Agartha

by Mariana Stjerna

  Animals were creeping out of the darkness of the trees. There were lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys both big and small, zebras, giraffes, and brown bears. Sisilla was piping caressing melodies, and the animals were as if enchanted.

  Edmund was next to me, and Titch wriggled between us, resting his head on his great paws. He watched everything with quivering nostrils, but was quiet as I had instructed.

  The row of animals grew. Edmund seized the sleeve of my shirt and held it firmly. He was pale. The animals stopped in front of Sisilla, lowering their heads, and she scratched an ear or a nose. It was a hypnotic moment. I was convinced we were all hypnotized, because this couldn’t happen! The animals passed by us singly and in troops, with the pungent smell of wild animal nearly suffocating at times.

  Sisilla set aside the whistle and put her hands to her mouth. The peculiar noise she produced had an instant effect on our visitors. They dispersed at once, running for the forest.

  “You can rest assured,” called our guide, “that nothing would happen if you met these animals alone. They have learned to respect us, as we respect them. This is our last visit for today, and we can carry on tomorrow if you like.”

  Edmund let go of my shirt with a sigh of relief. He had been overwhelmed by the sight of the animals. He climbed swiftly into the nearby hovercraft.

  We followed. Grandmother stooped to pick a flower, but Sisilla stopped her.

  “You see,” our guide observed gently, “we’re not allowed to pick the flowers. Only the growers can take what they need. When you pick a flower, you interfere with the floral group-soul, creating a gap for all eternity. It can’t be repaired.

  “Flowers which know they will be picked for their smell, spice, or edibility give themselves up bravely, praying for help and forgiveness for the pickers. Everything here is alive, even if it’s produced by people. That’s one of the secrets of a holistic lifestyle, which is the norm here. It’s a system of living imagery.”

  “How interesting,” said my grandmother, smiling. “I won’t pick the flowers, I promise. We have to learn the rules if we’re going to live here!”

  Titch and I climbed into our transport. Lex was already sitting with Grandmother. We took off.

  18. The Love Union

  The hovercraft landed near our homes. Sisilla went into Grandmother’s house. I had kissed Sisilla briefly when we left the meadow after meeting the animals. There had been plenty of trees to conceal us. Grandmother had given us a knowing look and couldn’t hide a smile of delight.

  I wondered how to go about courting a girl on this side of the planet. I knew Sisilla was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with — which looked like it would be a very long time indeed! I wanted children with her, and the opportunity of watching them grow up in this enchanted place. I admit that things had gone very quickly, but time was a different concept here.

  We went into Grandmother’s house and sat on her comfortable sofa. While Grandmother went into what she called the kitchen to make tea, I took Sisilla’s hands and gazed deep into her eyes.

  “Will you be my wife?” I asked. I had no idea what weddings were like in this part of the world, but Sisilla laughed, leaned across and kissed my cheek, and answered by singing out “yes” while dancing some graceful steps. I got up and danced with her until Grandmother came with the tea-tray.

  “Grandmother Emilie, we’re going to get married!” I called out happily. “Sisilla has agreed, and now we have to draw up some plans.”

  “Let’s make it a double wedding!” laughed Grandmother. “I’ve just accepted Lex to be my husband today!”

  Sisilla looked at us in bewilderment. “Double wedding, getting married?” she asked. “I’ll be your wife, Tim, and there’s a ceremony for that. Is Emilie going to be a wife, too? Lex’s? What happens on the surface?”

  Grandmother (her eyes shining with tears — she was always emotional) explained about clothes and a church wedding. She mentioned the vicar and exchanging rings.

  Sisilla listened, round-eyed.

  “That’s not how we do it,” she observed quietly. “You’ll see how we do it. You are welcome to our Love Union, which will take place tomorrow evening, if that’s all right with you, Tim?”

  I nodded in the sweet knowledge that I was about to be married to the loveliest girl in the world. I really didn’t care about the details. The day ran away just like they do on the surface, even if it was only a feeling of passing time. When Sisilla had gone home, there was a knock on my door. It was Mannul, and I was really glad to see him. I wanted to tell him about my coming “marriage” and ask him what it would be like.

