Excerpt from “The Joinings“:

As we were born into new bodies and new capabilities, we walked upright and surveyed our world.  Our instincts and intellect drove us forward.  We built tools and fire.  We mastered the planet and its creatures.  We became self-aware and questioning.  We formed tribes and worked together to build homes and families.  We hunted together, collectively sensing the mystical forces at play in the universe.  Our early cultures honoured our elders, worshipped the beasts that we killed, developed cunning and resourcefulness, as well as a spiritual sense to help us not only survive but thrive in an untamed world.

But as our populations grew and agriculture led us to create permanent homes and settlements, our aggressive tendencies turned us away from our instinctive, spiritual natures and instead forged warriors and conquerors.  We built empires and dominated those that were weaker physically.  Groups that remained in the more primitive, mystical world of the past became easy targets for slavery and slaughter, oppression and cruelty.  Individual power became an ambition of man, overcoming the clan lifestyle.  The value of human life was low if it stood in the way of progress and domination.  Instead of honouring the natural world and the creatures that sustained us, we created new gods, powerful ones that would lead us forward in our quest for domination.

Ultimately, we awoke to a more sophisticated age and began to move away from the barbarianism of the past.  We formed governments and religion.  We created classes and rulers.  Laws governed our behaviour in society; religious leaders dictated morality.  The human consciousness imagined exultant possibilities and followed the new orders without question.

But our curious minds would always lead us to new territory. While authority and discipline, piety and unquestioning belief in a higher power may have been necessary at a particular stage to drive us forward, eventually, it became oppressive.  Despite the answers to life and creation offered by religion, we dug deeper.  Science and astronomy, philosophy and art triggered a renaissance of new ideas and new abilities.  We discovered ways to manipulate our planet’s resources, asked new questions about our existence, and uncovered previously unimagined answers.  Humanity’s progress could not be stopped.  Prosperity and technological advances transformed our way of life at an increasingly rapid pace.  Empire-building again became a focus but we discovered that war was not the only way to dominate other cultures.

At each stage in the development of our culture and our consciousness, the life conditions of previous stages influenced our direction, in some cases as a negative force.  We reacted to that which seemed wrong instead of out of pure creation and conscious choice.  Not all areas of the world progressed at the same pace and within regions one might find evidence of past and present cultures.  Yet, overall, our progress was steady.

A natural next stage was a revolutionary worldview, an understanding that many of our advances were endangering our planet.  For peoples who had been born and bred in a prosperous environment free of war and struggles, many grew more sensitive to less fortunate citizens of the world.  They understood the effect that man’s rapid progress was having on our natural resources.  They fought to bring harmony and spirituality, a return to more primitive principles when the earth was worshipped for sustaining us – not destroyed and used without concern.  This led to a philosophical merging of all great wisdoms, religion, and spirituality and a natural disdain for past structures that still sought to dominate the planet.

But a power struggle remained and for those cultures left out of the prosperity and advancement curve, still rooted in past cultural stages, resentment and violence brewed – particularly towards those who dominated the world stage. 

And it came to pass that with so many disparate cultures and worldviews, with violence and unhappiness rampant in some areas of the world, that a relatively small percentage of the human population were able to instigate unprecedented death and destruction upon the entire planet.

Copyright © Eden Remme Watt 2010

I’ve always been a little uncomfortable with organized religion.  As someone who’d never attended church, always looking from the outside in, the assertion that scriptures written millennia ago contained the ‘words of God’ seemed ludicrous.  How could there be billions of rational people around the world, in diverse groups, claiming that their particular book, their beliefs, their way, should dictate behaviour, morality, and rituals, in this modern day? 

I wondered how they could follow so blindly and I suppose that I shared a natural disdain, along with other ‘non-believers’, for those that insisted it was “their way or the hell-way”.  There may have even been a beneath-the-surface, irrational, school-girl resentment towards those groups from which I felt excluded.

I apologize to anyone who might find my opening statements offensive, however, before you condemn me Shirley Sherrod-style, please read on….

Ironically, in my twenties and at my most rebellious period towards traditional belief systems, I married a Baptist Minister’s son.  It was an eye opener certainly but even this new family of church-goers were unlikely to be able to convert me to their ‘ways’.  And fortunately, they never tried… which ran contrary to my expectations at the time.

