My summer reading book is, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, by Caitlin Doughty.
A copy was given to me. I’ve wanted to read it for a while. Caitlin discusses death and grief and how society has sterilized and hidden death. She writes beautifully about her experience working in a crematorium- her thoughts, history of death, rituals and her encounters with both dead and living.
A wonderful read to demystify the inevitable.
Honestly, if I wasn’t a hypnotherapist, the funeral industry would be my next career choice.
After my first husband died, a widow and mortician, Carleen Helgison, befriended me. I learned so much from her!
The folks at the local funeral home also were very open to talking and answering questions.
In America death is sterilized. In most othe countries it is embraced as part of life.
At the cemetery, 3 of my step children stayed to see how things were done after the committal service. Having disabilities, I wondered how they would react. As the covering were moved from the ground, they were over joyed to see their mom's cremation box! They had many questions and were excited about what they got to see!
Helping people navigate grief is a passion of mine. Aside from birth, death is one of the most sacred moments of a persons life.

Mental health is more than just depression, anxiety, and medication. Mental health is about our whole body health.

When our mind is processing information and circumstances in a healthy way, then our body is also healthy, because your mind and body are one in the same.
An example is; have you ever had a pet or loved one die? Did you feel strange and want to sleep a lot? Or did you have a rough day at work and just want to curl up and eat junk food?

Another step deeper, is that your thoughts also affect your body. If you go around all day thinking about how bad things are “going to be” or “could be” then your body will respond accordingly, by keeping you on high alert for bad things; making you tired, and craving junk food, to keep up with the high calorie demand, to keep you on high alert.

Having feelings is normal. It is only when these feelings last longer than is helpful that one needs to be concerned about their mental health. It is okay to feel sad or depressed after the death of a pet, the breakup of a relationship, a medical diagnosis, or loss of a job. If the sadness persists longer than a week and does not improve, then it is a sign you need some help.

There are exceptions to the timeline of feeling sad; after the death of a family member, it is healthy and normal to experience grief for 1-3 or more years afterwards. The length of time grief takes depends on how close you were to the individual and many other factors. Grief is not a once and done process, it is like the waves on the ocean. Right after the death, the waves of grief are huge and disabling, leaving you tossed about in a sea of emotion. After a couple months, these waves begin to smooth and begin to come less and frequently, but they still come. For some people who never allow themselves to grieve, these waves of grief can last a lifetime, and become debilitating.

For many generations, mental health was a taboo subject. In everyone’s family history there are stories of some relative who was “committed” to an asylum. Just because they were admitted, does not mean they were mentally defective! Chances are, these people had a, nutritional or chemical imbalance, or they were not able to express their emotions properly. Suppressing abuse, emotion, or keeping a deep dark family secret, for long periods of time is not healthy. Some were even admitted because they got pregnant at a young age out of wedlock. These people were not “crazy”, they were pregnant in an era when even pregnancy was a disorder – and still is today!

Can you spot mental illness? NO! Actually, according to the DSM (the diagnostic manual used by therapists) everyone of us has a diagnosable mental illness! Everything you do on a daily basis, which you call “routine”, is listed in the DSM and is considered diagnosable.

So, now that we are all on the same level, what do we do about it?
Accept it!

Some of the most intelligent people have diagnoses of: manic depression, schizophrenia, hoarding, obsession, neurosis, etc.
These are the people who create the machines and medicines which improve your life. These are the people who; defend your rights, operate on your cancers, prepare your food, teach your children, preach on Sunday, and more. If they didn’t have a quirk, they couldn’t excel at their job and wouldn’t be who they are!

If you want to meet a messed-up person, get to know a therapist, especially psychiatrists and psychologists. People in the mental health profession are in it to find answers for themselves. Because they’ve lived it, they are well versed in the subject, and therefore are able to recognize it others and help them along the way. Their talent is to easily recognize the symptoms in others.

The old sayings go, “a builders house is never complete” “a mechanics car is always broken”, this is true, because these people have the ability to see their need in others, and know how to fix it. By fixing it for others, they are attempting to fix themselves.

We are ALL beautifully broken! Yours truly is no exception to the rule. I have my own struggles and see them in my clients. When I help a client, I am also helping myself. We are all getting well together! If you want a fancy term, it is called “mirror neurons.” It comes from the saying, “what you hate about another, is only a reflection of what you hate about yourself.” It takes a strong person to admit it, but it is very true!

From time to time, when something happens, I seek the help of another therapist. I do not have all the answers, so even I need support from time to time.

May is mental health month. I want you to know that, IT IS ALWAYS OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP! Not all help comes from a pill or medication. Some of the best help comes by improving your coping skills, or by just doing something different- such as getting outdoors, sitting by a campfire, spending a few hours in nature, etc.
Other mental health activities are: hobbies, walking, fishing, cooking, having coffee with friends, or anything which helps you to feel better!
It takes a strong person to admit he/she needs help, but asking for help and accepting it is a superpower! Use your superpowers wisely!

Happy trance-forming!
Jessica L. Hanson

​Lately, I have been working with several clients and relationship issues.  One theme that has come up in the sessions is, Vows.  All this time together, has really brought underlying issues to the surface in peoples lives. In it is a simple reminder for all of us.
 
When you said your vows; for marriage - traditional or self-written, or oath of office, you made a promise to another person(s). What you do not realize is that you also made a promise to yourself to uphold those vows personally.  To fully honor your oath/vow, you must keep them personally before you can keep them for another.
 
When I became a Certified Hypnotherapist, I signed an oath to an organization that I would practice within my scope of training, follow the rules and bylaws they have in place, and as a representative of the organization, conduct myself in a professional manner.  In exchange, the certifying organization has promised to certify me as a Hypnotherapist, provide for me further education/certification opportunities to expand my scope of practice, answer questions, and provide a place to belong.
 
Traditional marriage vows go as follows:
I, ________, take you, ________, to be my wife/husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance. This is my solemn vow.
 
As you and I both know, after the thrill and newness wears off, we often really do not remember what we said when we said our vows.  We remember the motions, but now the words. 
 
It was after the death of my first husband that the pastor pointed out to me, I lived all of my wedding vows during my short marriage of 1 ½ years.  He re-read the vows my husband and I had promised to each other, then asked if I kept my side of the vows?  This brought about the realization that I did not need to feel the regret any longer.  My vows were, “till death do us part”.  I had fulfilled my vows and my husband fulfilled his. 
 
Take your high school graduation as an example; you were on the verge of adulthood, freedom and responsibility.  You had a head full of high hopes and dreams.  The ceremony probably seemed to take as long as the 12 years of education which made this occasion possible.  You remember going through the motions, but not the words.
 
