A Long, Long Time Ago.... in the Future

By Jill Marie West

The wildest, craziest ideas emerging from the depths of our swirling imaginations are closer to the truth than anything in our so called “reality’ could ever be.

The first instinctive and instantaneous feeling arising from the center core of our being is always the most accurate and astute account of a situation that we can get.

Believing in these two concepts has made it possible to write down the words for the following short stories. These stories are a series of events that may or may not have really happened. Instead of trying to validate them, I would prefer to view them as a set of lessons of sorts. The theme that runs through each story is what is important. What worked for mankind, and clearly what did not.

It matters not the particular characters or the actual circumstances. We have all experienced violence and negative thinking. How will these lessons effect the future? That is the only question capable of making a difference. Our past is undeniably linked to our future.

If we decide not to fill anymore of history with separate and harmful acts, then perhaps it will be helpful to carry the memory of our recent past with us, allowing it to serve as a painful reminder. Hopefully, our grandchildren and great grandchildren will once again live as brothers and sisters.

My sincere hope is that the future upon our Mother Earth can be enjoyed with balance, wholeness, and connection.

With Hope, Promise, and Light!

Jill Marie West

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Apr 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781982267742

Jill Marie West

Jill Marie West is mainly a horsewoman living between West Texas and Southeast Arizona. The desert serves as home for her and her animals, providing enormous amounts of beauty, as well as, a little stark reality. From this vantage point, a few short stories and quite a few poems have been brought to form. Perhaps the upcoming days will bring even more desert tales to life? One can never be sure!

Book preview

A LONG, LONG TIME AGO....

IN THE FUTURE

A long, long time ago when women ruled the Mother Earth, everything existed in total harmony and peace.

Queen Julianna was Keeper of the Sacred Fires.

Empress, Sari We Ho was Keeper of the Spirits of Movement and all the things of the Air.

Elder Pau li naya, Aboriginal leader, was Keeper of the Sacred Waters of Life.

Chiefess Jaguar Woman, was Keeper of the sweet and holy Mother Earth.

Together they comprised the highest decision makers in the world. The four Keepers of the Elements knew the jobs that lay before them. They saw clearly the future yet to unfold. They each understood their responsibilities.

The good Mother Earth was very new and had few occupants. She was bountiful in every way.

In the beginning there was no killing of large animals. People ate from the abundant fruits, plants, and grains. Fish and certain fowl were also used for nourishment. The men were very skillful with the ways of obtaining these commodities. The old animals did allow their hides, bones, and other beneficial parts to be utilized after their death.

Men were revered with the utmost respect and always treated as the treasures they were thought to be. They were content to let the women make political decisions. They were far too busy building, engineering, sailing, fishing, or providing homes for their families. It became a thing of great pride for a man to offer shelter to the woman who chose him as husband.

Water covered much of the land in those days, and flowed freely where the Mother Earth rose above the extensive sea level.

Many minerals, gems, and natural resources were in their infancy.

During this time there was no war. The people would not dream of harming each other, for they knew that would only be harming themselves. They lived by the Web of Connection Between All Living Things.

Of course, there was a natural balance of good and evil. When a person committed a wrongful act, that person was brought to justice quickly and fairly. The manner in which this human was handled was intended to bring healing to the wronged and wrongdoer alike.

Each culture or color of people had a High Council. There was also a global High Council consisting of representatives from every tribe and nation.

And, so it was a long, long, time ago.....in the future.

PART 1

Q ueen Julianna emerged from between the double, wooden doors of the massive rock and timber structure she called home. She walked to the edge of the balcony overlooking the dark green of the fertile valley below. The huge building was backed by the looming mountains, still wearing their snowy caps of winter. The house blended perfectly in its setting of granite crags and dense timberline.

Julianna sighed, then breathed in the chill of the early spring evening. The valley lay still, awaiting the dewy nighttime ahead, and releasing the energies from the glorious daytime. Thick grass carpeted the entire countryside, dotted here and there with bright sparks of color from the first flowers of the season.

Across the valley, on the far side of the ridge, Grandfather Sun was finishing his ritual, setting on another day. He glittered along the gentle waves of the Great Waters as he descended slowly, but steadily.

The Great Waters stretched for many, many days and months. The Great Sea reached out to the distant shores of other worlds.

The Queen raised her graceful arms and bid Grandfather Sun farewell until tomorrow. She blessed him and his warming energies. She gave thanks for the abundance her people enjoyed.

