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Bodhi Ganesh
Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2021
Author on Reedsy Prompts since Jan, 2021
Submitted to Contest #78
I grew up instilled with a love for writing, and a passion for self expression. Typically my writing consists of poetry, in spoken word or song form. However, I've recently obtained the copywrites to my first book. The story portrays a single night in the life of a spiritual medium. I still read it over today, and I believe that the book keeps the reader interested, and I have yet to receive any negative feedback about it, though I am not in anyway disapproving of tough love or constructive criticism and if you find thirty minutes to read my short book, I would be forever grateful for any type of feedback or advice. Tell me your opinion of the book. The title is 'One Night with Bodhi Ganesh' Below is the unedited version And I've posted it here in my bio. Scroll down. One Night With Bodhi Ganesh Written and Illustrated by Wayne Cruickshank "As a Rescue medium, I have the ability to see, hear and communicate with the soul energy of the dead.”-Bodhi Ganesh This is the story of a man with a love and compassion so deep for humankind. That he risked his very life, to bring relief to suffering souls of the dead. Souls caught in an earthbound realm, herded like cattle by death's cool hand. A frisson experience with the grim reaper. A night, that puts One Man's courage to the test and reveals a sinister truth, which awaits all in passing. "I Am Bodhi Ganesh and I may have cheated Death. For now." 2 Ch.1 "As the sun sets" "Clearing haunted hotels for Halloween sounds like a birthday to be remembered." I say to Dawn, she has certain abilities and has been a confidant "We should make it a state wide road trip." She says "We will start outside of Girard and make our way around the state. Hitting every known haunting in Kansas!" "Lots of history here!" She continues, excited. "Kansas has some of the most haunted places in the country." I reply "Sounds like my cup of tea." I say in all sincerity "You know Dawn, I'm truly grateful that our paths crossed. I'm grateful to have someone like you that I can talk to about the mediumship and these abilities and I'm happy to be able to talk about, the spirituality in all its splendor, you know" "the stuff." Dawn says "Thank you Bodhi. Really, thank you. Everyone I try to share the "stuff" with, thinks I'm on drugs or crazy or both." She continues. "And it is nice to have an understanding ear, you know, someone who's been there." I agree. "Hey, do you have company?" Dawn says "I can hear whispers coming from your end of the phone." I proceed to look around a little deeper and notice the two figures motioning by the front door. Communicating with each other in their confusion. Dawn has almost perfected her clairs. "There are two spirits here." I tell her. I Ask for a name, immediately the reply comes to mind. "Johnathan." One second Johnathan." I say, as I get back with Dawn. "Dawn, this man needs my help." She replies. "I'll call you a little later." "You're so understanding, thank you." I say as I end the call. Jonathan's appearance becomes refined and more detailed. He has the look of a young laid- 3 back businessman with his silk sleeves rolled up and his button up hanging untucked over his belt. As if he may have been associating at the bar with the likes of a wall street crowd. His shirt was tan in color along with his slacks. Johnathan initiates me and soon realizes what is going on and immediately He slides downward riding the front of the couch to the floor where he begins to weep. As do a majority of those in his situation, who know nothing of death. Other than the conditioned belief that it is the end of all that they know and love. I'm sure I would do the same without having the knowledge that I've recently acquired and the benefits of a profound spiritual awakening. I'll find out when this life ends the nature of my reaction to death. I felt the energy of Johnathan's situation and I do proceed to tell him that he was in a car accident. I assure john that "The period of life you just lost is not the end of your existence." I explain to John "From my witnessing, going into the light is the beginning of the next life, or, the next leg of the journey." This comforts him. With a little more motivation. He picks himself up, brushes his shirt down and as if entering a room full of potential clients, with slight apprehension, he walks into the light. "Enjoy Eternity Johnathan." He walks as if ascending a radiant flight of stairs and as quickly as he became. He was gone. Jonathan's companion In the confusion was Chelsea. How they end up in my living room is unknown to me. They just appear, and I help anyway I can. Sometimes they have mischievous intentions. I sense Chelsea beside me. I feel the energy of her confusion, a language of no words. The perplexity of Chealsie's situation comes to understanding as I comfort her to the best of my ability. The energy she 4 puts off becomes lighter and I sense she lived a decent, humble life. She's no longer afraid. I say "Goodbye Chelsea." And I remark that she lived as a caring person and is just beginning her journey and that she is going to help a lot of people. Empathic energies tell stories to those in reception. 