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E.l.e.c.t.r.i.c D.r.e.a.m.s
Volume #9 Issue #8
August 2002
ISSN# 1089 4284
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http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
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Download a cover for this issue!
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/ed-covers
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C O N T E N T S
++ Editor's Notes
++ The Global Dreaming News
Events - Updates - Reviews - More
From Peggy Coats - www.DreamTree.com
++ Column: An Excerpt From the Lucid Dream Exchange
By Lucy Gillis
++ Article: The Art of Dreaming
By Linda Lane Magallón
Special Section : Inside the DreamWheel
++ Article: "Precarious Moments" A DreamWheel Session Transcript
By Phyllis Howing and Richard C. Wilkerson
++ Article: John Herbert's Pioneering Online Research
and Dream Groups
By Richard Wilkerson
D R E A M S S E C T I O N : Volume #468 - #502
With Elizabeth Westlake and Harry Bosma
D E A D L I N E :
August 11th deadline for July 2002 submissions
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Send Dreams and Comments on Dreams to:
Richard Wilkerson <
rcwilk@...>
Send Dreaming News and Calendar Events to:
Peggy Coats <
web@...>
Send Articles and Subscription concerns to:
Richard Wilkerson: <
rcwilk@...>
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Editor's Notes
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Welcome to the August 2002 issue of Electric Dreams, your portal to dreams
and dreaming online.
If you are new to dreams and dreaming, please join us on
dreamchatters@yahoogroups.com and we will guide you to the resources you
need. To join send an e to
dreamchatters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
As you probably noticed last month, the Dream Section looked, well,
~fantastic~. Why? Because we have a new Dream Section Editor, Elizabeth
Westlake!
If you have dreams you want published, don't send them to her directly, but
rather enter them in the form at
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/temple
Or you can put them in the dream flow directly by subscribing
to:
dream-flow-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Our news directory, Peggy Coats, from dreamtree.com, has gathered dreaming
news from around the world. In the Global Dreaming News you will find the
latest dream and dreamwork events, conferences, and seminars. Also you will
find research and research requests for subject, updates on your favorite
dream websites, book reviews and more. If you have news items about dreams
and dreaming for Peggy, send them to her at
web@...
Special notes: The PsiberDreaming Conference will take place online from
Monday, September 23, 2002 through Sunday, October 6, 2002.
Do you have trouble achieving lucidity? In this month's Excerpts from the
Lucid Dream Exchange, Anne Masterson describes her Shaman Journey, a
technique that she has had great success with when lucid dreaming seemed
elusive. Ready for something different?
Linda Lane Magallón wants to know, why have uncreative, whimpy dreams when
you can work and play with the dream artist and have masterpieces! Be sure
to read more about this in The Art of Dreaming.
The DreamWheel is an online dreamgroup that evolved out the early days of
Electric Dreams. In fact, Electric Dreams was a dream sharing group
exclusively at first. Over time, we added new things to the process and
tried various venues such as bulletin board, straight e-mail, chat rooms
and the like before setting with listserv e-discussion group format.
Though generally private, once a year we ask the permission of a group to
publish a full transcript of process (with all names anonymous) to promote
dream sharing online and further the Dream Movement in general. However,
while the main structure is somewhat fixed, each new moderator adds his or
her own style and each group will make every session unique. And so we
continue each year offering you different and new transcripts.
This year, with the permission of the 2002 DreamWheel group, Phyllis
Howing has put together a transcript of a group titled "Precarious
Moments." I think you will agree, this is a treasure for researchers, for
those interested in developing their own groups, and for all of us in terms
of sharing the dreamwork process with one another for our personal
growth. Many thanks and deep appreciation to the "Precarious Moments"
group! Also, many thanks to Phyllis Howing, not only for collecting and
putting this transcript together, but also her pioneering work with the
DreamWheels over the years.
Just where did the DreamWheel come from? Well, it's a long story and each
time I publish a transcript I try to give a little more about the early
development of the DreamWheel. This year I am including an article on John
Herbert, Ph.D., as he deeply influenced the current structure of group and
has provided supporting research on the benefits and advantages of online
dreamwork. Be sure to read "John Herbert's Pioneering Online Research and
Dream Groups" by Richard Wilkerson.
Our cover artist this month is Kevin Wilson
Artist Statement/Bio:
"I became interested in my dreams about two years ago when one morning I
woke up believing I had contracted a life threatening disease during the
night. The actual dream was a familiar school classroom dream where I was
around ten years old again and sitting at my desk listening to the teacher.
The teacher was asking the class some questions, after a few routine "what
is five multiplied by ten" questions she suddenly asked if anyone in the
class had the HIV virus. I turned around and was shocked to see that all
the kids in the classroom, as well as the teacher, had raised their hands.
I therefore thought to myself if everyone in the class has it, I must have
it to. As I reluctantly began to raise my hand, I woke up from the dream.
"The dream had such an influence on me that I was traumatised on waking.
For at least five minutes after waking up, I was dazed and confused and
actually believed that I had contracted HIV from my dream. I became
fascinated with the fact that a dream could have such an influence over me
and cause me so much distress. Ever since then I have transcribed most of
my dreams (especially distressful ones) and then attempted to "photograph"
or digitally recreate the feelings and emotions evoked by these anxiety
dreams. My website at
http://www.insomnium.co.uk/ shows a selection of
such images all of which have been inspired by my dreams and anxieties. I
have also written an ebook to accompany the website which contains dream
inspired writing and poetry.
"If you would like to contact me about the images on my website or even
about dreams in general, please feel free to email me at
mrkevinwilson@... Many of the images on my website are available
to purchase as high quality photographic prints. Both the prints and my
ebook can be purchased online using Paypal.
The front cover:
"I imagine somewhere in the world there is a warehouse or a building which
receives everybody's dreams. In this building every person in the world is
represented by a TV. When a person falls asleep and starts to dream their
TV switches on and you can see what they are dreaming. When they wake up
their TV switches off. Basically then, we can all watch each others'
dreams, just like switching channels on a remote but a lot more interesting
than normal TV - Dream TV I suppose. I've always wanted to watch my dreams
on TV, or video them during the night and watch them consciously in the
morning. I also like the idea of been able to watch someone else's dream on
a TV as it unfolds"
We don't send the cover with the e-zine, but you can view, download and
print up a copy anytime at:
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/ed-covers/
--------------------
For those of you who are new to dreams and dreaming, be sure to stop by one
of the many resources:
http://www.dreamtree.com
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/library
--------------------
Next Month: Dream Psi Special issue. Deadline for articles, Aug 10th.
Send to
rcwilk@...
-Richard Wilkerson
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G L O B A L D R E A M I N G N E W S
August 2002
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If you have news you'd like to share, contact Peggy Coats,
pcoats@.... Visit Global Dreaming News online at
http://www.dreamtree.com/News/global.htm.
