As a writer, I see life as a hero’s journey. How do you react when life is going along fine, then plot twist?
Who made the rule change is hard? What if you could do anything with ease and grace? And create greater courage, confidence, and creativity?
Never say never.
In 1989, doctors diagnosed me with cervical cancer. The night after receiving the stage four cancer diagnosis, I began to experiment with an inner process of healing. I called in God’s Light. I imagined touching the hem of Jesus’s cloak. A warm feeling stirred inside my heart. The night before cancer surgery, I sat in my bed eyes closed and imagined the doctors and myself in loving. Deep in meditation and prayer, I felt lifted out of my body into a ball of pure love and light. Next day after surgery, there was no cancer after the biopsies came back.
Within three months without hormones, my body began to change. I had no energy and felt depressed. I had to change jobs from sales to answering the telephone. My life priorities became to take care of myself first.
I began to align myself with a higher purpose, a Dream manual. I asked myself, if I had all the health and energy possible, what would I be doing with my life? With more light, prayers, and the intention of feeling better, I discovered a body healing program called hair analysis. Within three months of participating in the body balancing program, my health and life began to turn around.
The next plot twist happened in 2003. The real estate market across our country was hot. In Dallas, Texas, I sold thirty homes in one year. By 2006, the housing bubble burst, unemployment was 10%. I was homeless, jobless, and penniless. What was I to do?
I turned to my new self-published book, “A Dream is a Wish the Heart Makes, or if at first you don’t succeed, change the rules.” I began the 5-step process of change to receive what was for the highest good outlined in the book.
I received a gift, a place to stay until my life turned around. I wrote in my journal on December 23, 2006 “Noon staying with my friend Sandi and Tony De Veau, dog sitting Taska and Annie. So wonderful to have this haven of safety and love to rest,”
On December 27, 2006, in my journal, I began to draw a mind map, a diagram used to organize information, on the top of the page “Make a Difference”, stuff I want to have, do or be.
Never say never. Instead of creating from fear, I choose to walk in faith and dream. One key to the Dream book was to work through the resistance to belief. Hold the focus on my intention with ease and grace.
To get a higher perspective, I called in the Light of God and asked The Christ Light that was within me to assist me in my life direction. Stepping into living love was like having a flashlight in the soul’s darkness.
Next, I drew the inner circle and wrote confidence and courage visions of joy 2007 manifest now. I began to listen to my inspired thoughts, and wrote about an affordable home, job, abundance.
I took out my Dream book and began clearing the resistance to receive my goals. Each day for the next 30 days, I wrote and cleared my way to receive my intentions.
My first goal, February 1, 2007, I created a job in property management at a commercial building. By the end of March, I moved into an apartment near White Rock Lake. Since moving to Dallas in 1986, I had always wanted to live near the lake. The young woman who lived in my new apartment had to leave suddenly. I told her I had no furniture. She gave me her sofa and love seat. I could get her lease rate, well below the going rent.
When I had almost finished, I wondered, what if I had a big goal, something gigantic? My heart started beating fast. I got so excited. What if I could manifest being in Oprah’s Book Club audience?
When I had my cable and internet service turned on in my new apartment, I began to participate on the Oprah Book Club website. The book in the discussion was “Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett.
I love historical fiction. Ken’s book of building medieval cathedrals by ordinary people was exciting to read. The reading guidelines on Oprah’s website gave me a deeper perspective of how the story developed the characters and plot twists. I looked forward to each step of the story and sharing my point of view on the Oprah book club website.
Then, in early December 2007, I received a telephone call from the producer at Oprah. Would I be interested in being in the audience with Ken Follett and his book “Pillars of the Earth” at the end of January 2008? I discovered I would have to pay for the trip to Chicago. I said no, I could not afford it.
I called my younger brother, Allan, who lived in New Hampshire and told him about my invitation. He was so excited for me and told me to call the Oprah people back he would pay for the trip.
The next day, I contacted the producer who gave me the day, time, and instructions on where to find the studio.
What if I could get on national television, ask an important question, one that no one had discovered?
On Ken Follett’s website, I found two special projects that involved literacy. I knew literacy was also important to Oprah. I began to see myself in the Oprah audience, raising my hand and asking Ken Follett the important questions.
My brother Allan was as excited as I was when we arrived in wintry cold Chicago at the end of January 2008.
Oprah interviewed Mr. Follett all day. No one interviewed asked Mr. Follett about his programs for literacy in the UK. In the last two minutes of the show, Oprah asked if anyone had a question. Hands from everywhere flew up. I raised my hand, and Oprah called on me. Nervous, I asked Mr. Follett about his reading ability programs. Oprah was surprised to discover he had programs of learning.
During my hero’s journey I have discovered a new way to receive change with ease and grace. Now when life gives me a plot twist, I have a map, my Dream book to assist me through.
With acceptance of my life’s challenges, and asking for the inner guidance of God’s light, I received a doable map for change. I went from being homeless, jobless, and penniless, experiencing the biggest dream I could have ever imagined.
In June 2017, I revised my dream book into a workbook which can be used in workshops, “Do You Have a Dream Workbook 5 Keys to Realize Your Dream.” There is also an audiobook in my voice available on Amazon.
The change in my life from a life-threatening illness to wellness with a purpose was a testament to my years of walking the spiritual path. Who made the rule change is hard? What if you could do anything with ease and grace? And create greater courage, confidence, and creativity?
Never say never.
https://youtu.be/W6W4AEjQomo Oprah U-Tube Video
www.ModernMysticMedia.com
Do You Have a Dream Workbook 5 Keys To Realize Your Dream
Johann Goes to Heaven
Where do we go when we die? What happens to our body our soul?In this chapter I explain the transcendant place called heaven. The Garden of Remembrance is a beautiful place where Johann begins his journey back to the heart of God. Johann Albert’s best friend transcends into his soul’s next life as an angel. This turning point in the story brings a shock to all readers. Albert discovers where his friend lives and how he will become his guardian. Read Einstein’s Compass and discover what happens to Albert and Johann as they become even closer as friends and companions.
Read with your heart and discover how young Albert Einstein changed the world. #kindle $.99 #mothersday #readingcommunity #mystical
Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure
Garden of Remembrance
The glockenspiel chimed twelve times. The rhythm of time seemed to slow with each beat as Johann tumbled into the path of the streetcar. The last thing he heard was Werner’s loud, angry cry. Out of control, his bicycle swerved wildly, the basket of sandwiches flying into the air. Still trying to regain control of his bike, Johann plunged onto the tracks and under the unforgiving steel wheels of the oncoming train. His last thought was of his father, Frederick. Johann had glanced up and found him watching from the second-story window. Then his head hit the ground and that, mercifully, was the last thing in the world he saw as the cold iron undercarriage of the train mangled his body.
* * *
There was light. Johann wondered about that. Whatever its origin, a bright vortex of light seemed to be pulling him up. He felt oddly at peace. In fact, he felt terrific. As Johann transcended his body, a veil lifted, and it seemed to him as if he floated in space. He closed his eyes and drifted in his consciousness.
