by Krishna Rose
“She is the Goddess of Fortune. Those who beseech Her mercy, never know poverty,” Cherubim whispered, proudly showing off the cause of his limitless commitment and devotion. From Her divine body, gold coins poured wealth and good fortune upon those who worshipped Her, as limitless religious praise rose to meet and unite with the Goddess’s divine ears.
“Salutations!” they cried.
It was very affecting, for She seemed immersed in a most touching way.
With one breath, all of creation rushed into the Lord like white horses running from a tidal wave—reclaiming the lives He had but a moment before created. In one mammoth breath nothing existed, and in the next, upon his exhalation, each thing was again made whole, returned to a new beginning—gleaming with possibility and potential.
“These rhythms have cycled here forever, Mary. The Lord’s creative power knows no beginning or end.”
My eyes were overwhelmed, my heart was agitated—my mind was astonished. I was staggered by the simplicity and depth of Genesis, which is discussed by all scholars, who claim to understand the moment of creation. Yet now I understood that they in fact know nothing.
‘So much life Generated, Operated, and Destroyed—G, o, d’ I marveled.
“How many years have passed on earth?” I whispered.
“Three-hundred-and-eleven-trillion years, Mary!” Cherubim sobbed, overwhelmed by sight of his Lord. He grinned at me playfully from behind his tears, for they were of joy.
“Look around!” he said pointing in all directions. “The ten tridents you see over there—they are fixed in the ten directions to protect the Lord while He dreams. They shine on all sides, preventing and disappointing any who are evil-minded and self-conceited from reaching these regions by any means. Baffled by their attempts to disturb the Lord, they are pierced again and again by these fierce tridents, which, like a thousand armies, annihilate their feeble struggle to thwart God’s power.
“Those who endeavor to kill the Lord, fall headlong into the pits of disappointment, where they are cut asunder in all ten directions. And those who are offensive to Him, relapse into the sevenfold world, falling back under the control of illusion. The Lord’s Kingdom is unknowable and inaccessible to the wicked and unkind,” he said gravely.
The gallant cobra serpent known as Sesha, slithered gracefully, unravelling his many arms, each muscular limb, beautifully decorated and illumined by golden cuffs embroidered with shining jewels. The serpent’s tongues flickered from its many hooded heads, which were garlanded with flowers and crowned with faceted gemstones. Its many eyes met with mine and a shiver of excitement ran down my spine, inciting me to pray.
“Our Creator, to whom we owe everything, instead of uniting my will with Yours, I have rebelled and led my soul from You, again and again, causing my soul to be forgetful of Thy love and goodness which lives in me. I prostrate myself before Thee, and in my humiliation, I beseech Thy mercy and grace to enter me, that I might ever more abide in You. From here forth, You shall be the playground of my mind’s happy hunting ground, for You are the delight of my heart and the focus of all my affections.
“You can raise a creature from one state, to a more exalted one, by mere thought of it—therefore I pray, that my hopeful petition might enter Your divine ears and gift me with the favor of Your divine Kingdom. In readiness, I desperately desire Your company, that I may serve You and be directed by You, as Your will so desires. In confessing my deepest longings, please forgive my presumption and any error by my approach.
“All unvirtuousness that hath hardened my heart and sown seeds of selfish advantage, I pray Thee to forgive. And despairingly I appeal, in the midst of Your good nature, to torment me no longer without vision of You. Though I may not have faith, as such, that it should warrant my appearance in eternity, I pray Thee to look upon me with eyes of divine mercy, of which we are assured, without doubt, You offer, to those who wish no more to fear or know death.
“Thy glories have always sung in the cathedral of my heart. Therefore bless me Father—for I am made perfect, yet I chose to sin against my own perfection, which You created from within Your own spirit of goodness. Millions hanker like me . . . aspiring sincerely for a moment of revelation in the heart. All Your creatures are sustained in You, many of whom are innocent as lambs. Please consider their plight, and by Your mercy and mysterious grace, inspire Your vision, wrought by Your powerful arm, to descend upon their hearts, to save them and offer them hope.”
The Lord’s body stirred. The serpent, protectively regarded me, displeased that someone had dared to disturb the Lord’s contemplative trance. With palms folded, I bowed to him. “Forgive me,” I wept.
“Come, Mary. We have been privy to things not usually seen by mortal eyes. Let us disturb Them no longer,” Cherubim said, mournfully.
Teary-eyed we departed. My heart, stranded, stopped beating.
The first Book of Knowledge, still open before me, abruptly slammed closed.
I barely had time to take a breath, before the gold-laden pages of the second book turned. At first slowly, and then more hurriedly, thousands of scriptural words and phrases swirled, circumambulating their showers of invocation and benediction. In sequence, my original consciousness lit up like fire. My inner eye, provoked by such stimulation, roused. Anthems, eulogies, and bouquets of tributes, conveyed instruction, penetrating my being—changing my perception of reality. Planets, stars, symbols, geometry, mathematic calculations, as well as images of past, present, and future, depicted stories, like paintings, detailing the totality of the living experience.
