The Mystic Paradigm: An Evolutionary Novel (15 page)

Chapter 25

Looking Within

The young travelers and their companions gathered at the University to discuss what was going on in their world and the problem of the decreased energy field. They met privately in a beautiful straw-bale guest cottage on the University grounds near where Joshua was staying. They had a few days to contemplate the events and were anxious to discuss all with the larger group. They had much to talk about and held a meeting without the Elders to see if they could come up with some solutions on their own. They were also cautious over what to discuss with the larger group. At the suggestion of Talis, Joshua’s friend Jonathan was also invited to the University to offer support and input. He could not make this meeting, but was on his way to help in a few days.

This group was the first generation that had grown up fully in the stable world after the revolution. Most of their parents had experienced peace also, but this generation had been surrounded by it since birth. They had lived in what they felt was a peaceful and balanced world for all of their lives. They had never experienced firsthand the old destructive competitive system that had caused so many imbalances; they had only known the great peace in which their world had been in for over 60 years. The newer generations knew no other way to live and they were not about to jeopardize their peaceful society. The young friends gathered here were impatient, ready to seek the truth and find out what was happening to their world.

The comfortable adobe floor was covered with soft pillows for people to relax on. Built-in benches by large open windows were also available as the group took some time to gather and center their energy. Many of the cottages were built of earth and straw taken from the local area. The small timbers that supported the structure were hand-milled and came from the local woods, each tree cut in a sustainable and sacred way.

Jasmine, being the elder of the group, began their discussion with a prayer and meditation. “We call upon the creative powers of the universe, the highest energies of our consciousness, and ask for your guidance today. We thank you for all that you give. We call upon the Earth Mother and the four elements—Earth, Wind, Air and Fire—and ask also for your wisdom to aid our understanding of our existence here on Earth. We give thanks for all that we have and ask that we open our hearts to our intuitive abilities so that we understand what we need to do in order to protect and nourish our world. Blessed be.”

The group took several deep, meditative breaths and all looked at each other in stillness for a moment. They had experienced so much in the last few weeks that each of them felt almost astonished at the connection they were feeling. For the most part they sensed no fear, yet the anxiety of what was happening still haunted them. They knew, however, that they had the ability to overcome any obstacles. They had helped build a harmonious society, one in which equality and compassion were a way of life.

Talis began the discussion in a comfortable voice, looking around the circle of young friends. “I feel we are the generation that needs to solve this crisis. We have transformed a once-violent and competitive culture to one of cooperation, love and relative peace. Our generation and the future generations will move forward toward the light. We are the light keepers and need to protect what we have.”

Everyone seemed to agree as the discussion started, each person taking time to really listen and not talk simply to fill the silence. This practice itself was transformative and a large part of their lives. Deeply listening to each other was a skill taught at an early age. By the time people reached adulthood, they were well-versed in this important practice.

Layia spoke from her comfortable position on the floor. “Tara, you spoke of the shadow self, or ego, being possibly suppressed in our culture. This seems to be something that all of us are being drawn to. Perhaps the spirit realm is telling us something we need to hear. Can you give us your thoughts on this in more detail?”

Tara, being the quiet scientist, acknowledged the question, but took her time to gather her thoughts. Everyone was patient and gave her compassionate energy.

“I was led to bring this up recently through my dreams and discussions with others. It’s as if the universe was waking me up to something we had been overlooking. For some reason this wisdom spoke through me. As a computer tech and one who focuses on science, I deal with mathematics a lot. What I see in my work are numbers, equations. What we find in many of these numbers is a matrix of order, a connection of sorts. We see the polarity and duality of energy and life. There is literally life and death in my work. Another way to see it is the light and shadow, and the duality and the dance between the two. In our spiritual work, as in some progressive changes we have made, I feel we need to accept this duality more fully as part of the whole.”

“What do you mean exactly by the shadow?” Bryan asked as he sat down beside her. “That we need to accept the shadow side of ourselves and come to terms with that?”

“Yes. This is what I am being directed to tell you. I can’t explain my sudden connection to this idea, but I feel called to alert others to this as it may be a key to our issues. In terms of being human, I see it this way: we need the shadow and the darkness to grow. You cannot suppress it. We are part of the earth, which is alive and is physical. It is the mud and dirt; it is the grounding energy for our light. We need both to survive. We see the light because we have contrast with the darkness. The ego is part of this work, this separation as individuals we experience and feel. We need to accept this duality as part of the journey here on Earth.”

Everyone reflected on what Tara had said. They had come a long way in their culture, but perhaps they had focused on the light more than the shadow? Did this imbalance cause them to forget some basic principles of energy?

Joshua spoke up suddenly in a trance-like voice, not quite his normal tone. “Anyone who is afraid of their own darkness cannot move toward the light. Let the fear of this come forth. You need to taste it, feel it. Through the darkness, we find the truth and the heart. The sacred journey is one of spirit and earth.”

The room was silent, his words were captivating. Where had they come from?

“Lillian, is that you?” Talis asked. The room was still. Joshua was in a deep trance.

Suddenly he spoke again. “You cannot come to the Source of All, to the One, without first experiencing the shadow. Your experience with the light and dark as a physical being is an essential part of the balance. You need to experience both pain and joy to be whole.”

As the last words left his mouth, he fell out of his trance and collapsed to the floor. Several of the members rushed to help him. He was not hurt, only a bit dazed as he slowly open his eyes. After several moments he looked around the room as he slowly regained his composure.

