Spirit Invictus Complete Series

by Mark Tiro

  But he did have a student and disciple who later went on to become quite famous in his own right, who did write down and collect his words and wisdom. Arrianus. Lucius Flavius Arrianus.

  And did Pubilus Varus really lose three legions one late fall in a muddy, godforsaken forest pass?

  The answer to that is yes, of course.

  Of course, because if Varus hadn’t trusted his German ‘ally’—if he hadn’t marched his legions out of the safety of their camp and into the interminable Teutoburg Forest one rainy, late fall—none of us would be speaking English now.

  The history of the past two millennia would look quite different.

  Was it mere incompetence, or was it treason? The magnitude of his stupidity was breathtaking, on a level that had only been seen once before—and never since. It’s always been an open question, even among the ancients, as to whether, at least initially, Varus actually acted in concert with Arminius against Rome—or whether he was just a complete idiot.

  The magnitude of the disaster was that great.

  At this point though, the answer is also lost to history, and in any event, it ceased to matter the second the barbarian ambush was sprung and the legions were cut off, surrounded there to die.

  After that—as Maya put it in a quite different context—“everything else is detail.”

  Did AIB Capt. David exist, to interrogate Lt. Yoshio on an out-of-the-way Pacific island in the waning days of World War II? Maybe, but probably not. Not that one can ever know these things for sure. But someone bearing a striking resemblance to him did seem to wander through the pages of Book Two in this series, ALL THESE THINGS: Maya Invictus.

  Was it the same person?

  These things, of course, are hard to tell.

  There’s a disconcerting jolt—uncomfortable and not-at-all pleasant—that comes from being abruptly awoken, even during the most of unpleasant of dreams.

  The “interpretation of dreams,” is of course, as Freud put it, “the royal road to a knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind.” And the unconscious activities of the mind dwarf those thoughts of which it is aware.

  The part of our mind that is unconscious and projecting—outside of our conscious awareness, repressed and forgotten—can be glimpsed only tangentially. And even this—only by looking at what it is that it projects. By looking—at its projections.

  Because, of course, the source of the projection is unconscious and hidden. Unreachable directly.

  But by looking unflinchingly and without judgment at what it is that it projects, at these dreams—both the familiar ones that seem to come unbidden in sleep at night, and the even more familiar ones that seem to come unbidden when we arise each day, and which don’t seem like dreams at all—they can be undone.

  This is how reality-choking illusions—the ones that keep love out of our awareness—are undone.

  “Forgive, and this will disappear,” to quote a Course in Miracles.

  From slight discomfort to a murderous rage; from pain to anger, depression and anxiety to sin, guilt and fear—all these things are undone and released in exactly the same way.

  Look and then, overlook.

  “Then all these things will disappear from my thoughts,” as Augustine put it.

  All these things will disappear… back into the nothingness from which they came.

  Finally, Soul Invictus—Maya’s unconquered spirit?

  “Soul Invictus” is something of a play on words from the age old Roman cult and holiday named “Sol Invictus”.

  Precipitating the crisis of the third century, Emperor Elagabalus pushed to elevate the Eastern cult of the sun, attempting to usurp the place of the traditional Roman values—among them age-old veneration of Sol, the sun, or as it became after Republic gave way to Empire, the Unconquered Sun—Sol Invictus.

  Mark Tiro,

  California

  Thank you for reading. If anything has touched or moved you, please come join my newsletter and email group at http://marktiro.com/vip. Readers like you make it possible for me to keep on writing.

  I always love to hear thoughts from readers at Mark@MarkTiro.com. I also have a home in a little, small out of the way corner of the web where you can sometimes find me at http://MarkTiro.com. I’m also easy to get a hold of on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MarkTiroAuthor.

  To Barak and Gabi –

  You will always be my little prince and little princess. This book is for you, in the hope that someday you’ll know.

  And to Kana –

  Who, after lifetimes, found me in the food court of a Costco, decided to keep me, and took me home.

  And to Jenny –

  Who reminded me that the essential part in any lifetime isn’t the battle.

  It’s who you’re fighting the battle with.