Please enjoy this sample from the sequel to The Atlantean Legacy.(Working title: The Atlantean Chronicles: Book II which I am now in the process of writing!)

PROLOGUE


Shamisé leaned heavily on the door jam. Her red-rimmed eyes glistened with tears. An older woman, standing inside the door, stared tight-lipped at the disheveled younger female.
“You! You come seeking my counsel--after all these years? Why would I let you into my home after all the pain you’ve inflicted on me, on our family?”
Shamisé slid down to her knees, leaning back on her heels. “Tameri, I know I don’t deserve your help--or your forgiveness.” Hands in supplication, head bowed, she begged, “I have nowhere else to turn. I want to make amends; may I begin with you…please?”
Waiting for a response, she wondered to herself, “Will Tameri ever be able to forgive me, this woman I so callously hurt, this woman I once called Mother?” She flinched remembering how without so much as a backward glance she had cut all family ties with the sharpened edges of her anger and flew into the arms of the Dark One. But she must not forget, she was Shamisé, daughter of the High Priest and Priestess, and, although it was hard to recognize now, she was also the reincarnation of Akana. Perhaps this alone would be enough to gain a foothold in Tameri’s life again. Perhaps she would let her back in.
Tameri considered the figure before her on her doorstep. “Shamisé, look at me.” She lifted her head up at Tameri’s angry face. “I am still your mother. I grew you in my body for nine moons; nothing will ever change that. I loved you deeply as a child. Because of this tie, this duty I take very seriously, I will help you. But if you show any sign, any inkling at all of insincerity in your desire to make amends and heal, I will banish you from my life forever! This is the only chance I will give you. Is this understood?”
With a meek sniffle, Shamisé shook her head.
“You have no idea the damage you have wreaked upon me, your father, your Aunt Eva, and her daughter, your cousin, Alicae, but this is what I am willing to do. You will sit and you will listen to me. There is much you need to know, much you need to understand. You may not leave until I am through and I have said you may go. I will be in total control here. Can you agree to this?”
“Yes,” the bleary-eyed woman nodded.
Satisfied for the moment, Tameri motioned for Shamisé to stand up and come inside. She pointed to a chair for her visitor to take as she closed the door behind her. She brushed her long skirt and sat down. A servant quietly slipped in and asked if she needed anything.
“Yes, thank you, Sheriti; bring us some tea and a little food. I think we may be here for quite some time…” Eyeing Shamisé suspiciously, Sheriti bowed and left the room to fetch sustenance for the women.
Tameri stared hard at her visitor. “I want you to know the real story of your parents’ lives and all we have had to do in our transition to this country. And I want—I need to understand just who you are and why you did what you did. Then perhaps I can forgive you. But you must first forgive yourself, Shamisé, if you can. Look now here into this crystal bowl of water.” The blessed and sparkling holy water sat on a low table between the two women. “Watch and you will see this story play out before you as I tell you the tale.”
Shamisé did as she was told. Her mother began singing an old chant that she had known from the island that she had sung often to her as a young child.
Moving now, we sing.
We go.
Moving now, we sing.
Moving now, we sing, we go.
Moving now we go.

Her beautiful full voice was mesmerizing, capturing her daughter’s thoughts, refusing to release them.

Building up, we sing.
We go.
Building up, we sing.
Building up, we sing, we go.
Building up, we go.

The music danced around Shamisé’s brain; she swayed as visions formed in the water.
Lifting up, we sing.
We go.
Lifting up, we sing.
Lifting up, we sing, we go.
Lifting up, we go.
Tameri’s words swirled through her daughter’s mind.
Releasing now, we sing.
We go.
Releasing now, we sing.
Releasing now, we sing, we go.
Releasing now, we GO!”


The mother’s voice had become the daughter’s voice; the story, their story, intertwined, playing out before them…

