Feather Bower Freedom: The Heart of the Dragonfly

By Jenny Dixon

T o save the lost civilization of Atlantis and her family, she must sacrifice her wings, her power, and her identity, and pass through eight levels of consciousness to complete a total transformation. With only her powerful crystal heart pendant to protect her, she embarks on the terrible but crucial quest. Powerful enemiesmenacing beasts with yellow tusks, red eyes, and powerful pawsseek to claim her pendant as their own at any cost. Through life-threatening circumstances, Selene must remember her mission before the lost ones perish in the sands.

During a dream, Miss Jay learns of Selenes imprisonment by the red-eyed creatures. Miss Jay gathers the birds and Vargo the dragon for a daring rescue mission. Before they can hope to save the goddess, Miss Jay must travel to Shamballa to meet with Sanat Kumara and other ascended masters and then undergo her own transformation.

What she learns at the temple of Selenes parents changes everything: many other goddessesincluding Selenes mother, Vestaare also missing. Equally troubling, she discovers that the sacred Rainbow Crystal Egg needed to help the Earth enter its next phase has been stolen.

In the shadows, another force awakens. As soon as Selene placed the crystal heart around her neck, a signal was sent out across the cosmos. In response, the enigmatic Caretaker emerges from a long slumber.

Who is this being?

Can the heroes trust the Caretaker?

Who will reach Selene first?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Nov 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781452531489

Jenny Dixon

Jenny Dixon left the corporate information-technology world to embark upon a journey of self-discovery ten years ago. In her quest for magic and truth in nature amid the wisdom of birds and animals, she found inspiration for the fourth book in her series, Feather Bower Freedom. She lives in Australia.

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Copyright © 2015 Jennifer Dixon.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Balboa Press

A Division of Hay House

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.balboapress.com.au

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4525-3147-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4525-3148-9 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date: 11/11/2015

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Prologue: The Departure

PART ONE

The Heatwave

The Dream

Shocking News

Selene’s Adventure - Level One: Fear and Survival

A Clarion Call

An Emergency Meeting

Selene’s Adventure - Level Two: Anxiety and Security

PART TWO

Mastering Creation

Floating in the unknown

Selene’s Adventure - Level Three: Love and Pleasure

A Mystical Place

Lord Sanat Kumara

Selene’s Adventure - Level Four: The Long Dark Night of the Soul

Selene’s Adventure - Level Five: The Warrior

PART THREE

Transformation

Enjoying the moment

Where is the Goddess Hina?

Selene’s Adventure - Level Six: The Search

The Temple of the Sun

The Golden Labyrinth

A New Perspective

PART FOUR

The Lost Civilization

Vesta

A Brilliant Encounter

Selene’s Adventure - Level Seven: The Find

A Profound Discovery

Selene’s Adventure - Level Eight: The Source

The Final Challenge

A Game of Chance

The Custodians

The Missing Egg

The Reunion

Epilogue: The Dream

Dedicated to all the Earth Angels, Light-workers, Birds and Animals, who toil so tirelessly to create a world of peace and harmony for all to share.

Acknowledgements

The birds and animals, as always, continue to remain such a source of inspiration, comfort, friendship and joy. I am truly grateful for their presence, trust, wisdom and guidance.

I would also like to thank my family and friends for their continued support and encouragement during the writing of this series. The constant support provided by my dear friend in India, Smita Arya, helped me to eventually complete the writing of this book. I am very grateful for your gentle prodding spanning the past few years. Florence, my cousin Pam, with Muffin and Teddy, and my brother Graeme and his partner Xiaomei, have been especially kind.

My new walking friends and their furry companions also deserve a special mention as a source of inspiration, support, entertainment and enjoyment. Thanks to: Helen and her beloved German Shepherd named Billie; Bev with her adoring Border Collie named Jasper; Sally with curious Pebbles, the Cocker Spaniel; Doug and Paula with their beloved dog Gizmo the Shi Tzu - may he rest in peace and play freely in doggy heaven with his head held high; as well as little Ned the Tibetan Spaniel; along with the pigeons, seagulls, and water dragons. Thank you for all the laughs, support and enjoyable conversations with our beautiful gleaming ocean providing the stunning backdrop.

And a special mention goes to Janice and her beloved cats Jeera and Inguz, thanks for your love and support.