As Grandfather Sun slipped behind the horizon, a tiny, faint speck of white could be seen in the last rays of light. Julianna watched patiently and intently as the white came closer, growing larger and larger. It must be them! Her mind and heart raced together. Without further pondering, she fled down the seven flights of terraced steps, rushing past the fragrant herbs spilling over onto the rock pathway.

Some people ran from their homes to join her in the excitement. Men crowded closer, waiting for an opportunity to transport the Queen to the docks of the Great Sea. She selected Thomas, a trusted friend. He assisted her up on to the simple, but sturdy farm wagon with the dappled gray horse hitched in front.

Thank you, Thomas. Do you think it`s them? she asked him with the hope of a small child.

Of course, Dear Lady, of course. was his only reply. He respectfully looked straight ahead while adeptly tending to the business of driving.

Within minutes, he pulled the dappled gray up to the main dock of the harbor. Three huge ships stood to the right, sails down, waiting for their turn to take a glory filled trip along the deep waters.

Thomas helped Julianna down, her soft, pastel gown flirting slightly on the twilight sea breezes. Together they waited and watched. People began to filter in behind them, two and three at a time, until a small gathering had formed.

Even in the deepening darkness, the definite outline of sails billowing out with the wind could be seen. Beneath the grand sails was a most magnificent vessel. The Mountain Spirit was built from the finest mahogany. It was intricately carved and hand rubbed. It was the elite vessel of the small, but active fleet of ships owned by the people. Its master craftsman and captain of the sailors stood a mast, very impatient to finally dock at last.

The tall, muscular figure waved a broad arm at Julianna, Thomas, and the crowd. His beard was thick and scruffy, covering a ruddy, sea weathered complexion. His square face was topped with a generous portion of auburn colored hair. Boris leaped from the deck of the ship, landing deftly on the dock below. He tipped his captain’s hat back.....what a vision she was for an ocean weary man to come home to, he thought, fairly bursting at the seams with love and pride.

Julianna ran to his arms! Her slender body moved lithely beneath the pink linen. Her delicate beauty was fittingly crowned with long, golden tresses. How good it felt to be in his arms again! It had been far too long!

As Boris and Julianna embraced, the other sailors spilled from the The Mountain Spirit, anxious to see their own families. It was a truly joyous occasion, for the crew had been gone nearly a full year.

Darkness fell around the people as the impromptu celebration commenced. Everyone moved toward the protection of the Community Building. This long, narrow construction had been built with the help of the entire community. All the important meetings, ceremonies, and events were held there.

Women hurried to their homes and quickly returned with breads, jellies, and smoked fish for the unscheduled feast. While the people rallied in their gladness, Julianna quietly pulled Boris to one side of the activities. Oh, my Love! It is so good to have you home again! A great deal has happened here, but first tell me of your travels. she was grateful he was safe.

It will take some time to talk about our journeys. I kept a written record of all the world news. It is written in our tongue and translated from the languages of the others. This new form of words one can see is very interesting. Jaguar Woman from the Western Sea Land claims that a Grandmother Spider gave it to her people. It is quite handy. It can be used with any tongue, and to record many things. I’ll show it to you tomorrow. Tonight, I want only to fill my far traveled eyes on the loveliest Queen in all the universe!

She closed her eyes and allowed her heart to beat freely with the relief of her husband’s presence.

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Morning came all too soon. Julianna wanted nothing to disturb their contented togetherness, but a steady tap, tap on the sleeping quarter’s door proved persistent. She pulled a gown over her head and attempted to smooth her disheveled locks.

Yes. Who is it? she asked before opening the door and relenting the last little bit of privacy she and Boris would have today.

I’m so sorry, Queen. I beg your pardon, madam, but it is I, Calvin. My wife needs to speak to you at your earliest convenience. Can you come?

Why, yes, of course, Calvin. Please tell Lauren I’ll be there quickly. Julianna closed the door and began her usual morning grooming procedure quietly, trying not to wake Boris.

Calvin and Lauren were two of the very few elders remaining from the original occupants. Most of the old ones had decided to return home along the Star Road to the Center of All Things. It was generally estimated that the couple was somewhere between 250 and 300 years old.

Calvin was head star watcher for the people, and Lauren was the eldest healer. Her knowledge of medicinal herbs and plants, along with her accurate vision of energy flows, was vast and highly important to the community.

Julianna tiptoed carefully from the room and turned to blow a kiss toward her sleeping mate before leaving.

First,