© by Michael E. Hoffman1998
All Rights Reserved
Webpage by Jilli / Fate

The MISTS OF ADVERNTURE

Life is a restless, seemingly endless series of journeys throughout the mists of Creation. It is an unquenchable thirst for experience and Love that knows no boundaries or limitations except those that are self-imposed. It is the journey Itself that Life smiles upon, craning Its neck to see all It can see, touching all It can reach to feel from many points of vantage...to find something different, something new, to grow in the ultimate light of adventure. Sometimes, topping the next hill on the path can really take a spirit's breath away!

MEH

"O, Mist, my sister, my sister, Mist,
I am one with you now.
No longer am I a self.
The walls have fallen,
And the chains have broken;
I rise to you, a mist,
And together we shall float upon the sea until life's
second day..."

Gibran

There is no better way to infuse vitality into Life than to make a discovery that challenges you to turn a different corner and strike out on a path that only part of you can even BEGIN to recognize. Trusting in that part and moving ahead to encounter a much different destiny means you must release all safety tethers and, like a balloon adrift, sail out toward a horizon of uncertain but pregnant possibilities.

Here I was again, on the threshold of another holy holiday, Easter, and I found myself thinking back to the amazing revelation that Aeon had imparted to me during Christmas, about coming back into the "brotherhood" of dolphins. Since that time, I had done specialized reading about our fellow mammal of the sea and, the more I read, the more I found out how enigmatic they really were. I was surprised to learn that their brains were larger than man's (and had less body mass to drive with it), that the gestation period for a baby dolphin was about twelve months instead of nine, and they had developed a method of echo-location, emitting sounds under water that provided better navigation than sight. In short, I found my curiosity aroused by the intelligence of such a creature and soaked up anything I could find about them like water in a dry, hungry plant. And why not? It was my future incarnation I was contemplating and anything I could learn was good advance preparation.

I stood on the balcony of my apartment, watching the fresh transformation of new green leaves on the trees near the edge of the field. It always seemed different even though I'd watched this waking from dormancy every year. Nature had a special way of making each returning cycle unique and alive, as if I were enjoying it for the first time. I wondered if the cycles of the sea would be as refreshing and wondrous to watch. The tiny leaves barely trembled from the fresh April breeze and I could smell the dampness of rain in the air. Droplets of water were making quick little pings as they jumped from leaf to leaf, like popcorn popping in the distance. I wondered then if Aeon ever stopped to take in Nature's little subtleties while He roamed the Universe at the speed of thought. And Gaea was such a small corner of this vastness. It made me marvel that He explored as much as He obviously did.

"TIME IS ONLY YOUR SHACKLE, MY BROTHER ... I CAN SEE AND HEAR IT ALL BETWEEN TWO OF YOUR HEARTBEATS AND THEN CATCH A NAP ON THE SIDE IF I WISHED OR EVEN NEEDED IT ...," came the rather startling reply to my musings.

No matter how many times I hear His thoughts in my mind, I don't think I'll ever grow accustomed to the clarity and suddenness of Aeon's arrival for one of His "talks." And when He adds a touch of humor, as I think He just did, it actually tickles somewhere near my middle ear.

"Aeon, you certainly know how to make an entrance, my friend! (I thought in response) To say I was just thinking about you would be hopelessly cliche!"

"WHEN YOU CAST YOUR THOUGHTS INTO THE VOID, MICHAEL, I FIND IT EXHILARATING TO RIDE THE CARRIER WAVE BACK TO YOU. I WAS ONLY IN THE FLORIDA KEYS AT THE TIME ANYWAY," He answered.

"The Keys, huh? Were you flying with the gulls or perhaps hobnobbing with our dolphin cousins?" I quipped.

"ACTUALLY I WAS CONVERSING WITH SOME BOTTLENOSED DOLPHINS IN GRASSY KEY...THEY SEEM TO HAVE AN INSATIABLE CURIOSITY ABOUT HUMANKIND. THEY EVEN SWIM WITH PEOPLE AT KEY LARGO, ON THE BAY-SIDE. ONE OF THE SOULS I TOLD YOU ABOUT EARLIER IS WITH THEM AND ONE IS WITH THE COMMON DOLPHINS FURTHER OUT TO SEA." came His somewhat serious reply.

