Une Fleur De Lotus A Éclos

(TW: talks about the current state of the world, wars, religious vs spiritual belief, etc).

Have you heard of the word ‘soulmate’?

It was first documented in the year 1822 by the Oxford English Dictionary, albeit its history as an essence dates back to the origin of consciousness itself. From the birth of star systems to the birth of life on earth, soulmates have existed as different forms of awareness experiencing varied life forms and stories. With each succeeding life they have different contracts to fulfill, often intersecting at points in time. Sometimes they spend an entire life together, others they may have their individual journeys without reincarnating in the same timeline, while at others it may just be brushing past each other for a fleeting moment. They can be lovers in one, siblings in another; master-disciple in one and enemies in another. With every shared life their purpose is to help each other grow and add to the greater cause of existence.

It is said that every time two soulmates meet, a special kind of lotus blooms. And with each fulfilled soul-contract, the petals wilt…only to bloom again in their next meet.

Such is the story of two souls I’m going to tell you now.

***

Frequency 1. Yellow. Currently: Noé Bernard. French, fifty-four.

‘Why is it so dark?’ He finds himself in an enclosure, shifting slightly every second. There are murmurs and whispered cries that seem to be coming from outside. ‘Rosalia? Is that you?’ He calls out his wife’s name. ‘Maa, is that you?’ ‘Where am I?’ After a few moments the jerking comes to a halt, the cries get louder. It dawns on him finally.

‘I’m dead.’

Noé recalls the last few hours at his own funeral, standing near the pyre. He never wanted to be buried but burnt, with his ashes being let into the Pacific. He decided to travel with the ashes of the body he recently owned as one last chance to spend some time with his family.

The water is cool, but somehow he feels warm, as though he’s finally home. At a distance, he can see his recent family shedding tears by the shore while he’s floating away.

He wonders about what’s coming next for him, not knowing how to deal with this new unfamiliar world.

“Don’t you remember me?”

‘A voice? Feeling? What was it?’

“What? Where is this from? Is there anyone here?” He looks around to see if any person is drowning. ‘But there’s no use anyway, I don’t even own a body, and she can’t hear me. I can’t save her.’

“You haven’t changed. You don’t need to save me.”

“You can hear me? Who— What are you?”

“I’m just like you, a drop in the ocean. We finally meet!”

Frequency 2. Rain. Currently: Dechen Lhamo. Indian, eighty-six.

“I do not understand. Are you dead?”

“Sort of. Only now do we really begin to live. We get to decide.”

“Excuse me Madame, I do not quite get you. I’m dead. I— I just died like three days ago. I’m still trying to process everything, and I don’t think I’m in the mood for repartee now. I just lost everything, I didn’t even achieve my goals halfway. They— they needed me— the kids, the mothers there, every single soul there needed me and I just— they killed me! I’m helpless now.” He sighs, sending ripples through the water. “You wouldn’t understand…”

“I am the last soul you’d take as someone who wouldn’t get you, Yellow. You need to remember, we have much work left.”

“What wor— wait, who’s Yellow?”

“You. You’re Yellow, my love. You’ve always been. You’ve always existed, and you’ve always been by me.” Rain uses a harmonic symphony to send signals to Yellow.

A sudden gush takes Noé by his entire being, all his past lives flash before him like a movie. He deciphers that the home feeling he felt right when his ashes met the Pacific was due to Dechen’s presence– her ashes are here too.

“I can feel you…you’re right beside me— you’re in me— within me. You and I are the same, we’ve become water now, the stars in us have found each other…we’re floating in the reservoir of consciousness itself!”

“There you go, Yellow!”

“Tell me, please tell me what life did you live this time? Could you fulfill what you wanted to? I remember you told me about wanting to lead people towards the light someday, did you make it?”

“I guess I can say that I did my best. I was quite a revered leader, you know.”

“Ohhhh!!!” Yellow shrieks, forming bubbles in his area. “Like what— Like some spiritual stuff?”

“Wow, you’re finally talking like Yellow now. You remember.”

“I do, I do! Please tell me.”

Rain reminisces about their time spent with Yellow in all their lives. ‘Yellow’s always so excited.’ Their core bubbles. “Hmm, so where should I even start? This one was a bit of a ride indeed. Started with extreme poverty, worked my way to immense wealth…only to realise nothing & everything matters at the same time. Life is as meaningless as it is meaningful and at the end of the day we all will return naked. Shared my thoughts with many, spoke at every place that listened. When there were no people, I talked to the trees, danced with the birds, and eventually found my tribe. I took my last breath in France while on my third visit here to spread the message— the atoms in our DNA have been through several supernovas. Science has caught up too, we’re all made of stardust and are a unified whole. And although a lot of people seem to be regaining their truest self– our truest self– Earth still needs a lot of healing. It is currently vibrating very low, I’m worried Starseeds like us may give up on this one tiny blue altogether…”

Rain goes silent for a moment.

