Priestess of An: Illumination

By Pamela Coy

Be a time-traveler. It is 452 of the common era, Anaias and her consort-husband Papallas are together again. Although they are now in southern Gaul they enjoy the earthy, mystical spirituality of their druid initiation. She wants to return to the northern isles and Ireland, but she is willing to follow Papallas' passions. He wants to follow a calling to go deep into the political intrigue of the Roman Empire. She is dismayed but also senses a calling. Maybe her gifts as a druid priestess can help heal the deranged emperor, and those caught up in his turmoil. There are, though, strong and violent forces that defy her efforts. She falls into despair. Along the way she discovers mystical forces that are guiding her. She longs to return to her homeland in Eire with Papallas, but must achieve spiritual transformation before the way is illuminated. The illumination is very bright indeed!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pamela Coy
• Release date: Oct 16, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393170020

Book preview

Dedication to my grandfather, Dr. Owen Cochran Coy

who loved studying and writing about the past

I had the feeling that I had pushed to the brink of the world; what was of burning interest to me was null and void for others, and even a cause for dread.  Dread of what?  I could find no explanation for this.  After all there was nothing preposterous or world-shaking in the idea that there might be events which overstepped the limited categories of space, time and causality.

Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams and Reflections.

Introduction

Two Voices

As I have tried to complete my writing about the Priestess of An I encountered a case of writer’s block.  To overcome it I have asked her to tell her own story. I step in occasionally with stories around events that she couldn’t have known at the time.

So, this is a sort of time travel.  I invite you to join me. Enter in to her time and space.  Experience the world as she experienced it so long ago.

As I researched and wrote this story, I pieced together historical events and people that might have led to the events she described. I discovered many fascinating men and women who shaped history. Some have paragraphs in history books, but most are never mentioned again. I love finding them and mentioning them.

I walked the land of the story, listening. I traveled to south central France.  A rental house and car let me explore the area around the Aude River. I travelled north to the town of Minerve with its ravine and cliffside homes and caves. I sat and meditated in the very ancient Dolmen des Fades (rock cave of the fairies) near the town of Homps. I travelled to Narbonne and imagined the Roman garrison there as I listened to stories about the ancient Jewish community and church of Mary Magdalene that persisted until the Inquisition of the Middle Ages.

I travelled to Rome and Ravenna. I explored parts of the Via Flaminius. I was surprised by the whispers of the ancient Etruscans.

I completed my writing in a rental in the south of Ireland, in the valley of Aherlow under the shadow of the Galtee Mountains. As I wrote, I imagined the Tuatha de Danaa, the ancient mystical, magical people who were said to have disappeared into the hills. I hiked to some ancient stones to listen.

There are other voices in this story. One is time. We think we know it, but it is illusive. Another is space. How can we be hundreds of miles from someone yet feel their presence with us? Can we mystically communicate with and influence others across distances? Yet another voice is the cloud of witnesses. Are there benevolent voices from other dimensions watching over us and caring what happens in our time?

I thank Anaias for her story. I hope you also hear the ancient voices.

Imagine.

The Goddess An – Words of Anaias

Among my people it is believed that the earth was created by the Goddess who we call ‘An’. The name is the sound of the breath as we breathe out—Aaaa. She gave us birth from Her cosmic womb. She watches over the living creatures as well as the seemingly silent rocks and mountains. She is in the waters, the lakes, the rivers, the seas. She is in the grand cosmos beyond our earth. She is in the dimensions beyond our average human ability to know. We can learn. When we become aware of all of her dimensions, she gives us work to do; assisting her in caring for it all. 

There are wise ancient people, within the history and the folklore of Ireland, who follow Her under the name Danaa. The Tuatha (tribe of) Danaan were and are gifted in wisdom, the arts and music. They were and are great healers. The lore tells that they live today in the mountains of Eire. I will simply say that they live within another dimension. There are many portals in Eire. There are many portals into their dimension around the earth. They can come into our dimension when they are needed.  They pull us into their dimension when they think we are ready.

There are many other beings who move between the dimensions. The ones I call Tywa are the same as those called fairies or fées. Their work is to assist An (the creator by whatever name.) They can take any shape to help them in their work. Beechna chose to help me, although she had many other tasks.

