Pathway To The Inner Earth

My name isn’t nearly as important as the story I now put before you, nor are the circumstances in which I found myself chosen for this expedition. Now sitting at my desk, pen in hand, the dreamlike visions run through my memory like specters of fantasy, yet the details embedded deeply into my mind as factually as the calluses on my palms. Allowing myself one last brief reverie before putting pen to paper, I reflect upon this mysterious exploit and the curious honor of being asked to share this extraordinary tale with those of the surface world. As the hypnotic memories echo through my mind, I feel an anxious ache of conviction at the daunting task of doing justice to the journey and the exceptional individuals and events that represent this enchanting tale.

A few weeks ago I had received a specific detailed directive of travel and was told that when I reached the designated location I was to close my eyes and sit quietly until receiving further instructions. This order came as a strong male voice directly behind my left shoulder.

"Open your eyes."

As the veil lifted, I was greeted by a thin frail-looking man. His long white beard hung nearly to his waist. He wore a calf-length robe, the color of a tropical sea. Casting me a twinkling smile, he stepped aside for me to enter the scene. When I could see more clearly, I realized we were standing on the edge of a steep precipice, the edge dropping sharply downward to a raging river far below. The canyon opened into a yawning valley that stretched for miles, finally rising to meet the distant mountains, fusing earth to sky.

The towering expanse of the setting wrenched at my equilibrium and I teetered forward, my stomach twisting at the precarious pose. Lunging toward the boulder to my right, I gratefully sank down onto the sandy soil, keeping one eye on the old man who stood gazing out toward the horizon, seemingly lost in thought, as if he had already forgotten my presence.

When my legs stopped quivering, I rose to my feet and took a step toward my contemplative companion. Turning toward me, the man raised his right hand in greeting and made a friendly gesture, pointing toward a wide flat rock a few steps away. Accepting his offer, I folded my legs and took a seat on the warm stone. The old man sat beside me, remaining silent for a moment or two. When he finally spoke his words were, "My name is Tov’han - are you ready for a journey?"

Somewhat hesitantly, I nodded my agreement and motioning to a near ridge he began, "This trail leads to the river's source. We must make our way down to the ravine that stretches north of the highest crest you see there in the distance. This descent will be our greatest task, from the crest to the gateway below. There will be much climbing to do. Shall we begin?"

As I rose from my perch, Tov’han offered me a small pouch that had been hanging loosely from his shoulder. I took it, not knowing why or what it was for. We began our descent. The way was steep and rocky and the sandy soil and many boulders made the going difficult. After hiking for what felt like an hour or more, my host halted his step. When I caught up to him, he pointed a long finger to a distant wall of rock and solemnly stated, "This is called, ‘The Ledge of the Gods.’ Our first stop is on the other side of the barrier.”

With that, he returned to his previous pace with me following closely in his wake. When we arrived at the wall, I was amazed at the elevation of the ridge and became nervous about how this was going to work. I couldn't imagine how we could scale an obstacle of this height, plus the long column-like formations did not seem to be compacted enough to withstand the weight of a climber.

As I fretted over our next potential move, Tov’han turned and asked me to remove the pouch from my waist pack. I pulled it out and stretched my arm toward him. Instead of taking the pouch, he asked me to remove the stone from inside. Reaching into the pocket, I pulled out a small shiny rock about two inches in diameter. He instructed me to close my palms around the stone and hold it up to my fourth chakra. I did as he asked and within seconds could feel my hands begin to warm. 

Speaking softly Tov’han whispered, "Now, close your eyes and picture a blue lake surrounded by trees - to your right is a small cabin with a trail leading up to a bench. In your mind, sit on the bench, then in a moment or two open your eyes - take your time.”

I attempted to do his bidding and did my best to imagine the picture he had presented. When I could visualize the lake and surrounding trees, I walked down the trail to the wooden bench and sat down.

"Open your eyes.”

As my eyes began to open, with a shock I observed that I was indeed sitting in the scene I had just imagined! Tov’han was standing off to the side of the bench wearing a satisfied grin on his wrinkled face. With a grand gesture of delight the old man pulled back his shoulders and lifted his chin, the motion tugging his dusty beard off the slight chest.

