TREACHERY

The voice was distinct, and easily recognisable.

In the soft glow of the candle, Daniel saw that brother Bartholomew was materialising behind the father Abbot.

The message went on, addressed mainly to Daniel:

            “Before we can begin with our most important work of Healing, you need some words of explanation. Helping the lost ones is sometimes referred to as a rescue, but we consider this as a form of healing. We must heal the damaged consciousness. In other words, the mind, and the spirit of the lost ones.”

The room was full of static electricity, with an almost tingly feeling in the air.

As soon as brother Bartholomew had started to speak, the little group had opened their hands with their palms facing the father, Abbot. Intrigued, Daniel followed their example.

Brother Bartholomew’s voice continued to resonate with:

            “Daniel, you have a special gift, and the time has come for you to use it. You too are an open door to the spirit world. Do you understand what that means?”

“I am not sure,” said Daniel.

“Those in spirit are attracted to you. And in time, you too will be able to bring them to speak to others, giving them spiritual guidance and thus helping mankind on its pathway through life. That is, if you wish it to be so. Do you accept that mission?”

“Yes, I do.”
“Good. Then I can tell you that the lost ones have been attracted to you, and therefore have chosen you to be the vehicle through which they can be helped and healed.”

Daniel’s heart was beating fast. All his old fears had returned. He was wondering how he was going to be used for this healing to take place. Would he be hurt in any way, and being such a novice, would he be up to the task?

He was surprised when brother Bartholomew promptly added:

“Just being present is what we need from you, Daniel. No harm will come to you and be convinced that you are indeed up to the mission.”

He had read Daniel’s mind, addressing all of his fearful thoughts.  

“It has already been explained to you, why the lost ones are in their present state. They drift between two worlds; when the time came for their souls to leave their bodies, their spirits got left behind, stuck in the way they resented what they had suffered before they died. They did not know how to move to the spirit world anymore. Realising this, they have been calling for help since that very day.

Your presence will reassure them, and knowing that you want to save them, they will also accept the rest of the group to be present. Together we will turn their consciousness from the thought of death to that of a resurrection into the light. The example of the Master Jesus, who defied death, will help us in our work. We will show the lost ones that death and suffering can be vanquished, but to achieve this, we need persons like you, Daniel, who accept to work with us who are in the spirit world. Does that set your mind at rest?” 
“All I have to do then is to be here. Is that really it?”
“Indeed, that’s all we ask of you,” said brother Bartholomew whose voice and image were fading away.

Returning to his normal waking consciousness, the Abbot also regained his normal size.  

Betty Gibbons offered him a glass of water, which he sipped slowly.

He smiled across the table at Daniel, and softly warned him:
“One thing you should be aware of, Daniel, is that this meeting, this group, is private and the proceedings that take place here cannot be spoken of to anyone outside of this circle of friends. Not even to our closest family or our dearest ones. Is that clear?”
“Yes, I understand,” said Daniel.
The circle concluded, and all the members in various ways said that they were happy to have Daniel as a visitor to the group. They all agreed that they would meet again a week later for the healing to take place.

Daniel had one last but important question to ask the group:
“How are we all going to get into the castle crypt without being seen?”

Brother Mark smiled, and Father Abbot replied reassuringly:
“You don’t need to worry about that, Daniel. Now that you are with us and attuned to the group, the lost ones will come to us.”

Daniel was relieved and continued apologetically:
“Oh, sorry. Just one more thing, Father Abbot, would it be alright for me to have my Amethyst Crystal with me next time?”
Concluding the reunion, the father Abbot added:

“Yes, that will be fine, Daniel. So, we will see you all back here next week then. May the Lord bless you all.”
“Goodnight and may the Lord bless you too, Father,” they chorused.

Everyone left the room in silence. It was already late, and it had been a very important meeting, so the group, being tired, separated rapidly. Surely, while driving home, the happenings of the evening would be commented; it was, after all, an extraordinary situation even for such experienced people.

 After a last goodbye to brother Mark, Daniel decided to walk part of the way next to his bicycle. He needed to think, and to assimilate what was requested of him. The fresh air of the night did him good. A good night’s rest would be even better.

On the contrary to what Joan had said, there was no school on the next day. The school was being used as a polling station for the local council elections. Most of the teachers had been turned into election staff.

