The repetitive dream visited me
for many months.
It was always the same.
I was in a very high place
standing at the edge looking out.
There were five stones on the ground which formed a corner.
Behind me I could hear the
soothing sounds of water
and when I turned to look
I saw the most beautiful
waterfall.
I was at an extremely high altitude
and apart from the stones
there was no safety barrier.
I'm a person who has a fear
of high open spaces
yet in this dream as I stood
on the edge of the cliff
I felt nothing but
a sense of awe and wonder.
Many months later I travelled
for the first time to Peru.
I participated in a spiritual journey
with many native peoples
who had gathered for this
occasion in San Pedro de Casta.
I had been climbing for some time
when suddenly I stopped
in amazement.
I was in my dream.
My friend called out to me to
stay with the group and not
lag behind but I could
not leave this dream place.
I was 14000 feet up in the Andes.
I was standing on the edge
of a cliff looking out in awe.
At my feet were the
five stones.
Behind me was the
beautiful waterfall.
Then my friend told me the legend.
The native peoples tell the story that hundreds of years
before there was a blond woman
who lived behind the waterfall.
The men of the tribe were drawn to her by
her fair complexion, blond hair
so very different from the native women.
In order to survive this lady of the legend
would come out from behind
the waterfall at night.
She would make love with a tribesman.
The tribesman was never to be seen again.
Legend says
that once she had satisfied her need to survive
she pushed each man she had loved over the cliff.
He plunged to his death
thereby ensuring her continued life.