"How?" I sputtered. "H..h how did we get here?"

"Never mind, just know now that you can do this and we can move on - there is not far to go.”

We made our way down the trail toward the lake and I was awestruck by the limpid beauty of the landscape before me. Each color appeared brighter and more defined than those commonly seen in nature. The blue of the lake was astonishing and I thought how impossible it would be to come across this particular color in any ordinary set of paints or crayons. It felt almost as if a film had been lifted from my eyes and I was seeing colors for the first time as they really were.

The trail wound its way around the lake until dividing into a fork several yards from a stand of tall firs. We chose to follow the footpath that lead into the nearby woods. The way was much easier going than the rocky trail had been. The deeper we got into the woods, the softer the surface became under our feet, a thick layer of fir needles creating a spongy covering to the pathway winding its way through the trees.

I found myself mesmerized by the dizzying height and breadth of the trees and fought off a disquieting urge to turn around and take flight for the open space of the lake. Daylight disappeared as the sky became blocked by the tops of the giant trees. An unfamiliar moment of panic choked at my lungs as my body feared being overtaken and crushed by the colossal beings surrounding me. Just as the anxiety became nearly unbearable, the path widened and allowed more light to filter in. At another half-mile or so, Tov’han hesitated and turning toward an open space to the right, he lowered himself to his knees. Gesturing for me to join him, he reached to pick up something from the forest floor.

Making my way to his shoulder, I leaned over to view his cupped hand and there nestled in one palm was a wriggling insect-like animal, similar to our dragonfly only much smaller. The main difference I observed was that the wings were wider and the head shaped more like a seahorse than that of an insect.

I darted a quizzical look toward my guide and Tov’han grinned wide at my puzzled expression. 

"This tiny entity is called a wind-dragon. His species is cherished as sentries for the gateway to our home world. These little creatures are inter-dimensional beings and when approached by those of the surface world, they give off a warning signal that can be heard throughout all levels of existence. This beautiful and gentle life form exists only in this tiny expanse of reality and marks the opening of our home world and our current destination.

Still holding the little dragon, he swept his other hand out toward the distant expanse explaining that this area had historically been chosen for habitation by his people specifically because of the transitory nature of its density and structure. 

"This region of land is situated in a time-warp where space-time does not reside as a constant, but is always shifting dimensional states. Matter in this place is not solid, but vacillates between levels of being, which not only protects it from unwanted visitors, but also keeps the environment fresh and unpolluted. The character of the surrounding environment changes with the vibrations of its occupants. This allows many to populate the same space, yet reside on separate planes of dimensional reality. This sacred universe was ‘thought’ into being by those who long ago mastered the ability to coagulate a conscious thought into physical substance. These beings were artists of focus. By holding tightly to their visual intent they were able to collapse time into a limitless field of opportunity, a cradle of possibilities. Each intention or manifestation then can reside in this infinite expanse, as a viable complex structure.

"These levels of resonance become home to various living souls, chosen directly through their particular vibrational signature, these souls are serendipitously positioned within a specific realm of existence, selected purely by their individual consciousness frequency.

“The level in which the entity resides is the only world that they are aware of, for all other levels are invisible to any who doesn't match its resonance, even though they dwell within the same space.

"These communities are each unique and different from the other. The first village we will visit, for your own ease, is the most similar to your surface world, in spite of some variations that will be immediately obvious to you.”

With that, Tov’han bent forward to carefully set the little wind-dragon back down onto the soft ground, where it instantly disappeared before our eyes. 

"One can only arrive at this village through a time portal. You may use the stone again to help facilitate the shifts in energy needed to accommodate the transitions between dimensions. Do not fear, I will guide you,” he said kindly.

Once again, he asked me to retrieve the stone from the waist pack. I did so and held it in my left hand. Now, stepping closer to my body, he placed his hand on my right shoulder and pressed down lightly saying, "I want you to only focus on my touch. Close your eyes and feel the contact of my hand on your body, be only aware of this pressure on your shoulder.”

