La Historia de Mis Comienzos [ES]

[caption id="attachment_678" align="alignleft" width="72"] Gonzalo Mendiverry (self-drawn)[/caption]

Cuando era aun muy joven y me encontraba vagando por el bosque de Loreloot sin nada que hacer me encontre con un ser muy extraño sentado en las raices del arbol en Stag Crossing (aunque humano parecia tener rasgos animales). A pesar de su apariencia vieja mantenia aún algo de la fuerza que tuviera en su juventud. Su rostro parecia sereno y amable, en calma, enmarcado por una barba blanca cuidadosamente adornada y largo cabello del mismo color. Sus ojos profundos y sabios, de un verde duro similar a las hojas de un roble.

Su cuerpo presentaba multitud de tatuajes representativos de todos lo rituales vividos, en contraste con sus ropas lisas y sobrias, similares a las exhibidas por los antiguos sacerdotes celtas , pero cuidando evitar tal confusión.

A pesar de ser un hombre extraño…habia escuchado hablar sobre el . Su nombre era Giledgel y se trata de un sujeto caracterizado por su equilibrio y serenidad ante cualquier situación. Profesa un intenso amor hacia todas las cosas, base de su filosofía panteísta y su postura de neutralidad. Es un sujeto justo y firme, si bien su actitud hacia otros seres es siempre amable…hay excepciones concretas.

Los ancianos que antes rondaban por mi pueblo contaban historias acerca de el .Se decia que era un LICANTROPO , cuya forma animal es la de un gran ave de alrededor de 1,2 metros de largo, más similar a un halcón que a un águila, sin embargo sería imposible identificar exactamente de qué especie se trata. Esta peculiar transformación es causa de su apodo "Halcón Peregrino", otorgado por quienes le conocen mejor (nombre muy apropiado, dado su naturaleza nómada).

Dicen , ademas , que su forma híbrida es, sin duda, la más extraña. En esta forma la altura aumenta notablemente(alrededor de 25 centímetros). Las grandes diferencias son la presencia de plumas en todo su cuerpo, la extraña mezcla de manos humanas con las garras de un halcón, las formidables alas (las cuales permiten el vuelo, pero muy lejos de la agilidad y velocidad de la forma animal pura) y la cabeza aunque parecer mas la de un ave , mantiene algun rasgo humano .

Cabe destacar el marcado contraste que produce su transformación. Su forma humana es la de un viejo de aspecto algo frágil, mientras que animal es la de una bestia agil y fuerte .

Me llamo tanto la atencion aquel extraño anciano que decidi seguirlo, sin nada que perder ya que no tenia familia y al el parecio no molestarle . Asi lo que en principio sería tan sólo un paseo por el bosque se transformó en una verdadera aventura y una valiosa experiencia de vida. Sin duda había aprendido cosas fascinantes, pero aún no sabía que era realmente aquel viejo y la curiosidad en mi crecía.

Conversation

Me hallaba sentado sobre una gran roca, en algún lugar de ese bosque maravilloso. El sol del mediodía comenzaba a calentar suavemente el entorno, transformando colores, sonidos y aromas. El bosque parecía vivo.

- Anciano, ¿Quién eres tú? – pregunte mientras recibía de las manos del viejo algunos tubérculos.

- Oh! Ya ves quién soy yo. Un viejo amante de éste bosque.

- ¿Eres un druida? – volvi a inquirir , como si de un gran secreto se tratase. El viejo lanzó una carcajada jovial antes de contestar.

- No sé si pueda considerarme un druida, pues no son muchos aquellos que merecen semejante título. Soy simplemente un hombre dedicado a la Naturaleza y a colaborar en el mantenimiento del equilibrio – tras decir esto se acomodó en la roca y extrajo de ella un estuche de cuero del cual saco una pequeña arpa para acompañar su relato, pues sabía que mi curiosidad tardaría en mermar -.

-“Fue hace mucho tiempo que decidí seguir éste camino. Nacido y criado en una comunidad que compartía las características sobrenaturales que me definen como el individuo que soy, no tardé en ser seleccionado para ser instruido en los conocimientos de la vida y la muerte, y en el equilibrio completo que nuestra visión panteísta reconoce. Sería un druida. Por supuesto no es sencillo y muchos demuestran no ser aptos, por lo que existen tres grados de igual importancia a los cuales puede uno aspirar: El de bardo, el de ovate y finalmente el de druida.