I was all at once entrusted with a chalice of information that chronicled epic tales of heroism and romance, myths, legends, and all manner of learning, which were absorbed into the total essence of my being. The mystical body of divine law, washed me, as a sacred baptism. Consoled, I partook of this great blessing, giving thanks for it, for absorbed in a divine trance, I had received the secrets of the Altar.
Celebrating the increase of holy understanding, the mysteries of life were revealed to me, offered up for the betterment of my soul, out of charity and mercy for the sons and daughters of Eve.
Volumes of holy writs revolved around me like stars. And as I adapted to the experience, the whirl of passages, written not of a language I recognized or understood, circled in an urgent way. This went on for some time. I resonated with the limitless understanding of their surging confidential nature, until they began to slow and the book closed shut.
I felt light-headed, yet complete in myself. Without delay, I was offered another pink shell to drink from. Exhausted, the celestial beings knew my need for refreshment. I gave thanks to the Almighty with intense devoutness. My happiness was measureless. Such was the force of my love for the Lord, that He received me in the sacramental throne of my innermost heart—to taste my devotion, which to Him was as nectar. I wept, not out of grief, but due to the evident overwhelming nature of the Lord, whose miracles are impossible to fathom.
My limited ability to explain in words, such love, grieves me. There is no need to seek for another cause, other than the unparalleled joy one experiences upon catching sight of Him. No doctrine or mortal teaching can reason the force of love. We have been deprived. For had we known that such ardent love existed, we would know what insufferable violence we do unto ourselves, in the absence of His presence in the temple of our own souls.
The word was made flesh. Satiated, I burned with infinite charity. It had been a necessary journey through the heavenly mansions, that by such inflamed love, I could now discharge my duties, meditating interiorly, like a pilgrim on the most eminent perfection of attained happiness present in my own beating heart.
“That Mary, was an offering far richer than any sacrament on earth!” Cherubim said joyfully. His smi
ling expression, made known the intense ecstasy we both felt. “Those who surrender a piece of themselves in holy accordance, are here illumined to the degree their radiance generates for others. Because you are devoted to humanity’s restoration, all of us here in Heaven were determined to offer you the highest in spiritual understanding—mindful of how this knowledge shared, would reduce wickedness to ashes.”
I could grasp new and profound ways of thinking. I sensed, as the last of the liquid washed down, that it had brought my experience to fathomless heights.
“The shrine of your soul is now activated, nourished by ungraspable wisdom. Seeds of knowledge have become the fabric of who you are. These teachings are embedded in your very nature. Forthwith, your voice, by decree, will cause change. Seeds will be sown and fruits shall grow by the generosity of your nature.
“Now I shall explain to you the constitution of these books, which are of two kinds,” he said, as I savored one final drop of the floral beverage. “Each book was created for two kinds of seekers. The first, is for that devoted soul who follows faithfully. The second, is for those who inquire and thirst for knowledge for their own gain. Even though they live pious and righteous lives, they bear no sign of love or compassion. Therefore the second book offers knowledge without understanding of the Lord.
“Now that you are imbued with this wisdom of the gods, you shall have the ability to aid both types of pilgrims,” he said, endowed with emotion—proud of his Messianic student.
“The first worshipper, often imitates what others do, with a blind sense of purpose and a sincere and eager heart to learn. These souls often follow without question. They believe stories and philosophies that are frequently steeped in falsity. But because their faith and devotion is so strong, they are rewarded for their efforts. Some followers in this class of religion, repeatedly condemn those who do not walk their exact path. The poison of their offences, recurrently mixes with any determination they might once have had, delaying their spiritual progress.
“Go forth, Mary, and relieve them of their false beliefs. For only once they no longer dwell within the element of judgement, can they recognize the ultimate cause of their own spiritual defect.
“Now, to another matter. Paradise offers a felicity of spiritual pleasure known as Ruchi. It is not like any enjoyment of the mortal senses. Once a flavor has come for the exchanges of love between God and the seeker, the taste to relish Him is tenderly nourished within a quiet determination to reach His abode. Once that love takes the form of attachment to the Lord and His Kingdom—or Ruchi, as it is known in Heavens, this baptized enjoyment is where one delights in the path of saintly pleasure.
“Fastening to the things of the spirit, the seeker’s now tender heart becomes overwhelmed by the Lord’s limitless love. At this time, the separation of the soul from mortal existence becomes an inevitable gorgeous fate, as it moves beyond blind faith, to true understanding. Here, the penultimate objective of all spiritual crusaders is revealed to them.”
“So what happens to the second class of devotee?” I asked.
“Most in this class, yearn for knowledge so as to speak eloquently, gaining followers, wealth, and power. They seek truth and come to know many verses of scripture by which to argue their philosophical beliefs. And because of their being expert and having a keen intelligence, pride overpowers any love they once had. Their fate, is to remain cemented to learning, for learning’s sake. Such a wayfarer often comes to be staunch in ritual and rule. Nevertheless, they are blessed by the spirit of purification, and in time, move beyond learning, diving inside for experiences of devotion.