5 Ch. 2 "Joules" The appearance of a man Standing in the kitchen area of my home brings a sense of familiarity. As if we'd met before. Claircognizance is directing me in a manner of belief that this is Joules. He is a Spirit Guide somewhat passed on to me by my mentor Mrs. Ros Way. I see only his lower half, which is that of khaki pants with a long sleeve red plaid shirt, tucked in very nicely. My attention is drawn to the massive hard back book in his hands. As he turns pages in determination, with the need to get whatever message held in this book across. A message of great importance. I ask the entity if I can be of service. He relays to me "I must inform you of the psychology of your lifestyle." I reply.. "I have enough people in this realm calling me crazy good sir, I really don't need it from you." "No!" He says. "You're closer to the Truth of that which is. Than the major majority of the population." "You must take heed." He continues. "There are dark entities which seek you out." They are close and they will be coming. "Oh." I Say with a cockyness. "Good. Because for a second there." sigh. "I thought you were calling me crazy." Joules states that "They've been tracking you by the light you emit." I ask him. "What am I supposed to do?" "I need.." The phone rings and Joules disappears. It's Dawn calling. "Dawn, hey" I say calmly. "You're not gonna believe what's happened." I said "Listen, I'm sorry I had to let you go. Some.." She cuts me off "I want you to know it's ok." "What you do." "I like it and I don't mind." I proceed to tell her that "The spirits take up most of my time and I don't want what I do to mess up our relationship. But listen." Unsure of how she'll react to what I'm about to say 6 "There's something coming for me tonight." "Some dark entities." "I was told by this." I stumble over my words as the realization sets in. "A Man, a man in plaid with a book." "He had a book. And he seemed as if he was someone important." "He told me that there are dark entities that want to destroy me. He said they're attracted to my light" "And they're coming!" "Tonight!" "I don't.." She stops me "Calm down." She says in an attempt to comfort me. "Shield yourself, I'm sending you protection." "I'm sure you're gonna be fine." She continues trying to put me at ease. "Maybe you should call it a night. Try and ignore the spirits, you need to set boundaries for them. Say a prayer, meditate and get some rest. I'll call you in the morning." "Goodnight Bodhi." The tone that the phone made as the call disconnected left me with a feeling of desolation in facing what lies ahead alone. "Ahh shit man, you'll be alright." I say to myself. "I need a drink." "Bye baby girl." I shout to my cat Connelly, as I leave to go to the store. "I need to wind down." 7 Ch.3 "Ros Way" There's a chill in the air as I make my way to the minimart. In hopes of some relief brought on by a pint of Lone Star. "Ros Way." I think of my mentor through this mediumship. "She'll know what to do." Ros Way has given me guidance and understanding. I felt a little less crazy when I met her as she validated my experiences with spirit after my very dark awakening less than a year ago. Being new to all this, there is much I don't know. I need to be put at ease. As I have a seat at a bench in the local shopping plaza. It's dark and the shops have closed, if they'd even opened for the day. The business owners in this small Texas town work on their own time. In searching for Ros Way's contact in my phone, I'm taken by a feeling of sorrow. This isn't my sorrow. As I take my eyes off my cellular device, which may as well be attached at the hip. I'm witness to the soul energy of a man, elbows up, hands clenching his head. Trapped in a feeling of disbelief, regret. He's mourning. "Hey." I say to him in a gentle disposition. He looks at me, moving his hands to cover his mouth, suffering. In an Attempt to help, I envision the light. He looks directly at it. I tell him "I'm sorry" and "This is the way it is." It can be overwhelming "Go to the light." I say. The man, somewhat relieved, makes his way into the light and what I believe to be, salvation. Instantly the sorrow of the man is gone. "Fuck!" I tell myself. "Some fucking gift this is." There is satisfaction in knowing that they don't have to be like that, stuck in the torment of their own dejection for an eternity. In a world full of 8 sad stories, blessed are those