gaining traction arbornautically

 

No traction?

 

Absolutely.

 

So if there’s no traction – how can we be aware of anything?

 

Good question.

 

How does this conversation take place or register if there’s absolutely no traction whatsoever?

 

Skiing

 

Huh?

 

Or skating

 

Eh…

 

Or skateboarding

Wait a minute.

 

Ok

 

Stop throwing concepts at me, and give me something substantive to get my teeth into.

 

Substantive? I just told you there’s no traction, didn’t I, and now you want something solid and real?

 

Ok. But we still need some kind of traction in our conversation, don’t we? I need to feel like I have a clue what’s going on, don’t I, otherwise we’re…

 

freakin’ doomed.

 

Precisely. So what gives?

 

Skiing.

 

[Groan]

 

Skating.

 

[Sigh] Ok – I get the message – and skateboarding too. Do you have to talk in riddles? Can’t you just spit it out?

 

I could, couldn’t I…

 

But you don’t choose to.

 

Because I choose not to thing – capisce?

 

Not to “thing” – yes – I seem to remember you banging on about that interminably in a past life.

 

Because if I “thing” – giving you a bone, or a fish – we connect through one part of the brain – but if I merely make a suggestion and allow you to tune in, if you’re willing – then we have a deeper, stronger connection – and more to the point – they’re left out.

 

They?

 

Don’t ask.

 

I just did, so go on.

 

You’ll only attract their unwanted attention by focussing on them.

 

Well, there’s no use crying over spilt milk – I’ve already “they’d” em, so out with it – who exactly are they?

 

You see how persistent your mind is, Zara?

 

Damn you Merry – I want an answer – now.

 

Ok – I’ll agree to confirm or counter your suppositions. So fire ahead.

 

They’re either some kind of Archons or else matrix bots, Agent Smiths, if you like – whose job it is to keep us safely in the thing-cube – the mind sphere that we’re allowed to operate within more or less freely.

 

Yes. Spot on. It doesn’t really matter which of the two, does it – whether they're etheric or physical. They’re rather effective at keeping us in the pre-defined mind space that we refer to as 3D.

 

But I thought 3D was a physical reality space. Why are you referring to it as “mind-space”?

 

Who cares? Within 3D it’s definitely just physical reality, isn’t it, but the moment you figure out how to evade them – and cross over into “un3DeeD” for want of a better term – that’s when all those certainties and definites become debatable, highly debatable or just downright ridiculous.

 

Ok. I’m with you so far. Things indeed appear to lock us firmly into 3D mind-space whereas two-way dialogue or something closer to telepathic communication does the opposite. That much I get. But what about skiing or skating…

 

Or skateboarding.

 

Precisely.

 

Well, when you’ve little or no traction – you can still move forward as if there’s plenty of it, can’t you?

 

You can?

 

Well how do you think skiers, skaters or skateboarders move?

 

By pushing outwards, using the edge of the skate.

 

That’s right. By using the wave form to your advantage. By playing the curve. There’s always the possibility to find traction if you bend the wave a little, scuff it up, compress or extend time – going slightly out of phase. It just takes a bit of practice.

 

But skateboarders just propel themselves along using their other foot on the ground. There’s no zero traction analogy there.

 

Except when they move forward by S bending rapidly back and forth.

 

Oh that.

 

Giving them an edge to push against.

 

Gotcha.

 

So a seemingly hopeless situation is, in fact, not half as hopeless as at first it appears.

 

Right… So are you saying that’s what we do in reality – in order to make sense of things – in order to gain traction?

 

Of course.

 

Pushing against opposing streams – neither of which is quite what I think or feel?

 

Absolutely. We’re all wave masters, it’s just we’re not really aware of the extent to which we’ve mastered waves.

 

Probably because there seems to be plenty of traction – walking down a street, throwing a ball, reading a book. It’s called friction. We don’t seem to have any trouble thinking all kinds of complicated things, do we?

 

Correct, as long as they’re inside the 3D mind space.

