Maria: I looked up and squinted into the sunlight, seeing the features of Child of Water — one of our cosmology hero twins who is comparable in energy to Buddha or Jesus — forming out of the gold-spun rays of the sun. He stood, tall and glistening in the golden light, skin traced by the patterns of the Spirit World.

Child of Water settled himself on the bed with no more sound than a feather on the dust. He crossed his legs gracefully and sat serenely, back straight, hands in his lap. The beauty on his face and the power and love expressed in his eyes melted my soul. The tension drained from my body, and a warm breeze caressed me. I smiled as my mind whirled with giddiness. His smile warmed me, shooting like bars of golden sunlight.

The words came like a balm: “Perhaps it will take a while for people to understand what is needed. From the First World of Love, you got the ability to dream. From the Second World of Kinship, you got your strength. The Third World of Time taught you endurance. The Fourth World of Soul Sickness gave you vulnerability. The Fifth World of Coming Together brings you wisdom.