What is an illusion? Well, there are several definitions we will use the most relevant for this post. A deceptive appearance or impression. Another definition is a false idea or belief. So, with all this in mind does the life that we think we are living fit the definition of an illusion. Many people will say no but let’s take a more introspective look at this life and its complex reality. While anyone with eyes can look around themselves to see, the question becomes what do they actually see? So, let’s say you stand on one side of an open field and about 100 yards away from you someone else is standing. Both of you are looking at the field you would think you are witnessing the same things, correct? Now we take into account direction you may be in the north position while facing south. Conversely the other person is at the south position facing north. Now both of you are looking intently at the field then a flock of birds decide to fly down about the midway point between the both of you. Now you both see the birds on the field but are you both seeing the birds the exact same way? The answer would be no because the visual perspective will be different based on positions and focus points. So even though both of you seem to witness the same event the reality that you internalize about that event will be different based on perception. So, it is no wonder people who think they experienced the same things will have different accounts of what actually happened.
Now in a previous post we talked about mastering your mind this was to show you how your mind works. If you haven’t read that post, please click the hyper link to read it. In the previous post we talked about many things but mostly how to use your mind to envision a suggested reality. When you did this, you were able to dull your sense of reality and to explore another side of yourself. Many people do this millions of times a day by role playing or video games (hence the popularity) So today we are also going to embark on a colossal journey and no you don’t have to pack those hideous socks and sweaters you got for Christmas- jeez. This is another journey of your mind where anything is possible remember that. We will experience 3 realities. I should be charging for this I heard somewhere before there is no such thing as a free lunch. So, with that in mind for you to gain admission to this somewhat free experience that may or may not change your life. You must commit to the project — oh did I say project well I meant um experiment uh not that but um well you know the experience.
Focus- I’m talking to you dingy I need you to focus your thoughts. Okay already with the hesitation we got 3 of these things to do here but the way you’re going you will be in the looney bin after the first one-jeez. Ok alright settle down and quite your mind. Find a relaxing place that you can go deep within the layers of your mind with no distractions. I want you to focus on the words and the thoughts that the words bring. I want you to feel the feelings and emotions you see. You will be transmitted into the reality of the story and become the story. I told you I should be charging for this shit (missed my calling)
The sun is beating down on you it’s hot and muggy. The air is thick you drudge around in the murky muddy water. The bayou is dank you see the birds flying about and the river rats race pass you. You move ever so cautiously to evade the dogs that you managed to shake off about 4 or 5 miles from the water’s edge. Moving cautiously with a purpose you navigate the dank squishy river hoping not to be bitten or even worse eaten. The moss growing out of everywhere the low canopy surrounds you as you glide forward ever so slightly. You hope that the dogs have lost your scent because you don’t dare think about the horrors that await you if you get caught. You managed to get a holt of a cherry pie before your escape, you have been overeating for the last two weeks. You needed to fatten up while you’re on the lamb but if you get caught. You look across the bayou and see an old shack, you watch it intently wondering if anyone is there and if it is safe at least for a day. You realize you cannot move around during the day just night movements and above all things avoid other people. You make your way across the bayou when you spot it ow boy. It was resting near some dead logs and its tale moved ever so slightly almost unnoticeable, but you caught it a young gator. You realize you cannot outswim it so you say a silent prayer and move forward. You get to the edge of the river bank and the gator looks at you, it eyes you but doesn’t move just a slight tail waggle. As you pull yourself out of the water you look amazed then you quickly get down and scan your surroundings. Almost lost yourself for a moment you realize slips like that will get you killed. You again lock your gaze upon the gator and it looks at you with the one eye you can see. As you crawl up on your knees from the water’s edge you watch the gator just lie there. You think maybe it’s a trick and any moment now it will spring to life and roll towards you for a hearty meal, but it doesn’t. It just lye’s there still with only random tail movements and one eye blinking (the one you can see) You turn your attention to the shack keenly listening for any sounds and movements, but you hear nothing. You crawl like an infant to the side of the shack trying to be a stealthy as possible. You peep your head up every few feet to make sure the path is clear. You get to the backside of the shack and look around you see and old abandon garden that has some vegetables that look ready to eat. You think maybe this place isn’t abandon as you thought maybe it’s a trap.
Slow movements you build up your courage to look inside the window at the back of the shack. You get on your tip toes to peek inside but you can barely see anything. So, you get down again and creep to the far side of the shack constantly aware that you don’t want to be seen breaking and entering. You see a window on the far side that isn’t fully closed you take a quick look then down. You again hear nothing but the water and wildlife near the bayou. You place your hand firmly at the bottom of the window and slowly inch it up but there’s a problem the window is stuck. You gaze around for a rock but if anyone is around, they may hear the glass breaking and if you’re caught. You find a sturdy tree limb that isn’t too big or heavy for you to manage you wedge between the open seal of the window and pry it open. Mission accomplished you again gaze around the bayou looking for anything out of place. Nothing but swampy wet lands and mossy trees as far as the eye can see. You climb into the shack very slowly and carefully. The first thing you do once inside is sneeze (choo ha choo) dust is everywhere.