As it was a sunny day, Daniel had decided to go down to the beach, just to relax and enjoy the ozone.

He had taken Shandy with him to give him a run.

He was just strolling along the sand, beachcombing, and throwing sticks into the sea for Shandy to fetch, when he realised, he had arrived at the cove where the stream pours into the sea.

Curious, as usual, Daniel could not resist, and started to follow the stream inland up to the waterfall. Shandy enjoyed a good drink of fresh water, which was a nice change for him from the salt water of the sea.

The waterfall was really overgrown, and the pool below seemed quite deep. This made Daniel wonder how on earth the smugglers were able to get their cases of booze up to the height of the cave which was at least 15 feet above the cascade.

Ready to go home, Daniel noticed that Shandy had disappeared. He called him, but to no avail, until he was at his side again.

“This dog is spooky,” he thought, but then, maybe hoping that Shandy might answer, he said:
“How did you do that, boy?”  

Shandy just wagged his tail, shook himself all over him and then ducked behind the bushes at the side of the pool. Daniel followed him around the pool, but then he disappeared again. There was only one place he could have gone and that was behind the waterfall.

Sure enough, there was a space behind the curtain of water. In the recess there was a set of steps carved in the rock, going up the path beside the stream. Daniel knew this because it led either to the cemetery or to the castle. He thought:

“How clever. I must have missed the entrance to the steps when I followed the tunnel down to the waterfall.”

He called Shandy and went back to the beach; in case anyone was watching.

Just as he was getting down to the level of the beach, two men came from behind the corner of the cove, right in front of him. They stared, said:

“Morning,” and walked up the way towards the waterfall where he had just come from.

Ill at ease, Daniel stopped as if to check on Shandy. The men had started to talk, and being still close enough, Daniel, could hear a few words. The sound of the voices was familiar. It did not take long before he remembered where he had heard them before. There was no doubt in his mind now, they were the same voices he had heard when he was in the secret passage.

Glancing up in their direction, he noticed that one of them was looking back at him. Decided not to let the two men have any suspicion, Daniel waved at him with a smile and the man waved back.

As soon as Daniel got home, he began to go over the events of the past night. He needed some explanations, so he thought it would be a good idea to have a word with mother Creck. After all, she was the nearest to home of the circle of friends, living just across the street.

Daniel knocked at the door and Ed, mother Creck’s, son, yelled into the house:

            “Mother, it’s Joan’s boy.”

Mother Creck came through from the back wiping her hands on her apron and greeted Daniel with a smile:
“Come in, my boy. What can I do for you?
“Good morning, mum Creck. Nothing really, I just thought I’d pop in for a chat, but I don’t want to trouble you.”
“It’s all right, Daniel.”

Nodding to her son that she wanted to be alone with Daniel, she insisted saying:
“Ed is just going out,” and then to her son, “Aren’t you, luv?”
Ed smirked and while backing out through the door, said:
“Now what are you two up to, again?”

As soon as her son was gone, mother Creck, tried to reassure Daniel:
“There we are, don’t mind him and sit you down, Daniel. I suppose you worry about last Wednesday?”
“Well, it has all come so fast and I’m still not sure about what will happen now?”

Daniel looked very apprehensive, and mother Creck felt he needed to be cheered up:
“You know, Daniel, you did so well the other night. You took everything in your stride. You are a natural and you don’t have to worry about a thing.”

Listening to those kind words, Daniel thought that it may have looked like that he was taking it all in his stride, but he knew that, a bit like a swan, there was a lot of activity under the surface. His stomach was full of butterflies.
Mother Creck aware of what was going on in his head, gently put her hand on his knee and continued:
“Although we have not spoken to you about protection yet, I can assure you that all the necessary precautions have been taken by everyone concerned. You will be perfectly safe.”
“I guess so, mum Creck, but is there anything I can or should do to prepare myself”
“I suppose you know about meditation, and there is just one other thing you could do.

Every morning when you wake up and every night when you’re ready for bed, remember that your friends in spirit are looking after you; in fact, remember that they are with you at all times.”
Daniel understood better now what Jake meant when he told him he would always be at his side.

Giving her a big hug, he said:

“Thank you so much, mum Creck, that’s a great help.”       

“By the way, Daniel, I was going to ask you why you wanted to bring your crystal with you

at the next meeting?”

