The Magi of Futurity
A Story for the Seeker in Each of Us
by Judy Mezen
Smashwords Edition https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/521
Copyright 2009 by Judy Mezen
ISBN Ebook Version: 978-0-9820376-1-4
http://radianceunlimitedpublishing.books.officelive.com
New Age Movement: Reincarnation; Dreams; Past Lives; Aspects – Fiction
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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The Magi of Futurity
Part One - Magi Endreema
Part one introduces a 14-year-old girl named Anita who is growing up in a rural setting during the depression era. By repeating a simple prayer, Anita opens a line of communication (while in the dream state) to a future aspect of her soul group who is studying to become a Dream Doctor. For two magical weeks in December 1932, Anita’s consciousness is expanded to help her learn the secrets to living a happy life.
Part Two - Spiritual Puberty
Part two reintroduces Anita as a 33-year-old woman just coming out of a divorce, who once again is seeking the elusive state of happiness. Magi Endreema returns to help her through this painful stage of her life. This time, Anita is able to open a conscious channel of communication with her spiritual counterpart.
The Magi of Futurity is a simple, sweet story that answers some of the most basic questions all seekers of happiness are hoping to find.
Inspiration for this book was provided by the following people and entities:
Ted and Jory, the loves of my life.
Wini, my sweet friend who passed into spirit in 2005.
Sabe, the Force of the Future, as articulated through Sheradon Bryce.
Abraham, as articulated through Esther and Jerry Hicks, a Teacher of Teachers who expounds the Science of Deliberate Creation utilizing the Law of Attraction.
Tobias of the Crimson Circle who always makes me laugh.
Kryon of Magnetic Service who often makes me shed joyful tears.
Dorothy and Winslow Schlosser, wonderful angels who coined the phrase, “I Love My Life!”
Anyone wishing to learn more about the teachings of any of the channels listed above may visit the following web sites:
Sabe & The Universal Family/Sheradon Bryce: www.riosabeloco.com
Abraham/Esther & Jerry Hicks: www.abraham-hicks.com
Tobias/Geoffrey Hoppe: www.crimsoncircle.com
Kryon/Lee Carroll: www.kryon.com
Part One - Magi Endreema
A Child’s Prayer
There once was a young girl who longed to know the secrets of life and happiness. She had read stories about people who had special magical friends who came to tell them about such things. But when she asked her mother about these legends, her mother only said, “Silly girl, you’re old enough to know now that things like that only happen in story books. They are merely figments of the imagination of those who write such stories.”
“So you mean there are no such things as magic fairies, or genies, or wizards.”
“Only in your dreams, Sweetie, not in real life,” replied her mother. Still the girl wished it could be real somehow. So as she closed her eyes each night to sleep, she said this prayer:
“Dear God,
I truly believe in you and I am grateful for all of the things that you do for me and my mom, and I also know that you are very busy. That is why I believe that you must have helpers that come and talk to people like me when they have questions that ordinary people don’t seem to know the answers to. There must be more to life than just what I can see with my eyes. So, please, Dear God, send me one of your helpers that will talk to me and tell me the secrets of how people can be happy all of the time. I know you’ll hear this prayer because my mom tells me that you know who I am and that you love me very much. I love you, too.”
Anita
For several weeks, Anita repeated this prayer. One night, in the month of December, just about two weeks before Christmas, Anita awakened because she thought she heard a noise. She was startled to see what looked like a kind old woman standing beside her bed. There was a soft glow that seemed to shine all around the woman’s body.
“Who are you?” asked Anita.
“My name is Endreema. I am known as a Magi of Futurity. I have come to help you understand some of the “so-called” secrets of happiness. In reality, they are not secrets at all. I come here from the dimensions of the future where there is no time and all possibilities. If you choose to work with me, I will help pull you forward where you will discover more of your own inner dimensions and gain some of the deeper understandings of the higher Universal truths. Right now you think of yourself as only being a young girl in a human body, but I can promise you that you are much more than you can perceive from your present focus. In your soul travels, you have experienced many lives and grand adventures.”
“Are you really real?” gasped Anita.
“Yes, I am, but for now you can only see and hear me in your dreams,” answered the old woman.
“Am I dreaming now?” asked Anita.
“Yes, you are. We will meet in your dreams often. You won’t remember talking to me when you wake up, but you will remember the things that I tell you. It will be as if thoughts just seem to float into your head. It will feel almost as if you have known these things all along. Is this arrangement agreeable with you?” Endreema inquired.
“Oh, yes,” replied Anita, “but I really would like to be able to talk to you whenever I want to.”
“In time you will be able to do that, as you integrate the knowledge into your waking consciousness, but for now I will only visit you in your dreams.” With that, the old woman seemed to fade away and the child eased back into a peaceful sleep.
A New Day Begins
The next morning Anita awoke with a new sense of excitement and anticipation. It seemed as if everything looked clearer and brighter. As she removed the soft, protective covers of her bed and touched her feet to the floor, she felt as if she was somehow stepping forth into a whole new world.
Today was Sunday. The morning air was crisp and cool as she ran behind their small cabin to the outhouse. She noticed a white rabbit dart away at the sound of her footsteps.
When she returned to the warmth of the cabin, Anita gave her mother a big hug. She loved her mom very much. Life had not been easy for the two of them since Anita’s father had died of pneumonia five years ago when she was nine. Her father had been a strong man. He had worked in a lumber mill in the nearby town of Tacoma. Their small cabin was about two miles from town. Anita and her mother easily walked to town for work, church, and school.
