Fiction

The End – a Short Story

Posted December 21, 2010 by Eden

I wrote this short story a few years ago and it was originally published in the “Aurora Storyalis II”, an anthology by the Aurora Writers’ Group. I would probably rewrite some of it now with a new perspective but have decided to leave it largely as is. At the time, I was struggling with our mortality and how to ‘die well’. I believe that this is one of the greatest gifts you can leave behind and that it takes an enormous amount of courage and selflessness. I don’t know if I have reached a stage in my life where I could do this yet but I consider this one of my life goals… so that when it is my time to go, I don’t leave my children with a fear of death but an acceptance and curiousity about what might come next. I suppose anyone purusing a spiritual or religious life is searching for this peace.

The End

By Eden Remme Watt

Perhaps if Jake Winters had paid attention to signs – like his sister’s cryptic message or the ominous drizzle against his window – or even his own intuition, he might have feared that day. Instead of bounding out of bed that rainy morning in April, perhaps he would have pulled the covers over his head, ignoring the call of the alarm.

As he showered then dressed, he mentally reviewed his schedule – client appointments all morning, a lunch meeting, legal briefs to prepare, tennis at the club followed by a date that evening.

He made his bed and tidied up, closed the door on his son’s empty room, and shoved laundry into the closet – just in case his date went well. A final check in the mirror confirmed that his professional image was flawless. Turning sideways, he admired his new $3000 designer suit. Perfect.

The morning hours sped by. Just before lunch, the door to the conference room burst open. His young assistant stood in the entrance. “Sorry to interrupt but there’s an urgent call for you.”

“Who is it?” Jake barked.

“Uh, it’s your mother, sir. She insisted that she speak with you right away.”

He left to take the call. “Hi Mom. What’s up?”

“Jake, honey, I’m sorry to interrupt your meeting but I need to see you … today.” Her voice was strangely tentative. A widow for over twenty years, people had always taken notice of Abigail Winters, possibly because she was a tall woman with bright red hair, but more likely because of her forceful personality. Jake knew she’d passed that granite will down to her kids – a hereditary unwillingness to compromise had been the source of numerous battles between Jake and his two older sisters. A weaker woman might have struggled to control such a threesome but Jake’s mother had maintained control. So, if Jake had been paying closer attention, he’d have realized that his mother’s request, while direct, was not delivered with her usual vigor.

“Uh, today will be tough, Mom. My schedule is jam-packed. How about Saturday?” Jake’s mind was racing. Why does she have to see me today?

“No, Jake. I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon. He’s going to give me some news and, well, it’s pretty serious.” She paused for a heartbeat. “I want you with me.” When he still remained silent, mentally battling his schedule, she spoke again. “Please cancel your appointments, Jake. Can you come and pick me up at 2:30?” Her voice was firm, back in control.

She wasn’t leaving him any choice.

“Okay, I’ll figure it out.” Jake agreed. It finally registered with him that she’d said both ‘serious’ and ‘doctor’. “Mom, are you okay? Is something wrong?”

“Thanks, Jake. I knew I could count on you. I’ll explain everything this afternoon.”

He wondered what was up, remembering vaguely that his sister had mentioned some tests a few weeks back. He’d assumed they were routine. At the time, he’d been away on business. He hadn’t checked in, hadn’t even returned her last call. Jake shook his head in confusion as he worked on rescheduling his day.

At the doctor’s office, Jake discovered how serious it was. When he realized that she was dying, his previous self-absorption hit him like a sack of hammers.

Numbness crawled through his limbs as the doctor explained that treatment offered little hope. She’d barely ever had the flu and now she wouldn’t live to see sixty-five. The doctor’s routine, matter-of-fact explanation made it all the more shocking. Jake sat completely still, shocked, frozen, heartbroken. The room, its occupants and this insane news seemed surreal. He waited for the tears to flow from her, thinking he would need to comfort her somehow, but her face remained dry.

