"Night Shift", Second Posting Page 12 and 13

 Page 12 

The Crone's eyes were intense and the gemstones on her shawl moved with her in the candle light.
"I have agonized as to why so many of you cannot--why so many of you wind up purposely harming others and yourselves in the process of committing evil and why so many of you seem to exist solely for fostering and bringing it into the world, relishing its results of more pandemonium, chaos and conflict."
"This part of the Human Condition continues to sadden me."
"Is there not one person in your world who understands what I am saying?"
By now I had regained some of my composure even as I was weeping.
She pointed in the direction of the dark pine forest.
"Soon, you and I will be making our way toward those trees on the other side of the pond."
"You did see them as I watched the expression on your face."
"Yes," I answered as this was the same dark and foreboding forest I had noticed before.
"We will visit different times and experience the energies present during those times and the results they produced, both good and bad."
"You will learn that the thoughts and wishes of the many and their willingness to keep with the status quo or their decision to do away with the old and establish a new vision for themselves ultimately contributed to either their slow demise or pointed the way to a new future of peace and well being."
"I like to call this part of your lesson, 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly'."
"Thus my question to you if you believed in God?"
"Because God is the only One to call upon to protect you as well as myself as we both venture forth together, digging deeper into the unknown dark realms of the human psyche, trying to understand."
"From this venture you and hopefully others will learn a worthwhile and very valuable lesson."
We both raised ourselves up from our chairs.  I stood silent as she walked over to the cupboard, opened it and took out a lantern.  Lighting it she turned around and faced me.  to face me.
"It is time."
She walked ahead of me toward the front door and opened it.  I followed and closed it behind me.
I turned to look at my bedroom window and saw four eyes staring out.
It was Owl and cat.
What a sendoff!
We traversed quietly and slowly down the cobblestone path, making our way toward the dark pine forest.
After awhile I noticed a large opening in the trees that looked like it could swallow both of us up.
As we stepped into it, I noticed how the tree branches at the top had been carefully braided and intertwined together to form a thick and dense canopy over this yawning portal.
A few more steps and she told me to "watch my step and my head."
Through the portal we went.
We started to descend and I observed how the walls looked less like pine and more like rock.  We had to pay close attention to where we were walking.
We continued on down a narrow, winding and meandering path (like someone couldn't make up their mind which way to go).
I ducked quickly as I almost came in contact with a bunch of twisted tree roots covering the face of a large rock overhang.
My nostrils caught the scent of something but this time I couldn't make it out.   One thing I did know was it was unpleasant.  It smelled of something ancient and forgotten, dark and decaying, something purposely left behind, something entrapped in the past, something creepy, something not nice
The light from the lantern she was carrying swung gently back and forth as we walked.
At least that was comforting.
It was very dark inside the cave and I observed thin lines extending from top to bottom of the cave walls alternating in dark green and black stripes.
She held the lantern higher so there was just the right measure of light for both of us to see where we were going.
I amused myself and staved off my anxiety by watching this little old lady traverse the path with agility while I would stare down at the path every so often, hoping I wouldn't kick up a huge rock and then stumble over it.
The shadows from the lantern darted and danced off the slippery rock walls.    
Everything was quiet until I heard the words, "what makes you think you own this planet?"
I assumed that she had asked the question but she didn't turn but kept right on walking.
"There is a school of thought down here that man, in his infinite foolishness, has laid claim to this rock because he figures he personally owns it".
"Man believes he has all the answers."  
"Well," I said, "I don't think this to be true."  "I mean, we have many learned individuals occupying important positions in science and technology that are constantly studying and making new discoveries, trying to keep us informed."
"Informed of what", she asked?
I didn't reply but was thinking, "come to think of it though, we don't have many that are offering anything in the way of spiritual uplifting or enriching our lives with messages of faith and love."
"We have an entire movie industry that only know how to turn out movies that portray man in his present depraved state...raging war, wickedness, brutality and savagery".  
I answered her back, "haven't we really missed an opportunity here to lift man up, out of his wellspring of ignorance and despair, turn him around, point him in a new direction, motivating him toward acts of kindness and charity?"
I was amazed at my question, as I was mimicking what the old woman was thinking.