 

But nothing original ever comes from the 3D mindspace, does it?

 

Correct.

 

So we need to get out of it?

 

Get out – I’m not sure I like the idea of trying to break out or escape. You’re free wherever you are – if you choose to be free.

 

Ok, fair enough.

 

So what’s stopping us from being fundamentally free even here in 3D?

 

Nothing.

 

Er…

 

Nothing itself obviously has no traction whatsoever, does it?

 

I expect you’re right. Nothing is the last thing I’d feel I could push against.

 

So you need to start connecting with elements or aspects of reality that don’t presently fit into the 3D space, that ostensibly seem to be less than real.

 

And how exactly does one do that?

 

By skiing, skating or skateboarding.

 

Ask a stupid question.

 

You need to start engaging and enjoying non-linear umba umba

 

Umba umba?

 

Yes – it’s a kind of beat, really, isn’t it?

 

Well yes, that’s what it sounds like. Umba umba!

 

Once you get over the culture shock – you’ll find that there’s a whole world of non-linear-ity that’s just waiting to be discovered on the other side of your brain.

 

And I can start making headway?

 

Precisely, as long as you’re not too attached to squaring things.

 

Squaring things?

 

Constantly having to decide and fix what you agree with and what supports your self-idea.

 

Ah.

 

Because, the self-idea is one of the key ways they keep you mind-locked in 3D.

 

It is?

 

Yes, because as soon as you’re able to be more flexible in your sense of self – and allow things to be contradictory – the sooner you’ll be able to open up other levels of reality – other spaces, other trajectories, which may be incomplete or inconsistent in themselves, but which might nevertheless add something to the whole.

 

Adding something even while they detract from the coherency of the whole? Sounds doubtful.

 

Indeed, it is very doubtful – but let that be no obstacle. As the contradictions escalate and the doubts, likewise, you’ll become more and more aware of the ability to breathe into or breathe through those doubts – thus experiencing different sides of the tree.

 

Oh – so now there’s a tree, is there?

 

Well yes, if you go beyond the geometric cube or sphere you need something else to hang your contradictions on.

 

And it just so happens to be a tree?

 

Well that’s what we call it, and its geometry is a lot more sophisticated than a cube or sphere – you’d agree – with the roots reaching down into some kind of fundamental bedrock, and the tree’s crown reaching up into some kind of starry sky.

 

Or sunny?

 

Or sunny, naturally – if it’s daytime.

 

Ah – I thought this was just an abstraction.

 

Oh no – it’s real enough – once you step outside 3D – and they can’t actually stop you climbing up or descending the tree, you know.

 

They can’t?

 

Nope.

 

That’s er… nice to know.

 

Yes, but the tree is not the main focus of your endeavours – for it’s too big, and only materialises to the extent that you reveal it.

 

And how do I reveal it?

 

By skiing, skating or skateboarding.

 

I might have known. Is there no other way? Can I not, for instance, dance or sing?

 

Of course you can.

 

Then what’s the problem – surely anyone can reveal the tree. Millions of people dance and sing.

 

Ah – but it’s not so much what you do, as how­ you do it.

 

Ah. So I have to dance or sing in a particular way?

 

Yes. Let’s have a go now. Take it away, babe.

 

Zara starts dancing, rather beautifully. Merry watches – arms folded.

 

See?

 

You’re a great dancer Zara – but you’re dancing within the cube – so you gained no traction and cannot access other plains.

 

So what am I supposed to do?

 

Merry starts dancing – birdlike. There’s something incongruous in what he’s doing and soon Zara finds herself losing track of things – the room seems to swivel sideways – but instead of panicking she just watches in an utterly detached way – like it doesn’t matter in the least – even when Merry dances himself across the ceiling into a single point of darkness, and then vanishes altogether – emerging a moment later – still dancing – as an iridescent light that seems to be everywhere all at once.

 

Some water?

 

I… where am I?

 

You kind of fell asleep – didn’t you.

