The Ainiu

By Cyndarion Ainu

Finalist Award Winner at the
2011 NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE BOOK AWARDS® ***
In a long-ago time when elves, dwarves, druids, and magical creatures lived on Earth, Duida, the Elven Princess and the chosen one, embarks on a fantastic quest to awaken the Ainu and save the Elven kingdom from the forces of evil.

The most incredible spiritual adventure of all times will open in front of your eyes, revealing deep and profound truths about the nature of reality and the path of self-transformation towards full enlightenment in this life. In these pages, you will learn incredible secrets about your authentic self, for you will be challenged, like the heroine of this story, to face your own dramas, strategies, and the masks your ego uses to cloak your true inner reality.
Great spiritual truths are revealed for the first time here that will dispel all the many lies about true spiritual development and take you to a true understanding of self-realization, enlightenment, and the reality of the existence of God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Oct 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781304909497

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Transformation is a process similar to breaking free from a cocoon and revealing the beautiful butterfly that has always existed within. Then we find almost limitless possibilities for our true expression that had been hidden from our perception before. The soul is the most wondrous, perfect reality that beckons us to manifest fully as our truth. This is a story about transformation, about total realization of our true self, and the reality of God, which is beyond religious beliefs. For many, this may seem a story of fantasy and fiction, but for those who truly thirst to open their spiritual eyes, it is a true story that has been lost in the pages of time, one that can teach our hearts a new way to perceive our reality and true potential as human beings.

Long ago, way before recorded history, which goes back only ten thousand of years ago, there were many incredible civilizations and beings that existed in both the physical realm and in realms parallel to physical reality. Their existence was erased from our memories after the last planetary shift, which changed the axis of the planet and made the waters rise, destroying all things, and even changing dimensional experience to the one we are living now. Yet, civilizations such as Atlantis, which are remembered as legends, truly existed and were part of our ancient history.

The third and last Atlantis was destroyed one hundred thousand years ago. The story you are about to ready dates

back much farther, millions of years ago, during the second era of Atlantis, when Earth was shared not only by human beings, but also by such as elves, dwarves, halflings, giants, and many other beings you will encounter as you read. It was a time of great danger; the safety of all living beings was hanging in the balance. A great enemy had risen from the depths of the Earth, placing in peril both human and non-human existence. The Elven civilization had for many thousands of years prophesied that, in the greatest time of need, there would appear a hero to change the course of history, bring balance to the planet, and restore our connection to God and nature.

The story begins to unfold in the moments when the last of the Elven kingdom is about to be destroyed by the evil force that is trying to conquer the entire planet and enslave all its beings. As you follow the adventures of our young elf princess, open your hearts to feel her story as if it were your own. As you do, many secrets about your own reality will be placed in front of you, there to be conquered by your authentic self. Become a warrior at her side as you follow her in these pages; allow yourself to be transformed in your real life by her majestic spirit.

So, let us begin our journey as we find our princess ready to take the first steps that will lead to fulfillment of the ancient prophecy.

Wait. A friendly warning before you begin: this story is fully alive and the characters represented are archetypal forces in your unconscious mind. As you read, you will tap into their energies and consciousness and will be transformed by their energies and presence. If you are open to change, a great journey awaits you, for the path of self-transformation will be placed before you.

Will you become the hero of your own story?

I

THE PROPHECY BEGINS TO UNFOLD

Duida has just escaped from the claws of the Dinarin and is seeking refuge in Viva’ani’s forest, which is under the protection of the Goddess Na’rami.

Deep in the forest and under the giant shadows of pine trees, she slows down, feeling agitated and gasping for breath. Although an elf can run for days without rest, her fast escape has rivaled the agility of a deer running from a predator and has left her in this precarious position. Composing herself with a deep breath, she opens her magical mithril pouch and retrieves a light-golden pearl. Placing it in the palms of her hands, she blows on it gently, as if releasing her last breath of hope. Soon the spherical form transforms into the shape of a butterfly that departs from her long, elegant fingers, flying first around Duida’s silver-moon tiara and then, recognizing its destination, flies erratically towards a huge, dark bark tree, aiming toward a pitch-black hole in the middle. Once in the hollow tree, the butterfly flutters up the trunk and exits at the top, where a luminous golden-yellow flower awaits. When the butterfly alights on the flower’s stem, it closes the petals very gently, as if guarding a precious jewel that has landed in its womb. This action triggers a lock of some sort that opens a trapdoor to a secret opening at the base of the tree, which is big enough for Duida to enter. But before stepping in, she

hears a sound above and, with the reflexes of a cat, she extends her hand, catching a golden sphere that is falling through the branches without touching even one of the tree’s leaves. She secures the sphere in her pouch, and looking around to make sure no one is watching, moves down into the open passage that will guide her into Na’rami’s inner temple.

