Solstice - The Goddess Awakens

This is what had really been bothering Lola. Her fear of failure. She wasn’t sure if she was smart enough or strong enough to succeed, it all seemed a little hopeless. Lola felt everything was way over her head, but also knew that she couldn’t quit – she had to at least try.

‘Give me a look at that again, Aibgrene,’ said Lola.

She began to scan the text and picked out the few words that she miraculously recognised. Lifting a pen and a piece of paper, she wrote them down in capitals TUATHA DE DANANN, BRUGH NA BOINNE, DAGDA, BEL.

‘What’ve you got?’ asked Aibgrene, as Lola turned the page towards her.

‘Well, even though it’s written in Old Irish, there are a few words that I understand. I’m not sure how, but I do. That’s been happening a lot lately. Anyway, it’ll get us started. The first is very important I think. It’s Tuatha Dé Danann. This is one I do know. Have you ever heard of them?’

For once Aibgrene was at a loss and shook her head. Lola continued.

‘Basically translated, Tuatha Dé Danann, means Peoples of the Goddess Dana. They weren’t the first, or the last, race of people to settle in Ireland, but, according to Irish mythology, they were the greatest. They were a super intelligent civilisation, who were highly skilled at magick and possessed secret knowledge about the universe and cosmos. No one knows how they came to Ireland, but some believe they descended from the air. With them they brought the stone of destiny, known as the Lia Fail, the Spear of Victory and a magical cauldron.’

Lola was finding the detail from deep within her, as all the stories that Arthur had told her came flooding back, though she hadn’t recalled them for years. ’Then there’s the Brú na Bóinne, again roughly translated, it means the Palace or Mansion of the Boyne.’ Checking that Aibgrene was still following, Lola continued. ‘Now, do you know about the Boyne Valley, and its importance in our mythology?’

‘We’ll I think it’s more than lore, its mystical significance is real. Even you must accept that now?’ suggested Aibgrene.

‘I’m beginning to,’ smiled Lola. ‘Anyway, it’s one of the world’s most important archaeological sites. Actually, Arthur would kill me for saying that – he didn’t have much time for the archaeologists that discovered and worked on the site over the years, he said they’d done more damage than good, but that’s for another time. It’s one of the world’s oldest spiritual sites.’

‘So how does the Brú relate to this mystical race?’ asked Aibgrene.

‘Well according to the legend this is where they settled and built a temple in honour of their Sun God, the Dagda. This temple, I think, could be Newgrange.’

Aibgrene was following Lola’s thread of thought now. ‘Yes of course. Newgrange is orientated to catch the first rays of sun on the morning of the Winter Solstice. That’s great, Lola, well done! You must have learnt something from Arthur after all!’

But Lola hadn’t finished yet.

‘That’s not all! The last word is Bel.’ Lola hesitated for a second. ‘Listen, Aibgrene – I don’t know where this knowledge is coming from, but I’m pretty sure the word “Bel” means sun in Old Irish. Clearly the sun seems to be an important factor tying in with the Ancient Order of the Golden Dawn. In the Ulster Cycles of Irish mythology, Newgrange was mentioned, but it was referred to as the Temple of the Dawn. The modern Irish term for dawn is “Fainne an Lae” which literally means “the ring of light on the skyline at daybreak”. It’s quite a mouthful, I know, but there has to be something in that.’

‘Well it’s a start,’ smiled Aibgrene without further comment.

Lola sat back in the chair, looking around the brightly lit library. She loved it here, she had always felt safe and secure in this room, and now it belonged to her. Turning to Aibgrene, Lola hoped that she might now have some answers too.

‘So, we know that the Golden Dawn may be connected to the Brú, but where do the Hell Fire Club come in to it all? And who are they?’ asked Lola. That one question had not left her mind since she first learned of their existence during the ceremony at the fort. If they had killed Arthur, and he was aware of them, then what chance did she have? She needed to know what, or who, she was up against.

‘We’ll that’s where I can help you, Lola,’ said Aibgrene. ‘Many things were to be revealed to me on the night of my birthday, but as you know my mum never showed up!’

Her words quickly reminded them that Celeste was missing, that their situation wasn’t a game, that it was real, that Arthur had been murdered, and that Celeste had been taken. The stakes couldn’t get any higher. Lola reflected on how she might feel if it had been her mum or dad. She marvelled at how calmly Aibgrene was dealing with it.

‘I can’t imagine how hard this is for you, Aibgrene. Your mum is an amazing woman and you’re so like her,’ said Lola.

