“Very funny!” Amelia rolled her eyes at the dog.
“What’s funny?” Jojo asked as Amelia realized he couldn’t hear or understand Zeke.
“Good morning.” A voice came from the doorway. Jojo and Amelia turned. Standing inside the white doorframe of the small country cottage, Miguel looked larger than the night before. His vest and billowing slacks were exchanged for a more casual pair of jeans and light denim shirt. “Did you sleep well?” he asked.
“Yes.” Amelia wondered if Miguel or Jojo noticed the differences she was experiencing. It didn’t seem like it since no one was acknowledging it in any way.
“Tetta would like you to come and join her,” Miguel invited.
At least the guru is still around. Amelia thought as she followed Miguel down the hallway. Jojo caught up and shot past the pair.
“He’s been up for awhile,” said Miguel explaining how Jojo knew where to move in the small cottage.
The couch in the living room was covered in heavily decorated tapestry material. A crocheted doily covered the back. A curio cabinet on the wall displayed countless Precious Moment statues and a wooden rocking chair sat near a stone fireplace next to the front window.
Amelia surveyed the decor as they crossed into the dining room that, in addition to the maple table and chairs, had a piano and a china cabinet. Through the swinging door into the big eat-in kitchen Amelia saw Jojo talking to an elderly woman who was arranging bacon on a plate next to the stove. Her apron was white over a yellow blouse and green slacks.
“Would you like some coffee?” Tetta turned and smiled at Amelia. The guru had turned into a granny. Her long dreadlocks had been replaced with a long braid. Her hair seemed to have become more gray. The accent that had seemed appropriate in the village had been replaced by one with a distinct southern texture.
Tetta pulled a white painted bentwood chair out from the kitchen table just in time to catch Amelia’s sagging figure. Fresh flowers and a bowl of fruit were arranged on the table along with perfectly set place settings of white china and glasses filled with orange juice.
Everything’s different and yet everything’s the same, Amelia thought.
That’s the way of everything isn’t it? Tetta was still privy to her thoughts which became something of a comfort to Amelia.
How can that be? she thought-spoke with Tetta.
Oh, even where you come from, change is the nature of things. You only think ev’rything is the same. It never is. Your mind holds a memory of ev’rything being a certain way and so it seems to be true, but ev’rything, ev’rything is constantly changing.
Well, Amelia thought, it doesn’t usually seem to change this drastically. One minute we were in India, now we’re in Main Street, America.
Tetta shrugged showing a curious smile and raised eyebrows. That’s the dream you seem to be havin’.”
Amelia looked around at the country kitchen, then down at the gold lamé shoes. My dream is somewhere between these two extremes? And how is it that Jojo’s dream has shifted with mine? Amelia thought about Hrim. He must be following the elephants. She wondered if Hrim could now be one of the circus elephants. Amelia looked to Tetta for some indication which was not forthcoming as the guru-turned-granny placed a cup of coffee on the table followed by a sugar bowl, spoon and fresh cream.
Amelia felt something lightly touching her finger. She looked just as the pretty green and yellow bird hopped onto her hand. She raised her hand in front of her face. Who are you? she wondered. I am Binga! the little bird replied in thought.
“Binga,” Amelia repeated, feeling herself continue to struggle with the thought talking and thinking with animals.
Jojo admired the little bird on Amelia’s finger. “Hey little bird,” he whispered, “maybe you can come with us when we go to the circus.”
Pause, pause, pause…
To summarize, the forces of good and evil are nothing more than a construct of the human mind, developed as it learned to manipulate the Earth plane. In the grand scheme of things it is counter-productive, but there is little that can be done about it as the group consciousness maintains this illusion. Hundreds of Jahni’s white robed students were learning the ropes of being guides as Hrim gave his presentation. Hrim felt he had conveyed his message as the protestations of thought had quieted during the talk.
