I dedicate this story to all the living beings, to my beloved cats and especially to Tancredi “The Pippy”, companion of life for almost twenty years, who has been a putative father to “Piccolomini” and many other cats.
With love,
Fraternally EdgardoI would like to thank Amedeo Marsan for his great work and Chiara Lam Nang for her support.
Presentation
This story is based on an experience that really happened to me after suffering from a physical disease, solved thanks to the medicines and the loving care received by my doctor at Careggi Hospital, as well as the acupuncture sessions carried out by Dr. Francois Cracolici (also a dear friend of mine). They were tiring days but also very interesting and intense; I had the opportunity to experience how, through the dreams, our mind can reach other worlds or dimensions – to us little or not known – and send us messages that, even if they belong to it, do not always manage to reach our rational part.
Like everyone, I used to dream and remember my dreams, of course, both beautiful and distressing, and I was already familiar with interpreting them. But during that month – that’s how long my experience lasted – I had such vivid, lucid and clear dreams as it had never happened to me. Every night, before dawn, I’d wake up remembering each passage of the dream I just had, and feel I had truly been in those places and lived what you’re going to read. So I rushed up to transpose my dreams into writing.
I am sure that a large part of those same dreams have been lost, but what impressed me the most is thoroughly described in these pages – to share with you something that I think is important, in the hope that it will be useful to you. For me it was, and today I give great importance to dreams and their interpretation, a practice that I consider a valid help of the mind to make our daily life simpler and more understandable, especially to show us the paths of existence and the best way to walk along them.
I strongly believe that our mind sends us messages through our dreams, and that it does it many times and in different ways until we can find our key to access and understanding; from that moment on, every time our mind must communicate us something, it will use that unique code, that is really ours. For this reason, I think it’s important to devote some of our time to trying, not only, to remember our dreams, but also understand and interpret them. It’s a beautiful experience and a fun exercise that helps us to get to know ourselves better – or even just to know ourselves. Just realize the sensation you have upon awakening, remember some symbols and colours of the dream, then look up for their meaning in a dictionary of symbols.
Now I leave you to read these few pages that describe a “Small Universal Journey”, “Across the River”.
Fraternally Edgardo
Across the River
I was walking barefoot over an endless grassy expanse, almost immersed in a bright green meadow. I wore light clothes and my mind was free of thoughts.
It was the beginning of a thrilling sunset. The sky changed colours and everything was enveloped in a suffused golden light, while a slight breeze caressed my face. I moved slowly and quietly, enjoying the surrounding landscape: flowered meadows, secular trees and light.
At a certain point, I noticed a hill not so far. On the top of it, stood an impressive pergola, covered by what seemed to me a great wisteria in bloom; its scent reached me. I immediately walked towards the hill to admire the pergola: as I approached, I heard in the distance, a continuous hammering that was getting louder and louder. It was like the sound of an iron beating on the stone. Intrigued, I sped up the pace and started climbing up the hill to see what was going on.
Approaching the pergola, I saw in all its splendor that huge and almost infinite construction, made of white columns with inlaid transoms, where it was clinging, like a big snake wrapped in a trunk, a luxurious wisteria in bloom. Multicolour cascades of flower clusters – tending to violet, lilac, blue and pink – gave off a sweet and inebriating scent; some clusters fell on a shining paved with glazed stones, wonderfully decorated with mythological figures and colourful flowers.
There were now few meters to get under the porch, when, suddenly, coming as from nowhere, appeared a tall and stern figure. It was an old Chinese, in traditional blue and gold clothes, carrying in one hand an Oriental lantern and a long golden stick in the other. Raising his lantern and looking into my eyes, he said to me imperatively: «Stop, don’t go further!».
Surprised, I arrested myself without understanding why I could no longer move. I looked at the porch that stood majestically in front of me, and I saw many other Chinese men, dressed in traditional purple and gold garments, which, with golden hoes, gently lifted the single stones; someone else took and moved them, while the first hoed the ground. This happened to every slab of stone – and there were so many that I could not see where the paved ended.
Intrigued by that endless work, I asked the old Chinese why they were all intent to remove those beautiful slabs, and he answered me serenely: «They do it so that life can continue…».
«What do you mean?» – I asked. Smiling, the Chinese began to explain to me the significance of what I was observing: «These are the stones that people put on the events of their lives. Every time a person, in front of an unpleasant event, instead of clarifying and understanding it, decides to “put a stone on it”: this is added to the pavement. The event, in itself, does not disappear or is forgotten, is only hidden – and hidden continues to hurt, since life stops to it. So, by lifting those stones and digging the ground on which they were resting, the ground itself is breathing again and life resumes its natural course. However, we must be very careful when we take away a stone, as each one covers and relates to a story that has taken place in the past. With the passing of time, those same events may have turned into snakes and scorpions – also ready to attack those who lift the stones, because offended by the fact that they were kept hidden.
Therefore, for your own sake, keep yourself at a distance from those stones until you have learned to manage your past…».
I woke up with a start and realized that it was just a dream. So, stretching out on my bed, I began to think about its possible significance but I did not have anything in mind. At that point, still half sleepy, I decided to get up for breakfast. It was eight o’clock in the morning, almost dawn for me… I walked out of the bedroom and, going from the living room to the kitchen, I noticed there were hundreds of winged ants on the floor and on the carpet. In addition the cats (I take care of thirteen felines) had urinated everywhere.