The best lessons in life come from personal experience and contact with others.  To that end, I encourage you to read this article  in ChristianWeek about Pastor bob and MJ Paterson-Watt (yes, another minister on the in-law side) from Woodbine Heights Baptist Church and their involvement with the Daily Bread Food Bank, the Shoelace Collective and Not Far From the Tree.  They work with others in the community to grow and pick local fruits and vegetables which are then shared with those less fortunate.  bob and MJ and their associates are shining examples of church leaders who are committed to do good both for their community and the world at large without concern for differing beliefs or enforcing theirs on anyone else.

So, now, as a ‘mature’ 40-something who has searched a little deeper, observed the good that these community groups of ‘believers’ can do, and explored spirituality at both an intellectual and instinctive level, I understand so much more.  Actually, ‘understand’ is not really the right word, perhaps ‘sense’, ‘empathize’, and ‘appreciate’ are all more appropriate.

When I was researching and writing “Vision Speak”, my primary interest was humanity, our evolution and growth, spirituality and religion, and its effect on society.  Whether I was researching to stimulate my imagination for my writing or for my own personal enlightenment cannot be separated.  The goals were one and the same.  During this stage, I came to understand that all the great religions have timeless wisdom.  Many of the rituals practiced within their hallowed halls have true meaning for the participants.  They help to bring people closer to the source of their beliefs and to each other.  Good religions bring people together in love and harmony and a community spirit.  Wise spiritual leaders know that their way is not the only way yet they are focused on leading those that want to practice with them, using the teachings that have inspired them.  How could anyone possibly resent that? 

Although traditional religious practices may not suit my spiritual journey in life, it has certainly proven to be a viable and successful model for billions of people for many centuries. 

Yet, we have all seen examples in the news and during the course of our history, where horrible death and destruction were enacted in the name of religion.  In my novel, I imagined a society where religion was controlled so that no group could ever claim their way as the only way.  Exclusivity was forbidden and I speculated on where humanity might go next if we could bring an end to battles over belief systems and wars and widespread violence.  By the end of this first book, the possibility of a collective, harmonized way forward for humanity is exposed.  So, now I am excited for the next stage in this journey, for both my fictional world and my own growth.  Certainly, initiatives such as that demonstrated by bob and MJ show what can be accomplished with a community in harmony.  Imagine this on a world scale with a unified collective consciousness.

I recently completed a fascinating course with EnlightenNext called the “Evolutionary’s Guide to Changing the World”.  This brings to mind some of the course material about the evolution of culture, spiral dynamics, and the observation that as culture and consciousness progresses, we can see that each new stage is not born purely out of creation but often in reaction to the past stage. 

It strikes me that in my youthful, reactionary attitude towards religion, I was only seeing the negatives and looking for something drastically different.  Clearly the vast majority of these groups are focused on living in a community of love and harmony, caring for those less fortunate and creating a better world for their children.  What could possibly be wrong with that?

This Eulogy for Grandma Jean was written by her youngest daughter Susan and delivered at her memorial event in April.  Susan shares some of Jean’s final reflections and insights on death and the afterlife…

Thank you all for being here today, to help celebrate Mom’s life.  Mom was a great one to collect and quote poetry.   Recently I was going through her wallet and came across this very dog-eared newspaper clipping – had likely been in her wallet for years.  It’s entitled “Nobody is Perfect”, and I’ll read you what it says: 

“Each one of us is a mixture of good qualities and some perhaps not so good qualities.  In considering our fellow man we should remember his good qualities and realize that his faults only prove that he is, after all, a human being.  We should refrain from making harsh judgment of a person just because he happens to be a dirty, rotten, no good son of a bitch!”

It’s so like Mom to have saved this quote – shows her impish sense of humour.  I don’t know if anyone has ever done a formal study, but I believe that all Newfoundlanders are born with a humour gene – Mom certainly loved to see the funny side of things, loved to laugh. 

...with her four daughters and first husband, Wib

In the last couple of years Mom’s memory was beginning to fail.  She would get frustrated by this at times, and ask me why it was she couldn’t remember anything – I’d explain that she was having little strokes and that they affected her short term memory.   One day she said to me, “You know it isn’t all bad, not being able to remember – I’ve even forgotten who I didn’t used to like!”   I would tell her that from time to time, as she had forgotten she said it, and she got a kick out of it every time.