who can turn a smile. I say a prayer. Thanking the lord for my life. "I thank the Angel's and guides directing me on this path, asking only for support in the actions I take to help these people." We all know suffering in life. We shouldn't have to carry it with us through eternity. I sit back on the bench. Arms resting on my knees. My hands fiddling with the rings on my fingers. These rings seemed to hold such value to me at one time. Accessories. Pointless accessories. A single word whisps past my lips with no resistance. "Why?" My vision blurs, as tonight's experiences, and the pain that man was in, begins to trickle down my face. 9 Ch.4 "The cloak" Talking to myself helps calm my nerves. "He said they are attracted to my light. How do I cover my light? “Visualization." In the medium world we use visualization techniques in shielding ourselves as protection from negative attachments, dark entities, things that may have harmful intentions. 12d came to mind. "What if I visualize some sort of cloak to cover my light." I let out a chuckle "I'm beginning to feel a bit like Harry Potter." a sarcasm that brings solace consolation before the storm reaches its full potential. Lying in my bed I visualize a large, heavy black blanket to cover my light. "This is going to work." I say to myself. I lay there still, with the light of the moon shining on me through the skylight above my bed. It took time, though eventually, I drifted off to sleep. My sleep is interrupted, I suddenly awaken to something disturbing. As quickly as a cat's reflexes could catch a movement. I could feel a presence. And it wasn't friendly. "Good lord." I murmur, and as if those words summoned it. Floating into my room through the northern wall comes Death himself. It appears to be The Grim reaper. As it glides through my room, it glances at me in my bed and as if minding its own business, doesn't even acknowledge my presence. As his ominousness makes its way down the hall toward the kitchen. I say to myself. "Did the blanket work." Reflecting on what Joules spoke of, I think to myself. "You said Dark entities. You didn't say anything about the Grim fucking reaper." "darkness itself." I'm a bit freaked out "Oh damn!" "What the hell am I gonna do now." All these thoughts flood my mind in an instant. "How am I gonna get outta this One?" 10 "You can't run from death." I think to myself "No One can." As if the courage of a martyr consumed me. "I'm gonna handle this, I'm not spending the rest of my days running in fear, or hiding" I cover myself in every shield I know. With the balls of a Bull, I get myself out of the comfort of my imaginary security blanket and make my way down the hall to the kitchen. "If this thing is going end me, I ain't gon be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life." As if death knew I would appear. He's standing in the back corner of the kitchen, anticipating my arrival. Death, very tall with a creepy aura and a stench of, well It's Death. It looks exactly as depicted in the myths pictures, no face, the pitch cloak with the hood. Though no kaiser blade. With hopes of a negotiated treaty and armed with the simple principle that I'm not going to hide. I say "I know you don't want me crossing them over." Speaking of the spirits. Now at a great loss for words. I stand, at the end of the hall, in the entrance of the kitchen, with my chin up as if my pride wouldn't give in to the impending doom. I am a bit drunk. And by now, a little pissed off and wanting to send this thing into the light. It floats toward me, its sinister glide gives rise to every hair on my soon to be corpse. Making its way through the kitchen with a dark intent, coming directly at me, I'm not going anywhere. It stops directly in front of my being. Here I am, face to face with the Grim Reaper itself. I'm thinking “well, here it is” the end of this life condition. There's no fear. Death raises its right arm slowly. Now I'm petrified, I can feel this menacing being, I feel it. So I know it is fed up with everything and angry. Its energy is so unclean. Almost as if polluted, corrupted in a way that would make the grimiest shanty town seem like a refuge. 11 It Simply grazes me on my right shoulder. Instantly my mind, like the broken record playing of a corny horror flick, thinks "three days, three days, three days, three days." Then Death simply exits my home through the kitchen wall. "Three days for what!" "Three days to live?" "Three days." "What's this three days mess!" I say. Now I'm a bit relieved, yet frustrated and wanting answers. 