I was seized with a slight dejection. I prepared the coffee machine anyway, and tried to “convince” the winged ants to return to the garden; first I tried to get them on the top of a cardboard, then take them out – but they were systematically coming back home before me. So I tried to “explain” them that it was not the case to invade my house, when outside there was a wonderful world willing to welcome them… But the ants seemed deaf. Demoralized, I arranged on the couch to look at them, thinking of a way to get rid of them as soon as possible. That situation annoyed me. So, in the end, I decided to arm myself with courage: I took the vacuum cleaner, turned it on and sucked all the invading winged; then I removed the bag of the vacuum cleaner and cut into the garden to free them.
Meanwhile the coffee had come out, and the cats started to mew because they wanted to eat… I was almost hysterical but I tried to keep calm; so I cleaned the cats pee, I washed my hands and finally I prepared my breakfast, while I opened a box of food for my four-legged friends filling some bowls with kibbles – and they did not stop mew.
When the calm was almost restored, I returned to sit on my red couch, turned on the TV and I started to have breakfast: I was ready, finally, to begin the day!
Suddenly, I felt a slight pain in the right shoulder: nothing important, but when I finished breakfast and lit up the first “holy” cigarette the pain was stronger and took almost all the shoulder. After listening to the answering machine and understanding more or less the messages, I found that the pain was already taking the whole arm; a half hour later it reached the hand. I took some analgesic and waited in vain, the pain was always stronger; so I called the hospital, set up an appointment with my doctor and made me visit. The report was double: muscle tearing or shingles (in Italian, from Latin, it says “herpes zoster”). The only name gave me the creeps, but luckily I had no stains or erythema.
The doctor said to me: «According my opinion it is a shingles but, since there is no classic dermatological symptoms, for the moment I can not prescribe any specific care. Let’s wait and see if it’s just a rip, but for any specific trouble do not hesitate to call me back». So I calmed down: just listening to those words, I had already “decided” that it wasn’t that horrible virus.
I returned home still with a very strong pain and suddenly I remembered again, clearly and distinctly, the dream of the Chinese people; however, once again, I could not find any explanation concerning its meaning. I consulted the book of symbols but it also didn’t help me – yet I had constantly the Chinese in my head!
In the afternoon, after several massages with no avail, I remembered acupuncture. It was already fifteen o’clock, so I called my medical acupuncturist, who told me to go to him immediately. On the way, the Chinese continued to work in my head; it was then that I understood the meaning of that dream: acupuncture!
As soon as the doctor saw me, he said it was erysipelas – or “St. Anthony’s Fire”… I was taken by anguish, almost to crumble, because I had heard so much about that annoying disease. To the next words of the doctor: «Now I’ll give you a session that will pull out all the virus», I accepted the therapy well, even if I did not believe much that would work.
Back home, I decided to take a refreshing shower; I stripped and tried to look in the mirror at the point where I had pain: with great surprise, I saw the shoulder was full of bubbles. I quickly took a shower, I dressed and I jumped in the car to run to the hospital by my friend doctor. When I arrived, the bubbles almost covered my arm.
My beloved and patient doctor prescribed me a new therapy, softly inviting to calm down myself. I thanked her so much and, stressed by the pain, I went out of the hospital in search of medicine – which was not easy, because it was a new cure. Find the medicines, after an hour spent wandering around the pharmacies in my district, I finally returned home. I could hardly drive, too, because the bubbles had descended up on the palm of my hand.
Thanks to acupuncture and subsequent treatment, herpes lasted only four days – but they were really terrible. In fact, I slept only three to four hours per night and found no comfort in any way. All for some “bubbles”…!
Trying to relieve the shooting pains, at least in part, I set out to search for some “healer”. I found one in Pistoia, thanks to the indications of a friend of mine: it was an old man who seemed to come out of the underworld, along with his servile and rather disturbing assistant. But just because of taking medication and a shower, the old man wouldn’t “crossed” me and, screaming, drove me away in a bad way.
Another old lady of Peretola (a district in Florence, on the other side of the town) proposed me to “cross” with the blood of hen, but it was disgusting and I preferred to desist. Only the aloe gel relieved me the itching, although momentarily. I was really desperate. I’ll always remember those four days as a nightmare.
After the erythema, while beginning to feel better, I was seized by a great depression; so, when I was able, I returned to the acupuncturist and explained him my state of mind: «I might seem crazy to you» – I told him – «but this discomfort has left me a strong depression…».
«No, you’re not crazy!» – he replied – «These phenomena are called “hyena virus” and leave those who are hit in a state like yours… Now let’s have a session to get you rid of it».
The acupuncturist subjected me to a liberating therapy and when I came out of that sitting I thought I was walking three feet above the ground, and I was really happy. In the following days I started doing the usual routine things; for a time my moods alternated, between joyful and sad, cheerful and boring days: but I still pulled forward. I was healed now!
One night, when I was sleeping, I found myself in a dream that took place in a strange Oriental village, formed by small colored houses and shops with glass and wood showcases, and crossed by many narrow and winding streets that led to a “no place” just illuminated by a dim twilight light. I looked through one of the windows and saw a large room full of dusty shelves, where some paper rolls were lying. I opened the door, stepped down three steps and found myself enveloped in a great silence. At my back I felt a presence, I turned without saying anything and I saw a strange figure: a man of oriental appearance, of indefinite age, with little hair and dressed in a brown filthy tunic.
The man smiled at me, took from a shelf a roll of paper, tied with a green ribbon, opened it and showed me an incomprehensible drawing; then he rolled it up and put it back on the shelf…
I suddenly woke up with this little real image; rather upset, I lit a cigarette to calm me down and then, shortly, I started to sleep again.
In the next two nights the dream returned to repeat itself: always the usual scene that ended with the vision of the strange drawing. So I decided to try to memorize the drawing, to reproduce it and decode it. Four more nights followed with the same dream: almost mechanically, I was getting up all the time and trying to copy the symbol. When, at the seventh night, I was finally able to finish the drawing, the mysterious man smiled greeting me; from that moment, he would never have appeared in my dreams.
