The hot springs were a special surprise for Lillian on this particular day as Markus had requested that he take her here to heal and replenish her energy. As they arrived at the springs, they both eagerly anticipated the healing waters. They looked at each other and at the beautiful surroundings, and for a small moment their worries were gone.
They soaked in the ancient springs until dark, then continued to relax under the beautiful starry sky. They breathed in this special place and were able to let go and feel a sense of peace.
Lillian spoke softly as she freely floated in the soothing waters. “I feel no fear in what we are doing, but I sometimes sense that we will be going to a place that we have never been.”
Markus looked at her with affection and concern as he gently swam closer to where she was. “What do you mean? You will be here with us. I will help you stay here with my earthly ways,” he said with a smile, trying to keep the conversation relaxed.
Lillian took some time to speak, as she often did. She looked deep into his eyes and her energy intensified. “I mean, when the energy is opened on a continuous basis, we are not sure what will happen. We have seen it opened before, but only in short bursts. Earth and spirit are partially divided for a purpose. Sometimes I wonder how far we can go with this union.”
Lillian was beyond her years in understanding these issues, and Markus knew this. He glanced gently at her with his reassuring look. Sensing her fear, he tried to comfort her.
“There will be many here on this earth who will keep all of you grounded. I will be here for you.” He gently touched her face with his masculine hand and kissed her. Briefly they felt the fire between them join as they soaked in this moment of earthy love.
Lilly smiled at him and stayed close to his earthly energy. He did indeed keep her grounded and she enjoyed the feeling immensely. They both kept silent, holding each other and as they lay soaking in the springs looking up at the beautiful heavens. Lillian whispered in his ear. “Promise you will come for me if I go too far?”
Markus looked her in the eyes and sensed an energy beyond the human veil. Her eyes were clear yet distant, like she was partially in another place. He softly spoke as he held out his hand and placed it in hers. “I promise. I will always be here for you.”
They sat in silence and thought about what was soon to happen. Although they felt prepared, neither really knew what would actually occur. Cloaked in mystery, they accepted their destiny and let go.
Chapter 10
Joshua and the Seers
When Joshua awoke from his dream state at Western University, he knew something was wrong. Many of the seers were silent as they awakened and glanced toward him. Their expressions showed kindness, but Joshua could sense apprehension and confusion. Rarely did the Council feel such things as a group and Joshua showed concern. His eyes were fixed on Helena as if asking for some relief.
Helena looked at him attentively and spoke with tenderness. “We have seen your dreams and will now spend some time interpreting them. This may take several days. Your dream state shows us a world with which we are familiar, but in which we do not live. Our world is one of earth and spirit. The invisible realms of spirit have many hidden places. We are sensing something that we have not yet encountered as seers.”
As he looked around nervously, Joshua tried to calm himself. He was visibly shaking from the intense energy exchange. His agitation grew. He tried to center and breathe to calm himself. He then saw Jasmine and immediately felt some sense of peace. Several of the other mystics had entered the chamber to witness the dreams. She smiled at Joshua and helped him calm his mind. Her thoughts were powerful and set him to ease at once. Her dark eyes penetrated his nervous outer shell and for a moment they were connected.
She spoke as she walked closer to him to help him focus. “Joshua, did you know Markus Dueter well? Did you ever talk to him about his experiences during the revolution?”
Joshua was a bit perplexed, but knew the questions were important. He thought deeply about his answer as he locked eyes with Jasmine. “As you all know, his grandson, Talis Dueter, is a great friend of mine. Markus— “Grandfather,” we called him—spoke of the revolution often, but not in great detail. He was more open to talking about the transition to our current society. He was quiet about certain things from the past. We knew it had been very difficult for him and the others, so we did not ever pressure him to tell us. He never spoke of the most disruptive weeks of the uprising.”
Jasmine touched his shoulder in a friendly way as she explained. “Your dreams take us to that period of time, as do the dreams we have seen in a few others. Those final weeks of the uprising have been lost to us. For some reason we are not able to clearly access the past. The mystics of that time had lost certain events and many would not speak of it. This is very unusual for seers.”
Joshua looked at Jasmine and then Helena. “What events are you referring to?”
The Council was hushed. There was no answer for several moments. Jasmine looked to Helena then to Joshua. No one spoke or knew exactly what to say. The air was still in the Council chambers.
Helena finally broke the uncomfortable silence and spoke to him gently. “Joshua, my son, you were a student with us for several years and could have become a seer. We are glad that you are out in the world doing your service. Yet there is something that we ask of you in the coming weeks. Are you willing to come back for a period of time to help us?”
Joshua didn’t know what to say. “What is it that you need from me?” he asked, concerned and somewhat confused.
Helena looked at him intently with her penetrating eyes. She was the leader of the Council because of her gifts of insight and gentle communication. She took a few deep breaths and spoke clearly so all could hear.
