Lil' Owl's Boubliwae Adventures
Chapter 4
Popi and The Gnombies

Popi always carries his "Anti-Stress Little Gnome Sack". Inside his wee sack there is a large variety of stones including different kinds of quartz, garnet and many other precious stones. Through the energy of each stone, Popi can perceive the natural magic of the Forest, and therefore reaching a balance with the Earth and the Sky above it. The pleasant contact with the stones and their gentle rubbing on the fingers, donate sensations of serenity and peace. Popi always carries, his little sack providing him with a "Special Reserve" of tranquilizing and relaxing energy.

In previous classes gnombies fashioned little sacks to house their energy stones. They made their sacks from natural fibers. The girls preferred sacks of wool, woven by Sarah, while the boys seemed to like leather sacks. Now, we all know that gnomes do not kill animals. However, Popi during his many years of traveling up and down the stream in his unusual boat, collected a large supply of items discarded by humans, including leather. The gnombies decorated their sacks with fancy stitching, beads and small shells.

Popi teaches the gnombies, that in addition to avoiding stressful situations, a physical activity program that builds stamina, strength, and flexibility is a key factor to a gnomes long life. Popi and his group of gnombies collect their walking sticks and commence their journey to explore their senses along the shore of the Boubliwae stream. The gentle sounds of the brook, and the soft music of the early morning birds announcing the beginning of a new day, are calming. The smells of forest vegetation permeate their nostrils. Their eyes behold the beauty of the woodlands; the mist rising from the stream, with ribbons of gold throughout it, caused by the beams of sun that manage to penetrate through the boughs of the giant cedars, and the silver-grey moss draping from the forest trees.

The gnombies carry with them their staffs of life. These staffs, or walking sticks, have been hand carved by each gnome's father and given to them when they reach their 40th year (that's about when humans enter into their teenage years). These staffs are very important items to a gnome. They have maps carved into them showing many of the woodland paths and routes to other gnome habitats. Some even have pictographs carved into them.

As the troupe travel along, they are amazed at all their individual discoveries. The gifts, that one can find along the edge of a stream, are plentiful. Many items are pointed out by Popi, and the gnombies are taught not to disturb much of what lies on the forest floor. Finally, they stop and within a small clearing, the gnombies gather around Popi. Suddenly, mushrooms sprout up in a circle around them. The mushrooms make soft velvet covered stools. Each gnombie is instructed to choose one to sit upon, then to remove a stone from their sacks; they rub the stones between their stubby fingers creating soothing emotions.   A group of chipmunks scurry into the middle of the circle and begin to scratch out a small hole in the earth. Then a family of beaver slip dry dead sticks into the hole around which have some rocks have been abruptly plopped into place by large birds swooping down on them. A warm fire within the sacred circle of forest folk commences to dance, warming those gathered around it.

Popi takes the time to explain evolution and how a forest rejuvenates and nourishes itself. He also points out, and instructs the gnombies about, the abundant wildlife they share the forest with including those that come to the stream to drink. Water is so important. We must protect it, and this brings us to why we are trekking along Boubliwae Stream. Popi asks, "Can anyone tell me what we can do to ensure our water resources remain unpolluted?"

After their lesson each gnombie takes part in returning the clearing back to its original state; leaving no traces of their presence. Before starting on their journey back to their homes, Popi reveals to them that in order for them to accomplish great things they must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe...this special moment and words of wisdom are later uttered by the writer, Anatole France.

Here is Popi and his cocoa machine, holding his staff of life.