We must all find a way to deal with the ever shifting illusion of what is good to some humans and evil to others. Humanity is just beginning to break the bonds of being vilified and victimized by the judgments that fall into the limiting, lack-luster, categories of Good and Evil. Hrim’s thought speech emphasized key expressions and planted them in the minds of Jahni’s dreaming students so they would re-experience the concepts later in their waking life.
The dualistic world is dependent upon two seemingly opposing forces through which the tug-of-war suspends the illusion of form. Humans have confused this need with the actual causes of war, good and evil, each claiming an interest in ending suffering, both actually work to continue it. One does so by focusing on suffering as wrong and strives to change it; the other sees suffering as an inevitable outcome of wrong which must be changed. Tit for tat. Hrim alternately tapped the back of each hand.
What needs to change is the belief in, need for, and fear of suffering. Then judgment and its good and evil tools will become obsolete. It is up to us to find small, progressive ways to help humans comprehend this is a colossal waste of creative expression. All of creation is perfect. Even when the appearance of something is imperfect, it nonetheless perfectly appears to be imperfect.
Beneath its seemingly unchanging conditions, the Earth plane and all the consciousness that makes it up is shifting. Changes long awaited are currently precipitating and soon we will be joined by countless newcomers who will require assistance. Of course, the cause will be neither good nor evil, but many will use it as the evidence to support their side of the story; and that is what we will have to work with here.
The auditorium murmured at the thought of soon needing to implement their studies. Jahni started walking down the aisle as Hrim concluded his presentation.
It has been a pleasure to join you for this impromptu talk today. It is good to see so many souls gathering to take on the work we are now facing. Meanwhile, I have a case that is very much about the nature of the human being as I have described today. And it is time I rejoin my subject. Which reminds me to remind you, when working with your people it is important to stay close and know that once they cross over, whether temporarily or permanently, they really have no training as to how it works. They’ve been going about their whole lives wondering what they were doing on Earth. Then they come into the dimensions we know so well still not knowing what they’re doing. So, be present, be firm, and be gentle.
Hrim gave a short bow to the audience and a cacophony of applause rose from the room. Jahni greeted him as he left the podium.
“My friend, you are an inspiration to me and my students.” Jahni hugged Hrim.
“Truly, my pleasure, Jahni.” Hrim put his hand on Jahni’s shoulder.
“You are on your way then?” Jahni looked eager to learn the state of Hrim’s case.
“Yes,” Hrim rolled his eyes and sighed as he scanned the field. “Off to the circus and not just a few unexpected interruptions.”
“You should be used to that by now,” Jahni called after Hrim as he left the stage of the auditorium and disappeared into the dark folds of the curtains.
Pause, pause, pause…
After breakfast Tetta and Amelia walked along Main Street as Miguel hung back with Jojo who was investigating every curious thing he saw in the front yards they were passing.
“This place seems so ideal,” Amelia commented, not really understanding what she was picking up on. “Everyone seems to be having the perfect American experience,” she noted, “like the 1950’s come back to life.”
“A good assessment,” Tetta replied. In almost every yard children were playing,
often accompanied by a parent. Moms were wearing brightly colored dresses and dads were actively teaching youngsters to ride bikes or fly kites. Several young couples were walking along Main Street hand in hand. Amelia and Tetta passed a small group of polite teenagers tending to ice cream cones and slurping chocolate malts outside the corner drug store. “Everything is as perfect as it can be,” Tetta agreed.
From the end of Main Street Amelia could see the circus people setting up the big top. Jojo shot up next to Amelia and walked beside her. “Can we go see the animals?” Jojo looked up with pleading eyes. Amelia couldn’t figure out when she became like a mother to Jojo. She really didn’t feel the protective instinct she thought she should feel if she was his mother. “Please!” the boy pleaded.
“Why don’t you go with Miguel?” Tetta suggested. Jojo turned and shot back down the street meeting Miguel. Grabbing Miguel’s hand Jojo started swinging and pulling his lengthy arm moving Miguel toward the circus scene.