After an indeterminate amount of time, he awoke and found himself laying in a garden. Lush, green lawns with paths of iridescent stone that formed gentle rambling arcs through the greenery surrounded a glistening white building. A river with calm, blue waters flowed past where Johann lay. Sitting up, Johann saw that lush beds of giant purple roses and red-and-white tulips dotted a nearby hillside. On the far side of the building lay a valley where he could see people dressed in white walking. As he stared at the scene, Johann realized their legs were not moving; they were gliding just above the ground toward the building.
Johann’s mind rebelled as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. In confusion, he wondered what had happened and how had he gotten here—and where “here” was. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Receiving no inspiration, he opened his eyes to see a radiant young woman dressed in white approaching him.
The Light Initiate, Kendra, smiled, inwardly hearing Johann’s questions. “You are safe now, Johann,” she said, reassuring him.
Johann shook his head in disbelief. “Safe? I’ve been run over by a train!” To prove it, he looked down, and his eyes grew wide as he saw his body was whole and well. “What…? How…? Who are you?” Johann tried to stand but stumbled.
With a quick step, Kendra caught Johann’s arm and eased him back to the soft ground. “It’s all right. I know you have a million questions.” Placing her hand on her chest, she said, “My name is Kendra, and I am an agent of God sent to help you.” As Johann’s jaw dropped, Kendra squeezed his arm and sat. “Here, let me see if I can explain this to you.” Johann nodded blankly.
With warmth and caring, Kendra asked, “What is the last thing you remember?”
Johann gazed down and blinked several times, trying to capture his last moments. “I… I was on my bicycle, and the streetcar came along… and, I… fell.” As he said that, awareness hit Johann. “Oh my God! Am I, ah, am I… dead?”
With a compassionate smile, Kendra leaned in and took Johann’s hand. “Well, Johann, you are no longer living as you once did. Your body has been damaged beyond repair. It is, indeed, dead.” Johann gulped as Kendra continued. “But you, my dear friend, are far from dead as people on Earth imagine that state.”
Johann pinched himself. It felt like a pinch always had. “Um, I guess I see what you mean.” He looked around. “Yeah, no one with wings and harps that I can see, heh-heh,” he said, reaching for a joke.
Kendra kissed Johann’s hand. “Excellent, Johann. Some people take a lot longer to accept what has happened to them.”
Relaxing in the love that was the essence of this plane of existence, he asked, “But where am I. What am I?”
“Those are exactly the right questions,” Kendra said encouragingly. “You are in God’s Garden of Remembrance. Some call it Summerland and consider it Heaven. You will see people here whom you know, those who have passed on. You are what some people might call an angel—but not what people traditionally think angels are.”
“But what does that mean, Kendra?”
With another bright smile, she said, “It means that soon you will have a new role in which to serve the people on Earth. And some people very specifically,” she said with a wink.
Johann’s mind was reeling; he shook his head in disbelief. “But if I am dead, why do I have a body?”
Kendra laughed, her eyes sparkling with delight. “You have a body here because you are on the astral plane, which makes you appear as if you have a body. Many realms of beingness exist.
People are aware of the physical realm and can identify it. It is evident: You have a physical body, so you exist on that physical realm. The astral body is a replica of the physical body, but subtler. It is a sheath of energy that most people inhabit immediately after death. When we are alive, the astral body remains attached to the physical body via a stream or ribbon of energy. You can leave the physical body during sleep, coma, meditation, or when you’re in a kind of trance. Sometimes people extend out of the body under the influence of drugs, or as you experienced, in an accident.”
Then Kendra furrowed her brow and asked, “Can you recall what you felt when you left the Earth plane?”
Johann sighed and thought about it. “I was falling. Then I felt lifted in bright, white light.”
He held his hand to his heart and closed his eyes. “Loving filled and surrounded me. It was so beautiful. I was floating. I think I might have fallen asleep. When I opened my eyes, I was here.”
With a gentle smile still radiating from her eyes, Kendra nodded and reached out toward Johann. “Excellent. Sometimes when people are in an accident or experience a violent death, they don’t recognize what happened and stay tied to their physical body. They wander around on Earth, not knowing they need to move on until someone of an elevated consciousness can guide them to their next level.”
“Really?” Johann asked, fascinated.
Kendra nodded solemnly. “Uh-huh. But you didn’t resist, and allowed yourself to follow the love and the Light here,” she said approvingly. “So, are you ready to discover what is in store for you? There is much for me to show you.”
For some reason, Johann was not feeling scared or sad or worried. In fact, he was amazingly calm and relaxed. This Summerland garden seemed somehow almost familiar, and all Johann really felt was… loved.
He reached out, took Kendra’s hand, and rose to his feet. He sensed the rightness of it all. “I’m ready.”
Raka Atlantean Priest Healer Turns To The Darkside
In Plato’s Atlantis there was an advanced civilization where crystals powered their homes, anti-gravity cars, healed people, and reduced aging. Where did their technology come from? Atlantis was a place of active peace. People come from all over to meditate. The land, its waters, vegetation, and wildlife were available to tap into the part of you that is calm, loving, and peaceful. Mystical Travelers came to bring knowledge to advance the civilization.In this chapter you will discover how one high Atlantean priest scientist Raka who had knowledge of the secrets of the crystals turns to the dark side. Like Cain and Abel our story is about choice. How do we choose our path in life? What drives us? Will it be our heart or our lower nature of anger, jealousy and hate? Einstein’s Compass and my next novel, “The Talisman of Mystical Atlantis” is based on Plato’s Atlantis and its ten kings. I wonder what Plato would have said if he read my stories?
Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure Buy on Amazon Now
Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure – Prolog
Circa 10,400 BCE – The Islands of Poseidon
The earth tremor stopped Raka in his tracks. The Atlantean healer priest raised his right hand over his violet eyes and searched the landscape for signs of disturbance. He shrugged when he discovered nothing amiss, then continued his way toward the council meeting. What Raka did not understand was that the jolt he felt was not an earthly shudder, but a spiritual one. He had started walking toward the darkness that was the Sons of Belial, and with his first step, the door of the inner Temple of Light had slammed shut to him. So, began his journey as a fallen Angel of Light.
* * *
A brisk summer afternoon sea breeze from the east puffed out Raka’s shoulder-length blond hair. At more than six feet tall, the bronzed man of twenty-five was handsome, and he knew it. He smiled as he swept a hand through his hair, then patted a hidden pocket in his cloak to check the vial of DNA he had stolen from the Temple of Healing.
The feel of the vial triggered memories that he found less than pleasant. His hands curled into fists as he felt a strange rage build in the pit of his stomach. All I do is run around as an errand boy for Uncle Thoth and my brother Arka, he thought angrily. Why won’t Uncle Thoth show me how the fire crystal works? He never includes me in the critical discussions. Until I can control my “impulses,” they won’t let me be privy to the more buried secrets of Light.
His lips curled into a snarl at the thought. My grandfather was the mighty god Atlas! Admittedly, I am meant for greatness, like him.
