Chapter 5. The Magician of the Mind
Hesitantly, Scott walked into a wide, elegant foyer with murals painted on the walls depicting the Mind/Bodybuilders in their various activities. A crystal chandelier with at least fifty sparkling lights illuminated the hall.
A tall, handsome man with shiny straight white hair, dressed in rich, colorful robes was walking toward him. The room reminded Scott of a castle he had seen in a movie. In one hand, the man held a scepter glowing with a radiating light that was more like a luminous energy source.
When he smiled, his white teeth gleamed against his coppertoned skin and lit up his perceptive sea-green eyes. He was a giant; but his aura was gentle, and Scott wasn’t frightened.
“Where am I?” Scott inquired.
The man smiled and spoke in a deep vibrant voice that enveloped Scott with calm. “You are in Cortex, the Inner Dimension.”
Scott looked puzzled.
“I am Relato, the Lord of Cortex, Master of Reality, Magician of the Mind. This is the throne room in the Hall of Truth and Beauty. I appear along the Path.”
Scott looked in all directions. “I don’t see a path.” Indeed, this place was not like a path at all. I’m here, Scott thought, but “here” seemed like nowhere he had ever known before.
Relato read Scott’s mind and without moving his lips said, Can you hear my voice?
“Yes,” Scott said, surprised that he was having a conversation, but he was the only one talking.
But I’m not speaking, declared the man.
“Then how do I know what you are saying?”
Scott was dumbfounded and rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was really not seeing Relato’s lips move. He was amazed to realize that Relato was transferring thoughts without speaking.
Relato stroked his chin, watching Scott trying to figure out what was happening. Then he raised his finger and said out loud, “When you’re alone in your room and you think of a bicycle, what do you see in your mind?”
“A bicycle,” Scott blurted out. His eyes grew wider with excitement because he surmised the answer.
“But is it there?”
“No, but I see it in my thoughts.”
“Aha! In your thoughts! And can you imagine peddling down the road, so you have the pleasure of riding it even though it isn’t there?”
“I guess so,” Scott admitted, scratching his head and marveling at that thought.
“Here in Cortex, what we think can be heard; what we imagine can be seen and touched. You are in the place of beginnings and endings, of comings and goings.”
“How did I get here?”
“You were on the Path.”
“But, I don’t remember seeing a path.”
Scott looked around again in bewilderment.
“It’s not something you can see, that’s why.”
“Then how can I be on it?” Scott retorted with a noticeable inflection of frustration emerging in his voice.
Relato spread his arms with a confident grin and asked, “Don’t you know what the Path is?” Relato seemed to hold many secrets but would tell none of them. Scott realized he would have to figure things out for himself.
“Let me ask you something.” Relato leaned down placing one hand on Scott’s shoulder and looking him in the eye. “Why do you get angry at your mother?”
Scott was surprised that Relato knew this about him. “She’s always saying, ‘watch out,’ ‘be careful,’ ‘don’t go there,’ ‘don’t do that,’ ‘stay away from this,’ ‘get away from that.’ She makes me feel like a baby.”
Tia had returned and was suddenly present beside them, as though she had appeared from thin air. She smiled and said, “May I tell him, Relato?”
Relato nodded, and Tia put her hand gently on Scott’s arm. “Fearoid had you in his power. He sucked your strength by turning your fear into anger, and anger was ruining your ability to make sensible decisions.”
“Mom is always too busy to play with me,” Scott tried to explain. “She says, ‘not now’ or ‘later,’ and ‘later’ never comes!”
Relato smiled. “Oh, I see, so it’s your mother’s fault?”
“I’m sick and tired of being told what to do,” Scott ranted and stamped his foot. “I don’t have to listen to anybody. I’m tired of being ordered around. I hate all adults!”
Relato laughed, “Listen to that, Tia! My, oh my, listen to all that negativity! Somebody has to be de-Viroided! What do you think, Taki?”
Taki had materialized on Scott’s shoulder and had quickly pulled his head into his shell at Scott’s outburst. Now he poked it out again and admonished Scott. “Pick up little fellow, why so green and yellow? Have you been infected? Are you feeling dejected? Got anger inside; self-pity besides? Get a life, man. End all that strife, man,” and Taki began to merrily sing…
Get a Life
Performed by Grandmaster Melle Mel
(Visit www.theportalinthepark.com for audio)
Life ‒ do the right thing, have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the wrong way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on and celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you graduate.
Life ‒ get a good job and a nice house.
Life ‒ and a nice car and a nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now bring it out of you.
Life ‒ keep it positive, and make me proud of you.
Keep your eyes on your prize, and follow your dreams.
The road is long, but it ain’t as hard as it seems,
And find yourself a guiding light.
Stay strong and everything will be alright.
Live right, work hard for the money you earn.
Learn to teach and to strive, to teach and learn.
Live in peace free from strife,
And before you do anything, you gotta GET A LIFE!
Do the right thing, have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the wrong way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on and celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you graduate.
Life ‒ get a good job and a nice house.
Life ‒ and a nice car and a nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now bring it out of you.
Life ‒ keep it positive, and make me proud of you.
Some kids go to school to steal and lie,
Thinkin’ that high school is a place to get high.
Playin’ hooky and stayin’ at home,
Thinkin’ they all grown while they’re runnin’ up a bill on the phone.
Actin’ fresh and talkin’ loud,
Smokin’ weed, stayin’ out, now they’re hangin’ with the wrong crowd,
Walkin’ ’round with a gun and a knife.
I think before you go and get shot, you better GET A LIFE!
Do the right thing. Have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the wrong way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on and celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you graduate.
Life ‒ get a good job, and a nice house.
Life ‒ and a nice car, and a nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now bring it out of you.
Life ‒ keep it positive, and make me proud of you.
You can still learn while doing your thing.
Get a degree, get rap, and play, or sing.
Write your rhymes, explore your art.
See you can get a PhD and still be street smart.
You could be the head of the class; you got it made,
And you could be the one to find a cure for AIDS,
Within you is all the answers.
See, you could be a dancer and still find the cure for cancer.
Life ‒ do the right thing, have a nice day.
Life ‒ not the wrong way, do it the right way.
Life ‒ have a good time, come on and
celebrate.
Life ‒ no need to hesitate before you graduate.
Life ‒ get a good job, and a nice house.
Life ‒ and a nice car, and a nice spouse.
Life ‒ you have it in you, now bring it out of you.
Life ‒ keep it positive and make me proud of you.
GET A LIFE!