"You mean the souls you spoke of at Christmas?...the ones that somehow know me from previous lives? (I was just now realizing that, as always, there was a purpose behind Aeon's visit...and I was about to find out the gist of it.)

"PRECISELY...NOW THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF YOUR CONTACT WITH ME, A LOT OF CURIOSITY IS BEING FOCUSED IN YOUR DIRECTION, AND WHEN DOLPHINS GET CURIOUS, MY BROTHER, THEIR CONSIDERABLE MINDS CAN BECOME QUITE ONE-TRACK," (His chuckle was quite un- mistakable this time.)

"I don't understand why I should suddenly be a focus of attention, Aeon. I'm just an average human on the journey through Samsara. If they should be curious about ANYONE, I believe it should be you, my ancient friend," I modestly replied.

"AHHHH, BUT THAT'S WHERE YOU UNDERESTIMATE YOUR IMPORTANCE IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS, MICHAEL....ESPECIALLY DOLPHIN THINGS. IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT YOU MADE CONTACT WITH ME, BUT THAT YOU WERE able TO MAKE CONTACT WHICH EXCITES YOUR DOLPHIN COUSINS," He responded.

"I'm sure I'm not the only human to have communicated with you ... right?," I questioned.

"THERE ARE OTHERS, MICHAEL, BUT EACH HAS HIS OWN AGENDA TO FOLLOW AND A MUCH DIFFERENT AREA OF CONCERN. NONE OF THEM HAVE REACHED THE LEVEL OF CROSS-SPECIES INCARNATION... ESPECIALLY NOT TO A CETACEAN LIFE FORM," came an abrupt but patient response.

"So somewhere in this clan of Bottlenosed Dolphins they're starting their pre-welcome wagon planning?," I chuckled.

"YOU WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO CROSS-INCARNATE TO THEIR SPECIES SINCE THE FALL OF ATLANTIS, MICHAEL. IT IS QUITE AN OCCURRENCE FROM THEIR POINT OF VIEW. THE SOULS WHO KNEW YOU THEN ARE MOST ANXIOUS TO SPEAK WITH YOU," He said.

"But that could be a while since I have to finish THIS life first, Aeon. The Dolphin life-span must be considerably longer if they expect to still be incarnate after I pass over and come BACK again!" I gasped.

I MERELY STATED THAT THEY WISH TO COMMUNICATE, MICHAEL... THAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHOUT YOU PASSING OVER TO THE GREAT BEYOND AND BACK AGAIN...ANYTIME YOU'RE READY, THEY WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR THOUGHTS AND CONVEY THEIRS TO YOU," (He was using his patient tone again)

"Excuse me??? I can't say that I can add Delphinese to my list of skills, Aeon. NOBODY has just sat down and chatted with a dolphin, you know. Their language is quite complex and as yet beyond our ability to comprehend. Unless..."

"...UNLESS I ASSIST YOU IN THAT ENDEAVOR, MICHAEL," He was quick to finish.

My mind was reeling from such a suggestion. To be able to really COMMUNICATE with a Dolphin was a marine biologist's dream, not to mention a serious leap in cross-species communication. And to do so with companions of over 10,000 years ago...how?

"So how does this work, Aeon?...Do you become some kind of conference line connection/interpreter between us?...And how can they REMEMBER the previous life they spent in my company?," I rattled off.

"ONE QUESTION AT A TIME, MICHAEL. YES, I WILL BE A GO- BETWEEN WHILE YOU ARE CONVERSING WITH THEM. HOWEVER, THEIR COMMUNICATION WITH ME, AND SOMETIMES WITH EACH OTHER, DOES NOT EMPLOY THE USE OF VERBAL SYNTAX. THEY CONVEY imagery, NOT WORDS OR SYMBOLS, AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES YOUR COMMUNICATION WITH THEM POSSIBLE, ALONG WITH ME BEING YOUR ROSETTA STONE, IF YOU WILL. AS FAR AS THEIR REMEMBRANCE OF PREVIOUS LIVES, I SHALL LET THEM ANSWER THAT THEMSELVES," He responded.