Duida descends the short stone steps hastily. The tunnel is well lit by golden spherical balls every few meters. With her arms raised, she barely touches the walls to prevent her from falling. Duida maintains her focus on the image of her father, King Samna’than, barricading himself behind the enormous ivory doors of the Chamber of the Crystal of Eternity.

"Run, mi Ani’manu, (my precious angel, his playful, loving name for her). The prophecy has begun," the king said, trying to maintain a peaceful expression for the few seconds before the door was totally shut.

Now, falling down her cheek was a crystal tear, in which was reflected the image of the lamps along the stairway.

What I am going to do? O Goddess, give me strength, because I have none left.

Duida continued to descend the spiral stairs for what seemed hours. Her silky dress fluttered in a stream of air that was coming up the tunnel. Duida relaxed a bit, thinking that she was close to the entrance of the temple. Suddenly, she saw the exit, a great opening in the rock that gave way to a vast darkness that the light of the last two lamps along the stone archway could not penetrate. Duida looked up and saw a starry sky.

How can it be, she wondered, that there are stars in the belly of the mother?

She walked on, following a narrow road made of what seemed to be marble stones in the shape of crescent moons. The light from the stairway no longer illumined the road, but to her surprise, the crescent moons had their own glowing energy, which grew brighter as she moved deeper into the darkness. Animal sounds began to fill the apparent emptiness of the darkness, especially the singing of birds. On both sides, she felt the presence of trees. Because she was an elf, she had a keen sense of connection with nature, and she could feel the energy emanating from them. Her sense of smell told her that fruits hung from the branches, but she couldn’t see anything, nor did she dare to leave the path. A fear crept into her mind as the deep of night engulfed her surroundings, revealing only the shining steps that were guiding her to an unknown destiny.

O, dear Goddess, she prayed, I am supposed to get to your temple doors. Am I lost, dear one? Please give me courage to follow this path.

Duida looked up, hoping that the stars would bestow  more light on her surroundings, yet the light was not sufficient to pierce the veil of darkness. Her breath became more agitated, and a deep pain arose in her belly, the kind of pain you feel when fear has overtaken your senses.

What was she doing there? she wondered. Why had her father sent her to this temple that had not been entered for almost twelve hundred years? She had been but a child the last time her mother came here, and she had never seen her mother again. Oh, but the centuries had been unable to tarnish her mother’s beloved image.

Looking at her right hand, she gazed at the moon ring that was one of the few heirlooms her mother had left behind. The

black stone always revealed the image of the moon’s phase. It was a full moon now, and Duida wished the moon were in this firmament of darkness so she could enjoy a night of silvery rays. Her heart felt heavier and heavier as she relived in her mind the happy moments with her mother. Her legs felt tired now, and her sadness demanded that she sit on one of the moonstones and grieve for her mom and for the situation in which she found herself.

Why me? she murmured. Why am I to find the AIniu when there are so many warriors in my kingdom who are more accomplished and capable than a young princess? I was not trained for a task that demands a hero who can overcome any odds. My beauty is my greatest asset, as far as I know, but how can that be a talent for such a mission? Father must have gone mad at the end to send me alone without a guard to escort me. Did he truly love me or did he just want to get rid of me? She still remembered how his heart ached every time he looked at her and remembered her mother. She knew it was not her fault her mother had left…but how could she be sure?

Duida’s mind was totally lost in a train of thoughts that was driving her deep into her present misery. She wanted the universe to know that she was a victim and that she deserved to be saved—or at least recognized for the effort she had made so far. The many compliments she had been given for whatever she accomplished, no matter how easily, had tuned her mind to the trivial pursuit of recognition and praise. But she was alone now, and there was no voice to lend her the gratification she so desired.