12 Ch.5 "Ain't got no time." This is some scary shit. I'm pacing as I chain smoke cigarettes. The Darkness, the supposed Darkness that ended my life. That tracked me by the light I emit. "This can't be real. I must be trippin'." In my trying to figure things out, I am completely ignoring the influx of spirits in and around my home. They are everywhere. "There has to be something I can do. What? How?" I need to focus. I retrieve my cell phone from its charging place in my room. "I've gotta reach Ros." I find her contact and call to no avail. I send her a message that it's imperative that she contact me. And why are there so many spirits around? What is going on? It's true what Nietsche said. "The living being is a species of the dead." And tonight especially. "A very rare species of the dead." Maybe I am One of them. Yes, maybe I'm dead. Maybe I am unaware of my own condition and its truths. "What is the Truth?" Sitting on my porch watching the spirits. Spirits old, Spirits in modern day clothes, spirits of men, women and children engulfed in suffering. They are all in some sort of pain. They all seem as though they are caught in a sorrow inducing whirlpool. I'm trying to put it all together. Why so many? By now my entire demeanor has changed. "Why not, I'm going free all of 'em from this tormenting plot of existence" I sit in front of my home with a constant 13 vision of a light portal. "Hey! Who wants a new life?" I am trying to draw them into the light. I call out. "Who wants to go home? Anybody want to start over?" "Come on into the light." "You don't have to be like this." I tell them. "You will find peace in the light." I had no idea what I was doing. Though it was making its mark. A mark, that I would come to find. Just might be beneficial in finding the truth behind this evening's crazy events. 14 Ch.6 "The deception slowly unveils" Three days. I'm taking a walk. By now it's 2:30am. And this small town in Texas is literally a ghost town. I'm walking across the median at the ol' San One intersection light. They're everywhere. So I'm opening light portals everywhere, I'm guiding the suffering souls of this evening's context, into the light. Suddenly, beside the gas pumps at the minimart. Walking Parallel to each other in a military synchronicity. Two gigantic, lively cubes of beings. With tiny little heads. Straight outta some creepy version of a 1990's mario brothers video game, that must have been influenced by silent hills darkness. At that moment, all the Clairsentience and claircognizance had put it together for me. It hit me, the story behind this night's events. "They're enforcers." And "I'm disrupting someone's balancing act." I say in defiance. "We'll see about that." These beings make their way to the portal I've opened. And like a blue-collar working man would close the door to the shipping warehouse, they aggressively pull the portal closed. I'm thinking, "what the hell?" The plot keeps getting thicker. They close every light portal that I open. They are like gatekeepers. Why? Oh.. The question that gets me into so much trouble, Why? I walk up west, away from the cubes. I call on the man in plaid. The spirit guide I was familiar with. "Joules!" I call out. "I need you Joules!" "Damn." I say "Three days, I need more time." "Joules." I call out, alongside a concrete retaining wall beside main street. "Joules I need you!" I call until he shows himself. Which, didn't 15 take but a moment. Joules appears just on the outer edge of the light emitted by a close street lamp right off of main street. I tell him "Death touched me Joules." "Death touched me and said three days." and I continue with the nights' tale. "Is there any way out of this Joules?" Joules, from my perspective, seemed agitated. He warned me. I begin to feel like a bad student. He looks through his bigger than life, massive, seemingly ancient book. He did try to warn me of these things happening. "Thanks for the heads up on tonight's adventure Joules." I say "Yeah Joules, this is undoubtedly the most.." Joules starts acting as if he had just lost his own life. He's almost wailing around in a fashion I am uncertain of. As if he had lost the most priceless, prized possession. He appears to be Crying. "Joules are you crying?" No. He tells me there is nothing that can be done. Joules relays to me that “there is no loophole or way around deaths' touch.” That this is it, for this go round. The validation of his response was unnerving for myself. For a few moments the world was silent. Joules and me, sitting on the wall at the edge of the light. "Death." I say, recollecting on my apparent theme for 2020 "This seems to be the hot topic for me throughout this year." I say in a somewhat sarcastically, playful tone. "You know Joules, this lifetime sure came with, its moments." Trying not to give in to the discouragement of this sinister October nights turmoil. I attempt to engage myself in anything which resembles a solution to the damage of the evening's paranormal wrecking ball. 16 "Hey, Joules." I say with the temporary feeling of defeat. "Out of curiosity, there were these, block shaped beings closing all of my light portals. They wouldn't let the spirits in the light. Is