Immutable Laws are the fundamental forces that govern all realms within Vastitude, including places like Everly and TempTerra. These laws are inviolable—unyielding and universal—ensuring that nature’s principles apply equally to all, without exception. A clear example is gravity, which applies it force to all matter equally.

Now, among the most significant of these Absolute Laws is Free Will—the innate ability of every Soul to make independent choices. In Everly, this law is absolute, applying to every Soul without fail.

Similarly, Free Will is granted to every human. Each individual mind is free—at least from the perspective of ALL—to make its own decisions. For ALL to suspend or override the will of a mortal mind would be a violation of this Immutable Law.

This truth is even more pronounced when it comes to a Spiritual Soul. As relates to every phase of SoulJourning, it is the Soul alone that possesses complete autonomy over the timing, method, and purpose of its journey.

The Soul alone chooses its state of existence, whether that be Rest, Quest, or Behest. Make no mistake: Souls possess unbridled freedom to shape their own destiny.

From the moment I left the Senior Elder, the weight of the challenge before me settled heavily.  I decided to retreat to one of my favorite spots for reflection and contemplation, Callacpuma.

A remote place in the Andes Mountains, 10,000 feet above sea level, I found that I could immerse myself in complete solitude while gazing at the majestic panorama of Earth’s natural wonders.

Callacpuma, constructed by the ancient Caral civilization, served as a significant spiritual site in antiquity. Its focal point was a circular stone plaza made of huge megalithic pillars, reaching an impressive height of 60 feet in an ambitious endeavor to connect with the heavens.

It was atop one of the towering stone columns at Callacpuma where I found myself seated, contemplating the task ahead. Having never run a Behest before, I felt uncertain about how to balance the sacred right of each Soul to Choose its own path with my pressing need to staff my Mission. Unsure of how to proceed, I resolved to seek counsel from a trusted friend.

“This is nice. I have never been here before,” Mudki said.

“You’ve led Behests before, Mudki,” I began. “I need to assemble the best team possible if this Mission is to have any chance of success. Yet, I am barred from selecting team members. Instead, and pursuant to the Law of Free Will, it is the intrigued Soul that is empowered to select the Mission.”

“That’s right, Nephesh—or should I say, Sam?” Mudki joked. “The key is your ability to persuade.”

“Persuasion… that’s what worries me. What if I can’t find the right words or convey enough urgency?”

“Nephesh, remember this: While you cannot force anyone to join… you can, however, extend invitations.”

“True,” I said, recalling a detail from an old Elfin Studies course. “But doesn’t every Soul have the equal right to volunteer for a Mission? Even if not invited?”

“Exactly,” Mudki confirmed. “And you cannot reject them. There is a place for every Soul in every situation,” Mudki finished, as I mouthed the familiar adage alongside him.

“Do we not say, ‘there is nowhere you can be that you were not meant to be?’” I asked, the well-known phrase hanging in the air.

Mudki and I continued our conversation a little longer, exchanging thoughts. Then, with a quiet smile, he said, “I believe it is time for your own reflection.

“Final hint: remember the Three Extant States of a Soul.” With that parting wisdom, his image slowly faded, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

Obediently, I did precisely as he had suggested. I recalled that a Soul might decide to join a Behest, volunteering as part of a Protective Soul detail focused on addressing a societal challenge in TempTerra.

Or, a Soul may opt to pursue a Quest, inhabiting a human body and engaging in the mortal experience with the specific aim of pursuing Spiritual Growth. This path, known as the Spiritual Quest, represents a deeply personal journey toward enlightenment.

Lastly, a Soul might very well choose to simply remain at Rest, residing in Everly where peace and harmony are ever-present. Each decision reflects the Soul’s exercise of Free Will, safeguarded by the Immutable Laws that regulate all of existence.

Perched atop an ancient column at Callacpuma, I found myself wondering why Mudki had urged me to recall the Three Extant States. What do they have in common? I asked myself.

After only a moment of reflection, the answer surfaced. “Of course! No matter what a Soul chooses—Rest, Quest, or Behest—the decision reflects a deeper drive for Divine perfection,” I murmured aloud.

Whenever my thoughts feel tangled and elusive, I turn to an old method that has always worked for me: speaking aloud, as though explaining my ideas to someone else. A teacher once told me that the best way to truly understand something is to teach it.

So, I began lecturing to the empty air, unraveling my thoughts as if presenting them to a distant observer.

“Divine Intervention is a widely recognized yet deeply misunderstood concept in TempTerra,” I began, letting the weight of the words settle around me. “Many believe that, on occasion, God directly steps into human affairs, tipping the balance toward a particular outcome.”

I paused for emphasis, then continued, “However, this notion is far from accurate. How could it be, given the Immutable Law of Free Will? And yet… we have these Behests—where Souls souljourn to TempTerra to subtly influence the course of history. Is this not the greatest contradiction?”

I sat in silence, waiting for the faint breeze of understanding to sweep over me. And, as always, ALL did not fail me.

“That is why we call our involvement ‘Divine Subvention,’” I realized aloud. “Not … Divine Intervention. We do not intervene. We merely support.”

“Our actions, always within the bounds of Immutable Laws, are not interference but rather a divine resource. We support humanity only to the extent that it seeks to be supported.”