Softly, succinctly, she asked questions. How long? What will she be like in the end? Her expression was solemn but there was no trace of the fear or hysteria that he expected. Watching her, the ice melted and his body began to shake. When sobs of misery escaped into the room, they were his and his alone. Abigail Winters reached over and wiped the wetness from her son’s face, rubbing his back while she murmured soothing words. It was how she’d comforted him when he’d had childhood upsets in the playground.

Hours later, his date cancelled, they reminisced over take-out Thai food in her small kitchen. For the moment, his mourning was at rest, her calm acceptance contagious.

“Jake, what do you remember about your father?” She asked.

The house was silent as he polled his memory but the usual vague images and random pictures were all he could find. “I remember Dad bringing home a new tricycle for me. I remember him spanking Sarah, on a warm summer day, after she pushed me down.” Sarah was his eldest sister by four years and still bossy. “I remember being at the grave when they lowered the coffin. Grandma screamed and you were crying. Later, there were so many people at our house.” He glanced about, momentarily glimpsing how the house full of mourners had looked in the eyes of a little boy who had just lost his father. “I remember stories and snippets but they’re mostly from everyone else talking about him and showing me pictures. Everyone says I look like him. I guess I can see it from the old photos but I don’t remember much myself.” He shrugged, shaking off a familiar ache – an ache carrying a wisp of regret that had always been there, as long as he could remember.

They cleaned up the kitchen and then retired to her living room in the house where he’d grown up. Jake sank deep into the over-stuffed chesterfield. It had been reupholstered – the plain brown magically transformed into an aquamarine print – but it still felt the same. She’d done some redecorating too, brightened up the place with paint and trim and modern prints, patched up the dents in the walls from the reckless years of raising children, but it was still unmistakably the old house that contained his earliest memories. If nothing else, the hall of Winters’ family fame that adorned the main artery was a reminder. The house Jake purchased when he started his career at the law firm, where his son now lived without him and he’d once imagined a peaceful, domestic future, was now “Jeannie’s house”. It was the scene of his one great failure in life. So, this modest abode, built in the west end in the early 50’s and refurbished over the years, still felt like home. His expensive condo downtown just didn’t feel the same.

They sat together and talked, as they’d never talked before. She had just been given a death sentence, but she was serene, her occasional tears seemingly more for her son and his devastation, for he was the one that cried yet again, that could not bear to face a world without the woman who had raised him.

“Everyone has a beginning and an end – their birth and their death. No one remembers their birth and most people fear death but regardless of your beliefs, the end will come.” Her words sounded foreign to him. They’d rarely discussed mortality or spirituality. They used to be close, Jake and his mother, back when he was chasing his mother’s dreams. Abigail’s ambitions had been a motivating force. He could remember her glistening eyes as she’d watched him attain diplomas and awards, first at high school, then university. She’d been there when he graduated from law school, when he’d been married, and at the birth of his son.

Then the years of disappointment had commenced. His separation triggered her disillusionment. Fighting with her had been almost as painful as the divorce itself. Her reproachful eyes still haunted him. Avoidance of confrontation had become the new pillar of their relationship. Oblivious to his thoughts, she continued. “A belief in God, in some kind of after life, is very comforting when you’re facing the end.”

Her words catapulted him back to the present. “Mom,” he licked his lips, uncertain how to continue. “Do you, I mean, have you been going to church?”

“Not exactly.” She laughed. Her mirth flowed around the room, caressing his frayed nerve endings. “Hasn’t anyone told you about my Quest group?”

“Your what?”

“It’s a group I’ve joined. We study together, exchange ideas, discuss ideas in philosophy, literature, scriptures, even psychology. We visit churches and temples sometimes. We meditate.” At his raised eyebrow, she grinned. “Jake, it’s hard to articulate what this has done for me. For centuries, people seeking the meaning of life and death, of creation and god, have searched and shared their insights. Some of these works form entire religions. We don’t follow any particular religious doctrines but we believe there is wisdom in all of it. It’s the continuous searching, the quest, that is vital.”

