The New Jerusalem or "Beam me up Scotty"

The New Jerusalem or "Beam me up Scotty" (The Post Non-Apocalypse) January 2013 The predicted end of the world didn't worry me too much. I was expecting one of two scenarios. Either The New Jerusalem right here on good old Terra Firma - Revelations 21: "At the end of the world the earth together with the celestial bodies will be gloriously transformed into a part of the dwelling place of the blessed." Or an instantaneous "Beam me up Scotty" to a heavenly realm. Either way you might look like your high school graduation picture. I could handle that. For the tired old world, how wonderful to transcend war, hunger, sickness and * old age *. There are a lot of things I'd miss in my humble world, I thought. But maybe the Biblical end of the world as we know it would mean transformation of our immediate surroundings into a place where perfect people inhabited uncluttered spaces that never had to be dusted (I hate vacuuming). I remembered what Geshe Sopa told my Buddhism class about the seven levels of Deva Heaven. When you die your soul is struck like a bell, he said, and the tone produced determines your goodness level, as the soul registers all Earthly deeds. Kind of like St Peter at the Pearly Gates. Then you are beamed up to the appropriate Deva Realm where you work. Yes, he said, there is work in heaven. If your tone is of a low vibration you go to the Hungry Ghost realm, kind of like Purgatory, where there is probably even more work to do and maybe takes longer (don't ask about the Hell Realm). After working out your Karma you will eventually be reincarnated into another human body where you will be motivated through suffering to figure things out (enlightenment) - or rinse and repeat. If you were really bad you might come back as an animal. Being a cat would be OK - but a warthog? Without Gaya where would you end up? Revelations does mention celestial bodies, so The New Jerusalem might still be a possibility, even if it was the end of the world. I didn't make any preparations for the end of the world as we know it, tho there are a few things I kind of wanted to hang onto. Alas, as everyone knows - You can't take it with you.

And What A Character

>I was cruising craigslist at the truck stop when I saw the ad - “Miss Danu’s World Class Massage. My low back and legs were already killing me on my drive from Chicago to Minneapolis. This should be just the ticket! Over the phone she sounded like a sensible kind of bodyworker Full body, professional, payment in cash. I gave her my estimated time of arrival, noon Yes! Ready and set to break up the long drive with some hands-on relief and relaxation! She came to the door, a woman of a certain age, hair longish and loose, dressed in black. The place looked respectable enough. There were Halloween decorations dotting the porch and living room.The hookahs on the shelves gave me cause for pause. She followed my gaz. “Oh those… a collection from my time in the Middle East. Strictly for smoking tobacco steeped in fruit syrup. Ever tried one?” “Not recently.” She got me situated in the studio - candles, a fresh glass of ice and pitcher of water. Something was playing in the background, was it “The Phantom of the Opera? I hoped she would put something more relaxing on in short order - maybe elevator music? Knock, knock. In she came wearing a witch hat. “What’s this?” I asked. “Well, in keeping with the season I thought you might enjoy - massage by a witch.” “Sure, whatever." I wouldn’t have to see anything anyway, face down in the headrest. Why not let her have a little fun, just humor her. I was enjoying her skillful style and the tension was melting right out of my areas of concern. “Nice hands.” I complimented her. Too soon - “Time to turn over?” “Fine. She switched the CD to something foreign and rhythmic, a little too upbeat for my mood. The next thing I knew she was doing something that looked like a belly dance. Happily that only lasted for a minute or two. Is she a witch or a belly dancer? At this point she put on some lush piano music That’s more like it. Finally. I surrendered my feet to the start of side two. Love those pressure points; The massage moved right along as she struck all the right notes; Why not a little entertainment here? Got to give her credit for a little creativity. No harm done. My hour of respite was fast coming to an end.; It’s always over too soon. She was finishing with a scalp massage and a few light strokes on my face when an old, familiar song came on and she sang along THE END (but no happy ending).

Winter Waits

Winter Waits Deer tongue lettuce leaves rise after December frost again, lick the sky Hazy low hanging sun peeks from Northern skies Warms cold winter eyes Morning fog beads black wool jacket,warm April's breath in December Bare skin drinks in the sun's last kiss, sweet surrender - this Silver ferns of ice tick tack a frozen snail's track across frosted window panes ~