It is only later in life, career, or marriage that we are forced to pause and remember why we are in the position we area in.  For the professional, it is called “burnout”, in a marriage it is called “affair” or “falling out of love”, in life it is called, “midlife crisis”.
 
At this point in every relationship, one must pause and rediscover their vows or oaths, which they made to another(s) and to themselves.  Are you still upholding your side?  Are you true to your words to yourself – “…from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish, till death do us part…This is my solemn vow” ?
 
If not; What changed?  Who changed?
Why?  Were you not prepared?  Do you need help? 
 
Do you still stand by and believe the words you said? 
If not; Why?  What changed?  Who changed?
 
Everyday you have a choice. Everyday you choose by your; thoughts, words, and actions, to honor your vow/oath, or to dishonor your word and yourself.
 
In times of personal frustration, I look at the ring on my finger and remember the vows I said and how blessed I am to have this person in my life!  (After being widowed, your perspective changes drastically! Most issues you have are not with the other person, but with yourself.)  
 
In times of professional frustration, I look at the certificates on the wall in my office, and remember why I chose to earn them – all the time and money I chose to invest.  Every day I chose to be true to the words I have spoken, not only to the organizations, but to myself.  I also look at the pictures of my mentors, teachers, and colleagues.  As part of organizations, I am representing these fine practitioners, because they are why the organization exists.
 
By taking a professional oath, I have to hold myself to higher standards, which challenges me to change and grow.  By saying marriage vows to my husband, I am challenged to learn about myself and about all the facets of love, loss, riches, poverty, life and death; which reach far beyond material things. 
 
I say all of this to let you know that it is okay to struggle.  To struggle means you are engaged in life and all it has to offer.  When you face an obstacle, it is there to help you grow.  Consider these words by Victor Frankl:
 
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
 
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
 
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
 
            “Ever more, people today have the means to live, but no meaning to live for.”
 
And from Milton Erickson:
 
            “Life will bring you pain all by itself. Your responsibility is to create joy.”
 
            “Change will lead to insight more often than insight will lead to change.”
 
            “It is really amazing what people can do. Only they don’t know what they can do.”
 
“A goal without a date is just a dream.”
 
My permissive suggestion is: When you find yourself at a crossroads in life, marriage, or career; the best thing you can often do is close your eyes, go inside, and remember why you chose to be there in the first place.  Remember your vows/oath.  Look up the words, look at the pictures, and really focus on the meaning of them.  Then the choice is yours – stay or leave.  No one can make that choice for you.
 
If you need to hear a direct suggestion: “Shut up, sit in that chair, and go into a deep trance.” (Milton Erickson) Review your vow/oath. Now the choice is yours – stay or leave.  No one can make that choice for you.
 
Happy Trance-forming!
Jessica L Hanson, CHt

There is a lady I hardly know. I’ve only seen her in person a few times. From time to time I have extra items she can use, so I send them to her through a family member.
Today she sent me this little quilt through her family member.
It was lovingly hand made and carries several messages besides the one written on the paper.
It also reminds us to look within ourselves and remember who we are deep down inside. In life, we can easily forget that we are a person who has gifts and talents.
Remember, no matter what your age, race, or religion, you have value and purpose.
Find a special item to carry with you as a reminder that you are special. It can be a coin, stone, bead, ring, necklace, keychain, or anything else, as long as it reminds you that you are loved and have value.
(if you want your own “Pocket Prayer Quilt” send me an email and I’ll see if my friend can make you one too😊

Current Symptoms of COVID-19: the emotional long-haul
 
We have been inundated for over a year now with information and disinformation about COVID-19, and with it has come a whole new variety of side effects, not from the virus, but from the information and fear.
 
The side effects people are dealing with currently are similar to those in the World War II era.  Fear, isolation, and distrust are breading a whole nation of paranoid desperate people.  Some are adjusting to the new normal, but many are growing increasingly more fearful every day.
 
By having access to 24-hour, 7 day a week, news and information, through not only radio and television, but on your phone and wrist watch, you are over stimulated.  The body remains on high alert, waiting for the next beep, hum or chime to alert you that new information is available.
 
I am encountering a greater number of people who are having trouble sleeping, have increased anxiety and stress, and are suffering from a variety of psycho-somatic issues.
 
Some people have even become afraid of those around them. 
 
This conditioning has been seen and used in POW camps as well as troop preparation.  A unit of men can be brought together or torn apart by being immersed in knowledge.
 
In Rape of the Mind, by Joost A.M. Meerloo M.D. he talks about his personal experiences as a doctor during the second world war, as he encountered and evaded the enemy. More importantly, he describes the many ways the body copes with constant stress of a situation in which one has no control. 
 
Meerloo says that in Holland after a few bombardments, an epidemic of bladder disease broke out.  People suddenly had the need to urinate, so often that it disrupted their sleeping. Doctors treated the body, but psychiatrists saw the bladder epidemic as a regression back to childhood; when a child has the reaction of urinating to express emotions such as fear and nervousness.  It was simply the way the whole town was coping with the uncertainty, fear and vulnerability they all felt but could not express due to shame, loss, fear, and shock.
 
Some people will develop; ulcers, heart palpitations, or upset stomachs, under extremely upsetting circumstances, in which the emotions are suppressed.  
 
Meerloo goes on to talk about the treatment of panicky soldiers during the war.  These men (boys) had been conditioned during basic training, but when faced with real danger and the very situations they had received training to handle, they would break down and regress.  Many had chronic intestinal issues, others sudden bouts of vomiting and some soiled themselves. 
 
It was only after these soldiers were told as a group, that everyone of them was having a normal reaction to the circumstances, and that their bodies were responding to the potential dangers, that the health of the men improved.  By removing the shame, and admitting it was a healthy normal response to such conditions experienced by all, the men regained their ability to carry out the missions assigned to them without much disruption.
 
These men needed to know why they were reduced to such childish states.  Once they understood that it was a universal reaction to fear, the stigma was removed, and each person now knew they did not need to be ashamed of their own fears.
 
Meerloo also says that during the war time, after a town had been bombed or raided, the older teens and young adults were commonly found playing with dolls and children’s toys, while using the language of the age to which they had regressed.
 
So, how does this tie into COVID?
 
If it is not obvious, I will explain.  You see, forced masking, social distancing, confinement in one’s dwelling, etc, etc, are all very unnatural things for us to deal with.  Most of us have no memory of war or the situations described my Meerloo.  Our freedoms were suddenly taken away, and as a nation we were plunged into a world of fear, disease, death and information.  This in turn caused mass panic, hording, and fear.  In this case the enemy is invisible.
 
