In working to define the role of “magic” in the realm of Andira, I wrote the following as a means of not only explaining the “Natural Forces” available in Andira, but also how humanity came to find its place among such forces. It is intended to be the writings of a “scientific mind” who lived centuries before the events in Andira begin to unfold. This scroll becomes the basis of “The Prophecy” which Seraphus will fulfill on his quest. Though, by the time of Seraphus, the scroll itself has been lost and all that remains is knowledge of the Prophecy.
To “converse” with the land is to understand the world of nature. Animals do not speak with voices, but their thoughts and feelings, wants and needs, can be understood.
It is therefore possible for a human to learn to understand much more about the world of nature including, say, a badger or a jay, an oak or even a river. This is possible due to the collective consciousness of nature – a consciousness which helped define our sentience.
The collective unconsciousness is a conduit through which the Forces of Nature can be directed. In this way, Nature herself is responsible for the wind, rain, sun, and ocean currents. The whole world is as one living organism. Like all organisms, there can be illnesses which need to be addressed and so droughts and floods occasionally occur. These Forces of Nature are simply the work of Her collective consciousness. And because we are part Her world, we too are affected by Nature’s collective consciousness.
Thus, our ability to be self-aware is a direct evolution of the global consciousness that exists all around us. However, this evolution has not come without a price to be paid. Our self-awareness has created an inherent selfishness which provides a direct impediment to our ability to access and understand Nature’s collective consciousness. Thus, our future in the Realm of Nature is in doubt.
Nature has taken a chance in allowing us to evolve. But now we wage war upon Her. Much of our conflict may be without explicit malice, but motivations matter little when entire species become casualties. Consider the wanton destruction already wrought by this semi-conscious war. Consider what it has already cost both nature and humanity.
Now imagine if one consciousness, one that had a self-serving mind, could deliberately affect the Forces of Nature, to unnaturally redirect them. Imagine if war were to be openly declared and fought with clear and purposeful intent of dominion. The consequences would indeed be dire. And given enough time, such an eventuality is inevitable.
Nature Herself will react, perhaps violently, marshalling all of her energy. But she is not a singular consciousness. She would not respond against an individual, but rather She may hold accountable all those who have the power to stand against the destruction of Nature, but do not. Such reactions may seem harsh to such self-serving creatures as we. But it is not so. It is simply the Law of Nature.
Balance is the key. Nature will find a way to neutralize its enemies, to restore balance. She created us. She can destroy us. We will not find peace unless we find and restore the balance first, before Nature does the task for us. We must begin within ourselves and then move outward toward reconciliation with Nature. Otherwise, in response to Nature’s attempts to purge the land, a Dark One will arise to direct a campaign against Nature in ways that will lay all the land in waste. Should this happen, there’s no telling what Nature will do.
One can only hope that in the spirit of the Law of Balance, there will be one among us to step forth and counteract the darkness. We can only hope that an individual mind will arise to stop the Dark One before Nature casts the world of humanity into oblivion.
It is through this chosen one that the road of salvation, of redemption, begins. We must atone for our errors in judgment, for forsaking the gifts and bounty we had been unconditionally given. Indeed, this is the means of our survival and redemption.
Only by abandoning our self-serving ways can we achieve enough of a balance between our sentience and our innate ability to “converse” with nature.
This may be why premonitions often come in the form of dreams, when our souls can be unfettered from our conscious, self-serving drives. Perhaps this is how our artisans can tap into common archetypes which resonate within our souls.
In a time of waste, starvation and destruction, the one who converses with the land shall rise to deliver the world from peril.