The Mystic Paradigm: An Evolutionary Novel (8 page)

Chapter 14

The Joint Council

After hearing the findings from the third journal and of the ongoing dreams of Joshua, a Joint Council of the Elders and the seers of the University was called to discuss these matters. The Mystic Council especially thought it essential that all information be shared and brought out in the open. They were somewhat nervous that this part of their history was being explored, and yet they knew little about it.

Joint Councils were not called often. Although both the Council of Elders and the mystics at the University communicated regularly, they generally kept their meetings separate. All joint meetings were public, as were most separate Council meetings, but the subject of the journal and the dreams had been circulating the local region and beyond for several weeks. Information was made public, and citizens were welcomed to participate live or on the virtual net. Neither government nor Council discussions were ever hidden; all decisions were open to debate and to public opinion. It slowed the process, but allowed for collective responsibility built on the important principle of personal freedom. The local citizen councils always had input on larger regional decisions. This meeting was organized so all people had a chance to hear the stories firsthand and to support what decisions needed to be made.

The meeting was called at the Great Arena, a large grassy amphitheater by the Willamette River. This was near several ecovillages situated in the area now known as the Great Valley. Surrounded by the nearby Cascade foothills, it seated several thousand people with a large stage and seating areas for Council members. All meetings were broadcast via the virtual web, so all were invited to watch. The large meetings were also a traditional time for celebration, with music, food and dance. The business was of serious nature, but the people loved to celebrate their open society whenever they could.

Many people took trains to attend the meeting in person. Several thousand citizens filled the arena for a chance to see the two councils meet and see firsthand the young people that had made such a discovery. As the meeting began, the Joint Council entered the arena in a procession on both sides of the stage and the large loud crowd slowly quieted. The mystics still created a quiet awe in many people. The seers were mysterious, partially isolated with their spiritual work, so when they did come out in public they were well-respected and honored. They had been an important part of the revolution and continued to uphold the highest energy.

A hushed tone overcame the amphitheater as Helena led a blessing. Glowing with inner energy in her beautiful red gown, she offered a prayer.

“We call the four elements—Earth, Air, Water and Fire—that which is part of us. We give thanks to all that is and all that is given to us. We give our thanks to the Earth, our sacred mother, which gives us life and beauty. And we call the Divine Spirit, the Essence of All, the Universal Life Force, and all spirits and energies we are connected with. We give thanks for our life here and to our connection with you. We give thanks to our people and to our process. May we be blessed with your guidance during this important time. Blessed be, and many blessings to our way of life.”

A respectful hush spread over the audience. The energy was grounded. With this invocation, the meeting was called to order.

Talis and Joshua were seated close to the Council members, along with three others. This group was comprised of the people that had been involved in the recent dreams. Two were young mystics at the University, Layia and Bryan. The other was from the computer guild, Tara. Joshua and Talis had briefly met everyone before they were presented here. Helena and Marias, leaders of the Joint Council, would facilitate the meeting. Several seers from the Council were also in a light trance, so that they could ask for guidance from the larger energy field. This helped with the process and kept energy balanced.

Marias began with a wave and salutations to the crowd that had gathered. “We greet all citizens who are here and we thank you for your participation.” He then took a deep traditional bow and looked at Talis and the group seated. “And we give you all a special thank you for being here before us.”

He then addressed all at the arena. “Now we have an important question before us. We have discussed some of this with our selected group seated here and in our individual councils. We come before the larger group and the citizens of this region to decide our course of action. As many of you now know through our recent communication, there is a mystery surrounding the uprising of the past and the disappearance of the mystics. The journal of the honorable Markus Dueter helped us better understand what may have happened. Four dreamers have helped the seers also understand that there is something we must do to help balance the current energy. After much discussion and advice from our honored seers, we of both councils propose to embark on an inter-dimensional journey with the help of these young people that are gathered here.”

There was a strong surprised reaction in the crowd, and with the group Talis and Joshua were part of. They had been told there would be a journey, but it hadn’t been totally explained. They were taken aback by the sudden decision.

Talis looked at his group not knowing what to say. Taking leadership, he looked at the Council with a questioning face. “My respected Council members, what are you exactly proposing that we do?”

Helena got up from her seat and stood close to Marias. It was time for her to explain, as it was the seers who would be helping the most. She smiled at Talis and the others, and showed much compassion. Her way with people had a softening energy when it was needed.

“My dear Talis and the others who are gathered here. Indeed we ask a lot of you. We need your help. Through our interpretations of the dreams and of Markus Dueter’s journal, we have sensed an energy that is calling us. Our seers in trance have felt an increasing energy fluctuation in the universal energy field. This is very similar to what we understand occurred some 61 years ago during the two-year initial energy shift that was part of our revolution. This is also the time when some of our powerful mystics disappeared. We have been searching a long time to find out what happened during that time, and also to understand the energy field with which we communicate. Our spirit guides are telling us to pay attention to the messages we are receiving. It is almost like a distress call.”

Everyone was silent for several moments as they tried to understand what they were being asked to do. The five young people who were being asked to help didn’t quite know how to react. They looked at each other with confused glances, but kept their energy still.