Excerpt from Chapter One of The Atlantean Legacy


Taking a deep breath, she ventured inside the Temple. The Grand Foyer was a huge room, richly decorated, with a vaulted ceiling, tall columns, and immense stained-glass windows. Faceted colored crystals the size of a baby’s head were inset into each of the columns. The stained-glass windows were designed to allow sunlight and moonlight to strike the crystals at different angles during the day and throughout the night. Generating a particular hue all through the room at a specific time each day, each color of the spectrum carried within it an identifiable vibration. The early light of morning awakened a vibrant red tone that corresponded with the grounding aspects of the first chakra. Eventually all the colors of the rainbow passed through the Grand Foyer during the day, ending with a radiant violet that not only resonated with the seventh chakra but also with the oncoming night sky. And in the evenings, the light of the stars and the moon would shine through the crystals creating a silvery lavender hue that glowed throughout the vestibule.
In the back part of the Grand Foyer an imposing double-arched marble doorway surrounding an ornately carved set of shining brass doors, opened into the Great Hall. No one was around so she walked over and tried the doors. They were locked. She noticed that the Great Hall was centered between two corridors that projected out on either side of the foyer. Since there were no locked doors keeping her out of the hallways, she wandered down the left corridor as far as she thought was acceptable.
As Akana sauntered down the passageway, it dawned on her that she was in the world-famous Infirmary about which she had heard stories since her childhood. She passed a series of rooms, each equipped with crystals of all kinds and what looked like some kind of healing equipment. Although she wanted to explore the Infirmary in detail, she decided it would be prudent not to go any further until she got permission. Hopefully, she would have the chance to return later and look more closely.
She didn’t see anyone in the foyer yet, so she traipsed over to look at the other hallway on the right of the Great Hall. It held the Temple Sanctuary and several smaller private sanctuaries and meeting rooms. The Temple Sanctuary was open, so she peeked in the door. The walls, of a yellow cream hue, captured the dazzling light as it blazed through the ceiling-to-floor windows lining the front of the room. Overhead, the clear glass ceiling grandly displayed the glorious blue skies of Atlantis. The floor of the room was made of a colorful mosaic tile. A beautiful wool runner graced its middle, stretching from the door in the back to a small platform that looked like a type of stage extending across the front of the room.
She felt as if she were invading a sacred space so she hurriedly tiptoed out of the room and went back to the reception area in the Grand Foyer. She sat down on a bench and soaked in the rays of the orange mid-morning hues that shone directly on her body, producing a calming yet euphoric sense of well-being.

During these times, the bombardment of frenetic vibrations has interjected itself upon Planet Earth, shifting our daily lives, our energetic balance. As this becomes more pronounced, much information has been clarifying itself in my mind. I have become aware through several sources, especial Tom Kenyon, that Gratitude itself beyond appreciation or being thankful for something specific, is a high vibrating energy field.

I have realized recently that the way to make it through these energy shifts is to train our neuropathways to be directly connected to that higher vibrating field of Gratitude. When the chaotic, hysterical energy hits the planet, and you pick up the insanity, you can immediately put yourself in that energy field, which for me feels soft and protective, like a fuzzy blanket, but also with tinges of happy surprises, wonderful vacations, and magical rainbows.

Tom Kenyon suggests that for several times a day, you hold the feeling of gratitude in your heart. You can enter into this energy field by thinking about something you are grateful for; feel that emotion of gratefulness; from there expand the feeling. Eventually you can let go of any reason for the gratitude; just be in it; bask in it for two minutes. Do this several times per day. This will build that neuropathway to the higher vibration.

Learn the difference between these vibrations. Discern that the negativity is not YOU; it is a vibration that is prevalent on the planet. You can CHOOSE to change to a higher frequency. Once you do, you are in a bubble of safety; this energy attracts only those energies that vibrate at that rate or higher, such as love, peace, and joy. This is what it means to practice gratitude. It's easy; it’s simple; and it works!

Note: Choosing is key here. The energy of victimhood is powerfully addictive. You must be willing to give that up. Once you do, you walk into your own power, which is heart-based, not controlling or ego based, and allows for each soul to be on his or her own path. This may not look like yours or follow your choices. You need to be able to let them go; let go of the need to "help" or control anyone or the outcome of their action. At this stage in the game, we may lose friends who vibrate in a different frequency that does not harmonize with your own. This is a natural process, to be expected. If you try and hold on, it brings your energy back down.

Fun and unexpected things keep happening in regards to my book.

Here's a link to a book review of The Atlantean Legacy on
Nights and Weekends.com

http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/11/NW1100305.php

I am also featured on the E-author Spotlight for August.
http://www.nightsandweekends.com/articles/11/NW1100292.php

Spirit is sending this book right along! What a fun ride!

Allowing and Accepting

It's been such an interesting time for me, well for everyone, but here's my particular corner on "interesting"...

My mother is transitioning to a nursing home. This has been difficult for all of us--my mother, my siblings, and me; but despite the emotional challenge, all has worked out in perfect timing.

Last Friday, I came up to visit her at her assisted living apartment. Knocking lightly, I let myself into her room. I was taken aback; she seemed very confused and weak. I was sure she had had a stroke. Long story short, I took her to the hospital. It was an exhausting day in a lot of ways but a blessing, too, to have so much time with her, especially since I live out of town.

When I finally got her settled into her hospital room and was able to safely leave to make the trip home, I got caught in a traffic jam on the interstate. As I sat there I thought, "OK, now, I'm tired and emotionally drained. I could really get upset here or I can just trust." And that's what I decided to do--trust. I sent prayers to my angels and my helper guides, asking that this would be only a small delay. Then I settled in for a wait.

