Summary

"The Green Man of Destiny — Part 1" follows the journey of Gren, a young man chosen by the Tradition of the Eight to find the Green Man and restore the world's greenery, as he navigates through initiation rites, dreams, and desert trials, guided by his father, uncle, and the enigmatic shaman known as the One.

Abstract

In "The Green Man of Destiny — Part 1," Gren, accompanied by his father Wry and Uncle Tipadoe, begins his quest after surviving a sandstorm and undergoing the second initiation of the Tradition of the Eight. He experiences dreams of the Green Man and receives guidance from the One, a shaman who opposes the Tradition. As Gren grapples with his dual calling to both the Tradition and a path of mystery, he encounters challenges and prepares for his journey in the desert, armed with a crystalline staff and the wisdom of his ancestors. The narrative explores themes of destiny, the clash between tradition and individual paths, and the hope for a dying planet's resurrection through alchemical magic.

Opinions

The author portrays Wry's complex relationship with Gren, marked by both love and a monstrous rage stemming from the loss of Gren's mother.
The One is depicted as a controversial figure, having once attempted to shut down the Tradition of the Eight, and is viewed with disdain by Wry.
Tipadoe's character seems to bridge the gap between the Tradition and the One, offering insights into the mythos of finding the Green Man.
The narrative suggests a dichotomy between the structured path laid out by the Tradition of the Eight and the more intuitive, mystical experiences that Gren encounters, such as his dreamtime journeys.
The story conveys a sense of skepticism and doubt through the characters' internal struggles and external taunts from the desert's dust devils, challenging Gren's belief in his quest for the Green Man.

REVISED EDITION of THE GREEN MAN of DESTINY — Part 1

Green Man: a Synopsis 1 through 6

Beginning the Quest

1 — Home

Gren and his father Wry work to secure their home before the onslaught of a sandstorm. Gren asks about what happened to his mother after the meal of stew. Wry turns into a monster fueled by rage and repeats that “she stole you from me” and he chose to save him. She died.

He dreams of the Green Man and has a green mark on his forehead.

In the morning they embark toward the Praying Hands Boulders and the Second Initiation of the Tradition of the Eight.

follow this link for the 6 minute read of the story: Home.

2 — The Gusha

He awakes from the initiation to the Gusha, a walled oasis.

“Did I pass the second initiation,” Gren asks. His father answers — Yes.

The wide and high gate grinds to open and their wagon goes inside. Wry is joined by his brother and Gren’s uncle Tipadoe. The wagon pulled by uru passes through the tall trees of the spring. At the top of the hill before the tiny village, Gren sees The One. The One is the shaman or magus. He opposed and tried to shut down the Tradition of the Eight years before and failed. His father has disdain for the One.

Gren recalls his last meeting with the One and its impact on him. Gren knew he must see the One before embarking on his search for the Green Man.

follow this link for the 6 minute read of the story: The Gusha.

3 — Deep in The Gusha

Gren is pulled by two forces. One is the Tradition of The Eight — they chose him to find the Green Man. The second is a way of mystery. He wonders about the girl Silken, and the joy of light. He asks his Uncle Tipadoe whether Silken is the Joy of Light or a playful girl. Tipadoe answers both. Wry, Tipadoe’s brother disapproves as he does when Gren runs to the the One.

The One gives Gren counsel and asks him to come for a blessing and more counsel.

The wagon pulls into the Generational Family compound.

follow this link for the 4 minute read of the story: Deep in The Gusha.

4 — Celebrations and Preparations

Gren and his father soak in the hot pools. Gren falls into a deep sleep. Wry and Tipadoe get him out and wrap him in a wide blanket.

Gren is in a blue world. He meets a man with a glowing staff. He grows into a man and climbs a mountain where the biggest and tallest tree in the world lives. He had traveled there with the One. The One tells Gren he must climb the tree to be complete.

Tipadoe reports that “it is written” that the one who finds the Green Man will journey in dreamtime for two days. And it came to pass. Tipadoe continues to wax on about the mythos of finding the Green Man. All Gren can say is: “I missed the feast?”

The men laughed. Gren’s father tells his son he wasn’t asleep, he was “entranced”. Gren sees the truth of their misshapen heads underneath their faces.

Gren is being seduced by Silken when interrupted by his great-grandmother. He is required to meet with her and receive gifts of desert food. She tells him to be wary of the Big Buzz Bug. And instructs him on the use of the medicine kit.

follow this link for the 6 minute read of the story: Celebrations and Preparations.

5 — To the Desert

**Gren’s Visions of Trees in Abundance | Image by David from Pixabay**

Gren is berated and abused by his father on the way to the One for acting drunk when he is dizzy.

The One gives Gren a bowl of stew to restore his sense of balance. He gave Gren a bowl of brown foul-tasting liquid and blew images into his mind. Snapshots of his future in his search for the Green Man.

When Gren woke he sat with the One’s Spirit Coat over his shoulders. The One gave him his alchemical collapsing (and expanding) crystalline staff. He instructed Gren on how to use it. The One condemns the Tradition of the Eight as nonsense. He spins Gren around three times.

Gren is transported further into the desert. Gren discovers mysteries of the Spirit Coat. He looks at the silver of the moon and wonders how far out he has traveled.

follow this link for the 5 minute read of the story To the Desert.

6 — Desert’s Anvil

Gren settles into night striding and day sleeping. He marks time with the passage of the moon from dark to full. Drinks water at dawn. He uses the Spirit Coat as a tent. And travels in dreamtime in the day.

In dreamtime, he sees the face of a girl in a reflecting pool surrounded by green meadows and forest. He opened his eyes to see the water, the green, and the girl shimmer and vanish in the day’s heat. The ground erupts and shakes, His head hurts.

He opens his eyes in the furnace of the day. His memories shift as the days march on.

Dust devil whirlwinds taunt him. They say there is no Green Man and he awoke wondering if they were right.

Follow this link for a 5 minute read of Desert’s Anvil.

Thank you for joining me in the hero’s adventures across a dying planet ready for resurrection through the ways of alchemical magic. And in search of the Being to restore the world to greenery once again.

Blessings, Passion, and Grace on your journey. May whatever or whomever you looking for — find you.

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