A SENIOR'S RESORT, AND FLIGHT AROUND THE APARTMENT

 First the dream, 


I am in a large mall-like setting. At first I'm not sure what I am doing there, but after a while I realize that it is a beautiful resort that caters to the seniors. It is very modern, with many shops and theatres, glass and steel partitions and huge windows. Although I don't take the elevator to the upper floors, I know that it is full of beautiful rooms for the seniors to stay and enjoy themselves. But at the same time, it is also full of old-world charm. Outside the main building, there is a number of thatch-roof cottages, and the property is full of woods, meadows, hills, a small lake, as well as a pristine swimming pool, and all the amenities of a resort.


I am waiting with some other staff for a group of guests to arrive, and soon they do - they are all ladies in their 70's and 80's, their crisp cotton summer outfits neatly pressed, their hair newly coifed. They are all very excited to be here, and one of them hands me a piece of paper upon which is their itenerary. I tell them that they are most welcome to be here, and can do whatever they wish without sticking to any schedule. But they would have none of that - their spokeswoman tells me, with a slightly worried look on her face, that "No, we best stick to that schedule, because otherwise we will not be able to take advantage of the free tickets". I assure them their wishes will be honoured. They all go to the elevators, with staff taking all the luggage up as well.


I go outside into the flower-studded meadow, and then up the hill. This is such a beautiful place, part cultivated, part wild, and I am grateful that my job permits me the time to explore it all - in fact requires me to do so, so that I can be more efficient in showing it to the guests. I meet some of my co-workers at the top of the hill, and we all stand there admiring the view for a while. In time, it is necessary for us to get back down, and playfully, I tell them that I can beat them all in reaching the bottom of the hill.


With the abandon of little children, we begin to run down the hill. A few steps down, I will myself to lift off the ground and fly. I am only partially successful, but it still gives me the edge I need to soar over their heads a few times, much to their astonishment and my delight. I find I cannot sustain the flight or height too well, and when I finally crash-land the final time in the small meadow in front of the main building, the fastest runner is already there. We laugh, gasping, as the others join us, and I tell them, "Well, that was rather unspectacular!" Not so in the eyes of my friends, because they all want to know how I managed to do that. I promise to let them know all about it after work tonight.
*****




I know I woke up at this point, and when I began to fall asleep again, it didn't take long for me to find my Astral self sitting up. I didn't waste any time in separating myself and flying about my room. This time, I wanted to see the rest of my apartment and just leisurily began to make my way down the hall into the living room, where I perched myself on top of the entertainment wall unit and like a gargoyle, surveyed the place. I could not get enough of it! Even as in waking life, this apartment is too new, filled with new items, for me to truly be comfortable in it - it felt as though it belonged to someone else!


But I also focused on the objects that were so important to me - the artwork on the walls - and that is what grounded me. I saw the place finally as mine, finally as a place that has truly my stamp on it and simply sat back and enjoyed the view. Seen from above, from that vantage point, I took note of the little things, like how the very faint light played upon the face of Quan Yin, or how the gold collars around my Bast figurines sparkled.


Still staying very close to the ceiling, I made my way to the patio doors and looked at the room from that perspective, this time perching myself on top of the kitchen cabinets and again noting some details that will need to be attended to (like the top of the piano). I was filled with a deep gratitude and contentment. For a moment I debated flying into the spare clutter room, but decided not too - and laughed at that decision. But I did spend more time just flying about the living room, hovering here and there, before I knew it was time to go back.


The short trip down the hall and back in my bedroom, I paused for a few seconds looking down upon myself. I looked very peaceful and relaxed. Outside it was still dark. Another half second and I settled neatly into myself and stirred. I know I instantly fell back asleep, because when I did wake up finally, it was full daylight. The memory of this flight was very fresh and clear.