Andrea McCain, 32, actress
‘No one can manipulate anyone else. In any relationship, both parties know what they’re doing, even if one of them complains later on that they were used.’
That’s what Athena used to say, but she herself behaved quite differently, because she used and manipulated me with no consideration for my feelings. And given that we’re talking about magic here, this makes the accusation an even more serious one; after all, she was my teacher, charged with passing on the sacred mysteries, with awakening the unknown force we all possess. When we venture into that unfamiliar sea, we trust blindly in those who guide us, believing that they know more than we do.
Well, I can guarantee that they don’t. Not Athena, not Edda, nor any of the people I came to know through them. She told me she was learning through teaching, and although, at first, I refused to believe this, later, I came to think that perhaps it was true. I realised it was one of her many ways of getting us to drop our guard and surrender to her charm.
People who are on a spiritual quest don’t think, they simply want results. They want to feel powerful and superior to the anonymous masses. They want to be special. Athena played with other people’s feelings in a quite terrifying way.
I understand that she once felt a profound admiration for St Thérèse of Lisieux. I have no interest in the Catholic faith, but, from what I’ve heard, Thérèse experienced a kind of mystical and physical union with God. Athena mentioned once that she would like to share a similar fate. Well, in that case, she should have joined a convent and devoted her life to prayer or to the service of the poor. That would have been much more useful to the world and far less dangerous than using music and rituals to induce in people a kind of intoxicated state that brought them into contact with both the best and the worst of themselves.
I sought her out when I was looking for some meaning to my life, although I didn’t say as much at our first meeting. I should have realised from the start that Athena wasn’t very interested in that; she wanted to live, dance, make love, travel, to gather people around her in order to demonstrate how wise she was, to show off her gifts, to provoke the neighbours, to make the most of all that is profane in us – although she always tried to give a spiritual gloss to that search.
Whenever we met, whether it was to perform some magical ceremony or to meet for a drink, I was conscious of her power. It was so strong I could almost touch it. Initially, I was fascinated and wanted to be like her. But one day, in a bar, she started talking about the ‘Third Rite’, which has to do with sexuality. She did this in the presence of my boyfriend. Her excuse was that she was teaching me something. Her real objective, in my opinion, was to seduce the man I loved.
And, of course, she succeeded.
It isn’t good to speak ill of people who have passed from this life onto the astral plane. However, Athena won’t have to account to me, but to all those forces which she turned to her own benefit, rather than channelling them for the good of humanity and for her own spiritual enlightenment.
The worst thing is that if it hadn’t been for her compulsive exhibitionism, everything we began together could have worked out really well. Had she behaved more discreetly, we would now be fulfilling the mission with which we were entrusted. But she couldn’t control herself; she thought she was the mistress of the truth, capable of overcoming all barriers merely by using her powers of seduction.
And the result? I was left alone. And I can’t leave the work half-finished – I’ll have to continue to the end, even though sometimes I feel very weak and often dispirited.
I’m not surprised that her life ended as it did: she was always flirting with danger. They say that extroverts are unhappier than introverts, and have to compensate for this by constantly proving to themselves how happy and contented and at ease with life they are. In her case, at least, this is absolutely true.
Athena was conscious of her own charisma, and she made all those who loved her suffer.
Including me.
Next chapter will be on-line on: 07.03.07
Any message about any chapter can be left in the “readers’ corner” post.
{ 23 comments }
I enjoyed the point of view of the second narrator. Amazingingly good writing. A treasure.
Thank you.
Amazing…. Sir Paulo is one of the greatest authors I have Known.. :)
beautiful …. as always.
thank you
Hi Paulo. You never cease to inspire me with your writings. I can’t wait until the release of this book…THANK YOU Paulo.
[quote comment="59"]Dear Paulo,
You speak the voice of hearts.
The hearts of common people.
Their feeling, their thouhts, their sorrows and their beliefs…..
Thus there is clarity in the narration.
That is why we Indians love you very much.
And, waiting for the book is really painful!
(Happiness is felt when a painful event preceds it)
Love
Sujith[/quote]
:)
Dear Paulo,
this is interesting. It looks like people coping with the loss of a loved one. There is always hope that this will provide some meaning into their lives, but I believe the world is usually darker than that.
Anyway, makes me think, so far – as I said, interesting.
Love,
Katerina.
