Jasmine smiled at her. “Thank you Layia. Your strong belief is honored.”
Joshua finally broke his silent contemplation. “I too have felt the dreams and the calling. As much as I resisted and feel intense frustration, I also am called back to serve the Mystic Order. I am not sure if I am prepared, but I will do what I can.” He bowed to Jasmine and the others. He looked confident, and Talis noticed his friend seemed clear in his decision. The others were silent for now, each one thinking about what was being asked of them.
Talis, being the more pragmatic one, again asked the logical question in a soft tone, paying special attention to treating Jasmine with respect. “What is it we are going to do once we go through the portal?”
Jasmine looked at him intensely, and answered him with a gentle yet concerned tone. “I am honestly not sure. I think you will find the answers once you get to the other side. We will give you as much information and support as we can. It will ultimately be up to you to help find out what is going on.”
She moved closer to him and bravely put her hand in his. Talis looked at her, surprised but elated. He did not know what to feel exactly, but he felt the strong energy pulsate between them as they quietly sat deep in thought.
The room was silent as each person drifted off into their own worlds to contemplate the future. Talis again thought about the Council of the Elders. What was their intention in this all? He had become somewhat suspicious of their insistence on reading the journals after he finished. Some of them had been impatient and pushy, in particular Michael. He had always had trust and faith in the integrity of others. Why should he stop now? This was not like him, and he disliked what the distrust was doing to him. He mentioned this inner conflict to Jasmine in private.
“What should I do with these feelings of caution with the Elders?” he asked her quietly.
She thought deeply about what to say to him, not knowing the exact circumstances. She attempted to access his emotions, but did not want to intrude on his mind.
“If Grandfather told you to be cautious and you have reason to not trust some on the Council then go with what you intuition says. Always come from a place of the heart, but trust your gut feeling. Be open and compassionate, yet also be wise. There are unanswered questions for all of us. Be patient and see what happens.”
Talis held her hand tightly as if to reassure himself of her trust. He knew he could rely on her if he needed to. This faith gave him the strength to let his cautious feelings go for now.
***
The decision, as predicted, took several days to contemplate. There were many citizens in the region and councils throughout the world that wanted more information and time to decide. Consensus took time, but it was essential that this decision come from everyone. The liaisons from the University and the two councils were available to answer all questions. Some in the younger group became impatient. Joshua felt the most frustration.
“What are we waiting for if we’re the ones going into the portal? What is the risk to them?”
This was not quite like Joshua, even a few days ago when he had made his decision to go. He could stay grounded when circumstances were calm, but stress seemed to cause him anger and anxiety. Everyone understood that his nightmare dreams had changed his behavior. They tried their best to show empathy, but Talis and Jasmine were somewhat concerned. They would have to keep an eye on their dear friend when the time came to enter the other dimension.
Finally, on the fourth day of discussion, a consensus was reached. Many people had abstained from voting, but did not block the proposal. Everyone understood the urgent need to stabilize the universal energy field. The higher energy vibrations of the past several decades had kept the world in a stable state. That stability had helped keep the peace and had altered civilization in a positive way. No one knew what would or could happen if the energy field weakened. This had happened 61 years ago and had threatened the revolution. The lower energy patterns had also been strong in the old paradigm of the 20th century, the fear-based world that they had changed during the revolution. Did they take a chance on losing what they had gained?
Some thought perhaps the energy had permanently shifted, that their culture had evolved and could keep its own energy field stabilized now. The mystics, however, believed that a high consciousness and stable universal energy field were based on more than that. It was the balance of life itself and connected them with the larger cosmos. They were in their infancy as an advanced civilization. Most understood the seriousness of the issue.
On a cool and quiet day, the citizens of the Cascadia Bioregion and the various representative regional councils of the United Continents agreed that the journey would go forward. Talis, Joshua and the others were informed. Because of the urgency of the matter, they would have only four days to prepare. They would have little time before they left on the journey.
Chapter 15
Preparing for the Journey
It had been decided by the group that Talis, Joshua and Layia would be the first through the energy portal. Tara would be in support with her computer expertise, physics background, and understanding of the portal technology. She would also work with those on Earth in helping communicate to the travelers. She felt comfortable with this position and at times preferred artificial intelligence over human interaction. Her role would suit her fine and everyone agreed her abilities would be important. Bryan agreed he would be the mystic back-up and would enter the portal if anything went wrong. Although he was excited to directly join in the initial journey, he understood that his role would provide a critical safety net for the others. They all knew the immense dangers of this journey, yet also understood that they would be pioneers in a beautiful adventure. A bittersweet feeling overcame Talis. He would have to get grounded and centered, as he was the foundation. Joshua was quiet and retreated to his own inner world to prepare.
All had been given two days to spend with family and friends. This wasn’t much time and it caused some stress among the group, in particular Joshua. He thought they should have more time to prepare for such an intense journey, yet he was also anxious to go. His moods were at times unpredictable. Talis also had his practical reservations about not preparing enough, but he understood that if they were asked to go so quickly, there must be a very good reason.
