by Ken Renshaw
'The old wingman trick,' I thought. Women appear with a friend when they need protection from unwanted advances or conversations.
Tina walked up and gave me a kiss on the cheek and a firm hug and backed away to make the introduction.
"Dave, this is Elise Burton. Elise, This is Dave Willard."
"Hi Dave," said Elise, "Tina has told me all about you,"
I felt a little naked.
"Elise did her dissertation on the study of about fifty channels who have meetings around the LA area. Herondus is on the top of her list. If you want to know a lot more about channeling she is a good person to talk to. We had better register and stake out some good seats."
I quickly walked over and got in line for the registrar. Elise was behind me. When the registrar looked at me, I said "Three" and produced my credit card.
She ran my card and gave me three of the legal forms, which were also tickets, and brochures of upcoming events. I handed one to Elise and one to Tina. Elise looked shocked.
"You didn't have to...." started Elise, rolling her eyes.
"Yes he did..." interrupted Tina smiling broadly as she walked over, took my arm affectionately, and steered me to the entrance.
"All for research," I said, as we walked through the door to the ballroom.
The ambiance of the room was electric, like the crowd at a big football game waiting for the kickoff, or like the crowd in a theater anticipating the start of a highly–acclaimed action movie. Old friends were greeting each other affectionately. Everyone was smiling and introducing themselves to people around them. It looked like many of the people were Hollywood types, the behind-the-camera kind. I saw an actor I recognized-probably from some sitcom-but didn't know his name. There seemed to be slightly more women than men. We sat down in a middle row, Tina next to me, Elise next to her.
Tina patted me on the knee, smiled, whispered, "I didn't tell Elise about Uriel," and then put her hands in her lap, closed her eyes and apparently began to meditate.
'That's a relief,' I thought. I looked at the brochure. Tonight's topic was "The Logic of Illogic."
I thought, 'I think I am being sandbagged.'
The lady sitting next to me smiled and said, "Hello, I am Marilyn, isn't this exciting! Where are you from?"
"I don't live far from here," I replied. "How about you?"
"You're lucky-I'm from Vancouver. Are you here for the weekend workshop?"
"No, I am only here for this evening. This is my first time to one of these events."
She beamed, "How nice. In an evening, you will get some amazing information. However, in a weekend your life can change in some important ways."
I looked at the brochure and saw that tonight's session was a precursor to a two-day program, New Ways To Think About Thought, which cost nine hundred dollars to attend. I thought, 'These people are serious.' I had always thought this New Age stuff was for hippies and bored housewives with nothing else to do but go to yoga classes and sit on the floor in cross-legged postures wearing designer yoga outfits. As I scanned the room, I calculated that the gross from this event was probably something like a quarter-million dollars.
Then, the room started to get quiet. The lights lowered, and a man walked onto the stage smiling and greeting people in the audience. He sat down in a comfortable chair in the middle of a small stage. Next to the chair on a table was a large bouquet of flowers, obviously the product of an upscale florist.
He sat down and picked up a microphone and smiled as he looked around the room. "It is a pleasure to back in Los Angeles and see so many old friends. But, you didn't come here to hear me so I will get out of the way and let Herondus come through. He closed his eyes and placed his hands in his lap. All was silent for about two minutes, and then he smiled, picked up the microphone, with his eyes still closed and said:
"Greetings on this evening as you know time to exist. It is always a delight to visit with you in this space-time here, now, in what you call Los Angeles. Some of you have come from what you call far and others from what you call near, but it is a pleasure to share this group energy, a bright spot in space-time. Some have been sharing thoughts with us for years, and others are here for the first time: we welcome you all, to tonight and for those of you who will be staying, for the weekend. We have exciting things to share with you about what you call thought."
He paused and turned his head from side-to-side and then continued:
"But first, let us do a melding of all our energy. This is not a meditation. This is a chance for us to quietly spend a few moments with each of you. Close your eyes and sit relaxed while we greet each of you."
The soft music came on as I closed my eyes. I was thinking about Tina and then wondering about Elise, and then my mind and body relaxed. For a moment I felt a surge of energy, kind of like joy, but not exactly, and then felt very peaceful, and my attitude of cautious judgment disappeared. After a few minutes, the music went down and I heard Herondus say:
"You can open your eyes again."
Tina squeezed my hand.
Herondus continued:
"The logic of illogic. That is the kind of word construction of ideas, that you can have in your civilization, which we love. One idea swallows another in the same sentence.
"Many on your planet think that logic is the highest form of thought. It is only something that your human species uses to deal with the physical universe. Logic does not exist in the structure of the physical universe: it is an overlay that your physical brain uses to interpret what you perceive as your surroundings. The physical universe existed in the way it is long before your species acquired what you call logic through genetic evolution. In the vastness of what you call the space of the universe, and in the spaces within atoms, there is no such thing as logic. Logic is created in specific parts of your physical brain as your scientists are now exploring with what you call MRIs. People who have that part of their brain damaged can no longer think or act logically.