This Month's Features:
NEWS
- CANOE-CAMPING DREAMQUEST ADVENTURE: AUG. 11-18, 2002
- New ebooklet on dreams
- Kathleen Sullivan Dream Art Workshop Aug 17
- ASD Psi Dreaming Conference - Online Sept 23 - Oct 6
- ASD Regional Conference, November 2 & 3 - Orinda, CA
WEBSITE & ONLINE UPDATES
- Kevin Wilson's Dream Art
- ASD Dream Inspired Art Galleries online
DREAM CALENDAR for August- 2002
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N E W S
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>>>> CANOE-CAMPING DREAMQUEST ADVENTURE: AUG. 11-18, 2002
Imagine paddling across a sheet of sparkling liquid diamond by day, tanning
peacefully to a gentle dip-and-swing paddling rhythm. Then, imagine the
wilderness laughter call of loons at sunset and the welcome, gentle wafting
aroma of campfire stir-fry, while you discover, by night, how to navigate
the tandem inner world of dreams. Adventurers can expect flat-water
paddling, a few short portages, waterfall lunch-stops, and a good
possibility of loons, moose, deer, beavers, otters, muskrats, mink, and
other wildlife (which often includes members of the camping party once the
fetters of society are removed). A flexible paddling/camping schedule
allows for stargazing, saunas, and learning proven techniques for
remembering, sharing and understanding dreams, for stimulating lucid
dreams, and for consciously enhancing fun and fulfillment in waking life.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, see:
http://www.algonquincanada.com/dreamquest
RESERVATIONS can be made on-line or by calling: 800-953-EDGE
>>>> New ebooklet: Understanding Your Dreams
How to Correct 50 assumptions that keep us from understanding our dreams…
and our lives!
by Ron Masa, Ph.D.
Why are dreams so hard to understand? We view them through assumptions
that fit our waking life... while dreams play by mystical rules. Making
that shift from Rational rules to Mystical rules 1) Helps us understand the
language of dreams and 2) Teaches us to see our waking life from the
viewpoint of the soul! This is a primary purpose of dreams. Explore the
dreamworld with Dr Ron Masa's playfully profound summary of many years
experience with dreams. You can read a free sample of the ebook and
purchase it at:
http://www.UniversityofYourself.com/dream.html
>>>>August Workshop Offering from Kathleen Sullivan, author of Recurring
Dreams and radio talk show host of Dreams, Another Way of Knowing.
Dream Art Workshop, August 17th, 2002, Santa Cruz, CA. 9:00 to 5:00. Cost-$85
The focus of this day is to discuss, explore and create images of the
Feminine Principle as seen in dreams and experienced as an inner
spycho/spiritual dynamic.
Participants will have the options of clay, collage, paint or drawing to
creatively explore the Feminine in a beautiful rural setting in the
California hills between Santa Cruz and Watsonville.
Call Hannah Dalbey at 831-722-1892 for reservations and directions.
>>>>>>>> ASD Psi Dreaming Conference Online
http://www.asdreams.org/psi2002/
The PsiberDreaming Conference will take place from Monday, September 23,
2002 through Sunday, October 6, 2002.
Online Participation Costs for both weeks (no one week rate):
General Public $30
ASD Members $25
Students with valid ID $15 (no additional ASD discount)
Participants who register and pay by August 31st will get an additional $5
off their registration fees. We will need to find an easy and secure way
for participants to pay for the conference online. I've kept the price low
to make it as affordable as possible for a worldwide audience to attend,
and as we can not exactly guarantee an even level of high-quality this
first time out, to make sure that most if not all attendees feel that they
get good value for their money, where they leave with a positive feeling
about ASD even if the conference has more than a few 'bugs' or features
that do not make it through.
We will also solicit donations form ASD members and other sources to
support this conference. As Rita pointed out, this seems an opportunity
for a community outreach on a worldwide level to dreamers who can not
attend waking physical reality ASD conferences. We need to emphasize the
potential altruistic nature of the enterprise to prospective donors.
Presenters and Volunteers (who work a minimum of ten hours before or during
the conference) will get 'free admission' privileges.
Presenters will provide us with a title for their presentation by July 20th
or earlier, and the paper/workshop text and graphics by August 17th, 2002.
Presenters will either provide a biography for posting on the members page,
or we will put one together for them. Bio's should especially mention
fields of expertise or of notoriety, describe the authors books, and
website links of interest to participants.
Contact: "E. W. Kellogg III, Ph.D." <
alef1@...>
>>>>>>>> ASD Regional Conference - Bay Area - November 2 & 3
http://www.asdreams.org/2002orinda/
NOVEMBER 2-3: ORINDA, CA: Dreaming Beyond Borders: Transformative Power Of
Dreams. Co-sponsored with the Dream Studies Program at John F. Kennedy
University. Program and hosts, Fariba Bogzaran and Steve Smith.
The presenters include: Emily Anderson, Greg Bogart, Fariba Bogzaran, Kelly
Bulkeley, Chuck and Shirl Coburn, Gayle Delaney, Daniel Deslauriers, Loma
Flowers, Patricia Garfield, Ray Greenleaf, Ken Kelzer, Dave Pleasant, Alan
Siegel, David Skippens, Steve Smith, Jeremy Taylor and more to be announced!
Some of the planned presentations include: Dream Charms from around the
World, Private Dreams and Public Nightmares: the Case of September 11,
Dream Interviewing, and many others
Registration fees for the two-day conference are: One-day registration for
either Saturday, November 2 or Sunday, November 3 is $125/$100 General/ASD
Member and $75/$60 Student/ASD Student Member. Registration fees for the
full weekend conference are $225/$180 General/ASD Member and $135/$110
Student/ASD Student Member.
Several of the presentations/workshops are planned for Continuing Education
credit with Sunday, November 3 being slated primarily as the "CE" day. More
information to follow.
For more information, contact the ASD Information Office at 925-258-1822 or
Dream Studies Program at JFKU at 925/258-7322.
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W E B S I T E & O N L I N E U P D A T E S
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Do you know of interesting new websites you'd like to share with others? Or
do you have updates to existing pages? Help spread the word by using the
Electric Dreams DREAM-LINK page
www.dreamgate.com/dream/resources/online97.htm. This is really a public
projects board and requires that everyone keep up his or her own link URLs
and information. Make a point to send changes to the links page to us.
>>>>> Kevin Wilson's Dream Art
http://www.insomnium.co.uk/index.htm
Kevin Wilson's collection of dream inspired photos, videos, Flash
movies and more.
>>>>>>> ASD Dream Inspired Art Galleries Online
By the way, the Association for the Study of Dreams just ended their 19th
Annual International Conference. You can see the abstracts as well as the
dream inspired art show and dream telepathy contest winners at
http://www.asdreams.org/2002
The dream inspired Art Exhibit is also online:
http://www.asdreams.org/2002
http://www.asdreams.org/2001
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D R E A M C A L E N D A R
August 2002
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Aug 9-11 in San Rafael, CA.