Mrs. Thompson did cooking and cleaning for the three Johanson families who owned the lumber mill where Anita’s father had worked. Anita made deliveries for the local mercantile two days a week after school and on Saturday afternoons. Mr. Blair, her boss, also let Anita work for him during the summer time. Anita and her mother considered themselves lucky to have jobs during these hard times. Even though their incomes were small, their needs were always met.
Mrs. Thompson prepared oatmeal and hot biscuits for breakfast. The smell of cinnamon and baked bread filled the air. Anita helped her mother clean the kitchen after their filling breakfast, and then she went to the closet to select a clean dress to wear to church. She only had four dresses and she was tired of all of them. She chose a faded blue one. At least it was clean and freshly pressed. She put on her only pair of scuffed shoes, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and combed her hair. She smiled back at her reflection in the small mirror by the water basin. She felt eager to see what the day would bring.
New Sunday School Teacher
When they arrived at church, Mrs. Thompson joined a group of ladies who were chatting about their lives. Anita ran ahead to find her best friend, Dorothy. It was a bright sunny morning that made it seem much too warm for December. The church goers always enjoyed catching up on the neighborly news of the prior week. Soon Reverend Winslow rang the church bell and everyone slowly ambled toward the warmed building. The church consisted of one main room, where the adults met, and several smaller rooms where the children were grouped by age to attend Sunday school. Anita and Dorothy were surprised to see the face of an interesting looking man when they entered their classroom. Reverend Winslow hurried in and introduced Mr. Meyer as their new Sunday school teacher. He explained that the regular teacher, Miss Mason, had a sudden illness in her family and had been called away. Mr. Meyer, who was visiting relatives in town, would be taking her place until she was able to return.
Mr. Meyer had many interesting things to tell the children about his life. He had traveled to many places in the world and seemed to be able to weave his own experiences easily into their Bible lesson. The hour passed very quickly. The children then joined the adults in the larger room where they all sang before Reverend Winslow launched into his Sunday message. This day he talked about the beauty of nature and how everything in the world was God’s handiwork. He had a special way with words that made Anita feel warm inside.
When church was over, Anita and Dorothy played tag with a few friends from school while the adults visited. Soon Mrs. Thompson called for Anita to hurry along. They walked home, mostly in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. When they arrived home, they changed out of their church clothes and had a light lunch. Mrs. Thompson set about doing some mending and sewing. Anita went outside to give their goat, Buddy, some grain and fresh water in gratitude for the milk she provided. The girl then returned to the house and settled down to finish her homework that was due on Monday.
Later, they enjoyed warmed up biscuits and butter bean soup for supper. It was not long until it was time to prepare for bed. They took turns washing up. Mrs. Thompson brushed Anita’s long hair, and then her own. They sat by the pot bellied stove and enjoyed the heat a little longer before going to bed.
As Anita snuggled down into the comfort of her small bed, she silently repeated her special prayer to God.
Magi Endreema Returns
Anita felt a soft breeze blow over her face. She reached to pull the covers closer to her chin. Something made her want to open her eyes, and that is when she saw Magi Endreema.
“Hello, friend,” a quiet voice said.
“Oh, it’s you! I was wondering if you would come again,” said Anita.
“Yes, we have an agreement, remember? And it is time for your first lesson. May I sit on your bed with you?” asked the Magi.
“Yes, please do,” said Anita as she slowly sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
Endreema began her lesson by saying, “Most people think that they will find happiness by having lots of material things when what they really want is to touch the true self - the soul that is the spark of light and life created by God. Still, it is hard to realize this without first having experienced the joy of having some of the material things people think they want. So, this is your first assignment.” Endreema handed Anita a small writing journal and a pen. “Please make a list of five things that you think would make you happy.”
Anita smiled. This was going to be easy. There were many things she would like to have. She quickly made her list:
1. Lots of new dresses! (She was so tired of wearing the same four dresses day after day.)
2. A brand-new pair of shoes. (She had not had a new pair of shoes since her father’s death. She had been wearing scuffed hand-me-downs from the families her mother worked for.)
3. Some bright, colorful ribbons for my hair. (She envied the girls at school whose parents could afford to buy them ribbons for their hair.)
4. More books to read. (The school did not have many books and she had read them all. Anita loved to read about adventures in faraway places. Her life seemed so dull compared to the people she read about in books.)
5. A wonderful new father who is nice and will love me and my mom. (She missed her father so much and she knew her mother did too.)
Anita handed the journal to Endreema. The Magi read the list, closed the book and placed it in her pocket. “Good, “she said. “When you want something, you must ask for it. When the request goes out, the fairies of the Universe go to work immediately to find ways to bring it to you. Now you must “know” that your desires will be granted. Have an attitude of gratitude about all that you have already been given and expect miracles in every day.”
The Magi gently touched the girl’s forehead. As her image began to fade, Anita drifted easily back into her sweet slumber.
Anita's South African Adventure
The next day, on her way to school, it seemed to Anita that everything looked different. Somehow, everything looked brighter than she remembered. She noticed the delicate shapes of the frozen leaves in the early morning air. Each one was so uniquely beautiful in its own way. Even the trees that held bare branches stood stately and strong in their lovely silhouettes. The mere crunching sound of walking over the frozen ground seemed to produce a rhythmic melody of tones unnoticed before. “What a wonderful world we live in,” she thought as she glided along.