there a way around that? A way I can somehow get these people home without these beings impeding?" He looks at me as if I'd just come back from the dead. With the determination and drive to find hope for a cause which we both believed in. "Maybe I could get All the earth-bounds in this town into the light before I pass. Help as many as possible." After a hopeful search in his book Joules tells me. "There is a way." "Yes." I say in a sense of celebration. "You must go into the light with them." I reply "Hold on Joules, what do you mean go into the light with them. Like, at the moment of death." "No" Joules' next statement lit a fire in me that I'd later use to illuminate the city. "It says that while a portal is open, as long as your being is in the portal, it cannot be closed." Relieved that there may be hope "Ok, so all I have to do to keep the two bash brothers from closing the light, is step into the portal itself." "Joules you're a genius." Walking away I make a quarter turn in his direction "And hey, I'm sorry I Messed up." I sense Joules smiling at me, as he tells me. "It's not over for you, you're going to make a great guide." 17 Ch.67 "Send 'em Home" "Ok, all you need do is step back into the light, like this." Ok "Hey, who wants to go home?" I call out to catch the attention of the many spirits. "Who wants a better way to be?" "Come on hurry before they try to stop you." A woman and her child pass me. I read the words "thank you" on her lips. I'm excited. I just hope I've got enough time to help all of them, being stuck in their suffering. "And here they come." "Come on, before they try and stop you." It was a force felt energy emitted by the two light crashers. "You were right Joules!" "They can't close the light portals." Oh the disarranged energy of confusion put off by the two giant gatekeepers is high. Then, suddenly, out of a place beyond me, comes Death rushing to close the gate and he looks pissed! "Whoa!" I pronounce as I jump out of his way. "That's Scary." Indeed he looks and feels scary. Though there was nothing he could do. He looks directly at me, I'm smiling. Death tells me. "I'm going burn you alive." I don't suspect he's joking. Though, The mind state of a man shifts when he's given his departure date. "Well if you're gonna burn me, you may want to do it now before I do this.” I open another light portal, but they won't come into it with Death here. "He can't hurt you anymore." "It's ok." It wasn't ok. As if they were being herded for this entity, this Death. As if they were cattle. "You’re feeding on their suffering." "Where Are you from, you ugly son of a gun?" "Well, Death it's clear to see why you tracked me. We are on completely different sides of the playing field. We are basically each other's opposition." "You feed on suffering" "And all I wish to do is relieve it." 18 "Three days huh." My mind races to find a solution for the suffering of these poor souls. As well as a way for myself, to stay alive. "What if I blow the lid off of the afterlife?" hmm. I like where this is going. "you say I've got three days to live." "I'm about to take all of your food, and I'm going take it right off your plate too." 19 Ch.8 "Death follows" I start walking up the street, away from Death. And as soon as I am in the clear I envision the light. "Come on all of you who want to go home." "You want to go home?" "Come on into the light." My natural reaction to someone in pain is empathy, as most, compassion. I have a driving force behind all this. A force that goes beyond Death, and this nights events. It goes beyond having only three days to live. To live is to suffer. Sometimes, the suffering is the only familiar thing to us, so we keep close to our suffering. It is not selfish, it is not in vain. Suffering isn't discriminatory. We all know suffering. The suffering that I have endured, came to an almost abrupt stop. About ten months ago. Right around the time, when I first began communicating, with the dead. Ever since, ever since the light found me. I was lost in the dark for so long, and now I have the ability to attempt the relieving of others and their hurt. This is the light in me, working. Work, work, work. "Come on into the light! Who wants to go home? You're all welcomed into the light." "Here he comes." Death came back in and tried scaring me off again. This time I am prepared and I've got an idea that just may Help me relieve their pain and possibly bye me, myself, time if not life. 20 Ch.9 "Stepping up to the challenge" My driving force won't let me be afraid anymore. "Death, I'm gonna make a deal with you. I've heard that you're a good business man or being that you are, you let me live and I won't show the world that you exist." It laughs, "not going to happen." "You feed off of the suffering of others, their fear, their sorrow." "If the world knows about you and the afterlife, your cover is