"Introduction to Group Dream Work", a weekend seminar with Jeremy Taylor.
For more information, contact the Marin Institute for Projective Dream
Work, at 415.454.2793.
August 10 in Orinda, CA
Summer BADG Meeting with JFKU Dream Studies Students If you
Are interested in attending and are not yet a BADG member,
contact Eric Snyder at
esnyder@....
Aug 17th, 2002, Santa Cruz, CA. 9:00 to 5:00. Cost-$85
Kathleen Sullivan Dream Art Workshop.
Call Hannah Dalbey at 831-722-1892 for reservations and directions.
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An Excerpt From the Lucid Dream Exchange
By Lucy Gillis
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For those who may be having difficulty achieving lucidity or for those
who'd like to try something a little different, Anne Masterson describes
her Shaman Journey, a technique that she has had great success with when
lucid dreaming seemed elusive.
SHAMAN JOURNEY
(c) Anne Masterson
After several years of working with lucid dreaming with small success, I
changed my focus and concentrated upon shaman journey. The journey is more
natural for me to accomplish and provides a lucid projection of
consciousness. I can physically be awake and aware of my physical
surroundings, and aware of all the detail unfolding within the journey. I
have noticed however, that if I am interrupted by someone, in the middle of
a journey that I come slamming back into my body, and tremble for a while
after the startled disruption. The journey takes on its own life. I can
never predict how a journey will unfold, although I can set specific
intentions to open non-ordinary pathways. Quite literally the shaman
journey is "beyond my wildest dreams..."
The shaman journey is conducted via the resonance of a steady drumbeat--
either a live drum or a recording -- although the live drum music seems to
work best. The drumbeats change the brainwave patterns to theta and the
journey begins. The drum carries the consciousness into non-ordinary
reality. I am aware of both the non-ordinary journey and my ordinary
physical reality. I am not asleep. I become a walker between worlds.
I must set a specific intention in order to enter a journey, otherwise I
just lay there and nothing happens except the drumbeat. The intention
creates a purpose, opens a pathway and the journey unfolds before me. I
never know what will happen within a journey or how it might unfold,
however I can make decisions within the journey in consultation with my
journey-dream characters. The journey characters are personal guides
through the terrain of non-ordinary reality. The characters within my
non-ordinary reality are familiar with these realms. The characters assist
me to maneuver through complex terrain. After two years of practice I now
have five eccentric people characters and five animal characters that show
up in journeys when their particular talent is helpful. (I started the
journey process with one animal guide. The other characters emerged from
journey practice and specific intentions). The journey characters reveal
information or techniques to assist me within the journey. The journeys
seem to evolve over time and practice. A growth in consciousness provides
more ability within the journey.
A recent journey revealed a new technique: observing and participating in
five (that number keeps occurring) probable realities simultaneously.
The journey begins. I am seated on a plateau that overlooks a 360-degree
vista. My main journey character sits with me. He never verbally speaks. We
watch a spectacular sunset. The guide indicates to me through telepathic
images, that I am to allow the busy thoughts of the day to be consumed
within the setting sun (which always seems to be in constant sunset mode in
my journeys). I feel the tension ease away from my physical body
Suddenly something totally different happens. Four other frames open. I am
in all of the frame scenes simultaneously. I am with different journey
characters in each frame, dealing with various topics. I'm aware of what
happens in each frame and can process the information simultaneously.
The first main frame serves as an overview. From the main frame I watch the
sunset with one guide and I also observe myself in the other frames that
open. At the same time, I'm aware of myself participating in the activities
that occur within the other frames.
I continue to watch the sunset with my main guide from the main frame. In
the second frame I have a female relationship-guide providing advice I
requested about a particular individual. In the third frame, I receive a
thorough treatment from two healing guides. In the fourth frame, a
diva/goddess character indicates information about prosperity and
abundance. In the fifth frame, a shape shifter character - he changes from
a person into a crow and back again. He informs me he will continue to
assist me in my sleep to clear away some negative patterns I had taken upon
myself while shamanicly assisting a relative who recently passed away, to
find his way to a more peaceful mental place).
The first frame remains open. I remain seated with my main guide watching
the sunset. The other frames close. Telepathically, my main guide relays
the information that the frame technique can be used in journeys for myself
or for other people. Linear time is bypassed. I may experience several
frames of reference simultaneously. All I need is specific intention to
open the frames. The journey ends.
Note:
* The journey took me longer to write than the amount of time spent in the
journey.
* The frame technique continues to occur in some journeys but not all
journeys. I find the frame method happens when I have a lot of questions or
intentions, either for myself or when I do a journey for someone else.
* I literally save time because I may do several things in one journey via
the multiple frames.
* The multiple frame technique has transferred to physical reality
regarding problem solving and decisions. I see several probable solutions
simultaneously. Prior to the journey techniques my thought process was more
linear.
Anne can be reached at:
masterson_anne@...
********
The Lucid Dream Exchange is a quarterly newsletter featuring lucid dreams
and lucid dream related articles, poetry, interviews, and book reviews. To
subscribe to The Lucid Dream Exchange send a blank email to:
TheLucidDreamExchange-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
or join through the Yahoo Groups website at
http://www.groups.yahoo.com
The LDE can be found under Sciences>Social Sciences>Psychology>Sleep and
Dreams.
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The Art of Dreaming
2002 Linda Lane Magallón
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The paint from my brush dripped onto the tarp at my feet. Then, as I moved
the ladder to another position along the wall, the tarp folded back on
itself while the paint was still wet. When I straightened out the tarp, the
liquid in the crease had formed an interesting symmetrical design atop
still other colored spots. The entire tarp was a history of splattered
paint from many different wall painting projects.
I could have examined the tarp like a Rorschach Inkblot Test, trying to
find patterns in the paint, like kids look for animals in the clouds or
constellations among the stars in the night sky. And perhaps I could have
played connect-the-dots with my paint brush, embellishing the design in a
deliberate way. The end result would have been quite creative. But is it
art? Well, yes, of a sort, but I wouldn't put the tarp imagery into the
same category as art planned ahead of time.
Art involves a conscious decision. Even a decision to be random (like
flinging paint at a canvas) is a conscious decision. Allowing impulse or
intuition to direct the brush is a conscious decision. A disciplined artist
is one who has spent time learning the skills, the techniques, the theories
and applications that allow paint to adhere to canvas in a way that best
expresses in an outer manner what comes from the inside of self.
The art of dreaming involves a conscious decision somewhere along the line.
You might react after the fact, recalling and recording your dreams, trying
to find patterns in the imagery through dream interpretation techniques. Or
embellishing the original production with creative dreamwork. Or perhaps
even translating your dream into a physical product.
But the process takes a quantum leap when the canvas of the mind is
prepared before you go to sleep. When you set up the canvas at "I" level,
you have a better opportunity to discover recognizable forms. You don't
have to stand, looking down at the puddle at your feet, scratching your
head and wondering, "What does that mean?" Now you know what the painting
is likely to be about, because you suggested a subject the night before.
