Midnight University
Wise Defender
I reach into my pocket and feel the small and smooth carnelian stone. It’s perhaps no larger than the nail of an index finger. I’ve taken a habit of keeping a seashell in my pocket at all times. A bit of nature to connect with now and then throughout the day. And now this small gemstone addition. A sort of semiprecious gemstone that I frankly haven’t heard of before. The gemstone is a bit cool to the touch, and it doesn’t take up much space in the pocket.
Carnelian is rusty red, brownish even, and has, upon closer inspection, a bit of speckles. I go to Wikipedia and find out that carnelian is “…one of the precious stones in the foundations of the wall of the heavenly city.”
The thing is, something happened to me the other day. Someone here on Substack Notes was talking about how walking “aimlessly” is good for our creativity. I’ve always loved to meander and preferably alone. Since I happened to be in a village, I sort of let my feet take me where they wanted. And that’s how I ended up at Midnight University. What I am about to tell you is entirely true. It happened. And here is what happened.
A dark blue velvet banner with ornate handwritten lettering spelling MIDNIGHT UNIVERSITY hung in a crooked fashion outside the modest tent. Fallen leaves and dust carpeted the roof. Inside I heard a melodic and shrill female voice encouraging someone:
“And out you go on your quest! Remember the signs, remember to look and see with your inner eyes! Be well! Beee well!”
And out came a young couple giggling while holding something very small in their hands. And off they went on their quest.
I stepped into the tent and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I began to see that every square inch of the walls and ceiling were covered in a multitude of objects of various kinds. Burning candles in ornate candelabras. Stuffed owls and hermines. Mortar and pestles. Large schematics of strange symbols. Sketches of the lunar phases and the zodiac. Large urns filled with ornate wands. Ceramic figurines from all parts of the world and of all sizes and shapes. Small tables covered in dark cloth with patterns of stars, moons, and unknown shapes. Preserved animals in amber colored jars stood in a row on a shelf. Trays and trays of wood that were filled with gemstones of all colors. Lanterns both lit and unlit hung from the soft ceiling. Colorful and small glass flasks with mysterious powders stood on a complicated stand. Paintbrushes covered in cobweb with unfinished paintings. Large tapestries overlapped one another on the walls, and on the floor a multitude of unmatched rugs made my steps feel as if I was onboard a sailing ship.
“Would you like to know your magic skills or would you like to be sent out on a quest?” demanded the shrill but slightly warm voice.
I thought for a moment.
“I would like to know my magic skills.”
“Very well, very well! Come this way and let’s begin!”
The oversized pointy white hat, with a large brim, was covered in a splatter of exuberant lavender colored roses and gardenias. Underneath it was the face of a smiling gray haired woman who looked about as eager as a hungry puppy. She sat down on an old wicker stool and began explaining:
“First, you must choose a wand. Go ahead, choose one of the wands that you see in these urns. Choose one of them. Yes, choose.”
I immediately saw a wooden wand that had a carved owl on the top and reached for it. From the tip dangled a bright green gemstone.
“Well, well, then! I see you have chosen a nice wand! Now, see these candles? Point your wand toward the candles and say the spell ‘Revelare!’”
“Revelare!” I said and pointed my wand toward the candles. The candles lit up red!
“Aha! Red! Red is the color of wisdom and protection! You are the defender of those who cannot speak for themselves. The little ones. The ones that have no one to guard them. You are a defender of speech. You are a protector and a guardian. Now then, let’s take a look at the stones…”
The woman in the large pointy hat reached for a vessel that contained flat stones.
“Choose one.” Before I reached out she quickly added one flat stone but I decided not to choose it. Instead I chose the one next to it.
“Now drop it into this jar and let’s see what it will reveal!” She pointed to a pot with a murky liquid and I dropped the stone into the liquid and it sunk to the bottom.
“Touch your wand to the side of the vessel three times. Each time say the spell ‘Animalis’ to see which animal is your magic animal.
“Animalis. Animalis. Animalis.” My wand touched the brim of the vessel three times.
The woman swiftly grabbed the rock out of the liquid and an image of an owl had appeared on it!
“An owl! An owl signifies wisdom. Wisdom to discern what is true and right, and wisdom to protect it. The owl is one of the most powerful animal protectors, and it is very fitting to your magic color of red! I also see that you have chosen the wand of the owl. Very interesting! Very powerful indeed!
One last thing. Let’s choose a magic gemstone for you to match your magic owl and the color red. The witch reached for the tray that was brimming with gemstones of all sizes and colors you can imagine. She held, in a pincer grip with her arthritic fingers, a small dark-red smooth gemstone. About the size of a chocolate covered raisin.
“This! This is a carnelian gemstone. This will do, yes, this will be good. Carnelian gems are known for warmth, strength, courage and creativity as well as healing properties. You are the color red, your magic animal is the owl and your magic skill is that of a wise defender. Here…” she found an ink pen and elegantly drew an owl on a small red piece of parchment. Then she turned the paper over and wrote “Wise Defender” — and inserted the parchment and the carnelian gemstone in a small keepsake pouch and handed it to me.
“Farewell! Fare thee well!”
And out I went into the sunlight and dust and still feeling the soft wavy floor of the Midnight University I walked a bit unsteadily this way and that before I gained back my full faculties. I chose to not look back, but I heard a shrill thrilling voice ask the next student:
“Would you like to know your magic skills or would you like to be sent out on a quest?”
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Minna, you might know, since you lived in California, if it was Southern California, that in Redondo Beach, where I lived in the '60s-'90s, that as late as the early 20th century, there was a Moonstone Beach, where the gemstones were piled high, about 5 feet, as I recall from the history. I don't know where the gemstones came from originally -- washed up on shore, I guess -- or where they went, but the streets in that area are all named for gemstones. There is a Carnelian. I didn't know what a carnelian was or its color. I had to look it up. But it's always stood out for me, carnelian, red. Maybe 'cause I hadn't heard of it before. I like to wander and explore and encounter the magic. Love your story.