"Where do we meet, Aeon? Grassy Key? Or do they have some other exotic location in mind?" (I was still thinking a thousand miles a minute)

"THE WORDS 'IN MIND' YOU JUST SPOKE PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP, MICHAEL. YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO TRAVEL THERE...AT LEAST NOT PHYSICALLY. THE CLOSEST I CAN COME TO DESCRIBING HOW YOU'LL GET THERE IS TO USE THE WORDS 'ASTRAL TRAVEL.' YOUR ESSENCE WILL BE THERE BUT YOUR BODY WILL NOT," he answered, rather matter-of-factly.

"You may take this kind of thing for granted, Aeon, but this sounds w-a-y out of my league. I've heard of out-of-body experiences but I'm not familiar with them from a PERSONAL point of view, if you catch my drift." (Asking Aeon if He 'catches your drift' is like asking a bear if he can smell honey.)

"YOU ALREADY KNOW HOW TO MEDITATE, MICHAEL," He answered, "GETTING TO THE POINT OF ASTRAL PROJECTION WILL REQUIRE A BIT OF ASSISTANCE FROM ME BUT NOTHING THAT CAN'T BE MANAGED. BESIDES, ONCE YOU'RE SEPARATED FROM YOUR BODY, YOU CAN PROCESS THE VISUAL IMAGES FROM THE DOLPHINS MUCH MORE EFFICIENTLY," He added.

"What about getting to Grassy Key, Aeon? That's quite a distance for me to project away from my body, isn't it?" (Time for me to get a wee bit concerned)

"I BELIEVE YOUR MASS TRANSIT SYSTEM CALLED GREYHOUND SAYS IT BEST, MICHAEL...JUST LEAVE THE DRIVING TO ME," he chuckled.

(There was that tickling near my inner ear again) I looked around me for the first time in hours and I noticed that it was dark outside. I was shocked that I had been on the balcony all the way through dusk and into darkness.

"Trusting you is not a problem, Aeon," I finally responded, "When do we attempt this amazing little feat of metaphysical magic?"

"I WOULD ADVISE THAT YOU GET SOME SERIOUS SLEEP, MICHAEL, THEN I WILL RETURN AND COMPLETE THE TASK AFTER I SET UP SOME DETAILS ON THE DOLPHIN END. THEY HAVE NICKNAMED THIS VENTURE 'PROJECT BABEL,' AS IN TOWER OF..," He answered.

"How appropriate," I mused out loud, "Tell them I will be ready on this end," I added.

"IT WILL PROBABLY BE BEFORE DAWN, MICHAEL, SO BE READY... I'M RECEIVING ACIANA'S THOUGHT-CARRIER WAVE RIGHT NOW, SO I MUST BE GOING...," He concluded.

"Aciana?...Who is that, Aeon?," I tried to get in one last question.

"SHE IS THE APPOINTED LIASON....and your companion from the past...," was all I heard until His thoughts faded totally.

There I stood, visibly shaken by all that had and was about to transpire. How was I going to sleep with all this racing though my mind? Quietly I went into the bedroom and took out the box containing what I called the "mind machine." Checking the manual to see which program put me in the deepest delta mode, I laid it aside, got something to eat and then returned, plugging in the earphones and slipping the light glasses on. After punching in program "10" for one- hour deep delta stimulation, I became lost to the world.

Five hours later, my alarm went off and for a moment I thought I couldn't see. Then I realized I still had the light glasses on and I chuckled to myself, knowing it wasn't the first time program 10 put me into a timeless sleep. Becoming consciously aware again, my brain kicked into overdrive with one prevailing thought...Aeon?

"I AM HERE, MICHAEL," came a sudden response, "ARE YOU READY FOR THE ADVENTURE OF PROJECT BABEL?" He added.

"Trust me, Aeon, without your assistance that's all we would be doing is babbling to each other," I chuckled.

"JUST LIE STILL AND FOCUS ON SOMEWHERE PEACEFUL AND BEAUTIFUL THAT YOU LOVE TO VISIT," He said, "AND I WILL HELP YOU MAKE THE PROJECTION...IT ALSO HELPS TO BREATHE DEEPLY."

I focused on the image of Clifton Gorge near the old mill site. It was in October when everything was aflame with the transitional splendor of Autumn and I could hear the Little Miami flowing past...I could hear the birds...I could smell the musty dampness of fallen leaves...I could feel the October sun on my face and neck...I looked up at the sky and winced from the brightness of the sun, and it seemed I was rushing toward it at an amazing speed...then all the images vanished---except one...the bright light.