I was facing west. Unexpectedly I was blessed with the most gorgeous sunset! The display was set against a summer blue sky dotted with delicate clouds, occasionally broken up by the sillouette of a graceful tree. Since the traffic was crawling ever so slowly, I got out my camera and took photos. You can see one of my pictures above. Bottomline, I actually enjoyed myself!

By the time the traffic made it's way past the bottleneck, about 6 miles later, I was totally at peace. As I exited onto a highway going south, I looked to my left and there was the most spectacular full moon rising on the horizon. It was big and orange and was following me!I laughed with delight! And in case I hadn't gotten the message, Train's song "Calling All Angels" came on the radio! Magic was afoot that day and still is...

In the meantime my mother has finally gotten a correct diagnosis and is being taken care of! I am so thankful for her excellent care and I am in awe of what took place that day--circumstances that came together with impeccable timing to create a most precious Gift. I was glad I was cognizant enough to be able to accept it!

I look forward to this kind of thing, the allowing and accepting of the many blessings and miracles of the Universe, to being an everyday event, rather than the exception to the rule. It is happening more often now in my daily life. I know for me this is the way of least discomfort and a lot more joy--allowing and accepting the Gifts that come our way. We are all Children of God/dess and this is everyone's heritage!

Blessings to you all! ~Paula

It's been a while since I've posted a blog. Time seems to be speeding up, as we've all heard, and from what I can tell from reading about Einstein's theories, this is an actual reality. I have had so much to do recently as everything intensifies, fitting my activities within the confines of ever shrinking time, that I have had to let some things go; for instance, this blog.
But NOW my book is in PRINT, and somehow, holding a tangible physical book in my hand vs. an ebook, makes this reality more concrete. So I thought it might be prudent to say a few words about this, like...
I am just so freakin' thrilled, I can hardly believe it!!!!! (Shriek!) It's come together one step at a time and it's out there. I wrote it! I followed the signs and directions I was given by Spirit and voila--a book has been born. Like a physical child being conceived, I can barely understand the magic of how it all happened. I know I wanted it; I prayed for it; I conceived the idea (or rather it was conceived through me--I was the conduit/channel for the information in the book); then I gestated it in my literary womb, studying, learning, pulling together how to birth this baby/child of the Universe. Thankfully it was a relatively painless birth. Each step took action and belief in what I was doing, but each step was given to me. I had the choice to take it or leave it. I took it with gusto and great pleasure! And now she's here!

What an incredible experiment in the goodness of the Universe! I birthed a book! My baby is out there in the world, taking on a life of her own. I must let go of my fears for her of the judgments of others. How will she make her way? Will she reach her full potential? All I can do now is place helpful supports where I can and continue to "allow.". But ultimately she is her own being. I bless her and release her to the world! Please treat her well and enjoy what she has to impart. In gratitude~~Paula

For everyone, the past few weeks have been full of joys and challenges. My family had the fabulous opportunity to go to Spain to visit our son who is there studying for the semester. As we were taking off in the plane on March 11, unknown to us, Japan was being hit by the earthquake and tsunami. When we made it to our hotel room the next day and checked out the European CNN we discovered that Japan and the whole world was in turmoil. We watched throughout the week, in between visiting the sights in Madrid, as the horror played out (is still playing out); but we were cushioned there, in a new and fascinating reality, isolated in a way, from the world's angst as we experienced the beautiful Spanish culture and language. It was a strange juxtaposition, the beauty of our experience next to the fear and pain taking place in Japan and across the planet. I checked my Twitter account, watched Tweets spreading the fear of radiation poisoning, causing iodine supplements to disappear off the shelves of stores in California.
Even though we were isolated on our holiday, we were not unaffected. We had concerns for our daughter, who is getting a Masters degree in Japanese, has connections in that country, and is supposed to go to Japan this summer for her studies. (This is still not settled, although for now it looks like it won't happen.) I truly feel we were in a bubble of grace as this drama happened in the world, dulling the intensity of the pain and fear that cut like a knife for many being affected. My daughter said when we first heard of it, that, although she would never wish this on her dear Japan, the Japanese government was the best prepared of any government by far to handle this type of a catastrophe. This has since been collaborated by scientific experts. We know the crisis is not over, however; perhaps this is the beginning of the worst of coming events. Perhaps not. I am not attached to whether it is or not. I work diligently to stay conscious and side-step the addictive psychic hooks of Fear Porn that forever circulates, especially during these times. I feel continually wrapped in that bubble of grace, loved and protected by the Universe. I am blessed as I sit and watch the upheavals of the planet and the theatrics of world politics play out before us. For within that horror is also the beauty of life and Spring and new Beginnings and Freedom--the Joy of Being!
Many blessings to you all on this fabulously gorgeous spring day!