I did as he asked and instantly felt a comforting warmth begin to spread deep into my flesh. I relaxed into the feeling and let the tranquil sensation envelop me. Moments later I heard Tov’han's whisper, "You may open your eyes." 

As my eyes became accustomed to the light, I glanced around to note that my surroundings had completely changed. I was now facing several homes that looked very much like a neighborhood street in a small American town, though the longer I looked around the area, the more unfamiliar it seemed. For instance, the trees and shrubs in the yards were not green, but bright colors of orange fading into what I can only describe as a purplish pink hue. Much like the colors of our rainbow, they were continually fading in and out of brightness, never remaining only one shade.

Another unearthly feature of the natural world was the sky color, which was more like a ceiling than a sky. Gazing upward, my first impression was one of texture, not space. The sky appeared as grainy, with a rough or raised quality and I wondered if I reached up would my fingers touch a material structure, or was this only a visual illusion?

Quickly my attention was brought back to my host as I felt Tov’han's hand fall from my shoulder. "Well my friend, what do you think of our little village?”

“It's beautiful," I confessed. "I've never seen anything like it …even in the movies!"

With this, Tov’han tossed his head backward with a loud guffaw. "I will remember that! We shall continue on," he grinned.

"Wait, already? We just got here.”

"It is my intention to take you through several dimensions to give you an idea of the variety of levels found here. In the third level, we will take a moment to visit.”

Nodding, I wondered who it was we would be visiting.

Placing his hand back on my shoulder, Tov’han signaled to me to close my eyes, "Ready?” he inquired.

Once again I felt the satisfying warmth spread through my shoulder under Tov’han's reassuring touch. I focused on the pleasurable sensation and within less than a moment, I heard him utter, "Please open your eyes."

This time I was standing beside a river of what looked to me like fast moving sand. The unusual waterway sped past my feet without any auditory evidence of its reality. This silent river appeared to consist of some sort of thick shiny material, fluid but not thin like water and with an irregular consistency. Fascinated, I leaned forward to get a closer look. As I reached my hand nearer the stream, my fingers began to tingle, as if nearing an electrical current. I threw a curious glance toward Tov’han and was encouraged by his benign smile. Reaching further toward the mysterious liquid the tips of my fingers pulsated softly, filling me with a remarkable sense of peace. The closer my hand came, the more delightful the sensation. As my fingers made contact with this alien material, a soothing resonance crawled its way up my arm and into my chest. I was astonished at the silky sensation against my skin and turned to Tov’han, noticing that he too had knelt beside the moving stream, his left hand totally immersed into the liquefied substance.

"Tov’han, what is this amazing water?"

"There is nothing like this substance on the surface, the closest material you could compare it to would be your mercury, but this is not a chemical element and instead of bringing potential injury, is often used to heal. It is called epenophra,” he said straightening, "and in its liquid form has great medicinal qualities.”

Bringing his hand up to shade his eyes, he peered off toward the far horizon saying, "This stream eventually empties out into a great lake where our people gather to submerge their bodies, either for pleasure or to heal any imbalances the body may have absorbed during an unfortunate energy exchange. This is a rare and valued resource of this splendid subterranean world and is fiercely protected from any harmful intent by outsiders.”

Placing his hand on my shoulder, we once more moved on. This time, when opened, my eyes fell upon a being, a woman of about my height. She was quite beautiful and yet very unique looking. Her facial features were those of a lovely human woman, but with one startling difference, her hair appeared to be made up of threads of light. The colorful beams flowed from her head in a constant movement of photons. Whereas the overall appearance of her lovely hair was similar to ours, the astonishing fact remained that each of the strands were formed of light rays which surrounded her upper body in a halo of golden light. Her fingernails were also unusual in that they too glowed as if lit from within. She wore a gossamer-thin dress that perfectly matched the pale aqua color of her liquid eyes. Her skin was creamy and flawless, a nearly transparent ivory color. She appeared so delicate and fragile that I refrained from the obligatory handshake and simply nodded a smile her way.

Tipping her head slightly, she returned my welcoming smile, her dainty hands raised in a slight salute. Tov’han made the introductions, presenting her as A’kina.