She lifted the tiara from her head and pulled it over her very long but elegant pointy ears. As she placed it on the floor, she wished she were no longer a defenseless princess in the

middle of the belly of Gaia, not knowing what was going to become of her now that her kingdom would fall in a few weeks or months. Her lustrous, bluish-black hair cascaded over her body all the way to her knees, covering her silvery dress and her face. Inside that veil, she felt more alone than she had felt in all her life, like a tiny grain of sand stranded in the vastness of the stars above.

For a moment in that aloneness with herself, a moment of clarity shone in her mind. In that instant, she could grasp the importance of her present situation and also perceive how she was using the egoistic strategy of poor me. But there was no one who could fall prey to her act, so why was she doing it?

What a fool I am, she chided herself. There was no one there to get attention from, and still she was pursuing this tactic of feeling the victim. Was she seeking to validate herself- importance even now? She laughed.

In fact, Duida laughed so hard that she had to place both hands on her belly button to contain the release of that energetic sensation you have when true laughter comes from the pit of your stomach. She even fell backwards, closing her eyes in an attempt to contain her tears. These tears were not as salty as the ones you shed in sadness. She continued to laugh for a while at her antics before she pondered a bit more about what she was starting to see in herself. Gazing at the stars, she realized that she had used the poor-me strategy many times to get her father and relatives to do what she wanted.

Now in solitude she thought: Isn’t this a way to control others? Have I been manipulating others by acting the role of the poor little girl? Oh, yes, I have been doing that, and I can pat myself on the back for becoming a master at performing a

role that has served me well. Yet, now, in this solitude of darkness where there is no audience, I can see that this manipulative game to win attention is not going to help me at all. As a matter a fact, it has served no one but me in the past, and now I must think of others, instead."

Having mused thus, a new resolve stirred in her heart and radiated out to all parts of her body, making her feel that there was a real purpose in her being in this place and that, in order to succeed, she would have to stop pitying herself, gather her strength, and direct her energies towards the goal at hand, which was to reach the temple of the Goddess Na’rami.

Her energy thus renewed, Duida stood up on her two feet, resolved to continue her journey into the darkness. I will get to the temple, no matter what! she said loudly, clapping her ivory hands together, right on top of left.

The intensity on her beautiful changed to surprise as, after having pronounced these words, the stars began to shine more and more brightly until night became the white light of day. To her amazement, she saw that she had been inside the temple  all along. The stars she had perceived above were, in truth, clear quartz crystals that covered the ceiling of the temple. Dimmed to just their points before, they were now fully blazing. In the light, Duida found herself in an inner courtyard in front of what seemed to be the entrance to the inner temple. A path led towards a golden gate, and in each side of the gate was a face. One was a man’s face, with leaves instead of hair framing his Godlike features and two goats coming out of his head like horns. The other door contained the face of a female elf, royal and serene. Probably it was the image of the Goddess Na’rami, Duida thought. Duida ran towards the gate

with urgency, to seek audience with the goddess, but when she pushed on the gates, she found that they were locked.

Was this a cosmic joke? In the name of the Goddess, she had no time to lose, and now this! Al’ham! she cried aloud, saying hello in her Elven tongue, but the tone of her voice was so soft and sweet that it sounded like music, music that could melt the heart of any man. "Al’ham! I am Princess Q’iom Nani Duida, daughter of King Samna’than from the Vanadiam’ Forest Kingdom!"

Duida imbued her call with all the royalty, importance, and urgency possible, intending to convince any indweller to open the golden gates and admit her. No answer came. Finally, she decided to look around the courtyard for another entrance to the inner temple. As she walked among the trees, she saw golden fruits the size of small melons hanging from their branches. Having never encountered such provocative fruits, she was intrigued to discover their flavor. Even though she was wearing a full-length Cinderella gown of a dreamy silver color, she placed one foot on the trunk of the nearest tree and leapt up to grab a fruit with her left hand, then executed a graceful, 360-degree back flip and landed lightly on her feet. She gave a wide smile of satisfaction. Although she was 1,573 years old, Duida was just emerging from her adolescence and becoming a woman, so the impetuosity of youth was still very much alive in her heart.

Do not eat it! She heard a voice call from just beyond the treelike.

Who is there? She was not afraid and asked this question in a tone of curiosity. After all, the voice had not sounded menacing.

