ADVENTURES IN THE ENCHANTED FOREST (PART THREE)
 

Ghost in the Wild


 

   Continuing her adventure, Claire flew above the enchanted forest and noticed a man below sitting under a tree. Curious, she spiraled down to chat with him. He appeared to be in some kind of trance, but Claire introduced herself to him anyway. "Hello, kind sir. My name is Claire. If I may ask, what are you doing?"
  "I am gazing into a spiritual realm," the man replied.
  "What are you seeing," Claire asked.
  "Right now, I am seeing a hand in a cloud holding out a golden cup to me. Three other cups stand in a row on the ground nearby. I have had the same vision several times. The Queen of Cups, after I first had the vision, told me that I had found a holy grail. She also explained that grails exist in a subtle spiritual dimension, not in this realm, which is why very few people have found one. The grail has miraculous healing powers, sometimes even providing eternal youth or infinite abundance. I am trying to figure out why I keep seeing these golden cups," the man replied.
  "How can you see them if they're not here in this world?" Claire asked.
  "That's kind of a long story," the man responded. "Fortunately or unfortunately I used to live in another realm. I was a vocal dissident, and for political reasons, the king had me locked up in a Left-Wing Lunatic Asylum, where doctors dosed me with hallucinogenic drugs, no doubt with the intention of driving me insane, but instead the drugs opened up my psychic senses, so now I envision spiritual symbols, and I also see and hear ghosts and other spiritual entities. In fact, about an hour ago I saw a ghost as I was hiking through the forest. I wouldn't encourage anyone to take psychedelic drugs because one dose can drive a sensitive person insane, but fortunately, in my case, the drugs had a positive effect."
  "That's amazing! I wish I could do that without taking any psycho drugs--or whatever you call them. What else have you seen?" Claire asked.

​

​
 

Ghost Haunting a Castle


 

   Well, the other day, as I was strolling through the castle, I noticed a woman wandering down a hallway. I followed her for a few feet, and then she suddenly vanished."
  "Wow! Cool! Do you think her spirit might be trapped in this world for some reason?" Claire inquired.
  "Well, I'm pretty sure that there is more than one reason that spirits remain earth bound," the man replied. "Some ghosts might have an overwhelming sense of guilt or regret. Some might feel compelled to resolve a problem. Some might remain in their etheric body as a ghost because they fear damnation. Some might not know they are dead. Some might not believe in a life after death and get stuck on the earth plane. There are probably as many reasons as there are ghosts. Fear and regret are probably the main reasons."
  "This is really, really fascinating. What else have you seen?" Claire inquired.

​
 

Ghost of a Soldier


 

   Well, let's see. About two weeks ago, I saw a soldier standing on a deserted battlefield with a bloody bandage around his head. He gazed into the distance as if watching a battle, and suddenly he just disappeared.
  "Whoa, really? That must have seemed pretty weird. Have you seen anything else?" Claire inquired.
  "It is startling to see someone who is there one minute and then suddenly vanishes like a mist," the man replied. "And yes, I have experienced other things that are just as weird--if not more so."

​
 

Ghost Singing Arias next to a Creek


 

      "Last month, my friend and I journeyed out to the banks of a river and rested for awhile. My friend read out loud from a book, and I sat quietly and listened. Suddenly I heard a man singing a song with a truly masterful voice--right there in the middle of the forest. I said "that's amazing" several times, but my friend probably thought that I was talking about the story that she was reading out loud to me. The singer belted out one song after another, and he seemed to be near us on the other side of the creek, but I couldn't see him anywhere. After eight arias, he stopped.
  A minute or so later, I blurted out, "Wasn't that music amazing? He sounded like a professional opera singer, if not better."
  "What music? I haven't heard any music while we've been here," my friend replied in disbelief.
  "That's impossible! How could that be?" I exclaimed. "He sounded like an angel, and he was so loud that I thought he was just on the other side of the creek. I looked all around, but I didn't see him anywhere, which I thought was a bit odd."
  "I haven't heard any music here or near any other body of water," my friend angrily replied. Then she gave me a strange look. I haven't seen her since that day. I might have lost her as a friend."
  "That must be confusing and frustrating for you. Have you seen or heard anything else?" Claire inquired.