blown, a great few will stand against you." "And those few may be enough to possibly dethrone you." "Take you right out of your place." "Imagine a world in which death was not feared, as much as understood, and imagine we didn't mourn death anymore." "We instead celebrate life and all its wonderful experiences." "And it's eternity." "Just thought I'd let you know." "I've put out there in the world documentation of tonight's events and the funny fact that you gave me three days to live." "So when I die in three days, the world will question my passing as being said." Death replies "you wouldn't do that." "You'll look crazy and no one will believe you." "I've also sent videos to other mediums explaining your tactics for herding the souls of these people, how you feast on their pain." "Along with a plan entailing how to keep the portals open, there will be mediums all around the world at synchronizing times to open light portals and rid you of your food source for good." He is getting angry. The sap hasn't got a leg to stand on. Or so I think. 21 Ch.10 "Does it ever End" Back in my home after a long night. I'm smoking my last cigarette. Partially convinced I may have bought myself more time on this planet, at least in this physique. Death enters, bringing with him a slight apprehension that didn't settle well in my stomach. "What do you want dude?" "I get it you're only going with what you know.” “This is how you survive and I won't let you do that to my people." "We are each other's opposition." "And I loathe your workings." "Though, I'll drop it all, I'll drop all the documentation I've made tonight." "I will cancel out all of the events that have occurred tonight, they will be completely void of any recalling." "You've got to give me my time back for me to do so." Sitting on my couch a bit hunched over, slouching over herself as if drugged or intoxicated in some manner, was the spirit of a girl. I look at death as she gets up and walks back into my room. "You're not too worried about me crossing this one." I say with a suspicious tone. "It's not. No." "No." My heart literally feels as if it has just fallen out the bottom of my shoes. I rush back to the room to try and identify the spirit of the intoxicated girl. "It better not be!" "Death it better not be her!" "Oh lord!" I plead. "Wake up. Dawn! Please! Dawn you've got to wake up and get back to your body baby." "Dawn." Tonight has been detrimental in so many ways, for so many. "You!" I directed myself at death "Put her back in her body now." I state with all, of the grievance of such a loss. "Dawn, honey can you hear me?" "You've got to wake up baby, you, you need to get back in your body." With 22 a scream that displayed such torment. "Wake up!" I turn back to death. "Bring her back!" "Please, please bring her back." Now Death starts making his demands "You will stop crossing them over." He say’s "You will destroy all documentation of the events of tonight." "And you." completely interrupting, I declare! "Hold on you Son of a bitch!" "You came here!" "Into my house!” “Looking for me!” You thrive off of the death, fears, suffering and sorrows of my people as you corral their souls into eternal catacombs." "And now." "You're holding ransom, someone I care deeply for because you want me to hold back." "Yet I've only three days to live huh." "In about two hours that phone is supposed to ring, and on the other end of that phone call better be the right person." I state this directly at this thing. "If she doesn't call me when she should?" "I'm going to make the next two and a half days feel to you, a lot like an eternal drought in the driest, most deserted, soul free vacancy of a hunger pain you've ever had." I stand. "I will spend every moment recruiting, training and applauding the force that brings you down." "Three days." "Give up on your three days, because I will never stop taking the food off your plate, I'll speak of your ways with mediums around the world and not for one moment will I let up." Sweet Home Alabama plays, as my cellular devices ringtone. 23 Ch.11 "The phone rings" "Hello" I answer relieved, though still fuming. "Bodhi, I've been hearing you had a pretty rough night." I reply "Ros, I'm at a loss for words." Ros says to me "Why don't you take it from the beginning and maybe I can help." I tell her everything within the night's events. I tell her "This thing had me questioning if I will ever be a medium again." And "It had me wishing I could have saved her." "Bodhi, you have come a long way as a rescue medium in a very short period of time." She tells me "I've come across similar entities." And "The best way to deal with them is to show them unconditional love." She proceeds to tell me. "Never. Never should you ever hide your light." "We, in our light, are more powerful than they." "Your light is your essence." Ros' console helps. "You will have to wait