I became the Priestess of An when I was a young woman.  My ritual name, An-aias,  means ‘devotee of An’.  I am devoted to Her creation. My childhood name was Seabhach...for the hawk that flew over at my birth. When I came of age as a woman, the women my village noted, with colorful tattoos on my body, the shape of the world, the creatures, the stars, the people within my life. I have a place in the cosmos, as you do. I have been called Anaias since my initiation in the Caves of An in Cymru...now called Wales. My ritual name has been used casually by my friends.  I am often called Ani. That is fine. An doesn’t mind the casual, as long as you know that She is a part of it.

My consort and husband Papallas went through a similar transformation. His birth name was Owain. When he reached manhood, he studied with men on the island of Sarnia, off the northern coast of Gaul, how called France. He is devoted to the god Pallas, who is a god of the sea and merchants and knowledge. His ritual name, Pa-pallas, means ‘devotee of Pallas’.  I casually call him Papi. Pallas doesn’t mind.

We were both touched and transformed by the teachings and presence of the Rabbi Yesua and his partner Miriam of Magda. He is the same one that you call Jesus and Christos. Miriam was his partner during his earthly life.  She is a great teacher who spread his teachings to many after his death and ascension. He calls us into the light. That light is filled with a power that we call love. We are called to be the light.

Miriam of Magda came to the lands in Britain in the early days after the death of Rabbi Yesua.  The history and legend is that she came with Joseph of Arimathea.  She taught the people in her refugee community what Rabbi Yesua had said and done. The refugees from the south kept to themselves. After generations those words were given to Papi and me. Miriam of Magda is still with us along with the other Miriams as a wise ancestor. The words of Rabbi Yesua reinforced the worldview given us through our druid initiations.  All creation is sacred.  Love is its driving force.  Be open. Be light. Be love.

Part 1 - Roman Time 452 c.e.

1

Anaias’ Story – A New Land Samhain/Winter

Asoldier on horseback was thundering toward me. Terror gripped me, but I was transfixed. I saw his eyes, filled with anger and hatred. They weren’t looking at me, but I was in his path. Screaming, I jumped clear of him. He galloped by as if he hadn’t seen me.

My heart thundered in my chest. The soldier was going after Papallas ... and the others. I knew the babies were being nursed by Vazelle. I needed to stop him.

The soldier lifted his sword as he approached the ones I loved. I ran and caught up with the rider. I jumped in front of the horse, holding up my arms. I screamed the war cry of the Priestess of An—he rode through me as though I were not there. The horseman slowed but didn’t stop. I gasped.  Why couldn’t I stop him?  Where was I?  Part of me knew then that this was a dream.

Then I knew I was pure spirit energy able to create my own shape.  I became a hawk and flew toward him with my talons out, trying to wound him and knock him off his horse. He fought me by wildly waving his sword toward me.  I knew he couldn’t injure me.

Then I heard a rumbling behind me. Wheeling through the air, I saw soldiers and horses as far as the eye could see. Above them were cackling, dancing Badb warriors from the spirit world, fomenting the violence, living off the horror. I gasped and turned quickly. Suddenly I was higher in the air, above it all.

I was surrounded by beings in white and many, many others encircled in a blinding white light that burst into a rainbow of colors. I was one of them. They enveloped me, guided me. I recognized men and women of different tribes dressed in many colors. There were those of the Tribe of Danaa in blue, and I saw others flying in yellow and green. The green burst forth like fire, surrounding me warmly—as if I were family. I was exhilarated. I felt as though I would burst with love for all the creatures of light in the path of the madness.

I knew that I was a part of this magnificent healing cloud moving toward the attackers. A woman’s voice said, Come, we will show you....

I felt the rush of her energy like wings. I felt her power, her light, her love. I couldn’t breathe from the excitement. I heard the woman’s voice crying out above it all, My children ... I have birthed you all. Celebrate your life!

An ... the goddess over all! I called out to her. Her light was brilliant, almost blinding. She smiled at me.

The rainbow cloud surrounded the army and the soldiers. The soldiers stopped as if they were confused.

The Badb flew away, disappointed. I watched their dark cloud, flashing with red and orange lights, move over the distant mountains. They were hungry and searching for anger and violence.

Then I woke up. My heart was beating rapidly. I was disoriented.... That world disappeared, but another one was upon me.

Surrounded by muffled stillness, I shivered in the cold winter dawn by the river in south-central Gaul.

Gazing out of the tent, I saw snow, deep enough to cover my ankles. It was still coming down. I pulled the woolen blankets tighter around me to stay warm. I could hear the babies crying and the shrill young voice of MiraBel’s excitement.