“A’kina is our revered teacher and herbalist. She has been trained for nearly seventy-five years now and maintains a constant link between material and ethereal universes. She is a conciliatory messenger and governing delegate, working as an arbitrator for inter-dimensional negotiations. She often is the only link to socializing and unifying from within and without these levels.”

Tov’han paused and leaned his body toward me conspiratorially, "When I mentioned to A’kina that we would have a visitor from the surface, she volunteered to greet you and spend a few moments answering any questions you might have.”

In a movement of her graceful fingers, A’kina gestured toward a large wooden bench behind where we stood. One by one we turned and seated ourselves, A’kina first then Tov’han and lastly myself. Sandwiched in-between these two otherworldly beings, I nervously wriggled my body toward the back of the bench, steeling myself for a no-doubt mystifying accounting of this curious world.

Suddenly I couldn't think of any of the questions that had previously pelted my brain. Before this trip manifested I had what seemed like a million questions roaming around in my mind about this bizarre place and its populace. Taking a deep breath, hoping to send a jolt of oxygen to my cortex, I attempted to relax and open to the magic of the moment.

Clearing my throat, I began, "How long do your people live?"

A’kina's answer was immediate, “Of course this depends upon each individual and their personal desires, but our people are capable of living well into a thousand years. The body does not decline with age. The decision to move on is made solely from the position of motivation. If one still has the spark of life and is roused to a stimulating and energetic existence, our lives continue on for a dozen or more centuries.”

"What happens to the body when you die?"

"It is placed into stasis for several months until loved-ones have come to a place of comfort with the body's absence, then allowed to return to the earth or to any previously chosen destination.”

"Do you have pets?"

"We have many animals that choose lives in close proximity to the beings of our world, but it is always open for them to go or stay. They are not owned by these individuals, only cared for as beloved family members.”

"If we are in the interior of the earth, where does the light come from?"

"First, understand that we have a sun that lights our world, just as you do. As one enters our world from the outside, one is influenced by the level of dimensional resonance and although you were not aware of it the further you descended into the inner-earth, the smaller your body became, by surface standards. As one enters the interior of this planet, the vibrational field in effect shrinks the cells to a quantum of energy, proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents. The deeper into the center, the smaller the size. This phenomenon is not noticeable to the traveler, because the proportion is relative to its surroundings.

"This, our world, is held within an immense void, a hollow sphere containing galaxies of existence, including this minuscule microcosm. Each galaxy reverberates its own oscillating signature which attracts and coagulates like molecules, building realities of corresponding parallel universes - worlds within worlds."

A’kina's dialog had stunned and confused me. I was astonished by the idea that my body could have shrunk so drastically in size and was now microscopic to what was normal for the cells! I sat unmoving, waiting for an obliging moment of lucidity. Tov’han came to my rescue by explaining that this decrease in size was only temporary for the length of my stay and was not in any way harmful to my flesh.

Letting this perplexing explanation sink in, I went on with my interview. 

"Do you have marriage and children?"

"Marriage as it is for your people, does not exist here. There is not a contractual relationship, only the coming together of two who wish to spend time together. Our people do not reach puberty until around the age of 45 years and children are not usually conceived until the woman is in her 70s."

Seeing the look of surprise on my face, A’kina prompted me to remember the extended lifespan of this culture.

“Our environment and living conditions are much more conducive to physical health and a long life than on the exterior of the planet. The surface world has become hostile territory filled with contaminants and harmful substances that affect the body's ability to replicate healthy tissue. Therefore the lives of those inhabitants are appreciably reduced."

Hoping to find a brighter subject, I went on. 

"What do your people do for fun and entertainment?"

"Much the same as with your people, we choose those hobbies and adventures that stimulate and inspire us. The main difference with this world is that holographic interaction is commonplace. We can program a visit into a virtual world, any we choose, and participate within a controlled set of variables, much like that which one of your scriptwriters has called a holodeck. In fact many choose to live their lives within a selected virtual world. For example, if one enjoys life in the woods but must be near city transportation, they can place their home within a holographic field, which presents the visual aesthetics and embodiment of a deep forest, allowing them the best of both worlds. If one simply desires an array of bright flowers to look upon, this can be done with an easy program setting.”

