Summerland: Etheric Realms, #1

By D.H. Michaels

Your loved ones are waiting for you... in Summerland.

 

Dan Birger has found a place to live in a warm climate where he can commune with nature year round, but the small town he has chosen is less than welcoming. You see, Dan is a medium, and this town prefers a more traditional belief system.

 

He isn't the only one disliked by the locals. A New Age religious group, known as Agnificence, resonates with the town's younger generation, and like a virus, their numbers are growing. Some feel that action must be taken to prevent the infection from spreading further.

 

Dan's contact with the other side is, at first, limited to a rudimentary form of communication with the dead. From various sensations and images, he can tell you what your dead grandmother wants you to know, but when Dan's abilities expand, he learns that the afterlife is not an eternal Eden where the dead go to rest. For some, it is a prison from which they cannot escape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.H. Michaels
• Release date: Oct 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215350515

Book preview

Prologue

Images raced through Dan’s mind and then slowed. Egypt... Pyramids... Mummy. This is a maternal figure. He examined his 3:00 p.m. client. A crunchy, middle-aged woman, Jillian reached for the box of tissues on the table. Her pudgy hands were adorned with rings on every digit. She said nothing as directed at the beginning of the reading.

A subtle, tingling numbness pulsed in Dan’s neck below his ear and into his temple. A stroke took her. He closed his eyes to sort through the words and images streaming in. This soul was particularly excited to get her message through. She was driving when it happened.

Ace... King... Queen. "Jack." Dan blurted without knowing the meaning.

Jillian sobbed now.

Jack is there. He was in the car, Dan said. Your brother?

She nodded while lifting her glasses to wipe her eyes.

One at a time, please. Dan received messages from two different sources now. Jack is sorry that he fought with you before he left. He keeps saying fifty. Go to fifty?

Five-O. My dad was a cop. My mom used to say that Jacky and me would be in trouble with the Five-O if we didn’t get along. They had reached that point in the reading where the rules no longer mattered. I haven’t spoken with my dad in years.

Sounded bad, but Dan had a rule about counseling. He was a conduit, nothing more, and there was always a final message. Dan took a deep breath as if he had been underwater. He opened his eyes as the spirits left him.

They love you and will be waiting for you. In Summerland.

Part 1 – Walking Down the Hill

Chapter One

Nate sat in his parked car holding a small business card with the main title of Agnificence and contact information for Troy Jenkins. Should he turn off the ignition or just put the car in drive and leave? What was he doing here? He was his typical, anxious self before any event requiring social interaction. He flipped over the business card. The text read Ignite your inner flame in sharp orange and yellow lettering.

Other people arrived where he was parked at the end of a dirt road. They walked toward a path at the edge of a wooded area. The individuals he observed appeared normal enough but looked rather serious. Those who chose to speak talked too softly for him to hear. Each greeting included a hug, even among the males, which seemed awkward to him.

Nate liked to keep his personal space... personal. Physical contact made him uncomfortable. Who initiates the hug? What if the other person didn’t want to be hugged? Would they pull back in revulsion? Some form of embarrassment was the inevitable conclusion.

Nate’s hand was on the shifter when a knock on the passenger window snapped him from his paralysis. A clean-cut gentleman dressed in khaki pants and a white, button-down shirt motioned him to open the window.

Nate? You weren’t thinking of leaving, were you?

Hey, Troy. No. Just parking. Nate engaged his parking brake to emphasize his point.

Glad to see you kept my card. I think a lot of those cards end up in the landfill. Troy extended his hand as Nate exited the vehicle. Good to see you, man.

Handshakes were normal enough.

The two strolled toward the path, while the sun dipped below the tree line.

I know you’re hesitant, Nate. Just keep an open mind, and I promise, you will emerge with a spiritual gift. Troy patted Nate on the shoulder.

Much deeper into the woods, Nate spotted igloo tents. Occupants emerged and headed in the same direction, embracing each other along the way.

The destination revealed itself as a gathering of forty to fifty people of mixed ages standing beside a waterfall fed by a small stream. A narrow bridge made of rope and logs connected both sides of the pool directly beneath the falling water. On the opposite side of the stream, four burning torches were positioned around a set of five individual fire-pits filled with teepee-stacked firewood.

Nate felt like all eyes were on him. Individuals whispered and smiled at Nate as they made eye contact with him.

Is this where you sacrifice the virgins? Nate said, hoping he was joking.

You’re not a virgin, are you, Nate? Troy asked with a slight smirk. No human or animal sacrifices, but we do make sacrifices for the greater good.

