Legend of the Wren. Joseph Makes His First Camp/Celestial Group of Beings.

Next installment February 2024

Feb 27, 2024

Several years have passed. Joseph and Donovan have grown in age and personality. Each in different ways, so we will find out…

Making Camp

Joseph was spending many days at a time in the woods, starting a campfire several miles from town. Eventually he put together a lean-to and then a combination of tent/building he saw in a book at the library. He finds solitude and comfort staying in the woods alone.

Joseph checked out several books from the library that gave him more understanding into the local history and lay of the land. There was a vast river called the Susquehanna that was associated with the early European settlers and the different cultures of Native Americans. It supported the livelihood of many people by its fertile soils. Transportation, food and living quarters were all linked to the river. Laurel Run was a branch of the larger river.

Joseph thought living close to the run would be a good thing. However, it did not take long before his newly created lean-to was washed out after the spring rain flooded the bottom land nearby.

He and Ben spent several visits together finding just the right place for Joseph’s campsite. He moved it up closer to a mountain on the edge of a high graded area. There were various trees and bushes and productive plants around that made it much more inviting and easier to maintain living.

Building a proper camp was challenging. Joseph learned from Ben that he needed to start a small fire with twigs and small sticks. Then he could put a lump or two of anthracite coal in the middle. This coal would burn slow and last, so was great for an evening fire to cook and stay warm and keep the critters away.

Anthracite was so plentiful in Pennsylvania, and it made sense that it was used for the principal heating method for residential and commercial buildings. It was found everywhere and became a major product in the valley. That’s why so many men made their living as coal miners. Joseph was able to find hand sized lumps of this coal in any direction he looked. He started forming a small stockpile a few yards away from his camp.

He spent several days at a time in the camp and started foraging for natural foods like he did as a younger boy. He knew what to look for, but also knew there must be many more things to eat in the woods that he was not aware of yet.

Visiting the library one day, he asked Mrs. Gardner about natural foods he could find in the wild. She took him to the magazine section of the library in an area he had not seen before. It was something that she decided to provide because Joseph could use the resource.

There was a magazine called Mother Nature that Joseph immediately took and devoured. The articles covered many topics dealing with nature, sustainable living, and outdoor life. It lent supportive information to back-to-the-land folks, including environmental concerns with living off the land.

But his favorite areas were about starting seeds and planting regional crops, knowing what wild plants are edible and wildcrafting herbs to use for health or teas. He spent much time planning and organizing his camp area. It did not move quickly, but he was determined to make a go of it.

The winter had come, and Joseph spent most of his time in town staying between the library and the side porch at the Johnson’s house. This gave him the opportunity to research a guide to early spring planting.

He began to organize what he wanted to do: keep track of spring gardening techniques and chores, learning to work with natural processes and cycles counter to them, watching for the soil to warm up to 40 degrees and higher so the small grains can be worked in the ground.

He learned to watch for mud, floods and time to clear rocks in the soft ground.

Planting peas, some greens and other cold-tolerant vegetables can be planted as soon as the soil softens.

Mid to late vegetables can be planted after the ground dries and becomes firm for tilling.

When Spring was close, Joseph spent much more time at his small encampment. It was not practical to stay there all the time, but he wanted to prep it so he could always stay there if needed or inspired. He wanted to have items, foods and such available as staples.

Joseph became engrossed in the preparation of this special place. And many of his town friends did not see him much.

He became organized with the planning and planting of seeds. First there were different amount of time for vegetables to sprout. There were some that took longer to grow and possibly could not tolerate the early cold, so he set up a small area at the porch at the Johnson’s house. As soon as the ground was warm enough, he planted those that could stand the cold.

Soon Joseph had parsley, peas, carrots, leeks, potatoes, and other root vegetables in various stages of growth.

This was not a permanent living space for Joseph, but he began to feel comfortable there.

Quaker Meeting

While during a daily walk, Joseph came upon a gravel lane that led back into a wooded area. He decided to follow it and see where it led. There ahead of him was a small sign that said, “New Haven Friends Meeting.”

