I spent the rest of yesterday taking care of needed chores and playing variations of three notes on the guitar. I spent the rest of yesterday taking a much needed break from “the woo” as much as I was able to.
When I finally came back to the table for this morning’s obligation and summoning, I kept my purpose for summoning [Patient Caller] firmly in mind. It was my fault that I had not set boundaries on him, so of course he would use every tool available to bring about a solution that met the spoken requirements. Not his fault I hadn’t mentioned any necessary restrictions.
So when I finally did summon him, I should not have been surprised to hear something new. “Let there be no hostility between us.”
However, as I type this post up at the end of the day, I am still not sure who said it.
“Listen.” I know I was not obligated to explain to the spirit why the manipulation hurt me so deeply, but I did it anyway. Maybe it was because I needed to remind myself that I’m still human enough to hurt. Maybe it was because staring down the memories of such betrayals made them hurt less.
He kept his hands clasped in the false vision and listened quietly.
“So if Cyprian wants me to make a chaplet for him, then he’s going to have to tell me as directly as possible and overwhelmingly clear. Because you’ve muddied the waters and I can’t trust what I see in them now.”
[Patient Caller] nodded. «Understood.»
“And this is as close as you’re gonna get to an apology for me being an ass yesterday…”
I opened my eyes and took the small hard case that holds the spirit’s polished amber piece. Opening it, I took the two cotton balls that cushioned the cotton ball wrapped amber, wiggled a depression in each, and placed a drop of cedarwood oil in them. Wiggling the cotton so that the oil droplets were in the middle of each cotton ball, I snuggled the cushioning cotton balls back beside the wrapped amber in the case and closed it carefully.
Closing my eyes, I saw the spirit at the false table. The cedar bowl of smoking incense was to the side and before him was the hard case exactly as I had just seen it.
The spirit picked up the facsimile of the case, held it to his shadowed face for a moment, then wrapped both of his ring bound hands around the case to hold it close to his chest.
«I appreciate this. Thank you.»
A moment of peace covered us.
«Soon you will end at the beginning. What did you summon me for?»
“What have I ever done magic for? To survive.”
«Continue your prayers and meditations.»
He continued to hold the case tight to his chest as if by departing he would take the physical object as well.
«Should you… fail… before you go, destroy the amber or give it to someone you trust. Do not allow it to be discarded and left to grind against the wheel of time. Shatter it or bestow it.»
I realized that after what I can only imagine to be centuries if not millennia, the formerly free spirit had been bound after all. The Hierophant card is just a window, but this very amber piece had become an anchor. To ask for its shattering, I understood. But to risk an even more insane person than I to have possession of it, and therefore him? That’s a heavy responsibility.
“I will.”
«Then I have no further words for you. Release me.»
He placed the case back on the table and folded his hands behind it. I spoke the license to depart and closed the ritual.
Total time wondering what the forests of ancient Lebanon smelled like: 10 minutes.