She then takes her place next to Agrona. Agrona then tells her, ‘Hello Dea, we were just getting started. Taran, now, shut out what you don’t want to see and hear. By shut out, I mean, removing the images of the stream and the fishes swimming in it. Remove the image of the horse by the stream and its master. Now, tell me, do you hear anything?’
I do as instructed and reply, ‘It’s silent now’
‘Good, practice this as often as you can and you will be able to see and hear and what you focus on. Now, let’s move to visualization’
Dea gleefully interrupts with the widest grin I have ever seen on her face. ‘Focus and concentrate, Taran, show us what you are made of!’
Agrona then tells me to, ‘Close your eyes once again, this time, look deep within you. You have the power within you. Visualize a storm coming. The clouds have absorbed the water from the ocean. They have formed a dark massive cloud above us, the winds are howling and then the drizzles start, the rain comes, slowly at first, then heavily. Taran, raise both your arms and bring on the thunder!’
At that precise moment, thunder roared and it began to drizzle and then the rains came. We were standing in the storm, wet from the rain. I felt the raindrops on my skin, in my eyes. It was refreshing from the heat that day. Agrona’s guided visualization had me bring on a storm. She then guided me to gradually lessen the storm and bring it down to rain.
Agrona then looked at me and said, ‘Now, slowly, open your eyes and raise your right hand and move the clouds away. Visualize yourself stopping the rain and bringing it to a drizzle. Highlight the Sun and bring the Sun forward to clear the rain’
I followed her instructions and the rain stopped and the Sun came forward just as Agrona had completed her sentence. We were all amazed. I, more so than the others. However, that was a guided visualization. It was time for me to do it on my own now.
‘Now, let us see you in your full form. Bring on a super storm. Taran, it’s all systems go!’ Dea said, excitedly. She had been happy with my progress thus far and wanted to see more. ‘Let’s see you in your full true form’ Dea said.
‘You are on your own now, buddy!’ I thought to myself. Slowly, I closed my eyes and started focusing on creating the super storm Dea wanted.
I began my visualizations from the mountainous regions. There were clouds but only scarcely. I gathered all the clouds to form cyclonic clouds. I created inward spiraling winds which were rotating anti-clockwise. Dark clouds then began forming over the horizon accompanied by hurricane-force gust. The storm, which formed, was massive and complex. Along with the hurricane winds, I brought along cold air and heavy precipitation. Within seconds, I raised the gusts of winds to a hurricane level five and sustained the winds to greater than one hundred and thirty six knots. I was in my element now and it felt great!
When I felt I had what it took to create the super storm, with my eyes still closed, I lowered both my hands gradually with my palms up and visualized continuous thunder roaring through the clouds and lightning striking the ground frequently.
I lowered my palms further down and with that action, released the destructive force of the storm onto the calm meadow we were in. We had all moved back to view the full force and admired the sight of the snowstorm as it lashed to the ground, snowflakes falling from the sky and then, there was the rain. I had created a snowstorm to accompany the super storm.
In my full true form, my sleeveless tunic which I wore was now replaced by a black overcoat and I held a thunderbolt in one hand and an eight spoke wheel in another. The thunderbolt signified thunder after the coming of lightning while the eight spoke wheel signified the sun and the sky. My eyes flamed blue and although I couldn’t release thunderbolts from my eyes, I had the power of summoning wind, lightning and rain. With these elements at my disposal, I could be powerful and gentle at the same time. As I gradually opened my eyes, I was awe-struck when I saw what I had visualized and created. My first creation as Taran, it was truly a sight to behold!
I smiled happily as I raised my right hand, palm facing out and began pushing back the storm back to the mountainous regions. I then raised my left hand with my palm facing out, highlighted the sun and brought it from forward from behind the storm clouds. Within minutes, it was back to sunny days and blue skies.
Dea and Agrona came and stood, both on either side, excited at my progress which I was making. Dea then told me that I was unique because to date, I was the only mortal who had crossed over and she was happy with the progress that I was making. ‘You have to be in control over your power and your senses. You are special Taran’ Dea complimented me further. I then told her that ‘I would like to stay here and practice a bit more, if that is fine with you’ I asked. She nodded and said, ‘go on’.
It was a good day. Agrona made her leave shortly afterwards as she felt that I was a good student who was in complete control over my senses. She did advise me to ‘practice, practice and practice’, she said before leaving with Dea back to Dea’s palace.
Chapter 5 - Focus, focus, focus!
After they had left, I grinned and laughed at myself. I had never felt good before. I felt energized and most importantly, my soul elevation to that of a God, something which I had never would have imagined in my mortal world. I was still dressed as Taran and that didn’t seem to bother me as I expected I would be spending a considerable amount of time, here in the Realm of the Gods.
I became pensive and gave a faraway look at the valleys. I looked at the trees, the mountains and walked a short distance, as I zoomed in and out and played around with my landscape and portrait photographic visions. I sat down on the grass and soaked in the greenery surrounding me. I breathed fresh air, breathed in the dew on the fresh grass. I touched the dew on the grass and felt that the rain had made them happy as the breathed. Everything was crisper and vibrant after the rain. I then I lay down with my back to the ground and with my hands behind my head, looking up the sky as I closed my eyes. I wanted to savor this moment, this moment of peace, within me and external to me.
