A long way to the Damari

Faviana, Eleni, the Baby and I went for a walk today and it was a long way and somehow, someway, a story cameout of it. I hope you enjoy it.

Earth was in a miserable state. The powers that be had destroyed the mineral balance that allowed humans to be healthy. The governments were in collusion with the conglomerates and promoted the health of the environment. Even the spiritual leaders were besotted by the promised wealth from the companies and sold precious stones, the treasure of the islanders, for nefarious purposes. However, there was smog over major cities, dangerous bacteria in the ocean waters and trash and toxic chemicals leached into the soil. The sheeples were unaware that life matter as they knew it was soon to be disrupted and they would be unable to eat the food that was sold to them in supermarkets or drink the water from their kitchen faucets. Little did they know that their food had been biochemically engineered and poison sprayed on them. Their potable water now had acid deposits from the toxic rain.



There was however one last bastion of safe food and water. This small village nestled in the bosom of the mountain had been overlooked by the far reaching arm of the government. Their produce contained no chemicals and their water source came from deep within the bowels of the earth. The people here were all elderly and had not learned any of new ways that the conglomerates had been promoting. However, the outside world sparkled and beckoned to the youth and almost all had followed the asphalt road. Most of the homes sat unoccupied, boarded up and ravaged by the winds and time. Besides the elderly, only one family with two daughters remained.



There came to this village another young family, one that knew horribly well the terrible state outside the village parameters. They ate the non altered food and drank the waters. They grew strong and healthy but what of the rest of the world? The mother had heard of the legend of one plant of considerable healing powers but could not recognize it by sight. It was one that the wealthy and powerful disdained as a poor man's potion and set no credence to its formidable effects. Legend had it that the aroma brought harmony to the mind, the tea restored the rightful mineral properties of the body, and the essential oils were powerful antiseptics and antibacterials. She only knew the name. The mother asked the elders if they knew of this plant. None knew of such a name. The mother despaired for the future. Time passed.


The young daughter befriended the native girls. She also told them of the legendary plant and told them of the pungent aroma associated with it. The eldest native daughter believed she knew where it may grow but the location was far and it was a formidable road. She volunteered to lead the expedition.


The mother, her two young daughters and the eldest native daughter went in search of the one plant of healing. It was a long walk to the Damari, the last place where this mysterious plant could be found. The travelers were ill equipped. They had no water or food and their shoes had been reduced to tatters so much so that they resembled thong sandals. The winds were violent at 9 beaufort and in some places pushed the weary travelers along.


As they left the village behind them, they passed the pasture fed animals and a little beyond that, the slaughter pole. Hooves and horns littered the path. The landscape started to change. Green, grassy fertile fields became dry, barren red soil. It almost seemed that the land could not support life anymore. The path became flat and rocks were exposed from the bedrock where the company had come in and blasted to remove the precious stones. The red earth was soft and slippery and difficult to walk on. The children became tired but plodded on with hope as their strength.


Small thorny plants soon started to litter the path. The flowers that blossomed on these plants were also made of thorns. It made the going difficult. Brambles soon joined the thorn flowers. The children paused as they searched for ways to cross over or through these harsh plants. They finally reached a stone wall. The stone wall lined the perimeter of the mountain, creating even terraces of incline and depth. It was crossing one of these terraces that an aroma stopped them in their tracks. They whiffed and instantly felt a restful feeling come over them. This must be it! They found the legendary plant! Salvia officinalis.


It was really nothing to look at. It was a round, low-growing shrub. Its lance-shaped leaves were grayish-green and felt velvety to the touch because of very short and fine hairs covering the leaves. The flowers were creamy-white to purple-pink and grew in whorls in groups of 2 to 6 at the top of the central stem. They picked all of this plant but could find no other.It was much more difficult on the return. The path was slippery and descending the mountain was far more dangerous. The sun had burned their skin and they were all dehydrated. The moon also glowed brightly in the day sky.


Their return to the village was flush with joy and accomplishment. They showed their treasure to the elders. Salvia officinalis! They found it. The elders looked at them with incredulence. This? This is what you were looking for? To them, it was as common as the blue sky and the brown earth. To them, it was a plant of no consequence for they used it everyday and everyway. To them, it was Sage.