I would also like to thank Doreen Virtue, Celia Fenn, The Rainbow Scribe and Kaypacha for inspirational spiritual messages, updates and regular reports to help us to remember to remain aligned.

Prologue

The Departure

Tap, tap, tap.

"I want to go! I must try! It is my birth right and my destiny!" She cried as tears of frustration rimmed her large emerald-green eyes, and splashed down her smooth pale cheeks.

She continued with her plea. Too much time has passed, Father. For as long as I can remember I have heard the story - the story you have told me! The ancient tomes that fill our library - musty-scented from the cracked leather covers with gilt-edged pages - teased and enticed us. I still dream about those times of old, and the lost civilization, and our ancestors. Father, the stories were a precious and magical gift to our family. It is my turn to try to find the lost ones. It is my responsibility now. Her passion fuelled her boldness and courage, and so she took a deep breath and then continued.

They have a right to be free. Surely you can understand … and the visions … I know you have seen them too. It is time! She looked at him through beseeching eyes, searching his face for understanding and compassion. Her hair was the colour of onyx, glossy and black, and it framed her small and delicate featured face. Soft strands caressed her forehead and neck, lovingly cascading down her shoulders, hugging her lower back as if to keep her safe in a warm embrace. Her face glowed parchment like the moon. The child was angelic, an innocent filled with hope and curiosity.

But she was a child no longer.

Her father, now elderly with snowy-white hair and bushy-white eyebrows, tapped his foot impatiently. He tried to diffuse the situation, to talk about something else, and yet somehow he knew that he was too late. It was true, he had seen the visions but he saw much more, and so he had kept those visions to himself.

He knew what was lurking out there in the darkness, the perils and heartache ahead of her, and he knew that she was determined to venture away from the light and into the shadows of the unknown. There was nothing he could do to stop her. The cause had gripped her heart and infected her mind. He knew it only too well, yet his biggest fear was not just for her safety but also for the safety of all the others who will be needed to help her once her memory was lost.

His fears stemmed from the threat that had hovered over their lives for so long – what would happen if the veil between the worlds was torn apart in the attempt to awaken the lost ones, and then the menacing beasts known as the fallen ones, with wild red eyes, yellowing fangs, and long sharp talons, were able to return?

Tell me again, Father, when do you believe they became lost? The young one urged.

No sighting was ever recorded after The Fall. He replied, indulging her curiosity whilst shaking off the image of the beasts.

Selene tried to ask a question, to catapult him toward the middle of the story but he continued to speak in an ordered manner. He hoped that if he laboured over the details of the story, as he had done all her life, then perhaps some memory would remain, even though it was unlikely. He knew that as soon as she departed from this temple to begin her search, she would forget her mission and her purpose, and become too distracted by her surroundings to remember anything about her past. So consumed would she become, so eager to explore this new realm and search for the elusive goal, that she would forget all else.

He tried to focus on the present moment. Oh yes, Atlantis was real my dear … as real as you and I … and so was Lemuria. He continued with the story. The ones who lived there were different, much taller, and with longer limbs. You see they had come from royal lineage and from the stars such as Sirius, Andromeda, Juno, the Grand Central Sun, Arcturus and the Pleiades. Oh, Selene, those were transformational times, with a land and a metropolis that is now regarded as utopia where peace, freedom, artistic expression and sacred wisdom were so highly valued in a culture that was so highly advanced. He sighed.

What must it have been like to live there, Father? Her green eyes shone like malachite crystals, complete with rings of lime encircling the pupil as she became more absorbed in the story. It sounds so magical, she whispered.

A pretty bluebird with shiny black eyes had perched daintily upon her shoulder, listening attentively. Occasionally she hid her eyes under her wing when she became frightened, so captivated was she, by every word. Her name was Topaz and when the sun shone from a certain angle, the fiery, rusty reds were emblazoned across her chest, while sunset purple shimmered across her back. She too knew the story of the old place, it had been told to her by her ancestors, and written on the pages of the wattle leaves secreted in the branches of the trees where they kept their nests up high and away from danger.

Topaz, born long ago in outback Australia, had volunteered to watch over this family. She knew her job would now become evermore difficult because Topaz had a secret. It was when she had been flying between the worlds and she had paused to enjoy a short rest in the shade, sheltered from the scorching fingers of the blistering sun.

