It feels.
.
.
Like that kind of knife.
Doesn't it?
Were the lights.
Are being turned down low.
And all of the noise and energy of the day is just.
.
.
As if the volume is being reduced.
And all we have to do.
Is just.
Relax.
Letting it soften around each thought.
That comes in.
Letting it simply be.
Because all it needs to be.
Is just a whisper.
Something that does not get saved to memory.
Problems to be solved.
Tasks to be done.
Anything that has been left from the day can be saved.
For tomorrow.
Because here and now.
Is where you are.
Is old.
You need to be.
So take a deep breath.
And relax as you listen to my voice.
And allow yourself to sink down into the depth.
Feeling.
The Gentleman.
Rocking.
Of my voice.
The gentle sway.
Of the book.
Perfectly rocking.
And slow.
Slow.
Rocking you gently.
That's it.
To say.
Your love.
You are careful.
You are safe.
And in your mind.
You might notice.
That your eyes can see.
A beautiful world.
Starlit Sky.
No moon above you.
But you can see the dark shapes.
Slow.
Moving across.
The Starscape.
As stars blink in.
On.
Heidi.
Behind the soft.
And as you watch.
The clouds begin to form.
The filling of you.
Until they no longer look like cloud.
But more like a hot air balloon.
Of silhouette.
Slowly floating towards you.
Getting Bigger.
Until it gently floats directly above you.
You see.
.
.
Ropes.
One Rope.
For each corner of the boat.
Both the bough and the stern.
And as you watch.
The ropes magically tie themselves secure to the boat.
And the hot air balloon begins to live.
Pulling the boat from the waves while you lay in the center You don't know who.
Drives.
This hot air balloon.
You don't know its destination.
But you do know.
But you are up.
For the adventure.
Upon looking down.
Over the edge of the boat to where you were.
You see the reflection.
Of a glow.
Like the Aurora Borealis.
Neon pinks.
And greens and blues.
Gently dancing.
Cross the open way.
That feels so close.
As if you could reach out and touch it.
With a gentle pat.
Swish of your hand.
You could create a cascade.
But the hot air balloon.
Turns north.
Flying towards the North Star.
A bright star.
Off in the distance.
And you hear.
A light tingling.
Hanging.
From the hot air balloon.
Softly serenading.
And whomever may be.
And it's here.
In this moment.
You realize.
Had you were not in an ocean as you surmised.
Originally.
You are in Avast.
And the destination.
Towards which You fly.
Castle.
Resting.
On the edge.
Of a peninsula.
The hot air balloon flies over the castle.
And lowers down.
Placing the boat.
Upon a parapet.
High above the water.
And on sitting up.
At the same time.
The ropes unto themselves.
And the hot air balloon floats away.
And it's difficult to make out in this darkness,
But you can see.
A furry sheep.
Waving down at you.
As the hot air balloon.
Floats away.
Don't mind then.
A voice sets behind you.
He gets very enthusiastic about a new visitor.
Upon turning you see.
Are short.
Brown fur.
Like creature.
With pointy ears and fangs.
But it walks upright.
And holds its tail curled around its left.
We mean you no harm.
He says.
I am.
And you're here.
Because you.
In response to this,
You tilt your head.
Quizzically.
Wondering what the dream may be.
Tauren.
Nazi said.
And gestures to the trapdoor.
The dance is about to begin.
And so he bends down and pulls open the oak trapdoor.
Revealing below a ladder.
Descending.
Into the torch.
Depths.
He turns,
And with a flourish,
Gracefully bounds down the ladder.
Until he pauses and looks up back at you.
Expecting you to follow.
And so.
.
.
You get up.
And head to the trapdoor.
Placing your hands securely safely.
Descending now.
Win.
How?
Gently.
As it passes over the small,
Slit-like windows.
That dot the inside.
Of the parapet.
Before long you reach a platform.
Where Torrin waits.
He raises his paws and says.
Welcome.
We have not seen one like you in a hundred years.
We will drink to your honor.
Come and meet the family.
And so down around.
The Spiral Staircase.
He takes you.
You place your hands on the railing to secure yourself.
And Torrin pulls a torch off the wall.
To guide you down the rest of the way.
My Great Grandfather.
Built this castle.
Torrens says.
We have lived here for many,
Many generations.
And we seek dream travelers.
We haven't seen one in a very long time.
It almost seems as if.
.
.
The world has forgotten.
How to dream.
But you I see.
Know of what I speak.
And so we.
.
.
Are going to celebrate you.
For you have saved us.
Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase.
There's a large,
Ornate door.
With light streaming in from behind.
Torrin grasps your hand.
Gently.
And sins.
Are you ready?
Come with me.
Upon throwing open the door.
You see?
An ornate and beautiful courtroom.
Great banners in oranges and reds and yellows hang from the ceiling.
From the buttresses.
There are candles everywhere that reflect light off the stained glass window.
And in the center of the courtyard.
Is a great deal.
Velvet.
Song.
With a dozen.
Cat creatures.
Lounging.
And resting there.
Torrin.
Look who I found,
He said.
And with that,
I'll see you next time.
I.
Turn towards you And for a moment,
They remind you of the stars.
Yellow.