You look around the dusty old shack you see a fireplace in the center of the wider area you assume is a welcoming area. The shack is by no means a comfy space it is however well constructed on the inside. The outside is a whole other story with vines going here and there and camouflaged in bushes who would even know this place existed. Ah ha a thought occurs to you maybe this shack is the diamond in the ruff that you have been waiting on. Heck you’re on the run and you need to head far, far away from Louisiana. However, you need time to carefully plot your next move because if you get caught!!!
You find an old broom and some little things in the shack that you can repurpose and make your stay there more equitable. You take out some of the food you had in your nap sack that you managed not to get wet while crossing the bayou. You open the sweet bread and take the roasted yams and make a vegan sandwich. You find several dusted blankets and you proceed to tidy them up you go to smell them and of course you sneeze. You check the smell again and your good with it the blankets are dusty but not filthy. You lay down to rest after all your exhausted from fleeing the plantation, oh the plantation.
Master Benoit um sir Zula Mae has found something when she was down by the bayou. What are you squawking about Henry running around all excited you think it was the second coming of Christ you putting up so much ruckus? Yes, uh Master it’s just that well uh I um. Dammit boy spit it out you been out there again licking on them their poisonous frogs again the Doctor done warned you about that. No, I ain’t licked no frogs see Zula Mae done found a baby on the bayou. Say what Henry you putting on April fool’s joke down on me again it won’t happen like you got me last year with the custard on that pie that was made with mustard seed. Oh, I ain’t forgot about that no sir. Forgive me for that Master Benoit I will try harder next year. Say what, you mean next year you already planning some more crazy ass shit ain’t Ya boy I guess I got that coming treating you the way I do. No Master Benoit you treat me um, I mean us like we are family and for us we done get it like that. Is Dat rite so den why is you plotting on me every year. Well cause um cause well. I ain’t goanna keep telling you boy spit it out. Well, we like to laugh is all and the whole plantation looks forward to um the joke. Hmm some Master I am all that I own think I am a joke. Uh no no Master Benoit it ain’t like that I swear it ain’t like that. Benoit eyes Henry who appears to be shaken before a big grin comes across his face. Yea you right Henry it is good to laugh both men laugh till they are rolling on the floor crying.
Zula Mae is known as a wise Creole woman she had striking features beautiful skin tone. Far skin with a touch of honey. She would bath in goat milk to keep her skin bright and radiant. She worked inside the manor and kept up with all of inner workings of the servant choirs. Zula Mae accompanied by some of the maids in the manor walked through the door with something wrapped in linen cloth. The servants were well trained and professional as they went about their duties. Although no body dared speak a word all eyes were on Zula Mae. Master Benoit and Henry came into the grand guest room to see the baby. Master Benoit “We’ll let me see it Zula Mae and if it is a critter than I recommend you throw it back in the bayou. Zula Mae shot the Master a sharp warning glance. She slowly unwrapped the coverings to reveal the child who was fast asleep. Master Benoit looked at the child then looked at Zula Mae over and over then scratched his head. Master Benoit “Eh uh Zula Mae you ain’t been holding out on us cause that their lit tin looks just like you.” Zula Mae didn’t respond to the master’s comments as she was too busy making sure the little one was comfy.
Master Benoit was a good man and kind to the workers that he had on his plantation he often wondered how they felt about their lives. He felt a guilt deep down inside a sort of sorrow that he had to hide from the world. But deep down he struggled with the wrongness and cruelty his position in society gave him above these people from another land. So, he tried to do the best he could to ensure that his servants lived the best life they could considering their position in society. However, he treated his servants he would never treat them as others did, as slaves. Years went by and the child grew and grew but there was something more to this child who had been found on the bayou something special. 17 years had gone by now the child was considered an adult and had duties and responsibilities just like all of the others who performed services on the plantation.
Master Benoit came from old aristocrat money his father was a well-established politician in France and so were most of his forefathers. Master Benoit oversaw a vast amount of land that was surrounded by a bayou at the southern tip. Some 800 acres of land was what he controlled his plantation yielded sugar cane and tobacco, both were highly sort after commodities in the 1800’s. Master Benoit had elegant style that he attributed to his wife who ran the common area’s (or houses on the plantation). The Benoit name was well respected and revered by the established families in the territory. An invitation to the Benoit Ball was the high light of southern society and was a sure sign you had made it. The Benoit name was so well established that the servants seldomly were given access to use it as a Sir name.
Zula Mae looked after the child raising her as if she were her own, by legal right and claim she was owned by the Benoit family. However, Mr. and Mrs. Benoit saw how attached and parental Zula Mae had become with the child and how they complimented each other as mother and daughter. Zula Mae was one of the few servants that could read and write and had permission to go to the market and purchase items for the homestead. Some on the plantation envied Zula Mae and her daughter because of the respect and treatment they received. However, many of the women working in the main houses of the plantation and were of childbearing age would bear children. Zula Mae’s striking beauty and her abilities to speak well, write and run the houses made her a target. Many on the plantation did not like this and would say when with their peers that Zula Mae was nothing more than a dirty witch that worshiped below as above. Zula Mae intuitively knew she was not liked and why, but she took it all in stride and would mumble to herself “ This too shall pass.” For most of the workers found Zula Mae’s behavior in light of everything else odd further cementing in their minds that she was indeed a witch. So, one night the strongest men on the plantation who hated Zula Mae caught her and raped her over and over. Then they fled the plantation never to be seen again.
Continue reading “The life we live may be an illusion (part 2)”