Have you ever looked in a mirror, your reflection strangely distorted, twisted as in a dream in the Hall of Mirrors?

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Suddenly the Riddler of Life appears, his midnight black cape flowing and gloved hands outstretched towards you. See him before you? Your escort through the Hall of Mirrors. No ordinary place, this Hall of Mirrors reflects back your thoughts and consciousness in the journey of your soul.

On your journey you will encounter Dr. Kagan the Alchemist, Theophilos, and many others. In a startling and engaging tale these characters pose thought provoking questions about what is "Illusion" and what is "Reality."

Picture yourself transformed into the student, as riddles and teachings are imparted about seemingly opposite "science" and "faith."

In a sumptuous drawing room the book culminates with a gathering around a long mahogany table. Looming in front of you, the magnificent Sphinx roars and growls, the floor trembling beneath you. What if the Sphinx were to ask you a riddle? How to unite Science and Faith, Quantum Physics and Mysticism, East and West? How to reconcile the teachings of Christ and the beliefs of other faiths? How to link music with the orchestration of the universe?

The Riddler of Life has placed the keys in your hand, so it is up to you to use the correct key to open the door of light, to answer the riddle of the Sphinx in the journey of your soul.

This book came about as a result of puzzles and questions I have had my entire life, about the meaning of existence on earth and our relationship to eternity.

I believe we all grow up in circumstances in childhood which shape the 'cake' of our lives. Generally, our first teachers are our mother, father and siblings, but perhaps most of all ourselves. Growing up in a suburb of Philadelphia with two brothers and a [fraternal twin] sister, mother and father, my life was 'ordinary' and 'extraordinary' at the same time. I had unusual questions as I suppose all children do.

When I was about three or four years old I recall looking at my mother and father and wondering who they were and if they never would have met, would I exist? Also, I thought about if I had never been 'born' what would I be? I would look at people and wonder why I was in my body and not in theirs? What it would be like to be 'inside' them?

Reviewing back, I suppose I was having metaphysical thoughts about the existence of my spirit/soul, distinct from my body. As a small child I did not verbalize these thoughts to anyone.

I remember my mother, Virginia,when I was about six years old, mentioning her grandmother, a theosophist in New York City. My mother told me she remembered her grandmother saying, 'A soul and life goes out and a new one comes in.' This made a great impression on me. I also remember in childhood hearing about Edgar Cayce, the clairvoyant, who quoted Christ's words, 'In my Father's House are many mansions.' I wondered at the significance of this and how larger 'mansions' could fit inside the 'Fathers House?'

My reflections turned into a love for drawing and painting and I graduated from Tyler School of Art of Temple University with a BFA. Parallel to my 'outer' art work was my private 'inner' study of metaphysics, mysticism, Taoism, Buddhism, astronomy, physics, mythology, psychology and Christianity.

I became aware that some of my thoughts and experiences were paranormal to many: direct answers to prayer, incidences of clairvoyance, telepathy, visions and precognition. Not until I moved from Philadelphia to the Texas Hill Country, at the age of thirty-one, did I start to consistently meet others with third eye vision - so-called by some 'psychics' or visionaries, healers and mystics. Meeting many of my karmic 'friends' and lessons in Texas, much of my soul memory was triggered and I began to understand more of my soul purpose in this lifetime.

In the summer of 1995 I had a series of visions(dreams OBE) in which I traveled into my future. In one 'dream(I will recount) I was on a huge plain which was heavenly in appearance. In the center of the plain was a shimmering glowing edifice which I knew symbolized a new 'home' for humankind - 'the new heaven and earth'. Around the edifice was an oval track on which walked all races, cultures and age groups of humanity. I was watching from afar, then suddenly I was walking among the people. I was trying to speak to everyone through the heart and eyes, saying words of love and healing to some, simply touching others with kindness. As I approached the end of the 'circle', I came up behind an old bent Hispanic man with ragged clothing. I could not speak Spanish, his language, but I touched him from behind on the shoulder and he looked at me. His eyes were filled with tears and he lowered his head with shame. Around him, at his feet, were his poorly dressed, hungry grandchildren. He questioned me with his eyes and looked away. I said to him, 'Do not be ashamed of what you are. Whatever you have done you are already forgiven. Look at the beautiful gift you have of your grandchildren. Do not be discouraged, hold up your head and walk on. You are loved.' His eyes filled with tears of joy and he smiled. Suddenly I was lifted off the ground and a force was pulling me at a tremendous speed towards a shimmering edge of a canyon. I knew I was going over the cliff's edge and I knew I could not stop the force that was pulling me towards my destiny. As I was propelled over the precipice edge I prayed, 'Thy will be done, I am in your hands. If I fall, so be it'. Strangely I had no fear. Once suspended in air over the cliff my body was lifted at a tremendous speed vertically and I passed through strata of different dimensions. When I stopped rising I was in a massive 'space' that was silent and felt like eternity. I had 360 vision and a screen appeared in front of me with flashing images. They happened at a rapid rate, then a scroll of what looked like sheet music appeared with electronic dots and dashes. A 'cartoon' figure of a woman appeared pushing a baby carriage, then I awoke on my bed. I called one of my minister friends the next day to see her interpretation of my vision. She summed it up by saying, 'You are going to give birth to something, that is what the baby carriage symbolized.'

Looking back on this dream, I see that the birth is perhaps this book, which is why the information on the screen looked like electronic Morse code of words and information, and the birth of the electronic Aquarian Age. The birth of this book I had symbolized, in the chapters titled: The Sycamore and Time Travel, at the beginning of the Table of Illusion and Reality.

