The Great Crossover
as told by Taliesin to Talibah in
“Talibah – the Egyptian”

“The Eldritch call their Realm the Realm of Light. Or at least that is as close to human speech and meaning that I can come. This Realm, the Realm that you, and more simply humans, think of as the real or physical world is often referred to as the Realm of the Wheel.

“Now it isn't that there isn't birth and death in the Realm of Light, but in the Realm of the Wheel one gets caught up in a cycle of forgetfulness; lives are short and lessons difficult to learn, difficult to maintain. In the Eldritch lives are as long as we dictate and end only because we crave a new beginning, a new perspective and we have access to what we wish to remember and how we wish to remember it.

“However, one from the Realm of Light who truly crosses over physically to the Realm of the Wheel can be caught by the Wheel and remain there until they progress as any human does through lives upon lives to finally obtain release. So, some 'humans' are really human bodies with Elven souls, destined to continue here in the Wheel.

“There was a time long ago... so far back in memory that few Eldritch choose to remember it – when many of the Elven folk deliberately crossed from the Realm of Light to the Realm of the Wheel. The Elven call this the Great Crossover when many of the Eldritch crossed into the Realm of the Wheel never to return. At that time many of the Realms' Gates were naturally more open and the energies were not fixed. The Earth was in a great state of flux and through the Eldritch She had first become conscious for we are Her first children; and then it began to flow into the Wheel where that consciousness began to appear in the first humans. It caused a fascination in the Eldritch  and they began to watch these humans of the Wheel in curiosity.

“Understand that the Realm of Light is within the living aspects of the Earth; the energies, the trees, the lakes, the mountains. It ebbs and flows quickly yet it always remains; it transmutes in a graceful dance that never severs it ties and always remembers from whence it came. In some ways the Elves are always near to the Wheel, close by, nearly touching. Very much part of the fabric of the Earth. And in some ways cousins to the humans who had begun to emerge, whose spirits had just begun to perceive their own being. There was an attraction, a curiosity, an expectation as the humans began their first steps into true self awareness.

“There was a little bit of crossover at that time that wasn't 'catching'. I mean, quick appearances back and forth, flirtations really. The veils were fairly thin, the Eldritch curious and as long as it was brief, nothing happened; and no-one even realized that anything could. Few humans at that time had any propensity to cross. I don't even know of many tales to that end except encouraged by the fascination of the Elves themselves.

“Elves... what an interesting word' a human word, really, though I've grow used to it. We don't really have a word, you know. We're just 'us', though there are many who are aware and use the word 'Elf' and such. Some may choose to use the word, some are repulsed by it, some simply don't care. Jared, I'd say, falls into the 'don't care' category. And there is much variety in the Eldritch, you probably noticed that. That comes from 'where-ever' in the Earth's energy those beings, souls, spirits reside. I think humans would actually refer to Cordelia, me, Jared as 'High Elves'. High Elves' I guess because we tend to look like humans for the most part. Are more like humans' Closer 'cousins' as it were. Energy is more similar, more conducive. It was mostly 'High Elves' that would cross to the Realm of the Wheel.

“I have to admit, some Elven folk do have almost no interest in humans'they love the Earth, serve Her and that is enough. Perhaps they're better so. Perhaps all the Eldritch would be better so.

“There came a time in this early stage of awareness and consciousness, of flux, when the Earth Herself was 'noticed'. The turbulence, the energy dancing, sometimes almost chaotic ' but brimming with life and potential. Multilayered, too ' easier access to the various Realms. One could almost say the control was a bit lax, though I'm not exactly certain just 'who' you'd say that to.

“In time outside forces beyond the Earth, beyond the stars, they say, became aware of this new Entity. Earth had a Soul now and that brightness declared Her being to the Universe. And the Universe noticed. But not all in the Universe are benign. There are darker energies, more selfish energies ' and there was desire to grasp this new source of power and bend it to another's will. Or to others. It's hard to say. So, a new source of energy began to drift to the Earth from outside and that energy's intentions were not all for the best. This alarmed the Earth as She truly was aware and perceived this threat to Her being as real and imminent.

“So She began to sing. A song that rang throughout the Universe in power and grace. A beautiful song, but full of Her urgency and fear as well. The Eldritch resonated with this powerful song and they, too, began to sing. And, I suspect, others in the Realms of the Earth sang as well. A myriad of voices filling the stars, calling, calling for help, calling for assistance against those who would take advantage of Her.

“Battle lines were laid, battle lines that in many ways persist to this day. The Soul of the Earth is rich and fertile. Though there are others such as She, She is still a jewel amidst so many unawakened spirits; a center of light, She really is. And She is worth fighting for – for Her freedom, really. To cast Her own destiny no matter where it might lead.

“Many came to Her call. Other beings, some older, some younger, willing to help and often willing to become fused into Her Soul. To become a part of Her. I am not as sure about some of those stories as I am about the Eldritch and some of the other Realms associated with the Earth Herself. But, I do wonder of them and find out what I can when I can.

“Some, I'm told, came especially when they heard the Elves sing. The Elves and the trees. These beings called themselves Deva. I remember them vaguely when they first came, like the glinting of the stars with bright hair and eyes, or so they seemed. They're hard to spot, their spirits seem akin to both the Elven and human, yet have a subtlety that neither bear. Oh well, it's the Eldritch I'm explaining here, though, isn't it?

