Pictures of Wonderland

Good news everyone.  Last week I had a unique opportunity.  It turns out that the fashion designers in Wonderland may want to sell their wares to the rest of the Nether Realm again. I was asked by my scroll mason, Edward, to go to Wonderland and scout out locations for a photoshoot.  A scroll mason is the Nether Realm equivalent of a newspaper editor in the Earth Realm. 

Lituous Trees

Since the 19^th century, Wonderland has kept its gates closed to all beings including mystics, humans, aliens and even gods.  This is because of an incident that involved two humans coming into the Nether Realm.  For months, a man and a little girl kept coming to Wonderland.    No one knew how these two humans got in but there are theories.  I think they both were astral projectors to be honest with you.  Because they kept coming, they discovered Wonderland’s deepest secrets.  Both of these humans wound up telling everyone in the Earth Realm about Wonderland.  The residents saw this as a threat and took drastic action. 

Rappin Sticky Roses

Now that is beginning to change and I got to be one of the first outsiders to go there in about 200 years.  I was quite honored.  I had an anthropomorphic squirrel named Tula to serve as my guide to show me around and tell me about this land.  Anthropomorphic means a creature that is not human but takes on human traits.  Wonderland is a magical place full of fantastic and wondrous oddities.  It is a land shrouded with mystery. 



My big responsibility in being there was to make a good impression on the residents.  So I had to play by their rules and show them that they could trust outsiders again.  I had to get special permission from both the proper authorities of Wonderland and the Ambassadors of Nether Realm Relations to show you my pictures and tell you my story.  Luckily for me they approved of this post.



One of the first things that happened was a frog in a trim grey suit and boulder hat approached Tula and I.  He said to us, "Logging for a haren, milady." I had no idea what that meant which is not surprising because Wonderland has its own unique language.  But my guide looked rather alarmed.  She told me to ignore him so that is what I did but because of her expression, I was not completely comfortable about it.

Bulbut Lightingales

During the two days I was there, I met some interesting anthropomorphic animals that I had a cuckoo, high tea with.  Apparently, logging means looking and haren means high tea.  The tea and cakes were wonderful and beautifully presented.  The company that I kept gave me some hints of what to look for.  Then they decided to talk in the Wonderland language for about ten minutes.  Before I knew it, my companions dumped their teas over their heads, jumped up on the table and did some break dancing on the food.  The high tea ended rather oddly.  Tula and I made an abrupt departure.  No wonder Tula was a bit concerned about going to a high tea.



Early the next morning, we began the search for locations.   We went to the areas that were suggested to us at the high tea and what I saw was awe-inspiring.  We came across trees that had small, glowing growths.  They looked like stars arranged in a pattern on the tree’s bark.  Tula told me that these trees are called the lituous trees.  They were very cool.  Next we came across an unusual vine that had

bright red pointed flowers.  They are called rappin sticky roses and they are highly poisonous.  From a distance you can smell their musky seductive scent but if you get too close, they will knock you unconscious for a week.  I am told not even the bulbut lightingales would wake you up.  The bulbut lightingales grow wild but they also grow on people’s houses and they are the brightest things I have ever seen. They shine their brightest at night when the sun is completely down.  It brings a whole new meaning to a nightlight. 

Stilfalin Waterfall

I saw a lot of beautiful things in Wonderland but what captured my heart was the Stifalin Waterfall.  It was a waterfall that has been frozen in time.  At one time there was a war between two kingdoms.  Both sides suffered great loss and many people died.  The conflicting royalties called a truce and froze this waterfall as a symbol of this truce.  However the war was not ended and I got the sense that they are still on shaky ground.  A beautiful symbol to remind them that war has terrible consequences that should be avoided.  A frozen waterfall is unnatural and so is war. 

To be able to go to Wondeland and get some pictures

 of possible locations for a photoshoot was a chance of a lifetime.   Although I was happy to go, it was not an easy trip.  People speaking in a language I don’t understand and engaging in some really bizarre behavior can be off putting.  However, I am happy that Wonderland is looking to trade their fashions again.  Wonderland has always had beautiful and enchanting clothes.  I’ve seen them in my Mom’s old scrolls and I wished I had some of those dresses.  Luckily, I might be able to buy one now.  Hopefully, Wonderland will hold to their decision to trade.  Only time will tell.      





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Interview with A Unicorn

Most people would recognize a unicorn if they saw one but do they truly know what a unicorn is? 

The word unicorn comes from the Latin term unicornis which literally means one-horn. This majestic creature resembles a white horse with a single spiraling horn coming from the center of its head. The unicorn is a symbol of grace, beauty and purity.

On a working visit to the Nether Realm, I wandered into Elfin Forest in the hope of contacting the wood elves where they live. I planned to write a piece about them describing how they track down a precious silver known as Argentum Lucis. That idea blew away like a leaf picked up by a hurricane when I came across an extremely rare sight even for us mystics.

A unicorn was lying in the middle of the forest with a pillar of light shining on top of him through the trees.  Slowly, I approached the creature, trying to show him that I meant him

no harm.  Suddenly, I heard a voice say, "Don't be afraid."  I was slightly taken aback because there was no one else there with me in the forest except this unicorn. 