Helena turned her head to also address the crowd. “My citizens, we are concerned about the universal energy field and how it is reacting to recent events. The Mystic Council, with the blessing of the Council of the Elders, is proposing to send these young people into the energy field to find out what is happening and to see if we can stabilize the situation. With the help of our mystic powers and our new technology, we are able to open the field to gain direct access. A portal can be opened that will allow these people to go through to the other dimensions. We ask for your blessing and for your cooperation during this important time.”

She then turned back graciously to Talis and the others. “My young people, we will give the citizens time for input and approval. We ask that you be patient with the process. Discuss it as a group. We will give you support and answer all questions you may have. We would not ask you to do this if we did not think it essential. We will be at your service.”

With that, she bowed deeply to the group and returned to her seat to let the discussions continue. They would stay several hours to allow for input and consensus. Their continued presence was also to honor the larger society. The Council knew that a decision may take several days. They took their places and let the dialogue begin.

There was much talk in the audience, and the virtual net became overloaded with online discussions. Input and approval gathered through wireless and holographic terminals throughout the region. Other regional councils had been consulted, as well as all of the worldwide Mystic Councils. Consensus was the ideal the Council wanted to achieve for the plan to continue. If there were any disagreements, the Council would try their best to help it through. The councils could decide day-to-day decisions with their own consensus, but major decisions such as these required citizen approval and was a main principle of their society. Questions were answered by Council representatives throughout the crowd and online. Virtual town hall discussions had quickly grown large for this decision. This process would likely take several days. This was the way of all decision-making. Individual freedom of choice balanced with the collective will of society. This balance kept the peace, and kept power in the people’s control. Talis, Joshua and the others understood and respected this sometimes long process. They quietly retreated to a private area to discuss it amongst themselves.

Jasmine represented the Mystic Council and was liaison to help the five young people understand their role. She had not seen Talis since the reflection, although they had tried to communicate. As she entered, they gazed at each other warmly across the room.

She somehow felt close to Talis and his grandfather. They had always treated her respectfully and she now had a connection to them as the seer who released Markus Dueter to the spirit world. Although she had facilitated many reflections, she felt a special bond with Grandfather and for some reason with Talis himself. She was not quite sure why, however, as the emotions she felt had never been so strong.

Jasmine had chosen to become a mystic at a young age and had chosen the University as her home. At certain times she longed for a different life, though she knew she was in a place of great service. Being around Talis brought those longings back to her. She anxiously let that go for now and focused her thoughts to help the others with the proposed journey.

She and the five others gathered in the quiet chamber on the amphitheater grounds. Partially built underground with windows overlooking the great river, it gave them a warm, protective place to gather their thoughts. Everyone kept their composure, but were anxious for the final say on the proposal. They also wanted to know more about what they were being asked to do. Layia and Bryan, the mystics from the University, seemed to be the most at peace about it all. Tara was noticeably nervous, but kept busy with her new holographic headpiece. She was busy in her own virtual world analyzing the net.

Talis finally broke the silence. “I am open to the task, but what are we actually going to do, Jasmine?”

Jasmine sat up, attentive to his sudden question, and showed her steadfast compassion as she spoke. “We have quite recently developed a new way to communicate with the other dimensions. The latest technology has allowed us to project our physical selves into these dimensions through an energy portal that we can open. As mystics, we have been able to travel and communicate spiritually, mentally, and on the astral level, but physical travel or travel on the biological level has been limited. We have not needed this until now and were not quite sure we were ready. This technology is so new that we have only recently revealed its possible use to our society. I know many of you had heard of this development, but not until a few days ago did we feel it could be used. Our scientists at the University have been working with us to develop what many would call a gateway that will allow us to transport ourselves to various dimensions. As you know from your education, both the scientific and spiritual disciplines have been working for some time on this type of travel. It is now here before us, ready to use.”

Talis politely interrupted, but with a slightly irritated tone. “You want us to go through this portal to do what? What can we do that you cannot do as seers?”

Everyone looked at Talis, then to Jasmine for an answer. Jasmine took a few deep breaths with eyes closed then glanced around the room before directly looking at Talis. Her deep green eyes penetrated his outer defenses and he relaxed knowing that he could trust her.

“We feel that you are directly connected to what is going on. Our group intuition and the messages we are getting from the other dimension send a clear signal that you and some of the dreamers must go. We have picked up communication from what we think are some of the original mystics that disappeared. They seem to be asking for some type of help. Various messengers can be heard through our seers in trance. Nothing is completely clear, but the energy field is slowly weakening and needs to be stabilized. This we know. This can be dangerous for all of us on Earth and beyond. We feel it is necessary to go to the other dimensions to find out what is happening. Perhaps we can stabilize the field and communicate with the lost mystics or with some other entities that may help us.”

The group was silent for several minutes as they contemplated the task.

Layia then spoke in a soft voice. “As a seer, I have felt the power of the dreams. And it leads me to believe that we are needed. I myself am ready to go.”

Jasmine smiled at her. “Thank you Layia. Your strong belief is honored.”

Joshua finally broke his silent contemplation. “I too have felt the dreams and the calling. As much as I resisted and feel intense frustration, I also am called back to serve the Mystic Order. I am not sure if I am prepared, but I will do what I can.” He bowed to Jasmine and the others. He looked confident, and Talis noticed his friend seemed clear in his decision. The others were silent for now, each one thinking about what was being asked of them.