Alyosha's Tales: Bonfire

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The first tale: Shop

How long or short, and since the time Alyosha sat on the bench with his grandfather, the questions grew more and more. His legs seemed to have led him to the now familiar home. Grandfather was sitting on the rubble and greeted him as if they had known each other for a long time. And the boy, to himself, noted that it was true that he didn’t seem to be visiting, but returned home. Everything in the grandfather's house was cozy, but so well and thoroughly that it seemed that from the very threshold you got to the very place of power that grandfather spoke about last time. Here you are always welcome. Always welcome and shelter. It was as calm and easy as it is only in a wooden house. And right from the walls you could feel the power that seemed to feed you. By the way, grandparents lived very simply. Wooden blockhouse. What's inside, what's outside. A stove, a table, and two benches. So far, this is all that Alyosha noticed in that hut. Although, the walls inside seemed to glow with an even yellow light. Maybe that's why it was so easy and comfortable here.

Grandfather put on the samovar. They used to love intimate conversations over Ivan-tea in Russia. Maybe because they were in no hurry to go anywhere, or maybe they loved each other to listen. How not to take but all are relatives. In a word, people would sit down to talk and you look and they will sing some song. If it’s hard on the soul, then the sad one will drag on, but the merry one is so cheerful, but you’ll see, they will also dance. Yes, so fervently that you can't stop it later. And hardly anyone could keep away from the fun. Maybe because it was sincere. "From a pure heart," as the people say. By the way, I don’t remember that those gatherings ended on sad songs. Maybe because in those sad songs they poured all their sadness and sorrow? They used to sing together, and it seemed that everyone felt better in their souls. Light and joyful. “Like a stone fell from my soul,” they said. It seems like you came to a neighbor and you were sad, they sang and that's all. And won how not simple the song was in Russia! Wonderful in one word! Now they do not sing so often. Yes, only those songs still live among the people. That is why they are called People.

True or not, I do not know, but no one went to psychologists at that time. Yes, and there were none, from the fact that they went to friends and neighbors, and Russian people helped each other. From the bottom of my heart, but from the bottom of my heart again. Or maybe there weren't those strange psychologists because everyone at that time in Mother Russia saw the Soul and understood more than many learned people now. In a word, a mystery. Anyway. Another time about this. There will be another case.

Sat down means.

The grandfather here and asks: "Well, what has Alekh in mind ?!"

- They sunk into my head the words about the Soul that you said on the bench then grandfather. How to open it then?

- Open that? It's not difficult to open. Yes, and there is nothing complicated in the world. The world itself opens to the one who seeks. And you know to yourself, look, but listen to him - only the grandfather grinned. You just have to listen correctly. Let's start a fire with you ?!

Autumn was already beginning in the courtyard and a fine rain was falling in autumn.

- So it’s raining in the yard! - the little boy looked out the window.

“Well, it’s not a problem,” the grandfather said slyly, squinting.

He went out onto the porch. He looked at the rain clouds that hung directly over the house. He whispered something under his breath (which Alyosha did not hear). He smiled. At that moment, he seemed to sparkle, or maybe Alyosha just imagined it. He folded the calloused palms into a handful. He raised them to his lips and blew into them, directing them into the sky and turning in the direction where he seemed to blow off the clouds. Then, he whispered something else and returned to the hut to finish his tea.

They sat in silence for several minutes and suddenly a ray of light fell on the table through the window pane. The boy looked out the window and saw that everything was blooming there.

- Let's go - just said the grandfather.

Together they went out onto the porch and Alyosha could not believe his eyes. The wind, as if from nowhere, swayed the treetops that stood nearby. He scattered the clouds in the direction where the grandfather had blown a few minutes ago. It was like a huge broom chalk and cleared the way for the Sun.