The same day I returned immediately, with the drawing that I had made, to the acupuncturist (who is also an expert in Chinese culture). I wanted him to explain what that strange image meant: for me it was absolutely incomprehensible. He told me it was the drawing of an ancient oriental exorcism of good luck. There I could not understand if I was going crazy or if the doctor was mad… Anyway, I thanked him and went home happy.
I decided that I would place the drawing right at my house entrance. I started to work again and do the usual things; the depression was gone and I also felt a greater appetite and a renewed pleasure in food. I was fine at last.
One morning I got up and, as usual, I had breakfast and fed the cats; almost automatically I counted them and I saw that one was missing… Alarmed, I dressed quickly and went out to look for him. Arrived at a stream that runs near my house (it’s the torrent Affrico, which descends the hills of Maiano, near Fiesole, and runs in the eastern part of Florence), I heard meowing from the branches of the undergrowth beyond the small waterway; so I went through it and started looking for the cat.
Suddenly, I found myself enveloped in thick fog, because of which every trace of the cat had disappeared. As I was trying to get out of the fog, the old Chinese man of my previous dreams appeared to me from nowhere. He held in his hand a high golden stick and said to me, smiling: «I am the Host. If you want, you can come with me for a little walk – but, actually, it will not be a “walk”. Just know that, if you accept, I’ll show you my country and guide you along the way. You’ll see new landscapes, meet many characters and communicate with them – if they are willing to do so – but you can’t touch them or enter their buildings: you can only get close to them…».
Although I was a little surprised (better said, frightened!), the idea of living an adventure so out of the ordinary, especially on a dull day, prompted me to accept. So, even if I was slightly hesitant, I replied to the Host that I would be happy and pleased to follow him – but my voice betrayed a subtle fear…
In turn, he replied: «How can you be happy and glad if you don’t know what awaits you? Just answer yes to my offer for now. Only then can you understand if the “walk” will be the cause of joy and happiness. Let’s go now…».
With his stick the man opened the branches, to make his way. As we went into the scrub, the fog thinned out and the light softly began to appear clearer, illuminating a small path that climbed up a hill and immediately descended abruptly.
At that point a strange landscape opened before us. In the distance stood ochre mountains, with the peaks that ranged from turquoise to blue, all covered by lush vegetation. In the middle there was a lake of crystalline water, from which the streams started to “climb” the mountains, bringing clear and fresh water to the tops of them – as does the sap of the tree, rising from the roots to the leaves.
I arrived on the lake and saw, at the bottom of it, a submerged volcano erupting: the violent eruption was shaking the surface of the water, pushing it to the mountains. That vision surprised me not a little, since I used to see that brooks are usually descending from the mountains, to feed the lakes or rivers, not the other way; but my Host intervened to explain to me that portent with a reassuring tone: «Nothing descends from above if it didn’t come from the depths, and it’s impossible that Mother Earth has hell in her heart».
I immediately thought of the religious teachings that associated the underworld with the abysses of the Earth, and I felt so stupid… How many times I had seen the most diverse plants on Earth sprout, grow, flourish and bear fruit… How many times I had considered the rain as a real purification, thinking it was water from the sky and forgetting the true source…
All around the lake, on small hills, there were beautiful buildings of different shapes, heights and colours. Some were made of coral, some – very austere – were carved in the rock and others were made in filigree of alabaster; but all were in perfect and harmonious balance with nature. Small and sinuous roads joined these buildings, through bridges and stairways, and flowering meadows descended towards the lake. Secular trees were rising to the sky with their leaves so green and bright, that more than create shade made the atmosphere brighter and fascinating. Big and colorful birds flew and pirouetted in the air, creating a ballet full of grace; their song was confused with the gurgling of the brooks.
Observing my astonishment, the Host said to me: «Their wonder doesn’t consist in flying, because here the flight is the prerogative of all living beings, but it resides in their plumage that represents the colours of the seven primordial centers. And their task is as follows: when a soul is sad or lost, these birds line up in the sky and create a rainbow, to make it understand that its sadness is awareness and, moreover, its comprehension of evil is almost a healing; because the worst – the ignorance – is past and the beautiful weather is going to return…».
Surprised and heartened, I expressed to the Host my great desire to go down to the village, to talk to some of the people I have caught a glimpse, even if they all seemed very concentrated in their work; but I did not know how to communicate with them because I ignored what language they spoke.
Listening to my words he smiled and urged me: «You can speak to them exactly as you do with me, because in this dimension there are no differences in language. We all speak through the center of the throat but above all we speak with the heart – this is the only universal language, even if out of here is almost forgotten…».
Encouraged by those words, I began to cross the meadow towards the strange village, when I saw a beautiful and smiling little girl who, carrying a basket of blue flowers and a lighted candle in her hand, whirled through the streets; every now and then she stopped and talked to the people, then she gave them a flower.
The little girl come to meet me and, always smiling, asked me what I was doing. I told her I was visiting her world and she said: «Be happy, it is a birthright!» – then she approached me and placed a miosotys on my chest. I thanked her with a bow and she went on her way.
Once we were turned away I asked the Host who that lovely little girl was, and he said: «That child is the oldest of all. Her name is Memory and she seems the youngest because she’s renewing every day; that’s why she goes around asking beings what they do. She stores all the informations and keeps her candle lit; so that all beings don’t forget the real course of events, risking to do the some mistakes again, and, even more serious, forgetting to have been loved. This flower that has given you is also called “Do not forget me”, take it with care».
