An Apprentice's Guide to Source and Dream

by sareliz

Summary:

This is a companion piece to Loki of Midgard. It is dense theology without plot, romance, or character. No, really.

This is the book that Darcy nearly throws across the room in chapter 9 of 'The Crown Prince'. Now you get to see why. :D

Notes:

• For linusmir.

This is a companion piece to Loki of Midgard, or more particularly, book two: The Crown Prince. If this were a traditional publication, this might be in an appendix. If it were a traditional but quirky publication, it might be interspersed on random pages throughout the book. This is, however, an html archive, so it's a different work in the same series.

In chapter nine of The Crown Prince, Darcy begins reading a book. This is the book she's reading.

There will be the gate poetry itself, commentary on it, and also more informal meditations on it, if all goes according to plan.

Chapter 1: The Poetry of the Nine Gates

The Poetry of the Nine Gates

 

These are the nine gates,

Which are the nine guardians

Of the selfish and evil nature

Of the unwary.

The good sorceress breaks these nine.

 

The mistress of the first gate is grounded.

The mistress of the second gate is calm.

The mistress of the third gate is wise.

The mistress of the fourth gate is self-possessed.

The mistress of the fifth gate is resolved.

The mistress of the sixth gate is unhindered.

The mistress of the seventh gate is discerning.

The mistress of the eighth gate is fearless.

The mistress of the ninth gate is enlightened.

 

The first gate breaks with tears.

Sorceress, give up your striving.

See yourself as they who love you,

Lose not your way,

Forgive yourself;

Master your past.

 

The second gate breaks with anger.

Sorceress, give up your pain.

See through the eyes of the child,

Lose not your way,

Forgive the mother;

Master suffering.

 

The third gate breaks with grief.

Sorceress, give up war-blood.

See through the eyes of the mother,

Lose not your way,

Forgive the child;

Master the offensive spirit.

 

The fourth gate breaks with shrieking.

Sorceress, refresh your heart.

See through the eyes of the lover,

Lose not your way,

Forgive the impassioned;

Master your will.

 

The fifth gate breaks with longing.

Sorceress, learn your fate.

See through the eyes of the prescient,

Lose not your way,

Forgive the fate of others;

Master the future.

 

The sixth gate breaks with pain.

Sorceress, learn your frame.

See through the eyes of the discarnate,

Lose not your way,

Forgive your body;

Master the present.

 

The seventh gate breaks with pleasure.

Sorceress, learn your desire.

See through the eyes of the craven,

Lose not your way,

Forgive the powerless;

Master hope.

 

The eighth gate breaks with confusion.

Sorceress, face your regression.

See through the eyes of your former selves,

Lose not your way,

Forgive the infinite;

Master death.

 

The ninth gate breaks with laughter.

Sorceress, see through everything,

See nothing at all,

Lose not your way,

Forgive those who cannot see;

Master the dream.