"But-but, Jon," Karl sputtered, "you can't give her a new face and figure, so it certainly isn't fair to kid her along."
"I'm not kidding her," I answered. "She's a valuable and worthwhile person no matter how she looks, and I'm going to let her know that at least you and I think so."
"Yeah, but what about other people?" Karl objected. "How are you going to help her adjust to the fact that everyone else will continue to view her as her old homely self? That's got to keep her self-concept a shambles for as long as she lives."
"I think she can become physically attractive," I said. "After all, she wouldn't look so scrawny with another twenty pounds on her!"
"Fifty would be more like it!" Karl replied "Why, she must be five feet eight but she looks like she might weigh 90 pounds if we got her good and wet. Even if she put on enough weight to curve her out, how are you going to hide that nose of hers?"
"Hmm," I pondered, "you're right about her nose. But I'm sure a little plastic surgery would fix that up. We can afford it, can't we?"
Karl gave me a startled look, and said, "Boy, you've really gone overboard! Sure, I guess we can afford it, Jon, but do you know what you're talking about? Do you have any idea how much this little project of yours is going to cost? Well, let me tell you... it's going to cost a pile!"
"I couldn't find a better use for it, Karl," I said. "Besides, if I'm successful I won't need any money three months from now."
"But if you're not successful," Karl grunted, "you'll have sure cleaned out your account."
I laughed at Karl's gloomy expression. "Cheer up," I said. "If micro man can earn a million selfishly I'm sure that with the aid of my Macro powers I can earn a million unselfishly."
"What other projects have you got in mind?" Karl asked a bit sarcastically.
"I don't know for sure," I said. "Maybe I'd better see how this one comes out before I start another one."
"That's a damned sound idea," Karl said with relief.
We talked for a while more about 2150; then I said that I was eager to get back to C.I. and ask some more questions, especially about how I could work this miracle I had embarked upon', and retired early.
CHAPTER 12: The Fifty-Foot Leap
I awakened to the gentle pressure of warm lips on mine and the sounds of our soul notes beginning to resonate in my mind. I responded eagerly and soon joined Carol in the ecstasy of physical and emental contact. These delights grew in awareness and intensity until the unifying joy of Macro immersion was ours.
As we lay quietly, still happily entwined, I thought once again of how different my sexual experiences with Carol had been from those of my micro past. Before Carol and my Macro immersions, I had always felt either guilty or fearful, or simply unfulfilled by my sexual experiences. I wondered if anyone had ever attained Macro immersion before the Macro society.
"It was very rare," Carol answered my thought, "and most of them took place between twin souls."
"Since twin souls rarely incarnate together," I said, "that goes a long way toward explaining the sexual frustrations of micro man."
"Sexual relationships which do not attain Macro immersion are only of fleeting satisfaction," Carol explained.
"Wait a minute," I said. "That means that the vast majority of sexual relationships, prior to the Macro society, have not been fulfilling."
"That's right," Carol nodded. "They usually left the participants with a strong underlying desire to start over again, since their true longing was unfulfilled."
"Then you're saying that any sexual relationship between you and me that does not reach Macro immersion would be unfulfilling."
"That's right," Carol replied. "Now you can appreciate how unselfish the other girls of our Alpha were being when they agreed to have a sexual relationship with you if you so desired."
"They knew," I said, "that their soul notes were too dissimilar from mine to attain Macro immersion, yet to help me learn this they were willing to experience an unsatisfying union."
"However," Carol added, "to the extent that you give unselfishly of yourself to another it cannot be an unpleasant experience."
I shook my head. "That explains it... that's why micro man experiences so much guilt, anxiety, and frustration associated with sex," I said. "He almost always uses sex for his own selfish purposes, so the result is bound to be something less than complete fulfillment."
"That's right," Carol responded, "and even the micro view that sex is sanctified if it is used only for the purpose of creating children is false, because micro man views his children as possessions, thus, uses them for selfish purposes."
"Not the least of which must be micro man's hope for immortality through his children," I reasoned.
"Yes." Carol smiled. "Man, for centuries, pursued what he called immortality-that celestial heaven where his eternity of days would be spent floating from cloud to cloud with a harp in his hand and a blissful smile on his face. He just had not yet evolved far enough along the m-M continuum to remember his past lives, and if man can't remember his past lives he can't be expected to understand the true concept of immortality. It would be like expecting a person who has been blind since birth to understand the color yellow.
"Many of your religions compounded this problem," she continued. "Any religion that denies the human soul its immortal past is going to have difficulty teaching an immortal future. "
I thought about that for a bit then said, "I can see where that's one of the big problems of Christianity."
"That's right," Carol agreed. "Any religion that depends on a priesthood for its truths is micro. Macro man learns truths by using his power of retro cognition to read the universal akashic records which contain a full account of everything that ever happened."
"You mean," I questioned, "if your personal akashic record of your own past doesn't include something, you can check a universal akashic record that does?"
"Yes," she explained, "it's like a universal C.I. that has a videotape of everything that has ever happened."