Reflecting the light back at you.
A cat in the middle of the group.
Get some.
And slow.
Makes its way towards you.
It is grey.
With white.
Mixed it.
It walks.
With a wisdom.
Of the ages.
The Old One reaches you and turns to Torrin.
Giving him.
Torrin looks to you and says,
Is my father.
This is Pesha.
It's very nice to meet you,
" Pisha said.
And peace shot.
Grasps your hand.
And sad.
Your dreams.
Enable us to live here.
Enable us to stay.
We believe.
In the magic of your dreams.
And if you let that magic fade,
We will be nothing.
But a faint memory.
So.
.
.
While you are here.
Would you like to dance?
And celebrate with us.
Your presence is all that matters right now.
Music.
He calls as he turns.
Without waiting for an answer from you.
He claps his paws.
And the entire family jumps up.
Pulling out a ray.
Of instruments you've never seen before.
String.
And flutes.
And so begins a mysterious.
.
.
Lil T.
Beautiful.
Solve.
Adrift.
Waves.
Like the boat.
You can feel your body begin to move slowly in time with the rhythm.
Everyone.
In the room.
Sways as if in a trance.
Dancing in a circle.
All eyes lock with each other.
And arms.
Cat's meat.
They say.
I love you.
Torrin stays right by your side.
Making sure that you.
.
.
Are comfortable.
He whispers into your ear.
Will be delicious.
It's fish.
Of course it did.
Pisha responds,
Not far away.
Only the finest.
For hours.
Beautiful guest.
And so the dance continues.
Weaving amongst each other.
Echoing off the stone walls.
Candles dancing with you in the rhythm Until after.
.
.
One song.
After two.
After three.
The Last Note.
Hangs in the air.
From one cat.
Until they release the note.
And it echoes for a long time with magical silence.
And as if sparking.
A riotous.
Cheering.
Comes from all of the cats,
Including yourself.
And celebration.
Of the art.
The beauty.
The passion of the moment.
The doors behind you.
Slam open.
Revealing.
Another camp.
That calls and says.
Dinner.
Is ready.
And with that.
.
.
Plates of food.
Come wheeled out on carts.
To flank a long table.
That stands around the perimeter of the court.
You find yourself seated.
And a grand chair in the center.
Food being passed to you.
All of your most favorite dishes.
One after the other.
Including fish.
And Torrin says.
.
.
With bright eyes.
What is your kind?
These days.
We've had no news.
And you reply.
They are struggling.
But they're trying.
And they will be back.
The cats gnawed gravely.
And bow in your direction.
You eat your fill.
And get up.
As Peshaw.
Moves towards you.
And places.
A necklace.
Around your neck.
Peace out,
Whispers.
One of us.
And upon glancing down,
You notice your hands have turned to palms.
You feel claws and fur and softness.
You feel like the weight of the world.
Has been lifted.
And that you have joined.
The dream.
So be.
With the dream.
My love.
Peace out.
I know your time here is fleeting.
We have prepared a way back for you.
So just know.
That hour given.
Is your presence here.
And we will always.
Cherish.
This moment.
He takes you by the hand,
With Torrin following closely behind.
And walks you out of the court.
Waving to the family.
As they cheer your exit.
You arrive out into the courtyard outside.
And see a hot air balloon.
With a little furry figure.
Waiting inside.
Peshawar says.
Next.
Take our visitor home.
So net.
Pulse open the basket.
And invites you in with a wave of his palms.
Peshaw gives you one last hug.
As well as torrid.
And you turn and get in the hot air balloon.
Bed turns to you and says.
Hold on tight.
I love this part.
He jumps up and grabs the rope.
And pulls it with all of his might.
The fire.
Of the hot air balloon.
Leaps up.
And lifts the balloon.
With gentle majesty.
Ted Grom.
And sense.
You.
Are a magical find.
I'm glad I caught you out in that ocean.
I have just the place that I'd like to drop you off.
The ride might be a little bit bumpy.
It isn't long before the castle.
Fades behind you.
The lights twinkling.
In the distance.
Peshaw and Torrin become specks waving at you.
As you wave back.
The mood of the air quiets,
And soon all you can hear is the creak of the rope and the basket as it sways gently.
And form.
That looks at you.
It asks.
If there was one part of the dream that you wish you could have all the time.
What would it be?
Without answering.
Hinda.
And he said.
.
.
Oh,
I know.
It's magic.
Well,
He said.
We have reached your stop.
This is where we let you go.
Below you,
You look and see Avadas.
Ocean.
Warm and inviting.
By the ocean.
Tense.
Is the world of sleep.
It is vast.
It is calm.
Of this world.
And all you have to do.
Let go.
And so he stands and salutes.
As you turn to open the door.
Using a rope to leverage yourself out.
You hang from it.
And turn to men.
He said.
I'll see you soon.
I'll be right here.
If you ever choose.
To come back and visit us again.
End with that.
You let go of the rope.
And feel your eyes grow heavy.
Your fall slows,
Infinitely still.
As you witness the hot air balloons fade away.
The stars fade.
And all you are left with is a comfort in your heart.
Stillness.
Where you can float.
And continue.
To explore the new.
Thank you,
My love.
Sleep well.