You incubated a dream.
But you can't congratulate yourself alone if you actually get something in
response. The production of a dream requires the cooperation of the
dreaming self.
Is the inner self an artist? She certainly can draw some interesting
sketches and amazing wall murals that we call "dreams." But are these
flashes of imagery from the unconscious true art? I think it depends on how
lively her type of consciousness is. As there is a difference between the
spontaneous finger painting of a child and the structured oil painting of
an trained artist, so there is a range of artistic productions that our
minds can create.
Sometimes the artist within seems to paint in a deliberate way, creating
ordered coherence. Other times, we are blessed with the randomness of
fractal beauty. I honor all the productions of my dreaming self, but I now
realize my responsibility in her efforts. Without my deliberate
intervention, she must make do with whatever found-objects she uncovers in
the pile of day residue that I dump into my mind processing system.
The inner artist can paint without my outer help. As an outer artist, I can
ignore her inner promptings. But when the two of us cooperate, the true art
of dreaming starts to flourish. And the results of collaborative effort can
be extraordinary.
It's such an easy and enjoyable process, I don't know why more people don't
take advantage of the situation. It really is a hidden treasure. Of all the
sorts of creativity I've attempted, the art of dreaming is surely one with
the quickest results, because you partner with an experienced artist. The
dreaming self has already had a lifetime to practice painting pictures of
the inner world. What you do is bring new ideas and richer media to the
meeting of minds. Even if you should enter the dream and become one with
your dreaming self, the dreaming self does most of the work.
The result of your collaboration is twofold. You get extraordinary dreams,
to do with as you please. But the benefit for your dreaming self is
immeasurably richer. When you feed her with nutritious energy, she can live
a vibrant existence in the dream. Not only do the both of you become more
creative, you become more healthy. When the inner and outer cooperate, you
experience, first hand, more healthy and creative lives.
And when you don't cooperate? Have you ever woken from a dream feeling
upset, fatigued, conflicted, confused or frightened? How about puzzled and
perplexed? That's a common reaction when the two of you are at loose ends.
You have a choice. You can try to puzzle out the conflict, using dreamwork
interpretation techniques. You can attempt to change the troubled scenario,
using dream control. You can do both, and more. You can stop living life as
it is and co-create a better life. You can recover and discover and uncover
the hidden potential of the art of dreaming.
And what is the hidden treasure? The ways that dreams serve our waking
needs? Well, yes, but if that's all you look for, you're missing the point.
As I say, the art of dreaming is a cooperative venture. The art of dreaming
also asks, "What are the needs of my dreaming self?" "What does the dream
mean...to her?" "What sort of life does she live that may have nothing to
do with my waking existence?" "What happens when I put aside my expectation
of her compliance and ask her for her own opinion?"
Then you launch yourself into the adventure within the extraordinary dream.
And you're more likely to be welcomed if you come bearing gifts instead of
garbage, when you offer dialogue instead of demands. Then, you'll not only
find a fellow artist; you'll discover a lost friend.
Linda Lane Magallón, Dream Flights
http://members.aol.com/caseyflyer/flying/dreams.html
© 2002 Linda Lane Magallón
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"Precarious Moments" A DreamWheel Session Transcript
by Phyllis Howing and Richard C. Wilkerson
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Transcript online at
http://members.telocity.com/rcw666/ed-articles/phyllis_howing_2002_aug_precariou\
s_moments.htm
Introduction
What follows is a complete transcript of a recent session from the
DreamWheel, an e-mail based online dream sharing group that has been in
continuous operation since 1995. DreamWheel members take turns presenting
dreams for the group to work with, following guidelines established by John
Herbert. In the first phase of the process members send questions for the
dreamer to help clarify what happened in the dream and what thoughts and
feelings accompanied those events during the dream. Then the comment phase
begins, in which members take the dream as their own and send their
comments to the group in the form of "If this were my dream...", to which
the dreamer is then welcome to respond.
All participants in the session have graciously agreed to have their
contributions reprinted here under pen names, so that others may see how
the process works. We thank them all, especially "Jennifer," whose
"Precarious Moments" made this sharing possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Question Phase Begins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Moderator(Phyllis
Hello DreamWheelers!
Thanks to [members who participated in the previous dream session]. ...now
let's take a look at Jennifer's dream, "Precarious Moments." Take a deep
breath first.
Below is the schedule and the instructions for this phase and then the
dream. Please glance over the instructions, scroll down to the dream, and
then send your questions to the DreamWheel:
dreamwheel@yahoogroups.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Instructions:
Asking questions of the dreamer:
In this phase of the process you may ask the dreamer questions about the
dream that may clarify the images of the dream. Do not ask questions that
call for interpretations or that ask for material outside of the dream
itself. The aim is to get to know the dream well AND also to allow for the
maximum number of possible meanings being generated.
Clarifying Questions:
> >Example: If this were the DREAM: "He turned around and grabbed Bill's
jacket away from me."You can ask:
1. Questions about the details of any aspect of the dream AS they appeared
IN the dream, for example:
a. (feeling details) How did you feel (in the dream) when he grabbed
Bill's jacket?
b. (action details) Can you describe exactly how he grabbed Bill's
jacket (eg where was he in relation to you; what movement did he make; what
movement did you make)?
c. (content details) What kind of jacket was it? How were you holding
the jacket? Where were you when he grabbed the jacket?
2. Questions about how any "real" people or places in the dream differed
from their "real" presentation in daytime life, for example:
a. (who/what was recognisable) Who is the "he" that grabbed the
jacket? Do you know him? Is the place where this happened to you
recognisable?
b. (how does the "familiar" differ) Was Bill's jacket the same in the
dream as in your daytime life? If not, how was it different in the dream?
3. Questions about what a person/object/action etc means for the dream ego.
You can ask something like: "What would the dream (plus name) have thought
of the person/object/action etc". This makes sure that the emphasis remains
on the dream and the dream ego rather than switching it to the daytime ego
(who may have very different views upon the matter!).
**Please DON'T ask interpretation questions or questions about material
OUTSIDE of the dream itself. For example AVOID questions like: Why do you
think he grabbed your jacket? (though you might ask if any reasons went
through your head during the dream.) Did you know that jackets represent
symbols of appearance issues? Do you often have men grabbing your clothes
in dreams? What does standing behind someone mean to you?
Send questions to the dreamer via the whole group at
<
dreamwheel@yahoogroups.com>.
Dreamers in reply:
If and when you reply to the questions, do so only to clarify the dream.
Try to avoid interpretations at this point. If it is not clear from the
dream how to answer a question, simply say it was not clear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Dream
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jennifer's dream: "Precarious Moments"
I step into an elevator and push the button to go down to the first floor.
