A Soul's Journey

By Michele L. Hinton and Christopher Novander

A Soul’s Journey is the fantastical story of one good Soul’s struggle making it’s way through the Soul Lines. There are a lot of “what ifs” in the world. It is believed that all creatures on Earth have a Soul. So, what if a Soul existed in a world of its own before being paired with the creatures of Earth? There are choices to be made and rules to follow, and just like the people of Earth, if rules are broken, unintentionally or not, there are consequences that follow, judgments to be rendered and punishments to fit the crime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: My Seashell Books - Michele L. Hinton
• Release date: Sep 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005677220

Michele L. Hinton

What can I say? I'm a Kentucky girl who likes to write. Those who chose to take a chance on one of my books, I hope you enjoy it and are interested in seeing what else is in my imagination. My stories cover things from poetry, short stories, children's books, thrillers, action/adventure, romance, humor and sometimes most of those genres are covered in one book.Thanks for reading!

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Emergence

What was that? I felt something brush against me. There it was again on the other side. All at once, more things started hitting me on all sides, but I couldn’t see anything. I didn’t know whether I was blind to my surroundings or surrounded by nothingness. At first, it was unnerving. But since there was no pain, I got used to it.

Sounds passed by me. I heard whispered voices that I couldn’t understand. Laughter? Yes, those were some of the sounds. Some of them were small giggles and some were boisterous and loud. One of those laughing sounds stopped right beside me. I couldn’t help but laugh with it, and then it moved on. They were pleasant sounds, and I wished they’d stayed longer.

Suddenly, a scream whizzed by. It sent shivers to my very core. One by one the sounds came again and gathered together. The whispers grew louder and louder, and when they mixed in with the laughter, cries, and screams, it became an overwhelming cacophony of noise surrounding me. I couldn’t stand it anymore. I felt as if my insides were going to explode. QUIET! I shouted.

By saying that one word, all became calm. No more whispers. No more laughter. And, thankfully, no more cries and screams. Things were still brushing up against me, but they were now few and far between.

With my newly found peace and quiet, I started thinking about things. Predominately, the issue of death and life. Why those were the first things I contemplated, I didn’t know. What is life? I wondered. Was I alive, or was this place I existed in a death shroud? I had to laugh at that silly thought. I couldn’t be dead. After all, if I was dead, I couldn’t think. I think, therefore, I live. That concluded my thoughts of life and death.

How old am I? This was another question. Time seemed to have no measure here. I may have existed in this void for a fraction of a millisecond or an infinite number of millenniums. I’ve neither been bored with my existence nor anxious about what comes next—until this instant.

Hmm next? This was another new thought. Is there a next? There had to be more to my existence than this void. More questions entered my thoughts. Who am I? What am I? Where am I? If I have a purpose, what is it? Am I the only one in my existence? Or, are there others? With that last thought, I heard a voice. This time, the voice wasn’t a whisper. It was a distinct word.

Celeste, it called.

That answered one question. I—was not alone. There was a voice. But what is Celeste? I wondered. A name perhaps. But whose name? Maybe it’s my name. I said the name quietly. Celeste. I pondered it a moment and said it a bit louder. Celeste. In that instant, I knew it was my name. This time I answered the voice with confidence. Yes, I’m Celeste.

Suddenly, something came over me when I said—my name. Something new besides thoughts and questions. It was fluttery. It tingled within my being. In an instant, I knew what that sensation was. It was excitement. I’d never been excited before. I liked the feeling, and it was caused because I now knew my name—Celeste.

It’s time, Celeste, the voice said.

Time? I questioned. Time for what?

Time to move on.

The voice had answered more of my questions. There was a next, and, apparently, since I’m to move on, there was more to my existence than this void.

Move to where? I asked the voice. And where, is here?

Come on out, and you’ll see where you are, and I’ll tell you where you’re going.

See? I queried.

Yes, the voice said. See.

I knew that term. I knew a lot of terms. But right now, I couldn’t see a thing. There was no light, no dark, no color. It was difficult to describe other than to say it was a void. Even though I knew all these terms, I’d never experienced any of them.

But how do I come out? I wondered. That’s another question. I was familiar with the term, movement, but as far as I knew, I’d never moved. Another question. Do I want to move? Do I want to face the unknown?

Another feeling came over me. It was fear. Fear of the unknown. I felt safe here, but questions kept entering my thoughts one after another, until it became a bit overwhelming. Curiosity was another term I knew and far surpassed the fear of the unknown. Suddenly, I became uncomfortable within the void. A new sensation of loneliness overwhelmed me. I didn’t like that new feeling. I needed to get out. I had to know what was beyond the void.

