Laura

Silent Rite

Daily writing prompt
Who would you like to talk to soon?
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I laced up my hiking boots and slung my backpack over my shoulder, the weight of the world settling onto my metaphorical shoulders as I set out into the coming darkness. The moon tonight was going to be in its waning phase, a crescent shape which I knew would cast the forest in an eerie, almost-inky blackness. A black moon, sort of. Not quite the new moon, and definitely not a full moon.

I had been feeling lost for weeks, like a rudderless ship drifting on the currents of the sea of life.

I needed to get out, to clear my head, to find myself. To wander deep into the forest.

Wandering, wandering…am I lost enough, yet?

Or something.

As I walked, the silence was almost palpable. The only sound was the soft crunch of twigs beneath my feet. I breathed in deeply, the scent of muddy Earth and decaying leaves filling my lungs. The wind let out a soft howl and the air was damp, and I could feel the mist from the forest floor rising up to meet me.

It was getting dark very quickly

As I walked deeper into the woods, I began to feel a sense of unease. It was as if I was being watched, but every time I turned around, there was no one there. I quickened my pace, my heart beating just a little faster.

Deeper and deeper, I went. I started to calm myself now after a few minutes, pacing my breath. The night has always made me feel alive.

It would not be unlike me to pause during said hike to tie up my hair. However, don’t ask me when I decided to change my clothes or my backpack. 🙂

Slosh, slosh, slosh.

Dammit. I stepped into a large puddle of mud. Great.

The sun was nearly gone, with moonrise high now in the sky.

Suddenly, a faint screech echoed through the forest in the distance. I froze, my eyes scanning the trees. Another screech answered a few seconds later, and then another.

The sound sent shivers down my spine.

Mysterious and wise, with so many secrets and knowledge hidden deep behind those eyes

I had always been fascinated by owls, but this was different. This was like nothing I had ever experienced before.

As I continued to walk, the screeches grew louder and more frequent. It was as if I was being herded through the forest by some unseen, unknown force. I tried to resist a bit, but my feet seemed to move of their own accord. Something almost pulling me to some destination, but where?

What path was I traveling down, anyway?

It was getting darker and darker by the minute. Maybe I had made a big mistake, walking into the woods at night. Searching for…

Rustling…trees swaying back and forth.

I stiffened, as the air now felt heavy and thick.

My ears started ringing, blood rushing to my head profusely.

And then, suddenly, I saw her.

Almost like she was conjured out of thin air. She turned and stood before me, her eyes blazing with an otherworldly intensity. Her skin smooth, her hair flowing like a blood red river of night. She wore a black ceremonial robe that seemed to shimmer and glow in the darkness. You could feel the fire radiating off of her.

She was fire and ice, all at once.

I felt a jolt of fear run through me, but it was tempered by a sense of wonder and intrigue.

An odd familiarity, even.

I knew I had been drawn to her, (or perhaps she was the one doing the drawing) but why?

What did she want with me?

The mysterious woman stepped closer, her eyes alight like bright embers, and never leaving mine. She reached out a hand and touched my face, her fingers cold and smooth. I felt a surge of energy run through me, like a bolt of lightning on a stormy, summer night.

As she reached out and touched me, I felt her power radiating through me.

“You are lost,” she said, her voice low and husky. “You are adrift in the world, without direction or purpose.”

I nodded, feeling a sense of annoyance wash over me. How did she know?

“But you are not alone,” she continued. “You are not lost forever. You have a destiny greater than you could ever know.”

I felt a slight surge of hope rise up within me. Maybe I would finally have my answers to all the questions I had been asking myself from this experience, somehow. All these years, I had felt a sense of something deeper, but never yet found the answer to what I was seeking.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked, uncertain as to why I should trust whatever it was she was telling me.

She leaned in closer to me, and I could feel sparks of magic

“Because,” she moved even closer to me now.

“You are so much like me,” she said, barely above a whisper, “all those years ago.”

I knew who she was, deep down. I couldn’t figure out the correlation or why this otherworldly being was reaching out to me, trying to make a connection, but I knew I felt her presence for years. It only had grown stronger over time, and as my life was crumbling around me, there she was.

Just like the Pagan Priestess told me she would be.

She took a final step further and pressed her face to the side of my left cheek. I could smell the scent of wine and roses permeating off of her – pleasant, rich, and sultry.

“Invoke me,” she whispered into my ear.

