Making SpiritualJourneys

Randalph’s Spiritual Quest and Search for Meaning

Randalph’s Spiritual Quest andSearch for Meaning

Making SpiritualJourneys

Tania ap SiônIllustrated by Phillip Vernon

Published by Bear Lands PublishingThe St Mary’s CentreLlys OnnenAbergwyngregynGwyneddLL33 0LDWales

Tania ap Siôn and Phillip Vernon are identifiedas authors of this work.

©Crown Copyright 2019.

First published 2019.

Sponsored by the Welsh Government.

The Travels of Randalph the Wise 7

1 Across the Sea 8

2 Along the Way 10

3 The Blessing of Light 14

4 Saints and Hermits 18

5 The Lighthouse 22

6 A Muslim Journey 26

7 A Hindu Journey 30

Can You Help Randalph? 34

Randalph the Wise Returns Home 36

CONTENTS

7

The Travels ofRandalph the Wise

Randalph the Wise sat in his chair, scratched his oldgrey head, and thought about the very big question.

“What really matters?” he asked the empty room in adeep, booming voice. As usual, there were no othervoices to answer him.

The question ‘what really matters?’ had beenpuzzling Randalph the Wise very much. He hadspent many days thinking about it, but he knew thathe would not find answers by staying in his room.

“I will go out into the world!” declared Randalph theWise. “I will find and bring back here some answersfrom there.”

Randalph the Wise put on his coat and hat, pickedup his bag, and gripped his staff. Then, turning hisface towards the rising sun, he set out on his journeythrough Wales.

It was in this way that Randalph the Wise began hisspiritual quest and search for meaning.

8

Randalph the Wise stood on the headland atUwchmynydd, looking out to sea. He pulled his hatdown tightly on his head to guard against the restlesswind. There before him was the island, rising from thesea mist.

Behind him, Randalph noticed signs of an old medievalchurch. Now only a faint outline in the grass remained.Taking a notebook from his bag, Randalph sketchedsome observations. How many pilgrims stood herebefore the final stage of their journey to the islandacross the sea?

1 Across the Sea

9

Randalph joined a small group gathered on the rockybeach at Porth Meudwy. They watched their bags andfood supplies being loaded onto a small boat from atrailer. Then, one by one, they went up the ladder andclimbed aboard. When everyone’s life jacket was safelyfastened, the small boat sailed from the protection ofthe cove into the open sea.

The waves grew in size and strength, and the smallboat rolled from side to side. Some large waves soakedthe travellers, who sat huddled on the benches.While the boat held its course, Randalph looked athis travelling companions. He saw a family with twoteenage children and a group of friends. There wasalso a young couple and a woman by herself.

Suddenly, the island loomed into sight. Everyone wassilent as the boat approached ‘Ynys Enlli’ – the Islandof the Currents.

10

2 Along the Way

The boat docked in the tiny harbour and the travellersclambered ashore. They made their way to thecottages, which would be their simple homes for theweek. Randalph started out in another direction forsomething had caught his eye. There, bobbing in thewater was the head and black eyes of a creaturewatching him. Was this creature following him as hewalked along the path?

The path led Randalph to a rocky bay. There, lying onhalf-submerged rocks, he found grey seals resting.Randalph sat on a rock and wondered at the seals withtheir mournful cries.

11

Randalph continued along the path until he came toa hut made of stone and wood. The hut was set highon a cliff top, facing out to sea. From this place, hecould see the great sea birds soaring and swoopingover the grey-blue water.

Then, the path led Randalph to a sandy beach. Atthe top of the beach he found another hut made ofwood. A man was leaving the hut, holding a pair ofbinoculars. At first, Randalph was puzzled. What hadthe man been looking at? There were many smalldarting movements among the pebbles by the water’sedge. When Randalph looked more closely, he sawtiny birds feeding busily. Slightly further out, therewas an Oystercatcher bird standing motionless on asun-flooded rock. Randalph wondered at the differentbirds and the people who sat in huts to watch them.

12

Randalph’s attention now turned to another movementnearby. A woman was walking slowly towards him onthe grassy path ahead. Sometimes, she stopped topeer carefully at something. Randalph moved closerand watched.

The woman stopped for the first time beside a spider’sweb. Along the fine web thread, droplets of waterbeamed radiantly in the sun. The second time shestopped beside a pink flower and a lichen-yellowedrock. Both flower and rock marked a gaping dark hole,leading deep into the earth below. The third time shestopped beside a dead bird and an empty crab claw.

When the woman nodded her head towards Randalphin greeting, he approached her. “What really mattersto you here?” Randalph asked her.

13

The woman pointed to the mountain behind her. “Thisisland faces outwards towards the sea,” she said. “Thehigh back of the mountain blocks out the mainland.There is something separate and hidden about thisisland. It is like being in another world. Every year, Imake the journey here to escape the noise and thespeed of my everyday life.”