I spent a good deal of time with Mom in these last 3 months, and it was such a gift.  Not always easy, but as time went on, very rewarding.  Mom died the way she lived her life – curious about what was happening, but asking for nothing; being as independent as she could be; and appreciating whatever it was that people gave her.   She lived, and died with dignity and strength. 

Mom believed very much in not looking back – only forward.  Yet, over these last few years whenever I tried to engage her in discussions about what might be next for her, she did not want to go there either.  She would just say, “Oh well dear, everybody’s got to kick the bucket some day.” – and I knew that was the end of that topic. 

The highlight of Mom’s life in these last few years was her monthly trips to the casino with Aub.  Although she did ‘donate’ far more money than not, she also won from time to time.  The last time she won a pot we decided not to put the money in the bank – that way every time she looked into her wallet (which she did quite often) and saw all that money, she was delighted anew!   So in December, when Aub asked her if she wanted to go gambling, and she declined, we knew she really wasn’t feeling well.   She was admitted to hospital a few weeks later.

Most of you have your own memories of Mom, involving perhaps her grit, her sense of humour, her independence,

...with her first two grandchildren

generosity, love of family … today I’d like to share with you some highlights of conversations I had with Mom in these last few months, which demonstrate the grace and dignity Mom displayed making the transition from believing she would recover and go home, to accepting her death. 

Mom was raised in the Anglican Church in her youth, but had not been a church goer for most of her adult life.  In the past few years she had begun to seriously question religion, and even the presence of God.  We have had many conversations in which she asked “It says in the Bible that Jesus is the son of God; but it never says where God came from.  Now answer me that.”  So I’d tell her my theories about a Higher Power, discuss infinity, offer thoughts from theologians far more intelligent than me … but she always seemed unconvinced.   After she was admitted to hospital in January, she brought up this issue again, and for a change I said the first thing that came into my head – that I didn’t think we could understand God with our heads, only with our hearts.  I said, it’s like love Mom – you can’t see love, you can’t touch it or paint it – but you know it’s real – you can feel what a powerful force love is.  She seemed astonished at this thought and said, “Oh, I see now.  So God is Love.  Yes, I see that now.”   Mom’s memory was such that she would not have consciously remembered that conversation 5 minutes after it was over; but it is interesting that she never asked me that question again.  

For about the first month and a half that she was in hospital every day I went in she would ask me why she was there, and when she would be going home.  I would tell her that she had almost died at admission, and then once again and she would be astonished, then say – “Well, everybody’s got to kick the bucket some day.”

In early February she began quoting a poem I’d never heard before – it’s a hymn and it’s written on the back of your program.  It’s called “The Lost Chord”.  Mom remembered the lines:

Seated one day at the organ, I was weary and ill at ease.

My fingers wandered idly over the noisy keys.

I knew not what I was playing, or what I was thinking then,

But my fingers struck one chord; it was the sound of the Great Amen.

She said to me that what the people were talking about in that poem was death.  But she made it very clear that SHE wasn’t dying – it’s just what that poem was about.  I said that I understood.   Over the next weeks, after Patti had found the hymn on the internet and I printed it out, I would read it to her in its entirety, which she seemed to enjoy.  

One day in early March she asked me, “When I’m finished here, where will I go?”  I said, “You mean here, like on earth?”  And she said yes.  I said, “You’ll go to heaven Mom.”  She said, “Heaven, like up in the sky?  Do you really think so?  Do you believe there’s a heaven?”  I said that I certainly did think so, but then her face darkened and she said, “What about Hell? – maybe that’s where I’ll go.”  And I said, “Oh no Mom, Hell is here on earth.”  Despite her frailty her eyes widened, she drew herself up and with pointed finger she said, “You are absolutely right about that!”  So we talked about heaven, and who all would be there waiting to see her.  Finally she said, “Hmm, I guess nobody really knows.  I mean, you have to die to find out.”  I confirmed that that was true, and then with a twinkle in her eye she asked me – “If I get there, do you want me to send you a sign?”  I said I definitely did.  I’m still waiting.