“At some point many Elves decided they would cross into the Wheel, at least for a time, to cross and help the humans stabilize because it was the Realm of the Wheel that these energies seeking control had set themselves upon. So the Eldritch opened the Gates wide into the Wheel that many could pass through with ease for it seemed it was thought that the Wheel was Her weakest link as well, the easiest to gain access from outside to and to seek control.

“Being an Elf, I do remember something of that time. I know I chose not to cross, though I admit there was a temptation, many of us felt that. Many of us, though, felt we could be more supportive remaining in the Eldritch and it is good that we made that decision. However, the many that did cross did help the humans a great deal. The Elves brought with them their song, their joy, their spontaneous creativity and helped to open those doors in the humans so that the Earth Herself might expand and become more firm in that dimension. We, the Elves, often like to think that that is why the Earth was not overwhelmed and though She continues to battle to this day, She has a true fighting chance. At least we do like to believe it so.

“In order to stay in the Realm of the Wheel, the Elves here found that they had to have something in order to remain for any length of time else their bodies were automatically drawn back into the Eldritch after a while. Somehow, they found an herb that stabilized their bodies and allowed them to stay indefinitely. It is interesting, it's an herb highly poisonous to humans, but for such as myself, it grounds me into this Realm. Curious that. Anyway, they made the discovery and were right pleased with it, staying for years and years, befriending, teaching, building. Some of the Elves even had children in the Wheel and though those children seemed to have some natural stability for a time; they, too, found they would have to take herbs at some point, some sooner some later in their adulthood. However, though we do die, we 'decide' in the Eldritch, we were mistaken in the Realm of the Wheel. It was found that we could be killed, we could even get sick at times and some even found that their bodies began to slowly age. Yet, it wasn't worried about overmuch until the first true shock came; the discovery that the Elves who died in the Wheel did not return to the Eldritch, to the Light; that they returned to the Wheel in a human body.

“I remember something of the initial panic, the terror of some, the sorrow and anguish. The Eldritch are not made for those emotions, it is hard for us to come to terms with it as it really had not been a true part of our experience – until then. Many of those in the Wheel immediately quit the herbs and found their way back to the Eldritch as quickly as possible. Unfortunately for some, however, though they quit the herbs they found to their horror, they could not return, that they effectively no longer needed the herbs and were tied to the Wheel whether they would or no. For these, the Eldritch mourned the most for they knew their fate and yet nothing could be done. And though one might suppose that the Elven children would have more difficulty returning, that was not so, they did have a choice to stay or go. It was at the point when they 'needed' the herbs that that choice became critical as it did for any other Elf.

“And yet there were others. Others who decided that even though they did know what their fate would be, they would stay in the Realm of the Wheel, anyway. That it was too important, their work was not finished and the humans needed them.

  “It is hard to tell you how terribly we mourned. It was as if our skies had darkened and our hearts had grown dim. Some grew foolishly angry with the humans and became dark themselves because of it. Some were even taken in by the very forces we were trying to fight and therefore we did as we could to expel them even though they were our own. Unfortunately they remain as tied to the Earth as ever because they 'are' the Earth as we are and though we continue to fight them we do so with great pain hoping in our hearts we may someday reclaim them back to the Light. Sometimes it has happened, though admittedly rare, but it feeds our hope so we continue to pursue it. But I am loathe to say much more of that right now and would rather I only speak of it more when I must.

“The others, the others who decided to deliberately stay in the Realm of the Wheel continued with the herbs and their involvement with humanity. We would speak in the between, the same place you say you 'spirit walk', where you've seen Jared and Cordelia. It's not actually the Realm of Light Itself, though it's often referred to that way by humans. Sometimes one can virtually see 'into' the Eldritch, but I only know of one 'human' in recent memory who actually spent time in that Realm. The 'between' is a safe zone, you see, where those who had no desire to cross could still speak with and counsel their brethren, especially as the Gates to truly cross into the Wheel were being closed. We had decided it to be the best for all, so we effectively closed our Realm off as far as true physical Cross Over. We had lost enough of our people and we could bear no more. The few, who could yet return, were allowed to if they would; but at the time no one was allowed to pass over to the Wheel anymore. We even did our best to close all the Gates and though we met with greater and lesser success, it is certainly far more difficult than it once was.

“Those left of our kin on the side of the Wheel decided that they ought do something more stable, more lasting to not only help the humans, but help themselves as time went on; when they finally all had died and would only come back in human form. They began to format our 'ways' into some sort of semblance of a community, something they would be drawn to again and again so that they would continue to help the Earth and continue to grow themselves. And, of course, advice was given from the Realm of Light; especially in maintaining contact and the methods for doing so. And though throughout the world much has been lost over the years, here in Cymru, it is still strong, though most do not know of its beginning. It is what you are learning, what I teach. It is the Bardic Way and Tradition itself. Created by the Elves for the Elves and their preservation on this Side. Of course, now it has humans with human souls as well, and other spirits; spirits willing and attuned to this sort of discipline. It is with some sadness to note that few Bards really know anything of it, but for the Elven it was something often difficult to discuss, to admit to, especially as time went on. Elves have difficulty with that sort of memory; I have difficulty with it; but sometimes it is wise to remember – wise to relate it, to explain it. For whatever reason, I felt it was best for you to really have some true idea.”