Previously: The ladies are on a mission to find a way up to the tower via a safer trail than the long railess stairway to the top. 

*******

Cordelia, the inner dowser, grew pensive. “I think maybe we should walk around the left side of this massive hill. I’m getting a sense our answer may be in that direction.”

I observed that old hesitation as we thought of standing. I noted everyone moving their bodies in different manners, as if shaking off pain-filled shudders, medieval nightmare memories.

In preparation for the speculative trek, a few of us scanned the ground for the semblance of walking sticks. Cordelia encouraged everyone. “If we ever find the steep upward walking path, we may be glad we took the time to select a suitable stick.”

********

With after thought, everyone searched out and found a decent, strong walking stick. Following Cordelia who seemed to just know, picking up information from the universe, as an inner dowser, they grasped their walking stick as a symbol of hope.

Cordelia also encouraged and coached everyone. “Let’s all begin the image or envision ourselves discovering a stairless walking path. We can be calling it out to appear to us. I feel very strongly one exists.” 

We could hear each other basically chanting to the universe, asking for the path to appear.

Just as our balloon of hope was shriveling and our trust in Cordelia’s inner dowsing abilities was wearing thin, Karin announced she could see tiny specks of people high on the hill. 

As we halted to take it all in, Caren said, “And they are moving downward, so there must be a second path besides those steps in the front.”

Evelyn sighed at the thought of the trip upward on the dirt or concrete path. “I hope there aren’t any stairs to climb in that tower.”

Mary Jo rescued Evelyn and anyone else wondering. “That is just the hollow steeple left from the St. Michael's church, with no stairs added. It was destroyed around the time of Abbot Richard, the other two monks, Roger and John’s execution. The church was soon after destroyed. ” 

As we continued to trudge, foresightful Cyndy began a discussion as a distraction from our feelings of futility. “Why do you suppose they have never constructed a railing for that 45 degree angled stairway?”

Mary Jo offered an amusing reason. “Maybe they didn’t have enough metal rail. It is over 400 feet high.”

Somara was tipped off with the word metal. “You mentioned metal rails. Maybe the upkeep would be too much with the erosion of rusted metal, possibly iron.”

“Do we know anywhere in this world where there aren’t gangs of destructive individuals. I hate to imagine what they would do with thin railings?” Jill was on a roll. 

When the discussion was concluded, I think we all understood why there were no railings. “I’m glad you opened up that discussion, Cyndy. I think we all have a different perspective on the issue.

“I’m still hoping we can get up to the top without having to return to find ourselves staring, once again, at that formidable climb. This plea had no more than left my lips when Caren, who had been fastidiously watching for motion on the hill, reported what she’d observed.

“Now there appears to be people halfway up, moving in this direction. They seem to be suspended in midair.”

Cordelia, with hand, shading the sun, stared in that direction. She expressed another perspective to the bizarre vision.  “I wonder if they are walking around the labyrinth?”

My whimpery side was showing. “So have we been placing our bets on the wrong set of descenders?”

Karin pointed toward a group walking toward us on ground level, our level. “Look at the group coming toward us. There’s got to be someone who speaks either English or one of the sparse languages we can clumsily make it through. She ended with a gallows raspberry sound.

Both Madeline and Cordelia glanced in the direction Karin indicated, then looked knowingly at one another. Each was certain the other was thinking the same thing as she was.

This was confirmed as Cordelia walked toward Madeline. Cordelia was the first to enthusiastically share her inner dowsing sense. “Do you notice anything different in their aura?

Madeline had the ability to pick up energies from people. Some people saw auras in specific colors. There’re books written instructing its readers that certain colors indicated information about various levels, physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual.

Madeline never went by those books. Her core reference and its meaning was derived from her own experience observing energy colors surrounding a person and what was going on with them. It had nothing to do with electrical or magnetic energy. 

She remembered having this ability confirmed when she read ‘Celestine Prophesy’ by James Redfield. What a compelling book. It changed yet another aspect of her life. Madeline was thrilled to know there was an online reading of this book on YouTube.

This way others might understand they have the ability to see auras of plants, animals, objects and people. The 3rd chapter  explains how if we lightly squint at any of these, we will see a shadow just above them. 

Some people see a color on a deeper level, and they might be able to make a chart in their mind of how they feel about these different colors.

Madeline knew what she was seeing with the people coming toward her and the meaning of the glowing brilliant white light surrounding them.