It was good to feel the warmth of her school room after her crisp morning walk. Miss Cook, the teacher for the combined class of seventh, eighth and ninth graders, was scurrying around placing shiny magazines on every desk. When Anita came in, Miss Cook greeted her and asked if she would please help distribute the magazines. Anita hung up her coat and hat and took a stack of the brightly colored glossies from Miss Cook. Several other students entered the classroom just as they finished placing the magazines on the desks. Soon the bell tolled to signal the beginning of the school day. Miss Cook called the roll and then began speaking.
“Class, I’m sure that you have all noticed the wonderful magazines on your desks. A friend of mine, who works in the newspaper office in Seattle, took a trip to New York City recently. She visited a large publishing house there. They were kind enough to give her several old copies of National Geographic Magazine. We will be using these to study many things about the world that I’m sure we will all find interesting. For now, I would like for you to look through the pages. If any of you see anything interesting you would like to share with the class, please raise your hand.”
Anita began to leaf through the pages of her magazine. It was full of vivid, colorful pictures of beautiful people wearing wonderful clothes of all sorts. Her head was spinning at the magnificence of it all. The first story that caught her eye was about a group of people who went on a safari to Africa to capture white rhinos for a zoo in Chicago. There were pictures of smiling African natives who helped the hunters find the rhinos. The natives wore very little clothing and had bones wrapped in their hair. Their smiles showed that many of them had teeth missing. Even so, the people’s eyes looked so happy. In the background, several grass huts with women and children sitting around small fire pits were pictured. Suddenly, it seemed as if Anita was right there with them. She could smell the food cooking and she could hear the cry of a baby in the distance. Some girls, about her age, were moving in a circle pattern to the beat of a drum being played by a young boy. It looked like they were practicing some type of ceremonial dance. Anita longed to join them. There was such a feeling of freedom in the air. Every step was purposeful with slow deliberate movements. They all had bare feet and practically bare bodies. She saw a mother nursing a baby at her bare breast. It all seemed so natural. These people had very few possessions, and yet they seemed so peaceful and content. What did they know that she did not?
“Anita, are you all right?” Anita looked up to see Miss Cook standing beside her desk. “I asked if you had found anything interesting to share yet. I don’t think you heard me.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Cook, I guess I was daydreaming,”
“Well, please try to stay focused when you are in class,” mused Miss Cook. “All right now, class, I am going to give you a homework assignment. You may take these magazines home with you tonight. Please select an article that you find interesting or inspiring, summarize it in your own words, and then tell what you learned personally from reading the story. Bring these reports back in tomorrow and we will read them out loud. Are there any questions?”
One of the boys raised his hand to ask how long the reports should be. Miss Cook replied that they should be between 200 and 300 words in length. She then asked the students to get out their math books to review long division. Throughout the remainder of the day, Anita’s thoughts wandered often to the African village scene that had seemed so real in her mind. After school, she and Dorothy walked together to the edge of town happily chatting about their day. They soon reached the spot where they were forced to wave goodbye to one another as they started on their separate paths toward home.
Anita hurried through her evening chores. She was anxious to start on her homework assignment. It would still be an hour or more before her mother returned home. At last she was able to sit down to read the entire story about the safari hunters. When she had read over the article a couple of times, she took out her paper and pencil and began to write.
SOUTH AFRICAN ADVENTURE
In 1930, a group of men traveled to South Africa to find two white rhinos to bring back to the zoo in Chicago, Illinois. They went to the area known as Zululand in the foothills below the Drakensberg Mountains. They had arranged with the African government to have Zulu guides help them find the white rhinos. The men stayed in the village of their guides and lived in a small grass hut during their visit. They were treated as honored guests and participated in many local traditions while there. They ate foods such as biltong. This is strips of meat dried in the sun until the outside is black while the inside is still red and juicy. This was served with mealie, which is mashed cornmeal. Their hunt, or safari, was successful. With the help of the natives, they were able to capture the white rhinos within one week’s time. The rhinos were transported by military trucks to the city of Durban, on the coast of the Indian Ocean, and then by cargo ship back to the United States. The men said they enjoyed learning about the Zulu natives’ customs and arts, and that they would like to visit again someday.
By reading this story and looking at the pictures, I learned that people all over the world are very different, but they are also very much alike. We may appear different on the outside, eat different foods, and wear different clothes, but our hearts are all the same. We all want to be happy and free to do the things that we enjoy. The Zulu people did not need to wear fancy clothes or have fancy serving dishes to make their visitors feel welcome. They just needed to be themselves and speak the only language that is important anywhere. That is the language of love.”
Anita laid her pencil down and reread the words that had seemed to flow so easily from her mind. She was surprised and amazed at the results. She knew that she had just written them down, but they didn’t seem like words she would normally write. She pressed the paper to her chest. She suddenly realized the truth that the words conveyed. Beautiful clothes and fancy things do not matter at all. The language of the heart is all that truly matters.
Just then, Anita was startled to hear her mother open the door. She sat her homework aside and began setting the table. She looked at their chipped dishes with new eyes. The chips gave the dishes character. Each one had its own story to tell. It made them seem like old friends with whom treasured memories could be shared. These thoughts made her want to touch the dishes and glasses in a new way, with a feeling of respect. It made her realize that everything around her was a part of her somehow, and that each thing expressed itself in a different way. It wasn’t only people who had life. Everything, no matter what it was, had a life of its own. She gently sat the last glass down on the table and then went to her mother. She put her arms around this wonderful woman who meant so much to her.
“I love you, Mom! I’m so glad to see you.”
