Sorcerers: Alive and Well On El Camino De Santiago

By Dorothy Mikat

A middle-aged woman experiencing a disabling grief from divorce, goes on a pilgrimage to find relief. She discovers that she has been called there on a mission to thwart terrorist plans on the route. She finds inner strengths she had not known before with the aid of sorcerers common in that area of Spain.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jun 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543977646

Book preview

Epilogue

~1~

She was my phantom of delight. I stood at my grandmother’s upper window, and watched Mrs. Tilt through my thick glasses. I felt hypnotized by her beauty and grace. She appeared to float through her fairy-like garden, which was filled with lush green foliage and colorful blooms. Her slender body was cloaked in a gossamer-like long white dress that fluttered in the mild breeze. Long blonde hair flowed down her back.

I watched Mrs. Tilt as she smiled and touched several blossoms that she passed. Her entire being radiated a joy that was transmitted to me. She meandered through the garden without shoes. She behaved so unlike the adults who surrounded me that I wondered if she were from another world as my family had suggested. As a child of only ten, I didn’t understand her or what she was doing, but I felt an instant attraction to her.

What are you looking at, Dora? my grandmother asked.

Nothing much, I answered.

Grandmother came to the window to see what was attracting me. She pushed aside her lacey curtains for a better view. Oh, it’s my crazy neighbor. She beckoned to my mother to look.

She looks like she’s talking to the flowers, said my grandmother. My mother snickered and responded, You can’t get much crazier than that. And why is she barefooted? She’s not only crazy but also uncivilized. I think she’s on the wrong planet.

Grandma laughed, If we lived in Salem, she’d have been burned at the stake long ago. My mother nodded in agreement.

Grandma continued. I’ve seen her in her garden in the evenings. She often lays on the grass and stares up at the sky for hours.

Truly mentally disturbed, Mama added.

She calls herself a Mrs., but I’ve never seen a man around. Who knows what happened to him. It all seems very suspicious. She’s simply not normal.

Grandma looked at me sternly. Don’t go anywhere near her. She’s crazy and no one knows what she’s capable of doing. She might put a hex on you.

What’s a hex? I asked.

You don’t want to know.

I was confused. Mrs. Tilt didn’t look like I imagined a crazy person to be, nor in any way harmful or threatening. But my relatives’ concerns did make me wary.

I had few friends as a child. I was shy, and didn’t fit in with the popular girls. They laughed at me and accused me of being from a different planet. I hid behind my thick glasses and immersed myself into the world of books. That was the one place I didn’t feel awkward or uncoordinated. I wasn’t a failure in my fantasy world. I could be a heroine. My dog had been my only real friend. I was devastated when a speeding car killed him.

When we visited my grandma, I toted along my friends- my adventure books. They helped relieve my inner loneliness.

I initially respected the advice to stay away from Mrs. Tilt, but I was a curious child. I wanted to know more about her and why she looked and behaved so differently. One day, when Grandma and Mama were occupied, I saw Mrs. Tilt in her garden attending to her plants. I casually walked close to her gate and peered within. She saw me, and smiled lovingly. She beckoned me to enter her garden.

Almost under a spell, I quietly moved toward her. My attention was immediately drawn to a close-up view of the plants and flowers. They appeared alive and happy as they gently swayed. They caught the sun’s rays and reflected the light, with a twinkling that mirrored the night sky with its sparkling stars. I looked carefully at dewdrops on the plants and saw multiple beautiful rainbows dancing upon them.

I thought I saw you talking to the plants, I blurted out. Do you think they can hear you?

Mrs. Tilt answered in a beautiful, ethereal voice. Of course. Yes, I know each of them. They all have names and know when I speak to them. These flowers are alive and aware of us. If we listen with our spiritual ears, we can hear what they are feeling and can communicate with them. They deserve our respect, and we need to treat them kindly. And this applies to other forms of life, including every animal and every plant. There is a spirit we share with all forms of life. We need to become one with all things. We can talk to and understand even the wind, which we see only with our spiritual eyes.

