Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost. Dante said it best as he documented his tour thru Hell.
My quest began in a similar fashion.
The road was long and narrow, like a snake curling its way thru a tight grouping of trees. The entrance was close, I could feel it. It was not a happy feeling. The weight of the tortured souls bared down on everything the faint gold and blue light touched. As I neared the end of the path, I came to a great divide in the imposing rock face, like a tremendous fiery sword tore a slice thru the mountain to reveal the horrors that lay within. A lone wooden placard hang askew from the farthest corner of the gash that read 'All hope abandon ye who enter here'.
I knew that I was in the right place. Unlike Dante, I did not have an angel to guide me thru the depths of this wretched place. I was alone. I sought this place out, and it is I alone that found it. My own fears aside, I took my first tremulous steps into the cavern to seek what I was here for. Dante’s words kept ringing in my ears, a constant drumbeat along with the beating of my heart set the pace of my steps as I guided myself down a descending stairwell into the pits of Hell.
Through me you pass into the city of woe:
Through me you pass into eternal pain:
Through me among the people lost for aye.
Before me things create were none, save things
Eternal, and eternal I endure.
All hope abandon ye who enter here.
Step by step, I descend deeper into the eternal darkness that lies ahead of me, continuing downward, a pinpoint of light starts to emerge from the farthest reaches of the blackness. Inch by inch, the light begins to grow, until I find myself in a green garden. It is lush and thriving. The sun is warm on my skin, but peering upwards, I see nothing in the sky. In the distance I also see a castle with seven gates standing sentinel to whatever evils may lie behind it. This is Purgatory. I have made it.
Standing at the castle mount, I search for a way inside. I complete a full circle and still find no means of entrance. It is only them do I realize that I am alone. There is no one here. This is described as place for the un-baptized and the virtuous pagans who, though not sinful, did not accept Christ. Where were Homer, and Euclid, and Cicero? Where are all the others that were to populate this, the least harsh outer circle of Hell?
I am confused. This does not make sense, why is this place deserted? I begin to look around this great wide expanse of meadow, for any sign of people. It is not until my sixth turn about do I spot it. A great tall figure standing just to my right watching every move I make. He is dressed in a full cloak and his face is well hidden under a hood. As I move closer he backs away. I call out to him and ask his name, silence. I call again, and again silence. It is only when my mind was clear and my thoughts were not on knowing its name did he reveal himself.
It came as a whisper, inside my head. Almost as though I was talking to myself, but I found thoughts in my head that were new or subtly foreign. “My name is Bifrons, Come find the answers you seek.” “Why are the fields empty, where are the lost souls waiting for redemption?” I asked. “That is not the question you seek answers for.” He replied. It was a statement, and he was correct. That is not why I was here.