“Hey, what brought all of this on?” Mrs. Thompson asked as she warmly returned the hug.
“Nothing really. I just felt like hugging you. The Christmas spirit must be in the air. I feel so happy these days!” beamed Anita. They sat down to eat their supper of leftover butter bean soup. It was delicious. Anita told her mother about the National Geographic magazines and her assignment. She handed her the report to read.
“Why Anita, this is beautiful. I didn’t know that you had such lovely thoughts in that head of yours. I’m sure Miss Cook will give you an “A” for this fine report.”
“Thank you, Mother. I’m so glad you like it!” For a moment, Anita thought about telling her mother about the daydream that she had in school. But she decided not to . . . for now.
In her dreams that night, Anita revisited the African Zulu tribe. She joined in with the dancing and tasted the biltong and mealie. It was all so wonderful. It felt as if a part of her belonged there.
A Classroom Visitor
The next few days seemed to fly by. Christmas would be here before she knew it. Anita had been thinking of what to give her mother and Dorothy. She was allowed to keep a dime a week from her earnings at the mercantile. She had been saving her dimes since she went to work for Mr. Blair in September, just so she would have money for Christmas gifts. She had her eye on a warm pair of gloves for Dorothy. The ones she liked were dark purple with little white reindeer stitched on them. But she didn’t know what to give her mother. Her mom was much more talented with making things than she was. Besides, Anita didn’t want to give her something that she could make for herself. The right idea would come. She knew it would.
On Friday morning at school, Miss Cook made an announcement that they would have a special visitor after lunch. She said that some of the students had already met him. His name was Edward Meyer. He was Miss Cook’s cousin, and he was staying with her temporarily. Since the class had been studying geography by reading the National Geographic Magazines, Miss Cook had decided to invite her cousin to come and talk about some of his travels. Anita and Dorothy remembered Mr. Meyer from Sunday school, and so they were the first two to come back to their classroom after lunch.
“Hi, Dorothy, Anita. I’m glad to see you. It will be nice to have some familiar faces in the room.” Mr. Meyer extended his hand and shook hands with both of them. When everyone else was settled at their desks, Miss Cook introduced her cousin to the class.
“Thank you for inviting me,” Mr. Meyers said with a warm smile on his face. “I always welcome the opportunity to talk about my travels. I have been fortunate enough to have seen nearly all of the states in these United States, as well as the foreign lands of England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Egypt, and Africa. You see, I was raised mainly by my Grandfather. My mother died when I was born and my father was too busy with his work to have much time for me. I consider myself very lucky indeed to have been placed in the loving care of my Grandfather. He enjoyed traveling and he took me with him wherever he went. Today I would like to tell you about our trip to Egypt.
Egypt is located in the northeast corner of Africa. It is a large country - about as big as Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas put together. Nearly all of this land is hot and dry. Most of Egypt is desert. In spite of its harsh climate, people have lived there for thousands of years. They have survived because of the Nile River. For centuries the Nile has flooded, leaving rich soil along its banks. The world’s largest river brings fresh water and life to the desert.
One of the world’s oldest civilizations grew up on the banks of the Nile. More than 5,000 years ago, great kings and pharaohs ruled there. They built palaces near the river. Many ancient monuments are still standing. The Pyramids of Giza stand on the west bank of the Nile. The pyramids contain the royal tombs of some of the pharaohs and their queens. If you like climbing, you can explore the royal burial chambers. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the biggest of all. It is 480 feet high and 755 feet square. The Great Pyramid was built nearly 4,500 years ago. It is made from more than two million big blocks of stone. The stones fit together so well that you cannot slip a knife blade between them. To this day, no one knows for sure how the ancient Egyptians managed to build the pyramids. It is speculated by some that the huge stones were shaped and cleaved during the dry summer months. Then large wooden frames were built around them. When the rains came in the winter and spring, these huge stones were moved by rafts and strategically placed in the structure. It is believed that 40-ton rocks could be moved on the rafts during the floods. Then the wooden frames were burned and the stones fell into place. It is also speculated that the pyramids were built from all four sides simultaneously during the flood seasons. The process took several hundred years.
While in Egypt, we visited Cairo, the capital of Egypt. It is the largest city in Africa. Traveling in Cairo is not difficult, but the markets can be very crowded. Many sights are a short walk from the center of the city. It is fun to shop in the markets there. You can buy goods such as copper and brass coffee sets, gold and silver jewelry, wooden chessboards, and tapestries. The shops do not have fixed prices. You must bargain for what you buy. My Grandfather said that you should begin by offering about half of what you want to pay.”
While Mr. Meyer was talking, Anita felt like she was right there with him, seeing the things that he was describing. Her senses delighted at the sights of multi-colored handmade cloths and jewelry. She could smell the wonderful and varied aromas of food filling the marketplace. Pictures of hieroglyphic symbols danced in her mind. She had to make a real effort to pull her awareness back into the school room.
“The Egyptian people eat foods like ful medames, which are mashed beans served with lemon juice and spices, and hamam, which is pigeon, either grilled and served with wheat stuffing, or stewed with onions, tomatoes, and rice. Children go to school there between the ages of six and twelve. After this, they must take an exam before being allowed to go on to higher grades.
I enjoyed my visit there very much. I rode a camel with my Grandfather. I was 15 years old at the time I visited Egypt. Do any of you think that you would like to travel there?”