​
 

Gnomes by the Path


 

   "Well, yes, I have encountered elementals like faeries and gnomes. Some seemed extraordinarily real, but I have concluded that when I actually sense a subtle spiritual force, my subconscious mind presents an image of the invisible force to my imagination as a being of some kind. In other words, I might perceive an elemental or an angel or a demon--usually a form that resembles a human being in some way. They can look pretty strange. The other day, I saw a huge spider with a human head lumbering around in the woods. You see, the subconscious mind naturally anthropomorphizes to enable the conscious mind to understand what the psychic senses are perceiving."
  "Wow, that sounds really complicated, but I think I understand. Have you perceived anything else?" Claire inquired.

​
 

Loving Spirit of Place


 

   "Well, you might not believe this. I have sensed overarching spirits of place in nature, or what the Romans referred to as 'genius loci,'" he replied. "All of these overarching spirits are different. They are usually associated with units of nature such as mountains or rivers or forests. Some seem angry or resentful or even furious--especially if people have damaged their realm in any way. Others in more remote areas seem loving and welcoming, especially in remote areas that contain abandoned Native American village sites. My theory is that shamans developed a kind of spiritual reciprocity through a rapport with the spirit of place. In other words, the indigenous people showed love and reverence for both the spirit and the place--a reverence and love that continues to echo through time."
  "Well, that is a bit hard to believe. I don't think many people would believe it, but I do. I find all this very interesting. What else have you experienced?" Claire inquired.

​
 

Flower Faery


 

   The man continued, "Let's see. I mentioned faeries. I think that each one is the overarching spirit of a particular species. I have envisioned them usually with a species of flowers or trees. They seem to be protecting them or caring for them or stimulating their growth in some way. In other words, they are like a spirit of place, but instead they are the overarching spirit of a specific species."
  "Wow, that's very cool. As you can see, kind sir, I am now a faery, but I was once human--a faery transformed me. I feel a connection with all species, not just one, perhaps because I was once human. I'm curious, what else have you experienced?" Claire asked politely.

​
 

Bees in the Flowers


 

   "Please remember that it is just as important to appreciate the physical forms within nature," he replied. "It's just as important to love the flowers and trees and streams and mountains. They are part of many different webs that form one complex web of all creation. I am convinced that as humans we are here to show reverence for each web and to protect them and care for them. The physical side of nature is just as important as the spiritual side of nature, in other words."
  "Oh, I totally agree," Claire declared as she gazed at bees in the flowers. "But can you share anything else that you have perceived with your psychic senses?" Claire asked politely.

​
 

Venus in the Flowers


 

   "Well, okay," the man responded. "I have perceived Gods and Goddesses--extremely intelligent and powerful spiritual beings that make humans seem like amoebas in comparison. Not long ago, I encountered the Goddess Venus. She told me that she is an essential part of a magical triangle formed by the seventh, eighth, and ninth Emanations of the Tree of Life. She is a Goddess of love and beauty and nature who embodies the diverse life forces within creation, the Many within the One. In the sixth Emanation of the Sun, we experience the light which is the source of all life on earth. In the seventh Emanation of Victory, Venus holds up a prism that breaks up the Sun's intense light into many colors. In other words, the Emanation of Venus is the beginning of the magical triangle. Now imagine that the colors represent different life forces. Next, in the eighth Emanation on the Tree of Life, the God Mercury enables us to know the qualities and characteristics of the spiritual life forces through our intellect. Then, as we move down the planes, within the Ninth Emanation we can manifest forms that represent the life forces in our imagination--and the life forces can become real to us, so real in fact that they can become capable of independent action. That is how shamans and magicians work with the subtle spiritual life forces in this realm. But always remember that you can choose to work with a powerful God or Savior who benefits humanity or with a huge spider with a human head who harms people on a spiritual level but eventually comes back to bite you. That is why foolish people should never work with magic."
  "Wow, as my mom would say, that is a lot to process, but I think I kind of understand it," Claire mused. "Can you share anything else that you have perceived with your psychic senses?" Claire asked politely.

Pan in the Flowers


 

   "Yes, Venus is a Goddess who represents the divine feminine, but there are Gods who reveal the divine masculine and also personify the powerful life forces within nature. The God Pan is one who represents the potency of the life forces as they manifest on the earth. We are lucky that shamans and magicians in cultures throughout the world have created pantheons of Gods and Goddesses that we now include as archetypes of Universal Consciousness on the modern Tree of Life. Remember that the spiritual force is real, but the form that we fashion in our imagination is a creation of the created, a symbolic representation made by people in different cultures throughout human history to help us understand the forces, in other words. For instance, a symbolic representation of the Christ force is not more real in one culture than it is in any other culture, but much destruction and death have occurred because people believe that their symbolic representation of the Christ force is the only true one. Unfortunately, many people in power force us to remain ignorant of the pantheons of Gods and Goddesses that represent the most powerful life forces within Universal Consciousness."
  "I think it's better to remain open to the way people in other cultures have chosen to represent the dimensions of God," Claire agreed. "Please, kind sir, can you share anything else?"