“C’mon Miguel! Let’s go see!” Miguel trotted awkwardly behind the boy being careful not to step on him.
“Okay, Okay!” Miguel turned and waved at Tetta and Amelia. “We’ll see you later.” The pair watched the man and boy jog toward the circus wagons in the distance.
Amelia looked down into her hands and found she was holding Dumbo the snail. He must have been afraid he would lose it, she thought.
“Actually,” Tetta read her mind, “I think he wants you to be safe.”
Why would Jojo think I needed to be safe? Amelia thought then looked to see if Tetta might reply. Tetta smiled back at Amelia but no further information was offered. Amelia looked deeply into Tetta’s eyes then up at the sky, which seemed bluer than usual and was completely free of clouds. “Did I dream this?” she asked Tetta.
“No, you didn’t dream this,” Tetta replied.
“Then who did?” Amelia asked. “You?”
“Heavens, no.”
“Then who?”
“If you must know, it is your mother.” Amelia was surprised at the information that was shared.
“I have a mother?”
“Most humans do.” Tetta laughed.
“Well I know that, but I can’t remember my mother right now. Is she here?” Amelia imagined that her mother could be in her dream the same way as Jojo showed up.
“No dear, she can’t be here.”
“Why not?”
The two strolled past the barber shop on Main Street. Tetta paused as if she was listening to something. “She doesn’t believe she can reach you right now.”
“What did you just do?” Amelia asked.
“Humm?” Tetta avoided the answer.
“Just then,” Amelia insisted. “You seemed to be listening or checking in with something. What is it?”
Tetta sighed in acknowledgement of what Amelia had noticed. “I was checking along the web.” Tetta answered.
“The what?” Amelia wondered how Tetta could check the internet without benefit of a computer. “How did something about me get posted on the web?” she asked with a tone underlining a sense of privacy violation.
“The zone, the field, the ethers …,” Tetta clarified, “of consciousness?” She stopped trying as Amelia shook her head and frowned at the foreign concept. “It’s a miracle you made it here alive,” Tetta mumbled. Sighing, she took a seat on a bench and patted the space beside her.
“Sit here,” she instructed. Amelia took her place. “All that has ever happened is energy recorded in space.” Amelia nodded to indicate she understood basic scientific law. “The energy and the space are the same thing just possessing different textures.” Amelia nodded a little more hesitantly.
“All of this space energy together is consciousness, the One Consciousness.” Tetta eyed Amelia to see if she was still following along. Amelia’s eyes appeared a little glazed over but Tetta continued. “This conscious energy moves in and between all that IS, in moments so small the shifting can’t be detected.”
Tetta stopped and looked across the street. Amelia snapped out of her lull and followed Tetta’s gaze. She thought she saw the shadow of a man stepping around the corner. She waited a moment as if he might return.
“Was that Miguel?” Amelia asked. Tetta seemed to be checking in with the ethers again.
Amelia tried to get Tetta’s attention. “I don’t understand how this relates to what my mom is dreaming for me or why she doesn’t believe she can reach me.” Amelia glanced back at the alley, no one was there.
“From you here in the now to your three-dimensional body and beyond, there is a thread of energy which I may locate and follow. That thread is woven with all of the threads you are connected to. I simply followed the thread to your mother and ascertained that she is currently dreaming about you.”
“But why did she dream me here?”
“Amelia, your mother always wants you to be safe so she has dreams of you in safe places. Can you think of any place safer than this hometown atmosphere? For your mother, this is a symbol for safety.”
“Jojo’s worried about my safety. My mom is dreaming me in a safe place. Why am I not safe? Is there a problem with my body?” Amelia asked.
“That remains to be seen,” Tetta replied. Amelia felt a spark of rage flash under the surface.
“But you just said you could follow the thread back and find out.” Amelia wanted to know more.
