Synopsis

The protagonist, a young man named Theodore, is about 36 years old and resides in Athens. Following a car accident, he finds himself in the body of a young man from Ancient Greece who attempted suicide. Confused about his whereabouts, Theodore sets out to find people and seeks guidance from the Delphic Oracle – Pythia. Pythia reveals to Theodore that he must meet his true teacher, who alone can return him to his own time. To prepare spiritually for this encounter, Theodore’s best bet is one of the greatest teachers of European civilization – Pythagoras, who coincidentally lives during that era. Theo seeks out Pythagoras and becomes his student. Throughout his education, Pythagoras explains to Theodore why he ended up in the past and the significant mission awaiting him in the future. In the process, Pythagoras imparts a wealth of intriguing facts to Theodore, blending authentic Pythagorean teachings with alternative viewpoints from contemporary science. Theodore’s beloved Elena remains in Athens, and his lack of attention towards her weighs heavily on him. Through his studies, Theodore learns the practice of lucid dreaming, enabling him to communicate with Elena in his dreams and share his experiences. In a critical turn of events, Theodore steals a bottle of expensive wine, leading to his arrest. Pythagoras intervenes, securing his release on bail. However, Theodore learns he can only remain on the island for a month. With his limited time, he must pass an interview with the local ruler. In another lucid dream, Theodore meets Alkeus, the young man from ancient Greece, who now inhabits his body in the present. Alkeus’ adaptability to modern life is hindered by amnesia, and he relies on others to remind him of his past. As Theodore’s training progresses, Pythagoras not only introduces alternative, scientifically backed perspectives on the Universe’s structure and the existence of parallel worlds but also takes him on journeys to explore them. Theo’s situation becomes dire – execution awaits him if he stays in the past, while arrest and imprisonment await him in the future. In a lucid dream, he encounters his future self in a café, realizing that his true teacher is none other than himself. Spiritual purification is the key to his return to the present. Is he prepared to embark on his crucial mission?

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Excerpt

“So, we know each other?” she repeated her question, looking intently into his eyes, as if trying to see something in them.

“Eli, I’m going to tell you three things. Each one of them will sound more delusional and outrageous than the previous one, but every one of them is true. I really ask you to listen to me to the end and not interrupt. This is all very important for both of us.”

“Well, after a youngster in an ancient Greek cosplay costume approaches me near Lake Geneva, addresses me in Greek, calls me by my first name, and then blows his nose bitterly on my shoulder, I don’t think anything could be more delusional or outrageous than that!” Eli said, trying to smooth out the nervousness of the situation and its emotional intensity with humor. It was obvious that she was dumbfounded by what was happening and did not know what to think or how to react to everything that was taking place. Theo knew that Eli didn’t know that she was dreaming, so her mind was assessing it all as real.

He pulled himself together and began: “Eli, we’re both asleep right now, but this is a real lucid dream. I mean, I’m sleeping now, and you’re sleeping now, but this is a real meeting of your mind and mine. This lake and the swans are not real. I visualized them because it is the best and most vivid memory I have of our time together. Look around and you will see that the streets are empty, and there is not a single person here besides us. That’s because this is our shared dream.”

“Yes, you’re right, young man. The absurdity continues. Now it seems even crazier than an ancient Greek kid in the middle of Geneva who knows my name. Well, keep up the act, young Orpheus. I am even curious to see where the deepest depths of all the depths of a sick human fantasy can lead.”

“I’m Theo. Your Theo. And I am currently in the body of this ancient Greek youth, whose name was Alcaeus. Do you remember the accident? I was supposed to die right then, but for some reason I didn’t die, and I woke up in this guy’s body. I now live in Ancient Greece, about 2,500 years ago. My only chance to return home is to find my true teacher and then if I meet him, theoretically, he will help me return back to my body and to our time, and then you and I will meet again in the real world. I’ve missed you terribly, and so my current Teacher, Pythagoras, has taught me how I can see you but so far only in my dreams. That’s why I remembered the best time we had, that trip to Geneva. Do you remember how we sat in the cafe and talked about everything until it started raining and we ran to the car, holding hands? I’m sorry I cried on your shoulder like a baby. It’s just that so much has happened recently, and I guess my nerves just gave out. I’m so sorry! All the time, all my life, I’ve behaved like a complete egotist towards you. While I was wasting my life, I didn’t notice the most real and precious thing that was right next to me … you.”

Reprinted with permission, Pages 169-170

About the Author

Having lived in France for over 16 years, Alexander Morpheigh has had the opportunity to frequently travel to Greece, where he was captivated by its ancient and rich culture. After starting to study Ancient Greek philosophy as a hobby, it gradually evolved into a multi-year research endeavor involving extensive travel, numerous interviews, and the production of a documentary about modern Pythagorean societies. Alexander Morpheigh is a computer engineer with a university degree in engineering. Born in 1972, Alexander is married and has two children. In addition to writing books, Alexander Morpheigh is primarily involved in industrial automation and robotics, leading a world-class group of companies in that industry.