When our normal routines are disrupted for a few hours or days, we tend to deal with the situation just fine.  Like having a cold, healing a broken bone or recovering from something, but commonly during this down time we are focused on getting back to “normal” getting back to “routine”.  When the hope of normal and routine are removed and replaced with fear, distrust, separation and overwhelming information, we begin to respond psychosomatically.
 
Most people begin to notice a change in their sleeping patterns, digestion and elimination.  Some people will become lethargic and passive, regressing back to a time when they had no control and great insecurity.  Add in isolation and separation from contact with human beings, and you have cities full of adult children who have lost control.
 
If you keep these people in fear and isolation long enough, they breakdown even further, and then you have created a dependency on the information bombardment, as they begin to search for hope of normal and routine.  These people now cannot sleep or eat because they are on high alert, waiting for hope. 
 
Worse yet, anything which resembles hope, even misinformation is believed as truth.  This is why people bought up toilet paper and bleach, fighting over it in the stores.  They acted out of fear, but decided that if they had enough of these items, things would get back to normal faster.  Instead, this mass mentality created voids in the systems, which has prolonged the “normal” which they are seeking.
 
Another example Meerloo gives is when he and a colleague were playing tennis is a town which was under allied control.  Two Nazi officers joined them on the court.  Both sets of men were afraid of each other.  But when a allied plane few over, the two Nazi men ran and dove for cover.  It was only when Meerloo was in Berlin, that he understood how those two Nazi officers felt that day.  Every plane and shot seemed to have his name on it.  He was in a constant state of fear.
 
There have been positive changes amidst the chaos!  Many people are adjusting to their new lives.  Learning to balance working from home, being with their family units for 24-hour periods and eating meals together.  They are responding positively to the prolonged conditioning of fear and stress.  Yet, among these seemingly good changes, people are suffering in silence.  They body still knows and they have little explanation that others are feeling the same way too. 
We are all experiencing COVID-19 together, as a natural response to a global issue, not unlike those in the accounts about World War II by Meerloo.
 
What can you do?
 
Hypnosis is a wonderful tool to combat these secondary issues of COVID. 
 
First, look in the mirror and notice that you are human.  You have a body, arms, legs, head, eyes, etc.  And being human, means that you are made much the same way as everyone else in this world.  You have a hardwired response system which is designed to keep you safe and help you cope with life. 
 
Second, acknowledge that it is okay to feel.  It is okay to be; afraid, worried, anxious, and have mixed emotions.  Also know that your neighbors next door feels the same way, and millions of people across the world are feeling these same mixed emotions as well. 
 
Third, focus on the good.  Find anything positive and focus on that.  Being home has given you time to clean a closet and find that thing you lost, or you can spend more time with your pet, you can get reacquainted with your spouse and children.  
 
Fourth, find what you can control.  Decide to get up at a certain time, go for a walk outdoors, learn Yoga or Qigong.  Find something you can control; this will help give you some purpose and normalcy back.
 
Fifth, accept that the old way of life is over.  Much like the cycle of grief, there comes a times when we accept that we cannot go back to the way it was.  Embracing the new, does not mean forgetting the past, it means that the things you took for granted are now different and you will always have memories of the past.
 
Now, you have a greater resilience and understanding.  Celebrate the new you!  Change no matter how big or small creates resilience and greater understanding. With these new tools, you are better equipped for future circumstances as they arise. 
 
I want to leave you with this thought: no matter what COVID side affects you are dealing with, there is help and hope.  If you are struggling, reach out for help.  There are a wide variety of resources available to help you recover mentally, physically and spiritually. 