I thought for a moment, then added, “Is not the Law of Attraction an example of Divine Subvention? Think of when a human prays or meditates—when the Garb quiets the noise of its Mind and listens to the whispers of its Soul. That reflection releases a spiritual vibration, a force that defies Time and Space.”

“Humans call it the Butterfly Effect – how a single thought or action here can ripple out and create change across the globe. The Law of Attraction … is nothing less than Divine Subvention,” I continued.

“It explains how we, as Souls, can involve ourselves—using the powers of persuasion—with the hope of influencing events in TempTerra, all without violating any Immutable Laws.”

At last, I had my answer. However, there was one more key insight to grasp: “The responsibility rests with the individual—whether Garb or Soul—to request support. ‘Ask, and it shall be answered.’ But the first step is always to ask.”

It became clear why Mudki had directed me toward the Three Extant States. He was reminding me that any efforts at persuasion must align with the individual’s previously chosen goals. “Excellent,” I thought to myself.

Thanks to Mudki, with a newfound sense of direction, I decided to continue my reflection in a different place—one fittingly in the United States. “The scene of the crime,” I mused to myself.

Perched atop a boulder at the summit of Mount Elbert, the tallest peak in the Rockies, I gazed down at the shimmering Twin Lakes below, their waters reflecting the sky like polished gemstones.

The crisp mountain air filled my lungs, sparking a surge of energy as the sun bathed the landscape in a soft golden light. Lost in thought, I marveled at the vastness of nature and the delicate web of life stretching out below me, the rippling lakes mirroring the ebb and flow of my inner reflections.

The towering peaks of the Sawatch Range encircled me, their silent presence only interrupted by the soft whisper of the wind. I felt a profound connection to the world around me, as if time itself had slowed, offering me clarity in the stillness of the moment.

“Thank you again for your time,” I began, breaking the silence. “I hope I’m not pestering you.”

“I have all the time in Everly,” Mudki joked, his tone light. “An eternity, in fact. Where is this beautiful place?”

“High in the Rocky Mountains of America,” I replied. “It felt fitting—contemplating how to save America from here.”

Mudki turned to me, a look of understanding in his eyes. “And what would you like to ask?”

“As you know, I’ve never led a Behest before. I’ve volunteered for others, but this feels different. Not all Behests are equal, right?”

“Perhaps it would be wise if we took a few steps backward,” Mudki suggested, glancing toward the edge of the boulder with a playful smile. “Though, not too far backward,” he quipped.

Sam chuckled, appreciating the levity, and nodded eagerly.

“Let us remember how Behests fit into the grand scheme of things. Shall we?” Mudki added, his tone shifting into something more thoughtful.

Sam straightened, his focus sharpening. “I’m ready,” he said, fully engaged.

“All Behests, as you know,” Mudki began, “are chances for Souls to put their energy into something greater than themselves. Each one is approved directly by ALL, which is why they’re called Behests—missions carried out at the behest of ALL.”

“Yes, I remember that from my Elfin Studies,” I replied, recalling the lessons.

“Good. Now, let’s talk about how Behests are categorized. Do you remember this from your studies?” Mudki’s tone made it clear he was testing my knowledge.

“I think they are categorized by where the Behests take place and what their goals are,” I said, though I was not completely sure this is what he was driving at.

Mudki smiled slightly. “Behests can happen anywhere in Vastitude. However, most are focused on TempTerra. Can you guess why?”

“I would assume it is because TempTerra is so very unpredictable. Constantly unstable, with so many random variables,” I speculated.

“And is that not exactly what your current Behest is about – the Spiritual Wobble in TempTerra?” Mudki asked.

I nodded.

“Now, tell me about the Protective Corps. What can you recall about the kinds of missions they take on?” Mudki asked, ready to dive deeper.

“Well,” I began, “ALL created TempTerra, but placed Everly in charge of its ongoing care. We are its caretakers, its custodians.” I glanced at Mudki and saw his approving nod. “TempTerra Behests can be divided into those that involve humans and those that do not.”

“The latter,” Mudki added, “focus on maintaining nature itself. Since TempTerra’s nature is fundamentally chaordic, it can sometimes veer off course.” He clearly wanted this to be a conversation, not a teacher-student oral exam.

Taking the lead again, I said, “Like when too many natural disasters occur simultaneously, threatening the survival of humanity.”

“Precisely,” Mudki confirmed. “Now, what about the Behests that involve humanity? How are those subdivided?”

Now … I felt like I was being tested. “This is where things become more complex,” I said. “Humans are both individual and social creatures.”

“Meaning?” Mudki encouraged me to elaborate.

“They have personal goals, priorities, and passions, but they also function within social groups that have collective objectives.”

“And these often clash,” Mudki added.

“Exactly. Individual and group ambitions frequently collide.”

“But there is something else that always threatens both individual and group ambitions, is there not?” he asked.

I paused to think. “Of course. Spiritual Imbalance. When Spiritual Equilibrium is disturbed, ambitions—whether personal or collective—are blocked or completely stifled.”

“And that is the issue in TempTerra, is it not?” Mudki inquired.

“That is the Projection,” I said. “According to the TempTerra Monitors, unless we subvene, there is a strong possibility that humanity will destroy itself.”

There was no need for me to explain Projections to Mudki; he understood that as Souls, we could see both forward and backward across TempTerra’s timeline. “Even though it is currently 1943 in TempTerra, the Monitors have projected potential outcomes stretching a century into the future. If America lasts that long,” I muttered.