"What do you think of those who live on the surface?"

"We desire to keep our world separate from those on the surface. We do not wish contamination from those whose minds are not yet formed in the ways of peace. Our children are never tainted with the selfish desires of the flesh and we choose not to have that influence impact upon our delightful way of life.”

Suddenly I felt judged by this woman and her perfect world. I hadn't expected such a strong sentiment of division and prejudice. So I asked, "Then why did you allow me this visit and why are you so willing to speak to me and answer my questions without hesitation?"

"We agreed to this visit because it was set into motion long ago by a great teacher and friend who asked this of us. We admit we would not have made the offer, but are now at this juncture quite willing to allow your presence within the shelter of our little village.”

I was struck by a feeling I can't quite describe. I felt honored to be here yet at the same time insecure about being an individual who lived in a place so judged by this culture. I was surprised at the depth of my emotions over her statements and lowered my head, not sure how to proceed. I still had questions, but was now hesitant to ask them for fear they would show my ignorance.

A’kina's voice softened, "Please don't take what I've said to suggest that you're not welcome or appreciated. We value your visit and are quite interested in knowing you better. I personally admit to some surprise at your sensitive nature and am encouraged that your vibration has not been harmful to our health."

Confused, I asked, "What do you mean my vibration could be harmful - how could I harm you?”

"The usual vibration of surface-dwellers is of a resonance that is dangerous to those in our world. Traditionally, when we have come in contact with one from your society, the ferocity of those savage emotions has caused disruption and chaos to our residents. Because of this, before your visit it was deemed necessary to shield our villages from the forceful nature of your brutal species. This is why you were asked to come alone, because with a single visitor the consciousness would remain much less affected.

"We had been assured by our great teacher that in this case there would be no need for worry, but in our people's history there have been many injuries and even deaths brought about by these interactions and we chose to be cautious. I hope this does not cause you embarrassment or distress. We just chose to stay on the safe side for the sake of our children.”

"Children? I didn't see any children.”

"Yes, that was purposeful. They can become quite upset if they encounter those from your world and we saw no need to put them through the trauma. As it is seen now, we could have safely proceeded without this discretion, but we did not know that for sure until now. Please, dear friend, continue.” 

I searched my mind to get back to my list of questions and braced myself for the incoming information.

"Uh, I've always wondered if your bodies are the same as ours, internally I mean. I can see there is a difference with your hair and fingers, but do you have the same internal organs and uh.. other plumbing?"

Tov’han burst into laughter. Instantly A’kina signaled him to stifle his amusement. She lifted her hand, palm facing him, until his laughter stopped. Lowering her arm, she said kindly, "I am aware of what you mean. No, we are not quite the same, although the differences are subtle and are only found in the adults of our species. Our children do not differ from surface children. In fact, we have adopted many youngsters from your world in order to offer them better lives. When we find those with extraordinary potential, we occasionally bring them into our world for their own good. This, of course, is done only within a soul agreement.

"The physiological differences of our bodies begin at puberty. The consciousness of the being determines those changes. To explain, if the person is directed to a particular interest or hobby, they may take on characteristics that will assist in those endeavors. For example, if one is drawn to live in the colder regions, the body adapts by growing more hair and raising the body temperature. If one is an artist, the fingers may be longer and more flexible. The athlete will have a larger, or even a double heart. One who works with animals develops a slower heart rate and softer voice and the councilor's adrenal system adapts for the handling of stressful situations and so on. You mentioned my bodily differences, these developed only over the past ten years as a result of inter-dimensional travel.”

I wasn't sure how traveling between worlds would bring more light into the body, but it seemed A’kina was ready to move on, so I didn't pursue a further explanation. I had enough of a challenge absorbing what she had just said to me.”

"Do you drive cars?"

"No, we have no need for vehicles. We are able to travel from place to place through directing our thoughts, very much like you were able to, but without the use of the stone you used."

"What do you eat?"