On WISHES

"A Fish on a Dish, Is That What You Wish?" (lyrics from The Incredible String Band) by Brandy Larson Aug 2012 Wish n. desire or longing for a specific thing inclination, petition, invoke (upon), entreat, expression (of desire) ME wisshen - OE wyscan "Be careful of what you wish for" Mom said, and "don't wish your life away." I think this is mainly said to children. "Your wish is my command" the genie said. "When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true" Jimminy Cricket said ("Pinocchio"). "If wishes were horses beggars would ride." Proverb "Dreams are wish fulfillment." Freud said. One can mistake wishes with reality - an example of wishful (magical?) thinking. And how about "wishy-washy?" What is a wish, really? For me it is a form of manifesting. Wishing has an element of intent. And intent has the power to make something happen. Children wish to grow up. Teenagers wish for romance. Young people might wish for glamor or fame. Middleagers wish for excitement, or maybe retirement? And elders might occasionally wish for youth! Full circle. Who has not wished on a star, wished for luck or wished for change? We've all wished for time to speed up - or to slow down. Or wished we'd done things differently? What have you wished for? I've mainly wished for romance, but not recently... Wishing has the flavor of hope and, if not angling directly toward happiness, at least hoping to perhaps gain help in some circumstance or other. Animals also must have wishes. I know my cat Aslan meows a certain way when night is coming and he wishes to be let out. Horses enclosed in a stall wish to run. Dogs in the house wish to get out. Foxes wish they could jump high enough to nibble at the tempting grapes. I guess there's no end to wishing. My wish for you? May all your wishes come true.

Last Tango With the Dark Side...

Later for 'Last Tango with the Dark Side or - 'End of Seances' by Brandy Larson October, 2012 It was a quiet Sunday morning. I'd just finished writing my 600 wordy Halloween story for Wisconsin Public Radio, a topical flash fiction event. Amir had just woken up and trudged up our stairs and into the dining room. Barely awake, he said - Is someone here? No - I replied. He said - I heard some heavy footsteps just now on the stairs. This was exactly what was in the true story I had just completed. He said he also heard some kind of moaning. This was not part of the story. At this moment I was considering whether to submit my story. It was a true encounter with the dark side - witnessed by 3 people who together all had the same exact experience. And it scared the hell out of us. Topical - sure, but why turn this loose on the airwaves? Amir drank a quick coffee and took off for the library. I surrounded myself in white light, saying the Unity Prayer of Protection - "The light of God surrounds me, the love of God enfolds me, the presence of God watches over me, where ever I am God is." I lit a cedar smudge stick and smudged myself front and back, then smudged the whole house - basement, inside all cupboards and closets - with purifying smoke. The next day I picked up the Aug 15 & 22nd, 2011 editions of the New Yorker magazine at Willy St Coop, free book shelf. A story called fiction "Gilgul" by Yosef Hayim Yershlam was featured. It tells how he was introduced to a fortune teller somewhere in Israel who had his number, so to speak. At the time he didn't know what to make of the experience, but many years later her prediction came true. He quotes the Bible in the middle of his story "Turn ye not unto the ghosts, nor unto familiar spirits, seek them not out, to be defiled by them." I Googled this, since his story made no attribution as to chapter and verse. I came found Leviticus, also called the Third Book of Moses, chapter 19 verse 31. I checked my King James Version Reference Bible, School and Library Edition, 1960 John A Hertel Co. "Regard not them that have familiar spirits, nor seek after wizards, to be defiled by them." The Torah and the King James versions apparently differ, but the message is the same. I just shredded the first story I wrote for this competition, but am wondering - should burn it?

Winter Waits - Haiku

Winter Waits by Brandy Larson December 2012 Deer tongue lettuce leaves rise after December frost again licking the sky Hazy low hanging sun peeking from the northern skies warms cold winter eyes Morning fog beading black wool jacket collecting clouds warm December's breath April in December bare skin drinks the sun's last kiss sweet surrender - this Silver ferns of ice tick tack a frozen snail track across frosted windows

Rollover Rover

Rollover Rover by Brandy Larson I was dozing and dreaming under a leafless tree with my best friend Flicka here at the OK Corral. We were glad the trail riding season was pretty much over. So many hot, long days and clueless riders. She drove in with a car full of mutts, as usual. I was saddled up for her pleasure. She’d brought a couple of apples for me, but this late in the year, kindness will only get you so far. As usual, her collie pup was jumping up like he thought he should be riding on top with her. So far as I know no one has invented a dogie side saddle. We moved out and I was walking a slowly as I could as the dog pack spread out into the underbrush. I made sure to pass under every low hanging branch I could see, but she just laughed and called me a bad boy. When we finally got out to the meadow she used the reins to whip me lightly on the neck, an annoyance more than anything, while giving me a kick or two in the sides, urging me to run. Like that was going to happen. Quick as lightning, I threw myself down on the ground. She moved faster than I thought she could, scrambling clear as I rolled over onto my side. She jumped up and looked me in the eye. I gave her an evil stare. This was effective and she walked leading me for some long, thoughtful minutes, successfully averting the galloping part of this ride. Too soon she remounted and we turned in the direction of the barn. She finally got her little run in, as I took off like the wind - quick as I could - like any good old, rental trail horse should. Back at the ranch she told Ned about the rollover and said after that she was afraid that I might bite her. I hadn’t thought of that but will keep it in mind. He gave me a stern look but, so long after that fact, what could he do? She coughed up some cash for Ned and herded her dogs back into the jalopy. I was led off to a stall for a little light grooming. Ahhh. Well she never returned, no, she never returned and her fate is still unlearned… But I have a suspicion that her riding days are over.