Papallas was not next to me. I sighed. He was tougher physically than I was. I resented the cold in my old bones this morning.

We had just completed the long journey from Parisii into southern Gaul. My muscles and feet hurt from the long walk.

This was Papallas’ idea, coming to this land rather than returning to the northern isles. Despite my hesitation, I was overjoyed to be with him again. I would never let him out of my sight. Joy rippled around me as I remembered our reunion. I longed to celebrate this first snowfall in the new land by cuddling against his warmth and making love.

Since he had already left our bed, I abandoned that desire and turned away from the opening flap of the tent, intent on sleeping more.

His voice broke through my attempted dreams. Ani, wake up! You’ll never guess what happened last night. Just the sound of his voice thrilled me. He was still like a child in so many ways, excited by the changes of nature.

I moaned, It snowed.

He laughed and touched my shoulder, saying, I have hot mint water for you.

I turned around and saw the steaming cup. Then I slowly sat up, keeping the blanket around me.

He grinned at me. I found mint plants under the snow.

I guess that the snow will slow down our exploration of this place, I said.

It might, he agreed softly. Then he laughed, But I hear MiraBel enjoying the weather.

I blew on the cup to cool the liquid in it. Didn’t you say something about the warmth of the south of Gaul?

He said, We have to go further south to the great sea for it to be warm in the Samhain days. It is warm, even here, in the season of Beltane.

I sipped the tea; the pungent taste woke me. But now, here, it is very cold.

We were silent for a few minutes. The warm brew filled my body with vitality. I could tell he was not going to come back under the covers with me. Fighting the disappointment, I said brightly, Alright. I’ll get dressed.

Good! He smiled, patting me on the shoulder.

I pulled on my blue linen day gown and wrapped additional linen fabric around my feet up to my knees before putting on sandals. I found my woolen cloak and pulled it around me, fastening it with a brass pin.

I stepped into the winter scene. Snow was falling with big clods from the nearby evergreen trees. The air was still. I could smell the smoke of the fire. Everyone else seemed to be awake, dressed, and gathered around a fire they had managed to build.

We ate the morning oat porridge that Tinai had cooked.

After the morning meal, I joined Papi, Doamas, and Jeremiah who were talking about the day’s plans. They wanted to begin building permanent huts in a circle around the main fire.

Jeremiah turned to me. Show us where we should build.

I nodded back and called to Tinai and MiraAn to help me. We began the work of reading the land.

Tinai had been trained in the Caves of An before she and I met. MiraAn, my niece, was my student. We silently lifted our hands to the goddess An, who was the creator of all that is. Tinai sang the ancient chant from the Caves of An in her crisp, high-pitched voice. We began to move slowly from tree to tree, touching the snowy ground around it, listening for its voice. The movement warmed our bodies against the chill.

I stared out on the flowing river. A light mist hovered over it. I closed my eyes, feeling the energy. Willow trees hung over the bank, and water birds fed on the insects buzzing along the surface at places where the flowing water formed still pools. Oak trees grew up the hill side by side with pines. I could see the flickering lights of the tree spirits and Tywa in the top branches.

I could sense benign spirits watching us, joyous that we were there. The spirits of nature were glad that the snow was falling and they could continue their time of sleep knowing all was well. But there was a sense of other spirits watching us as well—a feminine presence. It was unfamiliar ... it seemed hostile. That was not unexpected. We were, after all, trespassing on land that had been the home of others.

We wordlessly nodded to each other.

I returned to the men. You’ve already found the place for our central fire. I nodded toward the flames. This is the place we should build.

The men then started clearing away the snow.

∞

I lovingly watched my husband and consort, Papallas, work. Sweat was streaming down his body in spite of the winter cold.

I was grateful that we were together again after the long separation. I felt gratitude for the many forces that had preserved him and now brought us to this place to live a new life together, even though it wasn’t the life I had hoped it would be.

He was not the same man I had known in Eire. As a young man, Papallas been a carefree druid merchant. On one fateful journey, he had been captured and sold into slavery in the Roman Empire. He had endured and triumphed though he had many scars, visible and invisible.

Perhaps he had been spared by the God-man Yesua who was said to watch over those who called upon him. I had learned of Yesua and his partner, Miriam, many years ago and their healing light that manifested as love for all creatures. Papallas and I had both been baptized in that love for all where the rivers met in the Refuge so long ago. The teacher Pelagius had poured water from the river over our heads to cleanse our spirits.