The woman continued. “This place slows me down andI start noticing things around me. This place teachesme about what is really important in life.”

Then, the woman gave Randalph a sketch of a flowerand the empty crab claw. “This is what really mattersto me here. Please take these gifts back with you,”she said with a smile. Placing the gifts in his bag,Randalph said farewell and continued his search.

14

Randalph heard a chapel bell ringing and set outtowards it. He cut across fields to a muddy path thatled to the open chapel door.

Inside, the first thing Randalph noticed was the greatlight and warmth radiating from the centre of the chapel.There, candle lights burned all around a large crossof driftwood lying on the open floor. Behind this greatlight, the shadow of a large pulpit towered above aplain wooden altar table. Bold gold letters on the frontof the pulpit caught the light and read,‘1875’.

Randalph quietly made his way further inside to jointhe people gathered around the large cross ofdriftwood. Beside the altar table sat two robed figures,one on each side. A thurible hung nearby, releasingthin plumes of incense smell and smoke. Randalphnoticed that the candles on the altar table had not yetbeen lit.

3 The Blessing of Light

15

“Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord,” said therobed priest figure. Soon, he was walking and swingingthe thurible, around the cross and around the altar.Thick clouds of incense billowed out and filled the air.As the ancient Phos Hilaron hymn began, a flame fromthe driftwood cross was taken to light the altar candles.The voices of the people sang,

“O gladsome light, O graceOf God the Father’s face,The eternal splendour wearing;Celestial, holy, blest,Our Saviour Jesus Christ,Joyful in thine appearing.”

Randalph watched as they all gave thanks for theblessing of light, and then bowed their heads in prayer.

16

At the end of the service, people stayed quiet and satstill in the glowing candle lights. By now, it was darkoutside.

Randalph moved towards an open book nearby.“Visitors’ book,” he murmured under his breath.Turning the pages, he read what people had writtenabout this place and this island. The words spoke ofmany things, including peace, holiness, heaven andblessing.

When some people in the chapel stood up to leave,Randalph approached them. “What really matters toyou here?” Randalph asked them.

17

One person said, “I am on a pilgrimage with somefriends. We have walked almost 140 miles along theNorth Wales Pilgrim’s Way. This island is our final stopand our destination. See, I have the last stamp on mypilgrim’s passport.” Another person said, “I write poetryand there is a special kind of inspiration here.”Another person said, “I am looking for something. Inthis Blessing of Light service, I didn’t need to doanything. I only had to be here and to accept theblessing given. There is truth in that.”

Then, they gave Randalph a pilgrim’s passport, a poemand a piece of driftwood cross. “This is what reallymatters to us here. Please take these gifts back withyou,” they said with a smile. Placing the gifts in his bag,Randalph said farewell and continued his search.

18

Next along the path, Randalph came to the ruins of avery old building. The roof had long since gone andthe walls had been battered over the years. Theremaining stones of the building stood resilient butbroken in the sharp island wind. Now, the windows anddoors were open to anyone or anything passing by.Randalph wondered at this abandoned place and thepeople who would have been here many years ago.

Beside one doorway, a woman gazed up at the ancientstones. She was carrying a small book and started tolook at something in it. Randalph moved closer to her,trying to see what she was reading. He could see apicture of the ruins and the words, “The Abbey ofSaint Mary.”

4 Saints and Hermits

19

Randalph continued reading the story of the Abbey.The Abbey was built in the 13th Century for monks ofthe Augustinian Order. The island was a good place forthem because it was far away from the distractions ofthe world. Here, they could devote themselves to Godin peace. The island was already known to be a holyplace. For almost a thousand years before this Abbeywas built, saints and hermits were coming here. SaintCadfan and Saint Dyfrig were among these saints. It issaid that 20,000 saints are buried on this island.

The woman and Randalph looked out to the graveyardand saw the graves and the Celtic crosses nearby.“This island is a place of death and life,” the booksaid. “Here is the promise of new life, of resurrection.”

20

The woman returned to the path and walked downtowards the yard of Lloft Carreg Fawr. She disappearedinto a room called the Oratory, and Randalph followedher inside.

Here, the woman stayed for some time, sitting quietly.Randalph started to look around. He discovered thatthis small room was a place for reflection and prayerfor anyone who wanted to come here. Not long ago,a hermit nun lived for many years on this island andthis room was a special place of prayer for her.

When the woman had finished her prayer, Randalphapproached her. “What really matters to you here?”Randalph asked her.

21

The woman turned to Randalph and said, “I havecome to this small room for some shelter to pray.Outside, the island can be wild and harsh. I feel thatthere is stillness and peace in this place. There is aprotection. Maybe it comes from all the prayers thathave been prayed here. I think that this whole islandis filled with the spirit and prayer of the saints andhermits who have lived and died here. It is a very holyplace. But, it is not an easy place.”

