Mother Willow

0 Comments | December 8, 2008 at 5:07 am by mahud
Filed under Cortexia

According to Moffian cosmology, Mount Monfu, the central mountain on the island of Moffia, was believed to be the centre of the entire world. Somewhere upon the Peaks of Monfu was hidden a magical doorway to the House of Sun, guarded by poisonous worms and grasshoppers.

There are many Mountain Tales about how the Sun God once lived with the tribes of Moffia, but disappeared, after being mistreated, or according to one story, after Scorpion set fire to the Sun God’s tail, severing the link between the ocean islands and realms of sky forever.

According to another Mountain Tale, before the Moffia came to their Island, the Goddess Ottu, kept a Willow snake as a pet that spat poison into the third eye of her father Sun, plunging the worlds into darkness.

Furious, Sun blasted a hole in the side of his hut, and tossed the Willow snake down from the Peak of Mount Monfu.

Ottu, skilled with herbs, healed her father’s eye, and ever since, the radiant third eye of the Sun God shone through the hole in the side of the hut, bringing light to the world.

Every evening, as the sun sinks beneath the ocean, it is said that another snake has spat poison into the Sun God’s eye. And again, he tosses the snake out of his window, as at the beginning of time. This explains why the world is so full of snakes.

Another myth tells that the first Willow snake, cast down from the Sun God’s abode, was the Mother of all snakes, and so, she is known as Mother Willow.

According to this myth, Mother Willow was possessed by a demon, one of Veertepo’s minions, who devoured the truth from the her heart. Now she can speak only lies, and has no recollection of her former beauty.

Even if Mother Willow should drink eternally from the sacred pools of memory, she would still remain ignorant of her true nature. It is also said that only one pure in heart can awaken Mother Willow, and restore her former beauty.

Another myth recalls how Mother Willow once climbed the Peaks of Monfu, looking for the hidden door to the realm of the Sun God.

After many years of searching she found it, but the door was locked. Knocking on the door, she cried, “Father Sun, it is I, Mother Willow. Let me come in!” But there was no reply. In frustration she knocked and knocked endlessly for many days and nights, hoping the Sun God would have mercy on her.

After weeks of endless knocking, the Sun God finally had enough. Violently he swung open the door, and grabbing Mother Willow with his fiery hands, threw her back down to the bottom of the holy mountain. This is how Mother Willow got her red belly.

All Willow snakes are afraid of the water and have red bellies, inherited from their mother, who, unlike her children, had actually been burned by the Sun God. Every morning, when the sun rises, Mother Willow’s belly burns uncontrollably. The pain becomes so bad, Mother Willow is forced to dwell in a pool at the foot of the mountain, despite her terrible hatred of water.

A Willow snake the future knows,
only fools believe its lies.
Of poison tooth and poison tongue,
until it grows in size.

And even should the Willow snake,
speak pious words anew.
It is only by the water’s edge,
its words become the truth.

And so, my foolish child beware,
the wily serpent’s tricks.
But now a wiser one than you,
whose fur is white and thick.

Shall lead you to the Willow‘s lair,
with pipe and drum in hand.
Shall beat ahead in triple-time,
towards the forest land.

Oracle Melody of Jemdarino (Story Teller of the Golden Leaf Clan)