Anita’s hand shot up into the air. She looked around to see two or three more hands that were raised. She was very surprised that more people would not want to see these wonderful sites. Miss Cook asked if anyone had any questions. Mary Lu Loften asked what it felt like to ride on a camel. Mr. Meyer said that the humps moved around a lot and that camels could run very fast when they wanted to. Anita asked if Mr. Meyer had gone inside any of the pyramids. He confirmed that he had and that he had actually touched some of the hieroglyphic writings.
Anita could think of many more questions she wanted to ask Mr. Meyer, but Miss Cook said that was all the time they had for now. She assured the class that she would invite her cousin to come back another time. Anita was sad to see him leave, but she looked forward to seeing Mr. Meyer again at Sunday school. That evening, her supper-time conversation was all about Egypt and Mr. Meyer. Her mother could not get a word in edgewise.
The Greatest Gifts
A soft breeze caused Anita to sit up in her bed. She watched as Endreema appeared before her eyes.
“Endreema, I have met the most interesting man. He has traveled to so many exciting places and seen such wonderful things! Do you think I will ever get to see any of those places?” she asked.
“You can see them any time you want. You have just been to Africa to dance with the Zulu princesses,” Endreema said matter-of-factly.
“But that was just a dream. I wasn’t really there, was I?” Anita’s voice trailed off as if she had returned to the vision.
“What’s the difference between a dream and your waking life? Didn’t you taste the food and feel your body moving to the beat of the drums? All it takes is to focus your thoughts on a place where you want to be, and you simply go there. It’s not difficult at all. Some people prefer to call it imagination. I like to call it dimensional travel. It’s all the same thing, a simple shift of your perceptions, and you are off to anywhere you want to be.”
“Do you really mean that I can go anywhere that I want to, anytime that I want to?” queried Anita.
“That’s exactly what I mean. All that is required is your belief that you can do it. How do you think I got here?” asked the Magi.
“Wow,” sighed Anita. “My life sure has changed since I met you. All of these crazy and wonderful things are happening to me. I almost feel like a different person. Hey, have you put a magic spell on me or something?”
“No, Dear One, I have not put a spell on you, but I have helped you to start noticing the things that are around you all of the time that you have been taking for granted. You are not alone in this world and you never have been. Everything in the Universe is connected to every other thing. The radiant presence of God is in all things, from the lowly weeds to the stately trees, from the brightest stars to a baby lamb. When you look at a leaf, you know that God is green. When you look at the midday sun, you are being dazzled by the brightness of God. When you look into your mother’s eyes, you see the twinkle of God’s love staring back at you. Everything and everyone is a beautiful reflection of the Creator God. You have been reaching outside of yourself to find an elusive God when it has been the well of living waters within your soul all along. If you will learn to draw from your own inner resources, eagerly and deliberately, these resources will increase and multiply until your entire being is transformed into a vessel literally running over with holy radiance. Your mind and heart work together to form a powerful force. Use it wisely.” With these words, Endreema’s image began to fade.
Anita could barely hear her final words.
“The greatest gifts are those from the heart.”
Saturday Joys
After completing her morning chores a little slower than usual because of her new found appreciation for the splendor and wonder of all things, Anita went into the house to clean up before she headed to the mercantile. Her mother had packed a lunch for her to eat along the way. They embraced warmly before Anita left. Mrs. Thompson gave her daughter some money to pick up some supplies that they needed. Anita waved back to her mother who was still standing in the doorway watching her with protective eyes. She was feeling hungry so she took out a peanut butter and honey sandwich made with a hardtack biscuit. She savored the flavors in her mouth as she chewed. It seemed that her mother could make anything taste good. She was definitely a good cook. When Anita finished her sandwich, she stopped to take a drink of water from the closed jar in her sack. It was cold and refreshing. She munched on a crisp apple as she continued the scenic journey into town. Many people called this area God’s Country. It was beautiful and green all year round. “I’m sure this is God’s Country,” Anita mused out loud, “just as all places are God’s Country. Every place is beautiful in its own way.”
By the time she reached the mercantile, Anita was full of energy and happiness. She was practically bursting at the seams with thoughts about how wonderful her life was.
“What are you so happy about, young lady?” asked Mr. Blair.
“Just about everything!” said Anita. “The world is beautiful and so are all of the people in it!”
“It sounds to me like you’re in the Christmas spirit already. I hope you still feel that way by the time you make all of these deliveries. You’re going to have to hustle today,” he teased.
Anita picked up the bundles and the list that Mr. Blair had prepared for her. “Don’t worry about me,” she said as she opened the door, “These days I’m practically walking on air!”
Mr. Blair laughed and shook his head as Anita hurried out the door. She had seven deliveries to make. Anita quickly routed them out in her mind. “Ok feet, let’s hop on the Airway Express!” she shouted as she scurried away.
All of the deliveries went smoothly. Her body appeared to be working in harmony with the natural rhythms of time and nature. Mr. Blair’s customers were all anxious to receive their orders. Their smiles and warm wishes speeded Anita easily along her way. Mr. Blair was genuinely surprised to see her walk through the door at a quarter to four.
“Well, you must be walking on air today, young lady!” he said. Anita did a little dance on her tiptoes and they both laughed about her silliness. Mr. Blair opened his cash register and handed Anita her weekly quarter. Her eyes gleamed with joy. With the dime that she could keep today, she would have $1.50 to use toward her Christmas gifts for Dorothy and her mother.
Mr. Blair took the lid off of a candy jar and handed Anita a peppermint stick. “This is for you,” he said. “You certainly deserve it today.”