I get to the first floor, and the doors open. There is an oldlady standing
there who has been waiting for the elevator. We notice that the elevator
carriage has stopped not parallel to the floor, so I would have to step up
about a foot and a half to get out. I press the first floor button again,
hoping that the elevator will adjust itself.
Instead of adjusting, the elevator carriage begins to fall. As it falls, I
grab onto the walls, trying to hang on. It falls to the end of the elevator
track and a little beyond. The elevator only stops because it's connected
to the ceiling with a rope. I am inside the elevator carriage which has no
doors, suspended and swinging above an abyss. I look up and can see that
the rope is healthy, that it won't snap from my weight and the weight of
the carriage. I yell to the old woman to call the fire department for help
so they can rescue me. She says OK and tells me to hold on. The elevator
carriage is slightly askew, so I could easily fall out if I let go. I am
very afraid. I desperately grab on to some rungs inside the carriage to
tighten my hold. I don't know how long I can hang on.
Finally, the firemen arrive. They drive up to the elevator carriage. I
realize that instead of taking me out of the carriage, that they are
cutting the rope. I think to myself that these are professionals and know
what they're doing, so I should trust their decision. They cut the rope
with a knife and I, with the carriage, fall to the first floor with a big
thud. I realize that I'm ok and get out of the carriage.
I see one of the firemen who rescued me and I want to thank him. He is
blonde and very attractive. He smiles and is attracted to me, too. Somehow,
we've become a couple and he asks me if I would like to begin working with
him in a hand-made jewelry store that is now hiring. The store only wants
to hire a couple. I walk with him to the jewelry store. There is a
craftsman there (maybe the owner or manager) working on a piece of jewelry.
He gives us both applications to fill out for the job. I fill out the
application (it asks for my name, gender, address, phone number, etc.).
After filling it out, we walk into an adjoining room. There is a pool there
filled with sharks (like an aquarium). Part of the job requires that we
swim in the pool with the sharks, maybe to feed or care for them. I'm
somehow already in the pool under water and there are a couple of other
girls who already work there. One of them is feeding a shark a chunk of red
meat with her hand. I'm a little worried for her because of the shark's
hunger; I'm worried that it could unintentionally bite her hand or fingers
off. But she doesn't seem to be worried at all and even playfully teases
the shark with the meat (which, with each bite, is getting smaller and
smaller). Somehow we are able to breathe and talk under water because she
is laughing and joking with the other girl while she feeds the shark. I
understand that these are friendly sharks, but even so, they are sharks by
species and by nature. For that reason, I can't relax, knowing that there
may still remain some kind of dangerous, primordial reflex.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Fawn
Cool dream..I have a few questions, and may send more.
Are there any particular colors associated with the elevator? Does it seem
familiar to you? Do you know anything about the building you are in?
Can you describe the old lady in more detail and tell us any feelings you
may have around her?
When you realise the rope is going to be cut, do you immediately trust the
decision or do you keep doubting that it will work and fear for your
safety? Can you describe the fireman/boyfriend in more detail? Does he
remind you of anyone from waking life?
Any feelings toward the girl feeding the shark? How about the shark
itself...how do you feel toward the shark? Are you in any danger of the
shark yourself? Can you remember any sensations associated with being
underwater? With breathing underwater? Is the fireman still around during
the shark part of the dream?
Thanks for sharing, looking forward to trying this dream on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Scott Eagle
Greetings --Interesting dream. I have some questions...
Q: Do you know where the elevator was... in a building you recognize?
Q: What does the old lady look like, and what is she wearing? Q: Do you
know what floor number you were on?
Q: You say [the elevator] has no doors, but before that a door opened...
how did the elevator change?
Q: Did your feeling of fear continue when you awoke? How did you feel on
waking?
Q: "...I realize that I'm ok and get out of the carriage." Did you speak
to the firemen at this point? What did you say?
Q: What has become of the old woman?
Q: Where is this jewelry store? Do you recognize the neighborhood?
Q: "...I fill out the application (it asks for my name, gender, address,
phone number, etc.). Did you fill it out with your real world address
information, or something else?
Q: What else do you remember about the owner? What type of jewelry is he
working on?
Q: "...Part of the job requires that we swim in the pool with the sharks,
maybe to feed or care for them. I'm somehow already in the pool under water
and there are a couple of other girls who already work there." Where is
the fireman when this happens?
Q: Do you recognize the meat used in any way?
Q: How big are the sharks? How many sharks are there?
Thank you, I will enjoy working with your dream and telling you what it
might mean if it were my dream.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Astra
Hi Jennifer:
Here are my questions on this interesting dream.
Astra What is the expression on the old woman's face?
Can you describe the fall and the impact of the evator?
Can you describe the fireman you are attracted to in more detail,
characteristics that you like, what he reminds you of, etc.?
Do you see and can you describe the piece of jewelry that the craftsman is
working on?
What are your duties in the jewelry besides feeding the sharks?
Where is the fireman when you get into the pool?
How do you feel in breathing under water?
What is the third girl doing? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer> Greetings --Howdy!
> Q: Do you know where the elevator was... in a building you recognize?
Yes. The building appears to be the one that I work in part-time. It's an
office building that is shared by many small companies--sometimes three or
four businesses on each floor. I thinkit's a 12-storey building.
> Q: What does the old lady look like, and what is she wearing?
Caucasian, short white hair (you know, an old-lady, beauty salon hair-do),
thin but not frail (healthy old lady). She seems to be a friendly old crone
with a sense of humor and a healthy mind. I don't remember exactly what
she's wearing, but I had the impression that it wasn't something out of
date. She wasn't "hip", but the clothes were something that she'd probably
purchased within the last year or two, and not in and old-lady clothing
store (whatever that is).
> Q: Do you know what floor number you were on?
I'm pretty sure it was the 14th floor. The reason I remember is because I
had an extremely significant dream about a year ago about a guru who asked
me if I "want(ed) to know the secret?" and that I would "find the answer on
the 14th floor". After I had this dream (Precarious Moments), I remembered
the guru's words from the previous 14-floor dream. After I had the guru
dream, incidentally, I was watching a film called "The Game" and it turns
out that Michael Douglas' character returns to the 14th floor and discovers
that the company that he thought was a real company never really
existed--it was just a facade for a larger "Game" that was playing for him.
When I saw that happen in the film, an electric jolt shot up my spine as I
realized that the events in my life are really a facade for a larger plot
whose constructs and outcome are still beyond my ability to
comprehend--that is, until "The Game" is finished. :)
> Q: You say [the elevator] has no doors, but before that a door opened...
how did the elevator change?
The doors that open to the elevator are on each floor--not on the elevator
carriage. So, each floor has its own elevator doors. The elevator carriage
itself is doorless.
> Q: Did your feeling of fear continue when you awoke? How did you feel on
waking?
I awoke after the shark sequence. I felt unsettled, kind of anxious.
> "...I realize that I'm ok and get out of the carriage." Q: Did you
speak to the firemen at this point? What did you say?
