A Gathering of Dreams

Mount Taishan, China  1486 BCE


Humans have marked tales of destiny and fate on the walls of caves since time began. But surprisingly, the first appearance of the comet, Lao-Tien-Yeh 老天葉 was not documented until 1486 BCE. A comet, by estimates today, that was four times brighter than the full moon. Still, it was unusual that the scholars in China recorded this particular comet for posterity.


An old monk climbs Mount Tai to witness the growing event. A reunion, deemed insignificant at first, introduces the monk to what eventually becomes the tenets behind Universal Truth; the principles of life that shape the foundation of Buddhism. He won’t have the chance to tell anyone, though, for an ancient force also stirs with the comet.


Taishan was the last of her kind. Awakened by the nightless day, she stands guard over an isolated valley claimed in battle from an earlier emperor. She still has the scars. The comet has all but erased any protection provided by the cover of night. The ten tails that trailed behind Lao-Tien-Yeh were another worry. They mirrored what appeared the night the old girl was born. An omen. A prophecy. A disaster. A battle. In that scenario, no one wins. So be it. Taishan was determined to die here. Her unborn would vanish with her unless the old monk can change their destiny.


There are moments when we realize how fragile life is; how sacred the vows of compassion are. A soul becoming resplendent is hard-earned. A lifetime of serving others is the only way to get there.


It takes a thousand years for the Buddhist doctrine to be discovered again.


Hanalei Bay, Hawaii  Three Days Ago...


Calvin's forgotten childhood promise sat locked in a drawer for fifty years, placed there by an ancient and bitter darkness. However, the obligation behind it had begun long before ever being bargained. It has woven through time and collected a would-be grandfather, a ragged old cat, and not the least of which, a renewed interest of the grey ladies, the Fates. You see, Clotho is the sister who spins the threads of life and destiny, and once upon a time, the sister tied these three souls together.


Now, while caring for a recently rescued kitten, an accident occurs that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. Every imaginary friend that had ever visited Calvin in dreams has been tugged home again by the thread. Every Grumpmuffin, Gigglemonk, Cuddlemonk, Ticklemonk, and Adamsville Fairy expects to have their say. It has been a long time since a human has breached the veil and been able to hold a conversation. They intend to make the most of it.


Harsh questions will be asked, secrets will be shared, and the truth will stand revealed. But, like the Chinese monk before him, Calvin will not have the chance to tell anyone. Once again, an ancient force stirs


Although Twain, Tesla, Barrie, Warhol, The Apollo 12/Intrepid Landing Module, Perun-the Slavic God of Thunder, some Quantum Foam, and just a wee bit of lost faith, all make appearances, they may not be enough to change a destiny long ago set in motion.


Comet Lao-Tien-Yeh 老天葉 is now designated 12P/Pons-Brooks. It is fast approaching.


Evergreen, Colorado  Now


“Shhhh... it is September. Love blooms in the softer sunlight. Changing colors float along with the wisps of chimney smoke and beckon the gentler souls out into the starlight. The door to the magic of the Elysian Fields opens during the cool darkened evenings of Autumn.” ~ A Persistence of Dreams / Book Two of The Dreams Saga