Unhurriedly, without unnecessary movements, the grandfather went to the woodpile, took an ax and began to chop wood. There was no fuss or rush in his movements, and at the same time they were filled with some kind of incomprehensible force. It seemed that it was not an ax that chopped wood, but the wood itself, realizing that it could not resist the grandfather, was split into pieces. It was as if he was simply pointing with an ax where it was necessary to split. It seemed that this was a familiar thing for Alyosha. He saw how they chopped wood more than once or twice, and he had to chop it himself. But either the grandfather did it in a different way, or he put some other meaning into this action, but the power that literally spilled around did not leave doubts that something else was present in his business, besides the grandfather, the ax and firewood.

Having built a small fire at a distance, on the lawn, the grandfather narrowed his eyes slyly.

- Well, light up your granddaughters.

- So I have no matches. How to set it on fire? - The boy looked at his grandfather with bewilderment.

- Into business !! And how did people live before without matches ?! - the grandfather frowned playfully.

Meanwhile, Alyosha was already expecting another miracle and was already ready for the fact that his grandfather would ignite the fire with his gaze or move his hands and the fire itself would ignite, or maybe lightning would strike right into the fire. In a word, he was ready for all kinds of miracles. However, the grandfather just rummaged in his pocket and took out some kind of strip of iron, or maybe it was a bent nail and a stone. In one motion, hitting the "nail" on the flint, he struck a spark and she caught fire on the shavings. The flame kept burning and the wood seemed to come to life. The fire seemed to purr and greeted them and their grandfather. He was affectionate and somehow dear, like a kitten. The woods began to crackle merrily and it became somehow cozy and warm around. All the firewood went up and burned steadily. Suddenly, out of nowhere came a gust of autumn wind. All the fire seemed to immediately respond to him. As if the fire wanted to break off with the wind and fly wherever he goes. The fire seemed to breathe and hum, as if he wanted to say something. But these were only vowel sounds, and therefore it was not very clear what exactly he wanted to say. He gained strength and flared up more and more. He seemed to have grown stronger and became very confident in his strength. It was getting brighter and warmer near him. Now he no longer seemed as harmless as he was at first and the kid stepped back a little so that he would not get burned. Flames danced in the wind. It seemed it was really some kind of dance, like a round dance, or a Cossack dance. Yes!! The fire itself was alive! As alive as they are with their grandfather next to him! For some reason, before the thought that the fire could be alive, Alyosha did not occur to him. And now, he seemed to see him differently. As if he saw something that he had not seen before.

- What do you see, granddaughters? - the grandfather smiled slyly, as if he was reading his thoughts.

- The fire is as if alive !! The same as we are - the boy almost choked with joy.

The grandfather just laughed in a boyish way, and Alyosha noticed how his eyes sparkled and around it seemed to become even brighter.

- Not many people nowadays notice it. Previously, they understood more. They saw deeper. We looked at the essence. Maybe that's why they called the Veduns, those who saw it? And now they look, but not everyone can see.

So let's take a look with you Alyoshka. Fire, because the same person. It is warm from him as from a person, he can warm and feed. Dry clothes, cook food. If a person is strong, then he will burn all diseases and ailments in himself like fire, he will burn everything that is alien. For someone he illuminates the way and shows the way. For some, he is dear, like a home and affectionate. Well, for someone it can turn into a disaster. Can burn down the house or inadvertently. Bring misfortune. The smoke from him corrodes the eyes, soot, the smell, again, will seem unpleasant to someone. In a word, it is different for everyone. Well, like a man. But the essence of it is the same whatever one may say. The manifestations are different. One word - Fire !!

In the old days, only Semargl called him. One of the Gods was revered. Others Kres. Live fire was so called, which was obtained by wiping it out of wood. This is probably why the device for extracting fire was called Kresalo or Ognivo. Well, you've seen him already. And from that maybe the peasant in Russia has a name. Only earlier he was Kresyanin. A fire-worshiper according to the present or a Fire-dweller. The one who worshiped fire and accepted and honored him for a living one. From the fact that he saw the same way. This was the case in many villages. Until now, much has survived in our culture from those days. From that, the following expressions remained in our language: "A man is on fire" or "On fire" they say about those who are in motion and very active. Or "It went out", "Burnt out", "Life in it is barely a greenhouse" for example. Why do we compare man with fire? Maybe because in each of us the same fire burns inside, which carries light and warmth. And this fire can be a part of what we people call the Soul?