With that intense desire, I felt movement. I was moving through the void. It was a rush like no other feeling I’ve felt thus far. I was anxious for the first time. I wanted to—see. With that last thought, I burst out of the void.

I was so excited. I can see! I shouted. I could see everything, and it was amazing. There was darkness, and light within the darkness, and around the darkness and within the light were colors of all variety. It all blended together harmoniously. Another term came to mind—beautiful!

The voice I’d been hearing chuckled slightly. Come on down, now.

As I floated within the light and colors, I looked down and saw a form sitting on a multi-colored bank before some sort of flowing river. It was large, round and bright with a sparkly, emerald green hue. I floated down and landed softly on the bank. Who are you?

I, am Seth, said the sparkly round thing. Happy birthday, Celeste.

Birthday? I asked.

You were just born from the River of Knowledge, it said.

I looked where Seth indicated. Even though Seth had no limbs to point out the direction, or a face that I could see within its round, sparkly form, somehow, I just knew where it wanted me to look.

The river, or void, as I had been calling it, had a multitude of colorful, wispy, ribbon-like strands flowing within the current as far as I could see. It’s strange that I couldn’t see them when I was in there. I was curious. I see that the river moves, but I never felt movement when I was in it. Why?

The River of Knowledge contains thoughts, feelings, questions, emotions and many other attributes, Seth replied. It would take too long to name them all. But to simplify, these attributes are in continuous flow individually and are completely unaware of the other attributes around them, until they begin to adhere to each other like the ones in you did. When that happens, it becomes too cumbersome to flow, so they stop. I’ve followed your progress since the moment you stopped flowing.

So, how long had I existed in the river without flowing?

Time, here, is basically irrelevant, Seth said.

I sighed. That was a silly question for me to ask. I knew that.

No question is silly, Seth replied. Time and space are measured differently in other realities. But, if I were to give you a measurement based on Earth standards, I would say about three minutes.

The term minutes I knew, but even so, it was still a slight blur. Is that a short time, or a long time? I asked. And what is Earth?

Seth chuckled. How quickly time passes, depends on the one experiencing it. Sometimes a minute might feel like it takes an eternity to pass. Then again, sometimes it may seem like no time at all.

So, feelings and time are connected? I asked.

In the broadest since, Seth replied. However, the length of time it took you to develop, is irrelevant. Development takes as long as it takes. And, as far as Earth is concerned, it will be explained when you’re ready to know. So, shall we go?

Go where? I asked.

I’m taking you to Placement so you can choose a line.

Seth started to bounce along the bank. I followed it. I liked this bouncing movement. It was better than standing still. As we bounced along the bank, I saw other sparkly, round beings watching the river. They looked exactly like Seth, but, somehow, different at the same time.

I was about to ask another question, when Seth stopped beside one of the sparkly beings. How I could tell the difference between the two, I didn’t know. But I knew I could pick Seth out in a crowd of sparkly, emerald green beings.

How’s it going, Bee? Seth asked the other.

Bee sighed. The strands dissipated and didn’t develop.

How sad, Seth replied. I’m sure there will be another soon.

I’m sure, Bee said. I could tell Bee was looking at me and then it added, I see you have a new one.

This is Celeste, Seth introduced.

Happy birthday, Celeste, Bee said.

Yes, I replied. It’s my birthday, and I am happy.

Both Seth and Bee chuckled. I was curious about their humorous response. Did I get that feeling wrong? Am I not happy?

No, the feeling of happy is correct, Seth said, But your response should have been a courteous reply. Thank you, is what you should have responded with."

I thought about it. Seth was right. So, I corrected myself. Thank you, Bee, for the happy birthday words.

You are welcome, Celeste, Bee responded.

Seth said good-bye to Bee, as did I, and we continued bouncing along the bank. Seth called out to others as did others call to Seth, but we didn’t stop.

Stopping to talk with Bee had interrupted several questions I had. I pondered my questions and put them in an order which I thought were the most important. So, I asked my number one question. Seth, what am I?

Seth stopped bouncing and looked toward me. Celeste, you are a new Soul.

A Soul? And what is a Soul? I asked.

To simplify, Souls are the beings incorporated within all creatures to enable them to live, Seth replied. Without a Soul, a creature cannot have life.

We continued bouncing along and I continued with my questions. Seth, will I reside within a living creature?

