Stories & poems
Makaila and the Forest of Insight
A fairy tale about the HUNA principles, written as part of my training as a HUNA coach. The original is in German. Automatically translated by Claude.
Once upon a time, in a hidden world, there was a brave young woman named Makaila. The name Makaila stands for “the path of life” and for faith in one's own journey and its significance. In this world in which she lived, magic, spirits and mythical creatures were just as much a part of reality as the everyday and the explainable.
Makaila had the heart of a warrior, yet also a fineness and fragility in her soul that had already put her through a great many trials in her life.
One day she set out on a journey into a forest. This forest was said to teach the hidden HUNA principles and to give deep insights into life, our togetherness and healing. In good spirits, but also with respect, she set out, travelling light, so that she would get by there for a good while.
She had only gone a short way into the forest and right away she felt that she was in a completely new place. Something was different, even though she had only just come into the forest. Curiously she followed the paths through this lively, overgrown forest and a short while later suddenly came upon a great temple. She had heard of it before. It was said there was a Temple of 1000 Truths. Seekers who had been there before her had been left very confused by this temple, but others nearly enlightened.
In large, splendid letters the word IKE stood above the entrance of this temple. Next to it was a small inscription she almost missed, with the words “Be careful what you believe, it might come true.” Makaila wondered a little whether this was meant as an invitation or rather as a warning. And so she stepped carefully and respectfully into the temple. There was something dark and also something mysterious in the air.
Step by step she felt her way forward, until suddenly she heard noises and suddenly a dragon appeared before her eyes. Makaila felt her senses sharpening and her warrior heart pulsing, and she took up an attacking stance, ready to pass this test. The dragon and Makaila began to fight, both of them knew how to use their weapons. Makaila, by far the more agile and slender of the two, hid behind a well to catch her breath and gather herself.
She took a few deep breaths, breathing in through the forehead and out through the belly, as an old teacher nicknamed Piko Piko had once taught her. She came more strongly to her senses and suddenly remembered: “Be careful what you believe, it might come true,” Makaila remembered, and all at once it became clearer to her: maybe this dragon isn't evil at all and wants to fight her, but was merely reacting to her caution and her readiness to fight. Now she allowed the thought that this dragon is friendly and well disposed towards her, maybe even as afraid as she herself. Makaila stepped out of her hiding place, with deep breaths and a friendly presence. The dragon did indeed seem just as more reserved and turned towards her differently.
Where Makaila had earlier seen the fiery red eyes of the dragon, she now recognised large, expectant eyes that mirrored her curiosity and mindfulness. And she also recognised the vulnerability deep in the dragon's eyes and in herself. She came closer and closer to him, until at last she gently touched him. And so an enemy became a friend who was not so different from her at all. They took a few deep, calm breaths together. In silence and gratitude she said goodbye to the dragon, a new friend whom she would always carry in her heart.
Slowly and thoughtfully she stepped out of the IKE temple, still a little overwhelmed by this experience. So she decided to continue her way through this mysterious forest.
As she strolled on through the forest, looking at nature with fresh eyes, it slowly grew darker and cooler. There was no trace of houses, people or shelters, only nature in its many different forms.
She was not afraid of spending the night in the dark in the forest, she knew how to get by, still a shelter wouldn't be bad at all, she thought to herself. Since the sky was overcast, a starry sky could no longer show her the way that night either. By now the paths were harder and harder to make out, and in the end she did feel a little uneasy about the night ahead. “Be careful what you believe …” she murmured to herself again. And so she decided to believe that something would show her the way through this night. It grew darker and darker, yet her thoughts grew clearer and clearer, so deeply had her experience with the dragon stayed with her. In the middle of the darkness she suddenly made out a small glow, which she went on to follow.
And is it really true, she asked herself, for suddenly she found herself in a sea of fireflies on this mild summer night. Makaila was completely taken by this magical moment, for these many fireflies touched her fine soul. The more she sank into this moment, the more she seemed to recognise a path in the pattern of the many little lights, at least she believed so. After some time this path led to a small hut, on which she could make out the inscription MAKIA and the words “Energy flows where your focus goes.” In this hut she found a fire bowl and some wood, enough to give her a warm, sheltered night.
Makaila set out to gather further insights in this so many-sided forest. She followed the densely overgrown paths, which could quickly lead to a clearing, but just as well into the endless wild growth of untamed nature. Little was predictable in this forest. She now increasingly sensed something thoughtful in her surroundings and next reached a small village. In the middle of this forest a small community seemed to live. Yet there was a certain unrest and at the same time a certain stillness in the air, as if something dramatic had happened here. At the edge she discovered a little girl, sitting in front of a well. She looked sad and turned inward. Not very usual for girls her age.
Makaila remembered what a teacher had once taught her about boundaries and freedom. This teacher was called KALA and had taught her to walk through life wisely, with the knowledge that a single smile can change a person's life. Just as the smile of another person could change her life. It can remind us of the kindness and lightness of life, as well as of a decision we have long wanted to make, and give life a new direction. So there are no limits to what can happen and what is possible.