“Antes de alcanzar éste último, dejé mi hogar para realizar un viaje de contemplación. ¡Ah!, cuantos solsticios ya desde aquel momento, ¡Y cuán diferente era en ese entonces! Ha pasado el tiempo y aún continúo en éste viaje. Sucede que cada día algo me impulsa a continuar mi travesía: nuevos conocimientos, nuevas experiencias; uno es como un recién nacido cuando aprende a escuchar. Todo es maravilloso y, extrañamente, nuevo.

Pense en las palabras del viejo mientras observaba un escarabajo que caminaba por la roca, muy cerca de él. Pense en lo que el anciano me había explicado la noche anterior, sobre la divinidad en cada cosa, en cada ser: “Lo que percibes de éste mundo es una efímera manifestación del todo, ¿Qué te separa de aquella piedra que acabas de arrojar al arroyo? Nada en absoluto. Cuando mueras serás tierra, roca, árbol. Y si consideras que el tiempo es tan sólo un capricho de nuestra realidad entenderás que todo cuanto existe es parte de una sola gran divinidad, un todo”.

- En ocasiones – continuó el viejo tras algunos minutos ensimismado en su música -, el hombre pierde el sentido. Su conciencia trata de desvincularse de esta realidad de armoniosa comunión, se confunde distorsionando la percepción de su entorno y genera desequilibrio en el individuo. Éste desequilibrio es como un cáncer que debe ser extirpado, pues de lo contrario se expande y altera el medio.

“Eso es un druida. Alguien que entiende la belleza de la Naturaleza y puede transmitirla a otros. Alguien que, por amor, ejerce como sabio, médico y protector. Alguien que ha aceptado la responsabilidad de ser juez y maestro en un mundo donde ya no se respeta el equilibrio de la Madre Tierra.”

Becoming a Druid

“¡Ah! He demorado demasiado tiempo en comprender que la tierra no puede ser salvada tan sólo con enseñanzas, al menos no en el contexto actual. He pasado la mayor parte de mi vida aprendiendo de la Naturaleza y es hora de devolverle la mano… trabajar activamente para la conservación del equilibrio. Acaso sea la más difícil tarea que emprenda, y la última.

Mi cerebro trabajaba velozmente para procesar el mensaje del anciano, mas decidi buscar otra salida.

- Por cierto, ¿Qué clase de nombre es Giledgel?

- No es mi nombre – dijo el viejo, como siempre tomando su tiempo para contestar -. Es el apodo que un amigo me dio hace ya mucho tiempo. Son palabras élficas, ¿Sabes? ¡Je! De todas formas, ya no recuerdo el significado…

Despues de una larga charla mas acerca del equilibrio del mundo...tome la decision mas importante en mi vida..

-Quiero ser como tu , quiero proteger a la Naturaleza por los medios que sean necesarios. Ya no regresare a mi pueblo. Quiero ser tu aprendiz....QUIERO SER UN DRUIDA...

Giledgel no me acepto al principio , pero al insistirle y al ver en mi el deseo profundo de ser uno de ellos termino aceptandome ,teniendo como condicion jamas revelar el verdadero nombre de mi maestro..NUNCA supe el porque .

Asi fue que llevando a cabo diferentes tecnicas y rituales (que no voy a revelar) y desarrollando el poder mental casi hasta el maximo ,después de largas horas de meditacion rodeado de enormes bosques y seres que habitan alli fui evolucionando hasta llegar a ser un joven pero completo aprendiz de druida cegado por un objetivo....SERVIR a la Naturaleza que tanto nos brinda....

(Por que lo dije asi no significa que eso no halla costado ni que halla sido rapido...cuando comenze era muy joven y ahora ya ni me acuerdo...Y FALTABA MUCHO) les contare un poco mas enumerando algunas de las tareas en mi camino:

1ero-acompañaba al anciano escuchando historias inborrables en su memoria .

2do- comenze a entender los simbolos y el idioma que utilizaban los druidas mas veteranos y a realizar los rituales mas simples .