My eyes opened widely from the excitement of this revelation. It reminded me of the closeness I felt to Sparky, the dog I once owned.

I had a dog once. He was my best friend. I’m sure he knew what I was saying, and I understood him too.

Of course, just as I know these plants have that understanding.

I paused as I continued to inspect the plants in her garden. I wanted to ask her a question, but hesitated. Finally, I blurted it out:

My grandma says that you think you can speak to dead people too. Is that true?

Oh, yes. But I don’t like to think of them as dead. Their spirits are very much alive. They know much more than we do. When I get into the right mind-set, I receive messages from them. Sometimes I’m told of events that will happen in the future.

Wow! I responded. I wish I could speak to dead people, especially my grandpa. He loved me so much.

You can communicate with him. You just need to learn the steps to take yourself into the spirit world. All that’s required is the desire and absolute faith.

I want that, I said eagerly.

You need to train your mind to be ready to take such a spiritual journey. She hesitated briefly and then said, Your family calls you Dora, isn’t that right?

Yes. I don’t really like my name, but I guess I’m stuck with it.

Not so! The name you select for yourself is your true name. Haven’t you chosen one yet?

No. I didn’t know I could.

Mrs. Tilt looked intently at me. Lydia! That beautiful name appears far more fitting for you. It has a cheerful and melodious sound to it. That’s the name by which you’re known in other dimensions.

I like that name. But what are other dimensions?

"They are kind of like hidden rooms, concealed behind covered-over doors. You need to find such a concealed door in order to gain entrance into a new room or a new world. I’ll introduce them to you soon.

Now I’m going to call you by your true name, Lydia. I have an Ouija board. Learning to use it is a simple way to start on a spiritual journey. Do you want to come in? We can start work on it together.

I glanced toward Grandmother’s house to make sure no one was watching as I nervously followed Mrs. Tilt into her home. I entered wide-eyed, overcome by my surroundings.

This looks just like a castle! I said. The room was immersed in brightness, so intense that the air itself appeared to sparkle. Everything seemed alive, even the furniture. Multiple prisms were hung from chandeliers, and each reflected arcs and circles of twinkling rainbows. Soft music played in the background. I inhaled deeply, taking in a pleasant lavender scent. As a child, I usually didn’t take note of décor, but this house won my uttermost attention. Long white velvet drapes were tied back, allowing the sun’s rays to enter. The furniture looked old and antiquated, but well maintained, clean and polished. The overstuffed upholstery and large pastel throw pillows were soft and lush. I couldn’t restrain myself from sinking softly into them.

I feel like I’m lying in a cloud. It feels so good. Mrs. Tilt looked at me and smiled.

Light and whiteness by themselves had never looked so beautiful. Tapestries on the wall depicted peaceful birds, fairy-like beings, and animals. One of the animals was a large white leopard lying in peaceful repose. It looked as if it was staring directly into my eyes. I walked past it and its eyes seemed to follow me. This was amusing, so I moved past it several times. Mrs. Tilt smiled as she watched me.

Hmm. Now I know how to get your full attention, she said laughingly.

Mrs. Tilt led me into her study and directed me to sit at a table. She went to a polished antique wooden cabinet and carefully took out a very old-looking wooden box containing the Ouija board. She opened the board and we sat at the table.

Place your hand gently on this planchette and ask it a question. The spirit will move the planchette to letters on the board, and that will give you the answer to your question. I closed my eyes and silently asked the board if I would be able to see and speak with my grandpa again. I placed my hands as she directed, and without obvious effort on my part, the planchette began to move. It drifted towards the letters Y and then E and then S. I was excited and very convinced that a spirit was there and responding to my direction.

That was a fast response, said Mrs. Tilt. You must have a special gift for entering the spiritual world. When you get very much in tune, you will be able to move objects with your mind. And you will find that you can do amazing feats you never thought possible.

When will I be able to do that? I asked with excitement."

It takes much desire and determination. I can see that you have it within to do all this.