Do not eat the fruit! It is forbidden!

Duida walked slowly towards the voice, and to her surprise, she saw a big orange bird with two heads perched on top of a golden rod that extended from a marble column that rose all the way to the temple's ceiling. She giggled at the sight, placing her hand over her mouth to be polite to the strange animal. Slowly, she approached the mysterious creature that was perched just above her eye level at a height of about six- and-a-half feet, keeping her gaze fixed upon it.

Did you speak? she asked politely

Yes! I said, do not eat the fruit! Arrrgh! said the left head.

How rude your tone is, sir, Duida chided, placing her hands on her hips and leaning toward it a bit.

The right head of the bird spoke. Don’t listen to him! If you are hungry, feel free to delight in the juicy fruit. It is called a mandilla, you know, and is a rare treat that only grows here in the underworld. As she was about to bite into the delicious looking fruit, the left head warned her once again: Don’t you dare! It is forbidden for a stranger to partake of the fruits of the goddess. Arrrrhhhhhhh."

Here we go again, the right head complained. Didn’t we just have this discussion a thousand years ago?

Yes, replied the left head, and that is why I have not talked to you since then.

Well, I apologized to you many times over the decades, but you don’t seem to be able to let it go. The right head’s expression was very dignified.

I don’t forget, and I don t forgive! the left head retorted, and spat toward the right leg.

The right head tried to make eye contact with the left. Oh, memories! They have taken you prisoner, you know.

No, you are wrong. They help me remember what you have done to me. Precious memories, hmm. The left head seemed to fall into a daydream, as if recalling times long gone.

Oh, no! the right head laughed. There he goes again, missing the present moment that is so fragile and escapes us  all the time.

Duida didn’t know what to make of this bird, much less of the conversation. She was somewhat intrigued, since this type of dialogue also sometimes occurred within her own mind, nevertheless, the situation was too comical to make much of what was being revealed. She began to examine the bird in more detail. Its plumage was not just orange but also showed hues of gold, yellow, and even pale green. On top of each head was a single multicolor feather that extended upward about six inches. Its eyes were dark brown in the left head and amber in the right head. Except for the eye color, both heads were identical in form and shape and similar to the head of a parrot. The same could be said of the rest of its anatomy, save that its necks were unnaturally long in proportion to the body. From its back, five long, lustrous, multicolor feathers curled upwards towards Duida.

What did you say? I can’t eat the fruit? Duida asked with the mischievous look of a prankster, but her intention was to prompt the bird to continue its dialogue with itself, as there was something moving in her mind that she couldn’t put her finger on.

Because he wants to eat it himself, the right head declared.

They’re all mine, all! Arrrgh, said the left head, frantically moving frantically the wing on his side.

The right head glared at the left, stretching its neck a bit taller than the left. Stop lying about the rules and the ownership of the fruit. Stop making up stories! A fruit is a fruit and is there to be eaten when someone is hungry.

The left head looked down, tucking almost under the wing on its side wing, murmuring something like, All mine…arrrgh.

Duida reflected upon the words she was hearing. She realized that she, too, had made up stories and lied about many things in the service of her own ego, just to get away with indulging her willful desires. She had never before seen it so clearly. She was always looking out for the interests and well- being of the beautiful princess in the tiny matters that filled  her life. Being a princess, she was used to having it all, yet sometimes even that was not enough. Attention, getting her way, and having things that she desired but didn’t really need were things that had to be taken, as they are not given by wealth alone.

Elves are a peaceful and noble race, but their evolution in spiritual matters could be very slow, since at that point of their history, they were immortals and had all the time in the world to evolve. Besides, their civilization accommodated all their needs, leaving their minds free to comply with their customs and beliefs. But Duida, having somehow traveled beyond the boundaries of Vanadiam, was out from under the spell of the Dream Maker realm that surrounded the Elven Kingdom and

kept the elves in a state of mild euphoria. She was seeing herself more clearly now or, to put it in other words, she was discovering her own self, and she didn’t like what she was seeing. The two-headed bird that argued with itself had made her aware of what was going on in her mind all the while the radiant and incredible beauty that all elves enjoy distracted her.

True beauty has to come from within, she realized, and she didn’t see beauty in how her mind had functioned for so many years.