“Yellow…what say? Would you like another journey here? If I say I want to come here just one more time before visiting some other place, will you follow me?”

“But Rain, what’s the point of working so much and trying to help a planet that doesn’t even want to help itself? I was killed this time, can you imagine?! I was a doctor in this one and left everything behind to dedicate myself completely to saving humanity. Like my body barely slept, I volunteered to work tirelessly in Gaza after treating countless others over the world. I went there with my team and aided ailing mothers and children of war– infants, young, and old. You should’ve seen that, my team helped save so many souls! I’m so proud of them.”

“I’m so proud of you and them too, Yellow. It reminds me of that one time in China!”

“Oh, is it the Battle of Changping? I remember too– how you told me to be kinder to war refugees. At that time I was your daughter and couldn’t quite understand your perspective. I was a brat, no? I can’t even imagine I went from a bratty daughter of a rich merchant to someone who served half his lifetime now treating patients in war zone areas!”

“Exactly, Yellow. It’s because we’re evolving. Those souls now, the newer ones…they are in their process of evolution too. We’ve come so far, so shouldn’t we help them join us soon?”

Ripples. “But Rain…there’s so much cruelty…I still don’t understand why would anyone want to start wars or fight amongst themselves when they’ve been blessed with such an amazing planet?! They are mercilessly taking everything away! There’s…there’s men killing men, men dying for men, young souls are starving, some come here just to return right on the day of birth. I don’t like these new humans on Earth, Rain. I’m talking about the ones who’ve only ever been Earthlings. They fight for money, power, greed, and give up on things worth fighting for, like love. Can you imagine that they are even killing in the name of love now? LOVE?! Love that is our truest form?”

“Well, this ain’t a new one. Remember our time in Oxford? We barely survived.”

“Of course I remember. How could I not? Imagine being philosophers and GAY in the 1800’s!!! But it’s different this time, Rain. It’s worsened…it’s like– it’s like nobody is tolerant of differences anymore. They hate each other, they kill in the name of religion, politics, gender, and of course…this ever ancient construct called God! Humans still believe that they are the descendants of this one true supreme deity and everybody else is wrong but ironically they don’t even believe their own words because they still keep searching for God everywhere. If only they looked within once…they have deviated so far from the light that they are ruining the planet now. They have forgotten all their ways, women have forgotten their own power: the sacred portal that they carry- their womb. The womb is the closest anyone ever can be to this concept of God…but men…they are still not able to bear this truth and are still oppressing their mothers, wives, and daughters. Humans have forgotten that disrespecting the Woman is a direct disrespect to nature, and nature is the truest essence of their God. They just need to look in and around, the patterns are everywhere! The eyes represent galaxies, the veins synonymous to lightning, the cells in our bodies being entire universes themselves and the womb a reflection of the greater cosmic web! My core felt shattered so many times when I saw just how barbaric humans have become…it’s so difficult, Rain…existing is so difficult.”

“Oh, love…I understand you. I know exactly how you feel. I’m quite amused at how in sync we both are when it comes to our core…because these are the exact truths I’ve tried to communicate to my people in this life. There were countless others where I tried doing the same, but you weren’t there again and I was a woman…just like this last one. One time they burned me at the stake, others I was silenced or called an imbecile. But you see, I’ve come so far, this time they listened…this time my voice indeed reached millions. We’re all borrowers and this time I borrowed my time well. And look at you! Oh, just look at you! You’ve come so far, love.”

“Thank you. I don’t even know how I managed to live some of these ones without you!”

“Are you sure? I remember that one time you slapped me hard across the face when I spilled Gukbap. How could you do that? I was just eight years old!” Bubbles form around her.

“Oooohhhh yessss!!! Hahahahahaha!!! I meaaannn…as an elder sister, I had to set my brother straight, didn’t I? Don’t you recall our mother panicking because we could barely afford a meal a day?! Goryeo times were crazy! But they were still better than when I had to watch you marry consort after consort for political reasons…I hated you as the Sultan!”