Raka had been entertaining thoughts like these for months until they had finally consumed him. His Consciousness of Light had constricted as the negativity grew. Eventually, his anger and frustration had built to the point that they overshadowed his judgment and propelled him to action. Thus, the dispirited Prince of Light was on the island of Aryan to meet with the Council of the Sons of Belial. He hoped to be placed in an elevated position in their council in exchange for betraying his Atlantean brethren. But if he wasn’t received in the way he deserved, he had a plan B.
Aryan was a military complex and the promised land of power, pomp, and ceremony. The Temple of Darkness was established by former Angels of Light who, like Raka, had become jealous of the energy in the Temple of Light that they could not access. They had rejected the discipline of the Light of God. The veils of Light that once surrounded the Angels of Light dimmed and the angels became as asleep to the Spirit within. The gross heaviness of fear descended around their bodies.
Throughout years, those attracted to the Temple of Darkness increased in number. Their separation from the Light created trepidation among the people of the world. As their following grew, the Council of the Sons of Belial and its army sought to insulate the five islands of Poseidon from outside invaders. The Atlanteans, following the inner spiritual Light, left the struggles for worldly power to the Council of the Sons of Belial and its warriors.
Atlantis, with The Temple of Light, was a garden of God’s loving and a sanctuary from worldly stresses, a flourishing place of divine innocence and healing. People from the surrounding islands and the world at large came to refresh and restore themselves in body, mind, and spirit. The Sons of Belial knew the real driving force was the Spirit of life that lay on Atlantis. The invisible emanation of the Firestone crystal was the energy source of the planet. Thanks to it, the circling satellites in space recharged the temples and cities around the world. The Council of Five of the Sons of Belial had their own ideas about what could be done with the planet’s most potent energy source and lusted after the fire crystal.
General Tora-Fuliar was the leader of Aryan Island. Seven feet tall, blond and blue-eyed, the fortyish man was typical of his race. He and his cohort of four colonels had agreed to meet with the priest-scientist cum spy Raka, ostensibly to discuss his joining them. But their real purpose was to use his knowledge to wrest control of the Firestone crystal from the Atlanteans, whom they considered weak and inferior. The secret meeting would take place in Belial, the cliff fortress with towering walls that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean.
Arriving at the fortress, Raka was met at its massive twin gates by four Aryan soldiers who had been told to expect him. As they beckoned him inside, the priest of Light saw carcasses of wild boar strewn across an enormous marble altar and recognized what they meant. He held his breath as the stink of foul, stale blood and dark purpose filled the air. The blond, blue-eyed warriors checked Raka for weapons, and he smirked as his precious vial eluded their search. The guards escorted Raka through a second gate inside the fortress to the southern tower. He was led into a vast, foreboding, windowless chamber that had been carved out of the island’s living rock. His eyes narrowed at the pentagram painted in blood in the middle of the torch-lit room. The dark energy of the animal sacrifice held during the full moon of the previous night lingered in it.
At the far end of the war room, the symbol of the Black Sun hung behind the general’s massive desk, which was hewn from dark obsidian that had been formed in a volcanic cataclysm eons ago. Covering the fifteen-foot-high walls to the right of the writing table hung maps of the world. The general and his colonels were seated on severe, straight-backed ebony chairs around a polished black marble table. Dressed in black linen trousers and tan shirts with the Black Sun symbol on each collar and black alligator boots, the five somehow managed to appear casual despite their rigidity.
Raka strode up to the black table to greet the ruling council of the Sons of Belial. Taking in the scene, he thought to himself that while the five appeared relaxed, there was a tension in the room. To Raka, they resembled nothing more than a pack of wolves ready to leap. He straightened his golden silk garment and smiled, nodding to the general. “I am honored that you agreed to meet with me, General.”
As the general stood, he sniffed as if taking in Raka’s scent, then inclined his head. “Welcome. We have been looking forward to this meeting.” He motioned to Raka to sit down across from them. Raka’s eyes scanned the room as he settled warily into his chair. The dark and barbarous energy of the council made him uncomfortable. The general forced a smile that didn’t reach his eyes and began. “We understand you want to help us.”
Raka inhaled profoundly and adjusted his energy field to withstand the negative force emanating from those present. Nodding, he replied, “If you recall, at the Temple of Healing I used energy healing stones to alleviate your pain a few months ago. You had sustained a back injury in a rather unfortunate incident.”
The general frowned but grunted in agreement.
“You stayed with us on Atlantis for several days to recuperate, and each time I came to treat you, you questioned me about the Firestone energy crystal.”
The general nodded. “I did.”
“Its value is obvious, but tell me what your interest in it is.”
The general was not about to reveal his real intention to an untested outsider, so he said, “The firestone crystal is possibly one of the most important artifacts on the planet. You Atlanteans are focused on research and your sciences and arts. You are ill-prepared to defend the Firestone from those who would use it for their own gain.”
Raka nodded in understanding as the general continued. “We Aryans are strong. The Firestone should be guarded by our soldiers. After all, it is the energy source for all of the planet.” The general leaned in as if to thrust his argument forward. “The council and the Sons of Belial are best suited to protect the crystal and you healers of Atlantis. We know that unless we are taught the mysteries of the crystal, disaster could be imminent.”
Raka saw the energy around the general’s body turn dark with flares of red, and he recognized the lust for power. He was also aware the general was not telling him everything. No surprise there. The healer was not some ignorant novice; he knew the warrior wanted to use the firestone crystal to enhance the Aryan’s military might—and his own power. He was aware that with the Firestone, they could be invincible. And that they could and most likely would use this power to attempt to control the Atlanteans and take dominance over the entire planet. Despite his hopes for forming an alliance with the Sons of Belial, Raka now accepted that it would be a long time before these people trusted him—if they ever would. He wondered if he would even survive after he delivered what they wanted. He sighed inwardly, conceding to himself that this was not going to go the way he had hoped.
Still, he would play along for a while. Looking the general in the eye, he said, “General, I believe I could assist you in gaining access to the firestone crystal.”
The general and his colonels nodded with interest as Raka continued. “But there are other things I might do for you. I noticed the beasts you have sacrificed to absorb their power. What if you could have even greater physical power than that you leech from the boars you kill?”
The colonels murmured, and the general’s eyes narrowed. He glanced at his minions, who could barely conceal their grins as each entertained his own twisted fantasy of power.
Raka continued with a sly smile, “Yes, I assumed you would be interested.” He leaned back, appearing casual and said, “Of course, if I were to assist you, then I would want something in return.”
The general leaned forward. “Of course. What do you want?”
Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure Needs Your VOTE!
Dear friends and fans of “Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure.”
I have entered a book cover contest with my novel, “Einstein’s Compass a YA
Time Traveler Adventure”.
Prizes:
1. The winners of the 2021 & 2022 categories will be placed in one banner ad in our Bedside Reading Summer 2022 Book Guide.
This guide will be published on May 23rd.
- Distributed by Publishers Weekly to their 68K subscribers (print & digital)
- It will be sent to 10 top indie bookstores in the USA
- Placed throughout the Hamptons in our Summer 2022 tote bags which go to our Hampton-partner hotels (and Book Hampton bookstore)
- Sent to 50 Hollywood Film/TV Producers and Development Executives.