Like bubbles arising on the surface of a pond, memories surfaced of occasions in which she had lied, even though they were only the white lies that are all elves know. She had lied to get her way and to satisfy the voice in her mind that was always seeking attention.

She started to feel guilty. Elves are much more sensitive than humans, and being faced by these things was not easy for her now. In a moment of clarity, she saw how the left head of the bird represented her non-stop inner chatter and the lies it painted over her awareness. And the right head represented the clear heart that always perceives things as they truly are before the mind with its opinions and judgments creates a story for the benefit of the ego.

But how could she listen to the heart? She puzzled over this until she remembered how the left head of the bird became quiet when confronted with the truth. Ahh, she thought, so truth alone is the medicine for this malady of lies inside my mind.

In the excitement of self-discovery, she exclaimed out loud, making the bird jump up and flap his wings very fast while hovering a foot or so over its golden perch. A single

gold feather floated down and very gently came to rest on top of Duida's nose. Her radiant violet eyes crossed so she could see the feather on top of her nose. As she focused on that single point, she saw a most radiant white light coming toward her as if to swallow her whole in an instant. Duida leapt back as fast as she could, as if to avoid the collision that, in reality, was happening inside her mind. Everything moved in slow motion for her as she moved backwards in the air, those few seconds feeling like hours had gone by. She felt she couldn’t move even one muscle and was filled with an incredibly blissful sensation that permeated all the tiny immortal cells of her body. As a matter of fact, she felt as if she were talking to all of them at once, sending them a message of love and gratitude. After a few minutes, Duida regained herself as she began to notice that thoughts were running through her mind.

Wow, that was weird, she said to herself. She realized she had not been thinking at all for those minutes, and that  she had never before been able to stop thinking for even ten seconds. It was odd, for sure, but incredible, to say the least.

She sat down on the floor, her legs wide and stretched out, like a little girl sitting down to play with her toys. She was looking at the feather lying in front of her. She reached out and grabbed it. She examined it. What kind of feather could do something like that? She did not realize that her clear mind  and focused attention had created the little miracle.

In front of her, the bird looked down at her with childlike curiosity. Are you okay, dear one? the bird asked, and this time both heads spoke in unison.

What? Duida replied, as if to find out whether she had heard correctly.

Are you okay, dear one? Stand up. It is time to go, now, said the bird in one voice.

But you are talking as one. I do not understand.

You will someday, when mind and heart become one in you. The bird looked more beautiful and imposing than ever. An invisible aura of peace surrounded it, now. Maybe it had always been there, but only now was Duida beginning to feel it.

Why is all this happening this way? I don’t understand what is happening to me. I didn’t ask for any of this. I am just a messenger for my father, and I urgently need to see the goddess. The survival of my kingdom depends on the success of my task.

The key for fulfillment of the prophecy is not the message itself, but the purity of the heart that delivers it, replied the bird as one. The sound of both voices at the same time gave the bird an air of majesty and his words felt very important to Duida’s ears.

My heart understands what you say, but my mind is still confused because of all that has transpired up to now.

Duida looked around, paying more attention to her surroundings. Everything was so beautiful. Planted on top of what seemed to be huge pillars in the form of champagne cups were flowers of many colors and shapes. Fountains of water rose out of the floor and, defying gravity, entered the mouths of enormous stone birds on the wall that seemed to be swallowing sweet nectar from the Mother Gaia’s breast. There were other colorful birds on the treetops, but all had but one head. She began to listen to all the sweet songs that adorned the place with a mystic aura of beauty. Looking down at the

floor, she noticed how shiny it was, so shiny that even the crystals high above on the ceiling were clearly reflected behind her own image, gazing up at her.

The golden gate to the inner temple  is  opening  now!  sang the bird.

Ciduovoz is my name, dear one.

How did you know I was thinking about that?

Clear mind reflects all thoughts, even if  not one’s  own, the bird named Ciduovoz declared.

It’s time! It’s time! continued the bird. Go and  remember. Understand and practice. Be  mindful  of  the  present. Keep your realizations in your heart. And in a low voice, the bird bade Duida farewell and flew into the inner temple      of      the      goddess.