Page 13

The darkness seemed to be ebbing away and the walls of the great hall lighting up.
The old woman commented, "the Night Shift is over.  A new day is dawning full of hope and promise.
She grasped my arm, "The Past is Behind You, the Present is Here and Now the Future is What You Make of It so,  "Make the Most of It!"
I looked into those fiery eyes with warmth and affection.
"Happy memories and each one of you is capable of making them.  Isn't that what Life is all about, anyway?
I thought I had heard that one, before....
She turned and looked straight ahead, addressing an unseen audience,
"To all of You:

 "Make Your Life Count
      For SOME Thing! 

"Night Shift", Second Posting, Page 10

Page 10

This old woman had shown the way and provided the answer.
She had a most wonderful and calming effect on me.
There was now an unspoken bond, a connection between the two of us.
Strangely I thought, "have I met this old woman somewhere before?"
A deep silence now permeated the air.
I watched as she gently, yet firmly, laid her hands on the heavy book.
She was wearing a long pale green dress and a striking pendant.  A heron pin fastened her gray hair.
Again, I could smell an astringent, a medicinal scent of cleansing as a lovely smell of Eucalyptus wafted through the kitchen.
She lowered her head and uttered some words I couldn't make out then raised her head, her glowing eyes like two red coals and a smile on her face.
"You have managed to figure out a little of who I am."
She waited for a response.
Actually I wasn't surprised by this but was anticipating it.
I was ready for her.
"Yes", she continued before I got a chance to respond, "I do have Pagan and Wiccan roots but I also have in my genetic makeup a myriad of other genes."
"I have lived in many different places, in many countries and in many different cultures."
"I have experienced much if not all of what life on this planet has to offer."
I have held many positions both lofty and low."
"I have been on both sides of the coin so to speak and am fully and consciously aware of what it is to have supreme power over people or to be one of the hapless many, locked away and forgotten, lying and dying on the floor of a dank, dirty and cold dungeon."
"In this incarnation I have chosen to help those on this planet who are struggling with evil as I've gained considerable knowledge in my experiences dealing with it."
"The role I have at present is to impart the Truth to all who will hear it and believe me, there are not many."  
"Thus I am able to shine a light on the Hidden Path and one that is closed off to so many."
She fingered the pendant she was wearing and a most wonderful expression came over her.
"This pendant is way before your time."
"It is made from a stone that fell from the heavens during the Exodus."
Its beauty radiated and shimmered in the candlelight.
I moved closer to behold a deep and dark work of art, oval in shape, mystifying in color and myriad of lines that looked like constellations, planets and galaxies.
"This, as she looked down lovingly, "is known as a Conjurer's Stone, capable of emotive expression such as guilt, anger, joy and sorrow."
"It helps in pinpointing, understanding and quantifying the underlying problems inherent in Human Nature."
"The other tool which you observed me using, when you first arrived is the Tarot which is a Divination Tool, that allows me to delve deep within the human psyche in order to heal and guide."
"The Night Shift is a term employed to describe when most of humanity's hidden and dark events take place."
"During the night (as opposed to during the day when you cannot hide) is the time when those evil doers plot their agendas, wishing to do harm to others."
"They calculate and debate, plan and copulate as they devise snares in order to catch those unaware."
"Ever since humans first walked the earth, this malignant cancer of evil has existed."
"Evil is a Thought Form manifested in Flesh."