DARKNESS
Jessica L Hanson 8/2015 All rights reserved – may not be copied or reproduced without written permission from the author.
She stood before the Andeluvian tribunal which had gathered. She stood alone, confident in what she had been born knowing. The eyes of the Andeluvian elders looked down upon her young body, not knowing what to do with such a young wise one; and being a female at that. The last one had been a male. Men were favored in Andeluvian society; the young wise male had been sent off to the realms of higher learning to be dealt with and trained. But this, this was a woman! How dare she know that ancient knowledge! One question remained among the elders, how had she learned the secrets? Who had told her? The floor in the room where she stood before the tribunal was made from beautifully polished marble from the neighboring planet Mars. It was red like the blood of humans. This room had been created as a final judgment chamber for the humans. The red symbolized the blood that coursed thru their veins as they lived their God given lives upon the earth. It was given to the first human, Adam, when God formed him from the dust of the earth and then breathed into Adam, His own breath. Then that breath turned into red blood and filled Adam’s body, and he was alive. Well you know the story: God put Adam into a deep sleep and removed a rib from his side and then fashioned it into a woman, a help mate for Adam. This story begins years after the grand creation started. There were many humans upon the earth at this time. Along with them were many wondrous creatures and beasts. The humans were of lesser size to most of the other creatures and beasts, yet they were highly respected and watched after. Yes, the humans became like us, one of us, knowing good and evil. Doing as they saw fit. Judging according to their own wisdom. But God just sat back and watched them, smiling; as if He knew something about these humans He had created. Her name was, Vedanna. Vedanna was born of human parents who descended from Adam, who had since passed away. Vedanna was among the first-born children who were different. These first-born children came with memories of creation, of life not on earth and the garden of Eden. This was something the Andeluvian’s had not prepared for. These children had memories of things meant to be forgotten. Memories of the very creation itself, and of the fall of the Andeluvian race.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 2
These children had memories of the very creation of the Andeluvian’s themselves and worse yet, these children had been created from the very dust of that ancient Andeluvian world and had been given dominion over it. These children! Children had been given power; memories, knowledge, ancient wisdom! They knew things which made them unmanageable. They actually thought they could be equal to the Andeluvian elders! What nerve they had! This new generation had to been silenced! The Andeluvian elders closely watched the humans from their fire clouds. From time to time an Andeluvian would look upon a human and see potential for more and then land his fire cloud and teach the human. Giving the poor human just enough help to make life a bit easier. Training them little by little in the knowledge to carry out the tasks upon the earth that needed to be done daily. The Andeluvian’s had become god’s themselves, so work was pointless to them. They began to play with the humans. It became a grand game of joyous pleasure for these new god’s. What can we try today? What are these dust creatures capable of? What if we add ourselves to them? And so, the experiments began; humans were taken up in these fire clouds and taken away to the other Andeluvian cities. Parts of the humans were modified and then the humans were placed back on the earth and watched to see what the modification would result as in the next generation. Soon giants roamed the earth; human men as large as the large earth creatures. Some of these giants needed to be separated from the smaller humans because the resources were being consumed too fast. The small humans were running out of food and being enslaved by the larger ones. And then there were these children! These first-born male humans, it happened with them first. They were born knowing things about long ago and about the Andeluvian culture which had spread across the span of time, out into the darkness of beyond. These children also thought themselves equal to the elders upon the earth, and also equal to the Andeluvian elders. The children knew almost the complete books of wisdom and creation and ruler-ship upon the earth. It was as if they were born as god’s; the very god’s they had worked so many ages to become. Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 3
How dare children be equal to them! And then we come to her; to Vedanna. Vedanna was born under a strong sign in the darkness. At a time when all firstborns were males. Vedanna was marked from birth as an anomalous child. And being such, she was closely watched by the Andeluvian’s from their fire clouds. By the age of 2 she was talking about long ago cultures and things forgotten. From time to time the Andeluvian’s took her from the earth in their fire clouds to show her what she was speaking of. She was taken to a city far away and shown a great library; the one she was accessing thru memory. She was delighted to see her memories recorded in the vast array of books. Then as she grew older, she began knowing as a god. This could not be tolerated! The Andeluvian tribunal was assembled and it was decided that she should be made to forget. If she could be made to forget then she would not be a threat to the other humans. It had been done before to a few of the males who had knowledge like hers. They had been made to forget and lived among the humans quite well. Though the humans treated these males differently; they were given important tasks of ruling over the humans. Humans ruling over humans! What a concept! But the Andeluvian’s loved this twist of the game. Who could have predicted such a thing! But, a female ruler! Preposterous! They were created to help the males, not rule over them! Vedanna must be made to forget! Vedanna stood in her garments upon the red marble floor facing the tribunal. The verdict was pronounced, “You shall be made to forget.” Vedanna, without hesitation spoke up, “What have I done wrong? Tell me my wrong!” A simple reply came to her from the high elder, “You just know too much my dear, and with knowing comes responsibility that you were not created to be part of. It is best for you to forget, to stay a help-mate to the males. To remain among the humans.” Vedanna stood tall and spoke, “And what if I refuse to be made to forget? What will you do then?” The tribunal was caught off guard. No one had dared refuse a tribunal verdict! Much less a female! How ghastly a thought, almost blasphemous! Then came the reply, “You want to be as us? Knowing as us and living as us? Then you must begin as we did, when we stood before God and declared ourselves equal to Him who had created us. You must be placed into inner darkness and find your own freedom from that darkness. When you can free yourself from the inner darkness then we will give you a place among us.”
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 4
She stood looking at the red marble stone beneath her feet, it seemed to be moving, like the blood that was coursing through her veins giving her life. Yet this blood had no body, it just pooled on the floor, alive yet lifeless. Vedanna sensed this was how she would feel if they made her forget. Vedanna looked at the tribunal and declared, “I choose the darkness! I choose to free myself from the inner darkness. I choose to remember and not be made to forget.” With this statement, the high elder declared, “The girl has chosen her own fate. Let it so be done to her according to as we have spoken and she has agreed to.” With that, the floor seemed to cry out under her feet. It groaned as if trying to speak. There was a feeling of dampness under her feet as she stood upon the floor. As if some of her blood was being added to the marble beneath her, part of her was becoming stone. She was then led away by two guardians. They placed her on a fire cloud and took her to a far corner of the earth. One that was never talked about nor was it on any map. There were many new things there she had not seen before. The fire cloud landed in a field of green grass. There were trees all around and a large dark hole going into the earth. The two guardians wasted no time. They lit torches and grabbed her by the arms, walking her into the dark hole in the earth. The guardians walked hastily, as if afraid. Then after many turns and twists in the darkness, the path opened up into a chamber. In the center of this chamber there was a cell made from metal, it’s top was embedded into the stone ceiling of the chamber and its bottom was embedded into the floor of the chamber. Vedanna was roughly tossed inside this cell. Then the door was locked, and a single golden key on a ring, was placed on the outer wall of the chamber, hung from a stone which protruded from the wall. One of the torches was left near the key and its light lit the chamber brightly. Then the two guardians left in haste. Alone in this metal cell, she noticed there was a bench made of wood in the center. It was just large enough to lay down on or sit on. She sat upon the wooden bench and watched the key glimmering in the torch light, watching how the light danced around the chamber. Then she pondered how to get the key and free herself from the metal cell, in which she had been locked away. Surely knowing all she knew it would be a simple task! Then out of the shadows Vedanna began to hear sounds. Laughter and howling, jesting and taunting each other. Then a scream. Shivers went through her body, her warm blood felt cold within her. Soon out of the shadows emerged many creatures. These creatures Vedanna had no memory of seeing before; these creatures were black as darkness and covered with matted long black hair. They walked laboriously along. More emerged from the shadows, some of the creatures limped
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 5