The teachings of Pelagius were not that different from the teachings of our druid priest and priestess. By whatever name, a loving energy permeated all things and called humans to respond.

Some loving force had plucked my Papi from the quarries to serve General Flavius Aetius. The magical power of druids was considered valuable. The Romans thought we could see into realms that others could not. The general coveted Papallas’ abilities and invited him into a place of honor, though still a slave.

Then unbelievably, in gratitude for his part in the victory in the war against the murderous Attila, the Roman General Flavius Aetius gave Papallas his freedom, this land, and honorary citizenship in the Roman Empire.

It surprised me that Papi spoke about his time in captivity not with anguish but with longing. He had fallen in love with the Roman Empire!

I was shocked when my beloved Papi urged us to move to this land in south-central Gaul. We had talked about other possibilities. Maybe we would return to the land of Eire. I had left that island after blood had been shed, but I had soon learned that that land was not nearly as bloody as the lands of the Roman Empire.

I had spent years searching for him, with the help of the friends who now gathered around us. That we were together again was a sacred gift.

I would follow him ... until we could go no further. I would never again let him go off into adventure without me.

∞

My years of searching for him had changed me, too.

I had started my search as a vision quest. Papi and I had always been bound together in spirit. His disappearance had come with a cold silence. I had been sure I could find him as I journeyed within the safety of the Caves of An.

My search had been fruitless because he had cloaked himself from me to protect me. But, I had found many friends in spirit. Often, I had been closer to him then I knew.

In my vision quest I had met Atina, a refugee from Alexandria in Northern Africa. She and her people had magnificent scrolls that they had rescued from the library that was going to be ravaged. In those years, I hadn’t known that Atina had been in close proximity to Papallas and had seen him regularly in his work in the Narbonne garrison. She hadn’t known that I had been with her lost brother on a hill outside of Parisii.

That brother was Mikos. After being separated from his sisters, he had wandered north and settled on a hill outside of the city of Parisii in Gaul. He had generously given my people shelter as we had searched for Papallas. He had taught me the wonder of the knowledge in the scrolls he had taken with him from Alexandria.

She and her sister were reunited with their brother Mikos. They lived a short distance to the north, in the Caves of Hypatia.

The vision journey had also connected me to Genevieve, a follower of Christos and a leader of her people. In spirit, she had invited me to come to the land of Parisii, as it was called in the Empire. The land, I learned, was also called Lutecia by the druids of the region.

So, my spirit journey had called me to travel across the sea to Gaul and up the Seine River to Parisii. My dear friends, Jeremiah, Tinai, and David, and the young Morgan had refused to let me search for Papi alone. We had crossed the channel from Cymru to Gaul and entered another world.

The moment my feet had touched the lands of Gaul, I had been affected by the many cultures and languages in the vast world called ‘Gaul’ by Rome.

I was led by the goddess An. She births all the creatures, footed, finned, and rooted, as well as mountains and stars. She cares for us all. As a mother, she follows us wherever we are and is constantly whispering to us. We are often too distracted to hear her, so she communicates through others. We must listen.

Mikos, our host, had listened to her voice in the land called Alexandria. He called the goddess Isis.

His knowledge of the stars had enthralled me. He knew how to use their guidance. He had drawings he called maps that had guided us across the vast terrain of rivers and mountains. He had many ancient scrolls that held the teachings of ancestors. As my people had spoken and memorized sacred words that they might be remembered, his people had written them down. He tried to teach me to read the marks on the paper.  I could not wrap my mind around the meanings behind the marks.

He’d spoken of a teacher named Hypatia, a woman who had taught at the great school of her father Thera in Alexandria. She had been murdered by zealots of Christos who had thought her knowledge was what they called ‘evil.’

Mikos and his sisters had fled Alexandria with many scrolls and instruments of knowledge. They had been separated and lost from each other ... until now.

As I mentioned earlier, as I had spent time with Mikos, his sisters had spent time with Papallas.

We did not know how connected we all were during those years! Thank the goddess, thank Yesua!

As I glanced over the activity in the camp, I wrapped my cape around me. My heart was light with the knowledge that I would soon talk to Atina again but this time in person

∞

As the snow stopped falling, the clouds parted and sunshine touched the crystals, making them sparkle.

I eagerly approached the nursing Vazelle, the Lutecian Tywa. The newborns were both Tywa and human.

Vazelle looked up at me and said breathlessly, "I