“There has been a mystery in our Mystic Order for several decades. It goes back to the time of the initial energy shift. We were told that several of our seers had difficulty during that time and a loss of energy disrupted the flow which we now hold. This energy drop during the initial transition caused much hardship for the collective and the world in general. Although it only lasted a few weeks, we don’t know what actually happened. We have not focused on this time until the dreams started reoccurring in you and others. These dreams are a sign that we need to follow. They are a message from the unseen world, that of spirit. We need to look at these events closely. We must find out what happened to our mystics and the energy field. It is in our interest to understand our energies so that we can continue to live in peace and harmony.”
Jasmine added. “Joshua, we need you to help us find out what happened.”
Joshua looked at the others around the Council chamber. All eyes were focused on him. He did not seek the attention nor want it. He answered quickly. “And how will I do this?”
Jasmine held out her hand and placed it gently on his shoulder. “Leave that up to us, my friend. We will need your trust. This won’t be an easy task. In a short time we will let you know our plan. For now we will seek counsel and find our center through prayer and meditation. Can we call for you in a few days’ time? Are you agreeable to this?” They waited patiently for his answer, giving him time to soak in their request.
Joshua got up from his seat and looked up at the ceiling. He was stressed about the responsibility, but knew he had no choice. He was very apprehensive to agree since he did not know what he would be asked to do. Still, he knew it was his duty to help the seers. They were his family and the spiritual protectors of society. He knew what he needed to do. Joshua bowed to Jasmine, Helena and the others in deep respect. He was visibly shaken, but answered in a calm tone. “I will help as I can. I will await your call.”
Jasmine smiled at him and returned the bow. “Thank you, dear Joshua.”
Helena and the Council rose from their seats to honor Joshua and his coming. They knew it had not been easy returning to this place under the circumstances. “Blessings be to you, our friend and son of the Light, Joshua Herata.”
Chapter 11
Discussion at the
Collective Farm
Joshua returned to the Rising Sun Farm and rested for several days. He was exhausted after the visit to the University and the Council. The others knew he had been to the University to visit the Mystic Council, so they gave him time to recover. He was visibly shaken from the experience and did not talk to many on the farm. He felt moody, at times angry, so he kept mostly quiet with his energies focused inward.
Joshua came to Rising Sun Farm to contribute, but also to heal in the quietness of the country. To grow the food, work always had to be done on the collective farm, but everyone had time for other interests as well. If someone needed a break, others would fill in. A shorter work schedule compared with that of the past allowed everyone to pursue other interests and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area as well. Most people worked only 20 hours weekly, which made up the normal working week in most collective situations. Some people worked more hours if they desired, but many took time to pursue other interests. Education was ongoing and people always had the opportunity to take classes on a variety of subjects. Society advocated lifelong education. Because basic needs were met and people had time to pursue deeper interests, their society had advanced to a new level of understanding and sensitivity.
Joshua enjoyed his work on the farm, but he also enjoyed this extra time in the beautiful open country. He meditated and used the time to walk the farm and surrounding countryside. The lush valley, forested hills and beautiful meandering river gave him a sense of peace. He had met many new friends since joining the farm a year ago, but one in particular had caught his attention: Jonathan.
Jonathan was an intense listener, something that Joshua needed in his life. Jonathan allowed Joshua the quiet time he required and was there to share and listen. Jonathan was one of those special people who made you feel comfortable sharing your inner thoughts. His intense blue eyes calmed Joshua after his unsettling dreams. Joshua had never loved a person the way he loved Jonathan. There were no expectations; their relationship was based on nurturing one another’s spiritual growth.
Joshua was overjoyed to have met a person like this. In their society people focused more on the spiritual aspect of partnerships than in the past. It was just what Joshua needed in his life: someone to calm him and help him stay centered. And although couples did commit to each other, especially when raising children, society had broadened its view of relationships. The larger community was an important part of everyone’s lives. Traditional relationships and marriage based on the old models of the single family were not as necessary, and not always desired. People were part of a larger whole and they expressed themselves in this way. There were many paths in which to grow and contribute to the larger consciousness. This made relationships more harmonic and healthy than they had been in the past. This new way had naturally evolved over several decades with the advancement of society. Joshua grew up understanding and respecting this process. Experiencing it directly with such a dear friend as Jonathan helped him heal in many ways.
Joshua’s generation had indeed expanded their understanding of love; it was expressed in many forms. Individuals learned from an early age that serving and giving to others was an important focus. Children were cared for by the whole community with many nurturing adults to help with the task. Parents were supported by a larger network; they were not alone. This allowed people to let go and love. Joshua and Jonathan understood that they were part of a larger whole. Although where life took them was a mystery at times, they accepted this and worked on serving others and finding inner peace. They learned to focus on the present and express their love as openly as they could.
