Prologue: The Acorn Theory

A century ago, the creation of the universe was a concept that astronomers as a rule ignored.
The reason was the general acceptance of the idea that the universe existed in infinite time - a conglomeration of matter that had no beginning.

Today, however, it is generally considered that the universe started with a big bang (much to the satisfaction of most religions) for should something have existed with zero volume, tantamount to saying it was nothing, and then explode, it would only go to prove that the theological argument that the world was created… must be true.

Once having established this point we are, however, confronted with the ideology of eternal life, sometimes referred to as the spiritual, or dream world, a world that although invisible, is all around, inexorably coming into existence parallel to that of the physical one.

The Spirit world must arise out of nothing;
it must first create itself; its first creation is itself.
When it has accomplished this creative act then follows a natural reproduction of creations.

This is what is known as the Acorn Theory. From this metaphysical acorn, all trees of life have grown, a spiritual rain forest spanning both the vastness and depth of time.

***

Deep within the forest, where the Yggdrasil, the Acacia, and the Bodi tree grows, stands the Welig tree. Unlike the other trees however, it neither grows up or outwards, but hangs like the willow. Perhaps it is the forefather of all willows. Its branches twist in on themselves, splitting time and light like a prism. It is here where the dragons live and the phoenix comes to rest. It is here that all magical creatures great and small can be found. It is here, that fairytales are born and told, for the Welig tree is the magical tree of life…
It is also spring.

A young sun shines down upon the empty branches of the tree. The wind whispers and tosses the fallen leaves of the past in a frenzied dance around its base. Here, beyond the ninth bough, at the tip of the seventh branch, three small reddish-green buds appear. The sunlight touches their frail form, caressing them, bringing them life.
It is time.

Slowly one by one the buds open… the first, the second and the third.
This is their story.