Nate’s discomfort grew as he neared the crowd. Hi. How’s it going? he said to a few people. He got no response, just smiles and nods. What now?

Troy whispered, We wait. Take this time to center yourself. Start shedding your negative thoughts. Leave your cares behind.

After a few minutes, Nate could hear only the sound of the falling water, its weight splashing on the bridge and gurgling into the pool beneath. The stream’s liquid atomized into the air, bringing its refreshing mist into his nostrils.

From the dense trees on the high ground emerged a white-robed figure. He was completely bald, and his face was cleanly shaven.

The crowd parted to let him pass to the bridge. Facing the group, he said, My fellow souls, cleanse your bodies, your mind, and your hearts.

With that, he removed his robe, revealing the fair skin of his hairless, naked body. He walked to the bridge and immersed himself in the cold, falling water. He raised his arms to embrace the water as it fell over him. Crossing to the other side, he began lighting the fires with one of the torches.

Troy stripped and followed the ritual. He shared a long embrace with the leader when he reached the fire. Others now followed, some leaving their clothes on as they cleansed.

Nate stood with his arms crossed, watching until he was alone on his side of the waterfall.

All watched and waited on the other side.

It’s decision time, Nate. What do you want to do? Troy shouted from the other side.

Okay, well this is different. Quite a sales pitch. No pews or crosses or born-again bullshit.

Nate had been down that road before. He was always going to be saved, until one of the so-called Christians yelled at him for putting the punch out too soon.

We don’t serve refreshments until after evening prayer! the older woman had scolded him in front of two girls his own age, who had looked at him with pity. Later when they had spoken in tongues, he knew he wouldn’t be returning. He had excused himself to the bathroom so he could quietly escape out the side door.

He was tired of being embarrassed.

Let’s see where this goes. I’m not even sure I can find my way back to my car. Shit.

Fully clothed, Nate made his way onto the bridge, paused, and then threw himself into the falling water. The stream was heavy on his neck and head and soberingly cold. It pulled the breath from his body, and he indulged his need to turn around and scream. The group cheered him with applause and woo-hoos.

He crossed the bridge and arrived to kisses, hugs, and welcomes from each member of the group, like he was the man-of-the-hour. Finally, Troy and the leader approached.

Troy hugged Nate, which in that moment was more comfortable than he’d anticipated. You’ve taken the first of many steps in your journey. Nate, this is Aagneya, our teacher. 

Aagneya maintained his distance. Welcome, my brother. Go and warm yourself by the fire. He presented the nearest fire to Nate with an open hand.

Taking cues from the rest of the group, Nate took off his wet shirt, jeans, socks and shoes and propped them up on some sticks to dry by the fire. Troy had pointed out that the five fire pits were arranged to form the points of a pentagram, which for the group represented five steps to enlightenment.

Aagneya now stood in the center and addressed the group.

"Disciples, we are on a great journey. We have awareness of another dimension that others do not have. Each of you is at a different stage of awareness, and those of us who are further along will help to give vision to the nearsighted newcomers.

We have some exciting news to share. As you know, we’ve had some trouble with our use of this property, and our attempt to claim squatter’s rights has met with failure. Unfortunately, on this plane the almighty dollar rules. Because of your generous donations, we’ve come to an agreement with the current owner to purchase several hundred acres of this remote land.

Murmurs of excitement filtered through the group.

Over the coming months we will be working to legally close on the property, so we can continue our spiritual journey, free of harassment and fear of eviction.

The group applauded and cheered.

Thank you for allowing me to be your shepherd. With his hand on his heart, he bowed his head.

We love you! someone shouted.

And I, all of you! Aagneya said. I continue to commune with the netherworld and have trust in my spirit guides. They are leading us to our destinies. We will share our love and knowledge with anyone who is open to receive it. He smiled. "There will never be hate here! And there is more to our existence than our human bodies can show us. Death of a body cannot extinguish our spiritual light. He opened his arms. Come now, and let me show you your light."

Aagneya looked to Troy to organize the flock. Troy assembled the group in a line then stood by his master. Closing his eyes, Aagneya lifted his hands above his head then lowered them onto the head of the first person who now stood before him. The individual’s knees buckled, his body collapsing into the arms of two catchers.

One by one they received their gift, some collapsing, some crying, and some appearing to be in a hypnotic state of bliss.

Looking around for direction, Nate rose from his stump to get in line. Troy made eye contact, shaking his head to indicate not to approach. Nate noticed he was not alone. Individuals around the fire farthest from Aagneya were also denied participation.