That’s why we are going to Placement. You have choices to consider.

That sparked another question. Why can I not exist on my own?

That will also be explained when you get to Placement.

Are you a Soul? I asked Seth.

No, I’m a Guardian of the River of Knowledge. I guide new Souls to the Placement archway. But there is a Soul which resides within me.

Truly! I exclaimed. May I see and speak with your Soul?

Sorry, Celeste, that’s not possible. Once a Soul is installed within a creature, it can’t communicate with other Souls until it leaves that creature.

I sighed. How disappointing. I would have liked to ask your Soul questions about being a Soul.

No need to be disappointed, Celeste. You’ll have plenty of Souls to speak with when you reach Placement. You’ll find new Souls, like you, and Souls who’ve been through the various lines many times. Questioning them will give you more insight than I can.

Seth had answered a lot of my questions, but there was something else I was curious about. If the bright, sparkly, round Guardian was not a Soul, I wondered what I looked like.

I was about to inquire, when just up ahead, I saw something burst out of the River of Knowledge just as I had done. Is that a new Soul?

That it is, Seth replied. Come, we’ll welcome the new one.

I was anxious to greet this other new Soul. As we neared, I was able to get a better look at it. It wasn’t round or sparkly like the Guardians. It was wispy and made up of many colors. However, its primary colors were a variety of blues and reds. Describing its shape was impossible because its shape kept changing.

Is that what I look like, Seth?

More or less, Seth replied. But I would say your primary colors are lavenders and pinks.

So, basically, I’m formless.

Your form will be as you will it to be, but that will come later. As of now, your natural state is similar to that of a small, colorful, wispy cloud.

Within my limited knowledge of terms, I knew what clouds were. I also knew they often shapeshifted. At first, I was disheartened that I had no real form, but as I watched that new Soul float in the sky, I thought it rather pleasant looking, so I decided being formless wasn’t so bad after all.

As we got closer, I heard the other Guardian, shout, Lee! It’s time to come down.

No, this is fun! I heard the Soul, called Lee, respond.

Problems, Cho? Seth asked the other Guardian.

I thought I’d never convince Lee to come out of the river, and now I can’t get it to come down from the sky! Cho exclaimed.

I watched the Lee Soul as it floated around. Though I enjoyed floating in the sky when I came out, floating had nothing on bouncing in my opinion.

You’re a silly Soul! I shouted up to Lee. I’ve been where you are. You haven’t lived until you’ve bounced.

Just like Seth, even though Lee was shapeless and faceless, I could still tell it was looking toward me.

What are you? Lee asked.

The same as you, I replied.

And what is that?

Well, if all you’re going to do is float around up there for eternity, you’ll never find out. I turned to Seth. Can we go? I want to get to Placement. I don’t want to wait around for that silly Soul to come down.

I know what silly is, Lee said. I’m not silly.

It was then that Lee started to float down to the bank next to us.

The Guardian, named Cho, turned to me. Thank you for your assistance.

I thought about the response I should use and I was fairly sure I’d get it right this time. You’re welcome. I then added, How long had Lee been floating Earth time?

About six months in the sky and a year in the river, Cho replied.

That long! I exclaimed, even though I had no real concept of what six months or a year felt like. It only took me three minutes.

And how do you know so much? Lee asked in a tone I knew to be sarcastic.

Because I came down when Seth told me to and asked questions. I know who I am, what I am, where I came from and where I’m going. Can you say the same?

Lee was quiet for a moment. Well, no. His sarcastic manner had diminished.

See, when you float around in the sky doing nothing, you can’t learn anything, I replied.

Lee sighed. You have a point.

After that, introductions were made, and the four of us started bouncing along toward Placement.

After its first few bounces, I heard Lee laugh. You’re right, Celeste. Bouncing is fun too.

I listened as Lee started asking questions of Cho, which were basically the same questions I’d asked Seth previously.

As we bounced along the colorful bank, I looked at the surrounding area. It was just as colorful as the sky, but it was also barren as far as I could see, except for the expansive River of Knowledge.

Where is this place? I asked Seth.

I was just getting ready to ask that, Lee said. It looks so empty around here.

It’s called Noplace, Seth answered.

How odd, I replied. This is some place, but you call it Noplace.

Yet, that is what it’s called, Seth reiterated.

Lee chuckled. I can guess why.

Why? I asked.

Because it’s so empty around here, this is—no place—where I would want to stay. I want to be—some place—where it’s not so empty.

