The Inspiration for Moon Pool

The inspiration for Moon Pool….

In 1988 I traveled with a friend on a quest to find the Moon Pool. ( as in the famous fantasy novel by Merritt)* The journey took us to Nan Madol a sacred site in Pohnpei, Micronesia.   This place is beyond words, holding great mysteries. 

The Huge basalt structures stand on man-made coral islands connected by canals. No one knows why it was built or by who. The ruined city is one of today's great archaeological enigmas and is sometimes called "Atlantis," the "eighth wonder of the world," or the "Venice of the Pacific”.  The name Nan Madol means "spaces between”, and it is a space between the worlds. 

This quest was beautiful and at times frightening, the place seemed alive with spirits and guardians. The green mangroves grow a foot a day, the shallows filled with Rays and poisonous Stonefish, one must take great care with every step. but the wondrous splendor of this sacred place is worth every danger. We did not find the Moon pool , but discovered an ancient portal into another world. 

I found the journal I had on the trip and it inspired the creation this incense. Here is an excerpt :

The Moon Pool - THE JOY OF INA MARAM (Moon Goddess of Pohnpei)

THIS IS AS FAR FROM THINGS AS I HAVE EVER BEEN.

THIS ISLE NAMED BY THE JOY OF THE MOON

 IS A SMALL WHITE PAGANESS WITHOUT FEAR.

OLD AS HER HERITAGE ,YET ETERNALLY GREEN.

ADORNED WITH LIVING EMERALDS AND PATHS OF COWRIE SHELLS

THE EARTH-BONES OF BASALT GUARD HER LIGHTLY

AS IF THE BUILDERS KNEW HER TO BE A SACRED CHILD.

HER AURA IS OF WHITEST SAND, HER FLOWERS UNFOLD

WITH COLORS YET UNNAMED,.

SHE KNOWS NO SADNESS, NO SHAME,

ALWAYS SMILING ACROSS THE SHALLOW STRAIGHT

TO HER GREAT GRANDPARENT NAMMATORU TO____

———

ICHI (THE SOUND A REPTILE MAKES)

“Ichi…”

THIS PLACE WHISPERS—

TAKE CARE WHERE YOU STEP!

FOR I DON"T KNOW YOU YET.

MY TEACHING IS SIMPLE AND WISE,

IT WILL ALLOW YOU TO LIVE.

BE OPEN TO ME

AND I WILL GUARD YOU,

FOR IF YOU WALK HERE WITHOUT MY BLESSING

EVERY PLACE WILL HOLD A HUNGRY GHOST.

KUTUN GUARDS MY REEF

OLD KIMAI, THE MAGIC

INA MARAM THE LIGHT OF THE DARK NIGHT

RAKIM MY WIND AND SKY

I ASK ONLY FOR YOUR TRUTH

GIVEN WITH AN OPEN HEART.

THEN, EVEN IF YOU KNOW NOT THE DANGER,

NOTHING WILL HARM YOU.

FEEL MY PRESENCE WITH YOUR ANCIENT MIND

AND BE GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT PEOPLE,

MY PEOPLE OF THE SEA...

*The Moon Pool is  one of the most gripping fantasies ever written, The Moon Pool embodies all the romanticism and poetic nostalgia characteristic of A. Merritt's writings. Set on the island of Pohnpei , full of ruins from ancient civilizations, the novel chronicles the adventures of a party of explorers who discover a previously unknown underground world full of strange peoples and super-scientific wonders.  Although Merritt did not invent the lost world novel, following in the footsteps of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Burroughs and others, he greatly elaborated upon that tradition.