“Try to let go and find some harmony about it all,” he said to his friend before they left for their brief trip home.
“I will try. Forgive me. I know we need to go. I am just not feeling myself these days.” Joshua looked distracted, like he was bothered by some unseen force.
“Are you sure you want to go? We can ask Bryan to take your place. There is no dishonor in not wanting to go.” Talis looked at Joshua and asked in a compassionate tone.
Joshua looked at him with angry eyes. He was upset that Talis even asked such a thing.
“You know I need to go,” he said quickly as he turned and walked away.
Talis knew he needed to let Joshua go. “I know. Take care, my friend. I will see you in a few days.”
Joshua briefly put up his hand to say goodbye, not looking around as he headed out the door.
Layia would spend most of her free time at the University in deep meditation. She wanted to be prepared for the intense journey and the possible disorientation on the psychic level. She had been at the school since childhood and had advanced to the higher levels of mysticism. Her focus had been on helping others communicate beyond the veil. She had studied Vedic mysticism and the Yogic tradition. Her knowledge of the chakras and the prana, or life force, would be beneficial to all in their journey. Her dreams had been similar to those of Joshua, but her visions continued throughout her meditation times, almost trance-like. Skilled at keeping grounded by balancing the earthy energies with the spiritual energies, the entire group felt a sense of peace with her presence. A quiet person, she had a special gentleness to her.
After leaving, Joshua decided to spend all of his brief time at the collective farm.
He wanted to spend time with Jonathan and be close to nature. He dearly loved his connection to the earth and was somewhat reluctant to give that up. It soothed him. His emotions were on overload, though, and he questioned his stability for the trip. Jonathan tried his best to comfort him, but Joshua was visibly irritated.
“Try to be present with me Joshua. I am here to listen to you. Let go of your worries and be here in this moment.”
Joshua tried to relax and he lay down on the bed. “I’m sorry. I just can’t seem to find a sense of peace. There is something or someone calling me through my dreams. I feel helpless. I know I need to go on the journey to find out, but much of me wants to stay here close to the earth. I fear I will be lost.”
Jonathan comforted him the best he could. He drew a hot bath in the commons and read stories of another time. They laughed like never before and this released the tension. Joshua had never thought he would grow close to another person the way he had with Jonathan. A quiet and relaxing farewell was soothing to them both. Joshua at times preferred the quiet, and he was honored to be with a person who understood this. He was sad to leave the beauty of his life there, but knew that his destiny lay elsewhere at this time. He also feared he might not return.
Two days before the actual journey began, Jasmine met with Talis alone. She had something private to discuss with him. She had intense feelings for him, but was trying to keep centered to help Talis and the others. This was somewhat difficult. Although mystics could have intimate relationships after they finished their training, many did not choose this path as the energy work they did prevented them from having much time for another. Their lives were dedicated to maintaining the larger energy field and helping society stay connected to this divine energy. This was a type of purification work to keep the higher vibration; keeping your energy field clear was necessary. It was intense work, not suited for everyone. Jasmine loved her work. She was talented and dedicated. Yet she had always wondered what it would be like to love another on the earthly plane.
Talis and Jasmine spent the final days being quiet at his house in the village. It was private for them and they both needed time away from others. The energy of a tranquil house was just what they needed.
As they became comfortable with their quiet surroundings Jasmine gathered her thoughts, took a deep breath and spoke to Talis about the upcoming journey. “I have something important to tell you. You were picked to go for two reasons. First, you are a born leader and capable of such a journey. Second, you are Markus Dueter’s grandson. There is a reason I wanted to talk to you alone. You can share this information with the others as you see fit.”
She first paced the floor nervously, then sat near him, centering her energy. She paused for a moment, breathed deeply again, then continued. “We have received what we believe is direct communication from the mystic they call Lillian. “
Talis couldn’t believe what she had said. Why hadn’t someone told him earlier? He was somewhat shocked and took his time to absorb this for a moment. He knew the importance of this journey.
“This is why Grandfather got me involved,” he said. “He never fulfilled his promise to her.”
Jasmine nodded. “Lillian was a powerful mystic. We have read stories of her psychic abilities and her focused energy. She is considered one of our founding mothers, revered in our circles. Yet she was young and disappeared so suddenly. Some say she saved the energy field from collapsing. We are not sure, as our memory of this event is lost. We also understand the connection she had with your grandfather. That is why you must go. Your connection, through Markus, will help our cause and perhaps help us reach her.”
Talis looked out the window, contemplating the task that was asked of him. He was anxious, but slowly finding peace with what Grandfather had asked him to do. He glanced at Jasmine with a warm smile. “Thank you, it’s good to know. I feel like I know her on some level. Grandfather was so quiet about her, but I always felt his loss. He was a brilliant man, devoted, but there was a melancholy to him that I never quite understood until I read the journals. And now that I know she is lost or in need, I want to help. I have to help her.”