"The lion chasing prey, in what you call Africa, does not think logically, saying to herself, 'If I run this way the prey will run that way and then I can corner them over there.' The lion simply chases its prey without any internal verbal dialog.
"Logic, language, or symbols only exist in your physical brain. They are a product of activities in other parts of your physical brains."
"That which you call your subconscious mind, and your spirit level, is where all your true thinking occurs. You, the spirit, think in abstract ideas, concepts, and pictures, and have no language, as you know it. There are not English speaking, Spanish speaking, or Russian speaking subconsciousnesses or spirits. Language is added by parts of your brain. The human brain is a physical part of the body. You as spirit, resident in a body, communicate ideas, concepts, and pictures to your physical brain that then translates them to language and logical structure. When your body speaks, it is expressing a translation of an abstract idea. When your body hears another person speak, your brain translates the language to the abstract form understood by the spiritual you.
"In our world we are only what you would call spirits, we are in a non-physical realm. We can create the idea of an apple tree at will without going out to find one. If we want an apple we can create the idea of it in our hand, which we also create.
"In your physical world, if you want an apple, you must create a sequence of events that align with your logical view of the physical universe. If you want an apple, you must logically figure out where an apple is and then devise a logical strategy to go where it is and get it. If you find an apple tree, then you must logically figure out how to climb to pick the apple.
"You, as a spirit can create realities through what you call your imagination. You can close your eyes and imagine an apple tree, climb it, get an apple and eat it. If you have a good imagination, you can even taste the apple. Spirit and your imagination aren't bound by logic.
"Many, let us say, of your tribes and cultures, some as large as nations, live according to
ideas of thousands of years ago. If someone of note said something centuries or millennia ago many follow that idea without questioning it, even though the idea or practice is no longer relevant to the time-space they now live in. The idea is a rule, held in place with the logic that if you disobey, something bad will happen to you.
"You also use logic to create abstractions of physical reality in the form of mathematics. Your engineers have used logic to create what you call computers that use logic in their hardware and software to conduct physical tasks, communicate, and bring you music, and pictures and stories on what you call television. Your computers don't think or feel: they do immense manipulations of logical elements you call bits; they are the ultimate form of logic.
"Spirits don't need to create the abstraction; they can simply create the reality. Logic and language are, therefore, just a method of dealing with your limitations of physical reality.
"Spirit (or your subconscious) operates in a pre-symbolic non-symbolic realm. It creates ideas your brain circuits and your brain ware (all the stuff you have learned from your family or school) translates the idea into speech or symbols you draw, write, or type.
"Questions! We have given you a lot, of what you say on your planet, to chew on. For those of you who are here for the first time, let us say, the first three rows are for those of you who think you may have questions. If you have a question, please raise your hand, and our assistant will give you a microphone."
A man in a business suit raised his hand, waited for the microphone, and asked, "Some of our country's most important documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution, depend on logic. Our society couldn't run without those guides. Aren't they our highest thinking?"
Herondus answered: "Those are, indeed, important documents for your civilization. The logic is in the expression of the ideas. The pre-symbolic thinking that the authors did before writing those was on the conceptual level: the meaning of rights, equality, freedom, etc. They added the logic as they put pen to paper."
A woman with long red hair raised her hand, was given the microphone, and asked, "When I am thinking a problem out, I talk to myself, and logically discuss about what I am going to do. Isn't that my highest form of thinking?"
Herondus answered: "Your subconscious is giving you the ideas that your brain and brain ware converts to sub vocal speaking. The subconscious thinking happens during the sub-vocal dialog between parts of yourself."
About ten people asked questions and received answers. Then, Herondus said, "We do not want to get, as you say, too technical about what is what kind of thinking. We want to emphasize that what may seem logical to you is not necessarily true, because what you believe is logical depends on your education or training, your brain ware.
"Once, in your space-time, the idea of a round earth was unacceptable: there was a set of logic that assured everyone that the world was flat.
Herondus looked at his watch and said, "Now, we would like to take a ten-minute break, and, when you come back, we will take you on a meditation."
All was quiet until the man doing the channeling opened his eyes and looked blearily around the room.
Everyone then hurried from the room or began talking to friends. I excused myself and went to the bathroom. As I was returning, I ran into Tina and Elise in the ballroom lobby.
"What do you think about Herondus?" Tina asked with an air of excitement.
"Frankly, I am a little overwhelmed. He has given me a lot to think about. Can I get a recording of the session?"
"It will be available from his website in about a week. The web address is on the meeting flyer," Added Elise.
"We should go back in now," said Tina.
In a few minutes, Herondus began again:
"On your planet you have the idea of Superheroes, which appear in comic books, TV, and in your movies. Many of them have magic shields to deflect gunfire, laser beams, and other projectiles. Many on your planet use logic as your shield, to give you a certainty against all ideas that do not agree with your beliefs.