Excerpt from The Atlantean Legacy:

Her home, Atlantis, had a population of nearly a hundred thousand people. Outside the city limits, in the contiguous territory, lay fertile farmland whose produce fed the population. From her view above the island, she could see that immediately surrounding the agricultural developments was a large dense forest that thinned out as the elevation increased. The forest changed into hills, which shape-shifted into a primeval mountain range. In the midst of the mountains’ sensuous rounded peaks was an active volcano. Although she couldn’t see it, she had heard that hidden on a ledge on the rim of the volcano was the entrance to a crystal cave where many rare and precious Atlantean crystals were mined.
From the air she could see how the mountain range resembled the body of a woman and understood now why it had been named after the Goddess. It was simply called The Lady. An ancient river, called Mother’s Milk, fed by the snow in the upper elevations of The Lady, snaked around her crests and peaks, eventually making its way to the coast. It was there, at the mouth of the river, where the military camp was located, that her family had lived—until Setep had been killed. On the other side of the mountain range, toward the eastern side of the island where they were heading, lay the Temple of the Great Goddess and the Temple grounds, the place where Akana hoped to be for the rest of her life. Beyond the island were other Atlantean colonies with other Temples, very different from what she knew; some housing only priestesses – the Sister Temples, as they were called – or only priests, the Brother Temples, but for now her world lay here on her precious island and the Temple of the Great Goddess where she was heading.
Akana was entranced by the colors and the patterns created by the geographic changes of the land that lay below. There were many trees but they were often stunted and the ground was generally dry in the arid climate. Gazing over the landscape, she could see the intricate patterns of the vineyards that lay across the hillsides. These vineyards produced prized, succulent grapes, the basis of an industry of fine wines made on the island, that were exported to cities all over the planet. In addition to the grapes, crops of other fruits and vegetables were grown on the hillsides. When rainfall was scarce, as it often was, the crops had to be irrigated. But despite the lack of rain, with the supplementation of individual gardens grown by most inhabitants of Atlantis, there was always an ample amount of food produced to support the population.
Akana’s thoughts began to drift. She reflected on how the sun shone most days on Atlantis and how hot it could get. To escape the heat, everyone would rest in the middle of the day. The nights were cooler so the evenings were full of activity. She envisioned the clear night skies as the darkness overtook the colors of the breathtaking sunsets and endless sparkling stars emerging in the heavens. It never failed to enchant her.
“Atlantis is beautiful, isn’t it?” her driver inquired, interrupting her thoughts.
Akana nodded. Her mind returned to the present as she watched the splendor passing below.
Her chauffeur, a sturdily build older man with a neatly trimmed graying beard, was full of details about the history of her Atlantean home. “Of course, as we all learn before we even enter school, Atlantis was at one time a much larger land mass,” he began. “You can’t see it from here, but to the northeast there are the broken up parts of what used to be the whole continent of Atlantis where thousands of years ago they fought the battles that all our children are taught about in school. If you ever get the chance to fly over that area, you can still see the submerged sections of the continent.” Akana sat forward, intrigued more than she expected to be. Even though she knew her history from her classes in school, her curiosity was piqued by the driver’s version of the story.

My book is now a NookBook on www.barnesandnobles.com!
Still available at amazon.com and www.synergebooks.com

The weather this winter, like last year, has been a physical challenge for me. I resist temperature changes and would much prefer the warmth of somewhere south or west or even southwest. It's nasty cold here and the snow has been persistent. Last winter, during the dark of the season, I went spiraling down into a depression. To shake myself up, I took off on a journey to LA to a Marianne Williamson workshop called Sister Giant. And it was powerful, but I didn't use the information and energy I brought back home the way I thought I would. The absorption of the workshop became more of an application towards my personal power, not the external political resurgence I thought I was going to experience. But nevertheless, the results have been good.I do feel that I have stepped more fully into myself, accepting that I have a real presence n this planet. My soul footprint is noticeable.
This January and February, I won't be taking any big trips; it just ain't gonna happen. But this season I can feel the difference in my energy. I'm more hopeful and actually excited about the way my life seems to be arranging itself. In the last year I have published my book and helped birth a musical CD inspired by it. I presently have many marketing irons in the fire and am watching as one by one things line up to promote The Atlantean Legacy. The Universe wants this book out there; I am the vehicle chosen to get the job done. All I need to do is follow the prompts; that's my job. Sometimes it's scary, but I can't NOT follow these signs. If I ignore them, I feel disappointed, as if something is wrong or slightly off. It's not a comfortable feeling. so I watch as I am given these tasks and get stronger and more confident with each experience.
I am accepting more fully now that life is truly a treasure. I feel more able to appreciate its beauty than ever before. I wish the same for all of us here on the planet.
My best to you all in this great year of change, 2011!