The Frontier of the Unknown & The Mastery of Spiritual Fiction

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

                   It was inevitable that I come back to a place where there are no words. As I'm escorted into this great hall, I recognize the place I've dreamt about so many times before. I've seen so many faces, so many hands, so many peoples bodies, I don't see the eyes anymore. I don't hear voices. I see and hear and feel the light. The light of my many children, just as I wrote so many years ago. Radiant bodies of light bouncing and chanting my name, I'm both bummed and elated.

                   I'm walked to the left of the stage, up the stairs. Stepping up to the podium, I speak to the microphone, "Does anyone want a reading?" The place explodes with cheers and laughter. The crowd has become a single breathing seething organism. I'm not afraid, but I should be.

                    As Master of Ceremonies, Gunter steps up from behind the curtain stage left. Quickly, he is apologizing to me, "Sorry old man, we didn't know what else to do." "Were it still up to you, we would all be reading as good as you do." "Where's the profit in that?"

                   Gunter is right, but I still feel ripped off. I can't remember if I've ever felt so jerked around. But somehow I know this is going to work. And despite the ugliness of an actual competitive "Psych Out," I have arrived. I have always loved the stage.

                   Entering from stage left, I am greeted by; Carl, Bettina, Maria, Benjamin, Vera and Terrence. Each barely registers my presence much less anything else as they are seated in chairs that appear almost by them selves. They comfortably seat and slip quietly back into Kriya Yoga breathing. These are my competitors. It's going to be a bumpy night. The silence on the stage, the chaos in the pit. I glare at Gunter once more. I know he can feel my anger, he extends his hand to draw me back to the podium, Saying to the hall, "This is the man with the plan, why don't you tell us Phillip why we are all here tonight."

                   Stuffing my emotions, I walk back to Gunter's left speaking to the mike. "I'm sorry, I don't think I ever got my invitation." "I guess I'm just another piece of property for whomever paid for the hall." The crowd  goes Woo. Gunter places his hand over the mike, reminding me that I was the one that wrote about all this and that this is the final push to get my work accepted by the advanced literary society. "Sorry friends, I'm just feeling a little put out because you right now, know more about why we're here for tonight than I do." Pause for effect, "But if I had to guess,.......," a chorus of soft laughter of recognition, "Thank you, we're here to test out the, INTER SENSORY PERCEPTION BATTERY." "Does everyone have their no. two pencils," I look around feinging bewilderment, "what?"  "No one uses pencils anymore, I suppose it's going to be a waste time to ask for a slide rule?" The audience roars out of religious revelry. The mob is ready. I see cameras mounted all around on stage and in the balconies, all focused in on me like the buffet I always knew I would become.

                   "And if I am correct,....," I look over to Gunter, he furtively glances to the floor then sheepishly back at me, "The world will be saved with the voice of the child!"  The swarm of international readers is cheering dancing on my fingertips. "It seems everyone here tonight has read my books." I'm starting to feel nauseous again. I have to take a deep breathe. "I would like to introduce the wonderful players in tonights little game." Lights go up on the stage. "To your left we have this gentle giant, Carl Benz, Take a bow Carl ." "Next to him we have the equally tall and brilliant Bettina Van Der Bosch, I wish I had time to tell you more about each one of these wonderful people." "Next is the lovely and very feeling Maria Gaultier," she stands and then sits back down very quickly. "And next we have the very young but talented Dr. Benjamin Lehrer." "I had to visit his examination lab earlier this evening, long story." "And Vera Ming Wong, a total standup scientist of the soul," Vera gives me another dirty look, and then sits back down on her hands as if to say. "And finally we have my dear friend Terrence Tabor who I just learned is a collector of alien artifacts," pause,......, "and now I would like a word from our sponsors." I nod to Gunter to come back to the podium.

                    Looking to me for approval, I send him a sideways grim, He starts hesitantly. "I owe my dear friend Phillip an apology, it's true." "Mr. Johnson, in fact, wasn't invited, he was abducted, willingly.  Phillip was told to come to our fair city to perform another routine extraction of my one time business partner." "Now I'ld like you to put your hands together for our C. E. O. of Oraca International, Ms. Gretchen Van Hauer." Come on out Gretchen." She is resplendent and beaming from stage left, she sends me the warmest and most loving smile of concern and apology as she floats out to me on the stage. I'm all surprised out. My gang of eight now is complete. She approaches the microphone.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

                   "It is with great pride that I get to announce the rollout of our latest upgrade in personality inventories." Gretchen is absolutely radiant! "Tonight, you will get to see our panel of experts beta test the INTER SENSORY PERCEPTION BATTERY." "Phillip, will you be competing with us here tonight?" "It is your brainchild," she extends her arm toward me with feeling.

                   It's now midnight Brussels time, April 24th, 2031. At this moment the hall receives a welcome calm. A warm solemn hush overtakes the audience. What at first seemed like total carny, now becomes sober science. From wrought anticipation to patient revery, the crowd unites for the love of our arts. I know these witnesses are all my faithful readers, of whom many have been following since I had first offered to prove this creative Evidentiary Assertion. "I will be my privilege to get to play with all of you this evening!" The tension is broken, I hug Gretchen and Gunter in turn. The audience applauds in sympathy. They sense something very special is indeed happening. And it's not about me.

                   Gretchen announces, "The competition will be in three phases." "The first is in general readings and diagnostics." Wireless keypads are handed out to each of the audience members. "Votes will be tabulated recording each persons reactions to every individuals readings." "One or two points will be given for every near or direct hit whenever a reader gets an accurate read with their client." She continues in outlining the rules for the competition, "The second Phase will entail analysis by comparative review of observable facts, often people don't even know when their reader is right, so confidence levels will be factored into the correlative scores by computer." "There is provided the opt out button on your keypads for anyone who doesn't want their personal records checked for the accuracy of the readings." "Please people, if your not interested in getting read in public, do not volunteer." "It's perfectly understandable if you don't want us looking into your vital statistics" She finishes up by saying, "The final phase of the tests this evening will be for general showmanship." "And we all know who'll win that," Gretchen says smiling gently over at me. Soft laughter comes from the gallery.

                   It's approaching my bedtime in the U. S. I'm starting to split into over here and again somewhere else over here. I'm starting to see all my dreams unfold before me, just like my very first deja vu. I've adapted myself to being in at least two places at once, all the time. And I'm still living out all my own premonitions. I address the gathering affectionately, "May I say to you, my esteemed readers and designers, in spite of being tricked into coming here tonight, I couldn't be happier to be here with all of you." "Thank you so very much for coming tonight." "Let the games begin!"