II

THE INNER TEMPLE

Duida’s sense of urgency to deliver the message to the goddess had been replaced by shyness. Now that she knew the golden doors were open, she felt a little unworthy to be in the presence of the mistress of all elf moon priestesses of the Elven world. Like a little girl, she approached one of the raised flowerbeds, intending to pick some flowers as an offering to Na’rami, but as she tugged at one of the rose-like flowers, a pain shot up through her hand and she felt as if her arm was being pulled out of her shoulder socket.

Do not kill. she heard a tiny voice implore. Please don’t kill it.

Duida’s jaw dropped in amazement. For a moment, she thought that one of the flowers was talking to her, and being extremely curious by nature, she dipped her nose into the flowerbed. Elves rely heavily on their sense of smell, which is analogous to the earth element. Since elves are closely connected to nature, it is normal for them to strongly vibrate with that element. The intoxicating aroma of the flower calmed her mind again, giving her a blissful sensation that ran all along her nervous system, reminding her of the feeling all elves enjoy in their forest cities. Through the Crystal of

Eternity that each realm of the Elven kingdom possesses, the Dream Makers of Lemuria infuse the minds of the elves with a euphoria that keeps them in a mild state of happiness. They also transmit divine spiritual energies, and once the elves’ energy/light bodies absorb these, inner dimensional genetic chains provide them the gift of physical immortality.

"Who is there? Al’ham" Duida spoke these words into a flower, holding it like a microphone, and then placed her ear close to it to listen for that tiny voice.

You, silly! Flowers don’t talk to strangers. I was the one who spoke to you. Here, under the petals. Alaamm! The voice tried to imitate Duida’s salute.

With the softness and elegance that only a woman elf possesses, Duida very gently separated the flowers in front of her to see who or what was under them.

Hi, there. Wow! You are a tall one indeed, said the voice.

Duida was astonished at the being that was revealed when she opened the living curtains in front of her. There, standing on his two little feet, was a gnome such as she had never seen before. She had seen gnomes many times in the Iborian Parks near the High Council Grove, but there was something different about this particular being that was standing there in front of her beautiful face. For one, he had a longer beard than regular gnomes; as a matter of fact, as he was about to come closer, he tripped on his beard and fell down into the dirt.

Blimak Petar Soto! growled the little gnome, righting himself for a proper introduction with the little dignity he felt he had left.

I’m very sorry to use such foul gnomish language in front of a goddess. Grabbing his beard with one hand and pointing at it with the other, as if giving it a last warning to behave, he added, But sometimes this beard doesn’t want to cooperate with me.

Duida couldn’t help but utter a melodic giggle so enchanting that the gnome’s eyes reflected how much he was enjoying that heavenly sound.

All of a sudden, as if awakened from a daydream, he straightened up and proceeded to introduce himself in a proper manner. My name is Mornac the Great, at your service. He bowed with a royal flourish as if to convey the importance of the introduction, but when he tilted his head, his tiny sunglasses betrayed him by falling to the ground.

"Blimak Pp— . Pardon me, my lady," he murmured, picking up the sunglasses with the tip of his pointy boot so he could keep what little dignity remained and not go down again on all fours in front of this vision of beauty he was trying to impress.

Enchanted, Mornac the Great. My name is Duida, and it is a pleasure to meet you today.

Hee, hee, hee, hee, the gnome giggled, looking down at his foot and kicking up a little dirt. He had turned red, or rather purple, since his skin naturally had a soft violet hue.

And the sunglasses are for…? asked Duida, very curious as to why he was wearing sunglasses underground or even there in the deep shade of the flowerbed.

You can’t imagine how bright the ceiling crystals can get, especially during the growing season of the flowers, he replied.

You are smaller than all the other gnomes I have seen, I must say, Duida observed in a soft voice

Mornac stood on tiptoe, as if to be one centimeter taller would make a difference in his appearance, and in a very solemn tone, he replied, A gnome? No, no, no, no. He placed his hands behind him, closed his eyes, and shook his head.

Make no mistake, my goddess. I am a daikeene, and I may be more related to a human than to a gnome, although we share the same language. Our species are the overlords of the elemental creatures, and we are Mother Gaia’s hands and feet when it comes to protecting nature from the underworld. I have been appointed Magnus Caretaker of the Gardens of the Goddess Na’rami.

She thought it must be a very important position in his mind, as he was rocking back and forth on his heels while his tiny chest was rivaling a pigeon’s chest.