Happy with that meeting, I headed for one of the buildings that stood on the hills around the lake. When I was near the majestic building, I saw – under a loggia – a woman dressed in yellow satin, with a large pot of gold in front of her, in which she boiled exotic fruits; but these, instead of wither, became ever fresher and brighter.
The woman, who at first seemed old to me, was of an absolute freshness, almost like a little girl. After greeting her with a distinct bow, I approached and she beckoned to sit; then, turning a warm look at me, she said: «I am one of the Great Mothers, my job is to feed the persons. Since beings are created by pure spirit and energy at different vibrations, we only eat the essence of food; we remove the rest – which is the matter, with slower vibration – as dregs. In this way, our organism has the possibility of transforming the food into pure energy and destroying the rest – and consequently eliminating it. We must be very careful, however: if the food contains chemical preservatives, the organism cannot totally destroy the matter – and then it remains in our body as a toxin or poison, giving rise to diseases, and we are forced to ingest other poisons, more strong, to eliminate those dangerous toxins. In the end our organism is completely polluted and, instead of producing creative energy and health, it must defend itself against aggression by also using its own reserves of light. After a while, in this way, it deteriorates and eventually, exhausted, it destroys. Just as there are two lights, one illuminating and the other dazzling, there are two forms of nutrition: to you the choice, because you will become what you eat. You feed yourself of everything: you can feed on life or death. Eat as much as possible living things, which grow upward and fill with light. Eat what Mother Nature offers you spontaneously, because it’s her gift to you. By doing so, you will be full of life and light – and you’ll also raise. Or you can make the other choice. This is our gift: freedom».
When she finished talking the woman took a silver spoon, picked out a small fruit from the pot and offered it to me. A little suspicious and embarrassed, I tasted it. At the first bite I felt slightly numb, then a great heat began to descend into my bowels and spread throughout my body. I realized that the energy had come up to my every single cell and then I felt strangely well, full of joy and gratitude.
She smiled and, leaving me with a nod of the hand, began to do her work. Very glad I left on the porch and I went back to the garden – where, leaning on his stick, the Host was waiting for me.
We continued our journey through the meadows and, not far from us, I saw some strange “dogs” playing with a ball of fire. I just had time to move and another group of dogs passed me by running, skimming me. Then I realized they were pretty special dogs. The Host smiled and said to me: «Those you see are “baby dragons”. They are very playful but just as fickle and touchy; so be careful not to find you on their way. They are not yet dangerous, of course, but with their claws and scales they can hurt you. Baby dragons are however very clever creatures, even if they change mood very easily. When they grow up, they’ll become our keepers and do as their parents: they’ll take refuge in the forest to prevent access to anyone who is not ready to enter this place. Every now and then, some of these “babies” run away and go into your world, sometimes creating a lot of confusion. You, human beings, call them pranksters but they only play. Thanks to these “intrusions” in the material world, they learn to know you and so understand what they have to defend this place…».
Resumed the journey I noticed that a little far, towards the lake and immediately after a pink hill, stretched a large flowered meadow surrounded by secular mulberries; on the lawn there were thousands of individuals who looked like painters, but instead of canvas and colours each had a vertical frame and all were connected to a huge silk skein.
Near the lake there was a pavilion where many elders were sitting: some of them wrote dates on great books; others, however, only looked at the winds.
«They’re the Wise Men» − the Host told me. Then he added: «Each of us has a zealous assistant, a weaver, who in his frame puts as many vertical strands as horizontal and so he creates the uniformity that is the plot of our lives. With a thin thread of silk he weaves the image of our actions; only he knows the final design, but it’s our duty to create the complete image of the tapestry. Each time we undertake a wrong path or choose something damaging to us or to Creation, a knot is formed in the wire. From that moment on the weaver stops his work and devote himself to dissolve the knot; in the meanwhile we are trapped in some sort of grey cloud. So our assistant send us the demons of anxiety, anguish and despair to help us, through uneasiness, to find the right way».
«In case we cover our mistake, instead of observing it» – he continued – «or if we try to ignore it, using drugs or other worse things, the weaver has the freedom to consult with the Masters and decide freely and serenely, without prejudice, to interrupt the work or even to destroy the tapestry. Because in the Creation – which isn’t perfect because perfection implies stillness, but it’s complete and harmonious for the fact of being constantly evolving – nothing can destroy this fragile and divine balance. If we are vigilant in our actions, however, other strands are added to the tapestry and the pattern or landscape becomes brighter and more real. In doing so, our assistant sends us energies that facilitate our journey and gives us everything we need in the material world – which is the manifestation of the two preceding worlds: the spiritual one and the mental one, where the weavers live».
«If a person decides to put an end to his life, the tapestry is interrupted and carefully stored – until the soul, after the necessary purification, returns to the material world and then the weaving begins again. When the tapestry is finished» – concluded the Host – «the soul returns to the celestial dimension and observes the tapestry itself, the quality of the manufacture and, after teachings and work in the same celestial, may decide to return to the material world to correct the mistakes in the drawing or to create an even more beautiful tapestry. Each of these tapestries is at the same time a thread of a larger canvas; that’s why people’s lives are intertwined with each other, and together they create a greater pattern where every thread is as important as the canvas itself».
I then asked the Host if the wisest of the Wise Men sitting under the pavilion had all the knowledge, and he said to me: «The wisest doesn’t possess the knowledge but he can perceive it by intuition, he observes and understands it. The wisest doesn’t possess the knowledge, but makes use of it. The wisest doesn’t have, but it is».