"Night Shift" Second Posting Page 9

 Page 9

A flutter of wings as the sound of a great bird takes flight.
Owl's wings stretch out in grand manner as he silently swoops down from his high perch, making his way to another perch in the opposite corner.
My heart is thumping wildly as my eyes try in vain to follow him in the darkened room.  
"So this is where he nests at night," I said to myself.  
Then the creature at the foot of the bed raises up and makes its presence known.
A large black cat stretches its sinewy body across my feet, yawns and sits up.
It turns and faces me, luminescent green eyes glowing piercing the dense darkness.
"How fitting for a Crone." I think.
"I was wondering how long it would be before a black cat made its presence."    
------
The black cat didn't stir and Owl had settled down on his perch.
There was a gentle knock on the door.
"One moment," I said as I untangled myself from the comforter and watched the cat watching me as I slipped my legs over the side of the bed.
I lit the candle and turned, slowly making my way to the door.
I pulled it open and saw the face of the little old lady standing before me,
"It's time, my Dear,"
"Get dressed."    
I turned and walked back to the nightstand and put the candle down.
I was curious as to what time it was but there was no clock.
"In fact, now that I think about it, there are no clocks anywhere around."
I moved toward the window ans I was curious and parted the drapes to see outside.
It was coal black.
"I guess we didn't wait until morning."
I dressed and tidied up in the bathroom.  
Taking the candle I walked backed to the door.
"We're ready," she said, "follow me."
Down the long hall we both walked, our two candles spitting and glowing.  
I am always amused to watch the candle's flame darting here and there, hiding in a corner or quickly shooting across a wall.
From the darkness of the long hall we entered the kitchen.
Seated at the kitchen table we positioned both candles.
I noticed on the table was a large and heavy leather book with a lock on it.
The old lady was in no hurry as we both sat down.
"Well, are you ready for the final lesson tour, my dear?"
"Yes," I replied with the utmost confidence but, I hesitated, "this isn't morning or is it?"
"No, it's not morning."  "It's twelve midnight."
She settled back in her chair and swept the black shawl closer around her shoulders.
I felt at ease sitting across from her.
Her demeanor, her glowing, piercing eyes I had come to know were beacons of light, illumination on a dark path, chasing all the shadows away.

I had come to love this old woman and what I was just now learning she stood for.

Enlightenment and Illumination.
Very few are capable of shedding light on The Hidden Path and where humanity had gone wrong, where it was headed and what it could do to rectify its sorry condition.

"Night Shift" ~ Second Posting

 Page 8

She turned and looked endearingly at me, straining to see if I was still keeping up with her, one gray strand of gray hair falling haphazardly across her forehead and then she gently tucked it back in.
All the while, those bright little gemstones on her black shawl mesmerizing and twinkling like a thousand little stars.
I felt so close to this old woman.
I wanted to reach over and touch her face.  Tears welled up, "I, I....
"I know," she answered, her soft expression smiling back at me.  "You will come to know why you are here and soon."  She reached across the table and cupped my arm.  "When you know what's wrong and you know how to fix it my Dear, it can be damned overwhelming because the solution is so simple."
"It's going to be alright."
She moved her chair closer and intently looked into my eyes.
"I must share this with you."
"You are the last student I will have."
"My time on earth is drawing to a close."
"We Councilors have only been allotted a finite time on earth in which to instruct and illuminate others."
"We are drawing closer to the mystery of the Night Shift, you and I."
"But now it is time for a well deserved break from your studies."
"You need your rest, as well as I."
"You know where the bedroom is so take the the candle with you and I will light another."
"I'm going to tidy up here in the kitchen and converse with Owl as he and I have long conversations together, a question and answer period if you will, her eyes twinkling, before he leaves and he also helps me with my notes".
"We both have limited time together so we know we have to make the most of it".
"I will come and wake you up in the morning and we'll continue your lesson."
"When you awake you will learn the rest of the story."
"Tonight, my dear, you and I will know and experience the Night Shift".
"Here, Dear", as she looked up at me, placing the candle in my hand, "make your way to the bedroom."
"All is well, all is well."
------
Convergence:
n:  The process of coming together toward a common point.
------
I am so comfortable, so cozy, so unbelievably happy here, warmly nestled within the folds of the down comforter embroidered with the lovely roses, birds and trailing vines.
I love this place.
I stir,
I'm awake, my eyes wander across the room.
I feel that somehow something is different in my room now.
It is nothing fearful just a change of some sort and I am reminded of the old woman's last words to me, "All is well, All is well".
I've nothing to fear as I'm being sheltered, protected and lovingly cared for here.
As my eyes slowly start to focus and I raise my head up from the soft pillows, I am wondering what it is I am feeling.
There is no light in the room as I hear a muffled sound to my right, in the corner and high above my head.
"What on earth is that"? I wonder.
And then I hear and feel the stirring of something moving at the foot of the bed.
"Should I be alarmed?"