A clearing
You are standing at the edge of clearing in the centre of a vast forest. You can feel a hint of moisture in the air, and the smell of coming rain on the breeze, but the night is clear and a thousand million stars shimmer like diamonds against the blue-black velvet of the sky. You are alone, but unafraid. The sounds of night creatures rustling through the undergrowth is peaceful, the chirping of crickets soothing, the occasional hooting owl a gentle reminder that this is not a dream. Dressed in a simple silk robe that falls to the ground over your bare feet you are cool, but not cold. The grass caresses your feet as you begin walking toward the middle of the clearing. A half moon appears over the tops of the trees surrounding the clearing, its pale white light faintly illuminating a pedestal standing dead-center in the clearing. Atop the pedestal are an earthen-clay ewer and a large matching basin. These objects are the reason you find yourself in this clearing. Your journey into the forest has been a long one, and it will be good to clean the dust from your tired body.
Reaching the pedestal you stop. But rather than reach for the ewer, you tilt your head back to study the moon. So long have you been beneath the forest's canopy, you've lost all track of time and look to regain it by the phase of the moon. But, as you hang between sleeping and waking, it too stands on the edge, neither waxing nor waning. You continue to gaze up at it a few moments longer, marveling at how clear it appears, how majestic surrounded by an infinity of stars. You breath deeply, letting the sweet midnight air fill your lungs, and then return your gaze to the ewer and basin.
The water you pour into the basin is clear, reflecting the moon's light in a dozen shimmering rainbows. Once the basin is full to the brim you immerse your hands into warm water. Slowly washing your hands you can feel the water's warmth spreading through your body. Cupping your hands you raise the water to your face and cleanse yourself of the journey's dust and sweat. You feel revitalized, the strain of your long journey fading to a distant memory. You feel calm, any worries the journey may have caused no longer important. For this moment your spirit is as balanced as the moon and the hour: neither complacent nor afraid; neither lonely nor crowded. And although you know one moment more could tip the scales, that you will have to resume your journey, you realize now that the next clearing won't be nearly so far away.
Reaching the pedestal you stop. But rather than reach for the ewer, you tilt your head back to study the moon. So long have you been beneath the forest's canopy, you've lost all track of time and look to regain it by the phase of the moon. But, as you hang between sleeping and waking, it too stands on the edge, neither waxing nor waning. You continue to gaze up at it a few moments longer, marveling at how clear it appears, how majestic surrounded by an infinity of stars. You breath deeply, letting the sweet midnight air fill your lungs, and then return your gaze to the ewer and basin.
The water you pour into the basin is clear, reflecting the moon's light in a dozen shimmering rainbows. Once the basin is full to the brim you immerse your hands into warm water. Slowly washing your hands you can feel the water's warmth spreading through your body. Cupping your hands you raise the water to your face and cleanse yourself of the journey's dust and sweat. You feel revitalized, the strain of your long journey fading to a distant memory. You feel calm, any worries the journey may have caused no longer important. For this moment your spirit is as balanced as the moon and the hour: neither complacent nor afraid; neither lonely nor crowded. And although you know one moment more could tip the scales, that you will have to resume your journey, you realize now that the next clearing won't be nearly so far away.