«So let’s go to know them, to talk with them and also to see the tapestries!» – I proposed enthusiastically to my companion, beginning to direct me to the wise. But he stopped me, saying: «Perhaps we could do what you say, and it would also be useful in addition to nice, but I don’t think they will now receive you. It is not so easy to approach them. In your case, you have to make a long journey: it’s not just about crossing the lawn. The route, even if it seems simple at first glance, is much more complex. Even if you could get close and ask to those wise some questions, however, you would be surprised at their answers. Answers that you are not able to understand now. As for the weavers, since each of them is committed to weaving the lives of other beings, you aren’t allowed to see with your physical eyes their interlacing: you cannot observe the existence of others, just out of curiosity. If you really want to know others, use the means that Mother Nature has granted you – by learning to see people for what they really are, and not just by appearance or by their speeches. You have to learn the knowledge of the other, from the true feeling that he excites in you».
The Host stopped talking and stared straight, for a moment, into my eyes; then he continued: «But be careful because many times, even if we face an entity that gives off a clear vibration, we perceive it through our centers corrupted by the stupid emotionality. In this way we essentially alter the message perceived, because we want to see in the other what we think we lack; or what, in our opinion, could be more suited to our own necessities but must be completely modified. In doing so, in our minds we will form a great illusion, which sooner or later will crush and create in us a strong discomfort – despite having guessed this possibility from the beginning…».
Silently we started to walk again and suddenly appeared, behind a tree of white camellias on the shore of a clear stream, a woman who was dressed in wedding. She was sitting on a nacre turtle and in her left hand she was holding a mirror of black jade, on which no image was reflected. The woman continually looked at the “empty” mirror, imagining events that constantly came out of her hair in the form of ghostly apparitions; then they materialized and were carried away by the wind.
She was another one of the Great Mothers, the Host told me. On her unmoved face there were no emotions, but only serenity shone. The woman was intent on observing not a single event but the totality of Creation. She looked at the cause of every thought and saw the effect it produced – effect which, in turn, caused another event, thus creating an infinite chain.
In the right hand the woman wore a ring with a seal, in which a sentence was engraved: “What the tree has bloomed thrives on what really has buried”. Although I felt a great sense of respect for her, I did not have the strength to approach or speak to her, also because the woman did not look at me at all. It seemed to me only to perceive, within me, a sweet voice saying: “I know that you exist… I’m happy but it doesn’t upset me at all”.
I backed down three steps and I took leave of the woman with a deep bow. Looking at the scene, the Host said to me winking: «Here too we take a slap, don’t you think?».
To those words, I was seized with a sense of anger and shame: for the first time I felt more insignificant than an ant. The Great Mother, with her divine serenity and remaining in the most absolute silence, had resized my ego.
After that meeting, the Host and I headed for a sunny valley, crossing meadows covered with flowers that changed colour continuously: they were suddenly born among the grass, blossoming, growing in an instant and becoming luminous; then they closed again to reopen in a different color: «They are the flowers of feelings» – informed me my diligent guide, anticipating my curiosity – «We are approaching the Palace of Love».
We continued a little further and, in the midst of a heather garden, I saw a temple: eight columns of crystal clear pink supported a pagoda roof, made of imperial green jade. Inside the temple a completely naked man, with a sculptural body and great sexual attributes, lay on a bed also transparent. He seemed like a timeless divinity. A short distance from him, some veiled figures were entertained in erotic games.
I asked the Host for permission to approach the man to speak with him, but he warned me with these words: «It wouldn’t be wise! If you want, talk to him without approaching because his voice might break your heart. Beat the hands three times and, if he wants, he will give you his attention; but you have to remain at a safe distance for now».
Following the indications of the Host, I beat my hands (which there were trembling with the emotion). To my great surprise, the divine figure looked at me with a penetrating glance which I could not keep; so I lowered my eyes and waited silently for him to speak to me.
A few minutes passed, then the man get up from the couch, approached and leaned on one of the crystal columns; even keeping my eyes low, I could see all his beauty – which was almost inebriating.
Then the man began to speak, and though I was at a distance his voice penetrated my skin and hurt me; I missed my breath and I felt a strong energy beating like a hammer on my chest. At that point I knelt, because I couldn’t stand it anymore, and I listened with reverence to what he said: «I am Love and I am naked, without robes and ornaments, because nothing in me must be concealed or rigged, otherwise I could not be completely known and enjoyed. The veiled figures you see are my servants. Their names are: Infatuation, Passion, Possession, Jealousy, Vengeance and Interest. When people meet again, they appear and subject human beings to hard trials; in the end, if these have passed, the veiled figures disappear. And then – and only then – I appear with my assistants, Joy and Serenity, followed by my little friend Thanksgiving. Last comes my only daughter, Happiness. But unfortunately we move more and more rarely, since in recent times human beings no longer pass the test of Fear, stupidly denying themselves the true mission and the very essence of their life: “Love”. In this way, they are reduced to lead a life in half…».
Almost sore, Love paused for a few seconds to ponder; then he concluded: «Nobody teaches more to love: it is assumed that everyone is born already knowing how to do, but it is not so – and human beings complicate their own existence with many misunderstandings that create inconvenience, living in a great confusion. I think it will still be a long time, before me and the entities joined together can start to travel again…».
Then he turned his gaze towards the mountains, turned slowly letting see his beautiful back and his perfect buttocks, and he stealthily came back to his couch.
After that brief encounter, seeing me a little upset, the Host took me by the hand and walked me out of the garden. We sat on a rock and I asked him why Love had said: “When people meet again”. Smiling once more, he replied to me: «At first we were one thing; then, after a great explosion, we became an infinity of particles scattered on the Creation, each aware of a single origin and form. But, in this new state of isolated particles, we had to devote so much time to elaborate deep thoughts to create our new condition. In doing so, we slowly forgot our one and only divine past. However, continually and without realizing it, we try to recompose what we were, so that we can get back what belonged to us… And so, in this new condition, take place the encounters with the others – encounters that are actually real reunions, because we discover in others something that once belonged to us: in a kind of “unity” of which we were part. Unfortunately, we don’t remember which part it was and so we make a little confusion to give it a place and a right role in our life. We often dress the others with improper clothes, which limit them in the movements and do not allow them to act with freedom and grace…».