I thought about Lee’s statement. I tend to agree, I replied, then posed another question to Seth. Is Lee correct? Is that why it’s called Noplace?

It’s a possibility, Seth replied. It’s been called Noplace long before my existence.

How long have you existed? I asked Seth.

As I’ve said, time is irrelevant here, and before you asked, I wouldn’t know how long by Earth standards either. My existence began, then at some point, which I don’t bother to think about, it will end, Seth said. Cho couldn’t answer either when Lee had asked the same question.

I listened as Lee asked Cho about the River of Knowledge. Apparently, it had no beginning and no end. If a million-trillion Souls popped out of the river at the same time, Lee asked, would the river run dry?

Seth and Cho both laughed. It actually happened once in our existence, Seth responded. That was one busy experience.

Only there were a lot more than a million-trillion, as you called it. The number was uncountable from my perspective, Cho said. Yet, the River of Knowledge remained unchanged by it.

Why did so many come out at the same time? I asked.

We don’t know, Seth replied. We Guardians just deal with situations that happen within our realm. The reasons why are irrelevant.

Our function is to answer basic questions within our capability and lead you to the Placement archway, Cho said. At that point, one of the Superiors will take over and give you more information about the Soul Lines.

You mean I won’t see you after I leave Noplace? I asked Seth.

We Guardians don’t leave our boundary, Seth replied.

I sighed. How sad. I’ll miss you when I leave.

What would happen if you did leave? Lee asked.

I don’t really know, Seth replied. But I have no reason to leave. I do, what I do, because I enjoy it. It’s my place in this existence. When I cease to enjoy it, I will cease to exist, and my Soul will go back to the Soul line for placement.

What happens to your physical form when your Soul leaves? Lee asked.

Very seldom do Guardians wish not to exist. But it did happen once, in my life time, that I know of, Cho said. The physical form of a Guardian, name Ahn, had dissipated from around its Soul and became one with the elements around us. Another Guardian led the abandoned Soul back to the Placement archway.

It was then that Lee came close to me, snickered and whispered, We could be moving through the remnants of dead Guardians.

A new feeling came over me. It was the feeling of disgust. I searched my thoughts for a proper response and came up with one to match my feeling. That’s gross, Lee!

Lee laughed and rejoined its Guardian, but the thought of moving through the remnants of dead Guardians stuck with me. I know time was irrelevant here, but I just had to ask, Seth, will we be arriving at the Placement archway soon?

It’s just up ahead. Seth replied.

I looked ahead and could just barely see what could have been and archway in the distance. I also saw other Guardians and Souls approach from the other direction as well. I made a count of the others that were approaching. There were twenty-six pairing of Souls with their Guardians. With Lee and me, that made twenty-eight pairings in all. Even though I would miss Seth, I also was excited to move on to a new existence.

Chapter 2

The Arch

Come on, Celeste, lets hurry so we can get there first! Lee exclaimed.

When Seth confirmed that the Placement archway was just ahead, Lee became overwhelmed with excitement, but I had trouble relating to his desire to get there before the others.

Why is it important to get there first? I asked Lee.

I could tell Lee was pondering my question before answering. All I know is that I feel being first is important.

I thought on Lee’s answer. I searched my limited number of feelings and the feeling of being first wasn’t one of them. I don’t see the purpose, I replied. I’ll be going to Placement whether I’m first or last.

Well, I’m going! Lee exclaimed.

Suddenly, Lee picked up speed and was racing toward the archway in the distance. Guardian Cho just bounced along with us.

You’re not hurrying along with Lee? I asked.

No point, Cho replied. We’ll get there, when we get there.

I looked toward the other Souls and Guardians approaching from the other direction. A few of them were hurrying, as Lee did, and the rest were taking their normal pace as I was.

The archway got larger and larger as we neared. Is the archway growing? I asked Seth. It was smaller before.

No, it just appears that way because we are closer to it. Its size is constant, Seth replied.

I stopped for a moment and looked at the archway. Seth and Cho kept going. It was interesting. The archway ceased to grow, yet Seth and Cho were getting smaller. I started bouncing again and caught up with the Guardians.

Why did you stop? Seth asked.

An experiment trying to fathom the concept of distance and the size of an object, I replied.

Did you figure it out? Seth asked.

I think so. It’s basically relative to my view of a thing at where I am at the moment when I’m looking at it, I said. Is that correct?

Basically, yes, Seth replied.

The archway became larger with every bounce I took. I was excited to watch as my theory about size and distance became more apparent. A new feeling of pride in what I had learned on my own tingled within my being.