2. All winners will be gifted one book placement for one month in the Hamptons program
3. All winners will be promoted in the Bedside Reading newsletter, social media, and website (invaluable!)
4. Winners will be chosen by readers, authors, and bookstore owners
Review of Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure – 4 out of 4 Stars
Review of Einstein’s Compass
Post by Jessie Gus » 22 Mar 2022, 19:20
[Following is a volunteer review of “Einstein’s Compass” by Grace Blair.]
Book Cover
4 out of 4 stars
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Join a young Albert Einstein on his fantastical journey. It all begins when young Albert’s father gives him a compass. Little did his Father know the jewel encrusted compass would take Albert far away in place and time. With guidance from Johann, Albert’s best friend, they discover the secrets of the remarkable compass, not only the help it can be, but also the hidden peril it carries. Albert is experiencing what he believes are vivid dreams where he speaks with brilliant thinkers of the past but, are they just dreams? Is he truly seeing and speaking with them? Accompany him into the realms of myth, legend, and prophets. What do the Shamir Stone, the Firestone, a dragon, Moses, alien DNA and Akhenaten have to do with Albert? Will he ever rid himself of Raka, the evil force pursuing him? How is he connected to this Raka and why does he hunt him? All of this, and much more, awaits you in this mesmerizing tale of fiction.
Together, Grace Blair and Laren Bright have produced an outstanding work that binds many diverse elements into a cohesive tale. They have made an easy flowing piece with a unique way of looking at the world. Their use of guides and/or prophets adds a new dimension. I like the small details, like Albert putting on his lederhosen and the way his music makes him feel. The dragon is a creative touch that should not work, but the authors skillfully make it suit the story. I also enjoyed the evolving trail of his theories. The picture of young Einstein that they paint is faithful to the non-fiction books that I have read about his habit and quirks.
The only two drawbacks to this work; were few font size problems that might be due to transferring the work to Kindle, and I would have liked to know more about how the compass was made.
I give the book 4 out of 4 stars. Einstein’s Compass A Ya Time Traveler Adventure certainly earns it. The use of historically accurate culture and the start of the Nazi political machine are spot on. The addition of charters is almost seamless, never leaving one to wonder where that person came from.
I would recommend this book not only for young adult readers and for people who enjoy a fictional tale with a little fantasy thrown in. This is a splendid book for those that are young of heart.
How to Build a Successful Business and Keep Your Sanity
Entrepreneurs are fast-moving hustlers who are prone to burning the candle at both ends. Left unchecked, this approach can lead to stress, burnout, and even physical health problems, all of which are bad for you, and bad for business. That’s why dedicated self-care is so critical to your overall business success. If you’re interested in mystic spiritual guidance, Grace Allison Blair can use her skills to help you solve everyday challenges.
Who made the rule life is hard? Learn how to create #courage #confidence and #creativity “Do You Have a Dream Workbook 5 Keys to Realize Your Dream”.
Get Your Exercise
Sometimes it can feel like you’re running 100 miles an hour, but burning the midnight oil as an entrepreneur is not the same thing as dedicated exercise that gets your heart rateup. Make time for physical activity, even if you’re just getting back into the habit. Pick what works best, whether it’s a gym membership, a home workout station, or some adrenaline-pumping activity like mountain biking, hiking, or white water rafting. Not only can exercise help you stay healthy, but it can also help reduce stress and give you energy. According to Sleep.org. you’ll also sleep better, which will give you both stamina and focus in the office.
Learn to Relax
Much like exercise, relaxation is a good way to help you rest, recharge, and ultimately be a better business owner. According to the National Institutes of Health, try relaxation techniques like tai chi, yoga, meditation, or relaxation breathing. Listen to calming music, start a gratitude journal, or commune with nature. Making intentional steps to center yourself will sharpen your mental acuity and help you be better focused on your work. It will also help you manage work stressors. In fact, learning healthy relaxation practices and using them daily will make it easier to call these soothing techniques into action when you need them the most.
Use Time Management Skills
Entrepreneurs juggle a lot of different tasks, and you’re wise to hire out key services that will help you save time and energy. For example, utilize freelancers or independent contractors for heavy lift projects like web design or graphics work. Have a housekeeperat home, and hire someone to walk your dog, detail your car, and deliver your groceries.Freeing yourself from these tasks will give you more time to focus on self-care and building your business. Also, utilize apps and software applicable to your business – project management tools can be a time-saver, as well as help you collaborate and stay organized.
Maintain a Work-Life Balance
While easier said than done, it’s smart to maintain healthy boundaries between home and work life right off the bat. This is especially important if you have a family. Whenever possible, set firm start and stop times to your day, schedule yourself as strictly as possible, and clearly define what’s an “emergency” and what can wait. Delegate tasks where prudent and employ the adage of working smarter, not harder. If you have a home office, maintain reasonable work hours, and when you’re done for the day, shut the door and leave it closed.
Get Your Business in Order
A well-organized business structure can help ensure that all of your business functions run smoothly. Make sure you have all appropriate business licenses, permits, and insurance in place. You should also develop a detailed operating budget, a comprehensive business plan, and marketing strategy, and make sure to structure yourself as an LLC, or limited liability company. This will protect you from some types of liability, provide you with flexibility and tax advantages, and result in less paperwork. You can avoid pricey lawyer fees by filing yourself, or your best bet, use a formation service. States have different rules around LLC formation, so learn about yours in advance.
Make Time for Fun
Hopefully, you enjoy the work you do, but you also need to take time to do things that are fun for the sake of relaxation. Maybe you’re a video game pro, or you like to garden,paint, run marathons, or enjoy a leisurely brunch on the weekend. Whatever you like, whether it’s spending time alone or with family or friends, schedule time to do it. Put your “fun” on the calendar just like a work appointment and don’t let it get kicked off by work matters. This downtime is critically important to your overall mental health, and as such, you should consider it a vital “business appointment.”Launching a business is exhilarating, but it also has the potential to be mentally and physically taxing. Utilize all of the resources available to you to help ensure you’re taking good care of your growing venture while also caring for yourself. Grace Allison Blair is a modern Christian Mystic and award-winning self-help and motivational author. She helps her clients tap their courage, confidence, and creativity inboth meaningful and productive ways. Visit the website to learn more and reach out for a consultation. Photo By Pixaba
Article written by constributing freelance writer
Do You Find Messages In Your Dreams?
Every once in a while I will be asleep and find myself in a dream. I see people and places that seem real. Often the dreams will be sharing information or give me a warning. I imagined Albert Einstein may have had similar experiences where he met people like Sir Isaac Newton who established the laws of physics and gravity. However, I find the lessons from the dreams get lost if I don’t write down what I saw immediately when I wake up. So am I awake now writing this? Or, am I asleep in a wakeful dream? In Einstein’s Compass Albert also meets Galileo. Einstein’s Compass $.99 Kindle, IBook, paperback now in any of your favorite online bookstores linked to this book bubble.
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Chapter 9
A Dream (Or Was It?)
Albert loved to walk. It made his mind fresher, and he would snap his fingers with the fast rhythm of each step. Humming a tune to keep pace with, he breathed in the crisp, fall air. The concern he felt from the letter he had received from Herr von Achen had withdrawn into the recesses of his mind. Before long, Albert found himself in Marienplatz, the heart of Munich.
