A side effect of this new esoteric world was that she felt a little more lonely than usual. Who could she open up to and share this with? The only girl in school who posted about everything from make-up to esoteric topics was Julie Myers. As was the fad of the time, she became an Influencer. To monetize, Julie did cute little YouTube clips with her hair in braids, wearing blush and lipstick, while projecting her perky cheer. She emerged as a brand. Not interested in that, Effie just wanted to be a person. In other words, they had nothing in common. Effie didn't see herself as bubbly or as dramatic, and that route just seemed fake to her. Maybe that was judgmental, but Effie felt that way. They rarely ever spoke, so she couldn't see if things went deeper than that. Perhaps she was a little jealous too.
During study hall, Julie saw the book that Effie was holding. She leaned over and poked Effie with a pencil to get her attention. Effie cautiously turned around and stared at the smirking girl with heavy make-up.
"Dion Fortune?" Julie asked with obvious disapproval written on her smug face. "Don't you watch my channel? We don't read old books! We only read new ones."
"But don't you want a link to the past, to where we came from? It might help us find out where we want to go from here."
"No."
I didn't agree. I wanted a footing in the past as well as one in the present. It helped me feel connected to something bigger than myself and yet encouraged me to forge my way with my own merit.
"I think this author is brilliant," Effie said with a shrug. "Besides, I think Influencers should stick with mainstream subjects and not profane the sacred ones for 'likes.'"
"Well, I didn't ask what you think and no one else cares," Julie retorted, crossing her arms and looking miffed.
"I didn't mean to upset you," Effie said, feeling bad, "Your videos are great. I just don't think that...."
Interrupting her, Julie replied, "Like I said, no one cares."
Effie tried not to let her words bother her. Instead, she chuckled to herself and thought about the time Jelkes put books under the sofa when Hugh Paston complained about the springs coming through. His comment to Hugh was: "There," he said, getting up and dusting his knees. "That's the best use I know for the modern novel."
So Jelkes didn't like the modern and Julie didn't like the ancient. People's ideas often go along with their age. One day, Julie might think like Jelkes and not like the modern, not if the books that she grew up with take up importance in her life and are tied to special memories. Effie decided to be open to both.
"By the way," Julie muttered, before leaving. "Aren't you Asian or something? Shouldn't you read Eastern books or something?"
"I'm American. I don't know what else I am and I don't think my looks matter in the type of book that I find speaks to me. Like you, I probably have DNA from several races. I know you say in your videos that people should only follow religions based on their ethnicity, but I think that closes us off from what speaks to our heart and to our connections to people who are different from us. I'm not trying to appropriate anything. I want to touch different aspects of myself and of the world."
"Well, you are in a minority with that thought. Aren't you?"
"So be it," Effie said with a shrug.
The encounter left her a little hurt. She wondered if others on a Western Mystery Tradition path would consider her an outsider just because of the way she looked. She already faced her whole life being adopted and standing out as an obvious outsider wherever they went. Maybe sometime she would find out more about her roots and where that might lead her. But for now, she wanted to explore this and to see if this Path spoke to her soul. And if so, maybe her soul was far more than what just existed on an earthly plane and in a physical body. Maybe she wanted to discover all the different sides of who she might be on every level possible. Exploration was a part of growing up. Maybe once she knew herself, she'd know for sure what was the best for her and not the opinions of others. Of course, she was certain that she'd make a lot of errors along the way. The only way to know for sure was to follow her heart and see what happens.
In The Sea Priestess, Wilfred finds the courage to thwart his family's demands as well as the conventions of his small town. He fights to live the life he wants to live. And she wants to do the same thing, but it isn't easy. That's for sure. She might need to put up a fight too, if it comes down to that. After all, she only wanted life, love, light and liberty.
To make matters worse, Effie got pulled out of class. The school counselor sent for her, which annoyed her. She was called into the beige office, where she put her bookbag on the floor and then plopped down in the seat before the large desk. She slouched in it and didn't make eye contact with the elegant woman in the navy-colored pencil skirt.
The beautiful blond, Dr. Iona Mac Arthur, observed her, saying, "You don't seem happy to be here."
"Nope."
"Let me make this easy for you. Just tell me your interests and we can make a career plan together."
"I'm not interested in college or student debt."
"There are vocational options and on-the-job training programs that might suit you."
"This is a waste of time. I can do that on my own."
Effie stood up, grabbed her bag sideways and her notebook fell out. Iona rose and picked it up.
Panicking, Effie muttered, "It's nothing. Please give it to me."
Iona flipped through it without any expression while Effie tensed, wanting to flee rather than face her judgment.
"Please...."
Iona firmly told her, "Sit down, Effie."
"Give it back."
"I will," Iona softly said, motioning with her hands. "Trust me. Just sit down."
Effie nervously sat on the edge of the chair, her hands gripping the end of her jacket. She appeared ready to flee. Fear was written over her oval face, so Iona offered a small smile. Her calmness had an effect on the defensive girl. Her movements were smooth and in control, so the girl curiously waited.
"I'm a Seeker myself," Iona assured her while handing over the book, which the girl quickly grabbed.
Iona had a poise and a certainty about her that Effie liked. There was also a genuineness which she didn't find with some of the other adults who talked down to teens.
"Then you know what I'm going through."
"Yes, my dear," Iona said, reaching over to pat her shoulder. "And it is the most difficult path to walk, but you will find the greatest rewards for your effort."
"Is there any danger?"
Iona's smile faded and she slowly answered, "I'm afraid there is, so you must be careful and keep a clear head."
"What is the biggest danger?"
"Many just get started and think that they've reached the end, when it is just the first big step. It gives them an inflated ego."
"I won't let that happen to me."
"Promise me something."
"Okay. I guess."
"Start thinking about your future and I'll be here if you ever need advice."
Effie nodded and said, "Thanks."
Maybe she had been wrong about Dr. MacArthur. Effie grabbed her things and hurried out, still not comfortable about sharing her interests with adults just yet. She was at the tip of something grand and had more to figure out. An inner knowing spurred her on. She was ready to make that leap.