3ro-conocer las fuerzas de los elementos ,de los principios, de los seres que habitan el bosque y como utilizarlos a mi favor. Y tantas cosas mas …

Learning to Change

Ya faltaba poco,cuando llego el dia que estaba esperando luego de largos años...mi Maestro me pidio que me sentara junto a el ,(en aquel arbol donde lo vi por primera vez) y me djio:

-Joven Gonzalo (ese era mi nombre antes de ser druida) ya he hecho casi todo por ti...he sido un gran maestro y tu un honorable aprendiz...te enseñado todo...excepto una cosa...LA LICANTROPIA.....-hizo una pausa. Por la manera en que lo dijo supuse que parecia algo peligroso y complicado , asi que le dije:

-¿por que te detienes asi?-

-Es que la licantropia es muy riesgosa...ya que eres muy joven y para utilizarla debes ofrecer a la Madre Tierra la mitad de tu alma , compartiendo asi tu vida con el bosque y nunca podras alejarte de el.....eso no es todo...aun si se usa para el bien se necesita de mucha de tu energia , que se logra con un largo y doloroso entrenamiento...no esta de mas decir que si esa energia te consume , quedaras atrapado por las fuerzas de la oscuridad y jamas volveras a ser el mismo...ESTARAS MALDITO POR SIEMPRE..-debes pensarlo bien-

Y lo hice...pase dias y lunas pensando en lo que haria..termine pensando que si habia llegado hasta alli no me detendria por nada (aunque eso significaba compartir mi vida) y es lo que le dije a Giledgel , el entendio mi decision y comenzo a enseñarme a cambiar mi forma humana...

Despues de duros entrenamientos y viajes por todo el mundo enfrentando diferentes dificultades(las contare en otra historia) llego el dia en el que estube preparado para convertirme en animal y debia elegir 3 de ellos...

Primero me converti en un AGUILA de unos 2 metros largo muy poderosa parecida a la forma animal de mi maestro.

Luego debia elegir al segundo animal en el que me podria convertir , y elegi al LOBO,especie con la que habia creado una relacion estrecha.

Por ultimo elegi al GUEPARDO...por ser el animal mas agil del mundo ....

AHORA LA MITAD DE MI ALMA LE PERTENECE AL BOSQUE....no envejeceria nunca pero se notarian en mi los daños que sufria la naturaleza...

Un dia...mientras caminabamos los dos , el me detuvo con su baston y me dijo antes de alejarse y perderse en la espesura del bosque:
-Ya no queda nada de sabiduria en mi que sirva en tu camino...te he enseñado todo lo que aprendi en mis largos años de viajes y aventuras...-Siempre supe que eras el ideal para sustituirme en mi objetivo de cuidar a la naturaleza...y es mi ultima tarea para ti pedirte que cuando llegue el momento , debes enseñarle a alguien mas nuestro legado, asi como yo lo hice contigo...-continuo -Fue un honor ser tu maestro y recuerda que si quieres proteger al bosque y ser el druida mas util siempre debe haber un perfecto equilibrio entre las fuerzas de la luz y en la oscuridad en ti..adios-
Antes de irse me regalo su preciado baston y se alejo suavemente .
Estube triste largo tiempo por la partida de mi mejor y unico amigo..(ademas de los animales) y siempre recordare sus ultimas palabras conmigo y la tarea que me fue encargada para toda mi vida .

AQUEL QUE LASTIME AL BOSQUE SERA CASTIGADO POR LAS FUERZAS
DE LA NATURALEZA QUE FLUYEN POR TODO MI SER The following is a translation of the previous text into English. The text was provided by the original author, Gonzalo Mendiverry, but edited by Innocence. As with nearly all translations, the texts may not be exactly the same, but all changes were approved by the original author.

[caption id="attachment_678" align="alignleft" width="72"] Gonzalo Mendiverry
(self drawn)[/caption]

When I was still very young, I was wandering in the forest of Loreroot with nothing to do when suddenly I came across a very strange man sitting in the roots of the tree in Stag Crossing. Although human, he seemed to have animal features. Despite his apparent age, he maintained some of the strength of his youth. His face seemed serene and kind, completely calm, framed by a carefully trimmed white beard and long hair of the same color. His eyes were deep and wise, hard-green, similar to the leaves of an oak.

His body exhibited a multitude of vividly colored tattoos, representative of all the rituals he'd been a part of. These contrasted with his plain and simple clothes, though similar to those exhibited by ancient Celtic priests, these still displayed his own style.