The Host broke off briefly, nodding thoughtfully; then he began to talk again: «However, through these reunions flows into us a great force and develops a strong attraction. So rises the love for the “other”, because we suddenly discover that the same “other” was once ours – but we lost it and we want to get it back at any cost, to keep it close to us and not lose it anymore!».
Reflecting on those concepts, simple yet so profound, I began to understand. But the Host hadn’t finished yet.
«At the beginning» – he added – «is born in us a sweet sadness, then a great joy takes over and finally we are overwhelmed by the fear that we can still lose what we have just found again. So we cling to the other particle; who, however, having already developed his own free individuality, terrified by our attitude will try to escape – and so we’ll have materialized just what we fear. In human language, this fear of separation from another is summed up with the expression: “Losing it definitively”. To avoid this trauma we must be available to get together, of course; but it’s important to be serene and attractive at heart, so that we can shine intensely and bring in the other particle, as a result, the same feeling of unity and uniqueness with us. Then the other will approach us without fear of being swallowed up; in this way he will begin to look at us, to know us and finally to love us with our own intensity, creating a relationship of stable union in search of the primordial joys lost after the initial detachment».
Another pause, then the Host ended peremptorily: «Always remember that: things we must deserve – and this is relatively easy, because we do many good things too. Then we must conquer them – and this is also easy, because we are “warriors in exile”. But finally we must also keep them – and this is the most difficult mission, if we don’t use the love of Creation in every daily action!».
We remained a little silent. The birds were rolling on our heads, drawing a great spiral. I took a little water from a golden brook that flowed near us, and without further delay we continued the walk.
Through an ebony and ivory bridge, the path took us to another garden made of hibiscus and strelitzia (or “Bird of Paradise”); at our step strange ferns fondled our ankles.
In the air we could hear the sound of laughter. The trail led us to a small lake, which more than a lake looked like a swamp, where water snakes were hopping as dolphins. In the middle of the lake, on a great amethyst, was dancing a black magician with a sly expression and big ears; he was wrapped in a black cloak embroidered with gold and pearls. From his long and wide sleeves, at every turn, the most varied objects were falling: jewels, dresses, prepared tables, impossible love stories and rings with magical powers…
More the magician was whirling and more was laughing out loud: he seemed mad of joy, with his ears well attentive and his eyes mischievous. The water snakes caught in the air those objects, then departed as quick as lightning through the meadows and were lost in the mountains.
The Host said to me: «The magician’s task is to listen to the pleas of the people and give them what they ask for; thus he punishes their stupidity, and this amuses him very much because people’s desires depart from energetic centers corrupted by altered emotional states. But when the magician hears someone asking for: “… what is right for me …” he suddenly stops the dance, becomes serious and throws on him a shower of gold, to raise him and bring closer to the Celestial, the “Homeland”, and make him happy».
This encounter also left me much food for thought. In an instant I pondered that in my turn, like everyone else, I was often tempted to express my desires… I reconsidered how many desires I had been granted and satisfied in the past – desires that then, at a distance of time, had proved to be the cause of suffering and misery. So I thought about how many times, instead, abandoning myself completely to the will of Creation, things had taken a right turn and opened for me unimaginable doors. I also thought about how many experiences that I initially considered negative, had allowed me to bring out unsuspected talents by myself.
From there onwards I learned to ask, and I certainly would not have been disappointed.
After resting a little on the lawn, we retook our way towards angelica bushes (or “Herb of Angels”) and I noticed in the distance, fenced by a moat, a large palace of black onyx bordered with red coral, with towers of varying height and shape and a great porch where six adult dragons were sleeping. From four fountains, located on the sides of the porch, gushed clear water and in front of the imposing façade, on a large bronze brazier, were burnt continuously flowers of sagebrush. In the garden, under a pavilion, some harp players performed sweet melodies.
«This is the Palace of Demons» – said the Host – «where access is allowed only to the wise men, when they must wake up them, otherwise no one can enter or exit. Sacred herbs are burned to keep them calm, soft music are played to let the Demons sleep serene. They aren’t prisoners but they must be kept in a state of perpetual calm, and they must always be guarded and protected. If the Demons could go free for Creation, without a specific task dictated by the wise, they would make great trouble – because their power is enormous but they have a subjective view of life and they leave themselves very easily moved by human weaknesses. That’s why there are dragons at the entrance: they are there to protect them, so that no fool can enter and deceive them at will».
On that occasion, I did not feel too eager to get close; so I proposed to go elsewhere, to visit other places of that world so fantastic (although it seemed to me that it was more real than mine…).
Nodding, my guide began to make his way through a cornfield. At one point, the field stopped and grew a wide expanse of sand and rocks covered with multicolour musks and yellowish lichens in bloom. In the middle stood a palace that seemed out of place in that variegated landscape: it was a gloomy and grey construction, enclosed by dry trees. Strangely on some branches were blossoming roses.
Then the Host explained to me: «That Palace is the place where the sorrows and the bad memories are stored, where we also put what we wanted to forget without having understood it. For this reason it is grey, dark, bare and built with sepulchral granite; but inside, besides being a warehouse, it’s also a laboratory where skilled seamstresses operate. When a person is sad and disturbed to the point that he can’t go forward in life, we catch him in his sleep, we carry him here and some wise seamstresses tailor, with all his past, a royal dress of fine silk; then they make him wear it in front of a mirror. So the person suffers a strong emotion but, seeing himself so beautifully dressed and feeling on the skin the softness of the cloth, understands that the dress is precisely for him; in this way he slowly begins to get used to, to feel good inside the dress and finally comes to love it because it’s precisely his dress. Then on a dry branch comes a flower».