"Then you wouldn't have to be dependent on anyone else's interpretation of anything," I said. "Instead of arguing about what Lao-tzu, Gautama, or Jesus said or didn't say, you could just check the universal akashic records and both see and hear every event in their lives."
Carol nodded and said, "Exactly. We've done this with all the great philosophers of history."
"My God, that sounds fascinating! Could you show me how to do that, Carol? Maybe today?" I asked, eager to tap this incredible new resource.
"It's up to you, Jon. I should warn you, though, that while using the akashic records is a great educational technique, it is not of much use in attaining greater Macro awareness. That can only be achieved by tapping the same source of all wisdom-love that the great Macro philosophers of all time have tapped-the macrocosm or universal mind-then practicing, through application in your daily life, what you learned from that contact."
I was disappointed to hear that this marvelous new experience which I was so eager to embark upon would not help me reach my goal of level-three awareness. It was with reluctance that I decided I could not afford to take the time to learn this new skill until after I reached my more important goal,
Carol sensed my conflict and, after a telepathic reassurance that she felt my decision was a wise one, she invited me to share an invigorating bath with her before joining the rest of our Alpha for breakfast.
After breakfast Carol suggested that I could use C.I. in our room while she used the one at the center. I told her I would rather walk to the center and enjoy the beautiful lake, the trees, and the flowers under the clear blue sky of this unpolluted world.
"I can read about your polluted world," she said, "and I can see and hear video tapes of it in all its grimness, but only when I remember my past life during that period can I truly appreciate the beauty of our world."
"Hey, that's right. You lived your most recent past life in the 20th century, didn't you? You said you died in the 1990s," I reca
lled.
"Yes," she replied, "in the 1970s I was a student. I took every opportunity to protest the criminal contamination of our planet. In spite of popular protests, the vested interests had their way till the pollution of the '80s made that of the '70s look very mild indeed."
"Then it just got worse and worse," I said, "and nothing was done to correct it?"
"Oh, lots of little things were done," she responded, "but it was too late for half-way measures. It would have required world-wide cooperation through a world-wide government, but this was impossible for micro man with his micro philosophy of life. Unified world government requires a Macro view with equal concern for the health, safety, and well-being of all mankind. Micro man was not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve this goal."
"I guess," I said, "I'm using a micro perspective when I feel sorry for micro man's suffering and miserable death. I know that it was the only way he could learn the consequences of his selfish micro ways, but I still feel remorse about the tragic deaths."
Carol responded saying, "Micro man had to perish so that Macro man could be born. Death is only bad when it is taken out of the context of the soul evolution and the cumulative Macro effect."
As we talked we had left our Gamma building and were walking beside the lake toward the center when suddenly I stopped and pointed at a figure on the lake.
"Look, Carol!" I said, surprised, "Is that really someone walking on the. lake?"
"Yes," she replied. "It's probably a level eight or nine practicing levitation."
"Why not a level ten?" I asked.
"Because," Carol answered, "they don't have to practice."
The figure had been too distant for me to get a close look at levitation, and it soon disappeared into the water.
"I guess whoever it was got tired," I postulated, "and is now taking a bit of a swim!"
"Maybe," Carol replied, "or maybe swimming just looked like it might be a little more fun. Why don't we do a little practicing ourselves, then you can learn to levitate, too."
With these words Carol leaped into the air and floated about three feet above the ground for almost ten seconds before descending gently to the earth.
"I didn't realize that you were that advanced," I said. "What sort of thought did' you use?"
"I just visualized myself floating in the air," she replied.
"Hmm," I murmured. "I guess I can at least try it out." I did and almost immediately landed back on the ground.
Carol picked up my puzzlement and answered, "You forgot to raise your vibrations by recalling Macro con– tact-your macrocosmic oneness with all."
I followed her suggestion until I felt joyously calm and very buoyant. Then I visualized myself about six feet off the ground and easily leaped to this height. I stayed up for almost five seconds before the fatigue overcame me, then started to come down gently but ran out of PK about two feet from the ground and landed with a thud.
I was thrilled with my unbelievable success. I mean, just think of it-me, Jon Lake-levitating. Wow!
I decided that I could just as easily visualize myself at thirty feet off the ground or even higher, if I was willing to come back down right away. However, I was tired from my first effort and postponed any further attempts until I was completely rested.
"I'll bet I could set a clew world high jump record back in 1976 if I wanted to," I observed. "By golly, I'd be right in time for the Olympics, too!"
Carol replied, "A new world record in pole vaulting, too, and you wouldn't even have to use the pole! However, micro man gets pretty frightened of anyone who does things too far out of the ordinary, so I suggest you be careful."
"Yeah," I said, "and when micro man is frightened, look out. I wouldn't want to be locked up as a freak, or a national defense resource."
Carol nodded. "Micro man does have a tendency to hate anyone who makes him feel inferior. That's why our visits to Micro Island are so dangerous for those who do not have pretty well-developed Macro powers."
"Speaking of Micro Island," I said, "I want to visit there as soon as you feel our combined Macro powers will protect us."
