Dragon Energy

The people often spoke of ‘dragon energy’ - not knowing exactly where it came from, or what it was.

When, as a little boy, Nathanius Tindle had placed his hand around the diamond cough drop, whereupon something of the energetic force was imparted, thus it was that he went on to grow to such an unusual gigantic height.

This was not its only gift, for his mind had accelerated also - and he took great pleasure prescribing mathematical solutions to configuring complex formulas, and geometrical understandings of geometry and the wonders of astronomy.

He knew that the principle of ‘as above, so below’ was in deed a primal fact: and that all forms within the material world had their essential patents elsewhere in the universe - that life was constantly repeated through these heavenly guidelines - forming and un-forming Creation.

It was probably just as well that Nathanius had lost the diamond, for its powers would have soon become too much for him, too great, too bold, for any one man, to know.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses: Azlander Series

Magic Shadow

Dmitry Krutous

“Dead Wood" - that was how they had described him, and it stung.

To a dwarf this is a very great insult - possibly the worst insult - for each being of Faerie has their own dedicated tree, and so to call him ‘dead wood’ was to suggest he, and his tree, was without life.

There are beings who emanate further life to life which is around them and then there are those who have ceased to participate - and their transactions with the ethers go just one way.

Pine-Needles loved life and its nature and his fellow beings - he had fallen ill and that was simply all. But now, with the illness fallen from him, and the healing of the ecto vapours from Puck, he was renewed. He had also an especial fondness for Eve by association - and committed to be her chief defender, prime project, and magic shadow.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses: Azlander Series

Black was Back

“Have you a special question today Sir?” Eve asked politely.

“Yes indeed” the timbre was sophisticated. He continued: “Do you think that chickens can see into the ‘other worlds’?"

“Could you please repeat the question?” she nervously asked, biding time, dismayed at being caught off guard.

“Well, er, Mr … ”

“Black” he said calmly - as though he expected to be taken seriously. “Can chickens see spiritual phenomena? he pressed: are they clairvoyant?”

“That really is a very interesting question Mr Black - can I ask what made you think of it?”

“In my opinion sparrows can see the invisibles - most breeds do - but I have not been able to say with certainty that the chicken, hen or rooster is so qualified. It's their brains you see - very flighty. They do say that the rooster can feel the sunrise as it approaches, and its healing forces infill his song.”

Eve paused to think - her show was interrupted conveniently by a local sponsor’s advertisement.

The stranger kept talking: “The dog is dead, Albert is in Bermuda, and the nagging spirit is not his wife, but his mother.”

"Click"- the phone-line died.

Eve hurriedly shuffled her papers to find the one she had prepared earlier to read to her audience … she bit her lip - its subject was ‘psychic animals’. How could the caller have known?

She laughed when all of a sudden she recognized who was at the other end of the line - somehow she just knew it was that crazy spirit that had wandered into her apartment a few days before, and now it appeared he was back.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses: Azlander Series

Radio Show

Back at the radio station Eve had got off to a great start - the switchboard was clamouring with ardent enthusiasts. Management always took it to be a ‘good sign’ when the public responded ravenously to a host - proving that again spiritism was still very much a hot topic, even in this modern age.

Caller number one had lost their dog, and was phoning to ask the medium if she could sense his whereabouts. Caller two had lost their husband: and could not verify if they were dead or had absconded, or perhaps was lost, and had asked Eve pitifully if she could sense Albert’s whereabouts.

Caller three had lost his wife, but wanted to know if there was a way he could hide from the spirit of the deceased, who nightly haunted him with chores that she considered he was meant to be doing. 

Caller four had an unusual stride in the way they spoke - it was almost playful. He introduced himself as a student for all things esoteric.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses: Azlander Series

Very Zen

The fat grey moth appeared to have given up, having succumbed to the sticky tangle that had entrapped him.

Puck gently blew on the failing creature, and in that one breath the bondage dissolved and the creature flew free.

Out in the rocky outcrops of Utah a lone climber was wedged in between two rock walls that earlier he thought he could crawl through. His body had swollen in the heat of the struggle, and now the adventurer was literally stuck between a rock and a hard place, opposing his efforts to move forward or back.

He could not reach his phone, or flick the ants from his nose. The heat of the stone was burning his bare shoulders, and his fears were strangling the very breath out from him. He closed his eyes momentarily to find respite from the panic, when a warm sweet wind passed over him from behind. He opened his eyes to find that the wall beside him was breaking up into sand, and with all the effort he could gather, he wriggled free. The young explorer dropped safely and softly onto the dirt beneath.

Back in his one-windowed room, Puck picked up his satchel to leave, and then stopped to clairvoyantly enjoy the exhilaration of the climber as he ran towards the entrance to the national park.

“How very Zen” he said jokingly to the ghost of Master Shen, who saw also the remote event watching through his friend’s eyes.

With the hint of a smile, he every slightly nodded a bow to Puck on his way out. The old ghost touched his shoulder affectionately and whispered, “Two-fer”.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses: Azlander Series

Master Shen Yun

Puck enjoyed his stay-overs with the Buddhist brotherhood. He had a special room set apart from the main quarters, from where he could come and go undisturbed and largely unseen.

Master Shen Yun, a century before, had offered him this arrangement, and in kind, Puck would bring the community a variety of seeds that did them well. Over a hundred years later he was still delivering farming supplies to his favourite retreat.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses: Azlander Series

Buddhist Monastery

He folded his silken robe lovingly, and placed it on the top of the two camel hair blankets resting on his woven bamboo sleeping mat.

Puffs of humid rain were misting into the little square window of his room. An elderly moth rested awkwardly on its ledge - his furry feet were caught in the remnants of an obstinate web.

The low moans of the morning’s chant could be heard from all around, although as though, from one voice alone. This deep song found its way into the gardens, the wash house, and the temple; punctuated with the rhythmic swish of the switch calling to action the will of the spirit in all quarters of the Monastery.

Duty thrummed throughout the community’s heart; motivating the aching hand, thrashing the strained and tired back - consoling fervently the ever reaching mind … seeking out the peace of the Heavens.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, Finding Self - Second Guesses- Azlander Series