Jean at 92

A few days later she asked me what will happen when there is only one person left on earth.  I explained to her that it was very unlikely due to our population growth.  She wanted to know what would happen when we ran out of room here on earth, and I said “Well they’re doing space exploration all the time – I suppose when Earth gets full, lots of people will go to other planets to live.  She seemed fascinated by this and said she was really glad she’d asked me this.   But she continued to ask that question over and over, finally asking this – “But if there WERE only one person left on earth, it’s unlikely that it would be somebody in my age bracket, isn’t it?”   I said, that simply wouldn’t happen, that someone as old as she was would not be left as the last person on Earth.  She never asked me that question again. 

She had stopped by this point asking why she was in hospital, or when she would be going home.  She seemed very content, and enjoyed visiting with whoever came to see her.  One day when my sons went in to visit her she immediately called for a nurse.  When the nurse came in she said, “There you are.  Two young bachelors – take your pick.”  

The day before she died I spent quite a bit of time with her, reading to her, listening to music, talking of this and that.  She was drifting in and out of sleep but awoke once and said, “I heard it Susan – The Great Amen” – I asked her what it sounded like and she said it was absolutely beautiful.  I said that the next time she heard it she’d be in Heaven, and she said, “I’m ready to go – how do I get there?”  I said she just needed to let go.  Just let go.  Then she asked if I was coming too.  I said, “Uh, I don’t think so … not for a few decades.”  She just said, “Oh, okay.” 

The next morning when I went in she was weaker yet, but still talkative.  I fed her lunch and she drifted off to sleep, then woke suddenly and said, “They were wrong.  It isn’t the end.  It’s a beginning.”  With tears in my eyes I asked her if she meant Heaven, and she said, “Yes, I think so.”  We talked again about who all would be waiting to see her and she said that would be lovely, just lovely.  Then she sent me off home for lunch, saying she was going to rest.  I kissed her forehead and told her that all her daughters loved her.   I got the call about 40 minutes later that Mom had died peacefully in her sleep.

I’m going to close by reading you a note I got from one of the nurses who cared for Mom on 1^st floor.  Llori used to work in the community with the VON Friendly Visiting program, and now works in hospital.   She wrote:

“I just wanted to send you a little note to say how much I really enjoyed all of my interactions with your mom Jean.  Everything from her being filmed for TV with those in-home exercises, to all of the fun she was in her hospital bed.  She was such a pleasure to care for – so bright, lively, funny and very witty.  She was one in a million and my life is richer for having had those experiences with her.  I miss her.  The hospital hasn’t been the same without her but she’s in a better place and I smile when I think of her.”  

I’m honoured that Lori took the time to write this note, and filled with admiration for my mom, who even in her dying days made such an impression on the people caring for her. 

After Grandma died, when my aunt was sorting through her belongings, she found a well-worn paperback novel on the bed stand.  Inside the jacket cover, in Grandma’s distinctive handwriting, was inscribed: “My favourite book of all times”, signed: “Jean Thompson”.

For a family of curious women, this old book with Grandma’s declaration has intrigued us.  I don’t remember Grandma mentioning this book yet it obviously had great meaning for her.  Since discovering it a couple of months ago, we’ve passed this old book around the family, each of us wanting to read the actual copy that Grandma had obviously paged through many times herself. 

The book is called “A Woman of Independent Means” by American novelist and playwright Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey.  Released in 1978 and her first novel, it was an unexpected bestseller and later became a play and TV miniseries.  The story is told exclusively via letters written by the main character Bess Steed Garner throughout her lifetime – primarily in the first half of the 20^th century at a time when the art of letter-writing was a regular and meaningful conduit between people. 

Bess is a memorable character – strong, sometimes overly domineering and opinionated but always loving and optimistic even after facing great tragedies.   One actually has the sense of having walked in her shoes by the end.  A prominent woman who loves travel and adores family, her need to control extends well into her twilight years demonstrated when she buys crypts for the entire family and writes her own obituary for the Dallas Morning News years before her death.  Outliving two husbands and one son, she revels in the new life of her family as she bonds with her grandchildren and marvels at the arrival of great-grandchildren, commenting: “It is such a miracle to see another generation coming to consciousness.” (p.273) 

Having read this book now myself, I concur that it is a great novel and well worth picking up if you haven’t read it.  However, a woman of 92 who had read countless books in her lifetime has credited this as her “favourite book of all times”.  This is a large statement and I wonder what it was that spoke so deeply to my grandmother.

