The White Stone

Synopsis

Esther de Waal is one of today's most beloved spiritual writers. In The White Stone, she reflects on the changes and losses that come with growing older. Esther reflects on solitude and, following a period of illness, saying goodbye to a family home and the Welsh border landscape she had known for decades which inspired some of her greatest writing, and adjusting to a new city environment. In her characteristic style, she sees everything as a portal into a deeper spiritual understanding. She draws on the wealth of the Christian tradition, especially scripture and the monastic and Celtic spiritualities she knows so well, to help her navigate her way through not only the inevitable sense of loss that accompanies such change, but also to embrace the new possibilities it brings. The white stone of the title refers to a small pebble from the river that ran through her garden that she keeps in her pocket, but also strikes a note of hope referring to the new identity promised by God (Revelation 2.17). This is a book of simple, profound wisdom that will speak to many coping with change in their own lives.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Dream

* Summary: The chapter introduces the protagonist, Emily, and her troubled dreams about a white stone. Emily is haunted by visions of the stone, which she believes holds secrets to her past.
* Real Example: Emily dreams of finding the stone in a hidden cave, its surface covered in strange symbols.

Chapter 2: The Journey Begins

* Summary: Emily embarks on a quest to find the white stone, following clues left in her dreams. She travels to an ancient forest, where she encounters a mysterious stranger named Ethan who offers his help.
* Real Example: Emily deciphers a riddle from her dream that leads her to a clearing in the forest, where Ethan awaits.

Chapter 3: The Lost City

* Summary: Emily and Ethan venture into a forgotten city hidden deep in the forest. They navigate treacherous traps and encounter ancient beings who test their resolve.
* Real Example: Emily and Ethan encounter a sphinx that asks them riddles, testing their knowledge and wisdom.

Chapter 4: The Chamber of Secrets

* Summary: The duo discovers a secret chamber within the city, where they find the white stone. However, retrieving it proves to be a dangerous endeavor, as dark forces seek to prevent them from claiming the stone.
* Real Example: Emily and Ethan must battle a hoard of shadows that materialize from the stone's surface.

Chapter 5: The Power of the Stone

* Summary: Emily learns that the white stone possesses extraordinary powers, including the ability to grant wishes. However, she also discovers that the stone has a dark side, and it can be used for both good and evil.
* Real Example: Emily uses the stone to heal a wounded child, but it also corrupts the child's soul.

Chapter 6: The Choice

* Summary: Emily is torn between using the stone for her own selfish desires or for the greater good. She must make a choice that will shape her destiny and the fate of the world.
* Real Example: Emily faces the ultimate test when she is offered the opportunity to use the stone to become the ruler of the world.

Chapter 7: The Resolution

* Summary: Emily chooses to use the stone for noble purposes, sacrificing her own desires. She defeats the dark forces that seek to control the stone and brings peace to the land.
* Real Example: Emily shatters the stone into countless pieces, scattering its power among the people and ensuring that it can never be used for evil again.