Young couples and families milled through the streets of the city’s downtown. The crowds gathered to watch the glockenspiel show. Albert gazed up at the towering Gothic clock, with its thirty-two carved figurines. They seemed to touch the sky. Every day at 11:00 a.m., the Glockenspiel chimed. It reenacted the sixteenth-century marriage and celebration of the local duke, Wilhelm V, to Renata of Lorraine. The clock displayed a joust with life-sized knights on horseback, resplendent in their local colors: white and blue for the Bavarians, and red and white for the Lothringian champions. The Bavarian knight won every time. The clock’s dance lasted around 12 minutes, and at the end of the show, a tiny golden bird at the top of the glockenspiel chirped three times.
As the marvelous spectacle came to an end and the people began to walk away, a small, almost hidden door at the clock tower’s base opened soundlessly. The movement caught Albert’s eye, and he frowned. For all the times he’d walked past the clock tower, he’d never noticed a door. Noting that no one else seemed to be paying attention to it, he turned and walked toward the opening.
Gazing into the dark entryway, Albert saw an engraved metal sign: “No Entrance.” But the open door beckoned, and he stepped over the threshold. Once he was inside, the door slowly swung shut. Albert reached out and pulled the gargoyle-shaped wrought iron handle, but the door seemed firmly closed.
He began to struggle with the door, but the tick… tock… tick… tock of the clock’s inner workings caught his attention, and he stopped tugging. What could be inside this magnificent timepiece? He wondered as the possibilities began running around in his mind.
Following the internal beating of the clock tower’s heart, Albert moved toward a spiral staircase. The only light in the hallway came from high above him. Tick… tock… tick… tock.
Albert stepped to the beat of the clock and round and round he rose. Time seemed to stand still as he climbed. He stopped at the top of the steps, then the shining light drew him to a massive, carved wooden door and Albert approached it.
The door was partially open and, peering into the room, Albert’s gaze landed on a large mahogany desk. Then Albert noticed the man seated at the desk. He looked to be around 50 years of age and had soft-looking, silver, shoulder-length hair. He was dressed in a white, long-sleeved peasant shirt and dark-brown leather breeches. Arrayed on the desk in front of him were quill pens with pots of ink, stacks of paper, and on the right corner of the writing table, an apple. The entire back wall of the room was lined with shelves stocked with ancient-looking volumes and several brass candlesticks holding candles that cast a soft glow about the place. In the ceiling of the room was some sort of skylight through which a beam of sunlight streamed.
The man at the desk held a triangular-shaped crystal up to the beam of light, and the refracted light of the polished glass threw a rainbow of colors onto the wall. The man smiled with satisfaction.
Albert saw the rainbow and murmured to himself, “Newton’s theory is that white light is a composite of all the colors of the spectrum.”
The man looked up from the rainbows and smiled at Albert. “Well said, Albert. So glad you made your way in here to visit.”
Albert’s jaw dropped. “How did you…?”
The man held up his hand and smiled. “All in good time, my boy.” He rose from his chair and walked to Albert, holding out his hand. “My name is Isaac. Please, sit down.” Speechless, Albert, managed to make his way to a chair in front of the desk as Isaac returned to his seat.
“I know who you are, Albert,” Isaac said with a kind smile. “You must not concern yourself too deeply with what you are learning now. You have grasped the Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Let that be the foundation of your work that is to come.” Isaac picked up the apple on his desk and gently tossed it to Albert. “Gravity, the universe, space, distance, and motion are your future.” Catching the apple, Albert nodded as the ticking of the massive clock pulled at his awareness. Tick… tock… tick… tock…
Tick… tock… Ringgggggggg. The alarm clock next to Albert’s bed screamed at him. Albert sat bolt upright and struggled to reorient himself. Vacillating between the dream and waking reality, Albert let himself fall back onto his pillow. He turned his head to see what time it was. There, on the table next to the alarm clock, sat an apple. “What the…?” Albert groaned.
Albert pulled himself from his bed and began dressing as he considered the implications of what he had dreamed. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. Buttoning the last button of his shirt and throwing on his jacket, Albert dashed out of the house. He had to investigate the glockenspiel.
He jumped on his bike and pedaled as fast as he could to the clock tower. The sun met him as it rose in the early morning over the city. He raced to the scene of his dream, thinking, I must be going crazy! He found the center of Munich still asleep. He dismounted and walked to where he’d entered the tower in his dream. There was no door. Albert felt the cold stone with his hands, seeking a crack or a hinge; anything that would reveal the presence of an entryway. He encountered nothing but the rough stone surface. He looked up and found no windows or radiating light other than the sunlight that glistened in the early dawn.
Disappointed, he turned away from the tower, went back to his bicycle, and slowly headed back to his home. As he rode away, the tiny golden bird at the top of the glockenspiel chirped three times.
How I Found My Inner Spiritual Compass
I’m not sure why other people read and/or write books, but I wrote mine to save my life. I was struggling with what was going on around me and inside me. I was unhappy, and I knew there had to be more; more joy, more happiness, more fulfillment.
Historical fiction, stories of the spiritual heart and spiritual exercises gave me keys where I developed my inner compass that would help me produce more of the experience of life that I was looking for but hadn’t managed to secure.Throughout my adult life, I became a serious student of the spiritual. I found that, often, psychological principles and practices were incomplete, but could be filled out by adding the missing spiritual component. My approach was always to see practical applications for what I uncovered in the mystical. It was through immersing myself in this field of study and experience that I came up with the idea for, Einstein’s Compass. In EC I gave young Albert a few of my transcendant spiritual experiences. #followyour heart
https://www.amazon.com/Einsteins-Compass-Time-Traveler-Adventure-ebook/dp/B07KRMNPZK
Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure
Garden of Remembrance
There was light. Johann wondered about that. Whatever its origin, a bright vortex of light seemed to be pulling him up. He felt oddly at peace. In fact, he felt terrific. As Johann transcended his body, a veil lifted, and it seemed to him as if he floated in space. He closed his eyes and drifted in his consciousness.
After an indeterminate amount of time, he awoke and found himself laying in a garden. Lush, green lawns with paths of iridescent stone that formed gentle rambling arcs through the greenery surrounded a glistening white building. A river with calm, blue waters flowed past where Johann lay. Sitting up, Johann saw that lush beds of giant purple roses and red-and-white tulips dotted a nearby hillside. On the far side of the building lay a valley where he could see people dressed in white walking. As he stared at the scene, Johann realized their legs were not moving; they were gliding just above the ground toward the building.
Johann’s mind rebelled as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. In confusion, he wondered what had happened and how had he gotten here—and where “here” was. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Receiving no inspiration, he opened his eyes to see a radiant young woman dressed in white approaching him.
The Light Initiate, Kendra, smiled, inwardly hearing Johann’s questions. “You are safe now, Johann,” she said, reassuring him.
Johann shook his head in disbelief. “Safe? I’ve been run over by a train!” To prove it, he looked down, and his eyes grew wide as he saw his body was whole and well. “What…? How…? Who are you?” Johann tried to stand but stumbled.
