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Climbing Mount Masada (a repost from 2002)
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Climbing Mount Masada (a repost from 2002) |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia 
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Climbing Mount Masada, Israel Mount Masada sits high above sea level alongside the Dead Sea in Israel. It is a natural flat topped rock, providing great visibility of the surrounding western end of the Judean desert and the country of Jordan, which sits on the opposite side of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth above ground, and Mount Masada sits approximately 1300 ft above the Dead Sea. The word masada means fortress or stronghold in Hebrew. Sometime around 31-37BCE, Herod built an elaborate fortress atop Mount Masada, constructing what in his time would have been elaborate, sumptuous living quarters, including a stately bath house. An elaborate drainage system carried rainwater from nearby wadis (streams)west of Masada, into 12 enormous storage cisterns on the NW slope of the mountain. (Some locals and tourists have jokingly referred to this fortress as Herod’s Vacation Spa and Retreat.) Long after Herod left the scene, around 70 CE, Jerusalem fell completely under Roman rule. Jewish resistance fighters fled to Mount Masada, and turned it into a rebel base. When they refused to leave the fortress as ordered, around 72CE, the Roman governor Flavius Silva set up an encampment outside the walls of the fortress, and with the mighty Tenth Legion, lay siege to the Jewish rebel stronghold. Up until that time, there was only one way to reach the top of the mountain, along a 950 foot long snaking path. It was well defended by the rebels. So the Tenth Legion built an enormous ramp along the western side of Masada, and with enormous battering rams, attempted to breach the defenses of the band of Jewish rebels. The siege lasted three years, longer than Rome had expected. The Jewish rebels had a huge stock of food, and the huge cisterns supplied all their water needs. And they were very determined to remain free of Roman rule. As the story is recorded by the Roman historian Josephus, most of the 900+ Jews of Masada committed suicide rather than be captured by the Romans, after the Roman garrison finally breached the walls and entered the fortress. This version of the final battle of Masada is disputed by some modern historians, who suggest that recent archaelogical findings dispute some of Josephus’ accounts of the battle. There are some indications that not all the Jews willingly committed suicide, for as many as 25 skeletons were found in a cave alongside a steep southern slope, in a difficult to reach spot which may have served as a hiding place. But the end result was the same. There appeared to have been only five children and two women survivors, who had been found hiding in a cistern. We can never really know for sure what happened, as their story was not officially recorded except as reported by Rome’s official historian, Josephus. With this as background, I offer you my experience of Mount Masada, from my visit there in the early fall of 1971. I lived in Israel for almost a year, working on Kibbutz Ein Ha Horesh, which is located near the towns of Hadera and Netanya. During my year as a volunteer worker, I visited many places of historical note, including several trips to Jerusalem. One of my most intense experiences took place the day I climbed the 950 foot snake path to the top of Mount Masada, in the wee early morning hours in order to view the sunrise as it peeked over Mt. Moab, Jordan on the opposite side of the Dead Sea. I had expected to be thrilled, considering the anticipated view and the history of the Middle East. I had also expected to be breathless after the somewhat strenuous climb. But I had not expected to be chilled to the bone by what I can only describe as a mystical experience that took place that day. As I climbed the snake path, my mind as well as my feet tread over the well worn hand-hewn stones, where thousands from the past had passed before me on their climb to the top of Mount Masada. In the darkness, the meandering path was lit only by moonlight and a few 20th century flashlights. The cool morning air made the one hour climb bearable. With each step I felt my head and heart lighten, and my thoughts wandered backwards in time, connecting with ancient souls whose feet had climbed these steps, some seeking freedom to follow their political and religious beliefs without persecution. But the souls and spirits of Romans, Arabs, Jews, and thousands of tourists seemed to intermingle in the surrounding air. My mind was caught up in a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. After reaching the top of the mountain, I was quite breathless. Then the suddenness of the rising Sun nearly overwhelmed my senses. I had expected something wonderful and was not disappointed, as the morning sunrise was majestic beyond my wildest dreams. Within minutes, the sunlight was so brilliant and intense I had to shield my eyes from this glory of God. I was completely enveloped by history and the magnificance of nature. But it was no longer 1971 in my mind. For the spirits of thousands of past souls were encircling my body, and transporting me back in time. I looked around, and for a moment, I was disoriented. After all, I had never been here before, and yet it felt so incredibly familiar. Ah, you might say, you had done your homework and read much of the history of the place. But the fact is, I was never a history buff, and knew very little about Masada until that day. Our rather large kibbutz had successfully hired a great tour guide, who was steeped in both archaelogy and the history of Israel. We knew he could answer all