Chapter 7

Tell-a-Path-Thick Waves

  Jeb walked the road, alone this time. Daylight filled his head, and he was awake for sure. To make sure of that, he pinched himself … yes, he thought, this is the “real world.” Everything seemed normal too. No walking on air this time. Then he started feeling guilty for leaving Aristo behind … emotional dependence on a dog? he thought, they get lonely too. But it's too late to go back for him now, how could I forget him? he regretted, as he noticed the light of dawn encroaching upon the eastern horizon.

         Walking aimlessly down the road, Jeb was alerted by a noise coming up behind him, and he turned to see a brightly painted VW van sputtering down the road. Looked like a deadhead van. Coming to a squeaky stop, and a hippie leaned out the window asking Jeb for directions to the beach.

        What a coincidence, Jeb thought, and said that he was going to the beach, and then the hippie offered him a lift. They seemed to size each other up in an instant, and Jeb agreed to take a ride. He had a feeling.

        The van winded its way down the road and the beach cliff came into view.

         “Hello, my name is Sreejinn,” the hippie offered.

         “Hi, Jeb is my name … pleased to meet you...”

         Thin silence veiled a mutual curiosity.

         Jeb could always do an instant read on people, and there was something about this hippie … not your ordinary flower-child hippie wannabe … that part was transparent … something stood way out.

            But then again, Jeb thought, everything’s been   unusual lately. No sooner then he thought this – then suddenly the driver came to a jarring stop …  there was a dog sitting in the road, staring them eye-to-eye.

            “Aristo?” blurted Jeb. “My dog!”

            “Let him in,” said Sreejinn.

             Jeb opened the door and Aristotle jumped in like nothing was strange. Sreejinn and Aristotle made eye contact, and both dog and hippie seemed to know what had just happened … but Jeb remained confused. They drove on and Jeb reached over to pet his dog.

             They pulled up close to the edge of the cliff, and they all stepped out and stood there in the briny breeze. The wind and sea had their usual mystic effect, which made conversation come slowly, due to the awe of the scene. Yet, Jeb warmed up to his new acquaintance … in unusual briefness.

           They both glanced down to the beach and saw a woman with her child. The woman was laughing and singing and swinging her arms to some song, to the young child who danced to her rhythms like a tin cup monkey. The child laughed and seemed happy in his own little universe.

           Sreejinn said, “You know why children are so happy?”

           Jeb shrugged as if he didn’t know quite how to say why, or didn’t get what he meant.

           “Because they don’t know yet. The innocence still shines in their eyes. They see the world wonderfully, and if we think real hard, we can remember those child thoughts of our own.”

           Jeb wondered what it meant, and then glanced at this amazing looking man, who with a smiling expression, seemed to say, “you know what I mean.” And yes, Jeb knew.

           Jeb did know what he meant exactly… but then again, he sort of knew … but didn’t know how to articulate it right away in his mind. He knew right then, however, that here was someone he could relate to … here was someone who was on his same wavelength … and he thought, somehow, here is a person who is beyond the wall of  time.… a truly free man. And then Jeb astounded himself with the next word that surfaced from the lake of his mind … Ubermensch.

          He thought to himself,  yes, this must be what Ubermensch means, one who is really free, free of all this crap ... what it is, and what if he goes away and never comes back … after I met someone who I connect with? And it may never happen again …there are times in one’s life when I know it beyond a doubt, I just know it.

          “Yeah,” said Sreejinn, almost in instant response to Jeb’s thoughts, “I’m staying here for a while, got a room in town. Looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time here at the beach …and even longer in town. ”

          I guess that answers it, thought Jeb, feeling a strange relief.

            “So … what is it that brings you here … if I may … ask?” Jeb said, looking out to the sea.

             Sreejinn responded, “Following a mission. Following the wakes of the tele-waves.”

           “Tela-ah … what waves?”

           “There’s the tell-a-vision, the all-pervasive box collecting all those myriads of tell-a-box-waves, telling the dramas and comedies of life, and subliminal control messages … then there’s the tell-a-path-thick-waves on the subtle plain … which tell a much stranger story.”

       “So you follow the wake of the tele-something-waves .....?” queried Jeb.

            Sreejinn smiled and said, “The tell-a-path-thick-waves, those began in San Francisco, where I was a spiritual warrior of sorts - you might say, and it’s taken me here, to Bolinas.”

          “Oh?” said Jeb, as his eyebrows signaled intrigue.

