The Song Of Trahlyta
Pass not by, Stranger!
Stop!
Silently bare your head,
drop a stone upon her grave,
and make a wish straight from your heart.
The Spirit of Eternal Youth and Happiness
hovers near to grant the wishes
of all who love the hills and valleys of
her native home.
Do you believe?
Do you believe in serendipity?
Ever throw a coin in a fountain and make a wish?
About 30 minutes North of my home,
heading into the mountains of Georgia,
one will pass through what is known as
Stone Pile Gap.
Where two-lane highways converge,
sets a small triangular island,
surrounded by asphalt and filled with stones.
Without the presence of a
Georgia State Historical Marker,
one might drive right by.
"The rocks are the grave of a Cherokee who loved the forest and called the mountains of North Georgia home. Trahlyta, according to legend, lived on a mountain near her grave. She was told to walk along a path, drink from the spring and wish never to grow old by the "Mountain Medicine Man" or the Witch of Cedar Mountain, depending on which legend you believe. "You will become more beautiful with each sip" the voice told her.
She followed the path and drank from the spring. Word of her beauty quickly spread. Desoto the explorer reportedly sent soldiers to investigate her "Fountain of Youth" as witnessed by a Spanish conquistador helmet which was found not far from the spring."
"The Cherokee warrior Wahsega, whom she rejected as a suitor, kidnapped her and took her west to his home. She begged and pleaded for her release, but Wahsega would not permit it. With each day her strength waned, her happiness gone, longing for her mountain forest.
Crying tears of pure gold as she lay dying, Trahlyta asked to be buried in the mountain paradise from which she had come. "Strangers, as they pass by, may drop a stone on my grave and they too shall be young and happy, as I once was." she said,
"What they wish for shall be theirs!."
Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta,
we would drive up to the
North Georgia Mountains each fall
to enjoy the changing leaves and beautiful views.
And each year we would make my father stop
so we could place a rock
on Princess Trahlyta's grave for good luck!
I still visit her grave often
and take my family and friends!
You never know what you might find
placed among the rocks...
seashells...
crystals...
personalized notes and stones...
even an arrowhead bracelet
and piece of quartz at the very top!
This tiny piece of land is a mystical,
spiritual place.
Trahlyta's spirit is shared by all who stop...
all who leave a piece of themselves,
each stone or gift no matter the size,
all the hopes and wishes for good fortune,
left to protect her resting place.
It is said, that over the years,
two different work crews
from the state department of transportation
tried to move the stones
to re-direct the highways.
Both times,
there was an accident involving
trucks or equipment
which resulted in the death of a crewman.
Princess Trahlyta's resting place
has been left alone ever since...
for passersby to pay their respects and
benefit from her gift of good fortune!
As the new year begins,
may Trahlyta's fortune find you,
may your dreams become reality,
may your troubles be resolved,
and may your times of sadness,
bring you humility and turn to joy!
Live your Authentic Life ~ Be the Real You!
Blessings~
Martha
Source: CherokeeGold.net