‘I’m okay, Lola. I know I will find her. I have to keep believing that. That’s the only thing that keeps me going, knowing that I have to find her. I just can’t understand that she didn’t know she might be in trouble. I mean you even sensed that Cyril was no good, so how on earth did my mum not see it?’ asked Aibgrene.

‘Maybe she did know!’ replied Lola. She had been thinking about Celeste’s behaviour that evening, and how she had dismissed Lola’s feelings about Cyril. But there was one thing that troubled her, the look on Celeste’s face when she got into the car. It wasn’t fear or shock, more resignation.

‘We’ll find her!’ said Lola trying to sound hopeful. Aibgrene nodded her head in acknowledgement, and then expanded upon Lola’s initial query.

’Yes, the Hell Fire Club. Well, Lola, you’re training to be a journalist, so you might like a good conspiracy theory. Only this one is not so much a conspiracy, it’s fact, a fact that many refuse to believe. The Hell Fire Club is made up of a group of extremely wealthy men who are an influential global elite who have studied the mysteries, just like Arthur and my mother. However, they use their knowledge to enslave and control. They alone dictate what happens in the world. They control the banks, the food, governments, law; they have their fingers in many pies. They fund wars, saturate society with materialism, and force us to believe that the latest car or gadget is more important than our fellow man.

‘They convince the masses that unless we wear certain shoes, or clothes, or fit in a certain way, then we are somehow lacking. They are businessmen, heads of state, politicians, doctors, priests, judges, teachers. The Hell Fire Club has many members from all walks of life. Now, how long they have been in existence? That I don’t know. All I know is that their sole aim is to enslave us, using their tools of religion, race, war, sex, commercialism and consumerism and at the moment they seem to be winning.’

‘So what are you saying, Aibgrene, if I go out and buy a new pair of shoes, I’m being corrupted?’ asked Lola dismissively.

Aibgrene shook her head, waving off the suggestion. ‘No, Lola, you’re missing the point. I’m talking about the concept that you are more if you drive a certain car, or wear a certain label on your clothes. When that is engrained into a society, certain members of society cease to fit in when they don’t have those things. It creates jealousy, which leads to greed, which leads to violence, which pushes us further and further from each other. That’s what I mean!’

Engrossed, Lola nodded for her to continue. ‘Anyway, by doing this, ever so subtly, they are ensuring that they keep mankind at war both globally, and on a spiritual level. By doing this they remain in control, keeping the secrets of this great universe for themselves.’

‘I’m trying to be open minded, Aibgrene,’ said Lola. ‘I really am, but this all sounds a bit Orwellian. A shadowy underworld as puppet masters of the masses. And if this is the case, what does it have to do with Arthur and your mum?’

‘It’s simple, Lola. The Order knows the truth and there will come a day when all of mankind will know and believe this truth. And from what you have told me, I don’t think that time is far away.’

‘But what truth?’ asked Lola. ‘I mean that’s politics and greed you’re talking about, what has that got to do with secret Orders and magick?’

‘Let me explain, Lola. The Hell Fire Club is a massive global organisation, a vast network of different groups and subgroups that operate all over the world. They fulfil the aims of their masters, but, while the minions are at their work, there’s a small group of about one hundred that are part of the inner circle, each with their own coven. Like the Order they have a high priest, or as they call him, their Grotto Master. They are not only wealthy and powerful, but they also practice magick.’

‘What? Like black magick?’ asked Lola.

‘I suppose, but to be honest we witches don’t really think of it in terms of white or black magick. You see magick is magick. It isn’t good or bad, Lola. It is what it is. However, whether it’s used for good and the good of all is solely down to its exponent. In the case of the Hell Fire Club, it’s not used for the good of all. You see, they believe themselves to be gods in their own right. Now, while the Order also believes we are all part of the Source or Creator and therefore are divine, the Hell Fire Club believes that only they are gods because they understand the mysteries of the universe. They wish to maintain their monopoly and will stop at nothing to achieve their aims.’

‘And you think they operate here?’ said Lola, eyes wide at the truth unfolding in Aibgrene’s account.

‘Yes, Lola, not only do I believe they operate here, I think the head of the entire organisation lives here! And, for some reason I think that he has my mum! Only very strong magick could hold her and keep her in a weakened state.’

Suddenly the full weight of the day’s tribulations washed over Lola. She felt exhausted.

‘So what do we do now, Aibgrene?’ For the first time that night, Lola could see the toll that Celeste’s disappearance was having on Aibgrene. Her face was drained of all colour except the dark circles under her eyes. Smiling, Aibgrene sat up on the chair and stretched.

‘It’s almost three n the morning, Lola. We won’t be able to save my mum or the world tonight, but maybe tomorrow. We’d better get some sleep.’