our questions with the best available knowledge. Excavations of the ancient ruins were still in progress, having only begun in the mid 1960’s. There are many more areas of Masada that are now accessible. At the time of my visit, the ruins were only partly uncovered. Herod’s magnificent quarters were not yet available for public viewing. As we began our guided tour of the ruins, I felt chilled, even in the warmth of the sun. I assumed I must be on the verge of a flu or cold virus, so I moved slowly, following along with our group, listening to our guide. I was almost giddy, and the climb had tired me more than I had expected. I suddenly became aware of the scent of warm fresh baked bread. No one else seemed to smell it, and of course, we were miles from the nearest bakery. I stopped and notice a depression in some stone walls, that looked like a small oven. About that time, our guide motioned us to look at the “bakery” of Masada. I told him I had already smelled the aroma of fresh bread. He laughed, and told me another tourist had said the same thing recently, from a different tour group. I shrugged my shoulders, and chalked it up to my vivid imagination. We all laughed and continued following the guide. A few moments later, I became shaky and had to stop. One of my friends had to catch me, as I nearly fainted. The air had become very dry and warm, and perhaps I was just thirsty. Yes, I was very, very thirsty. After a few sips from my canteen, I felt ready to continue. Suddenly, I interrupted the tour guide, and asked him if we were on the way to the water cisterns next. He smiled and said yes. But as he hadn’t yet told the group that’s where we were headed, he wanted to know if I had been to Masada before. I said no. But I said it with great hesitation, and my voice was shaky. So I asked him to stop for a moment, and answer a question or two. He listened patiently as I described the steps that led into the cistern, and told him how many steps there would be leading down along a sidewall into the cistern, and proceeded to describe the interior of the cistern. He just stared at me, and said. “Let’s go see how close you are in your description.” It was exactly as I had described it, including the angle of the shaft of light shining in through a small opening at the top of the cistern. I nearly fainted again. I offered no explanation. I could not speak, and was completely overcome by the experience. I kept hearing a girls voice that day, whispering secrets in my ear, telling me she was still there. I am not of Jewish, Arab, or Roman ancestry, and I had never visited Masada before that day. To this day, I have no solid explanation, and even my memory of going into the cistern is now a little fuzzy. But on that day, it was as if I had been there before. A friend I met later in life believed I was being used as a medium or channel, and the spirit of a previous resident of Masada was communicating through me. And now a part of me remains atop Mount Masada. On our return trip toward the kibbutz, driving along the dusty Judean desert road, I had another sensation of knowing where things were, without having ever been there before. I asked the guide a few questions, specifically about a turnoff up ahead on the right that led in at an angle a few kilometers and then stopped...seemingly in the middle of nowhere. I was not the least bit surprised when I was told another new archaelogical dig was going on at the end of that road. I did not go to that site, although I had been invited to work on that dig. I somehow knew what they would find there would match the images in my mind. It is events such as this that have re-enforced in my mind, the notion...no, the belief, that we are all united in one cosmic energy source beyond the realm of our visible Earth and galaxy. I don’t call it Heaven, nor do I call it Hell even when it scares it out of me. But I do believe in the Unity of everything and everyone. You are part of me, I am part of you, and we are all connected. I suppose that’s why I cannot accept some of the cruel things we do to one another, and how we can continually rape the planet, perhaps thinking there will be another one to come along some day so we may rescue us from ourselves. And it is this sense of the Unity of All that makes me focus on Love, Compassion, and Respect for everything that surrounds us, for all animals, plants, and minerals. We are all One. * Thanking you for the indulgence of a repost, as this time frame of my life always flashes before me when I read and watch ME news reports. [This message has been edited by Midnitesun (11-08-2004 12:03 AM).] |
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| © Copyright 2004 Kathleen Kacy Stafford - All Rights Reserved | |||
Trillium
since 2001-03-09
Posts 12098Idaho, USA |
Midnitesun: This account of your trip to Masada is absolutely fascinating! Mysterious also. I'm so glad you reposted it as I didn't see it the first time around, and I wouldn't have wanted to miss it. It has had an impact on my day! Love Betty Lou Betty Lou Hebert |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Thank you so much for reading, and for that comment. I hope the impact on your day was completely positive.  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Kacy, Now I'm feeling old. I remember this!  So what will it take to get you to write the Harem story?  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Larry,how mant times do you want to read that one, the one where I was traded for the camels? LOL. In my mind, I climbed Masada again last week, and watched the sunrise, felt the spirits walk with me, smelled fresh bread, felt the dampness of the water cisterns. *sigh* And I lit another incense stick, for the generations yet to climb Masada, who will have their own tales to tell. came back to say, I might post something new soon about camels and harems...or maybe not  [This message has been edited by Midnitesun (11-10-2004 12:53 AM).] |