Anita giggled with delight and thanked him. She licked the peppermint stick joyfully as she handed Mr. Blair her mother’s shopping list. Together they bundled the items and then she set out for home with a taste of sweetness in her mouth and in her heart.
Lesson on the Earth and Soul Groups
On the way home, Anita noticed that she was not in the least bit tired. Usually when she returned home after her Saturday job, she was exhausted from walking all day long, but not today. Her feet seemed to be pulling energy from the Earth in a way she had never noticed before. She felt refreshed and invigorated.
Was she seeing things? It appeared as if there were streams of light shooting up from the ground around her. They were triangular in shape with various colors appearing in different areas. Anita turned and looked around in all directions. Everywhere she had walked, there were prisms of light shooting up from the Earth. “This is amazing!” Was the Earth somehow sharing its energy and life with her? She was baffled by the mystery of it all, but it was not frightening to her. She felt instead that she was being given a precious gift by the planet. Joy filled her body as she felt tears of gratitude flow gently down her face.
There was no explanation for all of the feelings that she had been experiencing lately. She felt like she wanted to capture these sensations and hold onto them somehow, but she knew that would be impossible. It was better to experience them and let them go. She got the sense that this was just the beginning of better and grander things to come. She had not told anyone about any of these unusual experiences yet. She wondered if she should tell her mother or Dorothy. Would they think she was crazy? She decided that she would wait a little longer. She would know when the time was right.
The soft glow of light from the cabin’s windows appeared in view. She saw her home with new eyes. This little cabin had been a safe place for the last five years. Even though it was small and plain, it had served well as a place of protection and comfort. She opened the door and stepped into her home’s loving arms. A warm fire was blazing and the smell of beef stew stirred her hunger. Anita handed the bundle of groceries to her mother and hung up her coat and hat. Her body began to soak up the warmth of the room. The two women shared a hug. Anita noticed that her mother had a cough that seemed to grow stronger as the evening passed. Her mom assured her that it was nothing.
As she lay down to rest her body that night, the brilliant lights that she had seen earlier filled her mind. Anita drifted off to sleep while drinking in their remembered beauty.
“Dear One, wake up. We have an appointment tonight.” Anita was startled awake and sat up sleepily. She saw Endreema looking into what appeared to be a blue globe.
“What is that?” Anita asked.
“Oh, I was just enjoying the Earth’s strobing that you witnessed earlier today,” replied Endreema. Anita leaned over to look into the sphere. She could see the same beautiful lights that she had seen earlier.
“I didn’t know if they were real or just my imagination,” said Anita. “I hoped they were real.”
“They’re real all right. The Earth is filled with energy that she freely gives away to all things — the plants, animals and minerals who reside on or within her body. You could not live without this energy. Its aura surrounds all things on the planet with the energy and sustenance that is needed for existence. This Earth literally pulses out life energy for all of its inhabitants.
“Amazing, isn’t it?” murmured Endreema. “This wondrous planet is self-intelligent and has free will, just as your body does also. You would not have been able to see and feel those energy patterns emanating from the planet if your body and Mother Earth had not agreed to a harmonious exchange and alignment of their frequencies. Many people will never consciously experience the gift that you were given today. The joy that you were expressing made it possible.”
Anita had been listening very intently to Endreema’s words. “Do you mean that the Earth and my body both have minds of their own?” she queried.
“That is correct. They are both living, breathing organisms that can think and have free will,” answered Endreema. “Your feet are natural receptor sites for the energy that the Earth puts off. Simply by walking on the Earth’s surface, your body can absorb this powerful life force. Even though your mind was telling you that you should have been tired from your day’s work, the body decided to energize itself. Both your body and this planet are marvelous creations which exude natural expression and creative flow. You can freely communicate with either one of them, as well as all other forms of life in this reality: plants, animals, and inanimate objects. All you have to do is put your judgments aside and listen with the heart.”
“All you ever really need to know is always within your reach. Your body is a living library of all of the memories of your soul group. You can tap into these memories anytime you choose to do so. You are definitely more than just your physical body. Through your soul memories, you can view any lifetime that any aspect of your soul group has ever experienced.”
“Are you telling me that I have lived other lifetimes and that there are lots of other me’s, from my soul group, living in other bodies?” Anita asked incredulously.
“Of course,” said Endreema, rather matter-of-factly. “Your soul’s chief steward, who resides in Futurity, works along with certain parts of your brain to keep track of all of your soul’s other aspects and faces. You often meet with your other selves in the dream state to trade ideas and information. That’s why you can go to sleep with some sort of a problem on your mind and wake up the next morning with a solution. You have been conferring with others in your soul group, who may have experienced similar obstacles, and you work out probable outcomes while your body is sleeping. It’s all very simple and logical.”
“That is amazing,” gasped Anita. “It sure would make life more interesting and simpler if everybody knew about these things. People wouldn’t have to worry nearly as much as they do now. They would just know that everything would always work out okay.” Anita appeared to be deep in thought.
“Exactly,” whispered Endreema, choosing this pause with which to take her exit.
A Guest for Sunday Supper
On Sunday morning, Anita awoke before her mother. She went to her mom’s bed to check on her and saw that she appeared to be resting peacefully. Anita had heard her coughing in the night and decided it would be best to let her sleep a little longer.
She put on her warmest clothing and went out to milk the goat. She remembered that her mother had laughed when she had wanted to name the goat, Buddy, since it was a female. Still Anita insisted, so the goat was christened Buddy.