As we neared the arch, we met up with the other Souls that hadn’t raced ahead, and the Guardians that accompanied them. There were eight other Souls. We stopped and introduced ourselves. I thought how interesting it was that our color make-ups were so varied. We were all so different, yet we were the same.

There was Sean, whose color make-up had varied oranges for the most part; Mei’s make-up, yellows and greens; Ben-Jacob’s, browns and pinks; Heather’s, grays and blues; Fin’s, silver and black; Raven’s, turquoise and white; Ash’s, reds and greens; and Takishia’s, oranges and black.

The Soul, named Takishia, asked its Guardian, named Hal, if our color make-up had anything to do with our placement. The answer was no. Guardian Hal explained that our color make-up was just random when we were being formed in the River of Knowledge. Color gives a thing or a world personality, Hal said. Without color, a thing or a world would be quite dull.

Take for instance this place, Noplace, said Guardian Tia. It’s beautifully colorful. If there was no color, I wouldn’t want to exist here.

But it’s so barren, Fin said.

Not to us, said Guardian Saul. To us, it’s beautiful and peaceful.

Peaceful is boring, said Ash. I can’t get to Placement soon enough.

Then why didn’t you go ahead with the others? I asked.

As all of you, I’m sure know, time is irrelevant here, Ash replied. When we arrive at the archway, it won’t seem like anytime to the others that left us.

How do you mean? I asked.

I watched Mei exit the river. It floated around in the sky before it came down. I asked Mei’s Guardian how long it had been floating. According to Earth standards of time measurement, it had been floating for 24 hours, or a full day. So, I reasoned I’d been standing still for that long as well and didn’t realize it. It felt like no time at all. I’m still having trouble with the concept of time, but I did reason that rushing here, in Noplace, gets you no place fast. Ash chuckled with that last statement as did the others.

I pondered what Ash had said, and then remembered that Cho said Lee had been floating in the sky for an Earth equivalent of six months and I stood there watching it. One of the Guardians gave us all a quick rundown of Earth time measurements; hours, days, weeks, months and years. Even though I knew all the terms, they were somewhat obscure until the Guardian explained them.

It’s fascinating, said Ben-Jacob. I did some calculations, Celeste. You’d been watching Lee float for approximately 4,320 Earth hours.

Amazing, I replied. I never realized.

You will understand time once you’re installed in an Earth creature, Seth said.

Larger and larger the archway grew as we neared. The arch itself was like a white space within the colorful backdrop of where the sky met the ground. Within the white space was a pearl-like swirl of mist.

I saw Lee and the other Souls just up ahead. Lee approached us. How did you get here so quickly? he asked. I just left you.

I couldn’t help but laugh. Time here is irrelevant, Lee.

Lee then turned to Cho. I tried to go through the arch, but just came out on the other side to here. I circled the arch. It’s just a white space with a misty interior. It doesn’t lead anywhere.

It won’t be like that momentarily, Cho replied. There is protocol before you can pass through.

Seth approached the arch. Keeper, we Guardians have arrived with new Souls.

It wasn’t a moment later, when something stepped through the mist of the arch. It was like no shape that I’d seen thus far, but granted, I’d only been familiar with the shapes of Souls and Guardians.

What in Noplace is that? whispered Heather.

I don’t have a clue, I replied.

The Keeper, as Seth called it, was somewhat oblong in shape and stood about 5’6" tall. It had several appendages attached to its torso. Starting at the top, there was a roundish appendage, that was centered on the torso that had protrusions, indentations, slits and a curly black substance surrounding part of the top. On either side of the torso were cylindrical appendages with more, much smaller appendages at the end of those. At the bottom of the torso were two longer cylindrical appendages that the torso seemed to balance on. Its color was dark brown all over, however, some of the torso, which in itself was curvy, was obscured by a light blue thing draped around it.

How does it keep balance on those appendages it stands on? Raven whispered. It looks disproportioned.

Guardian Hal approached us. That, my dear Souls, is the shape of a creature called a Human. Gender, female.

Gender? What’s gender? Sean asked.

What’s a female? Lee asked.

That’s a Human? I added.

Hal laughed. No, not exactly. She, which, by the way, is a term associated with the female gender, is the Arch Keeper, who’s chosen the Human shape for practicality. It will all be explained in Placement.