"All right," Carol answered as we reached my C.I. room. "I'll tell you when I think we're ready."
Then she squeezed my hand affectionately and said, "See you at lunch," and was gone down the long corridor.
As soon as I was seated in my favorite C.I. room overlooking the lake, I began asking C.I. questions about the uses of Macro powers to help micro man. Over and over C.I. kept telling me that no one can be helped until they are both willing and ready. This was the same as having sufficient desire and a belief, she said.
When I asked specifically how I could help Neda I learned that PK could be used to affect the seven gland centers of the body and, thereby, cause changes in physical appearance.
I spent the rest of the morning studying diagrams of the glandular system and learning all I could about how to use PK to change Neda's physical appearance to one of greater attractiveness. It seemed overwhelmingly complex and difficult to understand at first, but C.I. was the greatest resource ever, with an unending supply of patience. By noon I felt hopeful about my chances of changing Neda's appearance for the better.
When Carol joined me we took our CN's with water, then walked toward the recreation areas. On the way we practiced our PK with pebbles again and I told Carol about my hopes for Neda back in 1976. She agreed this would be a good application of my growing Macro powers.
As I was about to take my next step I stopped in midstride, for there before me, basking itself in a pool of sunshine, was a snake about six feet long. Carol obviously hadn't seen it, for she was about to walk on. I grabbed her arm and pulled her to me.
She looked at me with surprise, then, remembering how new I was at all this, reassured me, saying, "It's all right, Jon. I'm not afraid; therefore, the snake won't harm me."
Carol took my hand and I, somewhat reluctantly, permitted her to lead me closer until I had a clear view of the rattles on its tail. I stopped and said, "Maybe a rattlesnake won't harm you, Carol, because you're not afraid, but I, for one, am damned scared!"
"Then stay here," Carol suggested, "and I'll show you something."
With these words she walked up to what looked to me like a deadly rattlesnake, bent over and, putting her hands underneath it, gently lifted it in her arms and began walking toward me. My mouth was dry, sweat seemed to be spurting out of every pore of my body, my heart pounded under the impact of more adrenaline than my system could handle. There was no doubt in my mind that snakes had always frightened me, and this one in Carol's arms was no exception. Then for the first time I heard the ominous rattle begin and saw the snake's head jerk back in striking position, its eyes fastened with deadly menace upon me.
"No closer, Carol, please," I stammered, backing away.
She stopped and began talking soothingly to the by now intensely angry snake in her arms. Surprisingly, in a very few seconds the sound of the frantic rattling ceased and I could see the snake's tightly coiled body beginning to relax. As I watched this seeming miracle unfold before me I realized that once Carol had picked the snake up I had been convinced that no harm would come to her even when the deadly reptile was at its angriest. My fear had all been for myself. I was filled with shame and embarrassment.
"I don't blame you for being afraid," Carol said. "Obviously you've suffered great pain and anguish, possibly death, from contact with snakes in past lives. The fear generated then was so powerful that it has stayed with you."
"I can believe that," I replied, "because as far back as I can remember I've always been afraid of snakes. Obviously this one recognized my fear and responded to it."
"That's right, Jon," she agreed. "No animal can attack a person who is demonstrating Macro love."
"Okay," I acknowledged, "Macro man isn't afraid, but obviously I'm not very Macro in this area. Is there anything I can do about it?"
"Sure," Carol answered. "Since you have already ex
perienced Macro contact you have only to remember it sufficiently to have all fear removed from your mind. You can't be afraid of yourself!"
I was skeptical of this answer, and in the end it was only because of my telepathic contact with Carol that I succeeded in perfecting the recall. Then we maintained a very strong telepathic bond which continued to support our Macro contact memory, as, after almost forty-five minutes, I was finally able to approach the snake, touch it, and even hold it in my hands. It was, of course, my own doubt that caused me to have such difficulty.
We placed the snake back in his sunning spot and continued our walk. I asked Carol if she thought I was cured of my fear of snakes. She laughed and told me that it wasn't all that easy, but having experienced such a successful confrontation with my phobia, the fear would be greatly diminished. If I practiced for a while, dealing with it as we had, it would soon be gone. I had to admit that I had never imagined it would be possible for me to hold a live poisonous snake in my hands without fear. Then I asked Carol about other wild animals.
She told me that during the planetary pollution and overpopulation crisis, many types of animal life had died off. However, the early Macro society had preserved as many species as it could. Now, most animal life had made a remarkable comeback from almost complete extinction, for man had finally ended his relentless destruction of them and their food chain. I was pleased to hear that even the great cats such as the leopard, tiger, and lion had survived.
"But what will you do if they become too numerous?" I asked.
"Oh," she said, "we control the total ecological balance of our planet, not by killing, but by maintaining a balance of nature so that no species overbreeds for very long."
"Speaking of overpopulation," I said, "you know, I'm really surprised that I haven't seen more people during our walks to the center and to the recreation areas. Why is this?"
"We don't need to crowd each other," Carol replied, "because we're not afraid of being alone. With telepathy we need never be alone, and we need never invade the mental or physical privacy of others without their consent.
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