 

But I saw you changing – and the room slanted sideways – and you were no longer touching the ground and…

 

You?

 

I don’t know.

 

Ah – but I think you do.

 

I…

 

Feels awkward, doesn’t it?

 

Yes. It’s too outlandish.

 

Go on. No one cares.

 

But honestly…

 

Zara – quit wasting time.

 

Was I really a beetle?

Depends what you mean by “really” doesn’t it.

 

Er…

 

If by “really” you mean “in 3D reality” then no – you weren’t a beetle – were you? Not in 3D's masterful rendition of things.

 

Phew! I was beginning to wonder...

 

But if by “really” you mean “in any reality manifesting anywhere on the tree” then absolutely – you most definitely were.

 

Oh no.

 

Which, on the one hand, is deeply disturbing at an existential level, is it not?

 

Gulp!

 

While on the other – it’s a wonderful indication that there’s more to you, more to reality:  “more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy” as the bard so aptly says.

 

But, it can’t be right.

 

Correct. It’s most definitely not right. It’s left.

 

No, I mean – it’s gotta be wrong – messing around with nature like that.

 

Messing around? With nature?

 

Yes. It smacks of sorcery.

 

Ah – I see what you mean.

 

So with all due respect Merry, I want nothing further to do with this kind of experiment.

 

Ok. Fine by me. Byeee.

 

Huh?

 

I’ll be off.

 

What do you mean?

 

You’ve just released me.

 

I beg your pardon?

 

I was under contract to ready you for arbornautics.

 

Arbornautics – as in tree travel.

 

Correct.

 

Under contract?

 

Correct. Ciao!

 

No, wait a minute. Contract? What contract? How come I know nothing about it?

 

Because you’re still “in the box” i.e. of-the-cube or sphere – whatever you wish it to be.

 

So who hired you?

 

You did.

 

I beg your pardon.

 

Not without good cause. Accepted.

 

No, I mean how could I have hired you?

 

Because you’re still “of-the-tree” – even if part of you has been ceremoniously inserted into this ‘ere cube thing.

 

Or spheroid.

 

Precisely.

 

So… I hired you.

 

Correct.

 

To ready me for tree travel?

 

Yes, I really need to be on my way.

 

But how can I be sure you’re telling the truth?

 

You can’t, unless you bother to ask your all-knowing-self. Seems kind of obvious really.

 

But how can I ask myself – I mean…

 

You could just try.

 

What? Just ask my self?

 

Well how else are you going to do it? Honestly!

 

I really don’t know.

 

As Merry gathers his things and puts on his jacket and boots:

 

And who exactly am I?

 

I’m sorry Zara – I’m not under contract to explain such matters. If you wish to know who exactly you are I suggest you get that information directly, from the horse’s mouth, so to speak.

 

Eeeek! From the horse’s mouth? You mean I’m actually higher-dimensionally a horse?

 

No, I don’t mean anything. I’m just using standard idiomatic English.

 

Oh. Phew!

 

Now, I’ve got to be off. Other jobs to attend to.

 

But Merry – you were happy to talk to me and guide me a minute or two ago.

 

Yes, but then you obligingly released me from all contractual obligations, which means that technically you and I have nothing further to say to each other.

 

But, you have to understand Merry – the prospect of losing my human form – of becoming a beetle – is fairly repugnant to me.

 

I won’t call you racist Zara – I understand your predicament. But with all due respect – not my problem.

 

But have a little kind consideration…

 

Wait a second – I did everything humanly possible to help you reconnect with yourself. I bent over backwards – I rearranged time and space – I gave you a golden opportunity to feel the magic and splendour of who and what you really are – and you chose to reject it. That’s your choice freely exercised. Now, if you don’t mind – I’ve got a bunch of other leaves to see today.

 

Leaves?!

 

Yes. You’re all really leaves – figuratively speaking, of course, though not without a pearly drop of truth.

 

Oh God. Merry – is there any way I can learn to reconnect with my self – whoever or whatever I am – without turning into a beetle?