Then, the woman gave Randalph a card with a‘Bardsey Blessing’. “This is what really matters to mehere. Please take this gift back with you,” she saidwith a smile. Placing the gift in his bag, Randalphsaid farewell and continued his search.

22

The path led Randalph back to the other side of theisland, and he stopped at the rocks near theLighthouse. He noticed a man and his daughtersitting among the rocks directly below him. Randalphcould see that the rocks were particularly dark in thisplace. They also looked sharp and angular. The fatherand daughter were studying these rocks carefully andtalking.

As Randalph listened, he heard about how these rockshad formed millions of years ago. He heard about thedanger of rocks hidden beneath the sea. Then, heheard about an old folksong called, “The Bardsey BoatLament”. The father recited the lament,

“The last day of November,Chilled by a rough wind,In the year 1822Brought news of a thwarted journey.”

5 The Lighthouse

23

The lament continued, remembering a dreadful nightand a terrible storm. Struggling in the waves and thewind, there was the boat sailing from Porth Meudwyto Ynys Enlli. Twenty people were aboard.

“Now the boat has very nearlyReached the sanctuary of the Cafn;Here is Death openingHis dreadful rapacious maw;He, our captain on land or sea –He will gain his ends;Unto him all are equal,Chance kills them, the grave swallows them.”

Randalph looked at the sea and thought about thewatery graves.

24

The father and daughter scrambled up from theirrocky seats and made their way to the Lighthouse.The Lighthouse stood tall and formidable before them.They saw the automated light and the foghorn. Theyimagined the warning and the protection that theLighthouse offered to all sailors at sea.

When the father and daughter saw Randalph andwaved hello, Randalph approached them. “Whatreally matters to you here?” Randalph asked them.

25

The girl pointed towards the scattering of houses andshrugged her shoulders. She said, “Once a wholecommunity lived here. There was even a schoolhouse.It must have been a hard life. I take so much forgranted.”

Then her father replied, “These rocks are so old. Theywere here before any human being could walk overthem. Our short lives are lightweight compared withthese rocks. They will be here when we are gone.”

Then, they gave Randalph a picture of the island’shouses and a small piece of dark rock. “This is whatreally matters to us here. Please take these gifts backwith you,” they said with a smile. Placing the gifts in hisbag, Randalph said farewell.

Randalph then frowned and pondered. He could seethat making spiritual journeys really mattered. He knewthat this was part of his spiritual quest and search formeaning. “But what do other people in different placessay about this?” asked Randalph.

26

Randalph trekked north and then south, east and thenwest. His search led him by mountains and valleys,through cities and towns, around coasts and lakes.Then, in a city street, he finally stopped. A family wasgathering by the front door of a house, waiting forsomething to happen. A moment later, a car parkednearby, and a man and a woman got out. Both youngand old were full of smiles as they welcomed thecouple home. “You are now Hajjis!” an excited boyexclaimed.

As Randalph walked towards the family, he pondered,“I wonder what a Muslim can tell me about makingspiritual journeys?” The family was overjoyed by thecouple’s return and invited Randalph in.

6 A Muslim Journey

27

Inside the house, the couple talked about a place faraway called Makkah and a pilgrimage called the Hajj.They spoke of the long journey, the hot dry desert airand the large crowds of people. There were nophotographs to show, “We were focused on thepilgrimage alone,” they said. So, everyone listenedcarefully and created pictures in their heads.

Then, the couple opened a bag filled with gifts for theirfamily. They shared out bottles of holy water from theZamzam Well, wooden tasbih beads and prayer mats.Randalph wondered at the stories and the gifts broughtback from this special place.

As people examined one another’s gifts, Randalphleaned forward and asked the couple, “What might aMuslim say about making spiritual journeys?”

28

The woman replied to Randalph first. “I will neverforget how I felt when I saw the Ka’bah in Makkah forthe first time,” she said. “For me, as a Muslim, this isthe most sacred place. There were so many peoplecircling around it, just as Muslims have done for manycenturies at this time of year. We were all dressed thesame, but we were all different. We had come toMakkah from different countries, with differentlanguages, cultures and backgrounds, but we werethere as one before God. I was so overwhelmed, Icried.”

The man was thoughtful. “For me, the most importantand moving part of the pilgrimage happened on thesecond day,” he said. “I was standing with millions ofother Muslims on the desert plain of Arafat, asking Godto forgive my sins.”

29

The man continued, saying, “So, you see, spiritualjourneys are important to us as Muslims too. We tryto go on pilgrimage to Makkah once in our lifetime. Inthe Qur’an, God asks us to do this and it is the fifthPillar of our faith. When we are obedient to God’swill, we receive all kinds of blessings. This pilgrimagehas changed us. We haven’t come back the same.”

