they had found it. Just ahead of where Rob was standing the gorge opened out to about fifty metres wide, but he could not see far enough to estimate its length. However, he definitely felt that the temperature was higher.
The Elder made a quick mental survey and found that his memory of the area was surprisingly clear.
“There’s an old rock fall we need to find first. It’s not far along so let’s get moving. I’ve been waiting a long time to come back. I was only twelve or thirteen when I was here before. My first initiation was over, and the elders allowed me to see the sacred paintings. I strongly remember the men chanting and chanting and clack, clack, clacking their boomerangs together. It was a big experience for a young boy.”
He was there. Rob could feel the Elder was there. He was in the vivid depths of his memories and imagination, and already with the paintings. But imagination would not be needed for much longer.
They reached the fallen rock and the Elder looked for a certain boulder to indicate how close they were to their goal. Midday had just passed and the sun’s rays beamed downward at a slight angle, hitting the heaped rocks. Several had angular sides, some were tall and wide, yet one showed a complete rectangle to the sun, and the Elder pointed excitedly.
“That’s it. That’s the rock. The light’s nearly there!”
Only partial shadow remained on it and they stared intently, wanting the sun to speed up. But it only took about three minutes for the big rock’s rectangular face to be completely covered with sunlight.
“It’s there. Push the rock. Push the rock,” the Elder urgently instructed. “Go within Rob, focus your energy. Push hard.”
Taking a balanced stance and using his hands and right shoulder, Rob pushed, easing the rock forward until it over-balanced, falling sideways and sliding out of the way. Dust exploded into the air, then as it cleared and to Rob’s amazement, several rock steps appeared.
“There,” he said, sucking in a quick breath.
“We’ve found it!” Exclaimed the Elder.
Both men knew they were being shown the way, but there was no need to say so. Rob gestured to the Elder to go first and they descended into an underground cave, walking carefully and expectantly without speaking. At first it was semi dark, but as they gradually turned left and walked on for about twenty metres, the cave became lighter and larger.
Suddenly, images began taking shape before their re-focussing eyes. On the cave wall in front of them a gallery of painted figures appeared. Was the Dreamtime staring them in the face?
“Wow. Wow,” Rob repeated, instantly overcome. He fell silent, allowing his eyes and other senses to perceive the ancient art. Mesmerised and speechless, he eased down onto the stone floor. Words could not describe what he was feeling.
The Elder was immediately affected and tears moistened his eyes.
“I remember paintings here from childhood, but I’m not sure about these images. Yet the energies are empowering and I’m filling with love. My inner being is opening up and I’m at One with all life. I belong to the whole Universe.”
The Elder’s eyes closed as he flowed with his spiritual recharge. After waiting for most of his life to return, and despite feeling puzzled by the paintings, he understood why he felt completely at One. He was being profoundly renewed on all levels because he was connecting to the Spiritual Source.
Rob was in bliss, flooded by loving energy radiating from the sacred art. Fortunately, the Elder had prepared him for a spiritual leap because he was barely coping with the higher vibrational frequency. However, he continued sitting and absorbing the immense personal experience until gradually drifting back into the conscious present.
* * *
Other levels may have absorbed Rob a few immeasurable moments earlier, but now totally revitalised he felt moved to describe the surprising discovery. His voice was purposeful, like the proud leader of a successful archaeological dig making an announcement to the world.
“In a sacred cave in the heart of Australia we’ve discovered paintings of Krishna, Jesus, Buddha and Sathya Sai Baba with black afro hair and an orange robe. Impossible. Unprecedented. What are paintings of great spiritual masters doing in the Outback? Who created them? Why are they here in the hidden gorge?”
Rob’s mind raced through possibility after possibility. Then he noticed something else. Just near the orange-robed figure where the high cave wall angled away to the right, he could see part of a symbol. Quickly stepping forward he made another ‘impossible’ discovery, staring in disbelief.
“It’s the star of David and a crescent moon and star, side by side, plus other symbols, one I’ve seen before, it’s the Om sign – and next to them’s a brown-skinned man with a black beard in a white robe! He’s painted smaller than the large figures on the main wall, and I have a memory of his image too.’’
The Elder could almost hear Rob’s mind over-working in the confines of the cave and before he could respond further, had to comment.
“I’m astonished. I thought I knew what was here! They’re different than I remember, but we’re meant to see them now. I don’t have all the answers but the Universe and the Ancestors will guide us, I know that.”
The Elder was not as confident as usual, because he was very, very surprised by the subjects of the paintings. Were they the same ones he saw as a boy? Had his mind played tricks on him over the years?
* * *
Later, both men were sitting under an overhang with dry twigs and branches piled together for their campfire. Dusk was settling on the day and with it the tangible quietness only found in remote places. For the next couple of days the hidden gorge would be their sanctuary.
After darkness fell they stared into the orange flames, comfortable in each other’s presence, yet neither man had spoken a word since leaving the cave. On this momentous day the Ancestors provided a perfect, still evening for them to reflect upon the paintings and their feelings. But their minds were not fully relaxed under the sparkling night sky, and as the fire burned Rob simply said, “Totally unbelievable!”
The Elder nodded in agreement, then introduced the next morning.
“We’ll sit near the painted images before sunrise to experience first light awakening the spirits. I’ll build a small fire for warmth, and we’ll simply Be. Be in the moment. Be our Spiritual or Higher selves. I’ll perform a ceremony with the boomerangs which I know you’ve been wondering about.”
He did not say anything about the paintings, apparently needing more inner space to reconcile what he believed he had seen as a boy.
* * *
Crisp, fresh air greeted both men as they rolled out of their swags. The early morning was cold because Winter temperatures drop markedly overnight in the Outback. They did not eat but only drank cool water, both feeling it was best to be empty of food to fully receive the potent spiritual energies in the cave.
After walking to the uncovered stone steps they descended carefully, passing through the left-turning part of the cave before arriving at the paintings. Instantly, a sense of awe and wonder engulfed Rob and the Elder again, filling their hearts and souls as they stared at the figures. Without a word they sat down a few metres away. The