Shortly after this vision I took a drive in the summer of 1995, from my home in San Marcos, Texas, to my birthplace in Philadelphia. It was the most profound journey of my life, so far, because in metaphysical terms, I decided to keep my third eye open at all times. I asked in prayer to be guided to those I could help on the journey. Perhaps I will write this trip in another book because I experienced it in may ways the 'holographic' nature of the universe ina profound way. Linear time existed on the trip but parallel to it I felt in the center of timelessness, where past, present and future merged into a continuum of 'Now.'

On my trip I was guided in prayer to give out blessings and gifts to so-called 'strangers'. To some I gave musical tapes, objects from my altar, but mostly I gave prayers and money blessings. The clear message came for me to tell people that 'We Are All One'.

In prayer I am guided over and over to help build 'The White City'. This, to me, represents the New Heaven and Earth, or the New Jerusalem, where the light of 'I AM', the Christ Consciousness in us all, illumines our hearts - beyond barriers, beyond divisions, beyond religion and race - We Are All One in the House of God.

In 1997 I became ordained as a minister through the Universal Brotherhood Movement, Inc., an interfaith ministry (based) in Orlando, Florida. My decision to become ordained was to affirm my life of service. To link Light Workers, to awaken people in remembering our union. Thank you and bless you all, Shalom.

As I sit quietly waiting in my chair for the class to begin, I notice a soft mist filtering in the windows and door. The brightly lit classroom was becoming hazy as the mist thickened into a denser and denser fog. Looking around at the other classmates, their expressions were unchanged. Apparently no one else saw anything amiss.

The fog closed in around me. I was starting to panic. Gazing upwards the fluorescent lights above me were dim orbs of light. Pretty soon it will be dark

in here, I reasoned. Maybe I should find my way out now. Standing up, I groped around, feeling in front of me with my hands. The room was silent as if everyone else had already evacuated. It was now completely dark, like the night had come. Stepping forward in the direction of the door, I clumsily knocked into a chair, sending it over with a loud clatter.

'Damn it!' I cried out. 'What's happening in this place?'

A clock chimed once, penetrating the fog with a sonorous note. Out of the mist a man stepped towards me, as if the chime heralded his arrival. Lifting a candle to his face, I stepped back in alarm.

'Don't be afraid,' his voice was gentle and reassuring. 'I have come at your bidding. I am the Riddler of Life.'

Studying his face illuminated in the candle glow, his laughing, wrinkled eyes spoke of his time worn age. Yet, there was a boyish, vigorous air about him that animated his features.

'I did not ask you to come,' I replied, quite perplexed by the Riddler's appearance. 'I was just sitting in this classroom, waiting for today's lecture.'

'Did you not know? No one told you?' he queried, arching his eyebrows incredulously.

'Told me what?' I wanted to know.

'My dear, you are sitting in Chair #1, so of 'course you asked me here. I am extremely busy, you see, so we best be going. I have many interested candidates to meet today.' Swirling his long black cape, he extended his arm graciously towards me.

'But what is this all about?' Frustrated and disoriented, I could not make sense of the situation.

'You have been in this class long enough. Ignorance is no excuse.'

'But sir, this my first day of class,' I answered him emphatically.

'Correction, my dear. This is the only day that you remember. Come along. I am certain that you are prepared.'

Forcing a weak smile, I placed my hand on the crook of his elbow. Briskly he led the way through the darkness. The only light was that that was cast by the candle he held out in front of us.

'Where are we going? I asked as I hurried along beside him.

'Why, to the Hall of Mirrors!' he exclaimed with a majestic air. 'I will be your personal guide!'

'What happened to the classroom and the teacher and students?'

'My dear, life does take its twists and turns, n'lest-ce pas? Let us just say they all vanished,. at least from your consciousness. It all depends on one's state of mind, is that not true?'

Somehow I felt that no answer was needed. The Riddler seemed like a kind sort of fellow. I've had far worse company than him, I reasoned. Who knows, I mused to myself, this may prove to be fun ... I remember the hall of mirrors in the spook house that toured with the carnival every summer. As a child, I remember being frightened in the spook house, especially being caught in the dark room with doors everywhere, yet only one doorway was the exit out. I pictured myself once again as a little girl standing in front of the 'funny mirrors,' seeing my body twisting and distorting...

'This Hall of Mirrors is quite different from what you are seeing in your mind's eye,' he interrupted my thoughts.

'What are you, some kind of magician, or mind reader or something?' I spoke out in embarrassment, wondering what else he knew about me.

'Actually, mental telepathy has very little to do with magic. It is more related to science. I was picking up your thoughts in the classroom. That is how I came invited. Yes, I am certain that you are ready.'

So entranced was I by the Riddler's presence, that until now I failed to realize that we were now walking through deep damp grass. The legs of my blue jeans were quite drenched from the heavy dew. A brisk wind was stirring. Wrapping my shirt tightly around me, I shivered. The pace of our walk was rapid. My breath was going in and out at quick gasps.

'We're almost there. Look ahead,' the Riddler inclined his head forward. 'The Hall of Mirrors.'

We stopped and he released his arm from my grasp. Through the fog I could dimly see an enormous red door in front of us. Strange. There was just a door, with no building attached. How could this lead anywhere, I wondered. The Riddler stepped forward and rapped three times on the crimson door. With this command, large gold symbols slowly materialized on the wooden surface.

Holding the candle aloft, he invited me to take a closer look. The symbols had a magical appearance as they glowed luminously in front of my eyes. They appeared like this:

Clearing his throat loudly, The Riddler smiled and the door swung open. We stepped inside. Although there was not much light inside, I could faintly make out a long narrow room .

'Have you ever looked in a mirror, my dear?' He asked quietly of me.

'Well, ah, yes,' I stammered.

'Look again,' the Riddler pronounced with an emphatic edge.