Jasmine came close and gave him a long, silent embrace. Talis warmly accepted and the two held onto each other tightly. She had not felt this level of love for anyone before and wasn’t quite sure what to make of it. She would have to meditate on the feeling and seek counsel.
“Yes, we will be waiting for your safe return. Come back to us. Come back to—to me.” She held on, not wanting to let him go, yet also knowing that her intense energy might affect him. Something bonded them on a level neither had experienced.
Talis looked a bit surprised by her sudden affection, but he let go of all expectations and focused on the loving moment. He took her hand in his, interlacing his fingers with hers, and looked at her with his dark brown eyes. “I will return. You will be close to my heart.”
They held each other silently as the quiet evening became night, and they feel asleep in peace. The brilliant stars and night wind comforted them as they slept soundly, intertwined in their new-found love.
Chapter 16
Opening the Portal
The pressure to get the portal operating and the travelers into the other dimension had put a rush on everyone. The technology was new and untested. As had been quickly explained to the young travelers and to all citizens who wanted to know, the portal technology was based on three factors.
The first was advanced knowledge that the mystics had obtained from the other dimensions. Several messengers from the other realm had given them advanced information to help speed up technological progress. Because this type of travel was based on energy transformation that had not been perfected on Earth, the messengers thought it wise to help with the process. The seers had regular contact with the other dimensions and universal travelers. The travelers—”star people” as they were affectionately called by some—would appear and communicate when needed. Some of the mystics’ work was to keep the energy field in a higher state; some focused on communicating with entities and energies from the other dimensions. This communication with other beings became important in advancing their civilization.
The second factor blended nicely with the first: the trained mystics themselves were very familiar with manipulating the energy field and communicating multi-dimensionally. They would be able to assist in opening the portal and keeping the energy vibration in a high state.
The third factor was the advancement of science on Earth in the last 60 years. This advancement had allowed society to build a device to help. The basic theory was originally based on quantum physics and the study of the quantum field. More specifically it originated from string theory and the unifying M-theory. These theories had finally helped prove there were multiple dimensions on the subatomic level. This allowed for further advancements in subatomic theory and the understanding of the quantum field. They had found the keys to a multi-dimensional universe, the energy field that connected us all and made up all life, the same ones that had been talked about for eons by the spiritual masters. Through these theories, science and spirituality had reached an exciting union. The knowledge gained by understanding energy, the many advancements in bio-and nanotechnology, along with the helpful knowledge of the messengers, helped them construct a device that acted much like an energy gateway. It could be opened to the various dimensions, and travel was possible on the physical level. The technology was in its infancy, but had proven to be fairly stable. Talis and the others were given a brief training on how to utilize the portal and what they might expect.
In truth, no one knew exactly what to expect when they crossed over on the physical level. It had never happened. Several scientists and mystics had volunteered to go, but the Council had decided it was essential for Talis, Joshua and Layia to go as they were directly connected to the mystery. The messengers from the other dimensions had confirmed this decision with the seers. They would try to assist as they were able.
&n
bsp; The portal center had been set up at Western University, on the southern edge of the large campus. They had built a special chamber for this purpose. It consisted of an outer and inner chamber made of mostly glass and high-tech metal, shaped much like a large pyramid. The angles and magnetic grid lines were designed precisely to help with the energy transfer. The scientists involved were excited to be finally taking such a step with the mystics. They had worked together on energy transfer for several decades and had deep respect for one another. This joint project would bind them even closer.
When all were back at the University, the traveling group immediately visited the portal to get familiar with the surroundings. There was very little time. On their visit, just a day before their big event, all personnel gathered to answer questions and help ground the group energy. In the outer chamber they all stood before the large energy grid. The anticipation was felt by all.
Talis was the most outspoken and always had the practical questions. He immediately began quizzing the scientists around him. “What will we experience as we enter the portal?”
The lead scientist was Jose Martinez. A quirky man, he preferred to be called “Marti” over his first name. “It rolls off the tongue better” he’d say in a funny tone, always trying to help others relax even in the tensest situations. He was a brilliant physicist who had helped bring science and spirituality to a common ground. Marti took the question asked by Talis and answered in his direct, matter-of-fact manner.
“When the process begins, you will first experience a shift in your energy, perhaps a strange physical sensation. Your cells will be vibrating at a higher frequency. You may then experience a shifting in and out of this dimensional frequency. You should be able to see us, but we may not be able to see you. Your body will be at a much higher energy vibration than the ones that most of us are normally accustomed to. You will then be able to see into the next dimension, although it may be much more than this. In many ways it could be multi-dimensional. You may enter a colored tunnel or chamber, much like people view in near-death experiences. This is where you will first attempt to communicate with the entities or energy fields around you. You may do this with your mind only and you may be able to manipulate all energy that comes to you, much like a lucid dream.”
The Mystic Paradigm: An Evolutionary Novel Page 9