the three days out, see what happens." "If the three days pass, and you don't, then you'll know for certain." "Thanks Ros" "I suppose we'll find out." 24 Ch. 12 “The January prior" It's the night before my birthday. I'm consumed with sadness. Perturbed by the process of, becoming. I'm sitting on the side of my bed with the dim light of the lamp attached to the headboard suitable for my soon to be relieved depression, unknowingly of course. My sorrow had all but peaked, when instantly a bright white light illuminates my bedroom. Curiosity of where the light came from, I follow it to its source. It's astonishing and most unbelievable, the source from whence the light came, was an incredible discovery. This light was radiating from my chest cavity. I'm speechless. I'm amazed. A brief moment into the illumination, it was as if the light began to communicate with me, through feeling. Peering out at the wall at the wonderful light projected from where my heart beats. I could feel that it cared, the light cared for all, and had a very deep love for everything. Everything wonderful, everything that is virtuous. As if, it was composed of true righteousness and pure unconditional love. I'm dumbfounded in the light's wondrous amazement. All of the love. "So much love within." The energy somehow communicates to me. "This is you." It translates. Seeing that for which I am, I have a clear understanding of the message that is being, relayed by the light emitted of my chest. "This is me!" Shocked and instantaneously relieved that I wasn't how people had treated me in life. Nor was I the negative self-talk that I force fed myself for so long. I was not my regrets and I wasn't the shame that I carried. "I am, love." These words barely escape my lips as my entirety is broken down, and I start crying. Crying, it felt to myself to be more of a weeping, only, with relief and joy. Love, so glorious this love is. "Thank you." The humble words make it out of my lips through the unmanageable emotion. "Thank y,you god." 25 Prelude "Andre" It's March 13 2020, a rather uneventful day. I'd been meditating a good portion of the afternoon and due to the peace the meditation brought to me I decided to conclude the night with one last meditation. Lying at rest in my bed I begin to focus on my breathing, feeling my chest rise with each inspiration and the slow release of the breath relieving all tension in my muscles. In a, trance like state. Mind is still, my body is relaxed. At peace, my being is that of comfort. I begin to hear a tapping. As if a woman was fine-drawn in trying to get my attention through the contact of her fingernails on my headboard. I'm not alone in my room. I feel a presence. This feeling I would later learn, is what is known in the medium world as a Clair. My knowing and understanding of this, is Clairsentience and a Claircognizance. I sense a feeling of innocence and a bit of timidity. I know there is an entity among me, and I am not afraid. I ask "What is your name?" unsure if I'll get a response and quite excited. Ignorantly and naive of me, I remark that "You're welcome to come inside of me so you know what I'm about and that I'm not going to harm you." Foolish, I am now lying in bed with full knowledge of the spirit, which took up its assumed new found residence within my physical vessel. Now I am questioning the impulsive decision. I start freaking out. "Is this a demon?" "What is this?" Numerous worries and questions flood my thoughts as to what will happen next. I demand. "Get out of me!" And "You're not welcome in my body! You need to leave!" The thought "I belong here" Comes into my mind. This was not my thought. "Get out now!" 26 Suddenly the outline of a human being, having an iridescent green aura, lifts up and outward from my body. It is now standing at my bedside! "You're a child!" I proclaim. It appears to be the bright green silhouette of a little boy. I am frightful though there is a feel of innocence, and timidity. It all seems to come natural to me. As if this is what I do. As if I know what I'm doing. "Andre." The high pitched whisper, very real and very audible comes through. Andre, the little boy's name was Andre and he says he is from Canada. He says his mother told him to come here and that he's being chased by a man. He wants to go home "Buddy you are not welcome in my body. If you promise to stay out of my body I will find a way to get you home." I tell him "I will find someone who can help with getting you home. There are people who know about this stuff." Confident in my belief, that the boy is benign and will not harm anyone. "We're going to figure this out." I say, reminded of when I was a child and the disbelief I had of my mothers’ ability to communicate with spirits. "Boy was I wrong." This was the event that would inevitably, and gratefully lead me to Ros Way. -Bodhi Ganesh *Unconditional Love*