along, all seemed to be in torment of some sort. One was missing an eye, the dried blood still in the empty sunken socket. She felt compassion toward these creatures, perhaps she knew some ancient healing that could help them! But very soon her thoughts of them was changed. The beasts circled the cell, as if taunting her. They reached between the bars, grabbing at her. One even tore her clothing, scraping her skin with its claw and she began to bled slightly. The taunting continued. She finally gathered up her courage and asked who these beasts were. They replied, “We are the tormenters and the tormented. We live in inner darkness and do not see the light.” And with that they put out the torch. A deep inner fear rose from within Vedanna. The darkness seemed to envelop her very body and soul. Was this the darkness from which the elders said she must escape? Such great darkness was never spoken of, there wasn’t even recorded knowledge of a darkness such as this! Night was never feared where she had grown up. There was darkness but not a consuming darkness. The darkness she had known was for rest and replenishing of the earth, not for consuming and torment! She could sense the tormenters, in the darkness around her. Mostly they just laughed and howled with their own amusement. Eventually they tired and slept. It was during this time she began to explore the cell into which she had been locked. She felt each metal bar from top to bottom, standing on the wooden bench to reach the top. Nothing but stone and metal and the wood of the bench. There was no way to maneuver her body between the metal bars of the cell either. One creature assured her of that when it roused from sleep, sensing that she was trying to escape. It spoke to her saying, “There is no use in trying to escape. The darkness will consume you and you will forget. Just stay and sleep and forget with us.” Finally, from exhaustion Vedanna curled up on the wooden bench and slept. Day after day the taunting and tearing of clothes took place. Their claws had caused many sores on her body by now. Many of the sores were infected festering wounds which she could not heal. Weeks past, then months, the tormenting beasts never tired of her. Vedanna began to ask them questions about who they were and how they had come to be in this darkness. As they told her about themselves, one day she began to see light in the darkness. At first it was just a glimmer, like a shadow of light. Then, as Vedanna learned to relax in the darkness, the light became clearer and clearer, brighter and brighter. Every day she practiced seeing this light. Even the key had a light about it. Each creature had a light about them as well. But their lights were very dim and covered under all their matted black hair.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 6
Yet, the light still shown out of them. Vedanna’s body had light as well, though her light seemed to get dimmer and dimmer with each passing week and month. But the golden key shone brightly in the darkness. As Vedanna looked at the light from the key, she tried to bring that light closer to her. Imagining the light would carry bits of the key to her hand until the whole key was in her hand. But the key never came nor did the light. And her light was getting dimmer. By now Vedanna’s body was covered with wounds and festering sores. The beasts had stopped tormenting her daily. They would come once a week or once every two weeks now. Mostly they slept. The darkness now took on a different feeling. The darkness inside of her seemed to be cold, like it was slowly killing her. Slowly stopping the blood within her body and turning it into stone. Vedanna remembered the red stone floor upon which she stood as the tribunal gave her their verdict; how the red stone seemed to be alive and crying out. She wondered, was she becoming part of that red stone floor? Was it truly blood encased in the stone, crying out to her? Would she become part of that floor, that blood; just being blood trapped in stone? Vedanna began to gather what strength she had left and cry out from the cell in the darkness of the cave. Perhaps the guardians would hear her and come back. Perhaps it was just a test of endurance. The darkness had not caused her to completely forget the memories of what she knew; the memories that had placed her here. But some were now just dreams, dimly lit glimmers of light in her dreams. Like fireflies dancing in the dark on a warm evening. Vedanna lay awake in her dreams, in the tall grass and watched the fireflies dancing in the sky like stars in the heavens. Then she slept in her dreams; dreaming of freedom from the cell. How a man would come and hear her calling out in the inner darkness of the chamber, and he would free her. This was her new hope. Vedanna forgot about freeing herself from the cell. She could not make the light from the key come to her. It remained hanging from the rock embedded in the chamber wall, still shining brightly. A light of its own. One day Vedanna felt her body becoming cold. Like the darkness was taking over her, cooling her wounds that burned of infection. Even the tormenting beasts had stopped tormenting her. As if they knew she was near death and their fun would soon be over. They mostly slept now. But Vedanna found a little strength left within her, which the inner darkness had not yet touched and she began to sing –
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 7
She sang until her body felt weak, but kept singing. Then in a moment of silence she heard an echo of a new song. First it was soft, then louder and louder. She sang back, feeling as if she was dreaming in her dreams. Vedanna thought death was coming to her and almost welcomed it. Suddenly there came a light into the chamber! The light bust into the darkness. The beasts shrieking awake from their sleep, covering their eyes and bodies as if the light was consuming them and causing them pain. They coiled back into the shadows from which they had come so long ago. Vedanna lifted her head from the wooden bench and shielded her eyes. They had not seen light since the tormenters had extinguished the torch. When her eyes partly adjusted, she saw the light was shaped like a man. The man walked over to the key that had hung on the wall and handed it to her. Then he took a step back. Vedanna mustered any strength she had left and willed herself to place the key into the lock on the cell. Then with the key tightly grasped in her hand she turned the lock and the door slid open. She collapsed on the floor of the cell, her hand outside the cell on the cold rock still grasping the key. She felt the rock and pulled her body out of the cell and lay on the rock outside the cell. She was free! She was free! But the inner darkness had destroyed her body so much that she knew she would die before she could make her way out of the cave into the light. Then Vedanna felt as if she was dreaming in her dream again - she felt arms under her head and then arms under her legs. She was being picked up, lifted from the rock floor of the chamber. She heard shrieking and screaming from the tormenting beasts echoing in the cave, echoing in her body. Yet the arms of light, this man, who had heard her song in the darkness; had picked her up and was carrying her out of the cave into the field of light she had seen so very long ago. The light within the man seemed to light the way out of the cave as he walked. He whispered to her near lifeless body, “Hold on just a little bit longer.” Then he immerged into the light! Oh, what glorious light and air and color! Vedanna willed herself to breathe in the light and air and color. With each breath she could feel the inner darkness leaving her body. As the light came in and the darkness left her, there was a sensation of pain and joy within each place.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 8
The man walked a distance from the cave and then laid Vedanna’s body in the field of tall, green grass. At first the grass hurt her body; as the grass touched the wounds they hurt, but the hurt was different, it was a healing hurt. Pain was leaving her body and the deep infected, festering wounds were closing up. The grass was knitting the cells of her body back together from within as the light was filling her body. Then the color came into her body. Her eyes became alive, then her skin became red and warm, the light seemed to put the color back within her. The man picked her up again; her body still frail, he carried her across the field and into a forest. As they approached the forest, the trees began to sing. They were elated at the sight of her. As the man carried her fragile body through the forest of singing trees, she began to feel the songs inside her body, giving it strength from within. By the time the man reached the other side of the forest her body was stronger and whole, able to support its own weight with some help. The path through the forest yielded into a path across a land. The man stopped and placed Vedanna ‘s feet on this path. Her feet were tender and the dirt path hurt beneath them. The man and her leaned on each other and walked for a time down the path. When Vedanna was weak from walking, he gently set her down on a rock along the side of the path. Then he removed his shoes and placed them on her feet. When she stood again to walk and take his arm for support, he wrapped a garment around her body and tied it with a sash. He then hugged her and told her to continue down the path and she would see her destination off in the distance. She would know it when she saw it. Then he turned back toward the forest which he had carried her through. Vedanna stood there wearing his shoes and the garment, wanting to follow him, but knew that she must continue on the path he had shown her. Vedanna turned and began to walk slowly; left foot, right foot, left foot…. Then she began to skip and dance. She stopped and looked back towards where she had come. The man was watching her. He had seen her skip and dance and she knew he was smiling at her, even though he was now a way off. His light was brighter than the light which shone down from the sky. As if his whole body was light, smiling at her. Vedanna waved to the man and he waved back. Then he turned and walked back into the forest of singing trees. Vedanna too, turned to continue walking along the path. But she paused for a moment, recalling the feeling of waving back to the man; the feeling of lifting her arms up felt good. She lifted both hands high above her head and sang and danced. The sun began to set and far off she could see a mountain, and on that mountain, there was a light, like the lights of a city. She knew that was where this path would lead her. As the light faded into this new darkness, she noticed other lights. There were lights in the sky that had not been there during the day. The familiar fire flies were there. But in this darkness it was not dark; there were shadows, degrees of darkness, but nothing was ever as dark as the cavern she had been freed from. The darkness here had light; it was never truly darkness.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 9