           Jeb knew inside that he was about to embark upon a long voyage, and that he would enjoy every minute of it. But another thought said that you don’t do these things with strangers, and then another feeling told Jeb that he wasn’t that much of a stranger after all. Some people, you just know them, from the very get-go.

           The sun rose majestically over the ocean, and Jeb exclaimed how great it all was, and Sreejinn nodded in agreement, and his eyes shone with energy, and they both felt a similar thought….

           So many sunrises, so many moon sets, how many has he seen? Waiting, waiting, patiently waiting.

            "So many sunrises…” muttered Jeb in a barely audible tone, astonished again, not knowing how or why that phrase came out, or where it came from. Jeb had this primordial feeling that he’s had this same conversation before, these same feelings, these same words going through his head, and some out his mouth in an unsolicited fashion. Perhaps with this same person? And now they’ve resumed it again, and some sub-conscious neural activity was screaming from the cellar below … that it could have been like 5 years ago - or a 1000 years ago … who knows?

            And then – right at the conclusion of the spilt second revelation of the deep caravans of the mind, Sreejinn  said,  “You know, some people … you just know them right off … it’s just like you’ve always known them…”

           At that instant, Jeb knew that Sreejinn knew what they were both thinking the same thing at the same time, and they made this solid eye contact for an uncanny, yet comfortable and familiar moment.

           Although Jeb was astonished, Sreejinn’s expression was not one of surprise – he was not the least bit astonished. He already knew. He already saw this all coming - and his facial expression - his stone blue eyes said so.

           “I felt this calling,” he said. “Somehow I found the center of my talent while loitering in a San Francisco Laundromat. The title of the sign read ‘Suds-O-Rama,’ the place was as interesting as it’s name. Some kind of special energy to that kind of name, you know. Sudssss … O … Ramaaa, Rama, Rama,” he repeated the name in a slow fondling way … and then ending with a few staccato bursts.

           “No kidding,” said Jeb. “That was the name of this Laundromat across the street from our old house in San Francisco, where we just moved from...” words faded from Jeb’s mouth as his face assumed an astonished demeanor from the sudden revelation and implication of this information.

           “What a coincidence,” said Sreejinn, with an amused smile and distant look on his face.

           Jeb had a weird suspicion that Sreejinn already knew this information, but how he had this feeling, well … he didn’t know.

           “The place was so neat and orderly,” continued Sreejinn, “and empty all the time, it didn't make sense. But, … it felt like such a special place. Just like some people seem like old friends even though logic will tell you they are strangers, the heart has known them before.”

           Just my thoughts, mused Jeb to himself.

           “I like the place just to sit and read and be peaceful, like nobody seemed to come, except on weekends, which was such an enigma to me. The only people who came were a certain kind of people.”

           “It was at that time I realized this ‘talent,’ in that I was hearing these voices. Rather, I became more aware of those voices that I’ve always heard before. It began like a wind blowing through my head, like waves in a conch, and a voice here and there, like a tape played backwards, sounds going backwards, echoes in my head. I remembered then how in tune I was to the other side, the world of spirits … souls … some say “jinn,” some say “fairie” … so to see such cosmic travels.”

           Jeb listened in fascinated, yet stoic posture.   

           “I don’t always tell this to strangers, but along with that talent, I’ve gained the ability to scope people out, instantaneously. So, I knew you’d understand.”

           “Yes,” said Jeb. “You found the right size. A few weeks ago I wouldn’t have, no way. But, what’s been happening these days … well, life is changing.”

            Sreejinn went on, “I realized, that this weird place, was a hotbed for the homing-in of souls, or spirits … or ‘jinn’ … in Ireland, they’re called “Sidhe” … looking for a spot to ‘land,’ or dwell for a while, like a terminal bus depot for spirits. There are lots of spots like that one. This one was in Frisco. There are many more all over the west coast. I call such places ‘passages.’ And somehow I was told by “the calling” that Bolinas is a major passage.”

           “Some spirits, not necessarily ghosts, but the jinn … they are coming in from another plane of existence, trying to break on over to this side, preparing for incarnation. They are sometimes met with resistance, sometimes competing with other souls. Sometimes whole groups of souls, all with a common fate will travel in a group, so they can incarnate all together, at the same place.”