I could hear them talking or understood somehow what they were doing, but I
didn't speak to them because they were far from me--up at the top of the
rope. They didn't speak to me either. Only the old woman had spoken to me
until this point, and only once, telling me to hang on.> Q: What has become
of the old woman?
I'm not sure. She probably took another elevator. :)
> Q: Where is this jewelry store? Do you recognize the neighborhood?
When I get out of the carriage, the scene has changed. There is now earth
underneath me instead of a floor. I'm outside. I don't recognize the place,
but this didn't seem strange to me in the dream. I'm no longer in a
building. I don't recognize the store or any elements of this part of the
dream from waking life.> "...I fill out the application (it asks for my
name, gender, address, phone number, etc.)."
Q: Did you fill it out with your real world address information, or
something else?
I think I filled in my name, but I don't remember what address I filled in.
I just remember that I filled out what I needed to fill out.
> Q: What else do you remember about the owner? What type of jewelry is he
working on?
You know, it's funny. . . your questions trigger images in my mind that
seem to come out of nowhere. :) The image that came to me just now was an
aquamarine gemstone set in a silver-patina brooch. :) Anyway, this was all
hand-made jewelry--very detailed, fine, fine craftsmanship. It's the kind
of work that requires a great deal of patience, attention to small details.
. . the result being a marriage between something natural (gemstone,
silver) and man-made (the detailed setting, the gemstone's facets). He
takes something rough from the earth and works on it until it becomes piece
of art, brings out the objects' most beautiful aspects. It was detailed
enough work that he had to wear one of those magnifying eye-pieces that
jewelers and watchmakers wear.
> "...Part of the job requires that we swim in the pool with the sharks,
maybe to feed or care for them. I'm somehow already in the pool under water
and there are a couple of other girls who already work there."
Q: Where is the fireman when this happens?
He is standing outside of the pool.> Q: Do you recognize the meat used in
any way?
It seems like steak--like big chunks of beef, red meat. Raw.
> Q: How big are the sharks? How many sharks are there?
They are almost human-sized, but a little smaller.
> Thank you, I will enjoy working with your dream and telling you what it
might mean if it were my dream.
Thank you for adopting my dream. I'm looking forward to reading your
thoughts about it.
Sincerely,Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer
Hi, Scott.
I was reading over my response and realized I skipped something.
> > Q: How big are the sharks? How many sharks are there?
>
> They are almost human-sized, but a little smaller.
There seem to be two or three sharks. I think there are three.
Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer
Hey, Astra. Thanks for taking my dream.
You know what I realized today? "Precarious Moments" is really "Precious
Moments" but with an extra "ar" in the middle of the first word. I guess
the dream would have been a precious moment except it was so "Arrrrr!" scary.
> What is the expression on the old woman's face?
The old woman seems to be pretty relaxed and calm about everything--not
overly cool, but definitely not the hysterical type. I don't remember her
exact facial expression, but the impression I have is that it is
event-appropriate, but on the cool and collected side. As I may have
mentioned to Scott, she was the type of person who kept her wits about her.
[Sorry about switching verb tenses as I write. Sometimes I'm thinking from
now, and sometimes I'm thinking as if I'm in the dream.] She strikes me as
a person who is pretty balanced between her rational and emotional sides.
> Can you describe the fall and the impact of the elevator?
You mean after they cut the rope, yes? I remember bracing myself for the
impact as it fell. It didn't seem like I was falling for a very long time,
but neither was I falling for a very short time. I remember that there was
a silence as I fell, and of course, I experienced the "falling dream"
sensation. I think I might have curled up into a quasi-fetal position to
brace myself for the impact (while still grasping and grabbing for rungs).
The impact was significant, but I was more scared than hurt because I
didn't know when or how hard I was going to hit the ground, so part of the
pain of falling was the anxiety I experienced as I fell. I don't remember
that any particular body part was more hurt than any other.
> Can you describe the fireman you are attracted to in more detail,
characteristics that you like, what he reminds you of, etc.?
He's reeeeeally handsome! Light blonde hair (that I think was shoulder
length), light blue eyes, tall, muscular build (but not TOO muscular. He
probably worked out, but wasn't a body builder.), beautiful face. . . He
was also the calm, kind type (strong and silent?)--sensitive, but not
over-emotional. I guess he was like the old woman in that sense--balanced
between rational and emotional sides. He reminds me of. . . an angel. Or a
male supermodel with great depth of character.
> Do you see and can you describe the piece of jewelry that the craftsman
is working on?
Not very well, but I got the impression while writing to Scott today that
is was an aquamarine brooch. The piece of jewelry he was working on didn't
play as large a role in the dream as his ability to work on it, which was
with great skill and patience.
> What are your duties in the jewelry besides feeding the sharks?
I'm not sure. At this point, it's all that I've found out about the job.
Perhaps there is more, but I don't know yet.
> Where is the fireman when you get into the pool?
Actually, I don't remember physically getting into the pool. I sort find
myself in the pool already. I'm under the impression that the fireman is
standing beside the pool, but I'm not paying attention to him.
> How do you feel in breathing under water?
It doesn't seem unusual.
> What is the third girl doing?
She's joking and laughing with the girl who is feeding the shark. She may
be assisting the girl in some way (like handing the first girl meat), but
at the time that I see them, the second girl is just beside the first one,
not doing anything significant. Just joking and laughing and talking with
the first girl.
Thank you, Astra! Let me know if you have any more questions.
Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer
Hi, Fawn!
Sorry I missed your questions until now. I've been wading through mail and
missed your post somehow. Thank you for bearing with me.
> Are there any particular colors associated with the elevator?
The carriage seems to be a rusty red color--between red and brown.
> Does it seem familiar to you? Do you know anything about the building
you are in?
The building seems to be the one that I work in part time. But in waking
life, the building I work in is only 12 floors, and the one in the dream is
14 floors or more. I go down from the 14th floor.
> Can you describe the old lady in more detail and tell us any feelings
you may have around her?
[See responses to Scott and Astra.] As for additional feelings, I think I
was glad that there was someone there to call for help, but most of my
feelings and thoughts were focused on the predicament I was in.
> When you realise the rope is going to be cut, do you immediately trust
the decision or do you keep doubting that it will work and fear for your
safety?
At first, I question (in my mind) if cutting the rope is really the right
thing to do. That is my first reaction--my gut reaction. But I reassure
myself by reminding myself that they are professionals and that I should
trust them. After reminding myself that they are professionals, I trust
their decision. I don't feel that I really have a choice anyway.
> Can you describe the fireman/boyfriend in more detail? Does he remind
you of anyone from waking life?
[See response to Astra.] As for reminding me of anyone in waking life, no
he doesn't. I don't
think I ever met such an attractive guy in waking life. :) I think he's
wearing a fireman's uniform. My biggest impression of him was how
attractive he was to me.
> Any feelings toward the girl feeding the shark?