The era of the story, the fascinating female character, and the lens to her experiences through a lifetime of personal letters must have all appealed to Grandma.  The main character, Bess, was born almost 30 years before Grandma so I also wonder if she was intrigued not only by commonalities with her own life experiences but also by a view into the life of a previous generation of women, possibly connecting her with her own mother or grandmother. 

Grandma actually underlined in dark blue ink, three completely different and unrelated passages within the book which provide some more clues:

p.84: “But do not count on others to convince you your life matters.  All of us are finally alone with only a single opinion to sustain us – our own.”

- Like Bess Steed Garner, my grandmother Jean Earle Perry Thompson was never shy about expressing her opinion and many of her descendants share that trait.  Although, this passage is really more about being self-sufficient ‘emotionally’ and self-confident… advice I will take to heart.

p.170: “It is my opinion that every couple contemplating marriage should be required to sign a contract before being issued a license.”

- Similarly to Bess, Grandma’s second husband was not the father of her children which might give one a different view of a marriage contract, even for this earlier generation…  also, perhaps Grandma related to the idea of a first marriage being for love and a second, more practical in nature..

p.176: “I would like to believe that the soul sets out on a journey of its own long before the body ceases to breathe so that by the time those left behind begin to mourn, our traveler has already embarked in another country.”

- no doubt, Grandma was introspective about death and what would come afterwards although she never shared those thoughts with me.  Whenever I would ask her how she was, her most common response was: “Oh, I’m fine dear, let’s talk about you…”

Another interesting angle to me is that Mrs. Hailey has credited her maternal grandmother as the inspiration for “A Woman of Independent Means”.…and now, here I am inquiring about my maternal grandmother’s passion for this novel…

As a writer myself, I don’t think there could be a greater compliment that anyone could give a writer than the one my grandmother inscribed in her paperback - so I must find a way to deliver this one to Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey.

Grandma’s 93^rd birthday was last week but she is no longer alive on Earth so she missed it. 

Grandma Jean departed in March.    Although resistant for many years, in the end she understood that there was something more waiting. She knew it was her time and so she left us in peace.  It was a final gift from a generous and loving woman to those of us that would mourn her passing.  Instead we are left to wonder and muse upon what she might be doing now, to cherish her life lessons (primarily taught by example) and to always know her pride in us.

Grandma never met Jasper.  At least we don’t think so.  In any case, we didn’t witness their encounter if in fact there was one.  Jasper was born on June 14^th, the first child of my sister, so he is now 18 days old, having breathed his first breath less than three months after Grandma breathed her last.   

As it’s been years since I’ve spent time with a newborn, I’d forgotten how enthralling it is just to stare at the darling little face of burgeoning awareness, his instinctive cries for survival, his utter dependence on his loving caregivers, and, of course, his impact on everyone he touches. How does such a tiny little creature completely transform the nature of life to his new family?  One can only stand by in awe when confronted with the reality of how fast we can fall desperately in love, how immediately our own life can become secondary to another.

2010 is a landmark year for our family to have witnessed the wonder of both life and death in such an intimate manner.  

Both Grandma and Jasper have shown me that everything in the universe we need is available right now.  In this exact moment of time, everything is as it should be.   This is something that I will have to remind myself of every day.

Goodbye Grandma, you were an inspiration. I would love to know what you are up to now but I imagine I will find out soon enough..

And Jasper, welcome to our planet!  What a joy it will be to watch you grow…

Au revoir Grandma

A brand new life

My little sister is in the hospital tonight, giving birth to her first child.  Probably right now, she is screaming in agony as this new life struggles to escape from her womb.

We all started this way but don’t remember our own startling arrival on earth.  However, mothers around the world will never forget the excruciating pain, nor the exhilirating satisfaction that come hand in hand with delivering a child.

It’s hazy for me now, with almost two decades since the last experience, but some things are like yesterday.  For example, did I mention the pain?  Ouch!  Sorry, Becky, but as everyone tells you, it will be worth it, honestly.

So, as I’m waiting to hear news of my new nephew, I’m wondering at what point this little creature will become conscious.  With consciousness at the most basic level meaning awareness, is it the shock of the cold and light and emergence that forces him to awaken to life on earth? 

But perhaps he was already conscious, perhaps in unity with his mother…

I just signed up for a six week virtual course, called “The Evolutionary’s Guide to Changing the World”. 