With a quick step, Kendra caught Johann’s arm and eased him back to the soft ground. “It’s all right. I know you have a million questions.” Placing her hand on her chest, she said, “My name is Kendra, and I am an agent of God sent to help you.” As Johann’s jaw dropped, Kendra squeezed his arm and sat. “Here, let me see if I can explain this to you.” Johann nodded blankly.
With warmth and caring, Kendra asked, “What is the last thing you remember?”
Johann gazed down and blinked several times, trying to capture his last moments. “I… I was on my bicycle, and the streetcar came along… and, I… fell.” As he said that, awareness hit Johann. “Oh my God! Am I, ah, am I… dead?”
With a compassionate smile, Kendra leaned in and took Johann’s hand. “Well, Johann, you are no longer living as you once did. Your body has been damaged beyond repair. It is, indeed, dead.” Johann gulped as Kendra continued. “But you, my dear friend, are far from dead as people on Earth imagine that state.”
Johann pinched himself. It felt like a pinch always had. “Um, I guess I see what you mean.” He looked around. “Yeah, no one with wings and harps that I can see, heh-heh,” he said, reaching for a joke.
Kendra kissed Johann’s hand. “Excellent, Johann. Some people take a lot longer to accept what has happened to them.”
Relaxing in the love that was the essence of this plane of existence, he asked, “But where am I. What am I?”
“Those are exactly the right questions,” Kendra said encouragingly. “You are in God’s Garden of Remembrance. Some call it Summerland and consider it Heaven. You will see people here whom you know, those who have passed on. You are what some people might call an angel—but not what people traditionally think angels are.”
“But what does that mean, Kendra?”
With another bright smile, she said, “It means that soon you will have a new role in which to serve the people on Earth. And some people very specifically,” she said with a wink.
Johann’s mind was reeling; he shook his head in disbelief. “But if I am dead, why do I have a body?”
Kendra laughed, her eyes sparkling with delight. “You have a body here because you are on the astral plane, which makes you appear as if you have a body. Many realms of beingness exist.
People are aware of the physical realm and can identify it. It is evident: You have a physical body, so you exist on that physical realm. The astral body is a replica of the physical body, but subtler. It is a sheath of energy that most people inhabit immediately after death. When we are alive, the astral body remains attached to the physical body via a stream or ribbon of energy. You can leave the physical body during sleep, coma, meditation, or when you’re in a kind of trance. Sometimes people extend out of the body under the influence of drugs, or as you experienced, in an accident.”
Then Kendra furrowed her brow and asked, “Can you recall what you felt when you left the Earth plane?”
Johann sighed and thought about it. “I was falling. Then I felt lifted in bright, white light.”
He held his hand to his heart and closed his eyes. “Loving filled and surrounded me. It was so beautiful. I was floating. I think I might have fallen asleep. When I opened my eyes, I was here.”
With a gentle smile still radiating from her eyes, Kendra nodded and reached out toward Johann. “Excellent. Sometimes when people are in an accident or experience a violent death, they don’t recognize what happened and stay tied to their physical body. They wander around on Earth, not knowing they need to move on until someone of an elevated consciousness can guide them to their next level.”
“Really?” Johann asked, fascinated.
Kendra nodded solemnly. “Uh-huh. But you didn’t resist, and allowed yourself to follow the love and the Light here,” she said approvingly. “So, are you ready to discover what is in store for you? There is much for me to show you.”
For some reason, Johann was not feeling scared or sad or worried. In fact, he was amazingly calm and relaxed. This Summerland garden seemed somehow almost familiar, and all Johann really felt was… loved.
He reached out, took Kendra’s hand, and rose to his feet. He sensed the rightness of it all. “I’m ready.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” said a man’s voice from behind them.
As they turned, Kendra broke into a great smile. Two men stood there, both radiating peace. A sense of joy filled Johann as Kendra said, “Johann, I would like you to meet—”
Johann gulped, then tears filled his eyes. He fell to his knees, and the taller of the two men reached down and gently lifted him to his feet. “Now, now, Johann. No need for that.”
Johann wiped his eyes and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry, uh…” Johann blinked and shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. “You’re, um, Jesus, right?”
The man’s smile radiated from his eyes as he nodded and pointed to his companion. “Mm-hmm. And this is my friend, Moses.”
Moses nodded. “We have some special training for you in addition to what Kendra will be teaching you.”
“Training? For me? But why?”
Jesus put his arm around Johann’s shoulder. “Well, it has to do with a friend of yours. A boy named Albert Einstein.”
Joy and Passion Of Writing Einstein’s Compass
During my forty-year career in business, I wrote marketing materials. Making stuff up came naturally. To write a novel required new skills. Fiction has rules to follow. To write the story, I had to learn how to write it. Novel writing became my new business. I expanded my imagination to create a story where history met science fiction and transport people to learn and be entertained. The journey of wonder for me began with a vision of a young Albert Einstein and a compass his father gave him that set him on his quest to know what is time, what is light. Four years later I had a manuscript. While writing my masterpiece I had to wear a second hat, marketing. Bublish became my marketing arm. One day I would write my novel, the next setting up websites, social media pages, blogs, all to create a brand, an identity. I invested in a designed cover, copy editing, book layout and market placement advice. On January 1, 2019, I hired professional bloggers and book reviewers for the “Einstein’s Compass a YA Time Traveler Adventure” book launch. To bring visibility to my novel, I entered book contests throughout 2019 and 2020 and won ten book awards. Wow sometimes I feel gobsmacked with the joy of writing a successful award-winning novel.
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Spring 1895
Thought Experiment
Six male students in their mid-teens dressed in wool suits, starched white shirts, and blue-and-yellow neckties sat two by two in a single row, anxiously awaiting the start of class. Albert had enrolled in Aarau High School after his unsuccessful attempt to enter the Polytechnic. Of course, he had passed the math and science section of the exam with flying colors. Yet the test showed Albert needed more study in languages, biology, literature, political science, and botany. While somewhat disappointed with the test results, he saw it would only take a year at Aarau before he could get to the Polytechnic, and he was okay with that.
The smell of fresh white chalk stimulated Albert’s mind. He focused on the three Hs the headmaster, Professor Winteler, wrote on the blackboard; the principles of teaching the school followed.
Heart – to explore what students want to learn. To develop their moral qualities, such as helping others.
Head – to understand objects, concepts, and experiences.
Hand – to learn the craft of doing good work and develop their physical skills.
Completing his writing with a flourish, the teacher turned to face his class. His brown eyes twinkled, and there was genuine warmth and enthusiasm in his voice as he said, “I have found that people learn more easily accessing their intuition, their inner powers than they do through their minds.”
In the front row, Albert relaxed. For the first time in his school life, the reject from the Gymnasium in Germany felt connected.
The wise professor put down the chalk and rubbed his hands together. He adjusted his spectacles and said, “Our first exercise will be a thought experiment. It will assist us when we want to consider a hypothesis or theory when the purpose is to think through by steps to its consequences. This practice will increase your personal power of thought and imagination. What’s more,” he said with a smile, “by going inward, you begin to trust yourself.”