I felt somewhat worried for her. That's about all. I hadn't known her long
enough to develop any other feelings, and I didn't have any big impression
about her except for the fact that she did such seemingly dangerous work in
such a carefree manner.
> How about the shark itself...how do you feel toward the shark?
I'm worried about the shark--that it has sharp teeth and that it's hungry.
I don't feel that I'm in as much danger as the girl who is feeding it since
she's the one holding the food. At this point I try to reassure myself that
these are friendly sharks or trained ones that are used to being fed and
handled by people. Again, I am trying to calm myself from a negative gut
reaction, as with the firemen.
> Are you in any danger of the shark yourself?
I don't think so, but I'm certainly not relaxed. The shark that is eating
seems to be focused on the food in the feeder girl's hand and not on me.
> Can you remember any sensations associated with being underwater? With
breathing underwater?
Nothing comes to mind. Nothing seems unusual at all that I am underwater,
and that I can breathe there. It seems natural.
> Is the fireman still around during the shark part of the dream?
Yes. He accompanies me into the room with the sharks, but is not in the
pool with me while I'm in the pool. I think he's standing outside the pool,
but I don't know exactly what he's doing because he's not in my field of
vision and I'm paying attention to the shark feeding that is going on.
Thank you for taking this dream, Fawn. I'm looking forward to hearing your
experience with it.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message From Lisa
Hello. I am a newbee on lists and may not know how this one works. I
wouldn't want to unintentionally breach ettiquet … Is it "early" or "late"
in this discussion? How long or until when is a given dream up for comment?
Is this the way to comment on "precarious Moments"? Jennifer, can you
describe the details and colors of the jewlry? What associations do these
colors call up for you? Are there finished pieces on display and ready for
purchase? How do these pieces feel to the touch? How are they mounted? Are
they loose or in combination? Do you have to reply to each email on the
list? or just one of them? Am I even replying to the right person?
Forgive me I'm a babe in the woods here …Lisa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Moderator
Hi Lisa and other newcomers to the DreamWheel. We're midway through
Jennifer's "Precarious Moments" dream, and will be moving on from the
question phase to the comment phase tomorrow (instructions will come with
the comment phase post). Then a new dream will open around next Tuesday. We
spend a week on each dream. And no, you don't have to reply to everyone on
the list (thank goodness, there are over 200!). Just replying to a message
will get it to the whole list.
And welcome to the DreamWheel!
~Phyllis (moderator) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer Hi, Lisa. Welcome to the list.
I'll answer your questions so you can go on to participate in the comment
phase (where you take the dream as your own) if you wish.
> can you describe the details and colors of the jewlry?
I received the impression that it was an aquamarine stone set in silver.
Aquamarine is a light blue color.
> What associations do these colors call up for you?
The brooch reminds me of two other elements in the dream: the pool and the
fireman's eyes. If one imagines looking down at a swimming pool, it is a
light blue color, like an aquamarine. I suppose the silver setting could be
like the walls and floor of the pool. As for the fireman's eyes, they also
were a light blue color. Also, the words "aquamarine" and "aquarium" are
similar--both having to do with water.
> Are there finished pieces on display and ready for purchase? How do
these pieces feel to the touch? How are they mounted? Are they loose or in
combination?
No. There aren't any other pieces of jewelry in the store.
Thanks for participating!Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Comment Phase
Begins
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Moderator
Hello DreamWheelers!
Guess we're ready to move to the comment phase for Jennifer's dream,
"Precarious Moments." Thanks to great questions from Fawn, Scott, Astra,
and Lisa, and in-depth responses from Jennifer, we should now be able to
take this dream and make it our own.
Below is the schedule and the instructions for this phase and then the
dream. Please glance over the instructions then scroll down to the dream,
read it and send your comments to the DreamWheel at:
dreamwheel@yahoogroups.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Comment Instructions
In this part of the process, you may comment on the dream. While you are
welcome to make any comments you wish, what we are teaching in this group
is a non-defensive style developed by John Herbert (Montague Ullman stage
II Variation) modified for email. This segment is the one in which each
group member takes the dream as if it were his or her own and shares
feelings and thoughts about the dream and what it might mean in each
member's life situation.
1. You can comment on what ANY aspect of the dream means FOR YOU:
a. The feelings YOU have about any aspect of the dream or about the
whole dream.
b. The metaphorical or symbolic meanings FOR YOU of any actions or
images in the dream.
c. The relationship between any dream images and events and what that
relationship means FOR YOU.
d. The relationship between all dream images and events as YOU see them
(you can change the order of events and images and present them in the way
you feel makes most sense to YOU).
2. In your comments make the dream your own:
a. At the beginning of all comments use something like: "If this were my
dream..." This sets up the general subjective attitude and works as a
reminder to the commentators that they are not telling the dreamer what
they think the dream means for the dreamer, but rather what the dream might
mean for themselves if they had had that dream.
b. To further this relationship to the dream write the commentary as if
you were talking about your OWN dream happening NOW (use the first person
singular and also present tense in your commentary):
> > >EXAMPLE: Dream: "I'm looking at my mother walking down a long hall
towards an open window."
I might comment "In MY dream the nurturing mother has found a new way to
escape ME." In my comment, it is "my mother", "my hallway" and "my dream".
This may or may not provide insight to the initial dreamer, but it's
surprising how often this non-defensive approach does lead to new insights
for both the dreamer and the commentator.
3. Send your comments in to the whole group at:
dreamwheel@yahoogroups.com
Dreamer's Response
At the end of the comment phase the dream is returned to its source and the
dreamer can reply. The type of reply is entirely up to the dreamer - but
some response helps both the commentators and the dreamer. It provides
closure for the commentators and helps the dreamer to make what was learned
in the process more firmly his/her own.
1. Immediate response: The dreamer gives some IMMEDIATE response.
a. The dreamer can indicate what possible new ways of thinking or acting
or feeling were opened up by the process of answering the clarifying
questions and of reading the comments from others.
b. The dreamer may like to indicate what life context the dream seems to
be addressing and whether the DreamWheel process revealed new aspects of
that context.
c. The dreamer may just wish to thank the commentators.
2. Later Response The dreamer can do further work on the dream. He/she may
gain new insights connected with the dream:
a. through other dreams (which are either consciously incubated or which
just arise).
b. through insights from the initial DreamWheel process which come after
the focus period.
c. through some new awareness of their life context.
The dreamer can then share his/her insights with others on the DreamWheel
AT ANY TIME. Such sharing can help build the dream group as a group. It can
also teach us all much more about the interplay of dreams and our daytime
lives.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Note: The dream is repeated here]
This is important so that as participants take on the dream as their own,
they have the dream immediately available and don't have to search back
through a week or two of e-mail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Scott Eagle
Greetings --
If this were my dream, I might like to begin by identifying the symbols
in the dream and pondering them a bit. The elevator, the old lady,
falling, the fireman, the jewelry, the number 14, an aquamarine gemstone
in a brooch, the red meat, and the sharks all stand out to me as I reflect
on the dream. Interesting that in the tall building, I break free, but in
the next sequence I am more grounded. The first scene is filled with
helpers for me, while in the second, I observe others performing unrelated
tasks. Firemen wear red... the meat is red. The Fireman's eyes are blue
and so is the brooch and the water. It also seems curious to me that the
building I know has but 12 floors in reality, has an extra 2 floors in the
dream. I conciously relate 14 to a movie, and a previous dream about a
guru who spoke of the 14th floor, but I do not recall anything that was on
that floor other than the old woman.