The synopsis of the course from http://www.evolutionaryworldview.com/course is:

“This is the first course ever offered by the EnlightenNext magazine team. Based on 18 years of spiritual and philosophical investigation in the pages of the magazine, the aim of the course is to provide you with a cutting-edge evolutionary worldview and the skills to apply that perspective so that you can become a 21st-century agent of change.”

Topics range from the evolution of the interior dimension or consciousness to historical perspectives on culture and spiral dynamics to spiritual development and creating a new culture for the future.  I am very intrigued with the material, the course leaders and their backgrounds, and the people that I will be exchanging ideas with over this six week period. 

I hope to share more perspective on this when I have completed the course.

Consciousness and Evolution, these two concepts together can stimulate great discussions in this new age of spirituality.  When I search on these two terms, I find countless groups and books and information.  I really had no idea how much was going on with this new field of study until I found myself immersed in the possibilities.

When I was researching and writing “Vision Speak”, I was first struck by Jung’s theory of the collective unconscious and Campbell’s writings and dialogs on the topic, especially with respect to spirituality and mythology.  I imagined that if we could relate at the same level of consciousness where dreams are possible but in a waking state, enabling us to connect to the vision source, we would be poised to evolve to truly spiritual and connected life forms.  Ultimately, it could lead to a new era for humanity.

I’ve since uncovered more fascinating ideas involving the marriage of science and spirituality, how we are all connected in a quantum field of energy and the possibility of proving the existence of soul.  So many wise writers and teachers, scientists and explorers are responsible for influencing us all in these exciting new areas.  Deepak Chopra, Lynn McTaggart, James Redfield, Gregg Braden, Eckhart Tolle, IONS, EnlightenNext…. just to name a few of the groups and thought leaders that are taking us on a new journey of consciousness.

So, I wonder – will we naturally evolve to a new consciousness as a people (if only we can live in peace) or do we need to first be conscious, present, aware and committed to moving to that next state?  In other words, is it really conscious evolution that we must seek?

On the topic of “Conscious Evolution”, I recently read “The Celestine Prophecy” (over a decade late).  I’m still musing over the Nine Insights that James Redfield unveiled to the world in his spiritual adventure. Whether or not one buys into these exact insights or progression isn’t essential.  There is good reason why this book caused such a sensation in the 90’s.  He was ahead of his time with many of his ideas…

No doubt there are many more ideas floating in the universe that will help fuel this quest. 

Please share what you’ve discovered.

 Chapter 1

 “Even if there is only one possible unified theory, it is just a set of rules and equations. What is it that breathes fire into the equations and makes a universe for them to describe?”

 Dr. Stephen Hawking

Power and politics were important to Claire Tyler Olsen, had been since she’d been old enough to say the words.  Now, at just thirty, she was the youngest candidate ever to apprentice under the World Governors.  She often imagined her path to ascension late at night when she was alone in her bed, envisioned how she would lead this region and perhaps even one day head the Council of World Governors.  Yet even as she fantasized about her magnificent future, events were in motion which could jeopardize it all.

After a hectic morning where she had solved no less than five minor emergencies in the administration of the CanTor region, she paused from her work, satisfied that none of these issues would interrupt her bosses’ busy schedules.  No one was more competent or knowledgeable about the laws of the Republic and the Citizen’s Code than she was.  Governor Sharon knew it and Claire did too.  Modesty was not a required trait of great leadership so she’d never wasted any time with it.

Admiring the cityscape from her window, Claire reveled in the authority of her position, felt it pulsing through her as she gazed at the glimmering metal sea far below.  As she stared at the towering structures of the Republic city, she unconsciously began her deep breathing, sensing the collective gathering.  In moments, she reached a meditative state and connected with the citizens’ mid-day Joining.  In this peaceful inner place, there were countless others, an ambiance and togetherness unlike anything she could have imagined before the Awakening.

She became so immersed in her waking dream-like state that she didn’t hear the visitor until her door had already slid open and he stepped inside. 

“Claire, helloooo.”  Kameron took a step closer to her desk.  Her head jerked around.  “Hey, what’s with you?”

It took her a moment to compose herself.  She blinked hard, re-focusing her attention on the physical world and the tall handsome man in front of her.  “Kameron.”  She breathed his name.  “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.”

“Where have you been?”  He murmured, watching her closely.  “You look sleepy.”  He whispered the next words, a playful glint in his eyes.  “Reminds me of our last date.” When she just gazed at him in silence, his eyes narrowed.  “Claire, were you with the Joining?”  