She had finished her afternoon song and all was still and quiet. It was when she rifled her beak through her feathers, and then zippered down the edges of her wings and tail feathers, it was during these moments that she was all-ears. Suddenly, she had stopped her preening and she had become perfectly still. Not even a feather had moved, as her heart rate slowed. She had overheard something that day and she knew it was very important and would change everything.

It was not just about the physical condition … and to expand creation, Selene, her father continued, rather it was a civilization with a charter to create balance and harmony across the many kingdoms. To honour and respect the animals, land, flowers, trees, birds, nature, spirit and the very Earth herself. These new beings were free to express themselves in so many ways: through dance, craft, art, architecture, music, theatre, poetry and prose. Not to mention their sporting prowess, physical and mental strength and ingenuity and invention. There was also a sense of style and fashion and self respect as they created magical ways for a thriving community to exist in harmony with the sacred surroundings. His pale-blue eyes were filled with the vision of the utopian life.

As a result all life flourished. The beings of this community were able to enjoy abundance, freedom, shelter, riches and perfect health without disease, crime, lack, or the wars that followed during the trials of the later ages. It was so beautiful and innocent back then Selene, with the hanging gardens, the waterfalls, the fairies, angels and sprites all so visible. It was such a shame they needed to hide as the ages passed. He lamented, as his eyes clouded with the memory of sadness and loss.

But the birds and animals remember Selene, they are the ones who will help to change everything. You must find the great winged ones to help you once you commence your search. The magpie will help you to find the silvery-white dragon who will lead you to the caretaker and the lost civilization. He looked deeply into Selene’s eyes.

The aged man continued his narration. "According to legend, the universe was birthed from a sacred rainbow crystal egg. Fragments of the crystal shell scattered to form the stars we see today, as well as the planets and the sun and moon. Little is known about who or what kind of creature had laid that enormous egg that contained the origins of all life but it is known that the earliest life forms to traverse the heavens were giant winged-beings; the most beautiful creatures in existence.

These flying beings were designed with enormous spanning wings like sails from the largest ships imaginable, and they could reach across galaxies. It is said that the eyes of these soaring creatures were those of gigantic blue diamonds. The eyes, according to legend, held the secrets and blueprints of existence. One ancient creature was known to have a curious coloured dot upon her forehead. Only special ones from this lineage could lay a rainbow crystal egg every twenty-six thousand years to give birth to new life, new planets and new worlds." His eyes gleamed in the light.

Topaz, the bluebird, knew how important birds were in the story of creation as it was widely known that the mother dragon of all life, herself created from the blue diamond heart of the original creator, laid a perfect egg which became the first planet. When it hatched, other planets were then created. All the birds knew the legend of creation, it was written in the leaves of the trees where they were schooled as soon as they hatched. Topaz knew her history well and she often enjoyed reflecting on the stories that were written in the leaves. She smiled as she recalled some of her favourites …

One day, a special bird with a long straight beak, brown eyes and a big round tummy, was flying across the heavens. When he rested, others looked to admire his regal stature with his brown and cream colouring, complete with teal-flecked wings and tail feathers. This winged being was known for his patience and was able to sit quietly for a very long time using his excellent vision to see across vast distances. His square-edged brown-barred tail feathers would flip up and down to aid in balance whilst he was resting. Occasionally he would rifle his long beak through his thick creamy chest, and then down through each wing, often resulting in a fine wispy feather adhering to the end of his beak. Sometimes he would shake his head and clack his beaks, whilst clinging to a branch with small reptilian feet.

A visitor arrived, a friend from the heavens, and told a joke to this large bird with the long beak and round tummy. It was such a good joke that he opened his long straight beak and laughed and laughed uproariously. A raucous sound that echoed and rippled far across the heavens. When he realised how far his laugh had travelled and that others also began to laugh, he decided that he would laugh often to help awaken and heal others and remind them about the funny side of life and to remember not to be too serious. This is why the Kookaburra laughs today, as a reminder that laughter and happiness are powerful ways to heal and enjoy life, and connect to the very essence of the soul.

After a good laugh, he decided that life was too cold and far too dark in the cosmos and something needed to be done about it. He was tired of blindly flying into things and so he asked the Mother Dragon for some means of illumination. The Mother Dragon was humoured by the idea and by the amusing sound of the raucous laugh. It was infectious. When the Mother Dragon began to laugh, she coughed and spluttered and then breathed fire that became the eternal flame.