Sorry for the misunderstanding, said Duida. She began to get a bit anxious as she remembered that the inner temple gates were open. I have to go now, she said. A pleasure to meet you.

As she turned to walk away, Mornac said, Your flowers! Don’t forget your flowers! Come take a live one. There is no need to kill them.

Duida looked back to see the Mornac in another flowerbed, standing on top of a blue, starry pot that held three

beautiful yellow-and-pink gaillardias. His hand rested on one, signaling his pride in his work.

How did you get there so fast? Duida was puzzled as to how Mornac had covered the distance between the flowerbeds, and even more puzzled because the lower flowerbeds were at least five feet above the floor.

Seeing the expression on her face, Mornac smiled indulgently. O my goddess, we daikeene are magical beings  by nature. I can teleport myself more than six feet away if I need to. Mornac boasted as if describing a great distance, and maybe for him it was, after all. Then he turned serious and spoke in a teacherly manner.

O radiant one! Flowers are the life force that represents all the virtues innate in our Mother Gaia. Each flower is a unique vessel carrying a specific quality that is necessary for the minds of many species so that they may evolve spiritually as individuals or as a group. For those whose minds have not turned away from Mother Nature, flowers can be the healing instruments that change mental and emotional patterns that have been distorted by the false conditioning that certain societies impose upon themselves. The aromas of flowers are vibratory expressions of light that, once received by the brain, can correct energy blockages that keep the mind bound to certain fixed ways of seeing life. Flower essences can create even deeper transformation and expel fear, anger, lust, laziness, apathy, and more from the hearts of intelligent living beings. Some can even connect the individual to the Gaia Mind, which in turn is connected to the whole of the cosmos.

He concluded his speech by removing his double-pointed hat from his head with a flourish and placing it on his chest.

Duida was fascinated with his exposition and it showed in her face, and seeing this made Mornac’s face look like puppy in love. She took the pot, but Mornac stayed as he was, but looked elsewhere, as if unconcerned about what she would do next.

Duida’s intuition rivaled the best of females of any species and even beyond, so she naturally divined that Mornac wanted to come with her. Politely, she asked, Are you coming to the inner temple, Mornac?

Thank you for inviting me, goddess, thank you very much, indeed.

Um, I’m not a goddess, Mornac. I’m an elf. To me, you look like a goddess.

For the first time Duida felt a bit shy with the compliment, which was very satisfying to Mornac’s childish heart.

Together, they walked towards the open gates. Mornac was still looking at Duida from behind a flower. The flower’s heavenly fragrance filled her perfect nose, making her feel more secure, more determined, and more vital. Hmmm, she thought, these flowers are magical, indeed.

The inner temple was an immense chamber made of what appeared to be marble. Looking up, Duida saw that the dome- shaped ceiling contained six paintings. Four of these were the torsos of what seemed to be great spiritual female beings, and two were of beings she had never seen in her life. All she  could think was that they must be extraterrestrials, or maybe they were beings from the underworld that she had never before seen depicted. The paintings were very lifelike. They stirred in her heart a mixture of almightiness and sacredness

that made her remember how she had felt when she visited the tree of life with her father, a holy pilgrimage that every elf must make approximately every thousand years to reconnect deeply to nature’s life-giving force and to remember how Lemuria had disappeared hundreds of thousands years ago as humanity, the custodians of that civilization, began to lose their connection with Nature. Turning toward science and technology alone, they left the elves behind in the forest kingdoms to keep the balance between nature and the new Human societies, such as Atlantis, Mu, Barathya, and others.

In order to keep that balance, the elves had to leave Lemuria before the outside world could no longer perceive the quantum matrix vibratory energy signature of that civilization. To ensure a permanent connection with Lemuria, they took some of the Crystals of Eternity and seeds from the original tree of life that sprouted from the heart of Mother Gaia eons before, when the whole planet was a paradise.