“What?  No, sorry.”  Her voice had an edge. “Kameron, please, we agreed to keep our personal friendship out of the office.”  She was relieved to be scolding him instead of answering his question.  The bosses wouldn’t like it if they knew what she’d been doing.  World Governor Craig had recently been heard complaining about the effect on worldwide production levels since there were now two Joinings scheduled during the standard workday.  Her tone was even and confident when she asked, “What can I do for you, Kameron?”

He tapped the screen on her desk. “You have a meeting notice.”

“What?” She swiveled back to her portal screen. The meeting request glared at her.

“They just sent it so you must have been too, uh, busy to see it.  The bosses want you to join their meeting right now.  I’ve come to fetch you.” Claire jumped up, pulling her portal unit out of the socket as she asked, “What’s going on, Kameron?  I thought they were meeting with the leaders of the Science and Innovation Institute this morning.”

“Yup, that’s right.”

She raised an inquiring brow as she joined him at the door but he ignored her unspoken question, gesturing for her to go first with a gallant wave of his arm.  They made the short walk down the hallway to the conference room near the entrance of the World Governors’ suite in silence.  She would find out what was going on soon enough.

When they stepped into the room, Governor Craig’s raspy voice halted mid sentence.  Claire realized that everyone was watching her as she and Kameron took the empty seats at one end of the table.  It was unsettling to be the center of attention in a meeting she knew nothing about.  Usually when the World Governors invited her to one of their meetings, she was a silent observer, her presence barely acknowledged.  The meeting room was spacious with high ceilings, the furniture white leather and chrome but she was used to the luxurious surroundings in the Governors’ offices.  Glancing around the room, she recognized everyone although she knew the SII crew by reputation only.  There were five of them, the leader, two department heads and two of the Institute’s most brilliant scientific minds.  Her bosses, World Governors Sharon and Craig sat side by side at the opposite end of the table from her.   Individually, they inspired great respect among their colleagues and staff.  Together, they were an intimidating force.  Sharon was a stunning woman in her sixties with platinum blonde hair, always immaculately dressed.  Craig was her partner in life and politics, a powerful man with broad shoulders, granite features and steel grey hair.

Claire smiled at her friend Aaron, seated next to Craig.  He often consulted for them on scientific and medical related matters.  

Everyone`s attention remained on Claire.  She cleared her throat and watched World Governor Sharon for a cue. 

Sharon nodded at her and said.  “Claire, thank you for joining us on short notice.”  Claire smiled, amused at the expression of gratitude, wondering how they would have reacted if she hadn’t come.  They gave a command, she jumped.  That’s pretty much how it worked.  Sharon continued. “I’m not sure if you’re aware that the Institute has been working on some exciting projects.  Today we’ve just discussed the progress they’ve made on our top priority initiative.  They’ve discovered a new energy source with huge potential that could allow us to reach new places in our galaxy and even beyond.”

“That’s surreal.” Claire interlaced her manicured fingers together on the table and sat up straight in the soft leather chair. “From the little I’ve heard, it sounds exciting.  The thought of resurrecting the space program after so long is good news.”

“Yes, it is.”  Sharon leaned forward, her gaze intense.  “After this meeting, we`ll arrange a briefing for you.  For now, we want to discuss where we need your help.”

“My help?”  Claire’s voice betrayed her disbelief.  Her training and background were in the justice system.  She hadn’t taken science during her entire advanced education nor required it in her career, to date.

“Yes, your help.”  Craig interjected.  “It involves your sister and her,” he paused before saying the next word, his lip curling in distaste, “husband.”

The room went silent.  Everyone was stonefaced, waiting for her reply except for Aaron.  She noticed the flush creeping up his neck at mention of her sister.   Claire returned her attention to the World Governors and the old SII Leader, Thurstan Darnell.

Her response came out louder than intended in the still room.  “Willow and Kalesh?  What do they have to do with your scientific research?”

“May I explain, Governor?”  Thurstan requested.  At Sharon’s nod, he continued.  “Claire, we’ve had breakthroughs in harnessing the vast sea of energy that interconnects all living creatures.  This energy flows throughout the universe and has since the beginning of time.  Are you familiar with the zero point field or perhaps you’ve heard it called the unified field?”