The couple then gave Randalph a bottle of holy waterfrom the Zamzam Well and some tasbih beads.“Please, take these back with you,” they said with asmile. Placing the gifts in his bag, Randalph saidfarewell and continued on his journey.

30

Randalph trekked on and on, braving the sun and therain, then the gales and the snow. He did not stopuntil he arrived at the green peaceful space of a park.Here, he stopped to look at the carefully planted treesand flowers. Under the shade of a broad Oak tree,Randalph heard two voices deep in conversation.

Sitting close by on a bench, a man was talking withhis grandson about a journey he made many yearsago. This journey took him to a special city and themost sacred river for Hindus, he said. Maybe, one day,his grandson would go to this place too.

As Randalph walked towards the man and the boy,he muttered, “I wonder what a Hindu can tell me aboutmaking spiritual journeys?”

7 A Hindu Journey

31

Randalph listened to the man describing his pilgrimageto the city of Varanasi in India. The man rememberedthe city being full of life with its bright colours, soundsand smells. There were temples for different Hindu godsand goddesses everywhere. All around, there was theclamour of bells and rituals. But the most striking thingwas how the whole city was centred on the great riverGanga.

Then, the man shared how the river came to be in thatplace. The god, Lord Shiva saved the earth by catchingthe falling river in his hair. This made the river flowsafely on the earth. “Now, the river gives life in so manyways,” he said.

When the man paused to recall more memories,Randalph leaned forward and asked the question,“What might a Hindu say about making spiritualjourneys?”

32

The man thought carefully about the question. “InVaranasi, I remember waking up early one morning,”he said. “It was still dark when I made my way throughthe streets to the banks of the river Ganga. The stepsor ‘ghats’ leading down into the river were alreadybecoming busy. There were holy men meditatingwith their staffs and alms bowls beside them. Therewere the morning puja ceremonies. There were thefuneral pyres burning. These were powerful sights.But, for me, the sight of pilgrims walking and runninginto the sacred river was most powerful of all.”

The man signed and looked at his grandson andRandalph, saying, “And, I was one of those pilgrims.Like many others, I came to wash myself in thissacred water so that I could become spiritually clean.”

33

The man continued, saying, “So you see, spiritualjourneys are important to me as a Hindu too. Thereare some places that are very holy, and people cometo them for different reasons. Pilgrimage to Varanasiis about being washed clean of what holds you backspiritually. Life and death sit side-by-side on theriverbanks of Varanasi. When I die, I hope my familywill be able to release my ashes into the river Ganga.”

The man then gave Randalph a small statue of theLord Shiva and some water from the river Ganga.“Please, take these back with you,” he said with a smile.Placing the gifts in his bag, Randalph said farewell andcontinued on his journey.

34

Randalph the Wise has been given many gifts on histravels. He has also made many notes in his notebook.But the quest is not yet over. There is still space inhis bag for more things to help him reflect on ‘makingspiritual journeys’ as something that really matters.

Now Randalph needs your help.

Can you help Randalph?

35

36

Randalph the Wise Returns HomeAs the sun set, a weary Randalph the Wise returnedto his room, where he carefully unpacked his bag.One by one, he placed in front of him all that he hadcollected on his journey through Wales.

Then, Randalph the Wise sat in his chair, scratchedhis old grey head, and thought about the verybig question.

“What really matters?” he asked again in a deep,booming voice. This time, all that he had collected onhis journey answered him.

Randalph the Wise listened carefully and smiled.

“This is an essential part of my spiritual quest andsearch for meaning!” he said. “Special journeys toplaces away from home are important to people.They change people in all kinds of ways. Makingspiritual journeys is something that really matters.”

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Read more…Join Randalph the Wise on some of his other travelsaround Wales.

All storybooks are published in both Welsh andEnglish. Open access copies are available on theWelsh Government ‘Hwb’ website (hwb.gov.wales)and on the St Mary’s Centre website (st-marys-centre.org.uk). Teachers’ guidance material, filmsand music are also provided.

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Randalph the Wise is searching foranswers to the very big question. Hewants to know, ‘What really matters?’This question is taking Randalph on ajourney through Wales. On his travels, hefinds some special places and people tohelp him with his quest.

In this story, Randalph discovers awindswept island off the coast of NorthWales. Here, he learns that MakingSpiritual Journeys is something that reallymatters. Visits to a Muslim home and to apark where a Hindu is talking with hisgrandson make him think even moredeeply about what Making SpiritualJourneys may mean.

Are you ready to join Randalph on hisspiritual quest and search for meaning?Maybe you can help Randalph with thevery big question too. What really matters?