Took a trip to Bethlehem in the daytime this time, by the normal tourist route–a cab with a permit to go in and out. Much smoother than our nighttime trip a week ago, or was it two? Or was it two months ago? One of the more bizarre aspects of these trips is the distortion of time. I think it happens because we’re burning through karma so fast and a day on the trip is like a week or a month of normal life.

A few of us go to the Church of the Nativity, supposed birthplace of Jesus. There is a cave underneath the church area so it makes sense that this was the place. I think He was really there, but whether He was or wasn’t is unimportant. Something is there, and I don’t care much what the source is. It could also be that some master came there 100 years later and planted a light column, or maybe our PAT IV trips 25 years ago left something there.

Whatever it is, I experience it in a way that’s slightly different from the Traveler energy. The Traveler pulls me up and out and is very wide-tolerant; this one reaches inside and grabs my heart and says, “Come follow me.” Or more accurately, “Shut up and follow me.” SE’s are how I’ve learned to shut up and be quiet enough to hear when he/she/it is getting close, and once again I see how I’m totally responsible for how receptive I am in these situations.

There are some photos in the slideshow of the physical location, which are probably about as interesting as your garage.

I’ve been really quiet inside for the rest of the day. Nothing in my outer life seems to have much importance. These glimpses are an incentive to keep going, and also a re-aligning of a lot of energies that may or may not manifest right away, and also a temptation to stop doing anything in the world. But there are other places in the vicinity to tour, a taxi to catch back to Jerusalem, and the dream/nightmare continues.