"Can spirits get sunburned?" I laughed to myself.

The light moved off to the side. It pulsed slightly and then took on a more golden hue. I 'looked' around me and then downward and saw the rooftops of the apartment buildings. It was still dark but I could almost make out my own balcony from this distance. It seemed incredibly clear. I looked back toward the light and realized that it was maintaining a position roughly next to me.

"Aeon?" (I seemed to form the question with more clarity)

"BINGO!" came the booming response, "WELCOME TO ASTRAL-LAND, MICHAEL," (this time I swear I 'heard' laughter)

"I don't seem to have any arms or legs, Aeon, yet I 'feel' like I have some kind of body..." I was suddenly aware of another more distant voice and the surprise of hearing it cut off my train of thought.

"AEON, WE ARE READY....CAN YOU HEAR ME?...."

"Aeon, just WHAT am I hearing?" I asked, "Or should I say, whom?" (We were still 'hovering' over the apartment building)

"I AM CHANNELING THE THOUGHTS OF ACIANA THROUGH TO YOU, MICHAEL, FILLING IN THE BLANKS WITH SYNTAX YOU CAN ASSOCIATE WITH YOUR LANGUAGE," Aeon answered.

"I noticed a different feel to the voice. One that seemed to have a sense of urgency. How is that possible if all I heard was filtered through you?" (I was overwhelmed with the clarity of communication at this spiritual level)

"AT THIS DISTANCE, THE DOLPHIN MIND CAN STILL SEND AN EMOTIONAL CARRIER WAVE WITH ITS THOUGHTS, HOWEVER, RECEIVING THE IMAGES THAT GO WITH THEM REQUIRES A CLOSER PROXIMITY. I AM MERELY PASSING THROUGH THE EMOTIONAL PART INTACT, MODIFYING ONLY THE CONTEXT TO CONVERT FROM DELPHINESE SYNTAX TO YOURS. I LIKE THIS KIND OF CHALLENGE." He answered.

(I am certain I felt a smile with that last remark) "So, I am 'feeling' part of Aciana's emotional state at the time she spoke those words in Delphinese? This is almost too wonderful to be true, Aeon. This would give whole new meaning to human communication if it were done that way. Paralanguage in stereo!...with an emotional channel as well as visual! No one could ever lie or deceive another. I can see how dolphins communicate four times as fast as humans!" (I was really getting involved in the process now)

"WHILE YOU'RE OUT-OF-BODY, MICHAEL, PART OF YOUR EMOTIONS WILL ALSO BE CONVEYED TO THEM. EVEN THE SPIRIT HAS A WAY TO CONVEY FLAVOR WITH ESSENCE. THAT IS HOW YOU CAN SOMETIMES FEEL HUMOR OR DETECT SMILES IN MY CONVERSATION WITH YOU. WAIT...I BELIEVE ANOTHER CARRIER WAVE IS BEING SENT...YES, IT'S TIME TO RIDE THIS ONE DOWN TO GRASSY KEY...ARE YOU READY, MICHAEL?" He asked.

"You're the driver, Aeon," I responded, "I'm looking forward to meeting Aciana and company."

With that, the pre-dawn scene simply dissolved slowly around me, to fade immediately into a slightly lighter oceanic scene, which I presumed to be Grassy Key just before dawn. There was no discernable human activity at this hour, but as I looked down at the water, I could make out a sea of moving fins, and when I looked closer, I could see at least a hundred dolphins in various states of movement. Some were "breaching" (a flamboyant leap from the water with a slight turn) while others were literally riding across the surface on their tails, like a rock skipping across the water. Toward the center of this activity, there was a small circle of more quiet dolphins that merely broke the surface of the water with their beaks pointed skyward.

"AEON, YOU'VE RETURNED!...I SENSE THERE IS ANOTHER WITH YOU...IS HE HERE? (there was a sense of exhilaration passed on to me with this utterance)

I could hear all kind of whistles, squeaks, chattering and an abundance of water noises. Suddenly, as if on signal, all activity around the small circle of dolphins came to a halt. Then all I could see were hundreds of beaks pointing skyward.

THE CONCLUSION ON PAGE   2