We all moved closer to this Human, she-shaped thing to get a better look. Upon Soul Mei’s request, Guardian Hal gave a name to the different appendages that we saw attached to the Arch Keeper’s torso. We were all familiar with the terms, head, face, arms, legs and so on, we just never knew what they looked like until now — at least, on a Human creature, anyway.

When we all gathered around, the Arch Keeper spoke. Welcome, Souls. I’m Marissa, the Arch Keeper. You’re right on time.

I thought that an odd thing to say, since here, time meant nothing, yet, we were on time? It was confusing.

Seth, the Keeper said. I made a count. I don’t see Bee among you.

The Soul she followed dissipated, said Seth.

Marissa sighed. Pity. She then looked toward us. I’m sure you’re all anxious to proceed to Placement.

We all replied in some fashion that we were. Then Lee spoke up. I got here first.

I was next, said one of the other Souls.

First or last doesn’t matter, said Marissa. There is order and protocol. I have a list. When I call your name, come forward and go through. I will then lead you through this archway’s realm. Afterward, you will be greeted by your assigned Mentor who will be your guide on the way to the Soul Lines.

The very first name called was Fin, next was Takishia, and so on. I watched as each Soul disappeared into the pearly-mist of the arch. Lee was next to last to be called.

Finally! So much for arriving first, Lee said before it passed through.

Last, but not least, Celeste, Marissa said.

Before I passed through, I turned to Seth. Thank you for your assistants. Will I ever see you again?

One never knows, Seth replied. I hope you live your lives well.

I had that fluttery feeling again as I bounced toward the arch. All my feelings of excitement, fear, curiosity and nervousness were all rolled up in one mass. I stopped just before passing through.

Have you got butterflies? asked Marissa.

Butterflies? I questioned.

Excited and fearful at the same time, she replied.

Yes, I have — butterflies.

She laughed slightly. Nothing to worry about. Go on, now.

With that last word, I passed through the arch.

Chapter 3

The Mind’s Eye

I didn’t know what to expect when I passed through the mist of the arch, but it seemed that the butterflies I had experienced were unfounded. There was no sensation as I bounced through. But when I arrived on the other side with the others, I was totally amazed. The sky was blue and laced with billowy, white clouds. Small white creatures sailed the sky. I thought about what they might be and determined they were seagulls.

As I looked from the sky to the horizon, before me was a great body of water. I searched my bank of terms and the word ocean came to mind. A swell of blue-green water with white peaks crashed upon itself and the remains washed upon the shore which I stood upon. Sand. That’s what I knew I was standing on. Pure, white sand. I liked the way it felt beneath me. Along the shoreline were sea oats rustling in a breeze, and I could smell the salty, sea air. It was my first experience with scents. Noplace had no scents. Another term came to mind. Love. I loved the scene surrounding me. It’s so beautiful here! I exclaimed.

I agree, Heather replied. Just look at this forest with the trees and flowers all around. Little creatures fly from tree to tree. I think they’re called birds.

I was totally confused. Trees? Flowers? I queried.

What are you talking about, Heather, Fin added. We’re on a mountain top. There are other mountains around us and a lake in the distance below us.

Both of you are crazy, Lee chimed in. Skyscrapers and other buildings surround us. It’s a city.

This is strange, Ben-Jacob said. I’m in a totally different place. I see a farm with magnificent horses running in a pasture.

I agreed with Ben-Jacob. It was strange. As each Soul described what it saw, some visions were similar to others, yet still different in design. Some of the terms they used like skyscrapers, flowers and horses, were unfamiliar to me, as my terms, ocean, sand, and seagulls were unfamiliar to some of them. How is this possible? I queried.

Because this place is called the Mind’s Eye, Marissa said. Each of you see what is in your makeup to see. It was part of what you gained from the River of Knowledge. You could say that the visions you all are experiencing are your individual, happy places.

So, does that mean I’m going to be near an ocean when I get placed? I asked.

Not necessarily, Marissa said. You may never in a lifetime see an ocean. But sometimes Souls need a break from the turmoil that the creatures they inhabit get involved in. When the need arises, Souls will retreat to their own Mind’s Eye for that happy place for a short time. Humans would probably call it a vacation spot.

What if we chose the wrong creature and decided to stay in our Mind’s Eye until we are released back to Placement? Lee asked.

That’s another conversation to be had with your Mentors, Marissa replied. But let me just say, I wouldn’t advise it.

What if you don’t see any of those places? Raven asked.

I then realized Raven was the only one that remained quiet when all the others revealed what they saw.

What do you see, Raven? Marissa asked.

"Just white space. No color or