“Wow, that’s, uh, great Mom.” He really didn’t understand. The emotional upheaval had dulled his brain. “I guess we’ve been a bit out of touch, haven’t we?” At her gentle nod, he stood up, suddenly struggling to keep his eyes open. “We’ll have to work on that but now, I’ve got to go.”

“Yes, we’ll work on it.” She agreed. She held his arm as they walked into the hallway together. “Can you and my grandson come this weekend? I’ll invite your sisters and their families too.”

“Sure, Mom. Uh, should I get in touch with Sarah and Janet? Do you want me to tell them what’s going on?”

Softly, she responded. “Your sisters already know.”

“What?” Resentment wrapped around him like an old cloak, replacing the peaceful mood they’d shared with a more familiar one. “What the hell? Why didn’t anyone tell me what was going on?” He exploded, demanding answers. “What was the meaning of the scene at the doctor’s office, anyway?”

She sighed, letting his indignant words float around the old house, waiting for them to dissipate before she answered. “Your anger is justified as always Jake, but it serves no purpose except to harm you.” She paused meaningfully. “This is how I chose to share my situation with you. It was my prerogative. Don’t turn this into some kind of conspiracy. It’s because you and your future are so vital, so fundamental to me, that I wanted to be ready when you found out.” Her gaze was steady, her words calming, cathartic. The fuel of his anger was seeping away.

A deep breath, a shrug, and finally, he just smiled – her tranquility must have had an affect. He had a reputation in the family for his temper. He’d never backed down so easily. She was right, though. It was her prerogative, and this was no time to form new rifts. He kissed her goodnight, fresh tears blocking his vision.

She gripped his arm. “Honey, let’s not make this a tragedy. We’re all mortals, we all die.” She didn’t try to hold back her tears but her voice was strong. “The difference is that I have an idea of when. I need to work through some things with you in these final months. Too much time has been spent coaching you, pushing you on material accomplishments. I’ve neglected so much, Jake…”

That day marked the beginning – the beginning of a new outlook for Jake, and the beginning of the end for his mother.

Jake saw his mother every week, even attending some of her Quest meetings with her. Their conversations covered so many topics – sometimes esoteric and spiritual, but at other times firmly grounded in reality – their lives, their dreams, and their disappointments.

It was a hot day in June when she broached the subject of his father again. Her confidence seemed to falter, her voice stammering. “Jake, you’re so like your father. I’m proud of you, son, honestly…” She lowered her eyes. “But, I have to confess some things to you. Perhaps it’s partially because you are so similar that I hid my inner torment, for so long. I know that it drove me in many ways, and that I pushed you hard, maybe too hard at times.” Her face was gaunt, her disease becoming evident. “Jake, when your marriage broke up, I said some things to you…well, things that a mother should never say to a son. You were suffering but I couldn’t be there for you.”

He rose from the lawn chair on her back deck and leaned against the railing. “Mom, I admit that it hurt when you lashed out at me during my divorce but don’t worry about it. Let’s just put it behind us.”

“No, I have to tell you the truth about your father and me.” She cleared her throat. “Our happy marriage was really just a fairy tale, fabricated for all of you and maybe for me to save face. But, the truth is that perpetuating that story over the years was like rubbing acid on an open wound.” She gazed into his wide-open eyes. “Jake, when I saw you following the same path as he did, well, I’m afraid I just reacted. In fact, trying to gain perspective on my estrangement from you was ultimately a catalyst for me, and an impetus for my own quest. So, although I’m sorry, that struggle was ultimately healing for me and I hope, for us now, in the end. Sometimes, Jake, you have to reach those dark recesses and confront them, before your inner light can shine through. Never be afraid to face your demons.”

She admitted his father had been unfaithful. They’d been arguing bitterly. Had he lived, she believes they would have divorced. Her guilt when he died in the accident had left her conflicted. Although he’d once loved the stories of his father, the hero – perfect husband and father – the truth was liberating for Jake, opening up new possibilities. He finally faced his own guilt and forgave himself.

On a rainy October afternoon, Abigail Winters’ children gathered by her side to say good-bye. Her commitment to her family and their experience of death was so deep that even in her weakened state, she showed no fear.