Everything had a light of its own which shone in the darkness, and by these lights she was able to continue walking on the path even without the daylight. Soon Vedanna too had to rest. Weary of travel she laid down beside the path and closed her eyes with no fear of this present darkness consuming her. The next morning as the sun began to rise, and Vedanna began to awaken to her new surroundings. She noticed a dampness on her body and robe. Everything had this dampness upon it. If you touched it, this liquid would join together and form a droplet. As she watched the plants around her, they seemed to absorb or drink in these droplets. She gathered her robe together and caused the liquid to pool together, then she too drank and was satisfied. Feeling refreshed for the day’s journey. As Vedanna walked, the city she had seen seemed at times to be hidden and fading from view. It seemed at times like it simply was an illusion in the distance. Like she might be walking toward a city only to arrive there and find a stand of dead trees or deviously placed piles of stones. A mirage. But she remembered the man’s words to her before he left; that she was to stay on this path and it would lead her to a mountain and on that mountain would be a city. Surely the man who had so bravely rescued her wouldn’t lie to her; thinking to entrap her again for his own amusement? There was only one way to find out. Stay on the path and go up the mountain and see for one’s self if it existed. A few days later as Vedanna journeyed down the road; she began to notice how it was changing. There were other foot prints in the dirt and there were now small hills and forests and fields alongside the road. It was not the same path she had set out on. This was a road which appeared well traveled. Walking along further, she began to see smaller paths like the one she had begun walking on, so far back on her journey. These smaller paths came out of the forests, hills and fields, then joined the main wider, well-traveled road. At the end of each smaller path, where it connected to the road was a stone, much like the stone she had rested upon before the man had given her his shoes to wear and then the robe. Looking at these stones reminded her of how far she had come and she wondered if there were others like her? Would she meet others like herself, who had been freed from similar chambers and tormenters? The excitement began to rise up within her! Vedanna began to skip and dance at the thought of meeting another who was like her; who knew the consuming darkness and could see light in the darkness. One who had survived the tormenters and been freed, healed and set on a new path.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 10
Had the elders truly known what they were doing when they sentenced her that day so long ago? As she stood before them on the blood red stone. Was this her test? Would they be in this city which she was seeking? And what about the males the elders spoke of; the males were sent to special schooling. Was this that same schooling or was she truly different and this was the only way to know for sure? Questions raced through Vedanna’s mind as she walked. The more questions she had, the slower she walked. The questions seemed to weigh her down and cause her to tire easily of the journey. This night Vedanna laid down to rest before the darkness came over the land. Now she slept deeply and dreamt of her questions. The dreams carried her back to long ago when she was born; back to the fire clouds she had ridden. Back to a library far, far away. Vedanna began to read the books in her dreams; awakening her knowing of what the elders had tried to make her forget. She was more alive and aware in her dreams than she was in the light of day. But darkness was familiar to her, she had learned to see in darkness after all. One morning Vedanna woke to a hand gently shaking her awake, bringing her into the light of day. It was another one like her! Another person! His name was Una. (Native American for Remember) Una helped her up and they walked along together talking about where they had been and how long they had been there. Vedanna soon discovered that Una had been sentenced by a tribunal. But the tribunal he stood before was a different one - the room was the same, but the elders he stood before were different. Soon they met another person, then another. Experiences were shared and she discovered one female like herself, who had stood before the same tribunal she had. By day, Vedanna walked with the group of people like her, but by night she traveled in her mind back to the library alone to read and study and remember parts of what the consuming darkness had taken. One night two others appeared in the library. They stood in the doorway gasping in amazement. Vedanna stood up and hesitantly welcomed them in. As she talked to them, it seemed they knew very little about this library, yet they seemed to remember the windows and the chairs. Vedanna raced off to find their books; the books that had been written about them and by them. She read the books back to these two and as she read, they began to remember. It seemed that these two had nearly forgotten who they were altogether. She handed each of them their books and let them read and reread them until the memories came back within them. Then they too began reading the other books in the library. One day as the group walked together, Vedanna noticed a path along the road that was barely there, yet it was a path. Vedanna told the others that she would catch up with them later. They were astonished that she would dare to step off the road. Almost afraid of the very thought of doing so. After all, the man
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 11
had told them to stay on the road until they arrived at the city. She assured them she would catch up with them before nightfall. Reluctantly they traveled on without her. Hesitantly she stepped off the road onto this barely visible path. She followed it and found it led her to a forest. This forest appeared dark and overgrown. Not much light made it to the path, but she could see in the darkness so it didn’t matter. As she walked into this forest, she could hear groans echoing through the trees. Screams and shrieks. Hesitantly, she continued, finding the path, though much of it was covered with dead trees and broken branches. After what seemed a long while she emerged from the forest into a field. As Vedanna walked out into the field and stood, this field seemed familiar to her; like she had seen it before. She laid down in the grass for a moment and closed her eyes. She could see herself back in the cave dreaming within her dream of lying in a field, in the grasses watching fireflies dance in the night sky. Then remembered the field into which the man had carried her and laid her in the grass; the grass that had healed her near death body. She could remember how the grass felt when it touched her wounds and the pain and healing that she felt. Suddenly Vedanna sat up, opening her eyes and jumping to her feet! She heard what sounded like a faint song being carried on the breeze across the field. She strained to hear it. The song sounded vaguely familiar; like the song she had once mustered up her last bits of strength to sing out into the darkness as her body was being consumed by the darkness. The song seemed louder. Vedanna ran in the direction it seemed to be coming from! As she ran, the song became louder and louder. It was her song! Someone was singing her song! The song led her to the entrance of a cavern. This cavern was dark. For a moment her mind flashed back to the day the two guardians had brought her to a similar cavern. The memory made her blood feel cold within her. Vedanna remembered the tormenters and their screams and howls, as they slashed at her in the darkness. Fear began to rise up from deep within her. She had not felt this fear for such a long time; perhaps since she had been in the chamber surrounded by tormenters. Could she walk into the consuming darkness and find who was singing her song? Did she really want to see what lay within the cavern? Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 12
The thoughts weighed heavy upon Vedanna, lulling her to sleep near the entrance of the cavern. Then deep within her rose up an urge to sing this song, her song, back to whomever was singing within the cavern. Vedanna took a deep breath and began to sing loudly. The fear left her and she instantly felt free from the weight that was lulling her to sleep. She breathed again, deeply and sang even louder into the cavern. Then taking another deep breath she fully opened her eyes and stepped into the consuming darkness within. At first her eyes were not adjusted to the darkness. She walked into stones and nearly fell over others on the floor. Vedanna began to doubt if she could find her way to the person singing! It had been so long ago since she had learned to see in this kind of darkness. But from someplace deep within she remembered how she had learned to see. And soon she could see quite well; not stumbling or running into things. Vedanna kept singing the song in reply to the song she had once sung. Soon she found herself standing in a chamber. Within this chamber she could see a metal cage; memories raced through her mind - the metal bars, the wooden bench, the tormenters! The tormenters! Vedanna snapped back to where she was. Gathering herself. Then she saw them, the tormenters. She knew them well! The first desire within her was to run from them. The tormenters stood staring at her, as if watching to see what she would do. They seemed ready to rip her to shreds! After all the person in the cell was nearly dead, Vedanna would be fresh torment for them. But from deep within she knew that if she turned to run, they would put her into the cell again. Vedanna looked for a moment; peering into the cell, through the metal bars at the corpse of a body, nearly lifeless, laying on the wooden bench, laboring to breathe. She could see wounds and puss and smell the rotting flesh. Only this one had no eyes in her head. Where her eyes should be there were gaping holes that seemed to be full of infection and death. The tormenters had taken the ability to see in the darkness away from this one. Deep within Vedanna felt that this could have been her, if she had not begun to sing out into the darkness. Then she saw it! The golden key hanging from a ring on a rock in the chamber. Vedanna took a step toward it boldly. The tormenters eyes widened. The chamber was silent. Then she took another step toward the key and another. The tormenters began to howl and sheik as if in pain and horror at the very thought of her actions.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 13
