Reflection Pond
“Albagoth, the
creator of all worlds, stepped back and observed them all. He installed a
consciousness into all life forms on CurĂ¡, even the sands, plants and trees,
and made the Reflection Pond, where those who peered into it would see an older
version of themselves. This older version would guide them, answering all
questions they needed to help them with their journey.”
“Hello,
younger self. I’ve been waiting for you,” the man said. Xander’s heart dropped.
“Are
you real?” He reached out a hand to touch the other person. The man felt real,
but also it was like touching Jell-o.
“I am
real enough. You have much to learn.” The older self smiled. “Usually, the
searcher views us from the shore instead of from inside the pond.”
-Excerpts from
Indigo Traveler Book 1 by Merri Halma
What would you do
if you were to look into a pond and see an older version of yourself? Would you
be frightened? Would you be intrigued? An exercise that roams around Facebook
is a question: What would you say to your younger self if you could travel back
in time? It is a great exercise to find out exactly what we could do to change
something about ourselves.
When I first
conceived the reflection pond where my character could see his older self, it
was a time in my life where I was looking for answers to various life
issues. I imagined Xander Veh, my main
character in Indigo Traveler, needing that kind of direction. He is in a far
away land, without his parents and is an only child. He is looking for answers
as to why he is the way he is and what good he could be in this new land his
griffin, Geoffrey, brings him to.
Imagine, if you
were staring into a pond, and saw an older image of your self, or maybe your
younger self, (if you are in your fifties or older). What kind of questions
would you ask?
Most people do not
totally accept themselves. Others spend massive amounts of time rolling in
self-pity, and do not take steps to change. It is as if their feet are firmly
imbedded in concrete and cannot move. Have you been there? Maybe they spend too
much time blaming someone else for not helping them or not living up their own
expectations.