Although Jake’s heart was heavy with mourning, it was also full with love and gratitude – for the last gifts of a great mother.

Her final words, “keep searching”, resonated deep inside and he knew that he would.

Conscious + Unconscious = Superconscious, or is it Quantum Conscious?

Posted October 12, 2010 by Eden

Could we become “superconscious” beings if we were able to master both our conscious and unconscious psyches? If we are, in fact, connected to everything in the universe over a quantum field of energy, what could man become with awareness and control of our superconscious beings?

Let me back up. In a previous post (https://edenrwatt.com/2010/09/can-our-conscious-and-unconscious-become-one/ ) I discussed concepts about the unconscious or subconsious explored by Freud and Jung.

Most of us are intimately acquainted with our conscious mind – the endless thoughts and emotions, judgements and reactions, the logic and reasoning abilities we use in our day to day life. One of our greatest challenges is how to quiet our mind, master these thoughts, and keep ourselves present (instead of flying off into the past to relive encounters or in the future to imagine what we might say or do).

If we can gain mastery over our conscious mind, we have the potential to be powerful beings, present in our daily lives, loving and grateful, sending positive affirmations to our inner selves and to others. If all of humanity were able to achieve this, we would already be evolving to a higher state as a species.

But what more is possible, if we could gain mastery and awareness of both conscious and unconscious? What would that mean? How would we be different?

Carl Jung identified the unconscious mind as having two distinct areas: the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious. The personal unconscious contains our lost memories, painful experiences that are repressed, subliminal perceptions (that we may not have consciously observed), and other contents and abilities that are not yet ready for consciousness (representing our potential).

But beyond this personal, very individual level, Jung identified the collective unconscious which contains instinctive and other elements, a blueprint within our psyches, that have commonalities within tribes, races, nations, and even all of humanity. Evidence appears in dreams, mythology, creative works such as art and literature, throughout the ages and all over the world. Jung said the collective unconscious is “detached from anything personal and it is entirely universal and… its contents can be found everywhere...” This deep inner part of our being has also been defined as the spiritual side, where we are connected to all life, to the universal life force that flows through all of us. In “Vision Speak”, I imagined that we could consciously connect with others using this ‘vision source’.

Deepak Chopra has defined pure consciousness as the field of “all possibilities and infinite creativity“.

Taking these ideas to the another level…. for over two decades, scientists have been involved in discovery about the nature of consciousness (where is it? what is it??) Many have reached the conclusion that human consciousness can best be explored with quantum physics, hence the popular term – “Quantum Consciousness”. Although the early scientists espousing these theories may have been considered renegades, with more and more scientific research backing these claims, they are now leading experts in this emerging field.

If you haven’t seen the documentary movie called “What the Bleep do we Know?”, this is a good place to start. It’s available in it’s entirety (in 12 parts) on Youtube. Check out the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QlZ5O8_bGk or the roster of scientists involved at http://whatthebleep.com/scientists/ . Lynn McTaggart’s bestselling books – “The Field” and “The Intention Experiment” and Dan Brown’s “The Lost Symbol” brought to public awareness the scientific breakthroughs in the areas of quantum physics and consciousness with progressive scientists such as those at the Institute for Noetic Science (http://noetic.org/). Stuart Hameroff and Deepak Chopra and others have written and broadcast continued findings and dialog on this subject.

The underlying discovery driving all of this excitement is that all living creatures are interconnected in a quantum field of energy. Our thoughts, our dreams, our beings are not just encased within our bodies or our brains but actually exist at a quantum level beyond what we had ever imagined in a field of all possibility.

The implications for this are fantastic. Our thoughts, our intentions, our consciousness create our reality.

And taking this to another place, I imagine that if we achieve a ‘superconscious’ state then we will be able to connect at a deeply spiritual and emotional level where words and misunderstanding will no longer be necessary. I imagine that we will find other life in the universe – perhaps we will connect to those that have left us to move to another dimension or perhaps we will find other life forms who we may never meet and could certainly never talk to but within our superconscious spirit, maybe there will be a common vision source which will allow us to communicate..

