Gaia

by Jeff Gardiner

  How greedy, ignorant and arrogant we are.

  How shameful and utterly selfish.

  How can we do anything but weep for our own gutless stupidity?

  Will we destroy our home planet? Will we destroy ourselves? Or will Gaia redress the balance by making humanity extinct? Even with our bombs and pollution, it is unlikely we will eliminate the entire planet. Perhaps we might wipe out all life-forms, but the universe will always continue without us. Even war-mongering, poison-spreading, land-possessing humanity cannot end the entire universe, however much we try. In the future, Homo sapiens will be but a tiny footnote in the grand scheme of things. Like the dinosaurs, we will have our short time dominating the Earth and roaring about our power and cleverness, only to be wiped away into some distant memory, as fossils collected in a museum of the future.

  We see and know these things when we are linked together. Separated, we become selfish and arrogant; isolated and egotistical. Being self-centred is not how we are meant to be. We should be connected. Not just with each other as family, friends, partners or races, but also connected to other species and elements of nature. It seems so obvious now. How ridiculous that we couldn’t see this before. Perhaps we knew it but it didn’t fit in with our plans. What is it about the human race that we want power, fame and possessions so much that we are willing to destroy others and our own habitat? And we’re supposed to be the intelligent species!

  The most difficult thing to comprehend is how we are a part of each other and the world. We are taught to be individuals and to be independent. These are the prizes we aspire to in our western society. There’s nothing wrong with that, unless we do it at the expense of others on the way.

  At this moment in time, connected as one, we are not individuals, and it feels wonderful and fulfilling. There is a wholeness, and lack of fear. There is no tomorrow or yesterday: just now.

  There is no self – just the universe. We are everything.

  We all remained in stasis for a number of days. The entire planet froze. Our minds remained awake and aware of things around us but we were physically paralysed. It was an odd sensation. I lost track of time, and how many nights passed by. But the silence and the space gave me the opportunity to meditate on everything. To pray to Gaia. To consider my Chi. To see my place in the entire order of the universe and the enormity of time and space itself. I didn’t go hungry or need water, but my mind continued asking questions. Questions. Questions. Questions. But where were the answers? In fact, were there any answers? Could my mind cope with the answers anyway?

  What if there were no simple answers? What if the questions were enough in themselves and it was my life’s task to explore these questions? Life is a journey, not a set of rules and answers. We are all intelligent enough to make our own conclusions without having to be told by someone else. It came to me that I should enjoy the adventure of exploring, rather than plump for a set of rules early on that would only make me guilty and depressed.

  Had I just found the answer to life itself? It felt like it.

  Free yourself from the oppression and brainwashing of your upbringing and education, and work it all out for yourself. Let your natural instincts guide you. Surround yourself with loving and open-minded people. Care for the world, the people and all creatures, plants and elements within it. And keep exploring the mysteries and truths hidden in yourself and the world around you. That was it.

  After those days of quiet mystery, we all woke up to a new world. Born anew.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  ‘Can you remember what we saw?’ Luke paced up and down absently running his fingers over his right eyebrow.

  ‘I think so … well, I just … I know it was mind-blowing and important, but I’m not sure I can put the experience into sensible words. Not in English anyway. Maybe not in Igbo either.’ I frowned.

  ‘Me neither.’

  Luke took my hands and we merged. That feeling of fulfilment returned and together we had a better understanding and remembering. We solidified and stepped away again.

  ‘This isn’t meant to be handled alone. I think this is probably the point. No man – or woman – is an island. We are meant to work together. To share and co-operate. There really is a collective consciousness, for want of a better name.’

  And things went crazy for the next few weeks … well, months and years really. To be honest, nothing was ever the same again. Something tremendous, miraculous … magical had happened. Gaia had changed … everything. We had changed everything. We are Gaia: all living things, and we had finally connected and become what we are truly meant to be.

  There was no Internet, television, mobile phone service, radio, electricity, gas or any of the main utility services. Cars, buses and trains didn’t work. The airports were abandoned with nobody to work on the flights even if the planes were working.

  At first, it was difficult to know if some kind of surge or damage had stopped the energy supply; or whether people were just abandoning them as futile, or no longer necessary. Perhaps a shared vision that life can be better than this? That we can rise above technology and create something better for ourselves? Or was it our collective consciousness, and hence Gaia releasing us from the prison we have created for ourselves? Whatever … it was chaos. Madness. A beautiful madness. It was amazing! But it was also terrifying! Was this the end of the world?

  We had no way of knowing what effect all this was having anywhere else. We assumed that the whole world had also been plunged into darkness, but maybe it was just a way of punishing rich nations that don’t share resources? Why was it happening?

  We lit candles and wore blankets; ate bread and salad, slowly discussing our options for what the next steps might be.

  ‘Do you think people will start rioting and raiding shops for food?’ Luke asked.

  ‘You’ve watched too many zombie films,’ I answered with a laugh, using every ounce of my own energy to sound as calm as possible.

  ‘No, I just know people too well,’ he responded without a smile.