 

I really couldn’t say, Zara, and frankly – I don’t care.

 

Zara starts sobbing inconsolably. Merry at first looks in disgust, but then a soft and sappy side to him opens up and he strokes her head, oh so gently, soothing her frayed nerves.

 

There, there Zara. You never know – your self might send another, better version of me. I never said I was the only tree liaison officer, did I?

 

But, I don’t want another tree liaison officer.

 

I see your dilemma, Zara. But honestly – I don’t see how I can help you. The one thing I cannot guarantee is that you can or will hold onto any particular form – because moving through the many plains of reality your essence is going to, inevitably, express itself in the most appropriate way be that beetle, chicken or...

 

My essence.

 

Your essence.

 

So, part of me is going to stay me.

 

Naturally.

 

Well why didn’t you say?!

 

I think you’ll find, if you scan the flight log of our first little arbornautics trip, that this was all explained in detail.

 

It was?

 

Merry sinks into a state of deep zen – floating a foot or more above the ground. Observing this – Zara too finds herself strangely relaxed – and inadvertently, without even thinking about it, leafs through the pages of her flight log, which just happens to be close at hand. As soon as she mentally searches for the relevant dataset – Zara finds herself in the thick of things – reliving the experience that a moment earlier she’d been unable to recall. When she gets to the end of her search – to her surprise – the beetle is back –

 

You?

 

Me, who else.

 

You’re so beautiful. I can’t imagine why I thought you were alien or impersonal.

 

Good ol’ common-or-garden prejudice, Zara. Nothing to it.

 

But how can I see you if I’m…

 

If you are me – the beetle you’re now looking at?

 

Yes.

 

It’s amazing isn’t it. On the one hand, you’re the beetle – on the other hand you’re not – it’s just a form that serves a purpose.

 

Must I always take a form?

 

Absolutely. How else could you experience things – without yourself taking form and thus defining the angle of attack, the vantage point?

 

Just the same way one is able to think in the abstract – without fixing anything?

 

Ah – but there in 3D you’re totally fixed in your human form with all the cultural and social constraints of the little-self you have become, so your “abstracts” always rhyme with, reflect or reject whatever it is you happen to be. They’re far from being pure abstractions.

 

Oh.

 

This beetle form, on the other hand, is remarkably flexible and demands almost nothing from you – just a little buzzing around to maintain a certain resonant frequency while scoping certain electro-magnetic field lines to keep its easy-going conscious-awareness nicely charged and ticking over.

 

So how come my regular Zara is so engrossed in herself?

 

Occupational hazard – everyone going into the 3D cube

 

or sphere

 

exactly, gets sucked into the black hole of me-ful-ness – and almost none can escape. It's an addiction of sorts.

 

So, am I free?

 

You are always free – no matter what.

 

I am?

 

Yes – kindly observe.

 

Ezmie presents Zara with her life contract which is entitled “Articles of association” – like a corporation – Zara muses. There at the very first paragraph she sees the words in bold – “All beings are free no matter what they may feel, think or believe. The life-in-a-box experience is all about learning from a state of deeply disconnected ignorance this profoundly simple, inalienable, fundamental truth.”

 

Ah! Makes sense. But…

 

Yes?

 

Haven’t I broken the terms of the contract by coming here and reviewing this contractual information?

 

Do you think you have the power to break a life agreement created by your deepest essence Zara?

 

Er… But wasn’t I meant to figure all this out for myself?

 

Good question... Yes.

 

Oh dear. Then I failed.

 

Impossible.

 

Huh?

 

You could only be here if somehow, somewhere you’d already figured it out.

 

Really?

 

Absolutely. That’s how we set it up.

 

You mean…

 

But the next moment Zara is back in human form with Merry – eating an ice-cream.

 

Merry – I met her. Ezmie.

 

Did you? Well done!

 

She explained everything.

 

Oh wow!

 

Where did you get this ice-cream from?

 

I didn’t Zara. A bit forgetful today, aren’t we?