Tetta nodded. “I can, but the information is out of bounds right now, yet to be decided by the choices you will soon make.”
“That sounds ominous!” Amelia heaved a huge sigh. Holding out her leg she looked down at the gold lamé shoes still stuck to her feet. “I wish these shoes would go out of bounds!”
“In time they may and then you will know everything.” Tetta stood and took Amelia’s hand. “Everyone is rooting for you Amelia, so remember you have no need to waste any of your own precious energy on trying to stay safe,” she said. “Walk home with me. There is a community picnic today and I need to prepare our basket.”
Amelia stood and walked with Tetta. She felt like a guest in her own dream… or rather her mother’s dream for her. She was amazed at the way everyone else seemed to adapt so easily to the new environment and activities that needed to be carried out. She looked at all of the families socializing. She wondered if they were all dreaming too.
“Indeed they are dreamin’.” Tetta acknowledged Amelia’s thoughts. “These, and all those who adapt easily, are dreamers who won’t remember much of their dreams tomorrow morning. They will say things like, ‘I was in a town I didn’t recognize and there was a circus that came through.’ For many of them the circus will turn out to have significance in relation to some area of their life. The circus might represent the way things seem at work for instance. This may or may not be an accurate association, but for those who remember it may seem to be helpful.”
“I don’t usually don’t remember my dreams.” Amelia felt as if she was almost confessing a sin to Tetta. “Am I usually playing one of these supportive roles then?”
“Perhaps,” Tetta acknowledged. “Then again, maybe you just haven’t needed to remember.”
I need to remember now. Amelia thought. Tetta hummed in agreement.
“Sometimes we try too hard. The important thing is to flow and be in our present experience. Then we will be paying attention when important things unfold.”
“Are you saying that I might find the secret to what’s going on with me in the dream rather than by trying to wake up?”
“Yes, I am saying that.” Tetta nodded. “Only you can bring what is out of bounds into focus and until then your safe place is in the dream.”
The words confused Amelia, but she knew it was a sort of riddle that Tetta would not further explain. She thought of the mother she could not remember and decided that fully conscious of the process or not, she would send a message to the woman who had dreamed this safe place. I’m okay, she sent out into the ethers. Mom, I’ll be home soon.
&
nbsp; Pause, pause, pause…
The picnic grounds were far on the other side of town. Tetta had prepared a huge basket containing fried chicken, potato salad, and cornbread. Amelia carried a pitcher of iced tea that had brewed in the sunlight on the front porch. The pounding sound of feet stomping on the ground signaled that Jojo was approaching from behind undoubtedly ready to share exciting news of all he had witnessed as the circus was setting up.
Jojo slowed to a walk beside Amelia. He turned his head and looked up at her panting with his tongue sticking flat out to dramatize how fast he had run. A big smile broke across his face.
“Where’s Miguel?” she asked.
“He needed to go someplace else.” Jojo heaved with over-exaggerated breaths. “He said he’d see us at the picnic.”
“Oh, I see.” Amelia noticed that she felt disappointed. Don’t get caught up in Miguel, sister, she thought to herself. He’s only a dream.
As Jojo rambled on about the circus, Amelia’s thoughts again turned to the possibility that Hrim was one of the elephants at the circus. Since she knew Jojo couldn’t talk with Hrim she didn’t ask. She wondered if she would be able to recognize him among the other elephants.
A small service station was the last business on the edge of town. Two very old-fashioned looking gas pumps that still sported rolling numbers on the display stood on a cement island. An old man in gray coveralls had just completed a full-service fuel transaction as the threesome approached. He deftly wiped the wind-shield wiper blade and laid it on the glass. Patting the top of the car as it rolled away the man looked up and smiled at Amelia.
“Morning.” The old man removed his hat to reveal his bald head and took a swipe at his brow with a red bandana.
Gold Lame' (That's le-mayy) (Gold Lame' Series) Page 6