            “I had been following this ‘calling’ for weeks. It led me all over Frisco, then to Sausalito, and then up to Marin, along the coast, and finally the calling became very strong, right here in Bolinas, and near the beach. Bolinas is an unusual ‘passage,’ something big is happening here. This cliff, and those rocks over there, they’re all a part of the passage.”

            “I too,” said Jeb, “had heard strange voices, and seen strange lights here at the cliff and around those rocks. I also had weird dreams of meat shops and blood and suffering and screaming and ... and bizarre things … ?”

            Sreejinn’s eyes twinkled in synch … he understood.

          “You need to meet someone,” said Jeb. “My friend Jehrom, he’s into this kind of thing.” 

           “Sure,” said Sreejinn, and just then someone yelled behind them, it was Phelia, who suddenly came upon the beach scene.

           “Hey there Fefe,” said Jeb, “What’s you doing here?”

           “I was on a walk and saw you.”

           It immediately becomes apparent to both Jeb and Sreejinn that Phelia was showing a particular fascination in Sreejinn, and was not shy, or not aware of revealing it. Normally this could be alarming to Jeb, but he understood somewhat, in this case, because he was certainly fascinated by this person also. So, somehow he couldn’t blame Phelia for it, although he’s always in the protective mode with Phelia  and her being around strange new men, and her being sort of vulnerable and so on. But Jeb was relieved to see that Sreejinn made no response to his little sister’s obvious attraction. Jeb could see that Sreejinn had been through this hundreds of times, and he was somehow aloof and a true gentleman about it, and Jeb at once recognized his quality and greatly admired his rare trait.

                                                                                               * * * 

Hans tossed and turned in his sleep, and the horrid word “eingeschlossen” entered his ear holes once again, and Hans knew it was happening again … and again … for the umpteen-millionth time it seems. And once again he bolted from his bed and ran pell mell down the street screaming his head off. He turned to look and those red eyes were right on his trail, red hot coils set within a black hood … with his black cape flapping wildly in the wind like the wings of a bat on Halloween.

        Suddenly Hans felt some gumption welding up within himself, and whirled about to make a stand. He knew … he has to fight back one of these days … he’s gotta stand up to this monster … one of these dreams. This can’t go on forever. Hans turned to face black figure, but courage melted away from his body, like a snowman shedding water before a midday sun. The black man stood there, laughing loudly in his face, and then gave him an un-negotiable proposal.

        The dark man said, “Since you can’t remember our pact, then we will go to a special dream place, don’t worry, I’ll lead you there, and I’ll be right there, behind you, telling you what to do. Let’s go.”

        Without a word, Hans looks to the direction pointed out by the bony finger of the black man, and proceeds down that path. Hans obeyed with doggish loyalty to his master.  

* * *

Phelia laid her weary head on a pillow. She felt a rare mellow mood, and so she reached for her Pink Floyd CD, the one with the cosmic track that sounded like an interstellar journey. She also turned on her TV and played the section of 2001 Space Odyssey, where the music of Pink Floyd seems to fit right into the music. She learned this trick from her friends back in Frisco. It was so uncanny how the music goes along with the footage. The astronaut was speeding through the cosmos and the pinky floyders were just cooking it up with their trans-cosmic journey, and Phelia was just day-tripping out on the swirling colors and far-out sounds. Instead of her head jerking around in gyrations, her face slightly tilted back and forth like she had seen a Hindu man do on TV one time. Then she heard something really weird, really off. There was some new sound, like something new was just dubbed into the track. What was it? She thought.

        “Is it pinkish?” she inquired to herself. “Yes, THAT definitely sounds pinkish – yeah – or, is it somewhere between a ballerina pink and a clown’s red nose? … really bizarre … the kind of stuff they do .... but, although it fits like a glove, I definitely never heard that kind of riff before, and I had it all memorized … least I thought … uh, something strange is happening here.”