  “It’s not quite like an Earthly wedding!” he laughed, thumping me on the back. “It’s just a Love Union, where both sides decide to continue their lives together. A teacher blesses the union. We don’t have divorce, but if one partner should die, then the union is broken. You can only have second thoughts before the union takes place. We don’t have vicars, just a symbolic union of body and soul.

  “You will both be wearing white. We don’t use tiaras and veils; the clothes don’t matter as long as they are white. On these occasions, we wear white cloaks to represent the unwritten pages of the future. The couple can be alone or surrounded by relatives and friends. Everyone likes to come, so the bridal couple is rarely alone. In Porthologos, we have special ‘bridal suites.’ Most people get married there. There will be plenty of onlookers, as ‘By Invitation Only’ doesn’t exist here. The reception afterwards goes on until all hours, and there is food and drink everywhere.”

  “It sounds exciting,” I answered. “What shall we do about rings?”

  “You can give each other jewelry. I can help you with that. Women quite often like some kind of token. Otherwise, there is nothing else to distinguish marriage. This evening is your last as a bachelor. You should go home and get a good night’s sleep. It’s important that you know in your own mind you won’t have any regrets.”

  “There’s an entrance, but no exit,” I joked. “I can tell you now, I’m 100% sure.”

  Mannul said, “I’m really here because Arniel needs you in the Town Hall. He wants to discuss your future work. We’ll do it later. I’ll go and tell him the glad tidings. Now you’re really one of us.” He thumped me on the back.

  “Sisilla was born here and doesn’t know much about the world outside. Our people are one entity, under the flag of Unity. The circle represents unity, and is a much-used symbol. I’ll return tomorrow when I’ve found some circle jewelry for you and your bride.”

  “Emilie needs to know this, too!” I called. “She’s going to marry Lex, preferably at the same time as us. Will that be alright?”

  “That will be completely wonderful,” Mannul replied. “But they need to know the traditions. I can help them, because Lex won’t know everything yet.”

  I sighed with relief as my fair friend shut the door behind him. It was great he was around to help. I needed to sleep a few hours before dawn, which arrives invisibly here. In the end, I slept like a baby, and didn’t wake up until a panting Titch placed his paws on my stomach and licked me in the face. A rude awakening!

  Behind him was Mannul, holding something white. It turned out to be my wedding clothes. The clothes didn’t include tails or a dinner jacket. They were soft trousers and a baggy jacket, with an ankle-length cloak. This last had richly-decorated shoulder ornaments attached.

  “There we go!” Mannul cocked his head to one side and surveyed me with a critical eye. Then he put a sparkling band of white around Titch’s black neck, which didn’t seem to bother my dog in the least. He yawned, and stared amiably at Mannul, who was holding exquisitely beautiful jewels in his hands. It was a necklace with a pendant that glittered with diamonds. Diamonds were commonplace here and beautiful. The pendant was heart-shaped, with a ruby in the center, an artwork by a goldsmith.

  “L
ove Unions take place in the mornings here,” Mannul continued, “as early as possible. Your grandmother and her husband-to-be are ready, and your bride is waiting impatiently in the bridal suite.”

  I followed Mannul rapidly outside to the waiting hovercraft. We landed at an entrance to Porthologos, and Mannul led us upstairs and downstairs, along winding corridors, and through temple halls and lovely inside gardens. Soft music accompanied us everywhere. We stopped at the gate to one of the gardens. It was decorated with images of butterflies and roses. We were approaching a raised area swathed in flowers.

  Sisilla was there, radiating such beauty that my stomach tied itself in knots and I gasped for breath. Like me, she was in white, but her white, ankle-length dress glinted like moonbeams and her amazing hairstyle was crowned with diamonds. My gift glittered on her breast, and she was holding a chain with a similar heart on it. She put this around my neck and took my hand. At our side were Grandmother and her bridegroom, both in white. I nearly didn’t recognize my grandmother. She was so attractive with her long, white hair, rosy cheeks, and tears of happiness brimming in her cornflower eyes. Lex was handsome, more Indian-like than ever, with his clear-cut profile and tanned complexion.