The final gift bestowed was for Troy, who kneeled before his sage with his head bowed. Only the crackling of fire could be heard now. Without further drama, Troy rose and embraced Aagneya who now appeared lethargic. Troy guided him to a chair and brought him a bottled water from a cooler nearby.

The group emerged from their cloud of reverence and began to socialize.

Hey, Nate. Have a water. A curvaceous girl with her brown hair pulled back into a ponytail tossed a bottle to Nate. She wore only flip flops and an oversized T-shirt which easily revealed that she was chilled away from the fire.

Being only in his white briefs, Nate repositioned himself for fear of revealing his body’s reaction to what he was seeing.

Thank you.

I’m Nicole, she offered.

Oh. Umm, Nate.

She smiled. Yeah, I know.

Oh. Right.

Nicole sat up straight with her back slightly arched on a nearby stump and with one leg across the other while readjusting her damp hair into a new ponytail. So, what brings you to us, Nate?

Nate wondered what the right answer was. Should he say he was searching for the meaning of life? Tell her he was hunting for answers about his purpose for existing? Or maybe that he was hoping Aagneya could cure his bad posture, add some muscle to his skinny frame, and send the words from his brain to his mouth without taking the scenic route through the land of discomfort; especially when he was in the presence of an attractive female.

Well, I met Troy outside of my where I work. My where I work? Good one, Nate.

She grinned. Ah, the ‘Troy-effect’. He is blessed with the skills of persuasion.

Completing her ponytail, she drank from her water bottle, causing a suction sound from the vacuum of air created. When I went to my first cleansing, I wondered how long before I would be selling flowers at the airport. There’s no brainwashing here, though, just free will. Tonight, you made a choice. Everyone on this side of the stream made the same decision for different reasons. What was your reason?

Before Nate could respond, Troy arrived, having heard the question. Who wouldn’t want to get naked and wet with a bunch of strangers and sit by a fire?

Nate marveled at the whiteness of Troy’s teeth. Relieved that someone else was now part of the conversation, Nate asked, So why didn’t I get to go to Aagneya?

Troy nodded his head to affirm his expectation of the question. A certain spiritual maturity is needed before our teacher will bestow his gifts. He will decide when you’re ready. Right, Nicole?

Yes. Apparently, I’m still rather immature.

In all seriousness, Nate, you will need to have patience if you choose to return to us, Troy said. Each soul is unique, but all will progress in this incarnation with direction from our wise shepherd.

****

"Son of a bitch!" Skin scraped from Dan Birger’s oversized hand for the second time today. An open-ended wrench on a stripped, greasy bolt head was just not going to work.

Dan wiggled himself out from beneath his pickup truck. Unable to find a clean rag, he settled on his shirt to stop the bleeding.

Hey, spirits, how about sending me a lottery number, so I can buy a vehicle that runs? Dan muttered as he headed into the house, cradling his hand. That’d be helpful. Making his way to the kitchen sink, he continued. A treasure map. Nothing fancy. Doesn’t have to be Spanish doubloons or anything. He winced as the cold water hit the open wound. Cash would be best, maybe from some wealthy eccentric with an appreciation for a talented medium.

Looking out his kitchen window at the dense grove of cypress trees, Dan had a moment of gratitude despite his financial frustrations. He lived in a remote wooded area at the end of a dirt road. The temptation was to chase more lucrative clients in a more urban setting, but his guides led him here through a series of events and hints so subtle, they might have gone unnoticed had he not had a third-eye perspective.

He came here hoping to bring more than just messages to individuals from beyond the grave. He wanted to change the antiquated mindset about spirituality, opening the minds and hearts of the living to other possibilities.

Dan was now closer to nature than ever before. He could feel the energy from the ecosystem. It strengthened him and his connection to the spiritual dimension. He sensed every creature, plant, tree, and insect was an expression of Earth’s essence, with life sustained by the star it danced around and the moon it held captive—a perfect system for the few geological seconds on the cosmic clock where life blossomed in the warmth of universal light.

It was a peaceful and private location, for the most part. Sure, horny teenagers were always looking for a place away from judging eyes to experiment with the taboo pleasures of life that adults enjoyed but frowned upon for their kids. That was to be expected.

But there was also an occasional bout of vandalism with a hint of malice for what he represented—a threat to another doctrine and the idea that his gifts were somehow evil. The practice of witchcraft—a dark art that could only bring about the spread of immorality and bad events like boils growing on asses or droughts, famines, and locusts.

After all, any God-fearin’ man ought to defend righteousness with all his mighty hatred or suffer retribution by a vengeful God, doling out punishments in this life and the next. A belief that evil, in the form of non-conformity should be smothered and destroyed at any cost, where commandments of "thou shalt