A sandy-haired student raised his hand, and the professor acknowledged him. “Yes, Gregory, you have a question?”
“I do, sir,” the boy said as he stood.
The professor smiled. “Good. Questions are encouraged. What do you have?”
“In this mind experiment, do we have our eyes open or closed?”
“For the purposes of our first experiment, you will have your eyes closed. Though I am sure sometimes during the day, you find yourself in a daydream where your mind is drifting in space even with your eyes open.” Gregory nodded as the professor continued. “We are going to use a what-if, dreamy kind of imagination to allow you to let go and create possibilities.”
As Gregory sat down, the professor instructed, “Now I want you to remove your jackets, loosen your ties, and sit up straight with your arms and legs uncrossed. Place your hands on your thighs, palms up.”
The students did so and waited for the next direction.
“Close your eyes and take a slow, deep breath,” Winteler said. “Inhale, then slowly let go of all the air in your lungs.” He paused for a few seconds. “Again, this time breathe in more slowly.” As the students did this, he paused, then said, “Hold the air inside.” He paused again. “Let go of all the air, slowly. Allow your body to relax. Keep your eyes closed and focus on your breath going in and out. If your mind starts to chatter, just acknowledge that then bring your focus back to your breathing.”
Albert sat with his back straight though he was relaxed, surrendering his mind. Lost in the experience, the dreamer did not even hear what the teacher said next because he found himself enveloped in a warm glow, and he felt like he was rising above the Earth. A motion caught his awareness, and he glanced to the side. Next to him flew a graceful, towering, luminous being with flowing, golden hair. Somehow, Albert sensed it was an angel. The angel’s violet eyes gave the dreamer a loving smile, and Albert surrendered more fully to his experience. Archangel Michael offered Albert his hand, and Albert gently grasped it. The sound of angels singing “Glory to God in the highest” rang out over the universe.
The veil of time opened, and Albert found himself floating down onto the emerald-green grass in the Garden of Remembrance. As he attempted to take it all in, Albert saw a figure standing nearby. It slowly turned, and Albert was filled with joy to recognize his friend Johann. Somehow it all seemed perfectly right, though unreal at the same time.
The two friends embraced, then Albert pulled away. “Johann, how… how…”
Johann smiled. “Don’t try to figure it all out at once, Albert. Just let the reality reveal itself to you.”
“But is it a reality, Johann? Or am I just in a wishful-thinking dream?”
With a mischievous smile, Johann reached out and pinched Albert on the arm.
“Ow!” said Albert with a frown, rubbing the spot where Johann had pinched. Then his eyes grew wide. “Okay, I get it. It’s real.”
Johann nodded, still smiling. “It’s real all right. Just not the reality you’re used to.” In the months since his death, Johann had become more confident about what he knew about the realm in which he found himself.
“Okay, I believe you… but why am I here?”
Johann became more serious. He took Albert’s arm and guided him along the shore of a nearby pond. “We have to talk, Albert.
There is much to tell you. Things are going on you won’t believe. But this visit is just to let you know that you can come here anytime you want. The thought experiment technique Herr Winteler is teaching you will help you come back.”
Albert listened with rapt attention as his friend explained some of what he had been learning. Before he could digest what, he was hearing, Johann continued. “But for now, you must return to your body.” Johann hugged Albert and kissed him on the cheek. “Remember this, and I’ll see you later.”
“But—” Albert started to protest. In the next moment, Albert felt like he was falling from a great height. Just before the dreamer hit the ground, his eyes flew open. He had returned to his body as Professor Winteler was asking the class, “What was your experience of your first thought experiment? Does anyone want to share?”
Albert did not know how to respond. He wondered who would believe him if he told them what happened. He kept his mouth shut and barely heard the answers from his classmates. He was lost in his thoughts about seeing Johann and wondering just what could be so important that he would be called to that place… wherever—or whatever—it was.
Albert Einstein’s Christmas 1894 – Hope
Christmas is for family. However, in 1894, Albert’s parents and sister were far away in Italy. To make matters worse Albert was scheduled to meet with the Academik Committee a week before Christmas to determine his future at school. Lost and alone Albert wanted inspiration. He went to the library to find comfort from his favorite author Kant. When Albert thought his life was over a friend from his childhood walks into the library at the same time. This chapter is a turning point in Albert’s life. Not just with his career. Danger in Albert’s life escalates when Raka discovers Albert has supernatural compass he covets and will do whatever it takes to get it. #GiftaBook Einstein’s Compass $.99 #Kindle
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December 1894
Hope
The bracing wind of the late December afternoon gusted outside and intruded into Albert’s thoughts. It was the first Thursday of the winter school break. Hoping to escape his troubles, Albert went to the Bavarian Library near the Gymnasium campus where he sat contemplating his compass. Inspiration was not forthcoming, so he put his treasure in his coat pocket and wandered over to the bookshelves. He searched half-heartedly for one of his favorite philosophers, Kant, and found Critique of Pure Reason. As he pulled the book from the shelf, he heard a familiar voice call his name.
“Albert?”
Albert turned, and his face lit up. “Herr Talmud, it is so good to see you!”
They embraced cordially, Max, a head taller, with a premature touch of gray in his chestnut hair and mustache. Though only in his mid-30s, he had the air of a wise older gentleman.
Max was equally excited to see his young friend. He held Albert at arm’s length and assessed the boy. “You’re growing up nicely, Albert. How have you been? Are you at the Gymnasium getting your diploma?”
At the mention of the Gymnasium, Albert’s body slumped. “Uh, that’s kind of a long story. Say, maybe I can tell you about it over dinner. Can you join me?”
“Of course,” Max responded with a smile, putting an arm around Albert’s shoulders. “I would love to find out what has been going on with one of my favorite people.”
For the first time in a long time, Albert felt himself relax in the company of a friend as the two walked to the coatroom. Moments later, they stepped into the cold evening air and headed down the hill to an alehouse a couple blocks away.
* * *
Not far from the Bavarian Library, Raka surreptitiously peered beneath his cloak and inspected his walking stick. Pressing the ruby eyes set in the dragon’s head, he made sure the steel needle tipped with venom was ready. He knew he could not do harm to the possessor of the Shamir without paying a massive karmic price, but you never knew when it might be a useful tool for coercing someone to do his will. He was hot on the trail of the Shamir and knew it was near at hand. Satisfied that all was in readiness, he reset the needle and continued his way.
Sniffing the air, he found the Shamir scent much stronger than it had been just minutes ago. He quickened his pace, practically salivating at the thought of possessing the stone.
A few blocks from the library, Max and Albert entered the alehouse and found a quiet table. After ordering beer and sauerbraten from the plump, middle-aged waitress, they resumed their conversation.
“Do you remember when I would visit you and your family each Shabbat?” Max asked. “Your parents were so kind to me when I was a struggling medical student.”
Albert nodded, a warm feeling filling him along with the memories of simpler days. “Yes, I remember. I have missed you. It was an exciting time when you were twenty-nine and I only ten, and you brought me books on philosophy and mathematics. I loved the quizzes you made up for me to test how well I’d understood my assignments.”
