The Fable of the Seven Gates

There once lived a beloved Queen who ruled her kingdom with benevolence and wisdom, just as her mother, grandmother and so many generations before her. This Queen had a daughter whom she loved dearly.  As was the tradition in the Queen’s family, she began grooming the Princess early in life to assume the mantle of royalty. Before she could assume the throne, she was required to learn the Seven Gates of Love and Wisdom from her mother, the Queen. Once the Princess had mastered each of these Seven Gates, she would undergo an ancient ritual that had been performed for many centuries by all of her predecessors.

At the center of the kingdom, there was a royal pond surrounded by blossoming trees, reflecting gently shimmering colors upon its quiet and placid waters. The young Princess would be escorted by the elders of the kingdom along the path around the royal pond and pass through each of the 7 Gates overlooking the pond. She would enter the gate, take a small precious jewel from an ancient velvet pouch, cast it into the pond and then watch the ripples form on the still surface of the water. If she was wise and loving enough to pass through the gate, the ripples she created would weave a magical story of love.  She and the elders would wait and observe, as the ripples would unfolded their enchanting tales.

When seven tales had been woven on the surface of the pond, she knew she had successfully passed through the 7th Gate. The elders would accompany her to meet her Prince; a young man designated to be her life partner. Together they would rule the kingdom, and their subjects would rejoice over their new monarchs.

For many generations, the Queen would patiently tutor her daughter in the secrets of casting the jewels at each gate.  When the princess was ready to assume the throne, the queen would present her with a small velvet bag containing these seven unique jewels. In each generation, the princess would cast the jewels, one at a time, into the royal pond. Yet, somehow, they would be retrieved and passed on to the next generation.

While still a young girl, the Queen told her daughter,  “I wait for the day that I will pass the jewels on to you and you will cast each into the waters by the 7 Gates. Then I will remove the crown from my head and you will wear it on yours. This will be happiest day of my life.”

Our young princess grew in stature, wisdom and love for her people. Suddenly, the Queen took gravely ill. She said  “My dear Princess, I am ill, and the mantle of monarchy will be thrust upon you before either you or I had intended. You must pass through the 7 Gates immediately.  Alas, before the queen could teach her, tragedy struck and the beloved Queen died.

The young Princess was broken. She could not bear to continue life without her mother, and she was unprepared for the challenge of the 7 Gates.  In her despair and hopelessness, she left the palace one night and ran as far as her young legs would take her. She ran off to a land where no one knew of her or the 7 Gates.

Years passed by and the young girl grew, not in the ways of royalty, but in the ways of peasants. She was now a young woman in a strange land. Yet she was haunted by the thoughts of the kingdom she left behind, and the Prince who was waiting for her. She began to dream of returning. However, she believed she could never pass through the 7 Gates and the tale of love as told by the gentle ripples in the pond. Sadly, she resigned herself to remaining a lonely peasant woman for the remainder of her life.

In her mind and heart, the Princess continued to long for her lost kingdom, her people, her Prince and her castle. One day, she decided that even though these would never be hers, she would visit her kingdom, just to see the land, the people and the castle that was once her home. There was no need to disguise herself. She was now a scruffy peasant girl and did not possess the aristocratic bearing she once carried so naturally.

She traveled over the mountains and after many months arrived at her land. Everywhere she went, on the farms, at the marketplaces, at the small villages, she found saddened people. She would always ask “Why are you so sad?”  The answer was always the same “We are a kingdom without a King and Queen. Our castle is empty and it shall stay that way until it is occupied by its rightful and beloved monarchs.”  Then she went past the home of the Prince who had been appointed to be her King. She observed him from afar. He was handsome and gallant. From the distance she observed that he too was sad. She understood his sadness without asking.

Deeply moved by the answers of her subjects and the sight of her forlorn Prince, she was overcome by a desire to assume the role that was rightfully and morally hers. But how could she achieve this without her mother’s wisdom?

She made her way to the abandoned castle. There, she camped outside for many days and  prayed with a pained heart and eyes overflowing with tears: “Dear Lord of the universe, this kingdom and my Prince await me. But, how can I pass through the 7 Gates of Love and Wisdom, to win the hand of my Prince and claim my kingdom?”

After many days of prayer, she fell into a deep sleep. In her sleep, she dreamed she was walking along the trail of the royal pond. From the distance she could see her mother approaching her, holding a velvet bag filled with the special jewels. “My dear daughter, you have returned to rule the kingdom which awaits you. These are the jewels to cast into the royal pond. Stay near this castle, and every day I will visit you until you grow in wisdom, love and inner strength. Stay here and I will guide you through each of the 7 Gates.” The Princess awoke; startled to realize it was a dream. But it seemed far too real. Was it a fantasy, or had she actually been visited by her late mother? At her side, she discovered the velvet bag of jewels. She lifted them up and gazed at them in all their sparkling beauty. A miracle had occurred. Hope filled her heart. She now believed that the throne would be hers.

Every day, the young Princess returned to the castle where she grew in the wisdom and understanding required to pass through each of the Gates. When she was ready, she revealed herself to the elders of the kingdom. Having exchanged her peasant’s clothing and groomed herself as a Princess, the elders immediately recognized the young Princess they had once known so well. They were overjoyed. They then asked her the inevitable question: could she pass through the 7 Gates of Love and Wisdom? Did she possess the precious jewels? Did she know the secret to understanding the ripples of love and wisdom shimmering on the surface of the royal pond?

Together with the elders, she walked confidently along the path of the royal pond. At each gate, the young Princess drew upon the teachings of his mother. At each gate she approached the pond, carefully taking a precious jewel and casting it gently into the silent and quiet waters. With each jewel, the pond shimmered with a magical story and song of love until, finally, she reached the final gate.

The kingdom rejoiced. Accompanied by the elders and a royal entourage, she made her way to the castle where she was joined by the Prince, who had waited all these years.

At last they were now joined and the kingdom had a royal couple to rule them. The empty castle was now filled with life and love.