He stood up and looked at me without any fear, almost as though he was expecting me. As I drew near, I noticed his mouth moving and heard him say, "I was sent to speak with you.  I am pleased to meet you Oracle."  I was in shock.  I didn't even know that these creatures could speak.  My curiosity got the best of me and before I knew it, I was interviewing him.

Where are you from?
I come directly from the light that creates life.  All unicorns do. 

Meaning?
The creator of all living things took light energy and molded it to give us life. We do not have parents. Instead we have magic and we are able to store the magic in our horns. This magic is based on goodness, purity, love, and light and is the most powerful magic of all.

I have heard that you frequently speak in riddles.  Is this true?
Why yes. You cannot expect things to be easy can you? For example, if asked if we are male or female, we may respond “yes”. If asked our name, we may tell you that we do not have one. Essentially, we do not need labels.

You have to look at world and see the magic already in it if you want to find answers. We cannot always give a straight answer because you are meant to find magic for yourself and in yourself. We can point you in the right direction. And some questions are just not meant to be answered. 

You are very mysterious.
Thank you.

Why did you appear to me?
I want you to tell our story.  Part of our purpose is to inspire and give hope to others.  We are a lot like guardian angels or spirits.  Everyone needs something to believe in and we want people to believe in magic again.  So by talking to you and sharing our stories we hope to rekindle people's faith in the light.  We want to bring light to all worlds.

But it's always been told that only innocent and virginal maidens can communicate with you?
That was a bit of an exaggeration. I think that myth came to be because everyone always associated light with virginity and obedience but it is really all about intentions. Anybody who is pure of heart, kind in soul and has a mind that is strong can communicate with us. 

What is it about pure-hearted souls that draws you?
Their passion to make all of our worlds a better place.  Our magic may have come from our creator but it stays alive through the goodness and light of other beings.

How can I find other unicorns?
You can’t find us unless we want you to. If you happened to stumble upon us, we would hide our horns and you would mistake us for ordinary white horses. We have been given specific instructions on who we appear to and why and would only reveal ourselves when we were confident that you are one we are seeking.

Are there other animals like you with a singular magical horn?
There were but unfortunately they became extinct.  The magic that we carried was too much for them.  They couldn't handle it so it eventually destroyed them. 
How did you keep yourself safe?

We are able to become invisible so we cannot be detected by any means, magical or non-magical.  That is very important for our survival.  As for getting around, we can not only teleport but levitate ourselves. We are not fighters but we do protect ourselves vigorously.

What kind of magic do you do?
We can do many things.   As creatures of light we can brighten even the darkest of places so the lost can find their way. We can heal ourselves and others.  We can guide others even if they cannot see us.  But the most important thing that we do is ensure that the magical life force in all living things is alive and protected. 

Thank you for speaking with me today.
You are welcome.  I will see you again in the near future. 


This is one of the most amazing things that has ever happened to me.  I am in awe of this beautiful, wise and magnificent creature.  As I have said before, this is a rare occurrence.  I did a little checking and it turns out that only about 30 (I guess 31 now) out of millions of mystics have reported contact with a unicorn.  I hope to see my new four-legged, horned friend again sometime soon.  Maybe even learn a little more from him.  Has anyone else seen a unicorn lately?
 

Cirque De La Nuit - Aerialis...Fabulous!

If you are looking for a crazy cool party with the visual wonders that you would see in Cirque Du Soleil, then you want to go to Cirque De La Nuit.  It's just like our Centennial Celebration except it's a little smaller because it's not outdoors and a little more exclusive.  This year they had it in Flames Central.  It is really nice in there because it looks like a small ballroom.


At Cirque De La Nuit, patrons are dressed up in these unique, eclectic costumes (or dressed to impress), you have a DJ spinning some fun techno-dance music, and then there is the show itself.  All these talented preformers come together on the stage and preform their amazing acts.  Each act is different but more marvelous as the night goes on.  You will see aerial acrobats, contortionists, dancers of all kinds, clowns and (for the adult in all of us) burlesque dancers.  The best part is, you feel like you are apart of it.  With other circuses you just sit and watch but with this one you get to dance while you watch the show.  Sometimes if you are lucky, the preformers will take notice of you and throw you a little something.  With me it was a little red nose. 

With everything that goes on there, I could swear that it's Las Vegas all wrapped up into one room.  Why not?  You have the drinks, you have the shows and the glamour.  It's hard not to think that you might have been teleported there for a short time.  Similar to what Atlantis does over in our realm except you are not going from building to building but from city to city.  I hope that makes sense.  So yes, I will be there next year for sure and hopefully in the VIP section because that looks wild.  Everyone should have a chance to go wild every now and again.  Thanks Cirque!

Picnic in the Plaza - Out of this World

Can anyone imagine a better way to spend a beautiful Sunday than being out and about?  Especially when that out and about happens to be in the East Village of Calgary where a lively event, Picnic in the Plaza, is taking place.  What happens there is that many food trucks are spread out by the River Plaza.  These trucks are looking to sell some food and make their presence known. They are similar to the food carts in our world that you see  most in the market town of Merkiva.  There is also a small stage with the "Bass Bus."  Live musicians and deejays played some hot beats and chill melodies.  Sounds like heaven right?  And it's just by the river, so it was paradise.
 