“Ah, yes, those were some tough times. We were somewhere between inexperienced and experienced souls on Earth. But now that we’re a bit old, we come with missions for the greater good. I wonder how all the others are doing. There were some who vowed to never come here again…but I—”

“Exactly! Exactly that! I understand them now, Rain. I don’t think this place can be saved anymore, it’s beyond redemption! It’s only a matter of time—”

“So you’re saying all the lives you saved with your team went in vain? You’re saying all those baby souls barely navigating this realm don’t deserve any guidance? Imagine you and I, we’d have maybe never lived these many lives together if one of us gave up. But we didn’t, did we? So why now?”

“You misunderstand me, Rain. Don’t twist my words, you very well know what I mean. Times are different now. You’ve lived much longer than me this time, I’ve maybe lived two-third of your time and yet I carry deep sorrow from this one…it’s painful. The imprints will last for quite a while.”

“Oh, love…I’m sorry. Forgive me. I— I know, love, I know. Humans…they…we can be cruel. Why is there a need for wars and…and so much hatred? How can we destroy what we created ourselves? When will we realise that we are the universe experiencing itself? I know nobody is truly satisfied with themselves anymore, there is comparison and there is sadness in seeing someone happy. I know it was never like this…this is not what we were taught in Spirit school before coming here. I’ve seen it all, I know better than anyone what all goes through in an evil person’s mind…the moment they see anyone challenging their long established authority, they decide to kill. Like I’ve said already, I’ve been at the stake once too. And that is exactly why we cannot give up now. You see, there is evil, yes, but so there are souls like Dechen Lhamo, spiritual healers and souls like Noé Bernard, who left his own country to go save many others! It is because hate exists in some form, because some souls commit such sins like taking countless lives, that the other half can empathise and feel love even deeper, feel compassion twice the…no, ten times more. It is all for the greater purpose, to experience and evolve and keep getting closer to the divine…the divine which is us, each & every one of us! Can’t you do it for another Noé Bernard? For another Dechen? Rain will always help Yellow heal…”

Upon not getting any answers from Yellow, rain continues.

“You know, there was a painting I saw inside a Museum two days before I died. It was made by a Chinese student, and I wondered what it would be like to be born as a student in China…oblivious to some of my lives lived there! Remember when I was your student during the Qing dynasty? You went above & beyond to provide free education to me in secret. I was born to an entertainer and it was so hard, but because of you I could change my identity and join the imperial court and leave a mark. It always fills me with gratitude to have shared so many precious moments with you…”

Yellow still stays silent, contemplating their stance.

“You know, Yellow, I feel tired now. I’ll rest for a while…let some years pass on Earth till I feel recharged again. It’s tiring, yes. But I cannot just sit and watch a planet die when it’s given me some of the best experiences and memories! You may choose to leave altogether, let’s meet after I’m done here. My higher self will always be present with yours and we’ll heal together.”

Few moments of silence. A huge wave.

“Why would I ever not go with you, Rain? I’ve followed you ever since my light first found yours! Do you not remember how I tried getting closer to you during our time in Lyra?”

“Of course, how could I ever forget? I was just existing, and one day a small ray of light found me and never left!”

“So how do you expect me to leave now? I may be hesitant about everything else but never about you! Alright, I’ll give this one a try too. Let’s go then. I actually missed you so much in these past few ones that I’ll just follow you anywhere at this point.”

“Oh, don’t lie. You loved your family, and Rosalia.”

“I did, I do, I wish to meet their souls again in another reincarnation. But you, my love, you’re my primary! My ride or die in every possible way!”

A huge wave surges as the wind blows across the surface of the ocean. Two budding consciousnesses are about to merge and travel again.

***

“Rain?”

“Hmm?”

“How far back does your memory go? How much can you recall right now in this exact presence of “now”?”

“Um, I don’t know, it’s a bit of a strain…but I guess my consciousness from when the Orion belt was formed? What about you?”

Yellow bubbles.

“What?”

“What about me?! Well I remember when we were fungi on Miraes in Andromeda!”

Rain’s laugh sends waves through the deeper layers of the Pacific. “Oh shut up! We’ll all collide anyway, let’s just live!”

“Sure. After you, my love!”

***

“Um, Rain?”

“Yes?”

“So…we’re really doing this? Again?”

“Yes, silly! We just agreed!”

“Um, how about we just go back to being a cow and a bird and chilling on the grass? Weren’t those some amazing times?”

“Shut up and follow me.”

***

Year 2056. Present-day China.

Two freshmen bump as they run past each other for their inauguration ceremonies, until the sight of a lotus blooming in their campus pond draws their attention, and their feet towards it.

They stand next to each other, looking at the beautiful flower.

“Do I know you?”

“Have we met before?”

[English is my third language. Please forgive any errors.]