Max grinned as he chewed a bite of beef and pointed his fork at Albert. “It wasn’t very long before I could no longer follow you.”
Albert beamed at the praise, and the two chatted amiably, recalling the many Shabbat evenings they had spent together.
Outside the alehouse, Raka approached, his pace quickening in anticipation. He took a final sniff and satisfied himself he was at the right place. His thoughts were confirmed when he saw the hoopoe bird perched above the door. The aroma of human food coming from the alehouse did not interest him. Instead, the rat that ran around the corner of the building as he approached made him remember it had been a while since he had eaten.
Raka entered and casually made his way to the table next to the one where Albert and Max were chatting. When the waitress approached, he ordered a beer to justify his presence and settled back, giving no indication that he was listening intently to the boy and the man at the nearby table. Raka wondered which of the two possessed the Shamir.
Though he had found the conversation relaxing and enjoyable, Albert decided it was time to bring up the topic he really wanted to discuss. Taking a bite of his pot roast, Albert became serious. “Max, may I confide in you?”
The smile faded from Max’s face and was replaced by a look of concern. “Of course, you can tell me anything. What is it, Albert? Is something wrong with your parents?”
“No, no, my parents are fine. They are in Italy. I am staying with my aunt and uncle, who live not far from here.” Albert paused and took a long drink of beer as he gathered his thoughts. He was trying to figure out just how to tell his story, but when no inspiration appeared, he just plowed ahead. “It’s just that I feel I am wasting my time at the Gymnasium. I pass my math and science examinations easily because I taught myself the things we’re studying in class years ago.” Albert pulled the Gymnasium Direktor’s letter from his pocket, saying, “But when I ask to be given more advanced work to study, I am met only with anger.” He handed the letter to Max, who frowned as he read it.
Dear Herr Einstein,
You are requested to attend a meeting at 10:00 a.m. on December 15, 1894, at the Office of the Direktor to discuss your future at the Luitpold Gymnasium with the Academik Committee Council. Please be prompt.
Sincerely,
Stefan Braun,
Direktor
Max shook his head as he folded the letter and gave it back to Albert. “I’m not surprised, Albert. I suspected you would have a hard time at the Gymnasium.”
“You did?”
Max nodded. “Yes. You’re right in the middle of a struggle within the school system itself. The schulkrieg, the war over the schools, is a fight between proponents of the classical values associated with education in Latin and Greek and supporters of instruction in modern languages and natural sciences.”
Albert leaned back in his chair, surprised at this revelation. “I had no idea.”
“How could you know?” Max sighed, “But, you see, I struggled too as I went through school to become a doctor.”
“Really?” Albert was taken aback.
“Mmm hmm. Believe it or not, the Luitpold Gymnasium has had a reputation as an enlightened school. All of Germany celebrates its ‘institutes of learning’ because of how prosperous it has become in the last three decades. Germany leads the world in what people are calling the industrial revolution.”
Albert waved his hand as if brushing away Max’s statement. “Institutes of learning? Bah! They are just factories of rote instruction.”
Max did not argue. “Be that as it may, Germany boasts of its schools.” As Albert scowled, Max continued. “But, my friend, I can tell you that there are schools in Switzerland that may be of interest to you. I attended one of them before I went to the University of Munich.”
Albert raised his eyebrows. “Switzerland?”
Max nodded. “The Polytechnic in Zurich, where I studied. And I have an uncle who lives in Zurich. He was instrumental in having me attend the Polytechnic, and I believe he would be willing to assist you as well. It would give you the education I think you are looking for.”
Albert’s face brightened. “That would be wonderful… if it would not be too much trouble, I mean.”
Max touched Albert’s arm, reassuring him, and said, “As far as I’m concerned, you’re family, Albert. I would be glad to help you. No trouble at all. It is the least I can do for people who treated me with such kindness.”
Albert sat back in his chair. For the first time in months, he felt like he could breathe.
Albert and Max went back to reminiscing as they finished their supper together. Feeling a refreshing wind in his sails blowing him in a new direction, Albert was now more than ready to meet the direktor and his lieutenants. When the two finished the last of their beer, Albert prepared to pay the check.
Raka was deep in thought, speculating on what he had heard when he saw the younger man reach into his pocket and pull out his money clip along with a round, brass device. Raka held his breath. There it was, his treasure! He wanted to jump up and grab it but had enough presence of mind to know that was not the way to achieve his objective. In the excitement of seeing the Shamir, Raka’s concentration weakened, and the illusion of his human form began to fade. Scales began to appear on his face. He rubbed his hands over his cheeks quickly, and his soft, human complexion returned. Shaking with anticipation, Raka was overwhelmed by his proximity to the prize he had sought for millennia. As Albert and Max stood up and made their way to the front door, neither noticed the blond gentleman at the table behind them.
Raka waited until Max and Albert had left the alehouse before he tossed a few coins on the table and followed. As he exited the building, he saw Max walking to the left and Albert going right to fetch his bicycle at the library. Raka grinned and moved along the cobblestone street toward Albert, melting into the pitch-black night. Albert rounded the corner of the now-dark library and walked to where he had parked his bike. Lost in thoughts of his future, he was unaware of Raka approaching him from behind. Panting in anticipation, Raka prepared to strike, cosmic law be damned. He readied his weapon by pressing the dragon’s ruby eyes and exposing the toxic steel needle. Just as he began to aim, out of nowhere, the hoopoe bird flew straight into the evil lizard, its pointed bill piercing his left eye. Raka stifled a cry and crouched to the ground in pain as the swift bird flew away.
Pulled from his musing by the muffled sound, Albert looked around. But the night was dark, and he saw neither Raka nor the weapon, which fell from his grasp as the lizard covered his wounded eye. The walking stick tumbled to the cobblestone pavement, and the poisoned needle tip broke with a snap, bouncing onto a squirrel nearby, causing it to chatter angrily. As he was placing his leg over his bicycle, Albert heard the noise and saw the little rodent scurry past him. Because it was so dark, Albert did not believe his eyes as the creature’s fur began to smoke and the animal appeared to disintegrate into a puddle of ooze. Albert shook his head, chiding himself for the way his eyes deceived him. He pulled the collar of his coat tighter around him to protect himself from the cutting wind.
Muttering soundless curses at the hoopoe bird, Raka skulked in the darkness, attempting to tend his wound. Far from fatal for the changeling, it was painful enough to demand his attention. He cursed himself soundly for his over-eagerness and realized what he had nearly done. The price he would have paid, he realized, would have been too high, even for the Shamir. He would not make that mistake again.
Walking in the dark, cold night, Raka vowed to lay a far more foolproof plan. Yes, it would take time. Yes, he would have to be patient. But he would not let the Shamir slip through his clutches again. A plan began to form in his mind—one that involved other humans. Like a precious seed, he would nurture it until it blossomed and bore fruit.
Astride his bicycle, Albert pedaled toward his aunt’s house, his mind filled with thoughts of a much brighter future. Not far behind, the hoopoe flew, ever vigilant, watching for the potential dangers of which Albert was blissfully unaware.