​
 

Jupiter in the Flowers


 

   "One day I had a vision of Jupiter, the Father of the Gods. Jupiter reveals the incorruptible gold of the spirit and the harmony, abundance, and magnificence of the spiritual side of nature. I realize now that the four golden cups in my vision today are associated with the fourth Emanation of Jupiter on the Tree of Life known as Mercy, also known as Gedulah, or Glory--the Glory referenced at the end of the Lord's Prayer. Through the God Jupiter, you can heal yourself and others and live as an eternal child and experience infinite inner abundance and know the incorruptible gold of the spirit. I think I understand the meaning of my vision of the holy grail now. Funny how different spiritual experiences often eventually reveal how they are related--you can meet Jupiter one day and then another day have a vision of four golden cups."
  "Oh, that is both wonderful and amazing," Claire agreed. "Please, kind sir, can you share anything else?"

​
 

King with Sluggish Justices


 

   "Yeah, maybe one more thing," he replied. "Not all spiritual experiences are pleasant. The other day I saw a king surrounded by six slug-like creatures. I was puzzled, but they turned out to be the corrupt, sycophantic supreme court justices who are destroying a constitution that they had vowed to protect and defend. When I saw the justices, I couldn't help but 'see' their darkness in my imagination. I don't try to see the darkness in other people. Usually it just happens."
  "That does sound unpleasant," Claire admitted. "But it might be beneficial for you in the long run."
  "You're right. I shouldn't complain," the man chuckled.
  "Thank you, kind sir, for everything that you have shared with me today!" Claire blurted out.
  "My pleasure, dear child," the man said warmly as he smiled.
  "Bye! Thanks again!" Claire shouted as she flew away.

​
 

Knight of Pentacles


 

   Claire searched for her friend the troll (now a knight) because she wanted to tell him everything the kind man had told her. Soon she saw a knight in black armor sitting on a horse next to a recently plowed field. She spiraled down to him and noticed that he seemed to be gazing at a golden pentacle that he held in his right hand.
  "Hello, kind knight, I'm hoping that you might help me find a friend, who is also a knight."
  "What is his name?" the knight asked.
  "I always just call him 'Troll.' He is a knight who resides by the sea."
  "Oh, yes, I have heard of him. He has established quite a reputation because of his courage and skill. He still lives by the sea--as far as I know."
  "Oh, good, I will look for him there, but if you don't mind, can you tell me why you were staring at that pentacle in your hand?"
  "Certainly," the knight replied. "The pentacle reveals the subtle elements within a golden circle, which symbolizes the unity of the elements within eternity. As you probably already know, the elements represent the triplicities of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire and their ruling planets as well as the element of aether, or Spirit, in other words, all the dimensions of Universal Consciousness as they manifest in the natural world. I was just wondering if we are going to have a good harvest this year. I get the feeling that we are."
  "I wish you and your community only the best. Bye! Thank you!" Claire shouted as she flew away.

​
 

Knight of Cups


 

   Eventually Claire found the troll on his horse by a stream. She waved her hand in front of his face, but he remained mesmerized by his golden cup. Suddenly the troll snapped out of it. "Claire!" he blurted out. "What brings you here?"
  "I just wanted you to know that I had a kind man who told me about many of his spiritual experiences. When I met him, he was staring into a spirit realm at a golden cup floating in a cloud in front of him, a little like you staring at the golden cup in your hand."
  "Funny you should mention that. I have visions when I gaze at my cup."
  "What a coincidence!" What are you seeing?" Claire inquired.

​
 

Vision of Abundance


 

   "I was having a vision of abundance and harmony and magnificence, a vision of golden cups and plates on a white tablecloth. One cup seemed to have a golden crown with a balanced cross on top of it."
  "That's lovely!" Claire exclaimed. "What else have you envisioned?"

​
 

Inner Sanctum


 

   "I recently had a vision of the inner sanctum of a temple. A brilliant sun floated inside the room. My personality completely disappeared, and I felt a profound sense of unity and eternity, like I was in touch with the Source of all creation."
  "That's so beautiful!" Claire exclaimed. "Sounds like you have been gazing into a holy grail."
  "Maybe so," the troll chuckled. "Maybe so."

​

​

​

​

​

All poems, stories, essays, illustrations, and music Copyright © 2025 by Jim Robbins.