I wanted to know more about spirits and the spiritual world. Can you see spirits? Do some spirits look like witches? I asked.

Some spirits are witches. Some are good and some evil. Both live amongst us, without our being aware of their true identity. She indicated that only people with special powers, such as herself, could detect them.

My family thinks you might be a witch, I said innocently. She smiled and said, I know that some people have referred to me as such. What do you think, Lydia?

If you are one, I think you’re a good one. Mrs. tilt smiled. Thank you, Lydia. Whenever I heard my new name, I felt a happy thrill come over me.

Mrs. Tilt continued: Try to always be nice to everybody. You can never be sure if a witch is in your midst. If you anger a bad witch, they can wipe you out in an instant.

My family told me you could put a hex on me. What’s a hex? I asked her.

Mmm. She hesitated for a moment. It’s like a curse that bad witches frequently use. It brings bad luck to a person they target.

Have you ever put a curse on someone, I asked.

Well, I can give special strength to a person who needs my help, but most people wouldn’t consider that a hex.

Can you grant wishes?

Yes I can, but I can only grant three wishes to an individual during their life. Often, a person wishes for the wrong thing, and it ends in being a curse, and a waste of a wish.

I’d like to wish for a million dollars.

Lydia, that’s a common waste of a wish. No matter how much money a person makes from a wish, it never turns out to be enough. People are never satisfied. They end up making foolish choices to gain more. The same is true for a desire to be famous. Be very careful of what you wish for. Often a wish is wasted when a person could have what they desire from their own efforts.

How about my wish to live forever?

Would you be happy if you lived in pain for eternity? Would you be happy if all your friends and family had died and you were forever alone?

I’m scared to die, I said simply.

You don’t need to be. I know all about heaven, she said. I’ve entered it many times through another dimension. It’s a wonderful and happy place. You can enjoy good health and activities that you enjoy on earth, such as for you… riding a bicycle. There’s nothing to fear with death.

Have you really been to Heaven before?

Many times. It’s just another dimension, but unlike the one we live in here on earth. I mentioned before that if you desire it, I could teach you how to enter it.

When can we start?

There are some necessary preparations you need to make. We’ll start when I see you are ready.

I heard the chimes from an upright grandfather clock. It was twelve o’clock. Oh, it’s time for me to leave. My family always eats exactly at noon. They’ll be upset if I’m not there.

It was at that instance that I heard my mother calling my family name from my grandmother’s house. I have to go now. I hope I don’t get in trouble when my folks see I’ve been here. They think you’re crazy.

It only matters what you think, Lydia. You can leave by a side door if you’re worried about their reaction. If you come back, I’ll teach you how to enter a different dimension to avoid being seen by anyone.

You mean I could make myself invisible?

Exactly.

Wow! Could you show me now?

I will when you’re ready, and we have more time. You’d better hurry home now. Your family is watching for you.

I glanced over my shoulder as I left Mrs. Tilt. My eyes opened wide in wonderment. The table appeared to levitate as she sat with her hands upon it.

Where have you been? my mother asked as I entered.

Oh, just outside, I answered. I quickly changed the subject. I decided that I want to have another name.

"What’s wrong with Dora? It’s a good family name."

"I think Lydia fits me better."

My grandma joined in: Lots of kids want an imaginary name. She’s just going through a phase.

When I returned to school, I tried to be nice to everybody, even to the popular girls and bullies who had been cruel to me. I wasn’t sure who might be evil witches in disguise.

It became more difficult for me to concentrate in school. My thoughts were on the spiritual realm. I kept visualizing Mrs. Tilt’s garden, and how she communicated with the plants. When I thought of something I wished for, I would rethink this desire and realize that I, myself could achieve this without waiting for help from another realm.

I visited Mrs. Tilt a few times after dark when my family was preoccupied with their activities. We would lie in her garden gazing upward at the starry sky.

I love to watch the stars, I said.

That’s only natural. The stars are our ancient parents. We are formed from them. Some say we are merely recycled stardust.

What? That doesn’t make sense.

"You will understand it better