I will cover more on this in future posts, especially an indepth review of some of the ideas behind quantum consciousness.

Vision Speak Reading

Posted September 17, 2010 by Eden

The following is the presentation with three short readings from the “Vision Speak” Book Launch in February.

In “Vision Speak”, a powerful matriarch leaves an explosive legacy for her great granddaughter. Willow’s expanding consciousness threatens her society but may hold the key to humanity’s future.

People have asked where I came up with the ideas for this story and what was I thinking…

Vision Speak Book Launch - Reading — Vision Speak Book Launch – Reading

When I began this journey, I was plagued by questions.

Simple ones like: Why are we here? Why do some people die young? Why can’t we live in harmony? …and … Why is there so much senseless violence in the world?

These questions led me in a variety of directions and some of the research underlying the concepts in this book included:

– The history and evolution of man and civilization

– World Religions – the beauty, the wisdom and the sorrow, futility and failings

– New Age Philosophies and Spirituality

– Jung and Freud, particularly Jung’s theories on the collective unconscious

– Joseph Campbell and his ideas on mythology and religion and their metaphorical value

I know this sounds heavy but it’s not really, not at the level that I was searching. I’m no expert in any of these areas, just someone who craves answers to unanswerable questions.

Basically, I found glimmers of wisdom and imagined the rest.

This story takes place centuries after global wars and devastation have led to a new world order. The Republic now controls and restricts all spiritual practices, intent on preventing the mistakes of the past from ever happening again.

Willow has violated her Spiritual Contract, secretly trained in “Vision Speak” by her mentor, Elzabeth. In this first reading towards the end of Chapter 1, Willow and Elzabeth are connecting at a deep, inner place…

Starting at the bottom of page 9:

After that, time swept away. Despite her agitated morning, Willow reached the state quickly, effortlessly—with minimal guidance from her mentor. It seemed to go faster every time. Within minutes, she became immersed in a waking dream, a trance-like existence where she was still aware, still conscious of her surroundings and yet her inner being was animated and exposed as never before. The old matriarch and her young descendant interacted with visions and feelings, thought-pictures and senses. It was like an inner voice, a connection of directed, shared dreams. Great Bet called it Vision Speak. The two women were oblivious to the absolute silence in the room. To them, their surroundings were vibrantly alive.

Finally they stopped. Willow sensed that her great grandmother was growing weary. Returning her attention to the physical world, she gawked at the time display. Two hours had passed. She resigned herself to missing her Experimental Art class too, yet it didn’t seem important anymore. The room, its occupants, the outside world—everything—had a fresh glow. The world was transforming before her eyes. It all coalesced unlike ever before.

Elzabeth had sunk deeper into her pillows, her eyes glazed. Concerned, Willow bounded out of her chair, energy pulsing through her. She leaned over her great grandmother, smoothing back her silvery-white halo. “Great Bet. Are you okay?”

Deep wrinkles and lips curved upward. “I’m wonderful, so wonderful thanks to you.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. Willow leaned in closer. “Oh, my dear, why didn’t I teach you long ago? I didn’t sense the possibility until I saw you again at my birthday party. It struck me that day so clearly that you were open but even then, I had no idea what you would be capable of. The others will be shocked when they experience your abilities.”

“You must tell me about the others. Who are they?”

“I meant the Vision Speak group at the Center, especially Jill, Aaron, and Simon. But, you can’t meet them yet. I don’t know how I’m going to explain this.” Her eyelids fluttered but she continued. “I’ll sort this out before I’m gone, my dear. I promise.” Her words trailed off at the end so that Willow had to strain to hear.

Leaning forward, she kissed the wrinkled forehead and pulled the covers up. “I’d better go now, Great Bet. You need to rest.”

“Wait.” Elzabeth’s eyes shot open and she gripped the young hand. “I forgot to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“When I die…”

“Shh—no, don’t say that.”

“Don’t be foolish.” The frail woman snapped. “I’m dying soon and it’s long past due so don’t waste my remaining time with platitudes.”