The girl ran through the cold morning air to reach the barn. She petted her friend, and then got the stool and the bucket needed for milking. Although Anita’s mother had taught her how to do the milking, she had not done it enough to be really good at it. It seemed to be taking a long time and there was very little milk in her bucket when Anita thought she heard someone say, “Don’t pull so hard!” The girl spun around to see if her mother was standing behind her, but she wasn’t. “It must be my imagination,” thought Anita. But then she heard it again.
“I said you don’t have to pull so hard.” The words seemed to be echoing in her head somewhere.
“Was that you, Buddy?” asked Anita, staring at the goat.
“Of course, it’s me. You have to be gentler. Just let the milk drop into the teat on its own and then squeeze gently. It’s much faster and neither one of us has to work so hard,” ordered the goat.
Anita tried doing the milking according to Buddy’s instructions. She found it was much easier!
“There, that’s better,” she heard the goat mumble.
Anita felt silly talking to a goat, but then she thought, “Why not?” Didn’t she talk to Buddy most of the time when she fed her? The only difference now was she could hear the goat talk back. Before long, the milk bucket was full. Anita thanked Buddy for the milk and her helpful instructions. She then lovingly petted the goat’s head again.
“Don’t mention it, “she heard Buddy remark as she opened the gate and walked back toward the cabin.
Mrs. Thompson was up and about when Anita returned. She thanked her daughter for doing the milking. She admitted that she was feeling a little poorly. She had stoked the fire and there was a bright cheeriness in the room.
“I’ll make breakfast this morning,” said Anita. “What do you feel like having?”
“Maybe just some toasted bread and tea,” her mother re-plied. Anita heated up the skillet and buttered some bread for toasting. She placed one piece of bread in the pan at a time and brought four pieces to a crispy brown. She put them on a plate and got out some strawberry jam. Then she got two cups for the tea that her mother had already brewed. Mrs. Thompson ate her toast plain, but Anita filled every inch of her two pieces with the delicious homemade jam. She noticed that her mom only ate about a half of a piece of toast.
“Maybe we should stay home from church today?” Anita said with a questioning look on her face.
“I’ll be fine,” her mother said. “The walk and the fresh air will do me good.” Anita offered to clean the dishes while her mother dressed. After the dishes were washed, she went to the small closet to choose a dress. The brown one would do for today. She finished getting ready while her mother rocked slowly by the fire sipping her tea. Then they both bundled up in their warmest coats, hats, and gloves. Anita helped her mother wrap an extra scarf around her neck and mouth.
“There’s no need to fuss over me. I’ve just got a little cold.” Mrs. Thompson teased as she smiled and hugged her daughter. Anita looked at her mother’s beautiful face and thought about how much she loved her. She added more wood to the fire, and they began their walk to town.
Anita did most of the talking on the way. She pointed out the small birds that were flittering about looking for food. The bright sun was melting the glistening ice cycles that had formed on the trees during the night. There were many things to catch her attention in this delightful winter wonderland.
At last they reached the church. They arrived just as Reverend Winslow was ringing the bell. They walked up the steps and entered into the satisfying warmth of the old building. Anita squeezed her mother’s hand and walked to her classroom. Dorothy was already there and waved to her. She giggled and took a seat next to her friend. She was still cold from the walk and decided to leave her coat and hat on for a while. Mr. Meyer walked into the room wearing a broad smile. He greeted the group, then read a Bible verse and said a prayer.
“Today I decided to bring some pictures of my trip to Egypt. I spoke to some of you at the school last week about my visit there. I thought you might like to see my pictures.” He divided the photographs and gave half to Mary Jensen and half to Anita. He asked the girls to look at two or three photos at a time and pass them around.
Anita’s eyes feasted on the images. They were old black and white photos that cast a spell on her imagination. She devoured each one with her eyes and then grudgingly passed them on to Dorothy. She could easily imagine herself walking down the streets looking at the sights depicted in the photographs. Her mind was alive with the smells and sounds of Cairo. She openly grinned back at the smiling faces of the people in the pictures.
“I thought you might like to know something about the religions of the Egyptians.” Mr. Meyer’s voice interrupted Anita’s reverie.
“Nine out of ten Egyptians are Muslims. Most of the rest are orthodox Christians. Orthodox means traditional. Islam, the religion of the Muslims, came to Egypt with the Arabs in 640 A.D. Muslims believe that Mohammad was chosen as God’s true prophet.”
As Anita listened to Mr. Meyer talk, his face seemed to transfigure somehow. One minute he looked like Mr. Meyer and the next, he looked like an Oriental man! She knew that she was staring rudely, but she just could not believe what she was seeing!
“Are you all right, Anita?” asked Mr. Meyer. “You look a little flushed.”
“Huh, oh, yes, I’m okay. I think I’ll just take my coat off now. I’m a little too warm.” Anita removed her hat and coat as Mr. Meyer continued.
“The Muslim people pray five times a day, and fast. That means to go without food throughout Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim calendar. This month-long fast ends with a three-day feast called, ‘Id al-Fitr, when it is over. The Koran is their holy book. Many Muslims go on a pilgrimage, or journey, to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime. Mecca is the birthplace of Mohammad. Muslim festivals can be huge gatherings. The people sing, dance and pray. At the center of all kinds of celebrations is the zikr, where a group of worshipers chant and sway until they are in a trance. Mohammed’s birthday is an occasion for festivals of this type and street processions in many towns and cities.”
Anita raised her hand.
“Yes, Anita, do you have a question?” asked Mr. Meyer.
“Is your Grandfather still alive?” Anita didn’t really know why she asked this question. The words seemed to appear out of thin air.