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JL Member Ascendant
since 2004-04-01
Posts 6128Texas, USA |
Very interesting. You have an excellent write here! Enjoyed the journey. JL |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
I got goosebumps when I read this! What an incredible gift you must have. Well written! miscellanea |
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merlynh Member
since 1999-09-26
Posts 411deer park, wa |
There is more to this world than heaven and earth. I have experienced many odd events I know no one would believe; though story telling gives some relief. “Writing is a string you send out to connect yourself with other consciousnesses.” Peter Elbow, Writing Without Teachers. This makes me wonder whether centuries from now if some of us aren’t predestined to contact others when our time comes. I agree we are all connected in ways beyond what we believe we know; the reality of our senses seems to cloud our natural nature. I only remembered reading this a few years ago when I got into the middle of it. It still intrigued my interest. Thanks for re-posting it. |
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fractal007 Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958 |
A fascinating account of a rather mystical experience. To be frank, I must say that I liked the first part of your essay (that is, the account of the actual experience) more than the latter part (that being your interpretation of the events). Now, I will confess that the conclusions at which you arrive are probably not the same conclusions I would have arrived at were I to have had the same experience. But that is not what I want to discuss here. Rather, I think the experience as narrated can stand on its own and work more wonders in the reader than it can when accompanied by your interpretation. I am not saying that the latter is badly written or anything like that. Rather, I think I enjoyed the experience of reading this piece and letting myself sympathize with you. You invite the reader to be a part of something that does not normally take place. In so doing, you force the reader into the often difficult, but rewarding position of having to decide for him/her self what to make of such a strange occurance. But when you use the experience as a sort of spring board from which to espouse a particular metaphysical viewpoint the reader feels somewhat disappointed. You have taken what was a wonderful experience, an in-the-moment sort of thing, and made it seem too *didactic*, I think. Maybe I am sounding harsh here (and I am terribly sorry if I am offending you), but I wonder if perhaps you embellished this and indeed made it into a narrative with no interpretation provided.....What sort of interesting creation would that be? I just see this singing a lot more and giving me that chill in the bones I like to feel, when you leave me hanging with the burden of trying to make sense of it all. Just a thought. As always, I enjoy reading your work, Midnight Sun, and I think this is the first time I've seen you in the prose forums. Any idiot can see that the result is true. |
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miscellanea Member Elite
since 2004-06-24
Posts 4060OH |
Just remembered this and thought I'd bring it up again. It gave me goose bumps when I read it. miscellanea |
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kayjay Member Elite
since 2002-06-24
Posts 2015Oregon |
Your SP (solar plexus) needle went off the dial on this one, Kacy. I've read of the Masada events before, but have not visited it. However, I've visited several battlegrounds and always get a feeling of being ..I don't know what...in a cathedral..or at least a strong connection to the spirit world, and places where valor and courage were stressed beyond reason. Thanks for this fine tale, for I'd missed it the first time around. Hugs, Ken Through rubble and trouble and dark of night |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
quote: This, of course, was one of the most intriguing parts and the one that particularly held me...thank you, Kacy. |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
I found this a fascinating adventure. As I had not read it before I thank you now for reposting. martyjo |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
making the climb again tonight, in my mind and heart |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Kacy, And it never hurts to think about camels and harems either. So you made my night too! Ah I'll have sweet dreams tonight. If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Laughing, and wondering if anyone can stand reading again, the 12 camels/harem write. NAW! But thank you sweetie. Sweet dreams! |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
This is one that will be read every time it bounces up. A lovely piece and I enjoyed it all over again.. best to you, martyjo |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Martyjo! thank you so much for letting me know you read this one again! |
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latearrival Member Ascendant
since 2003-03-21
Posts 5499Florida |
Well it is not too soon to bounce once again. I so enjoy this piece. martyjo |
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Midnitesun
since 2001-05-18
Posts 28647Gaia |
Martyjo, I just might dedicate the next Masada write to you! Thank you for letting me know how much this impacted you. Climbing Masada is still an incredibly powerful memory for me, one that I re-connect with every time I hear about Israel, and every time I sense the touch of past spirits. |
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