Hi Paulo,
This is such an interesting (and exciting) prospect. We can now communicate and relate directly with authors whose reading we enjoy and learn from. This could never have been imagined only decades ago. Now, we have this new phenomenon-being able to read from a novel on a blog before it’s even been published-and we can comment on the writing directly with the owner of the ‘pen’.
I am just another humble human who has read all of your books that I could get my hands on-ten I think. When I was in Costa Rica last year I saw a girl reading Brida-in Spanish of course. Has this book also been published in English (I am in Australia)? What is ‘Like the Flowing River? I haven’t seen that text here…
I have written about you in a couple of articles/posts over the years. At: click in my name.
you can read my latest discussion on this new writing paradigm-the online novel. Of course we already have e-books and audiobooks, but this interactive media approach to story writing (with readers able to comment) takes things to another level completely.
Don’t believe the critics. I know so many people who have loved the stories that flowed through the instrument of your body.
Peace,
Jesse
P.S. Imagine being able to comment directly to Rumi, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or Ernest Hemingway…The world is changing my friends.
Just brilliant!
I was just going to read the beginning of chapter 1 and then back to bed and read the rest tomorrow. I couldn’t take my eyes of the screen until ch. 2 was finished! And today comes ch. 3, yey!:)
I’ve read a few of your books and can’t wait to read the rest! Including this one!
I have a few more of your books to finish before this one is out, so I’m just thrilled right now! Write ‘em fast so I never run out of your books:)
You have changed my life, I’m sure of it!
Thank you so much!
/Amea, Stockholm/Sweden
Dear paulo,
Things are not getting much inquistive.
It has now become like ateaser Ad.
Anyway keep it up.
Thnka
Great mind, and great books.
Keep up the good work!
Dear Paolo,
I just started to translate the first two chapters into German (for my own private purposes)… and I will carry on as the chapters come in. It grasped me completely!
Why I did that? ….. First of all I think there is no better way of getting fully into the essence – spirit – and vibrations of your writing.
Two: Having worked as a professional translator for many years – it gives me a special thrill to do this.
Three: It will be interesting for me to compare my “private version” with the “official version” once the book will be released on the German speaking market.
Don´t worry – this is no copyright-violation – as I keep the translation strictly to myself. Maybe I allow some very close friends to read it as well – but that´s all.
I hope you don´t have anything against it.
One of your readers wrote in a comment – that the original version is more comprehensive than the English one…. what a shame….. why is that …. since every word of yours is so precious to us.
Thank you Paolo. Take care.
Love
Monica
dear paulo
thanks for making this available to us on the net.
Im waiting to travel through the path with in this adventure.
vishesh
As always Paulo, your insight is subtle and profound, oh the joy of reading with such depth and gentleness, thank you Paulo i look forward to reading more.
warmest regards elena di cesare
Dear Paulo,
You speak the voice of hearts.
The hearts of common people.
Their feeling, their thouhts, their sorrows and their beliefs…..
Thus there is clarity in the narration.
That is why we Indians love you very much.
And, waiting for the book is really painful!
(Happiness is felt when a painful event preceds it)
Love
Sujith
Many people will recognise the statements in the first and second chapter. Some people will feel like a victim, others as a perpetrator. Some people want to be guided, some whant to guide, others want te be independent, although it is almost impossible to be completely independent.
Waiting for more,
Kind regards to everyone
The first chapter is good, (very artistical)
the second one even better – it gives me a taste of reality,
of a bite directly from todays New Age-world and I like the
second caracters more critical approach in compare/balance with
the first one. It will be interesting to read the others.
Wow,
I did not think that the new book would be so dark and interesting.
The book is out in hard back in Ireland next month.
Funny, I wrote about a Vampire in the blog and only read this today.;
There is a program called Mosthaunted Live on living TV. They went to Dracula’s Castle last weekend to find his soul. Turns out he never lived there and his soul is not there either, however dark spirits walk within and they found out that he was there for some of his childhood and in later life was in prison for a short period.
While watching the program myself and Solveigh my girlfreind heard a loud bang and the TV switched off by itself. We went to the noise..the dishwasher had gone on fire!!
Kealan
Reading this helps me trying to be strong. Thank you!
The first line of the second chapter is very interesting. Wwaiting for 7th March to read the third chapter.
This is great! I can’t wait to read the whole book. And I think that I will have to wait until May when it will be released in Poland :)
I’m sending love To YOU and Christine :)
Anna
very interesting..i am already engrossed to it..
WHO IS SHE?
WHO DID INSPIRE YOU?
WHO AM I?
CONGRATULATIONS
i love it. i totally love paulo.
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