There was nothing inside the inner temple except a great stone altar placed against a wall, three feet above which hung a great black circular mirror probably ten feet in diameter. It looked like a polished onyx stone resting on top of a horizontal silver crescent moon. Duida touched her tiara. It had exactly the same symbol on it, as did her other moon jewelry. She had always known that her mother, Queen Tizzian’na, was an ordained priestess of the Dark New Moon Order, serving the Goddess in the kingdom. That was the reason she was told to make her pilgrimage to this same temple 1185 years ago, as each priestess was required to serve for a hundred years in this temple as an oracle for those elves who traveled there seeking guidance. But she had never returned and she was never found, so the king ordered that no

more priestesses would be sent until someone could discover what had happened to his loving wife and companion.

The temple was very well lit, but the source of the light was a mystery to Duida. She looked around, but she could see no lamps, crystals, or flames.

Where is that light coming from, Mornac? Duida asked, raising the flowerpot to eye level.

It is magic, my goddess, part of the contribution that my people made to this sacred place very long ago. Look straight ahead without focusing your eyes on anything, use your peripheral view, and you will see.

Duida followed his suggestion, and after a few seconds, she saw thousands and thousands of bubble-like spheres of soft silvery light floating everywhere, moving randomly throughout the inner chamber. Duida stood fascinated at this sight. It ignited in her a memory of the golden fairies that flew all over the tree of life and gave her a feeling of being at home.

Mornac, can you do me a favor, please?

Anything for the most beautiful goddess, he said, trying to drop to one of his knees so he would look more gallant, yet his beard once again got entangled under his foot.

Don’t call me goddess; call me Duida, she said. Please?

He felt like trying one of the romantic lines that a few minutes before had worked on her, but hearing that heavenly please? from her perfect, plum-colored lips was like a command he couldn’t refuse.

As you wish my go… Duida, and he laughed, covering his eyes with his tiny hands at his almost-mistake.

Duida walked to the altar and placed the flowerpot on it, while Mornac teleported to the floor beside her. She bowed before the altar with respect, hoping this would signal that she was ready to contact the Goddess Na’rami, but there was only silence. Then it occurred to her to perform one of the Elven invocations used by the Priestesses of the Dark Moon. She proceeded to recite one that, roughly translated to English, says:

From the veil under the depth of the mother’s womb, I invoke thee, Dark One, Goddess of Renewal, who from the emptiness of our hearts rises towards the starry skies, revealing our treasure, which is not bound by the mind and is the power to create our lives by our own intentions. Na’rami, Na’rami, Na’rami, conscious force of feminine power that allows the seeds of life to germinate within our own being, I invoke thee in this sacred place to partake of your wisdom and light.

While in praying position, Duida could not suppress her youthful, playful nature and opened one eye to see if the goddess had manifested somehow, but the temple was as empty as before. She glanced down to see Mornac with his eyes closed and hovering eight inches above the floor in a cross-legged posture, as if trying to insert his grain of sand in the invocation she had made. He looked up then and shrugged his shoulders, conveying that he didn’t know how to do it, either.

Daikeenes never seek audience with the goddess. We have our own ways. I’m just here as a service to Gaia, whom the Goddess Na’rami also serves. There used to be a priest here all the time to attend to this connection, but it has been some years since I saw the last one.

Some years, Mornac?

As far as I know, over a thousand years ago, he said.

A tear almost formed in Duida’s eye as she remembered her mother. That long ago? she asked.

"I guess when you are 325 thousand years old, time seems to lose its meaning. He stroked his very long white beard, which reminded him of the passing of the ages.

Duida had never even heard of elves who were that old.  At a certain age, most of them traveled to the Island of Ascending Light, never to return. However, instead of questioning Mornac, she decided to concentrate her energy on contacting the Goddess. First, she walked around, looking for some writing or a picture engraved in the inner temple walls that could give her an idea of how to establish this link, but there was none. Then she sat down in the middle of the temple, resting her chin on of her closed fists, and tried to remember all she had learned about priestesses and the goddess while she was growing up. Her face looked exceedingly beautiful. Her lips were pushed forward a bit in concentration. Those lips fascinated Mornac. They were  asking for kiss. He levitated as high as he could, almost to the level of her face, just to have a better look, and then he sighed, wishing he could be the one to kiss her this day.

The minutes flew by. So many ideas and thoughts flooded her mind that Duida couldn’t decide what to do.

Remember what you learned! came a glorious voice from on high. Duida looked up to the paintings to see if one of the goddesses depicted there had just spoken to her.

When the mind is calm, true contact with the inner realms is possible: that’s the only way,