“Okay, sorry.” She mumbled. “Please continue.”

“I want you to know that I’ve changed my will. I’ve made you my Protector.”

Willow gasped. To be the keeper and protector of memories was a privilege, usually entrusted to someone more mature, someone who had known the departed for many years. This meant that she, and she alone, would be responsible for Elzabeth’s Life Journals.

“Oh, I’m honoured, Great Bet. Really I am, but what will Grandma Sybil say? What will my mother say?” Her voice raised a decibel when she mentioned her mother. Willow sank back down into the chair, chewing on her fingernails.

“I don’t give a donkey’s ass what they say. I’m tired now, Willow, we’ll talk more later. You should know that before I found you, I wasn’t entrusting my journals to anyone in the family. And now that I’ve discovered you, now that I see what you can do, this is the only way. But, I know the legacy I’m leaving you…it won’t be easy. There may be, uh, interference.”

“What do you mean?”

The old woman closed her eyes again. She was silent for seconds that stretched out like minutes. She never answered Willow’s question but she did whisper one more instruction. “Please be careful. Keep the journals secret, even with the family—at least until you’re ready.” She smiled weakly. “I’ll explain more next time.”

But there never was a next time.

Before we jump ahead 17 chapters, here’s a brief background on what’s happened.

Elzabeth dies, leaving her journals to Willow in a public ceremony garnering unwanted attention from Republic leaders, spies, and even her family. Willow joins the “Vision Speak” group and her abilities advance rapidly. She finds herself attracted to one of their leaders, Aaron. They’re out together when they discover they’re being followed by Republic agents and Aaron gets a glimpse of Willow’s secret abilities for the first time.

In this scene, they’ve escaped to a secluded garden where Willow is reading a sealed entry from Elzabeth’s journal to Aaron. The entry describes an unexpected encounter with a powerful presence that Elzabeth could not explain. Willow is seeking Aaron’s advice but they get distracted..

Second excerpt (from Chapter 18, mid page 96-97)

Looking back at what happened as I record this entry, I struggle to find the words to describe the actual encounter. What stands out in my mind is the power of the visitor. I cannot say what the intention was—the force of it took me by surprise and my only response was to flee, to sever the connection.

I am home now and for the first time, I question what this new evolution of the human spirit will bring. Have I been too naïve? I’ve been so convinced that once all humans could relate at this level, understand each other to the depths of their souls that senseless violence, misunderstandings and manipulations would cease to hinder mankind’s progress.

But what if I am wrong? What if there are evil forces that will use this power for destructive means? I worry now that perhaps the cult has been resurrected. I thought we had disbanded them and their Sacred Trance sessions but now I don’t know. I pray that I have not been wrong.

Willow finished the passage and turned her unit off, gazing at Aaron. She admired the contours of his face in shadow, his wavy, thick hair. Not for the first time that night, she had to contain an urge to reach out and touch him, stroking the wild hair down, running her fingers along his muscular arms and back.

“Whew—that’s intense. I wasn’t aware of this.” Aaron looked off into the distance as he talked, searching his memory banks. “I’ll ask my mother if Elzabeth shared this with her but I think she would have mentioned it.

Do you know what she meant by the cult?”

Willow slipped the unit into her handbag, and set it down on the grass beside them. She stretched out her long legs, leaning back with her hands holding her weight behind her, gazing up at the majestic branches overhead. She knew Aaron’s eyes followed her movements, first her legs then tracing his way along her body up to her throat and face. Could he really think that she didn’t notice? Her long hair hung back behind her, almost touching the ground.

Softly she responded, careful not to disturb the currents that were humming between them. “No, I was hoping you might know.” She looked into his eyes then. “Have you ever experienced anything like that?” It was dark, they could barely see each other but something snapped between them.

Although she stayed perfectly still, she drew him in. It was imperceptible—a slight arch of her hips, the staccato sound of her breathing, perhaps pheromones triggered by her intense longing. He responded as if on a string.

Continue reading →

The Journey of Man

Posted August 29, 2010 by Eden

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.