  Master Arniel appeared suddenly from the shadows. He smiled at the four of us. Then he came to each of us and placed his hands on our brows. Afterwards, he beckoned Sisilla and me to the pillared podium.

  “Hug your wife!” he commanded, and we stood close, embracing, while wonderful music played and time stood still. It was as though an incredible force closed around us and everything else vanished. We were one, wholly united, as if we lived in each other and were each other. It was a magical moment, and lasted for ages. I couldn’t say how long; it felt like an eternity, but was probably only a few minutes in our time.

  The music ended and Arniel gestured for us to leave the podium. Grandmother and Lex rose to get up. In the garden were four flowery chairs where we sat and surveyed the scene we had just experienced. We were still holding hands and exchanging looks of love. Grandmother and Lex joined us for about half an hour, I think, with Arniel close by.

  “Now you are joined in matrimony, as you say on the surface,” declared Arniel. “We don’t consider words necessary for this ceremony. Now you may do as you please. You may go home, as I guarantee there’ll be a crowd outside waiting to congratulate you … here they are now!”

  He hardly had time to complete his sentence before the garden filled with people and elementals who I glimpsed briefly as a glow. Arniel saw my confusion and laid a hand on my shoulder.

  “Some of Sisilla’s relatives and friends are five-dimensional,” he told me. “They may be indistinct, but are devoted for all that.”

  We were fairly overwhelmed by wedding guests, if I can call them that. They were all gate-crashers! The only person invited was Edmund, who came with Wendy and Pierre. A dance started up, and delightful singing, which whirled faster and faster, submerging our thoughts and senses. The place pulsed with rhythm, tempestuous dance, and joyful, stirring music. I was glad when Saint Germain appeared from nowhere and hugged us.

  “We’ll meet again soon,” he said. “I’m releasing Sisilla from guide duties tomorrow, as she’s a newly-wed. I’ll take over.”

  Someone must’ve been holding Titch during the wedding ceremony, because now he pushed through the crush of bodies and came to my side, his head held high with intense vigilance. The diamond collar glittered on his black neck, and people withdrew to a safe distance.

  “I want to go home,” I whispered to my new wife. She nodded, eyes sparkling. She took my hand and Titch’s collar, and hey presto, everything vanished. We were at home, and Titch retired to bed.

  19. Back to Normality and Tourists in Agartha

  The day dawned sunny and summery, with birdsong and the scent of flowers, warm ground, and trees. My wife and I were sitting in the arbor when Mannul turned up.

  “The holiday is over!” he cried out. “It’s time to get back to work!”

  We sighed, and climbed into the waiting hovercraft.

  “There are newcomers who need to know about this part of the planet.” Mannul explained. “We need Sisilla to give a short introduction on Telos, as they won’t get further than that. They came through Mount Shasta, but they don’t really believe they’re awake yet. They think they’re dreaming. They’ll have to wake up sometime!”

  The “tourists” were waiting in the meadow near the entrance to Porthologos. Grandmother, Lex, and Titch were among them, so I joined them because I still wanted to know more about Agartha, which I was now attached to for eternity.

  People were sitting on the grass, excited and expectant.

  Mannul was among them, smiling and talking, probably in an attempt to calm them down, as they didn’t know where they were. I thought about coming here “by accident” (to my mind) and imagined they had all had a similar experience.

  There were about twenty adults, but no children other than Wendy and Pierre. Sisilla was utterly charming. It was as though my wife projected a supernatural beam into each of us.

  “Welcome!” she called. “If you are wondering where in the world you are, I’m about to inform you. This town is Telos, and it is in the subterranean part of the Earth, the existence of which you have not yet acknowledged. You only recognize seven continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania, and Antarctica.