Vedanna grasped the key in her hand, and turned to walk back to the cell. The tormenters now appeared anxious, yet ready to devour her if she dared move. Again, boldly, Vedanna took a step and then another, ignoring the tormenters howls and shrieks. She only looked at the cell and the person who was locked inside it. Now Vedanna stood at the door to the cell, holding the key in her hands. She quickly placed it in the lock and tried to turn it. The key wouldn’t turn! The lock was stuck! Vedanna’s mind raced, she knew the tormenters were watching her closely. She tried again, but the lock wouldn’t open. She quickly looked around the room. Perhaps there was another key! Nothing! Then she remembered how the man had handed her the key. And how she had to will her dying body to use the key to unlock the lock. He had not done it for her, she had to open the cell door herself. But how could this person, who had no eyes, even know where to find the key which she held, or the lock? Vedanna gathered courage and then spoke to the person in the cell. “I’m here. I heard your song. I have the key. Do you remember seeing a key when you were placed here?” A weak voice replied, “Yes. A key…” Vedanna then reached her hand into the cell as far as she could and told the person to reach out their hand towards her voice and then they would find the key. Vedanna reached deep inside the cell, straining to reach in deeper, encouraging the person within to reach back. This one was so near death, but Vedanna had risked so much to find her. This one had to be freed! There had to be a way! Vedanna spoke firmly to the person in the cell, saying, “You must use all your remaining strength and grasp the key. Then you must open the lock to the door. When you do then I can help you out of the consuming darkness.”
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 14
“You must grasp the key!” “You must open the lock!” “You must do this!” The person within the cell began to reach for the key. Then the beasts began to howl and shriek again. The person stopped reaching. Vedanna spoke loudly now to the person, “You must grasp the key and free yourself! Please take the key! I can only help you when you are free.” Again, this person began reaching for the key in her hand. Vedanna could see the pain in this one’s body as she reached for the key; as if the very act of grasping the key might end the life that remained. Again, the person reached, and again. Finally, the key was in her hands! Now remained the task of opening the lock. Vedanna stood by the door to the cell and began to guide this blind, dying person toward the lock. Barely standing, this one stumbled to the door, nearly dropping the key in exhaustion. Then mustering up what strength was left, her hands reached out and found the lock. Placing the key inside of it, the lock opened! The door swung open and this one fell to the ground nearly lifeless. Quickly, Vedanna picked up her body and turned to carry it out of the chamber. Much like had been done to her so long ago. Vedanna took a moment to pause and look at the beasts. She looked into their eyes and saw a glimmer of dim light. As if they too were tormented by the darkness. She looked again and just saw a tormenting beast. Vedanna smiled and turned, holding the body of the freed person and walked out of the cavern and the consuming darkness; back into the light and the field of grass. It was almost as if she had done this a thousand times. She carried the body out into the light, laid it in the grass and watched a truly amazing thing happen! The light and the grass began to knit together the festering wounds; cleansing them as it did. Ever so gently the light and grass entered the places that needed healing and mended the body. The person would wince in pain at times then relax, then wince again. This one, too, like she did so long ago, had to go through this process of healing. Letting the healing come from the light and the grass and the colors. Only these could heal the person and restore what the darkness had consumed.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 15
Soon the eyes began to heal. The light shone brightly into the gaping holes in the skull of this person. The person cried out in pain! “Oh, please stop! Let me die! The pain is too much!” But the light seemed to comfort the person as they cried out in pain. It seemed to wash over the pain and subdue it. At one point as the person cried out, the light seemed to gently lull the person to sleep. Causing them to rest, taking away the sensation of healing. Causing them to forget the healing and the pain. The light knew the healing could not be complete if this person continued to feel it. Vedanna watched in amazement as the light caused this one to sleep. Then the light and the grass and the colors completed their work on this body; fully restoring the flesh that had been torn, removing the infectious puss and closing the festering wounds. Vedanna watched intently as the eyes were fully restored. The eyes began to be reformed inside the empty sockets. They were eyes, but they appeared lifeless. Vedanna reached over to close the eye lids over the eyes; fearing that the light might be too intense for the newly formed eyes. Under her hand she could feel the eyes moving, they were coming alive! She pulled back her hand quickly, afraid she may have stopped the healing process. But when she did, the eye lids opened slowly and the newly formed eyes looked at her. The eyes were alive and focused on her! She had felt them come alive! And now they were looking at her! Then the eyes closed and appeared to rest. The whole body of this person appeared to rest upon the grass. It appeared whole. Then Vedanna remembered the road, Una, and the others she had been walking with earlier that day. Would she catch up with them before darkness fell? Vedanna gently picked up the resting person in her arms and carried her across the field, finding the path into the forest. Vedanna stepped into the forest, leaving behind the cavern, the tormenters, the grass and the light. Stepping into shades of grey and shadows. But she was carrying life. The life was what mattered. Perhaps this is how the man whom had rescued her had felt? Vedanna entered the forest. As soon as her foot touched the path, the trees appeared to stir, as if stirring from a deep slumber. Their branches moved and the light began to shine on the path and ground beneath the trees. Then the trees began to sing! The trees sang her the song, her song, and the song of the person; they sang every one’s song! The song that all people sing deep within them…
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 16
Boldly, now Vedanna carried the person through the forest out the other side. Waking her up, setting her feet on the path, they leaned on each other walking toward the road. Vedanna asked, “What is your name?” “Idola”, the women replied. Idola gained strength with each step they took. Finally, they came to the road. Vedanna helped Idola to sit on a rock to rest. Then Vedanna knelt down and removed the shoes from her own feet; dusting off Idola’s feet, Vedanna placed the shoes on these newly healed feet and tied them snugly. Then helping Idola to stand, she noticed a garment laying near the rock. Vedanna picked the garment and placed it on Idola’s body. Idola was stronger now, strong enough to walk alone on the road. Vedanna told Idola the same words the man had told her long ago, “Follow the path. Stay on the path and it will bring you to a mountain, go up the mountain and there you will find a city. Enter the city and you will know.” Eagerly Idola began walking down the road toward the city. Vedanna stood watching, as Idola now began to dance and skip and lift her hands to the sky. Then Idola stopped and looked back and waved. Vedanna didn’t wave back, instead she lifted her hands and danced! Idola continued down the road dancing. Vedanna knew that this one had been spared from the death of forgetting; just as she had been not so long ago. Standing there she remembered Una and the group of people she had shared part of the journey with. Who she had walked with and slept alongside the road with, and the stories each one told of their own freedom. Vedanna wanted to run down the road, past Idola and rejoin the group, but knew she couldn’t leave Idola behind. So instead Vedanna stayed, sitting on the rock, at the end of the path which led from the forest to the road. Vedanna knew that Idola would meet Una and the others, and talk, rest and journey together toward the mountain and find the city. And that when she completed her journey, these ones would be waiting there for her. But yet Vedanna felt a desire deep within her to stay behind. Standing upon the rock which she had sat, she looked around her, for another path. Other paths which might lead her back through the forest and back to a field and back to a cavern.
Darkness – all rights reserved Jessica L Hanson CHt, LLC Page 17
​Back to a cavern of forgetfulness, where deep within a cell, surrounded by tormenters, someone was singing their song; her song, everyone’s song. With the death of remembrance closing in, life draining from their shredded, wounded body. Would she go back? Did she dare go back and give the key to the dying body in the cell. Risking her own freedom and life to free that one. Risk losing herself in the consuming darkness of forgetfulness! Or should she simply stay on the road and finish her own journey to the mountain and enter the city? As Vedanna pondered these questions in her heart and mind, she noticed off in the distance, an object appeared. It moved closer and closer, as if searching for something. Then a memory came to her; one from long, long ago…. Vedanna was two years old and two guardians showed her a fire cloud. They invited her to ride with them on the fire cloud. It carried them far off into the heavens above, to a city, to a library. And in that library, she remembered reading the book of her life. The fire cloud she was now watching approached her, it came to a stop in the sky above her. As she looked up into it, she saw a light and, in that light, stood a man. The man whom had walked into her chamber of forgetful, consuming darkness and gave her the key to free herself. He looked down to her and smiled. Then he stepped back into the light. As if in a dream, Vedanna saw the tribunal council chambers. The blood red marble floor beneath her feet which seemed to be alive. As she looked up, she saw the same tribunal assembled before her. Only this time there was an empty chair among them. The high elder stepped down onto the blood red marble floor where she stood, and extended his hand toward her. She reached back and grasped his hand firmly. Then they bowed slightly towards each other. Deep within she knew, all that she had known all along, and as she knew, she also knew a deeper knowing - a knowing of responsibility, honor and love. Taking his place back among the tribunal of elders, the high elder spoke to her, like he had long ago, but this time, saying, “Would you join us?” Pointing to the empty chair in their midst. Vedanna closed her eyes. Feeling the blood red marble floor beneath her feet and remembered - the fire clouds, the guardians, the library, the tribunal, the cavern, the tormenters, the man, the road, Una, Idola, and she remembered… She had dared to look into the eyes of her tormenters and she saw a faint glimmer of light…​​

