The masters

It was December 2018. That week, I had finished my final exam to earn my university degree, but something about my studies didn’t align with my nature, and I needed to change course, find a new destination. Deep inside, a hunch was pulsing: “Go far, far away and leave everything behind.” But I still needed a little push—I needed “a guiding star.” I knew that before seeking answers outside, I had to find them inside.

I had been practicing lucid dreaming for a year, fascinated by the altered perception of time. In dreams, I could live a normal day and wake up just a couple of hours later. I could experience a dream within a dream, reach deep conclusions, and close emotional cycles that seemed impossible while awake.

My master had taught me a meditation that should be done during the lunar cycle closure in December, at the height of noon, lying on your back with palms open. "Focus on a single question,” he had told me. “When you reach the zenith, at that precise moment of peace and absolute silence, you will receive one word as an answer. Everything else will be a distraction. Don’t forget to have an amulet nearby for protection.”

Lying on the bed, I began to focus on the doubts that clouded my soul. After about thirty minutes, I reached that state between sleep and wakefulness, where the body becomes numb, but the mind remains alert. The murmurs began, like distant and indecipherable voices, as if coming from a broken radio.

Then I saw it. With half-open eyes and my body paralyzed, I noticed something on the chair where I had left my old teddy bear, the same one that had accompanied me through childhood. Next to it, a faint luminous figure, ethereal, and of the same size. The creature, resembling a white owl, whispered while a pleasant melody floated in the air. Suddenly, in an instant, the creature looked directly into my eyes, and before I could react, it vanished.

I woke up confused. It was 1:24 p.m. Despite the strangeness of that being—which I could swear had the same presence as any animal—something told me it was accompanying me, so I decided to continue. I lay down again, closed my eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

This time, I found myself in a paradise-like place. A luxurious resort that seemed to be near the Caribbean, with warm weather and a bright sun. The complex had colonial architecture—white walls with blue roofs. I was lying in a spacious bedroom with a large bed, and when I looked out the window, I could see a pool with waterfalls surrounded by palm trees. Everything was perfect. I went through the sliding window and headed toward the building in front of my room. I crossed another wide window that led me to a room with a steaming hot tub. On the right, there was an entrance to some thermal baths, and to the left, there was a rest area.

I sat down on one of the couches, trying to process where I was. I didn’t remember how I had arrived there. Suddenly, a group of five young women, all in white robes, entered. Three of them headed to the thermal baths, while the other two—a blonde and a brunette—took off their robes and, completely naked, got into the hot tub right in front of me. It was impossible not to notice them. Then I realized something strange: despite the warm weather, I didn’t feel hot. Looking at my left hand, I also saw the sleeve of my winter jacket, which confused me even more, as I understood I had been wearing my winter clothes the entire time. That’s when reality shifted dramatically.

In the blink of an eye, I found myself in a luxurious, old, and sophisticated restaurant. Red velvet curtains, lacquered wood furniture, chandeliers, and bronze railings. I was sitting at a table, and across from me, two people were hiding their faces behind menus. Without ordering anything, the waiter gently took my menu from the table. Then, both individuals revealed themselves: two very attractive women in their forties, one blonde and one brunette, both wearing evening gowns—one black, the other gold—with plunging necklines, along with a pair of earrings and necklaces. It took me a few seconds to realize they were the same two young women from the hot tub, but older.

My intuition warned me, and I asked with distrust, “How can I know if this is a dream or not?” The women exchanged glances and sly smiles. The brunette set her glass on the table and, with a seductive gesture, said, "Touch me." Without breaking eye contact, I extended my arm to touch her cheek, but she abruptly grabbed my wrist, leaving me paralyzed and breathless. Slowly, she placed my hand inside her neckline. Her skin felt so real, but something didn’t add up. "This is an illusion,” I declared, pulling my hand back. I kept my gaze on them until everything began to fade away.

A honk woke me up. I was in my car, driving up the highway, heading home after university. It was a gray afternoon during rush hour. When I looked out the right window, I saw a row of monoblock buildings. Suddenly, I saw flashes in the windows followed by gunshots, and the bullets hit the asphalt. I swerved sharply to the left to avoid the line of fire, taking the fast lane, but the cars behind me tried to box me in. I managed to dodge one that grazed my right mirror, but as I turned left, I was distracted by the rearview mirror and didn’t notice a car speeding in the opposite direction. I felt the impact, the airbag exploded in my face, and the front windshield shattered and fogged up. Barely conscious, I watched as the raindrops slid down the glass, spelling out “You figured it out, you son of a bitch.” A faint smile crossed my face as I closed my eyes.

I woke up again on my bed, completely numb and sore. But this time, there were no murmurs or confusion. Only one word echoed in my mind: "Caution."

Later, my master explained, laughing: “Boy, be careful as you walk your path. Trust your spirit animal, for it will speak to you with every decision. The non-seers call it intuition. And remember, there are masters above and below. The difference is that the ones below charge a toll.”

The next day, still not knowing my destination, I left the continent, trusting I would find it without looking back.