We left even that bizarre garden and set out for a more pleasant valley, where some chimeras were peacefully grazing. They were of all sizes and played among themselves; every now and then chased a few baby dragons who had trespassed on their lawn. Further on there stood an immense building of lapis lazuli and mother-of- pearl, which was lost in the horizon: «The Palace of Wisdom and Creation» – I was immediately informed by the Host.
«Is there that all things and babies are born?» – I asked. «But why we don’t see children around?» – I added.
My wise interlocutor responded me with promptness: «There really arise things and it’s the place where souls return after they have been in the material. They return right there, immediately after having checked their tapestry – do you remember them? – to learn other teachings, and decide whether to descend again into the material dimension or to remain as masters in the mental one. Many times, however, the human soul doesn’t gladly accept this condition and doesn’t want to renounce the material; then it escapes and goes to occupy a body that was not intended for it and who had different tasks to perform, than what the rebellious soul desires. In doing so, the soul itself creates a traumatizing earthly experience – because it deliberately chose a wrong body and an early return».
To my uncertain expression of the face, which denoted a very partial understanding, the Host went on doing an example: «It’s like you bought a Limousine to drive off-road: you should turn to mechanics and body-repairers service to adapt the car to your wishes… That would be stupid, wouldn’t you say?».
Then he went on to answer my second question: «We don’t see children here because children belong to the material dimension. You, on Earth, say you believe in the immortality of the soul, but in reality you exclusively believe in the body – which is only the container of the soul and the vehicle to move in the material dimension. You give birth to babies: they are small because they must be born from your bodies, but the soul they contain is millennial and eternal; and yet you don’t understand this. When a body is forming, the Wise Men already know whether or not this will be born, and they decide to fill it with soul or not. If they see this body will be born, and only in that case, they make arrangements with a soul and give it the teachings and the tasks to be carried out. Actually, the duration of earthly experience (or material), is determined properly on the basis of the task that an individual must perform».
After a long pause, the Host resumed his explanation: «The soul, in its desire to evolve, asks to be subjected to earthly examinations. Sometimes it even claims particularly hard evidence. But the Wise Men know that, once they are back in Creation, individuals will not be able to deal with them or repent of their own demands; so they grant men less than they require. Yet people, even having a natural and normal existence, without particular traumas, seem that life is very hard… In fact people don’t understand that, for their own sake, so much has been denied them and so much donated. They perceive only appearances, and suffer only for what they believe, erroneously, have failed them – forgetting that they were the ones to get evidence in order to purify themselves».
«And then» – I asked the Host – «how can we do to deal in the right way, that is, in harmony with Creation, our material existence?».
«Your body must be cured, because it’s your means of transport» – he replied – but you have to know that it isn’t the only divine thing that you have. Sooner or later you’ll leave him; yet your soul will continue its path. For this reason, I urge you not to suffer when someone you love will fail you: it means that his work is finished, that he’s preparing for another task. And know that soul has been enriched by the experience that has just been made, anyway things have gone. Therefore, rejoice!».
«I can also rejoice, listening to your explanations» – I replied – «but I think about my world and I see it a little lost lately… Oh, Elected Creature, can you do something to bring wisdom and serenity into the material world, which is also your Creation?».
Impassible, the Host answered me with serenity: «Soon there will be changes in Creation. And, as always happens in the presence of new, people will remain at first perplexed and a little lost. Nothing will happen terribly shocking or catastrophic, but it will still have some major changes… It’s like when a tree gets to be too high and burdened by the development of its fronds, and to safeguard its stability and its own life must be pruned. People, at first, don’t realize what is happening, but within them something begins to destabilise – and this causes a bit of fear in them. Have you ever noticed, in the countryside in summer, during a sunny day and extreme calm, that when horses shake suddenly and without a reason, soon after – almost always – there comes a storm? Well, right now in your world the situation is similar to that… But remember that rain is vital for the fields, and that all the changes, however deep and unexpected, have sprung from mankind. Because nothing comes down from above, if it didn’t come from below».
Seeing me again uncertain and doubtful, the Host hastened to explain me the meaning of his prophecy: «We know that to support this change – a real New Beginning – we’ll need so much energy. To this end we’re creating “tank beings”, to which the other human beings, if they wish, will be able to “refuel”. But there is another danger and it’s represented by the Reptilians. They are cunning and intuitive people, who have already perceived the advent of this New Beginning and want to take possession of the creative energy, in order to manage it for their petty interests. For this reason, with deceit and great fascination, the Reptilians suck from others the little energy they contain. Not by chance the stupid beings, poor in spirit and lazy, delegate to them the management of their life, thinking of solving the discomfort descending from the change with techniques rather bizarre and expensive: in this way, they remain stripped and emptied instead. It’s the self-punishment that fools inflict on their own laziness. Remember: it’s not for the sin that you will be condemned, but from the sin itself! In the presence of a problem, especially if it’s one of a common nature, you can reach its solution joining your forces to the help of those around you and relying on the divine energies – never doing alone. By virtue of the humility of your act of asking for help, you will be given everything you need to accomplish your purpose of evolving. When you feel a little lost, don’t be ashamed to knock on all the doors to communicate your discomfort: because it’s only so that you’ll find the way to follow and who will accompany you in your path – since he has already solved what you feel and live at that time. You’ll understand it because that person has materialized serenity in his own life…».