"Your radio and television political commentators can project great certainty that opposing viewpoints are wrong through logic, although their opposing counterparts can speak with equal certainty that their opponents are idiots. These certainties prevent real discourse or dialog where one party attempts to understand the viewpoint of others.
"On an interpersonal level, you may often find the people who demonstrate great certainty about what they know, are using that certainty as a shield to prevent anyone from knowing who they really are. Logic can be a great shield to prevent someone from finding out that deep-deep down inside you have some shame or that you believe you are not good enough.
"We will continue dialoging on that subject throughout this weekend. But now, it is time for a meditation."
The lights came down and Herondus led everyone through a guided meditation: Going to a meadow, sitting under a tree, and then proceeding through and exploration of the surroundings. I fell asleep after the first few minutes.
At the end of the session, as we were standing up ready to leave, it was apparent that Tina was leaving with Elise: the wingman thing was in play. I said to Elise, "I would like to have lunch with you to discuss your research. It could be important to some work I am doing."
Tina smiled her approval.
Elise replied, "It will have to be tomorrow."
"I can do that," I said.
Elise gave me her card, and I said I would call her at home in the morning.
As we all exchanged hugs, I noticed that Tina's wasn't as stiff as when we met before the meeting.
I arrived early at Hernando's on Melrose hoping to get a good table.
****
Hernando's is one of those trendy sidewalk restaurants, with Mexican national colors in the awning, wrought iron tables and chairs, and separated from the sidewalk by only a thin iron railing. The place was filling with trendy Hollywood-type people wearing either business suits or designer jeans. Most of the women wore little makeup and had long slightly curled or straight hair.
Elise soon joined me, also wearing jeans, but not the kind in the Melrose shops. Somehow, she looked like an academic, or at least that was what she projected.
I rose and greeted her with a handshake that seemed appropriate. This was not a date. She was keeping a feeling of distance, probably treating me as if I were Tina's territory. We exchanged some small talk, ordered iced tea, and tostadas for which Hernando's is famous.
"Tell me about your project that involves something about channeling," she said drinking her tea.
"It is really not about channeling per se; it is about remote sensing. It involves a civil case. I would like to know about channeling to see whether it is related. What was your bottom line in your dissertation?" I inquired.
"Let me start at the beginning. About four years ago, a friend invited me to go to a channeling, not a big event such as we attended last night, bur a living room full of people in The Valley. I was expecting to see a bunch of weirdoes, but was surprised to see normal looking people from all backgrounds.
"When the channel arrived, I was surprised because he was so normal looking, with a slight build, probably of Mediterranean descent, wire-rimmed circular glasses, and wearing a black T-shirt with a Nike logo. He introduced himself with a mild voice. He took a lot longer to go into trance than does Herondus. Before he began to channel, he went through a few head movements as though he had to shake his head to form the channeling connection. Then, his entity, or the spirit, or whatever he was channeling, came through in a loud, gruff, choppy voice, talking a mile-a-minute. He said he brought us greetings from another civilization on a planet in the direction of, but not near, the Pleiades. He went on to say that their civilization was more evolved than ours and they wanted to communicate certain ideas to help us in our evolution.
"What I heard was very similar to ideas of eastern spiritual philosophies, with some interesting twists. Do you want to
hear about those?"
"Maybe later. Right now, I am more interested in the phenomenon or mechanism rather than the message."
"I attended about sixty changelings in Southern California and then studied the channeled messages of forty of those channels. The entities that were channeled were quite varied, some were historical figures, some Greek gods, some were said to be Egyptian gods, and others were biblical figures.
"I won't try to give you all that data, I'll send you a copy of my dissertation.
"I concluded, after much study, that some of the channels were channeling their own subconscious, general knowledge, and belief system: the message was 100% theirs. Others were channeling the message of some external spiritual entity and then overlaying it with their own stuff: the message might be 10% or 90% theirs depending on the channel."
"Where does Herondus fit in that spectrum?" I asked.
"I think he is about 90% entity most of the time. I believe the form of the message is as Herondus was describing last night, pre-symbolic: it comes to him as abstract ideas and pictures. The channel's brain and brain ware, as Herondus described it last night, converts the message to language. That translation process is where the channels education and belief system can filter the input.
"Another thing I found was that a person with a great intellect will channel a message of high intellectual content and a dull person will channel a dull message."
"How did you get interested in channeling? Tina has mentioned that you were not really too interested in psychic phenomena."
I replied, "I wasn't, until I started to have some unusual experiences myself. I am embarrassed to say that I have been having conversations with an entity or entities who call themselves Uriel. Their voice appears to come from a spot of light that can be in broken glass bottle or under a rock," I replied.
"I'd call that channeling!" she said with a wide grin. "Except, you are doing the channeling. You might make it seem to come from the spot of light to agree with your belief system. People who hear voices directing them are often diagnosed as schizophrenics. You are surely not one of them. The spot of light appearing to talk is probably a dream kind of thing."