This was the first time that the mother of the dragons and winged beings had breathed the sacred fire-flower that was orange and red. She gave her sacred fire breath to the Kookaburra with the brown and teal wings, bandit face, spikey hair and round tummy. However, the Mother Dragon was further astounded when the clever and selfless Kookaburra decided to place the eternal flame into one of the larger planets thus bringing light across the Universe for all to enjoy. This fiery star became known as the dragon’s breath containing the laughing face of the Mother Dragon in the flames. The sun has glowed brightly ever since.

At the same time, a very courageous Magpie, with yellow eyes and white-tipped wings, was given the auspicious task of bringing another light to one of the darkened planets in the starry sky. A silvery-white dragon, friend of the winged-Creator, gave the Magpie a special pearl. The Magpie then flew to one of the eggs in the sky and carefully placed the pearl into the shell. This pearl glowed within the eggshell to create a soft, muted, cloudy light, now known as the light of the moon. So pearly white was this egg, and the heartbeat of the life within was so powerful that it controlled the oceanic tides across the universe. When the egg is ready to hatch, so the story goes, the universe will celebrate a significant phase of rebirth and renewal. It was no coincidence, mused Topaz, that the angels had been gifted with feathered wings just like her own. Yes, the birds and winged ones were very important in the story of creation.

The little bird upon Selene’s shoulder puffed out her feathers with pride, she knew the birds and animals had an important job ahead of them and it would take all the kingdoms working together to achieve a successful outcome. She preened her wings and rapidly scratched her head with her foot. Topaz knew things that even the wise old man with the big white beard did not know and she knew that when the white peacock appeared and called the long ‘maw’ call, it would be time.

But what about the special one Father … how did the caretaker fit into the story? Selene was anxious to hear more about the caretaker of the temple. She knew there was more to this story because each time her father retold the tale he added one more small detail to make certain Selene had been listening.

He continued in his methodical manner.

It was an experiment, you see, and we were so very proud of their creations and technological advancement - the wonderful temples, sculptures and paintings to depict and share the wisdom they had brought with them from a previous place that was not of the Earth. It was agreed that they would descend to the Earth from the stars and thereby experience life in a physical body. These plans and designs were shared with other civilizations. The many types of pyramids, temples and the Parthenon that remain today are a testament to that cross-pollination of ideas. He took a breath, eager to continue with the story.

However nothing could compare to the ultimate design that was the Atlantis Ziggurat. It was enormous, as big as a city and a safe haven to many, with the crowning jewel a temple of such magnificence and beauty the likes of which have never again been seen.

Selene sensed he was coming to the interesting part, and so she listened more intently for the new detail to be inserted. The little bluebird also stood perfectly still, perched on her dainty feet, barely breathing.

The temple was a reminder to all those who lived at that time to honour and respect and love the god that was contained within. Made from limestone and marble, the roof was open to allow the seamless connection to the heavens and to all the gods as well as the moon, sun and stars. Gargoyles played all day with the squirrels and monkeys, and then they slept peacefully above the cornices at night. The temple was designed with five sides, a pentagon, each side lined with towering white Corinthian columns. But it was the secret chamber at the heart of the alabaster temple, deep within, that was so sacred and this is where the dragon was housed.

Selene gasped. She had known about the secret chamber but the details had always been scant.

Her father carried on.

The caretaker of the temple was assigned to protect the Ziggurat at all cost. No-matter what, if anything were to happen to threaten or jeopardise the continuation of life in Atlantis, the orders were to submerge everything immediately after creating a massive earthquake. This would cause a devastating tsunami. And that is exactly what happened. This is why the whole island sank, taking the secrets with it. The protector had come from the stars and was made of crystal; it was time to protect the secrets of the universe.

But where did they all go? What happened to the dragon? Selene asked filled with wonder.

The dragon escaped, and eventually left the Earth but he has recently returned and he too is longing for the old days to rebirth and to find the caretaker, his old friend. It still exists, this Ziggurat, along with the submerged Atlantis, and when this ancient civilization is located and rediscovered it will change the course of life on that planet. Many cities still exist beneath the sands and the oceans but they are protected and therefore remain hidden. However what is not known, dear Selene, is what happened to the caretaker … His blue eyes twinkled. The fall of Atlantis was inevitable and had always been part of the original plan once the darkness began to spread. Again he paused to take a breath and collect his memories.