“Just the basics.”  Claire responded.  She leaned forward on her elbows.  Her shrewd eyes, expertly accentuated with make-up, were trained on Thurstan.  “As I understand the theory, you are attempting to explain – in your scientific terms – how Vision Speak works with this field?”  Vision Speak was the ability to focus deep inside to access the collective consciousness and ultimately join with others.  When that capability had become widespread, the transformation had been termed the Awakening.  And now, there were scheduled Joinings daily when people could connect on this deep spiritual level en masse.

“Of course there’s much more to it than that.”  Thurstan sniffed, shifting uncomfortably at her direct gaze. “But, yes, what you say is generally true.  That’s not really been the focus of this particular project, though. This field has unlimited energy and potential.  We have begun to find ways to tap into it and reached new levels in our understanding.  But our means are limited in the lab.” He paused, momentarily uncertain on how much more to say.

“Do you want my assistance with your lab experiments?”  Claire’s attempt at humour fell flat.  She observed the rigid, intense expression of the SII Leader – and wished that she had kept quiet.  Alone with Sharon, she was sometimes less formal but she knew better than to joke in a meeting like this, especially in the presence of Governor Craig.  She glanced at Aaron across the table. He raised his eyes skyward for her benefit alone.

Sharon responded to her.  “Claire, to make a long story short, they’ve noticed significant activity in this universal energy field – and measurable effects on their experiments – during the scheduled Joinings.”

“What?  Are you saying something happens in a physical sense when the citizens are connected in meditation?”

Thurstan responded this time.  “Yes, it’s unbelievable.  If you understood what we were measuring in the lab, you’d be astounded at what we have observed at a quantum level.”  He cleared his throat, his Adam’s apple rolling up his long neck.  “So, we’ve all come to the conclusion that the best chance to achieve our goals, in fact the only viable way forward, would involve somehow controlling…” Again, he paused, apparently struggling for words.

“Controlling what?” Claire asked.

“To control the Joinings.  Have them focus on our experiments, on directing this energy field.”

Claire was stunned.  The Science and Innovation Institute wanted to control the Joinings.  Did they understand what they were?  She finally found her voice.  “Are you serious?”

Thurstan Darnell bristled.  “Of course.”  

“But haven’t you participated in the Joinings yourself?  Surely you know they are not controlled.”

“We disagree.  We think your sister, Willow, and especially Kalesh, are always in charge.”

Claire shook her head. “No, that’s not true.  Their abilities are so much more advanced than anyone else so they lead sometimes, seem to appear everywhere, guide the people on their way, but they don’t control.  They don’t tell anyone what to do. They encourage spiritual freedom and exploration above all else.”

“Oh please, spare us the spiritual freedom crap.”  One of the physicists muttered. 

Claire raised her eyebrows, momentarily speechless.

Craig stood up and leaned towards Claire, placing his hands squarely on the table in front of him.  He glared at the young leadership apprentice, his furrowed brows indicating that his patience was depleted.  “Claire, we are quite certain that Willow and Kalesh do have the power to direct the Joinings.”  She stared back at his commanding figure.  He was not expecting a response so she bit down on her lip. To emphasize his next statement, he raised his voice yet again, lifting his right hand to point a gnarled forefinger at her.  “And we expect you to convince your sister to cooperate.  We need them to direct one of the daily Joinings for our research.”

Claire gripped her hands together, oblivious to the long  jade-green nails digging into the flesh of her palms as she gaped at the World Governor, her heart hammering in her chest.

Copyright © Eden Remme Watt 2010

I’m not generally a big reader of magazines but I came across “EnlightenNext – The Magazine for Evolutionaries” recently. (www.enlightenNext.org)  I can’t believe such a phenomenal publication exists. 

All the really cool ideas that have been circulating and gaining in momentum involving science and spirituality, the nature of consciousness, Noetic Science, and the “mysterious connection between quantum physics and human consciousness” are explored.  To me, this was a gold mine of information as I am formulating my ideas for Book 2 and what transformation might be possible once humans begin to connect in this quantum field.

I’ll be absorbing this material for some time.  Articles include “An Exploration of Quantum Consciousness – Finding Spirit in the Fabric of Space & Time” with Stuart Hameroff, MD and an interview with Marilyn Schlitz, the president of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS), and so much more..