         Now I know, she thought. That sounds like the screeching of… uh … what? Cat screaming? Yes, it was some cat screaming. No doubt about it. Or, was it more like cat chanting in a high-pitched screeching tone? Then she was irresistibly drawn to her window. It was so freaking dark outside, and the woods loomed like a dense bog. But suddenly, she saw a bright flash of light. A spotlight suddenly appeared. What? A spotlight, she thought. She turned back to the flashing journey of the spacecraft and the pinkish concert. But the cat screeches were right there, right on time with the music. As if they were dubbed into the sound track. How do they know to sing along with pink? She thought. The music was building to a climax, the guitar lead exploded, as David Gilmour ripped out his artickulat guitar licks in towering form. Then she looked again to the open window, out into the yard, her eyes were dragged to that spot light! That glaring spot light! Somehow, someone, some thing, had turned the porch spot light around. Usually it lit up the porch. This time it was turned around to a particular spot in the woods! And what was in the limelight? She squinted her eyes to see. Wait, she told herself, you are missing the climax of the 2001 pinker mind blow! Turn back to the telly, you are going to miss the best part! However, She could not turn back to the pinkard crescendo, but riveted her assaulted eyes upon the hideous sight in the woods, accented by the turned spot light. It was a crucifix! Two arms were stretched out and upward, like the crucifixion of Christ! And two legs were spread and nailed or fastened with thorns to the rotten trucks of trees. And the head, what was it? It’s a cat! Thought Phelia. It’s a hideously mutilated and crucified cat!!

             A voice appeared in Phelia’s ear. It was that old familiar voice of some cat in the woods. It said, “take heed, Phelia, and look for our emissary. He is coming. You will help, you will channel us. You are part of the plan. Do not fail us. We did this. We’ll do it to you, if you fail us.”

         Phelia said, “You monster, look what you did!”

         The voice said, “What is the difference? You humans do this all the time. But you gloss it over with euphemisms. You kill animals all the time. You string them up, you hang them up on hooks, just like a crucified victim, you do it all the time. What is the difference between you and me?!!”

          Phelia thought what he meant, oh yes, we do slaughter animals all the time, and men think nothing of it. I forget about it, because mom has always raised us as vegetarians.  

* * *  

How many times has Jeb been in this same dream? He didn’t know. Now … and once again, he’s sitting in a circle with Jehrom … and Aristo is sitting there silent and grave - the undying philosopher.

        “What we are ... or what we're not?” posed Jehrom. “Now we are free from our body. The body is just a puppet, and we are the master pulling the strings. We’re not just skeletons with meat on the bone. We’re beings of light encaged within the material tabernacle. Now, in this dream, we move around without lugging our bones around, we are spirits moving freely. This is the real ‘you.’ Your puppet is laying on your bed, back in your room. Now you can run and play and be free from your puppet shadow. The puppet body is like a wet blanket that holds you down. You can find out the real ‘you’ and found out things you’ve never knew before. Our spirit person is as thin as a cloud and ethereal ... and when we awake, we ride in our thicker bodies like a passenger in a car. We are spirits - like Sting says,  ‘We are spirits … in the material world.’"

         Jeb remembered the song and hummed a bar or two … and said, “But what is this….?”

          “So many people can leave their puppet body at will, added Jehrom. “Many yogis did it in the past, and ordinary people still do it today. In dream, it’s easier, but some do it while they are awake. They call it ‘astral projection.’ There are many cases we have, of near death experiences, where people leave their body and see it, hovering over it, looking down, which is another way of being outside one’s body…”          “Well, I guess …,” pondered Jeb.

          “There’s past regression by hypnotism,” continued Jehrom, “where people are put into hypnosis and they remember their past life in distant towns they've never been to, and then they are taken there by the hypnotist, and they talk about the town and people and events ... and everything the person remembered is true. This is proof of reincarnation.”

           “Yeah … well, that’s….”

           “Look at us here, and see our bodies back in our beds. We can go on back to the house… and see our bodies there.”

           Aristo wags his tail in concurrence.

           "We are spirits who never really die … we leave the body in dream, and likewise, at the end of life – we leave one body and get another body ... and this happens over and over again.”

           “God…” muttered Jeb, mulling over the immensity of it all, “this is too much. I’m something different from the body sleeping on the bed, but where does this all lead? Why are we talking about this here in the land of dreams?”

           “Not enough time,” said Jehrom. “Too hard to understand in the waking world. There, the mind objects too much, too many questions, too many arguments, not enough time! Here in the land of dreams, it’s easy to demonstrate. We see our bodies back at the house, and it becomes clear. We learn faster here. This is the land of sub-consciousness … and sub-conscious learning is truth without denial. I needed a short cut, and dreams are faster.”

           “What’s the rush?”

           "Jeb, you know as well as I do, how you’re a searcher. You want to know what this whole thing is about; you’ve been a philosopher for many lives. You’ve been searching for the Platonic city of philosophers for many lives. Now its time to move on , Jeb, for better things. And, there’s other things too about the dream lessons - to know our past … and you'll find it quite interesting.”

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