In my thoughts, I was having flashbacks of my mortal life. As a child, of how I was orphaned and my meeting with Donal and a life that ended when Erbin stabbed me, unexpectedly. I would cherish my mortal memories, though painful as they were, they reminded me of whom I was. I thought of Earth and that I would want to return to it one day.
‘I could take my vengeance on Erbin now’ I thought to myself with an evil smile as I started imagining the things I could to hurt him. ‘I wonder what he is doing today’ I thought to myself as I saw in my visions that Erbin was now a poor man. He had married Ana, the most beautiful woman, which I had captured, who managed to escape when Erbin stabbed me, only to be caught by Erbin a few days later. Ana looked beautiful as she was then, only now, she was carrying Erbin’s child. Erbin had a huge pot-belly and was not fit as he was. He reeked of a drunkard as he was disowned by his brother and father and was now lived in exile. His thoughts of asking for forgiveness from me for killing me, took me by surprise.
‘NO! Erbin is your past. Do not be bothered by what he does. His life, his actions do not and should not affect you anymore. Do away with him. You never change, still the naughty stubborn boy that you are’ a female voice said. The voice sounded familiar. It sounded like Mother’s voice.
‘Clear your thoughts of evil and negativity. Use your new-found Godly status and powers for the good of mankind. I will be watching you!’ the female voice continued. I was startled at thought that someone would be watching my every move. The only other person I knew who had that power was Dea and this voice didn’t sound like her. The voice did sound like mother, ‘could it be mother?’ I thought.
I sat and there, with her arms extended, was my mother, as she appeared in a cloud of white mist. She was looking ever so beautiful, so calm and so peaceful. I stood up, disbelieving that my dead mother was now standing in front of me. I rose and ran into her arms and gave her the tightest hug. I felt her soft supple skin, healed of all mor
tal wounds. She looked elegant in the ankle-length white ivory dress and she looked as if she had never aged. Mother’s jasmine scent had remained. It was heavenly with fruity undertones and warm. I missed her so much as a mortal and now as God, I could see, touch and hug her. I was overwhelmed with happiness and joy.
‘I missed you, mother. What those men did to you, I was helpless, and I couldn’t save you!’ I cried profusely as I still hugged her. ‘I missed you too my boy and you know I always love you. Now, please let me go, I can’t breathe’ she said jokingly as she placed her hands on my arms as I held on to her waist.
As I gradually released my tight grip on her waist, we smiled and began talking about our mortal memories, my childhood. She then went on and told me, ‘I have been watching you but as a mortal you could never see me and with your hardened upbringing, you could not sense my presence. But now, as God, you can see me. Remember, I am still your mother. So, don’t be naughty and bad, you may just get that spanking!’ she said as playfully and gently slapped my right cheek. ‘Banish all negative thoughts from your mind. You are now beyond taking revenge’ she continued.
‘Do not let your ego of being God go to your head! Remember, you are responsible for the lives of many and although you can’t change their destiny, you can always give hope to those you need it and love to those lacking it’
‘Typical! Mothers and their advices’ I thought to myself but what she said did strike a chord within me. As God, I did have my duties towards mankind.
‘Now, let’s get on with your practice. That is why you are here, aren’t you?’ mother said. ‘Well, yeah. Does Dea know you are here?’ I asked curiously as I prepped up for my practice, moving, relaxing my arms and hands in free motion.
‘Yes, of course she does, silly! She is the divine mother goddess after all. She has instructed me to be your guardian, to watch and guide you whenever you need me and to ensure you do not walk on the wrong path. All you need to do is call and I will be there’
‘Remember, son, focus, visualize and create’ she reminded me, once again. Her words had now become my mantra. I used it in order not to deviate from the visualizations which I wanted. ‘I love your new look, it’s a good thing you got rid of that horrendous moustache, it didn’t suit you at all!’ Mother said as she motioned me to begin my practice.
I slowly closed my eyes. I focused on creating a drizzle and began visualizing tiny raindrops falling on my face and my palms. With my eyes still closed, I looked up to the sky, where dark clouds were forming. The heavy clouds darkened as I visualized rain falling onto us. Raindrops began falling down upon us, in a drizzle, just as I wanted. I opened my eyes slowly to see the drizzle I had created. It was really a good feeling. It was a truly wet day at the Eastern Fields.
Then, my mother spoke as she placed her wet palms together, happily and said, ‘What about some rain? Not your average super storm, just plain rain’
‘Yes, can do!’ I answered happily as Mother and I danced in the rain. I then stood in front of her and with my eyes closed; I envisioned the clouds becoming darker. I called upon the thunder, lightning and rain. I unleashed the rain with my mind, releasing it gently and calmly onto the valley. Once I felt the raindrops falling on my face, my palms and my body, I opened my eyes and smiled at my mother who was watching me proudly. We sang and danced in the rain as if we were little kids experiencing rain for the first time.
