would you cut the fruit in small pieces, please?” He filled the bowls with grains and nuts and added the fresh fruit. Then taking a small jar from under a deep blue silk cloth, he poured honey over the food. He added hot water from the stove and they sat down to eat.

The snow that covered the rocks made the hike up to the Corral more treacherous. As they climbed, the boy thought about what lay ahead and he thought about the past and Armun. “Stay in the Now” the old man said to the boy, “it’s important that you focus all your energy on each second, and for this second stay here, stay grounded, stay passionate, stay healthy, stay in love with yourself, find your voice, use your vision and feel your spirit. ”

Several times they stopped to admire the Corral and the waterfall and as they grew closer the boy could feel its mist on his face. There was a constant humming in his head from the roar, the same that he had heard through the night. He was in awe. He felt his respect for the Corral. When they reached its base, Traru found a large tree encircled by a clearing. He laid out the blanket he had been caring and planted himself upon it. “Stand directly in front of the Corral, close your eyes and listen.” The boy did as the old man instructed. The mist was dense, the roar shook his bones.

 Next Chapter 7 Violet-Awawe