New Haven Friends Meeting was just 10 miles away from Laurel Run and joseph decided to visit one of their services. It was quite different than he thought it would be. The weekday service was not with a sermon or singing or outward prayer.

So now, it seemed, was a perfect time.

Off in the distance he could see several trucks and some cars. They were parked around a small building and some people were going in the main door. Being the curious type, he went up closer to see what was happening.

A couple of men who were walking close to the stoop turned and saw him approaching. They waved in a friendly manner and motioned for him to come along.

Joseph felt comfortable with Friends since they were like the Mennonites he knew in his earlier years. The Quakers were a Christian denomination. Joseph was not sure he believed in Christianity but wanted to learn more about their way of life.

When he went into the building, everyone was sitting quietly on wooden benches. One person was at the entrance and partially bowed in a manner to invite him to sit anywhere he wanted. It was a good feeling, so he went to an end seat and sat down.

He noticed that Friends did not necessarily comply to the simple dress that their Amish or Mennonite counterparts did. Most people in the church dressed like others in the community.

He waited for quite some time for something to happen. No one did anything. He did not know what to think. So, he just sat there too. Soon, joseph felt himself move into another state of mind. He felt woozy and started slowly swaying back and forth. This was his first experience in a meditation practice.

The Quaker practice sometimes called “silent waiting” is opening to the presence of God, or the still, small voice that represents communion with God. It is usually done in community, during an open service.

After some time, an older man stood up and began to speak. His words were an insight to his own situation but gave hope to the rest of the congregation. It was only two or three sentences, but then he sat back down, and the silence resumed.

“Being silent in this place really embodies what I have been doing for some time. It feels right and comfortable. Perhaps I can get understanding into some of my dreams and visions this way.”

After about another 20 minutes, the same man stood up and shook hands with a few people near him. this signaled to all in attendance that the service was over.

Joseph stood up too. He was still rather woozy from the meditation but vowed to return as often as he could. He felt there was something important that he needed there and wanted to learn more.

Over time, Joseph learned some of the commitments that Quakers held. Seeking peace in your own life and in the world includes being a pacifist and pledge to be conscientious objectors when it comes to war. Love and compassion for others fell in line with these vows. This is an area that Joseph has long felt in himself, to bring peace to himself and all he meets.

The evening was a cool one. The sunset brought eerie shadows in the camp area that Joseph had made. A few leaves were starting to dry and fall from the branches. And the light breeze told him that fall was near.

Joseph settled in for the night and went to sleep quickly. His dreams were confusing though. It seemed to be a continuous loop of being chased by Donavon and running from a fire. After the dream ended, Joseph woke up in a panic. He sat up, looked around and realized he was safe in his camp. This went on a few more times. He began to see the pattern and decided to stay awake.

Moving around for a while, Joseph decided to sit by the fire. It was warm, comforting and calmed his mind.

He began meditating in a similar manner that was done in the Meeting. Joseph was able to slip into the quiet space that introspection can bring. And over time, he was able to move deeper and deeper into the meditative state.

Over time, by quieting himself, he was able to come to terms with areas of his life that he always felt in question about: his home burning and how he had nightmares about fire, his parents dying when he was so young and not having family, and the odd connection he had with Donovan who incessantly harassed Joseph.

He realized so much more during his quiet spiritual moments. The robed people came to him with information that mirrored written teachings from Magna Christophers. Who are these robed people? Why are they always around me and guide me? Joseph had so many questions as he began his spiritual journey while learning meditation.

Who he was and who he was to become was made evident to him during these lucid moments of divine awareness. He had always led a peaceful and sympathetic life, caring about humankind in general. And the spiritual teachings he was beginning to receive intuitively were solidifying these understandings.

Next excerpt in March'— The Journal

The next day went by quickly, even though Joseph was awake early that morning because of the never-ending dreams. He accomplished so much. There is always something…

HELP ME~ Please, share your thoughts with my novel: good? —bad? Excerpts too long? Not enough content? Need more this or that? I would love your input, and you can help me write this story! I do intend to publish it soon and hope to make it into a movie! What do you think?

A Mystics Journal

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