And so Makaila approached the girl with friendly and gentle steps and sat down beside her in silence. Makaila noticed a tear rolling down the girl's cheek and onto a picture she was holding in her hands. The picture showed a boy, maybe her brother or a friend.
Makaila broke the silence: “It's okay to cry. In tears lies a strength that shows our humanity and lets us connect in love.” The little girl found comfort in the words and above all in Makaila's loving presence. The little girl opened up to her and told her how she lost a friend in a tragic disaster in the forest. Makaila recognised how her own fineness and vulnerability allow her to build a bridge to the girl's heart. And how this meeting of hearts could release the energy of healing. It would still take time for the little girl's heart to heal, but from now on she would feel the confidence that healing is possible.
Makaila found a home for one night in this village, and when saying goodbye she gave her name and asked the girl for hers. She said: “I am ALOHA.” Deeply touched by the humanity of this encounter, they said goodbye to each other.
Makaila left this place with the wisdom of how love can permeate light and darkness and connect them with each other.
With the new day Makaila also began to see life and the adventure ahead of her with fresh eyes. The evening before she had already heard the rushing of a nearby stream, and so she followed her intuition, the way water follows the stream in which it flows. She followed nearby paths upstream along the stream. The rooty paths, trees and bushes reminded her of the small and big tasks of life.
Makaila walked the whole morning and finally came to a place where the stream emerged from a pond. The water flowed into the pond over a small waterfall of nested levels. She discovered that she was not alone and that someone had apparently decided to rest here today as well. It was a young man, who straight away stirred a little nervousness and excitement in her. Her soft and open heart was just as full of longing, and yet she had become wary of the bittersweet taste of love. But this young man was too interesting for her to resist making contact. The young man noticed Makaila watching him and walked up to her: “So, what wisdom has this forest given you for your way so far?” She was a little intimidated by his powerful, but also open presence.
She told him about IKE, the Temple of 1000 Truths, about the fireflies that showed her the way to the MAKIA hut, and about meeting the girl ALOHA. She felt that he understood her, not only in his mind, but also what these experiences meant to her heart. Makaila's body relaxed, her nervousness gave way to calm and attentiveness. Of course Makaila was just as curious about what the young man had experienced.
“All right,” he began, “so right at the start I had an encounter with a bear, who assured me that he only wants the best for me, even if it will probably hurt, so that his wisdom passes into body, mind and soul. And the next moment he attacked me straight away, and I tell you, the immense power of a bear, I felt it to the bone. You know, Makaila, I have certainly learned to fight, but here it was about bare survival for me. I dodged him, used my agility, moved between and up the trees. In the middle of our fight the bear asked me what it was I wanted. Of course I told him that above all I want to survive.
Right after that the bear gave me a cut with his claws and I only just escaped something worse. The bear asked further: ‘And why do you want so badly to survive?’ I answered: ‘Well, to LIVE, to LIVE my life.’ The bear replied with a loud roar: ‘Show me, I don't believe you, the way you're running away. Wanting to live isn't enough, you also have to DO something for it.’
Something in me now awakened a deeper determination and I began not only to escape and defend myself, but also to attack. Suddenly I saw the possibilities the forest offered me … vines, branches, hidden corners where I could use my advantages. But a victory against this immense power was still far from in sight. I felt my doubts, which robbed me of my own tiny chance of standing up to this bear. In the end he knocked me to the ground when I wasn't paying attention.
My strength was fading, but I decided to get up. In this despair and anger I finally discovered a primal power and determination that wiped out every doubt. In that moment I grabbed a massive branch, swung round to gather momentum and struck back with all my determination. And indeed, for the first time the bear went down. On the one hand I was surprised myself at what had happened to me, and on the other hand I could now feel an uncertain calm.
‘Well done,’ the bear said to me. ‘This fight was not about me or our fight, but about your devotion to life and to the power within yourself. In the end all power comes from within. I am the MANA bear and my purpose is to connect you with this power. Most people think they are afraid of being weak. But in truth they are afraid of being strong and not being able to master this power.’
My exhaustion and my anger gave way to the wisdom and truth of this insight. He was right, also about what he said at the beginning, that he only wants the best for me, even if it will hurt. It was not only the fight with the bear, Makaila, but also within, with my doubts and fears that held me back. In the end the MANA bear gave me some MANA berries, they have a strong energy that was meant to help my healing.”
Makaila was deeply moved by the experience and openness of this young man, and slowly the wealth of experiences in this forest also wove itself together for her into a picture that mirrored the wisdom of this forest. She also recognised how special this encounter was. For now it was to remain this one encounter, but they agreed that they would at first continue their ways separately, yet later seek the way back to each other, when the time is right.
She now continued on her way, on the one hand on her own path, and yet knowing that she is not alone, but on a shared journey with others.