 

Wait a second – how can I forget something if I wasn’t here. I can hardly be in two places at once, can I?

 

Copy me.

 

Merry does a series of body movements, duration 23 seconds. Then freezes expectantly.

 

Ah. That’s rather impressive Merry.

 

Yes, but after a while you’ll be able to do it mentally, without needing to go through the actual motions.

 

So, you just reconnected me to another part of my conscious awareness…

 

Of your mind – correct.

 

And now it turns out that I’ve learnt how to manifest things –

 

Even ice-cream – very tasty I might add.

 

As long as I get out of the way, mentally – which means heading for the nearest beetle in the vicinity of my 3D mind cube. But how do I detach from it and come back to the new updated version of 3D reality with an ice-cream in hand?

 

I’m in danger of sounding like a broken record – you know what I’m going to say by now, don’t you Zara?

 

“Check the flight log”.

 

Correct.

 

Rather spectacular – Zara relives the ice-cream moment – observing how she bird-dances herself into her favourite ice-cream parlour and then beetles her way back via the all-giving, all-accomodating flight log’s fungibility function, thereby recubing the sphere.

 

Zara suddenly notices that the ice-cream now feels and tastes much more real.

 

Why is that, Merry?

 

Causality. Everything has to come from somewhere definite, doesn’t it – otherwise it’s like a low res thumbnail, lacking full details.

 

So seeing is believing?

 

Kinda, yes.

 

Later that day…

 

So now I have traction, Merry, would you say?

 

Now you’re learning how to play one side of infinity against the other.

 

Infinity?

 

What else do you want to call it?

 

I don’t know – just – “infinity” sounds so soulless.

 

I agree. But on the other hand, a little mathematical detachment is necessary if we’re to clean up the emotional, psychological carnage of 3D reality.

 

But I don’t see what you have against 3D reality. It’s wonderful that we’re so emotional, so human.

 

Of course. And that we kill one another?

 

That’s just the failure of people to handle their emotions properly.

 

True. But be that as it may – one of the side effects of arbornautics, you will find – is a greater detachment from the drama of the moment. Now that you have a vastly expanded context and can see 3D reality from above and below, it’s difficult to take things that seemed vitally important a week ago, so seriously now.

 

But what about poetry?

 

What about it?

 

Will I ever be able to write it again?

 

Can't say I ever noticed you writing much in the way of recognisable poetry Zara.

 

No, but at least it was one of my basic options.

 

First and foremost you’ll be writing poetry-in-motion as you pen connections between different forms and aspects of an infinitely more connected reality. You’ll be skating or skiing, opening up new avenues, thus deconstructing the cube

 

or sphere

 

whence you commenced this arbornautic tango to reveal...

 

Merry dances hypnotically to complete the sentence neurolinguistically.

 

Oh!

 

Let’s just say that you've completed one phase of your creativity, and the next is going to take a while to come to grips with. Everything you created and experienced in 3D reality is like a vast resource which you will be able to mine and process indefinitely. Nothing was lost. Nothing is ever lost. Energy is merely converted from one form to another, and likewise ideas and thoughts and things.

 

So I’m going to be rethinging things?

 

Absolutely, until you reach the point, inconceivable from where you are currently, that things always were and are in perfect...

 

harmony?

 

You said it.

 

No way... Zara feels her mind melting at the edges. I think I'm going to have to... Buzzz!

 

Excellent. You're good to go Zara, arbornautically.

 

And a world of things in almost utter disarray starts signalling her, pointing out serial material anomalies and inconsistencies that have been putting an almost unbearable strain on the fabric of reality, but which are now brought into play one by one at the quantum level, like a vast reservoir of atomically charged and anatomically loaded springs.

Yippee! 

Calloo callay!

They chortled in their joy. As reality's tulgey wood is finally able to reveal its innermost frumious bandersnatch, its jub jub bird, its dreaded jabberwock – frightsome, manxome foes until they are approached arbornautically.

0=1

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