«Come!» – suddenly the Host said to me, after a pause full of meanings. «Our journey is almost ending but first I want to show you other things». In the sky a rainbow was formed.
We crossed the meadows towards an orchard where flowering peach trees were mixed with apple and pear trees. Some of the trees were growing upward, others were more lazy on the lawn, but all were in bloom and with great fruits. In front of that sublime spectacle of Nature, the Host exclaimed: «I know your thought: they’re trees that bloom and give fruit each in a different season, so it seems strange to see them blooming all in the same period and also with the fruits. The trees know that from their fruits we take part of our energy, and this gladdens them; so they’re happy to be useful to the heavenly project. Therefore they give their fruits. Offering these fruits they feel joy and joy keeps them flowering. We feed their roots with our thanksgiving. Every now and then try to feel yourself like a tree that produces delicious fruits to eat: you’ll have a good feeling. Then look at your fruits and you’ll blossom again».
We left the orchard behind us and began to wander through the bushes, bathing our feet on the bed of a stream of fresh blue water in which many winged minnows wallowed. Now almost nothing in that world surprised me.
Leaving the brook we took our walk on a velvety lawn, until we came to a large black river, shaken by dark whirlpools, which, unlike the others, descended from the mountains towards the lake. It was quite wide and cross it seemed almost impossible. Beyond it, on the other shore, stretched out a beautiful meadow full of multicolour flowers, where turned free and undisturbed many peacocks (sometimes making the wheel) and monkeys; the latter were running around with some baby dragons, making a great noise.
In the distance there were three majestic buildings, truly imposing: one in the shape of a cone, made in pure agate; another in filigree of alabaster and turquoise; and at the bottom, on the top of a steep spiral hill, a large golden pagoda. Near the marvellous pagoda, under a large porch, some Chinese hoed the ground.
«Come on! Let’s seek for a bridge to cross! I really want to see those wonderful buildings up close and feel a strong attraction for those lawns…» – I told the Host, beginning to direct me to the turbid waters.
But before I began to run, looking for a way to cross the river, he stopped me abruptly and with a serious and grave expression he warned me: «You’ll cross this river only creating a bridge of light; but now you can’t get near those buildings, you’re not ready yet! For the moment reflect on what you have known and put into practice what you heard and learned during our Journey. Only when you’re ready, I will come and get you: I’ll help you to cross this river, I’ll show you in detail those buildings you now see in the distance and still others that you can’t even perceive… And finally I will introduce you to the inhabitants of this World. But now it’s time to go back to your Present: you must continue to make progress in the material dimension and disseminate, among your fellow men, the existence of this World…».
Enveloped by the fog that had thickened again out from nowhere, the Host greeted me with a bow and touched my left shoulder with his golden stick. Then he disappeared.
A little dizzy and confused, I suddenly found myself at home and I noticed that on my red couch were sleeping the cat that I had so long sought… I approached and I caressed him. He looked at me and almost seemed to me that he smiled; then went on sleeping wrapped in his purr.
Many years passed since that “journey”. My life went on and enriched itself with a different perspective. For my part, so many of the things I dreamed of – and that I learned – I tried to put them into practice: sometimes I did it, but others did not.
With time I have changed my approach towards people and the common daily life, and I am much more confident in Life and more caring towards others – both in good and evil. I became even closer to myself and richer humanly, having also assumed the task of creating and materialize on Earth a dream: “understanding”.
One morning like the others, I got up and started to play all my usual procedure that involved: light a cigarette, make coffee and eat breakfast, feed the cats, watch news and brush my teeth. As always, in a sort of ritual, I did everything in that precise order, so I dressed: I was ready to live another day in the best way I could.
My cats, just they had eaten, went out into the garden to make their usual “trips” in the nearby gardens. I followed them with the eyes and went out in my turn: since the previous day I had done cleaning in the garden and I had to get rid of the dry branches and leaves, I collected everything in some garbage bags and decided to deposit them in the dumpster located at the bottom of the my street, near the little creek that delimits it.
Left my house I saw ahead of me, on the sidewalk, one of my cats (Piccolomini, for the precision); he too, with a fast pace and a well-raised tail, was going bold in my same direction. Arrived at the end of the road the kitty crossed the race, climbed on the narrow side of the little river and with a spectacular leap passed the waterway; so, passing under a wire mesh, he entered the wood.
Immediately I left the bags on the ground and ran towards the river, beginning to call that rascal Piccolomini to come back. He then paused and turned to look at me, without moving; then, suddenly, he walked on and slipped into the undergrowth, disappearing among the branches.
Full of anxiety, I also climbed on the side of the small river willing to jump across it and take back my four-legged friend; but I couldn’t move. Suddenly, it felt like reliving the dream I had had such a long time ago and it became clear to me that it was not yet the time to… “Cross the River” – because I still had a lot of things to do, on this side of the River.
So, I sat down to ponder for a few interminable seconds. Then I went back on my way home – not before I threw the bags in the dumpster – with the clear feeling that I wouldn’t see my dear Piccolomini again. I hoped to be wrong, of course.
A few days passed. Still waiting for my cat to return, every now and then I’d walk along the shore of the waterway and call him – but to no avail. So, after a while, I surrendered to the certainty that Piccolomini would never come back.
I was invaded by a deep sadness but also by the joyful awareness of knowing that when my time comes to “Cross the River” I will know where to go… that is, towards a wonderful place, inhabited by many beings I love who are lovingly waiting for my arrival.
For now, I keep working every day to put into practice – for myself and the common good – all those lessons I have learned during my rather bizarre dream experience: my “Small Universal Journey” that I strongly wished to tell you about in these pages.
I wish a good “Awakening” to you all.
Fraternally Edgardo