Atlantis was a prototype and when this Ziggurat is found, a new utopia will be born. Plans, blueprints and designs for perfect health, energy healing, sacred geometry and even creation, are contained within that temple. My only wish is that these precious plans … these patterns and designs of creation … will fall into the right, responsible hands. Find the caretaker and locate the forgotten civilization, Selene. That is your mission. Find the lost ones. The old man sighed knowing the weight of his words.

There was a very special tome, a leather-bound, gilt-edged, book that had been created just prior to Atlantis. This book holds the records of every event since time began. You could find your own story in that tome, also known as the Akashic records, and all the lives you have ever lived; even your purpose here now is recorded in that ancient compendium. In that book is a description of every angel and every soul, every animal and their true essence, quality and gift to the world is described in detail along with their true spiritual meaning.

He saw the look of awe on Selene’s young face. Was he giving her too much information? Would she remember any of it? He knew he had to tell her everything, and he hoped that a small memory would remain.

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Recently, however, the book disappeared from our shelves. We were the custodians of those records for so very long and now we have allowed it to slip away. However the book is a living thing, you see, and it will choose where it goes next. Secreted in the cover was something that was given to us, to our family: it is called the Heart of the Dragon. Fortunately it must have slipped out from the book because I found the pendant on the floor, and now I will give it to you. You are the custodian until you return it to the rightful owner.

Selene felt a rush of adrenaline. Magic moons, she murmured. It was her favourite expression when she was in awe. She had identified not one new detail but several. What had happened to the caretaker? Where must she go to find the lost civilization? Where is the book of Akashic records? And who was the rightful owner of the Dragon Heart? For her father to make mention of this latest information, meant it was very significant.

But Father, how can all these records be stored in one book, it would have to be enormous? Selene reasoned.

Ah, but you see it is not a normal book and it can never be destroyed. Outward appearances would fool us into thinking it was a normal leather-bound compendium, old I grant you, and large with a musty scent. It would seem like any normal book, however, once you opened the cover and saw the brilliant golden light shine forth - you would know it was a very special book. His pale-blue eyes twinkled.

"When you search for a theme or subject or name, the book will project a hologram, a movie, with all the associated facts, stories, characters and settings, and any other connected information you wish to see and hear. If we looked for the meaning of that pretty bluebird that has always been our friend, the listing would say: Bluebird is a sacred symbol of transformation, as the traveller moves through a corridor of change from child to adult, from winter to summer, and from darkness to light. Also known as the bluebird of happiness, it is the guardian of transition, the protector of the pathways leading to happiness, and the fertility of dreams, toward freedom and a higher level of being. A picture of the pretty sky-blue coloured bird would fly above the text and dart around your head." His eyes lit up with childlike joy.

It is a magical book, Selene, and it has moved on to the next custodian. We always knew it would happen some day but what this signifies is a change now of monumental proportions. May your bluebird protect you during your transformational journey into the unknown … The old man gazed adoringly at his daughter and toward the little bird that had been with them for so many ages.

Topaz, the little bluebird, rubbed her pretty feathered head lovingly against Selene’s cheek.

Her father sighed as he remembered those golden times. It was the most powerful emblem in existence. Part of it was forged from the heart of the ancient crystal being of harmony - the caretaker - so that when it was placed into the book alongside the pearl of truth, it could create complete worlds. Your grandparents, Alpha and Omega, were given this magnificent tome, with the jewel on the cover that was partly formed from the heart of the Divine winged-creator.

Again, he had a gleam in his eyes.

My dear, you see, the caretaker did not return to the stars after the destruction of Atlantis, but instead chose to remain near the Earth. What is so delicious is that it is the caretaker that holds the key now, not the temple, and what is even more ingenious is that the caretaker is so highly visible, with hidden, magical powers, waiting for the signal to awaken from a deep sleep. He knew he needed to explain.