“No special reason. I just thought that seemed the right thing to do.”
“You could not have asked anything more appropriate to be with you. The amethyst crystal is not of this world, it is an attractor of those in the spirit world because it’s there where it comes from. It is also a natural cleanser for the other earthly crystals, especially those that are subject to damage in water. As I said before, you are a natural and you have nothing to worry about, my boy.”

Mother Creck had a beaming smile, knowing she had a very special somebody sitting in front of her.

Daniel was a bit exhausted, still trying to master all he had been told.

As it was time to go home, he thanked mother Creck again and gave her another big hug:

“See you on Wednesday night, mum Creck.”   

“Yes, Daniel, till Wednesday night.”

School was a real pain after all the excitement of the holidays, but Daniel decided just to keep his head down and do his best and as his Mum had said:

“No one could ask for more.”

Weekends were busy in the pub meaning Daniel was busy too, which was just as well; and before he knew it, it was Wednesday afternoon, and he was on his way home from school.

He wondered how he was going to explain to his mother that he was attending another meeting at the Abbey?  

            “Hi Mum,” He called through to the bar on his way upstairs, “I’ll be going over to the Abbey tonight as they’ve said I can use the library.”

He lied a little making sure he was halfway up the stairs where she couldn’t see his face.

“OK, but try not to be too late,” Joan cautioned.

“Phew,” said Daniel, under his breath.

Daniel cycled over to the Abbey getting there dead on a quarter past seven, just as the others arrived too. They all exchanged greetings and piled into the meeting room taking up the same places as before. With a bit of a headache, which he put down to excitement and anticipation, Daniel stood by his seat, placing the crystal on the table in front of him near to the lighted candle.

Father Abbot came in after they were all assembled and greeted them with:

            “Welcome to you all, please be seated,”

Then as he joined his hands together in prayer. All the others followed him, including Daniel.

“We ask a blessing on this circle of friends, and ask that all that is said, and done here tonight, may be in the name of love, and for the highest good of all concerned.” 

He continued with:

 “Let us start this special evening of healing by linking to one another. So, please place your hands on the table with the left palm facing up and the right palm down.”

“Now place your right hand over the left palm of your neighbour and join hands.”

“Imagine the Divine light entering the top of your head and filling your bodies with light. Send the light within you through your right arm to the person next to you on your right … now add the special ingredient of the love from your own heart to this energy that is now circulating around the group.”

There was a pause of some minutes for this energetic start to take effect. Daniel felt excited, but on top of the world. His headache was gone, and his apprehension had disappeared.

The evening proceeded as before with readings from the Bible, on the healing that the Master Jesus performed in the raising of Lazarus, and prayers from all who wished to contribute. John, who hadn’t said much up to now gave a beautiful, guided meditation and Daniel could see why he was a member of the group. After John’s meditation there was a pause, and the father Abbot then spoke directly to Daniel.

“Now, Daniel, brother Bartholomew will come to speak to us first and then it will be turn of the lost ones to speak. All you must do, is to tell them that we want to answer their plea and that we are here to help. Is that clear?” he said.

“Yes, I’ll try.”

“You will do well,” said the Abbot assuring him.

As before the Abbot seemed to get bigger and was then overshadowed by the manifested form of brother Bartholomew.

“We welcome you all to this circle of healing,” he said softly.

The group said: “Welcome, brother Bartholomew, thank you for coming.”

Brother Bartholomew continued:

“We are all ready and disposed to help, now we will step back and allow those who are waiting here, drawn to the presence of, young Daniel, to speak to you.”

At the mention of his name Daniel felt the apprehension again.

There was a long pause while Bartholomew receded and very slowly the form of a knight in chain mail and a shining breastplate shimmered into being behind the Abbot. This was a much clearer image than when it appeared to Daniel in the castle secret room. He could also make out other forms behind him with no problem. The face of the knight was racked with pain and the voice was uncertain and shaking. 

 “We ask for your help, Daniel, can you … will you help us?”

Daniel found himself shaking as well, trying to remember what he should say:

“Yes, we are here to answer your call … please listen to the words of these friends who are here with me, to help you.”

Brother Mark took over, telling the knight and his companions that their time on earth was over. Forgiveness and the Divine Love and Light were at hand, and soon they would be on the pathway to join their loved ones.