Despite being a strange man, I had heard about him. His name was Giledgel and he was characterized by balance and calm in any situation. He possessed a deep love for all things, the basis of pantheistic philosophy and its position of neutrality. He was fair and firm, and though his attitude toward others was usually helpful, there were specific exceptions.

Elderly people from my town told stories about him. It was said that he could change into the form of a large bird of about 1.2 meters long, similar to a hawk or an eagle, though it was impossible to identify exactly. This particular transformation earned him [it would make sense he earned the nickname after being able to change, not that he could change into a bird because of his nickname] his nickname. "Peregrine Falcon," granted by those who knew him best; it was an appropriate name, given the bird's nomadic nature.

The elders said, moreover, that his hybrid form was even stranger. In this form, his height increases considerably, about 25 centimeters. The main differences are the presence of feathers on his body, a strange mixture of human hands with the claws of a hawk, formidable wings, which allow flight, but not with the agility and speed of the pure animal form, and with a head that seems more like a bird’s, though it maintains some human features.

Of note is the sharp contrast produced by this transformation. His human form is of a somewhat weathered-looking old man, while the animal is a beast, agile and strong.

I was curious about this strange old man and decided to follow him. As I did not have a family, I had nothing holding me back, and this action didn’t seem to disturb him. What, in principle, should have been just a walk in the woods, suddenly became an adventure and a valuable life experience. There was no doubt in my mind that Giledgel had learned fascinating things; I began following him to indulge my curiosity, to learn more about the man and whether or not the rumors were true.

Conversation

I was sitting on a great rock, somewhere in this wonderful forest. The midday sun began to gently heat the environment, transforming colors, sounds and aromas. The forest seemed alive.

The old man had been wandering the forest, collecting roots. “Elder, who are you?” I asked as he handed me some.

“You see, I am an old lover of this forest.”

“Are you a druid?” I whispered, as if I were asking about a big secret.

Giledgel smiled cheerfully before answering. “I don’t know if I can consider myself a druid; there are many who deserve that title and I'm just a man dedicated to Nature, assisting in maintaining the balance.” After saying that, he settled on a rock and took out a leather case which held a small harp to accompany his story; he knew that my curiosity would soon overwhelm me.

"It was long ago that I decided to follow this path. Born and raised in a community that shared the supernatural characteristics that define me as the man I am, I soon chose to be instructed in the knowledge of life and death and the full balance that recognizes our pantheistic view: I would be a druid. Of course the path is not easy and many are not suited to it, so there are three positions of equal importance to which one can aspire within the community: The bard, the orator, and finally that of the druid.

“Before I made my choice I left home for a journey of contemplation. Oh, how many solstices have passed from that moment, and how different I was back then! Much time has passed and I continue on this journey. Every day something happens that drives me forward: new knowledge, new experiences, one is like a newborn when he learns to listen. Everything is wonderful and strangely new.”

I thought about the words of the old man while watching a beetle walking on the rock very close to him. I thought about what the old man had told me last night, on the divinity in everything, in every being, "What you perceive in this world is a transient manifestation of all; what separates you from a rock you just throw into a stream? Nothing at all. When you die, you will be soil, rock, tree. And if you consider that time is just a quirk of our reality, you will understand that everything that exists is part of one great divinity, a whole."

“Sometimes,” the old man said after a few minutes absorbed in his music, ”Man misses the point. Your consciousness is detached from this reality of harmonious communion, confused, distorting the perception of its environment and creates imbalance in the individual. This imbalance is like a cancer that must be removed; otherwise it expands and alters the medium.”

"That's a druid: one who understands the beauty of nature and can transmit that appreciation to others; one who, for love, works as a wise healer and protector; one who has accepted the responsibility to be judge and teacher in a world that no longer respects the balance of Mother Earth."

Becoming a Druid

"Ah! I have delayed too long to realize that the land cannot be bridged only with teaching, at least not in the current context. I spent most of my life learning from Nature and it's time to give back... to work actively to preserve the balance. Perhaps the most difficult task to undertake, and the last.”

I thought deeply on what this elderly man was saying about what it meant to be a druid. I was still curious about the man himself, though. “By the way, what kind of name is Giledgel?”