  ‘So do you think Gaia has sent us back to the dark ages, to start all over again?’

  ‘Seems a bit of a harsh punishment. Maybe it’s a test to see how we respond?’ Luke sipped from a bottle of water. ‘Anyway, I thought we were Gaia? If so, then we’ve punished ourselves.’

  ‘Well, we were stupidly destroying our own planet anyway.’

  Luke shrugged. ‘True.’

  The most amazing thing was the sense of peace and calm that we felt.

  Luke got up. ‘Let’s go out and see what’s happening. And I’d like to check on Mum and Dad if that’s OK with you.’

  ‘Of course.’

  We stepped outside and the world was silent.

  ‘Are we the only humans left alive?’ I asked Luke as my voice hung eerily on the cold, still air.

  A figure appeared in a doorway. I felt a natural instinct to wave, and the figure waved back. We walked towards the person – a man in a dressing gown.

  ‘Hi, Falco. Am I right in saying that this could be the first day of the rest of our lives?’ He sounded so cheery and alive.

  ‘Yes, I think you’re right. You just spoke aloud the very words I was thinking,’ Luke said. Strange – as I’d been thinking it too.

  ‘The weirdest thing of all,’ the man said, ‘and I was just saying this to my wife, is that I don’t feel at all scared. In fact this feels, well … right.’

  ‘Yes,’ I replied, looking at him and then Luke, who had the same look of serenity on his face. ‘I think this is what is meant to be. It’s like the next step in our lives on planet Earth.’

  ‘Yes, that’s it,’ the man said excitedly. ‘My wife and I both had the same dream. We felt that everything was somehow better now. That we had work to do, but the future was only going to be exciting and wonderful. Do you believe that too, Falco?’

  ‘Yes. Yes, I really do. I think it’s now up to us to make the best of things and to live as we are meant to be. To work toge
ther and to love and nurture not only each other but also the world we live in.’

  ‘That’s it. That’s exactly it.’

  ‘Take care and enjoy the new start then. Stay happy and hopeful.’ Luke and I started to move off.

  ‘Thank you, we will. You too.’

  Luke stopped and turned round. ‘Have you found your numen?’

  The man looked puzzled for a second but then narrowed his eyes, before flickering and shifting before our eyes. The dressing gown flopped to the floor and a seagull clambered out.

  As we strode happily down the street we met a number of strangers who all spoke excitedly about the fresh opportunities and new hope.

  We couldn’t wait to go and see Luke’s parents. We flew there and into the open window, got changed and stepped out into the hallway to see Arthur and Sally standing there, smiling and holding hands.

  ‘Hello, Luke. It seems a miracle has really happened.’ She held out her arms to him.

  Luke burst into tears and hugged his mum. Once he’d let her go, she stepped towards her husband and took his hand.

  ‘Watch.’

  We saw the light and shimmering fractals, as they shrank out of their clothes which fell to the floor. Emerging from the pile of material came two black snouts; one surrounded by red fur, the other white and black. Fox and Badger.

  I giggled in wonder and Luke immediately became Felis, purring and rubbing his face against them both. Sally’s numen was a fox, and it looked like the transformation had done exactly as we hoped. She and her son were now rolling over playfully and I sensed their trust and joy. Their feeling of completion made my heart soar.

  As I turned to leave the three of them alone together Arthur, in his badger form, transferred a thought to me.

  Thank you, Ala. You and Luke have brought my Sally back to me. I can’t thank you enough.

  I turned and smiled at the beautiful creature.

  Thank Gaia. Not me.

  But I don’t know how to.

  The answer came to me immediately.

  By making the most of every day you two have together.

  Luke and I flew as far and wide as we could to assess the miracle. We found that, rather than rioting and fighting, or hiding scared in houses or bunkers, people were filled with energy and plans for the future, keen to meet up, share and discuss their vision. Everyone – and I mean every single person – we met was at peace with what had happened and seemed filled with desire to work together on planning to make a better world for ourselves and for all species of animal and plant.

  And most amazing of all was that everyone had become a numen, which was the real reason behind this new desire and zeal to want to co-operate as one world together. Without panicking, people bought all the things they needed and found places to shelter and to be together.

  It was unbelievable.

  ‘I didn’t think we would actually achieve our goal,’ Luke whispered. ‘When you have dreams this crazy you can’t imagine they will actually happen one day.’

  Co-operation, mutual aid, togetherness – call it what you will – was indeed the answer. The more of us that got together the clearer the vision became. There was no ideology or belief system; no creed, nor any religious, racial divide. It was all about people working in unity. People got it too – they understood the importance without having to argue a case.

  Whether it was some kind of mass spiritual conversion, or if we were all under some kind of spell, it was hard to say.

  But had it affected all politicians? Billionaires? Corporation shareholders? Gene?

  People had to light fires to keep warm, and entertain themselves with games, reading and walking together. Homes were safe but there was no electricity. No fridges, freezers or microwaves, unless you had your own electricity supply. Laptops, phones and other devices could only be recharged at public generators. People pulled together – they spoke about the wartime spirit returning when everyone had to help each other to get through. Camaraderie. Community. There was something invigorating about it all.