With that, all around the table quite naturally joined hands again. The amethyst crystal that Daniel had placed on the table in front of him and next to the candle, began to glow and projected a beam of violet light up to the ceiling. An intense beam of white light came down to meet it from above reflected off the crystal and illuminated the whole room with the violet rays. Brother Mark asked the lost ones to walk forward into the light.

“Look to the light my friends, walk into the light,” he said.

The atmosphere was electric. Many forms walked forward into the light and rose up above the table. After a short pause, Daniel suddenly felt tired and released the hands of those on either side. The experience seemed to have zapped his energy and Mum Creck offered him a glass of water, and. Betty Gibbons did the same thing for the father Abbot.

After a few minutes of recollection, they all looked at each other and smiled. The usual prayers concluded this special rescue and healing circle.

Daniel felt sadness, knowing that he would probably never see them all there again.

The father Abbot woke him out of his self-pitying doldrums, telling him that he had a special task to perform:

            “It has been a rare blessing to have you with us, Daniel, and I know I speak in the name of us all when I offer you the opportunity, to become a regular member of this group.”

 Daniel was stunned, and literally speechless. Looking at all the smiling faces round the table, he finally managed to tell the group that:

“I was just thinking to myself, that I would probably never see you all again here in this setting …”  Then he paused to catch his breath. Looking down, touching the amethyst before him, he continued:

“… you have just offered me the best gift I could have wished for. I will never forget this moment.  I know that you have set me on my true path in this life; to be able to heal, across the dimensions for the sake of all humankind, and I would like to accept the offer father Abbot. I say yes with all my heart.”

Everyone around the table clapped and congratulated him. As the others were leaving, brother Mark surreptitiously held Daniel by his sleeve, asking him to stay. 

            “Perhaps just one more gift of which you may not be totally aware of Daniel,” said the Abbot,  “as Brother Mark may have inferred, we have known of you for some time, but we were obliged to wait for you to accept to tread the pathway, you had to find us in your own way, in your own time.”

The father Abbot went on telling the new postulant that:

“I am happy to reveal that you have received another present. This one has been gifted to you by the Divine Master of Magic, Mystery, and Manifestation. The present will soon unfold in its many facets, like the polishing of a priceless diamond as you walk the narrow way you have selected. Do not be surprised as each facet will materialise in your life, for many gifts await you.

I must also say that contrary to your own questioning, the way of monastic life is not for you. No! Your path is to be in the world, but not part of the world. Know though, that many of the rigours of contemplative life will be the guidelines that will help you, every day of your life from now on.”

As a sign of submission to the powers of the Divine, the three bowed in all humility and blessed each other.
“May the Lord bless us.”

They separated in good spirits and Daniel cycled home on cloud nine.

Pedalling back to the pub, he started to realise the significance of what had just happened. He had become a member of a secret circle, of the Circle of Light.

Daniel remembered the words of Brother Mark:

“It is said that if we block the gifts that are offered to us, then we become blocked on all the levels of mind, body, and spirit. Conversely, when we accept them, we allow the energies to flow through us on all levels, and our lives are enhanced. We then become more aware and more in tune with everything and everyone around us. Which is a result of the acceptance of the Grace of the Lord.”

Daniel was ready to accept and allow the gifts that were offered to him, and to manifest them in his life. He offered himself to the Universe and promised to work for the sake of others from now on.

When Mum Creck arrived to do the cleaning the following Saturday, she whispered to Daniel to come over to see her when she finished.

When the cleaning was done, and Joan had opened the doors of the pub, Daniel told her that he had forgotten to ask something from mother Creck. He would not be long.

No one was banging on the door and Joan sat down to do the books in the lounge bar.

            “OK, love, don’t forget we need to get some stocktaking done this afternoon,” she called after him as he went out the door.

“OK, Mum.”

It was clear that mother Creck was expecting him, for nearly before he knocked at the door, she called out:

            “Come on in, love, the door is open.”

Daniel went in and to his surprise he saw Brother Mark sitting in the front room.

“Hello, brother Mark.”

“Hello, Daniel.”

At that moment, mother Creck appeared with a tray of refreshments. Brother Mark seemed to have waited for their hostess to be present, to go on with the conversation. “I will go straight to the point….