  “According to you, this continent inside the Earth does not exist. But I’m telling you it does, even physically for the three-dimensional people here. Telos is the largest town, apart from the capital, which is called Shamballa. None of our towns here are like your noisy cities, where evil lurks around every corner. This is the kingdom of eternal Peace which you pine for with nostalgia on the surface.

  “Yes, nostalgia! Originally, we Agarthans are from the surface, just like you. There are books about us, but they are not best-sellers. You imagine a Hollow Earth country to be gray and dangerous. But it’s not like that, as you can see. As far as technology is concerned, we are light-years ahead of you surface-dwellers! We hope to share our knowledge with you in the future. That future is closer than you think.

  “The network of Agartha embraces 120 underground towns. The inhabitants of these towns are descended from the advanced civilizations of Atlantis and Lemuria.

  “I’m sure you are wondering, how can we have our own sun here providing good weather and verdant foliage? The Earth’s crust is approximately 800 miles (1 300 km) thick. The planet isn’t solid, so the center of gravity isn’t in the center of the Earth, but in the Earth’s crust, about 400 miles (650 km) underground. The source of the Earth’s magnetism has long been a mystery. The inner sun in the center of the Earth is the mysterious source of Earth’s magnetism. It shines upon us here.

  “There was an inventor at the end of the 19th century called Nikola Tesla. At that time, there were many entrances into the Earth’s hollow interior. Tesla discovered that electricity could be harnessed in unlimited quantities to power all machinery, without the need for coal, oil, gas, or any other environmental pollutant. He placed this technology in the public domain, and people began to abuse entry to the Earth’s interior, so that we had to seal off many portals, and they remain sealed. Tesla himself vanished, and actually he is here, but less physical than you these days.

  “Many million Catharians live here in the Hollow Earth. Catharians also live on Jupiter. I’m telling you this because the Catharians are a strange people. They are incredibly tall, even in their stocking feet! More than 36,000 people from the surface live here now. In the last 200 years, about 50 people have arrived from the surface, but in the last 20 years, 8 people have moved here permanently. Some of the newcomers are with us now, and other visitors are arriving, like you today.

  “We have an enormous library called Porthologos. It contains documents from the entire universe. It is under the Aegean
Sea (between Greece and Turkey), but nowadays no longer has a direct link with the surface. We call it a library, although it doesn’t contain many books! We have historical stories related dramatically. It’s like theater, but more so. There is much more in Porthologos which we will show you, in part at least.

  “Within Agartha, no passports or papers are needed. We have airports inside the Earth, which lead to openings, concealed from your eyes, at the North and South Poles. We travel in an environmentally-friendly way, using existing highways, and the universal laws of energy. Our technology is so much in advance of yours that we can’t get lost or have an accident. You may have invented the wheel, but you haven’t gotten much further.

  “All our energy is free. You could use this same energy, and we are planning to teach you how it works. You have abused technology, using it to build weapons. These are destructive, not only for the intended target, but also for the animal kingdom and elementals.”

  Emilie put up her hand and called out, “Sisilla, please tell us more about living here! We need to know, now that we’ve come to live in Telos.”

  Sisilla continued, “First and foremost, we don’t like destroying the ground which you surface-dwellers walk on. We want grass and flowers to grow without being trampled on. That’s why we have learned to hover, which you will also learn if you stay here. Hovercrafts do it, and we do too. This lawn is made especially for heavy surface-dwellers like you, but there aren’t many places like this. We are taller than you in comparison, but lighter, because of the food we eat.

  “Emilie wanted to know about our home life. Of course we have one! We build the round, roofless houses you’ve already seen. A round room never gets dusty, as there are no corners. Energy moves freely in a circular room. When a speck of dust flies into a room, it is removed on a wave of energy. It has the same effect as a vacuum cleaner, without the bag. This is practical, to say the least.

  “We are incredibly rich, because we have precious stones and metals in abundance. Our homes are luminous. Externally, there is privacy. Inside, we have a 360-degree view. On the surface, you are locked in dark rooms, while we can see not only outside our homes, but right up to the stars. Our field of vision is unimpeded. Apart from our houses, there are no shopping centers, no blocks of flats, no motorways.”