  It seemed that the communication satellites had all somehow stopped working, and we wondered if this meant that humanity would have to start all over again, reinventing things from scratch. But it wasn’t like that. Our knowledge still existed. Most things would need repairing rather than having to be started all over again.

  Then the waters came. Gradually seeping up through the earth, knocking out what electricity was left; damaging systems and underground bases, but avoiding residential areas, as if being controlled by some invisible force. City centres and industrial areas were flooded. Factories, plants, reactors, processors were all knocked out of action. Sink holes appeared in some areas, as if Gaia herself was swallowing the problems – taking the wrongs upon herself to save Earth from humanity. Actually, we all believed that she was also saving us … from ourselves.

  We knew this was all going on because Luke and I continued to fly from country to country to assess the changes taking place. We spoke to so many people and everyone wanted this, and showed great enthusiasm to change things even if it meant starting all over again.

  ‘It does give us a major chance to rethink our priorities,’ Luke said with a wry smile.

  ‘Yes. We can keep those things that are good for the planet and leave things that were destructive or that added no great purpose to our lives,’ Hudor said.

  ‘The most difficult thing to reorganise will be agriculture,’ Vriksha added, standing up. ‘Human overpopulation and the clearance of forests has had a huge effect. Much of that clearance has been to make room for growing foodstuff or for herding livestock.’

  ‘Well, Gaia seems to be telling us that we need the forests back again.’ Luke extended his smile. Central London was now a forest of oaks. New York was a beautiful grove of redwoods looming up between the few remaining skyscrapers and tower blocks. The new trees already competed with the highest buildings – easily the tallest trees ever seen by humans. Many cities now had greenery in abundance where buildings had recently stood. The trees would soak up pollution and carbon dioxide, provide shade where there had previously been the need for air conditioning, and be a habitat for those species willing to share a home with humans.

  Over the next few days the gaping holes in the ground slowly healed up again.

  With no Internet, television, radio or newspapers, it was impossible to communicate to a whole nation, so Gaia communities, churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, town halls and schools became the focal points for communication. Here at last was a chance for us to regroup as local communities, rather than all be centralised under one remote government. It was so much better for things to be organised regionally. The best people for organising things in a town are the people who actually live in that town. I’d always been wary of centralised governments who took away powers from local councils. And things seemed to be running perfectly smoothly without the interference from politicians and bigwigs.

  But that wasn’t the end of Gaia’s work.

  Plants began to grow. I mean really grow – as in before your very eyes. Roots, branches, tendrils, stems, leaves, fronds, stalks, weeds, creepers, grasses, flowers, mosses, lichen, algae and fungi. Everywhere. The forests and meadows began to encroach upon towns and cities, taking back the land that had once been there before all the urbanisation. Nobody tried to intervene as we knew it was part of the plan. It made complete sense.

  Ivy and vines took control of certain office towers, but left houses alone. The verdant invaders worked quickly enough to see it happen, but slowly enough for people to vacate the buildings and remain safe. Nobody was supposed to be hurt. After all, we were all part of Gaia’s world. Roots extended and expanded, rumbling underground like subway trains, creating new tunnels. Stems and branches thickened into trunks that ripped slowly through walls, floors and ceilings. Tower blocks crumbled, imploding into themselves until all that was left was a green shell of trees and lush vegetation sprouting from an enormous pile of rubble,
wires and metal prongs.

  We watched as each building collapsed. We waited as we witnessed the end of so much of our technology. Nobody put up a fight. We would have done before; there would have been rioting and civil disobedience. But not now.

  Nobody screamed or cried. Nobody resisted. Nobody complained because they couldn’t go to work to earn money. These really were the strangest days.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Eventually, things went back to something close to normal. New forms of energy now powered the appliances we needed. Experts returned to their jobs, but all countries agreed to stop using fossil fuels and work on renewable energies. There’d be a crossover period of course, but it was handled sensibly and nations worked together on this. The Internet, mobile phone services, television and all other services resumed operations, but with agreed principles of tolerance, morality and only being used for positive means. Of course, it was a horribly complicated and messy debate but at least we were having one.

  Something happened during that revelation or epiphany, whatever you want to call it. People somehow softened. As if Gaia had granted the gifts of humility, compassion and empathy to all human beings. National tensions ceased, literally overnight. Armies pulled out of war zones around the world and disbanded. Community authorities and councils announced new measures on aid rather than defence. The hands of friendship were offered to ancient enemies, as politicians who had previously hated and mistrusted each other willingly negotiated ceasefires and peace treaties. World leaders got together to discuss nuclear disarmament and the cessation of all arms dealing. Things happened so quickly that it was impossible to follow all the changes.

  National governments had mostly been replaced by more localised councils groups that stopped any small group or individual from monopolising or from assuming too much power. The aim of any council or community was not about having authority or ‘power’, so much as serving each region, allowing local groups to make decisions, with everyone taking turns to have their say. It was a massive change, but people seemed motivated and excited by such a change. It was wonderful to witness.