Before The Fall, the caretaker invited volunteers to make a commitment to help the future generations. It was marvellous to behold, Selene, the inundation of all those pure souls who were willing to step forward and play their part: the animals, sprites, birds, serpents, cats, dogs, bears, and those called angels gathered to hear the wisdom passed on from the caretaker. Those with wings flew far and wide to share the wisdom through their song. Serpents hissed their messages as they slithered through the sands, trees rustled the stories with their leaves, and whales sang the whale-song of creation. The stories have been passed down through the ages to keep the dream alive, but now is a time of great importance, Selene. Some special birds, a rainbow serpent, a dragon lord and some animals have a critical job to perform at this time with you and the human, and this pendant is so very important to the success of this mission. The old man gasped, now short of breath. He needed to pause.

The bluebird knew all about it because those special birds were part of her family. There was something else that Topaz knew: she knew who the caretaker was and where this powerful protector had been sleeping, visible to all. Oh, how she longed for the day when the caretaker would awaken from the long sleep and when that day arrived, everything would change. She scratched her head with her foot and then bubbled with excited chatter, she finished her preening with a high-pitched sneeze and then she stood perfectly still and observed.

It is said that all we see during a lifetime - all the images captured by the eyes - is stored in our memory. The eyes are the window to the soul and all it has ever known and seen. The blue diamond, set in this pendant, is said to contain much power along with all the records, blueprints, DNA and designs, captured from the heart and eye of the Mother Dragon, the creator of worlds. The magnificent pendant was subsequently utilised to create further civilizations and worlds, as it contained the secrets and codes of existence.

But how is that possible, Father? We have the stone - have we created worlds too? Selene asked her wise elder.

We have created many worlds my dear, during times past, and when the pendant was whole. But now, it will only have power when it is in the care of the rightful owner - the caretaker - the one who worked closely with the silver dragon during the time of Atlantis. He replied.

There have been legends about it. Many have sought to find it. Some stories allege that those who gaze upon the stone are able to glimpse the beginning of time and follow it through to the end of time. Others say it is possible to be granted instant illumination as the amulet is said to contain all eight stages of the human condition within its power. But it is not for us to play with. We must return it to its rightful owner. It is your job to return it. His voice was stern and sombre.

You see this is not the whole piece. The pendant was still intact when the planet Venus was created as a sister planet to the next planned creation: planet Earth. However, before the Earth was fully formed and complete, the civilization of Atlantis fell and was lost forever. The pendant survived - but the diamond setting with sapphires as eyelashes - was missing an important piece. Without this piece, the pendant lost all power, all vision, insight, prophecy, and truth given to the holder and caretaker of the pendant: our family. When this part was lost, we lost our power to create worlds … A tear dropped heavily from the rim of his eye as his voiced drifted away into silence.

Yes, he mused distractedly, it was not an ordinary pendant - this piece was able to learn, remember, and absorb as new worlds were being created.

She knew the story off by heart but she still listened closely, hanging from every word. Show me again, please let me see the image, magic moons but I love to see it.

It took great strength to conjure the hologram, as it represented the balance of the universe but the old man still had some energy left and he knew how his daughter loved to behold the vision.

As if suspended by invisible wires an image appeared before their eyes, turning in mid air, golden light surrounded the prism. At first the image seemed to depict the widely recognisable symbol of Yin and Yang: one side black with a white eye; the other side white with a black eye. But upon closer inspection the outer circle was defined by a golden snake, head to toe, eating its own tail. It was slowly twisting and turning, rainbow coloured scales gleaming.

Within the circle was a living image of the earth. The left side of the image illustrated mountains, trees, animals, flowers and nature. The eye towards the top represented the orange setting sun. The right side of the image reflected the ocean, sand, and the same mountains and trees with the eye at the bottom reflecting the rising sun. One sun was a ruby, the other carnelian. Strangely from a certain angle, they were depicting the eyes of a dragon.

Contained within the image were the eight levels of the human condition beginning with survival and culminating with illumination from source. The old man knew that these were the same levels that Selene would need to traverse if she were to succeed in her mission.

As the whole image tilted and rotated at different angles the suns transformed into the rising and setting moon. The higher moon was an image of a pearl, whilst the lower one was a sapphire.

When the image turned upon its side, the moons became eyes. She might have imagined it but to Selene they resembled the face of a white wolf with ice blue eyes.

The whole scene had been created on the face of a huge blue diamond and seemed to be constantly changing to reveal more images and dimensions – and meaning. As they looked on, a dragonfly emerged from the centre of the diamond, with powerful wings buzzing with rapid movement. As the shimmering-green dragonfly