 I came to this event with an old Naga friend that I made in college.   We haven't seen each other for a year and she happened to be in my neck of the realms.  She asked me not to write her name for privacy reasons and I have to respect that.  Many of us know Nagas are half human, half snake creatures from the Hindi/Buddhist regions and are a part of the Siren Clan.  They are similar to mermaids, as they can change their tails into legs. The difference is that they can reside on land and not be affected when water touches their legs.  They still have to be careful because their transformation can happen when they are the most relaxed.  Now being water creatures, they are often the most relaxed when close to water.  We decided that we would go check this thing out and I am really glad that we did.  
 
Our adventure began when we paid our $5.00 at the door and went inside.  The first thing we saw was a small caravan that sold clothing and jewelry. Their clothing was of the more vintage, bohemian, casual type but the jewelry, I lost my heart to it.  It is made locally from recycled material and made to look as if it came from another time.  My friend could not leave without a blue stone necklace that reminded her of home. I don't blame her.  And you know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say these items came straight from the Nether Realm. 

After we had finished admiring the clothing caravan, my friend and I explored and sampled a little of this and a little of that.  I think my favorite was either the mango bruschetta or the triple chocolate cupcake.   Both were so delicious that I could not decide which was better.  I must warn everyone though.  Do not buy the "Love Potion".  My friend and I both agreed that all it would stir up is divorce.  One taste of this would ward off all kinds of human contact.  So naturally, we kept it for protection.  No offense to those who made it but you can't win them all.  



  

But we felt like we won.  The ebb of the river and the eclectic music made the whole event more joyous.  We decided to eat our unusual tacos out by the river since there is an opening at the fence right by it.  My friend, being a Naga and so drawn to water, was very pleased that we did this.  As we ate, we dipped our feet in the river. To me the water was ice cold and damn frigid.  Not so much fun for me but for my friend, she loved it.  To a Naga any water, especially if water is hard to come by, is sacred no matter how cold.  
 
We were listening to the music.  It had some good pulsing beats but it was mellow enough to just enjoy.  The sound of the music seemed to match the look and flow of the water.  I wonder if these musicians and deejays knew this. To be serenaded that way while we chilled out by the water was like we were back in the Nether Realm.  Because she was a little to relaxed, my friend's snake trail showed a bit causing a little concern.  But I covered it with my jacket until her legs came back and luckily no one noticed.  So all is well.

If there is another food truck event like Picnic in the Plaza, I recommend you check it out.  If you have a good friend, good food, good music, water and a warm spring day, you will have a splendid time.


  

Cirque du Soleil: Circus of Wonders...Very Kurios

One of the best things about being in this realm is the fact that humans can really make some wonders or in this case curiosities.  Cirque du Soleil: Kurios - the Cabinet of Curiosities is just that, an experience filled with wonder.  There are few instances in this world where you can watch something and be totally in awe of it.  When its over all of your troubles just melt away.  That is what this circus can do.  This unique experience surrounds you in upbeat and unconventional music with bright and colorful characters preforming a series of acrobatics, dance and acting.  Then there is the stage, where some fantastical objects move around and show you a world that dreams are made of. 

In this particular show, a quirky but determined professor invents a cabinet that defies all the realities of this plane.  The best part is, you get to see it unfold in front of you.  You have an invisible circus, mermen flying on an acronet and a world that is upside down but this is just the beginning.  I don't want to give too much away and spoil the magic but this show is worth seeing no matter who you are.  A word of warning though is that this show is expensive.  You will have to loosen those purse strings but again you get what you pay for with this spectacular show.

Its alot like the Cirque Des Etoiles that we have in our world that the Star Clan puts on for us.  The difference is that it is preformed by humans and humans only.  That's right, all of you in the Nether Realm will be happy to know that there are no mistreated animals in these shows.  And the humans are treated very well here.  They work very hard at it though and it shows because all of these performers are very impressive.  This show is one of those things that show you what the human race is capable of.  Skill, imagination, and making the impossible possible.  This is a very admirable trait for anyone from any realm.    



I still want to see one that has fairies in it though. 

3 Little Tips

There are 3 Things one must know in order to survive here:

1. Keep an eye on a person's Aura.  As many of you know, the aura is that colorful force field that surrounds any human or being's body.  For Mystics its a description of their clan.  For humans it's a description of their personalities and intentions.  So pay close attention.
2. Although you must hide your wings, fangs, etc.  Keep the wild in you.  Everyone is unique and this is true for all living beings, magical or no.  In this world you can not tell humans who or what you really are but you can be your own special selves. 
3. Remember that magic is everywhere but here it's different.  Back in the Nether Realm and depending on what you are, often magic was easy to come by in one form or another.  In this world, however it is a little more indirect and a bit harder to recognize.  A lot of the magic here can manifest in miracles, surprises and strange circumstances.  There are many humans that don't believe in magic, so beware of who and what you talk about. 

Well there you have it folks.  If you remember just these three tips, you'll be just fine here.