“It's not my name,” said the old man, taking his time to answer. “It’s the name a friend gave me a long time ago. They are Elvish words, you know?” he laughed before continuing, “Anyway, I do not remember the meaning.”

After talking more about the balance of the world with him, I made what would be the most important decision in my life. “I want to be like you; I want to protect nature by any means necessary. I no longer want to return to my village. I want to be your apprentice; I want to be a druid!”

Giledgel did not accept me at first, but I insisted, and he saw in me the deep desire to be a druid and eventually ended up accepting me with the condition that I never reveal the real name of my teacher, though I never knew why.

So it was that he taught me techniques and rituals--which I will not reveal--to develop strong mental power through rigorous discipline, meditating for hours, day after day, over several years, surrounded by the forest. I loved living there, and I grew to be a full apprentice druid, devoted to my objective to serve and protect nature.
“Becoming a druid--or apprentice druid--was not a quick or easy process”... I was very young when I started and now, years later, I cannot remember everything I did along the way. But I will tell you a little more about some of the tasks:

First – I accompanied the old man in his tasks, listening to stories about his life.

Second – I began to understand the symbols and language used by the Elder Druid to perform the simplest rituals and to understand the druidic clairvoyance and the signs of nature.

Third – I came to know elemental forces, principles, and beings that inhabit the forest and how to use them to my advantage.
Of course, there was also much more...

Learning to Change

I was nearing the end of my teaching when a day that was years in the making arrived:

My teacher asked me to sit next to him, which was also near that tree where I first met him and he said, ”Young Gonzalo,” he said, using my name before I became a druid, “I've done almost everything for you. I've been a great teacher and you have been an honorable apprentice. I’br taught you everything except one thing: lycanthropy.” He paused.
I thought that seemed dangerous and complicated, so I said, “Why do you delay?”

“It’s that lycanthropy is very risky, and you're very young. You use Mother Earth and give up half of your soul. You share your life with the forest and you can never get away from it. That's not all, even if used for good, it takes a lot of your energy, and it goes without saying that if you expend that energy, you can be trapped by forces of darkness and you will never be the same. You may be damned forever!
“Think well about this before you decide.”

And I did. I spent many days and nights thinking about what I would do, finally deciding that since I’d come this far, I would not stop for anything, even if it meant sharing my life. I said as much to Giledgel, who understood my decision and ordered me to immediately prepare everything for the journey that would take many years of my life. Before leaving, he told me, “Remember that even the longest journeys begin with a first step. See that old sturdy oak? Before, it was but a small and tender shoot. Everything takes time.”

After long and tiring travels around the world to face different challenges and difficulties—which I have noted in another story that I will share later—it was finally the day for which I was prepared to carry out the ritual where I would offer half my soul to the forest to receive the gift of becoming part animal. I had chosen three forms.

First I became an eagle. This animal form has a two meters wingspan and is very powerful, like the animal form of my teacher, but less effective in the flight. For this, I spent whole days observing these beautiful birds, understanding the world and perceiving it as they do.

The second beast I chose was the wolf, a species I had developed a close relationship with during my childhood.

Finally I chose the cheetah, which is the fastest land animal in the world. I chose it to always remind me that all abilities—speed in this case—must be accompanied by responsibility and wisdom, given that this animal can risk serious injury, and even death, if it is careless when using its abilities.

Now half of my soul belongs to the forest! I feel strong and powerful at times, but I also notice the damage suffered by nature, almost always by action of man.

The sun rose while Giledgel and I were walking. He stopped my quiet passage with his cane, looked at me with his deep green eyes, and said, “There's nothing left of my wisdom that can serve you. I have taught you everything I learned in my many years of travel and adventure, but you must understand that you still have much to learn, and you must do it through the best teacher he could one have: Nature. It will share everything with you.
“I always knew you were the ideal person to replace me in caring for nature. My last task for you is that when the time is right, you must teach someone else our legacy as well as I did with you.
“It was an honor to be your teacher and remember that if you want to protect the forest, help maintain a balance between the forces of light and darkness in every being. Goodbye.” Before he left to live in the deep woods forever, he gave me his prized walking stick. He then walked away quietly. For a long time I was sad at the departure of my best and only human friend. I will always remember his last words to me and the job I am responsible for the rest of my life.

Harming the forest will cause the forest to punish the intruder.
Nature flows though all my being!