“No, he’s not. He has been gone for several years now, and I miss him a great deal. He and I shared some very special times.” He spoke in a soft and gentle tone. “However, I have learned to celebrate his life and the time that we had together. The lessons that I learned from him have stayed with me and have changed my life. I now strive to be aware of each precious moment. I have learned to appreciate the ability to feel pain, to laugh, to love and just be alive. Because of him, I realize that life is for living. Our physical lives may be transitory, but our souls are not. Life is only what we make of it, and my Grandfather certainly made his full of adventure and fun. He’s still very much alive in my memories and in my heart. Thank you for asking about him, Anita.”
A peaceful silence filled the room. Mr. Meyer asked if anyone had any questions about his photographs of Egypt. A buzz of voices and activity continued, but Anita was lost in her memories of her own father.
When the bell rang sounding the signal for the 11:00 A.M. service, Anita remained seated as her classmates filed past her. She whispered to Dorothy that she would be out in a minute. Then Anita boldly walked up to the teacher and asked, “Mr. Meyer, would you come for Sunday supper at our house today? My mother made some really good beef stew yesterday.”
“I would be very pleased to accept your invitation, Anita, that is if it is okay with your parents.”
“Oh, it’s just me and my mom, and I’m sure it’s all right with her,” Anita said with a broad grin.
“I’ll ask her just to make sure, though.” Anita hurried out of the room to find her mother. When she saw her, she suddenly realized that she had forgotten all about her mom’s cold. “Oh, I hope she’ll say yes!” Anita muttered to herself.
“Mother, I have invited a guest for dinner. I forgot about your cold. I hope it’s still okay. Please say yes! I’ll do all the work and clean up afterwards, too!” The words tumbled out of her mouth so fast that it made her mother laugh.
“I’m sure it’s fine if one of your friends comes home with you for supper. Did she already ask her parents?” inquired Mrs. Thompson.
“Oh, it’s not one of my friends from school, Mother. I asked Mr. Meyer to supper. You remember he’s the one that I told you about the other day, Miss Cook’s cousin, remember? I told you that he was teaching my Sunday school class while Miss Mason is gone. You remember, Mother. You must!” Anita looked up to see Mr. Meyer approaching them. “Here he comes now. I’ll introduce you.”
Anita noticed that her mother blushed when she made the introductions. Mr. Meyer politely said, “I’m very glad to meet you, Mrs. Thompson. I assure you that if my coming to supper today is a problem, it’s quite all right. We can make it another time.”
“Oh no, Mr. Meyer, it will be fine. That is, if you don’t mind putting yourself at risk for catching a cold. I’m afraid I’ve got one brewing,” Mrs. Thompson said as a shy smile brightened her face.
“I’ll take my chances,” replied Mr. Meyer. “Please call me Edward, however. And may I call you by your given name?”
“Please do. My name is Nora.” With the formalities out of the way, they sat down to listen to the Reverend Winslow’s sermon.
Mother's Illness
After church, Mr. Meyer went off to let his cousin know that he had an engagement for supper. Anita took Dorothy aside to tell her about the visit. The girls knowingly looked at each and giggled with excitement. Mrs. Thompson went to talk to Mr. Johanson, one of her employers, about a Christmas surprise for Anita. Then she began looking around for her daughter. She saw Mr. Meyer talking with several of the children from Anita’s class. He caught her eye and began walking in her direction after saying goodbye to the children. Anita joined them and the three of them began their journey together. A group of ladies, who had gathered to talk, pretended not to notice.
On the way, Mr. Meyer told them about a trip that he had taken to Alaska one winter. He said that it was so cold there that it would freeze a drop of water spilling from a cup before it could hit the ground. They all laughed together as he told how he had performed this experiment with several different types of liquids. When he finished his story, Anita ran ahead to stoke up the fire and set the table. She told the adults not to hurry.
By the time they reached the cabin, Anita had the stew warming and the table set. She took Mr. Meyer’s coat and hung it up. She asked him to sit at the head of the table. Mrs. Thompson took their best cups from the cupboard and offered Mr. Meyer some hot apple cider.
“I would like that very much. Thank you,” he replied. By the time the cider was warmed, the stew was hot also. Anita filled each of their bowls. Her mother asked Mr. Meyer to say the blessing.
“Dear God. I am truly grateful that I have everything that I need to enjoy the here and now. I am blessed with good company, good food and Your eternal love. What more could I ask for? Amen.”
After a very pleasant supper and conversation, Anita cleared the table and began washing the dishes. Her mother’s cough seemed to worsen suddenly. Mr. Meyer asked, “Do you have any garlic and lemon in the house?”
“Yes, I believe we do,” answered Mrs. Thompson. Anita got out a crocheted blanket and placed it over her mother’s shoulders.
“Good. I am going to make you some garlic and lemon tea. It’s really quite tasty, and it will be good for that cough.” Anita retrieved the things that Mr. Meyer asked for. She watched as he cut one small clove of garlic into tiny pieces and put it in the bottom of a cup. He mashed the pieces with a spoon. He cut the lemon into quarters and squeezed one piece into the cup. He then added some hot peppermint tea.
“This should sit on the warmer for a couple of minutes,” he said. Both he and Anita noticed that Mrs. Thompson had begun to shiver. Mr. Meyer felt her forehead. “You have a high fever,” he said. “This could be more than just a cold. You may be in for a bout of the flu.” He handed her the brewed tea and watched as she sipped it slowly.