A’kina smiled and said, "Tov’han will tell you that when we received word that a female from the surface was coming to visit and would have questions for us, I predicted that food and diet would be among these inquiries.”

I felt my cheeks redden and quickly A’kina uttered, "No, please do not feel this is a judgment of those from your land, it truly is not. We simply are very aware of the preoccupation your people have with food. It seems to be the focus of any gathering. It even shows up in your language as a rather casual remark to close an apathetic meeting, ‘So nice to see you again, let's do lunch soon.’”

At A’kina's joke, Tov’han let out a muffled chuckle to which A’kina threw another warning look. Turning back to me, she smiled attentively saying, "Now that I've teased you so unfairly, permit me to answer your very suitable question. Our diet is very diverse and personalized. In fact you may be surprised to note that some choose not to eat ever, but to subsist on a technique of concentrated breath control. Those who make this choice usually do so for spiritual reasons, but although they refrain from solid food, they still take in liquids to keep the body hydrated and nourished.

"However, most of us enjoy our food, although it is definitely not at the center of our social festivities. It is considered more of a meditation. Eating has become a rite of appreciation, an occasion of expressing gratitude for the physical vehicle that carries us through our lives. We do not use food to treat or bribe our children so we have no problem with obesity or weight issues. Our people learn as youngsters that the reward is in the doing.

"Our food is very healthful and grown on land cared for by those who love working the soil. There is no use for what you call pesticides, for we have no pests. We have insects, but they are beneficial to our crops, not considered a nuisance in any way.”

"You mentioned social festivities, if you do not gather for family meals or celebrations, when do you gather and what do you do when you're together?"

“Our social gatherings are for the joy of getting together. The occasion might be the birth of a child or perhaps acknowledgment of a successful enterprise or job well done, or to celebrate and commemorate a loving relationship, or often just to play games of friendly competition.”

As I briefly paused to consider my next question, A’kina rose from her seat and gestured to Tov’han that she was ready to leave. Stepping in front of me, she bowed low and held out a dainty hand. I wasn't sure what the proper protocol was, so I just took her fingers lightly in mine and smiled up at her. Taking a small step backward, she motioned for me to stand. I did. She moved closer and delicately placed both her hands on either side of my head and gently pulled my forehead to hers until they came in contact with each other. We stood like that for a moment, heads bowed, touching only at the top of the forehead, then she slowly pulled away and held one hand up in a salute, whispering one word, "intonsome" which I repeated, not knowing exactly what it meant, but I was confident it was a parting blessing. 

I've since learned that indeed it means, "That which is holy within myself I recognize as holy within all."

Tov’han then rose to face me and offered the same gesture and blessing. I was deeply moved by their sincere and solemn expression of respect and caring. As A’kina took leave, I watched her walk away. Her body glided effortlessly, almost as if she was floating. Wordlessly, Tov’han placed his hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes and realized this precious journey was at an end. In a moment, Tov’han whispered, "You may open your eyes."

Suddenly I became very dizzy. I opened my eyes but all I could see were waves and pulsations of color and moving energy, as if the world around me had turned into liquid. I was extremely disoriented and grabbed at my head to steady myself. Tov’han's arm slipped around my waist and I heard his amused chuckle. "Quite a ride for a novice, eh?"

Doing my best to attempt a smile, I sank against his thin frame, grateful for the support. 

It took several moments for my head and vision to clear. When I was finally able to see distinctly again, I looked around and realized I was back in the same location in which I had first met Tov’han. Suddenly I felt exhausted and wanted only to go home and take a long hot shower, put on my sweats and watch an old movie. I yearned for the familiar. Everything had been so strange and unusual. Even though I felt privileged to be chosen for this adventure, I was glad it was over. It would take a long time to assimilate everything I had seen and heard.

I turned to Tov’han's now beloved form and smiled my thanks. He bowed, bending deeply at the waist, his white beard sweeping the ground. The show of respect stirred my emotions and I fought back tears, both from fatigue and sentiment. 

"Safe trip my dear,” Tov’han quipped formally.

"Thank you Tov’han, you too.”

Straightening my tired body, I turned away from this little man whom I had come to appreciate for his kindness and humor and began my trek back home.