Mother then asked quizzically ‘Are you able to shield yourself and those around you, in the event of impending danger? You know, we never know what’s going to happen next, just saying’ That thought never once crossed my mind. I had always envisioned myself at the forefront of danger, a shield being a weapon of defense. I looked at her totally confused and she laughed and said, ‘not the shield you used in wars, silly! Can you block your mind and thoughts so that others are unable to read your thoughts and know your future actions? It would be great if the shield could be used to protect mankind against any untoward incidents’ she elaborated further.
I answered her earnestly, ‘I don’t know, mother. I have never tried. All this while, it’s just been focus, visualize and create. The shield you are referring to would be a great asset if I did have it. We can limit our thoughts and conversations among ourselves and not worry about having the whole Realm of the Gods know what we are thinking about’ ‘No harm in trying. Go for it, my son. Let’s see if you can shield your mind, thoughts and surrounding areas’ she said.
I closed my eyes and visualized a silver ball floating in the air in front of me. As this was a unique experience, I opened my eyes while focusing and visualizing on the silver ball. I had the urge to touch it and see what it felt like. At the place where I placed my finger, there was a dent which bounced back immediately when I removed my finger. It was also transparent as I could place my arm inside as the silver ball expanded. I focused on the ball, expanding it gradually to take in mother and me. ‘Amazing!!’ mother said. She could see the silver ball and how it encompassed us into its circle. ‘Expand it further, let’s see how far you can go with it’, she encouraged me. With her encouragement, I continued expanding it until it reached the mountainous regions; the tunnel had already taken in the Eastern Fields, the valleys and the mountain and Dea’s palace. I wanted to take in more but I didn’t have the confidence and told mother, ‘mother, I don’t know how to burst this bubble, for now. I’ll stop the expansion here and gradually deflate it’ I told mother hesitantly. I wasn’t confident in my first attempt and mother picked this up and said, ‘son, I know this is your first attempt but there is confidence within you. I know it’
She then said, ‘yes, for now, this will do. You have got all the time to perfect your powers and shield further and know yourself. Now, gradually deflate it without causing a ruckus, after all, we don’t want your neighbors to know what rocked their neighborhood’ she laughed as she patted my shoulder.
I gradually deflated the silver ball back to its original size of the tennis ball and visualized the ball vanishing into thin air, just as how it appeared for the first time. We didn’t see the silver ball after that. It had vanished without a sound into thin air. I was amazed and excited at the same time. The shield was something new and I was not sure if the other Gods had it but I was not in a mood to find out. It was now all about spending quality time with my mother.
Mother and I looked at each other and we both knew that, we would keep this shield a secret. I sensed Dea, Agrona or anyone else whom I had come in contact with didn’t know anything about this shield. To my advantage, I used the shield to prevent anyone from reading my mind and my thoughts as well as the conversations mother and I had. I still valued my privacy and those closest to me.
I noticed that throughout this practice, only Mother had appeared. I couldn’t help asking, ‘mother, what happened to Father? Why is he not with you?’ I asked Mother quizzically. They were a loving pair when they were alive and one would not be seen without the other. Father’s absence had me curious.
‘Aidan, I met Father before coming here. He sends his love and hugs. He misses you. As his soul has not reached your level, he is to be reincarnated. Who he will become, when he will be reincarnated and where he will born is not for us to decide. You will know his soul when you meet him. He said he would meet you one day, definitely, now that his son has become the God of Thunder’ Mother answered nonchalantly. I sensed she was hiding something from me, but I didn’t want to pursue the matter further. All I could think about was spending time with Mother, the first woman I loved then and the woman I loved now.
It was dusk when we reached the palace. Dea greeted us at the door with a smile on her face, ‘Marella, it’s a pleasure to see you. How was practice, Taran? I trust it must have been beneficial’ she asked. ‘I’m fine Dea and am honored that you have allowed me to be with my son a few days’ mother answered while taking Dea’s hand and giving her a hug and they proceeded to do what women knew best, gossip! ‘Ahem, ahem, my practice went well, thanks f
or asking Dea’ I said loudly and interrupted their conversation. Mother and Dea looked at me and both gave me a playful pull of the arm. I brought both of them into my arms and gave a group hug. ‘I’ll just say it out loud now, I love you both, for being there for me, for supporting me and for allowing me to be me’ I tell them happily.
‘Wait until the love of your life appears and you’ll forget us both’ mother said, teasingly. ‘Hah! Mother, you know very well about me, love & women, we are like oil and water and even if she does come, you two are my first love!’ I joked, laughed and gave a group hug. Loneliness was something I was used to. It was when we are alone, that our mind and thoughts are at its clearest. To be in a crowd, one needs to experience loneliness. When it came to woman, as a mortal, there was never a necessity to find a woman, settle down and have kids. I was a warrior and I was trained to believe that woman could be a distraction, even for one night. I had heard of warriors who had fathered children from different woman, without realizing who their mothers were, this was something which I found disgusting. And, I had never met a woman who captured my heart. The mortal women in my lifetime were submissive, though some were downright rude and obnoxious. I wanted a woman who was strong, capable and didn’t need to depend on a man to protect her, someone who could take care of herself and others around her. Somehow, this woman had eluded me as a mortal.