They spent time together when they could, often sitting in complete silence, overlooking the breathtaking valley during the day, holding each other at night. They felt comfortable in each other’s presence. After many years questioning his identity and at times his sexuality, Joshua finally felt whole in this sense.
The thought of not having Jonathan around made Joshua feel anxious, yet he knew what he must do. He needed to let that go and give himself to the higher good of all. Jonathan understood and supported this. Joshua told Jonathan about what had happened at the Council meeting. He knew that he would have to return and perhaps stay for a long period of time. This distressed him. The thought of leaving the magic of this place without the comfort of a true friend was at times unimaginable.
Joshua looked into Jonathan’s eyes, tears flowing freely. “I will miss your energy when I go back to the University. You have been my best friend with gifts that soothe my soul.”
“And I will miss you, Joshua. I will pray for you wherever you go. Feel my presence when you are alone. I will be there. We will always be connected by our love.”
They both cried and held each other close as Joshua thought about the upcoming changes. Tonight he was with someone he loved. He abandoned himself to the moment and for the night forgot about the future.
Joshua awoke the next day feeling confused about his purpose. He sat on his deck and knew that he needed help. He still was not ready to work on the farm and except for seeing Jonathan he kept himself fairly isolated. He needed time to think and calm himself. Fortunately he had recently heard from Talis, who would be coming to visit soon. He was happy that he could share time with his old friend in person. They had always had a special bond.
Joshua thought about his dreams and his time with the seers. What did they want him to do? Why did they want him to come back? He understood it had to do with his dreams, but he wondered how he would help the trained seers with their work. Did they truly not know what happened in the time of the uprising? He had reflected many times on the amount of destruction caused by war, poverty and environmental abuse. The revolution had changed all of this. It was hard to believe this destructive world was less than 70 years in their past, yet he had known only this peaceful society. He relished the idea of how the world had transformed into the stable peace he now lived. And he knew the transition must have been difficult. He understood the importance of the initial mystics during the uprising, but what had caused the energy to be disrupted? Becoming agitated again, he tried his best to calm his mind.
As he walked through the peaceful orchards soon to be ripe with apples, he realized how important this all was. He was standing in an experiment that had worked. Gone were the days of hunger; the people were taken care of. These farms fed many people: those who could not feed themselves and those who were in service doing other tasks. Food was plentiful and all were fed. As he looked up at the succulent fruit and the green moist leaves, he felt connected to this way of life, close to the earth. Was this not his duty? Was he to return to the Mystic Order and serve in another way? The thought of leaving was disheartening, but he knew he wanted to protect the peace that had been hard-won. Looking inward, he knew once again he was called to do something he did not quite understand.
Near sunset, Joshua went to his favorite place, the meditation sanctuary. As he rounded the bend on the path, he saw several other people deep in their practice. The sanctuary was quiet, as usual, which made him happy; he desired only silence. There were many areas for privacy when someone needed to be alone in their thoughts, but the large, open sanctuary usually gave one the space they needed to feel quiet and obtain the sacred silence. The people that came here honored the need for silence. Joshua loved coming to this place and would spend many hours deep in mediation and prayer. He began his meditation and was soon deep in his place of wisdom. At last he found some sense of peace.
***
The next day, Talis arrived via electric robotic car he had borrowed for the trip. Frictionless, the car was automated using special sensors attached to him and to the earth below. He delighted in the opportunity to actually drive. To be in partial control had an almost dangerous feeling, and Talis absorbed every minute of it. Many people used the vacuum and maglev trains, but autonomous vehicles were still in use. Fossil fuels wer
e long ago replaced by solar, electric, hydrogen, fusion, vacuum and binary energy. All vehicles were lightweight and non-polluting. Most citizens did not own vehicles, but borrowed from a regional fleet made for that purpose. Private ownership was allowed, but it was not really necessary, as free transportation was one of the basic needs met by the larger society. Most vehicles and transportation used frictionless and airborne systems, so the older paved road systems were drastically reduced and many areas were brought back to their natural state.
Talis loved being free in the country in his own vehicle. He would stop at certain areas, get out and look around. Stretching his legs as he overlooked the majestic mountains of the Northwest, he marveled at the reverence of this area. He was overjoyed being out in nature and was glad to have the opportunity to visit Rising Sun Farm. As he arrived at the farm, he came upon acres of gorgeous peaches and pear trees, their branches weighed down by fruit ready for harvest. He was overwhelmed by the living spirit of these trees. He could sense the life force that he was connected to. It was paradise. The ecovillage where he lived, of course, had its own beauty and its own natural areas, yet there was still nothing better than getting out into the open countryside. The great forests and farms of the region inspired him to be a better person. His grandfather had taken him out here often and he still relished those special trips. Talis enjoyed the connection as long as he could, stopping his vehicle in the orchard to get out and lie on the ground, breathing the fresh air of the farm. He felt like he was one with the earth and absorbed the special moment.
The Mystic Paradigm: An Evolutionary Novel Page 6