Umi

A crying gypsy with a candle approached me
through her sobbing she told me
Umi sent her, she handed me
a white and black candle

the gypsy ran
she did not look back
Umi is my great grandmother
she passed 4 years ago at the age of one hundred thirty seven

she didn't look a day over fifty
she was spry too
we had a special bond
she taught me her magic

dark and light
she wasn't a witch
she came from a time when magic was medicine
her village could cure or sicken anyone

I held the candle
closed my eyes and listened
I thought of Umi bringing her to the forefront
of my mind and heart

I heard it
briefly
but I heard it
the Sumerian chant

the one she taught me first
the one which lets the spirit free
I took the candle home
I lit it in the darkest part of my house

I channeled my Sumerian connections
warming my hands over the flame
I took hair from the right side of my head
I burned it in the flame from the candle

I began to chant
my body weightless
I opened my minds eye
looking for my Umi

I didn't have to look long there she was
she had been waiting for me
she took my hand and placed it over her third eye
I saw waves of colors then a fabulous feeling came over me

I can only describe the feeling as lightening
short jolts, yet they were painless
my Umi spoke to me in the language of ancients
she told me all of her knowledge would be mine

she then held my hands to her heart
she cried, her tears danced like stars in the night sky
dancing over my head like a halo
her tears fell inside me

my mind knew everything
nothing was a secret
anything I ever wondered had been answered in that moment
my Umi began to fade yet she was smiling

I smiled
I heard thunder
then I was in front of the candle again
my minds eye was open in a new way

everything seemed different yet the same
I could feel Umi
I could feel her magic
it was in me

I wanted to see if I could do what she did
I went to the wilted flowers on my table
I blew once on them and chanted in the language of the ancients
right before my eyes the wilted flowers had been resurrected

I knew better then to ever try that on a human or animal
but plants it was okay
I know there is reason my Umi gave me this gift
I know there will be something coming

I can feel it
its not good
I'm prepared
dark and light magic of the ancients

I can start the fire
bring the water
shake the earth
shape the air

I burn incense
meditate
cleansing my soul
waiting for my spiritual quest