Almost as if she was answering a question that I wasn’t asking.

She slowly pulled away from me.

Her ember eyes never left mine, it was like I was locked in a dark trance

Lilith’s eyes seemed to bore into my soul, as if she could see all the way to my very core.

And then, suddenly, she vanished.

I stood there for a moment, frozen in bewilderment. And then I turned around and started walking back through the forest, my heart pounding with a rush of…excitement?

As I walked, I felt a sense of clarity wash over me.

I knew that I had been given a gift – a glimpse into the unknown, and a chance to find myself.

The message of my soul.

And when I finally emerged from the forest, blinking in the darkness, allowing my eyes to adjust, I knew that I would never be the same again.

I knew that I would be having many, many conversations with this vibrant entity, among others, after this.

I looked down at this moment, feeling something squishy and I realized – I needed a new pair of hiking boots. They were completely destroyed and caked with mud.

I could clean them up…but

Dang. And these hiking boots weren’t cheap, either.

Oh well, the invitation to something much greater was worth it.

And I had a feeling I was going to be journeying back into the woods much more often.

No, perhaps getting lost was not so bad, after all.

True story …or tall tale?

I will allow you to decide.

Gratitude to the very special soul who created the images of Lilith for me. There’s no way I could’ve done it better. 😊 I am very thankful for your inspiration. You are deeply appreciated. ❤️

Thank you for reading.

42 comments

  1. A most fascinating tale indeed. And who among us is to say if it is true or not? Sometimes it is in the eye of the beholder, and unique to only us. It is not always meant for others to see.
    The most important facet, in my opinion, is that you found YOUR truth.

    Liked by 5 people

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    • Thank you so much for that, Brian! 🙏 I’m very happy you liked it, I always remember you mentioned you wanted me to write about her more, so here we are. 😊☺️

      Liked by 2 people

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      • You’re welcome, but I should be thanking you ! I’m touched, you remembered my comment about Lilith. She has always fascinated me, and I love that you have a deep connection with her and are willing to share your thoughts 😊

        Liked by 2 people

      • Haha awww! 🙏 Yes, she is a fascinating being, that’s for sure. Sometimes it’s hard to write about your experiences, as you know, but it’s important 😊

        Liked by 2 people

  10. It’s first time me reading a blog post of yours and going by your comments, I would take this as a true story in some way.

    Your images went well with your post and I was drawn in as you were into the woods.

    Liked by 4 people

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  13. This dances such a perfect line, expanding boundaries in the so-called between. Thin place writing! More than dreamy, maybe hyper dreamy. Love!!

    Liked by 3 people

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  14. Hi Laura,

    I recently read your piece, “Silent Rite,” and it was really engaging. Your storytelling is vivid and draws readers in. (I re-blogged it.)

    Have you thought about expanding your writing into a novel? Your descriptions and the mysterious atmosphere would be great in a longer format. You could explore different themes and lessons in each chapter, adding more depth to your story.

    I think your writing has a lot of potential for a novel. It could be an exciting project to consider.

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    • Wow, thank you so much for your very lovely comment and for re-blogging this piece! 😊 that is much appreciated. 🙏

      And yes, I have been working on a novel for some time now. And I would love to include parts of things I’ve written here.
      And thank you for saying that. Much appreciated, and it has been a project I’ve long considered undertaking and currently am very much in the process of working on. 😊

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  16. Wonderful, mesmerizing experience and bewitching photos, daughter of Lilith 🙂

    I absolutely, entirely enjoyed your writing style. Everything you describe, the whole experience, is dense and palpable, yet simultaneously easy and light to read. It was as if I was at your place, kind of ❤

    Great post ❤

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    • Thank you! 😊 I’m so glad you felt like you were coming along with me, I love to be able to make people feel deep enough in my writing that they are right alongside, that’s a very special compliment to me. Much appreciated and I’m glad you love the photos ❤️

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  17. Gorgeous beyond the pale, but in perfectness! Owls are messengers for reals, and I believe your walk to be guided from another divine realm! You could do a novel and it would be a hit! But the boots and change of clothes had me dying of laughter … squish, squish! Lilith (I like to call her Lil … lol) has hypnotic beauty!

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    • She is mighty hypnotizing isn’t she? And thank you, thank you, those words are far too beautiful and gracious ❤️ and I would love to make it a reality someday! You are too sweet, and you know I have to inject my humor 😆

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