The world is full of people and opinions.
You owe it to yourself to listen to all sides and make your own informed decisions.
I am receiving calls from people who are in so much fear that they cannot sleep, their lives are controlled by fear.

I do not endorse the link below, I am only sharing to help you decide what is right for you. I do however agree with her comments about the fear which has been imposed upon society.

https://www.bitchute.com/video/P2sSal9ZgThy/

Here’s a simple reminder I made for myself when I was going through some tough times. I hope it inspires and lifts you up.

The reminders all on one paper.

All pun intended - people with a sense of porpoise (purpose) tend to live happier, healthier, longer lives!
If you live near the ocean or frequently interact with porpoises, then I’d say your already quite happy!
For the rest of us land locked folks, having a purpose keeps us going.
There are stories of those who survived the horrible conditions of a concentration camp because they found a purpose to live everyday.
When shipwrecked, the younger sailors died first, and the older seasoned sailors survived again and again, because they had porpoise and purpose! Experience taught them that their odds of being found and rescued were good. Sometimes porpoises would actually help save their lives.
The Japanese have a word “ikigai” which means purpose in life or life worth living.
A life worth living and a life with purpose keep people healthier longer. The purpose may be large or small, but it gives the person a reason to get up, eat, and live another day.
Volunteering, caring for others, cleaning up trash; whatever gives your life meaning, engage in that activity.
Studies have shown that people who have ikigai or purpose, spend less time in the hospital, have lower risks of developing heart or blood sugar issues and live longer in general, even with underlying medical issues.
As this new year progresses, why not embrace your porpoise or purpose in life and live a life worth living!
And yes, porpoises have a lot to teach us about happiness! Just do a bit of research and you will understand.
Need help finding your purpose in life- close your eyes and think about what makes you happy or what are you doing when you feel your best? Then do more of that!
If you still need help, give me a call:)

As I study and write my next book I found this interesting tidbit:
Before the 20th century, missionaries and other people going to the south sea islands were often killed and eaten by cannibals. These cannibals, however, would never eat the flesh of a man who smoked because they would become violently ill; much like how a young boy becomes ill after smoking his dads cigar or cigarette.
(Infinite Contact, by Ernest L Norman, page 121)

This is the only instance I can think of where smoking might help you. You still would get killed but not eaten!