“The Collective spoke through me,” Joshua said weakly. “Lillian and the others. I felt their presence, their wisdom. What Tara reminded us of made me suddenly connect with them in trance, like we are all being drawn towards this message. Lillian is trying to give us some wisdom.”

“Indeed many of us are connecting with this idea of balance between light and shadow, and between earth and spirit.” Talis said as he looked around the room. “It is something we should pay close attention to when seeking the answers.”

Joshua continued. “I feel that my spirit is slowly connecting with Lillian and the others. Forena, my spirit guide, has taken me to them in my dreams since our journey. Layia has been there also. We are making a connection for the transition.” He was visibly shaken from the recent trance, yet seemed to speak clearly.

Layia looked at everyone, gathered her inner strength and added to his thoughts. “The Lillian Collective, as I will call it, has spoken to us recently and has helped us with understanding the energy drop. And she is giving us small hints of wisdom as we all are witnessing. We also feel that Joshua and I may be the initial bridge to help stabilize the energy. They do tell us, however, that the solution ultimately lies on Earth, in the physical plane.”

Jasmine spoke to the group passionately. “My feeling is we need to focus on what they are telling us. Tara also is connecting to this energy and gave us wise thoughts. It seems they are connected for a reason. The flower needs the dirt and the darkness to grow toward the light. We may have forgotten a basic principle with our spiritual and societal awakening.”

“And the principle is what, that we need to nurture our shadow side?” Talis gently asked, sitting closer to Jasmine.

“In a way, yes, but it is what we were talking about recently, the sacred masculine and feminine need to be nurtured in all that is. The balance of Divine Universal Energy with our physical grounded Earth is the key. Our stability lies in our ability to adjust our perspective. We are not far off the mark. We have done so many positive things.”

Talis spoke again, looking for some clarification. “From a practical point of view, we have done so much in the physical world. Our sacred activism has physically changed our world for the better; it has transformed our society. Grandfather and the early organizers made sure society would change in a positive way, and we have continued this principle. Our former militarized and industrialized world has been dismantled and transformed. Common people are in control now, not the destructive hierarchies of the old paradigm. Our world is at peace. This, to me, is being grounded, but perhaps I am not looking at it deeply enough? And what about the secrets that are not being revealed to us? What about the mystery of the lost mystics? Something is missing in this puzzle. Someone is hiding something from us.”

Jasmine smiled at Talis and gently took his hand. The group was silent for a time. Everyone collected their thoughts on the matter. What was the solution? How could they ground themselves with the earth on a deeper level?

Bryan, being a young seer and knowledgeable in the ancient earth ways, tried to steer the group to a possible solution. “The earth ways talk of alchemy between the elements—Earth, Air, Water, and Fire—and also the sacred masculine and feminine, as Jasmine noted. This harmony and balance is what makes life possible. Our new culture has brought this into balance on Earth for the most part. Earth is a living system and we are part of it. What we may need to do is seek counsel with the shamans of the earth tribes. There are some ancient lessons that we may have forgotten. We still may need to heal some collective wounds of the past.”

He looked at Talis deeply as he continued. “As we know, energy is stored in all that is. It is in every rock, tree, building, and in every living thing also, including ourselves. All of these objects still hold residual energy. This residual energy could be affecting our healing process and our grounding energy.”

“Do you mean that these objects still hold the energy of our past?” Tara asked, genuinely interested in his theory of residual energy.

“Yes. Our collective soul has karma, so to speak, that needs to be healed. All of the earth may be holding this energy. The collective soul needs to be made whole again. We need to work on clearing this energy from the past. This is how I relate it to your idea of the shadow work that needs to be done.”

Joshua finally regained enough composure to rejoin the discussion. “And could there also be residual energy from our Elders? Those that directly experienced the uprising?”

Jasmine helped clarify Bryan’s connection and answered Joshua. “I think Bryan is correct. We need to look at the past, the residual energy that has been suppressed from since before the revolution and also after it. This could include energy from our Elders. The old destructive paradigm was in control for many centuries, and this vibration may still be affecting us. This is one shadow part of our society. We need to look deeply at this and begin the healing process. We need to feel the pain of this and come to peace with it, both as individuals and as a society.”

“And we need the Elders to tell us the truth of what happened!” Talis said in a strong, almost angry voice. The group noticed his raised energy. Jasmine held his hand again, gently massaging his clenched fingers.

“I felt Lillian was holding back again when we talked to her,” Joshua added, supporting Talis’s comments. “There is something not quite right, some hidden truth that we need to know.”

“And someone wanted us dead or stuck in the other dimension because of it,” Talis said as he looked at Joshua intensely. They both acknowledged that possible fact.

Layia added,” I understand your concerns, my friends, as I feel there are secrets not being told to us. Yet I believe Lillian is leading us to some truth, as are your grandfather’s journals, perhaps.” She looked at Talis. “His journals may also be holding residual energy that may be affecting us.”

“Yes, that makes sense,” Talis noted. “The old bookbinder said that the journals could hold energy from the past. I have felt that powerful connection to the past. This may have unlocked part of the shadow energy that is disrupting us.”

Layia nodded to Talis and went on. “What Lillian is reminding us of, though, is that we need to experience both the light and darkness to be whole. All energy is part of the essence of the universe. Our acceptance of this duality and this journey is key. We must ground ourselves with the physical. We must plant our roots deep within Mother Earth as we continue to connect with the heavens. Earth and spirit become one through us. We as humans, are the conduit.”

“And how does this relate to the hidden truths?” Talis asked her in a thoughtful tone.