“Fire is a part of the Soul…” the boy repeated slowly.

- And maybe that's why the grandmothers-sorcerers are still taking off the damage with the fireball. They clean their souls so they say from spoilage. But before Alyosha, as it was, people after death were not buried in cemeteries as now, but built Krody, funeral bonfires, and burned the dead on them. K-Rod Heavenly was sent. Is it because their Souls are pure to Heaven to go to their families. Look around you more closely, you will find it yourself. For example, in memory of the fallen wars in Russia, the eternal fire has been kindled and supported since ancient times. This tradition is still alive today. From that, they do it in order to animate the warriors who fell in a brave battle. Who gave their lives for their homeland. Therefore, for us they are eternally alive and with us.

Here's how much you can see if you take a closer look. All of this can be seen in your opinion, Alyoshka ?!

“I don’t know, I have never looked so deeply,” the boy said, a little confused.

- Let's have a look at something else. Without what, the fire will not burn?

- Without firewood - the boy was quickly found.

- By itself! You look at the fire - grandfather smiled. Look and think. We are in no hurry to go anywhere. In a hurry, you always slip past the essence.

- Without what else then? Well, I don’t know. he drawled.

His head was spinning: "Matches, Matches", but he dismissed this thought, because he saw that they were unnecessary for his grandfather.

- What do we have a bonfire on? - asked the grandfather.

“On the ground,” the boy replied.

- Good. Earth means support for Fire. Fire cannot go out without support. Think further.

Suddenly Alyosha remembered how the fire was transformed when he caught a gust of wind.

- Wind ! He blurted out.

- You are right! But let's talk about the wind separately, there will be time and we will get to it. Let's call it Air for now. Look what comes out. Our fire, whatever it is, needs a support, well, as a Body for the Soul, so for now, let's say. Firewood for the Soul, this Impression comes out that feed the Soul. That from which Joy appears or sadness. Business is not to your liking or there is not enough firewood, and the fire will be small. Well, Air is a Spirit that fills the Soul with Power. And if we heat the water with fire, we get a cloud of steam. Steam is another component of the Soul by the way. That is why they say that "Soul Floats". Well, it flies. Well, not all at once. But where did it all start? - grandfather pointedly raised his finger up.

- From Iskra - the boy suddenly realized.

- That's right - the grandfather smiled into his beard. It was not for nothing that they did everything from the heart in Russia.

“Is that a word that is familiar to you?” The grandfather asked with a sly grin.

- It is familiar of course, but before I didn’t think about its meaning.

- If a person is sincere, then with this spark he can kindle a fire in himself. Fire is known to bring light and warmth to other people. And cleanses from all filth that is formed in the soul from offenses and vain worries. And when a person begins to live to his liking, that is, to do what he has a desire for, then he begins to nourish his soul with this and the fire flares up even more. And behind the soul, as you know, the body begins to move. From that and in the hands of everything is arguing. And from this he experiences Joy when there is enough of this light in him. When his business is to his liking. This is how the Soul itself opens up and is filled with light. And in what you do, you put part of your soul, without thinking about it. You just want something around it. Light and well. It was okay. You see how simple everything is.

They were silent for a little while enjoying the warmth from the fire.

- And the fact that we are burning wood is not bad? We're destroying it! Alyoshka asked suddenly.

- So what kind of firewood did we collect the fire from?

- From dry - the boy answered.

“A dry tree is just waiting to be freed. His age in this world is over. Maybe that's why it burns so well. You won't light it easily when you just cut it down. It seems to cling to life. And dry fire is the fastest way to the next world. Life is endless, Alyoshka.

Meanwhile, the fire had already burned out and only coals remained of it. But the strange thing is, the warmth has not gone anywhere. It seemed to have become even more tangible. It seems that the fire is gone, but it is still warm from it. Like fond memories of someone close and dear.

At that they said goodbye and each went about their own business, which can only be with a boy who was just beginning to get to know the world and his grandfather.