“Ultimately, pride submits to authentic humility, which sprouts due to the newfound unwavering love they experience within. The heart, heavy with Ruchi, yearns for divine attention. Bound by love, the soul within, gives up reverence to the self, and finally after so much struggle, the doors of the Kingdom are opened to them. Therefore, both Books of Knowledge offer the same result, but by different means.”
“At what point is one qualified to move beyond the cycles of birth and death forevermore?” I asked him.
“Upon seeing the form of God revealed in the heart! After such a vision, they are forever in the throes of divine longing. With showers of tears, such a soul, finally reunites with the object of its love, and once attained, this blessed vision comes to be the sweet offering of everlasting shelter in the Kingdom—from which one never falls. Embraced by the Lord Himself, that most fortunate soul is welcomed home in great celebration and all sorrow and misery is forever vanquished.”
“So what happens to those who say God is a light, having no form? Is there a place for them too?”
“Indeed,” he said, nodding, swallowing hard. “When one stares at the sun, do we see the glare of the sun’s light, or does the light from the sun have a source? Those who believe in a formless God, attain that light—which is the effulgence of the Lord’s own form. They merge into it, believing it to be the penultimate destination. They think that upon returning to the light, that they too will become God by merging into His substance. But this reasoning offends the angelic realms, as they negate the Lord’s existence in favor of their self-aggrandized thinking.
“Once reaching their desired destination, they find themselves in the lap of inactivity. And again after some time spent in inaction, the soul feels the yearnings for a relationship. For to love and be loved, is built into the fabric of our nature. By their inherent need, they return to earth to complete their limited understanding of the divine relationship. Because the light they sought so hard to attain, does not offer them permanent shelter, they soon discover that their focus was misplaced—they are not God after all!” he said, laughing heartily with me.
The time had come for me to say goodbye to Cherubim, with whom I had forged a special friendship. My journey through the seven veils of Heaven was complete. The Seven bowed, ready to take my leave.
“The wisdom of these books, are forever inside and outside of you from this day forth,” they echoed, drifting off into the distance.
“I am to leave you now, Mary Magdalene,” Cherubim said, glancing around uneasily. He had a pained expression upon his usually peaceful face. “It has been a great honor to be your guide. All of the cherubim angels are jealous that I was the one to guide you through Heaven,” he choked.
“I did not expect to like you so much, as humans are often quite dull when the objects of their senses are removed from them. Please bless me, Mary Magdalene, that one day I may be so fortunate as to serve beside you in the Kingdom, for I feel, please forgive me for speaking so earnestly, that we have become friends,” he said shyly.
“Indeed Cherubim, you and I are the best of friends! I shall never forget this time I have shared with you,” I cried. “One day I shall write these memories into a book, so that you can read our story and remember your deepest spiritual wish. I will pray for you, and I also ask that you please pray for me and my family,” I said, teary-eyed.
“Of course! It has been such an honor,” he said sorrowfully, and I too began to sorrow.
“I can never repay you for showing me all these things and answering my questions so patiently,” I said, smiling from behind my tears. “I will most surely pray to be with you in eternal paradise. It is my ardent promise to you, my friend! It pains me to leave you. I wish you could stay with me forever.”
“And I with you,” he beamed back at me.
We took our last glimpse of one another, and with that, my visit through Heaven came to an end. It felt like another life, for so many marvelous things had been revealed to me, while memory of my own life had left me.
Besides Jesu.
CHAPTER 45
THE FINAL LESSON
O Lady of Earth and Heaven,
Whose being is bathed in glittering light,
Through you the vine and the pomegranate grow rich like royal blood,
Flowers burst from your ready boughs,
And verdant meadows wake by your fount,
Which overflows with the milk of human kindness.
All rejoice, for the Bride has come.
Living out my days eating berries and other simple gifts of nature, I was naked and without possessions. Alone for the first time in my life, beside the occasional visit of pilgrims who came to bring gifts of food, I was contented. When visitors came, I spoke with them of their problems, blessing and baptizing them when they asked. Though I was glad to receive and assist them, I was equally pleased when they left, for I had grown quite accustomed to my quiet life of contemplation and remembrance.
One visitor was particularly unforeseen—Longinus Gaius. He was a Roman man, who had with him his wife and grandchild. Upon his approach, he fell at my feet, weeping pitifully. “Dear Sister, what have I done to you? I have lived an entire life shadowed by guilt and shame for my actions. Very soon my life will be taken from me, so I wish to repent my sins and plead your forgiveness,” he cried.
I remained steadfast, wondering if I had seen him somewhere, for he seemed familiar to me. “Have we met somewhere, Brother?” I asked him.
“We have never met, my Lady, but we have glanced upon one another, once—many moons before,” he began. “I yearned to come sooner, but my pride blocked me. Now I am old and my soul seeks redemption.”
“Repent Brother,” I encouraged him, inviting them to sit with me. “What have you done that has caused you such trouble for all these years?” I asked him.
“I am the man who killed your husband,” he said, avoiding my eyes shamefully. My mouth must have dropped, for I was so startled by his repentant proclamation.