Next, I think about the people in my dreams and what their significance
might be:
The old woman, calm and helpful.
The handsome fireman who rescues me, then transitions into the next sequence
The skilled jeweler who conveniently looks for a couple to hire, and works
on a delicate brooch
The carefree girl laughingly feeding raw meet to a shark underwater
As I think of those people, I first wonder what part of me each one could
be? Could the old woman be my inner guide through a time of great
transition? Is the fireman another part of myself that pulls me back from
bad decisions? Is the jeweler the crafting part of me who both makes things
well, and also craftily deals with people? Am I a bit too carefree at
times like the girl underwater, and unaware of potential danger? What part
of me is the shark?
As I usually do, I wish I could reenter the dream and ask each character an
important question:
The old woman I would ask, "Why are you here for me?"
The fireman I would ask, "Why have you come for me?"
The jeweler I would ask, "For whom do you make this brooch?"
The girl I would ask, "Why do you not fear the shark?"
And I think the last question will be very valuable, since when I awake,
I still feel the anxiety caused by the shark. It is a worry about the
hunger of the shark, so I wonder what part of me is hungry for something.
It is interesting that the meat was bright red, and that firemen also wear
red. The pool is blue, and so were the fireman's eyes -- like I am still
swimming in his eyes. I found the fireman quite handsome and attractive.
Also, I know that water might mean emotions, so am I submerged in my
emotions while part of myself offers a sacrifice to the sharks? Does the
girl feed my fantasy man -- the meat of my desire -- to the sharks?
Why does the dream begin in the building where I work? Do I fear if I
climb higher, perhaps in my job, that I might risk a fall? It does seem I
have guidance, at least, that will help me survive.
Finally, I find it helpful to write a couple of "dream mottos" for
this experience:
[ ] Climbing beyond boundaries, I fall but find guidance that rescues me
[ ] I eat the meat of my desire and it makes me anxious
I wish you well --
Scott Eagle
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jill
Hi Jennifer. If this were my dream, stepping into an elevator and pressing
the button to go down might mean I am ready to go down into my unconscious
mind. I get off at the first floor,
ready to take the first step in this process, at the edge of my
unconscious. Here I see an "oldlady" part of myself. But I find I'm not
ready to take this step and have to make a readjustment first. But now I am
falling, plunging down and hanging by a thread. This process feels out of
control and I'm hanging on and calling for help. It's the old lady part of
me, the prudent and mature feminine, who I can count on when things get hairy.
Then the firemen arrive, my inner masculine aspects that are strong and
know how to handle precarious moments and put out the fires when they
become destructive. I know to trust them,
even if what they're doing seems dangerous. They are cutting the rope that
keeps me suspended here. Maybe I have realized that I can trust the journey
into the unconscious, dangerous as
it seems.
And now, with a big thud, I am there, and find there are really some quite
attractive features in this place. First and foremost that fireman, that
very appealing inner masculine who is always available to help me out, and
keep the inner fires under control. I find it's easy to be in partnership
with him, and that there are very special capabilities that are only
possible when we are joined together. Together we can learn to make
beautiful jewelry, can combine the natural with the human in pleasing ways.
I want this. I fill out my identity with this. And I find that part of this
new identity involves swimming with the sharks, feeding them and taking
care of them.
My first thought was that maybe the sharks represent powerful instinctual
parts of myself that I have been wary of, and maybe I am starting to learn
how to take care of these parts, how to
swim with them. But I wonder now. If it were some other kind of creature
this might fit, but I don't know if this can work with sharks. I think
instead they may appear here as a caution.
Maybe there is a feminine part of me who takes too many risks, laughing and
teasing with powerful forces, and I'm starting to realize how dangerous
this could be. I could lose my hand, lose my grip or my ability to handle
things. Maybe I need to be wary, be careful not to let those sharks consume
my energy.
Hope I haven't spooked you. These are my own projections of course.
Jill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Antonius
Hi Jennifer. Interesting dream, thanks for sharing it. It feels like one
of my dreams because in some of my dreams i experience the askew elevator
without doors where i am afraid to fall out of it. It may be both my real
fear of height and maybe loss of control.
If this were my dream...
Going down often feels like its a journey into the subconsious, things that
i have hidden from myself. I feel the elevator may tell many different
things though. I wonder if i feel isolated and out of control here. I am
alone in the elevator and it doesn't obey my commands. Could it be that i
have let outer things getting the control over me, forced me into this
small elevator where i dont got much space to move around. This older woman
makes me think that maybe i have let my masculine part control my life and
now i feel stuck because of it. Still i dont dare to do anything. I feel im
hanging above an abyss and if i move i may fall. Even if i feel im out of
space, at least i got something to hold onto. Im afraid that doing anything
could make things worse.
So i call to my feminine side for help. She calls for them firemen, strong
professional resources that i have within me. I may not understand it but
they seem to understand that the only way for me to get rescued is to let
go of the percieved control i got. I need to understand im not in control.
Only then can i find what im searching for.
I see the jewelry store as a part of me. Now when i have let go of the
things i was desparately clinging to, i can work on myself. I can get my
thoughts clear and sparkling like gems. Yet im not done. I need to confront
the things that i fear. I need to realise that things aren't black or
white. I need to learn not to judge things from their looks. I feel that if
the girls can breathe under water, then why shouldn't i be able to? Yet i
am afraid of getting eaten or maybe drowning. I feel i have to let go of
the old reflexes of fear so i can act with a clear mind.
Maybe this dream is about spiritual search, the jewelry (makes me think of
the three jewels in Jainism), the water, confronting myself. It may be that
my current beliefs is limiting me instead of broadening my views. Yet i
dont want to let go of them because i still feel there is a little safety
in what i know. I need to realise i am fooling myself that i am in control.
/ Antonius
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Lisa
Commentary on Jennifer's Dream.
No attempt will be made here to interpret or ascertain the meaning or any
instruction carried in the dream; since only the dreamer can do that. The
object is rather to explicate it, to look at its elements in more detail
through the lens of imagination, which is itself the very stuff of dreams.
The elevator.
The elevator transports the dreamer from the "top" floor, a place of
relative safety, to (more or less) the first floor, a place of danger. It
does this because, as a machine constructed and maintained by human beings,
it contains a flaw. The true nature of this elevator is revealed when it
stops between the floors and becomes, instead of a smoothly operating
system of gears and motors, nothing but a swinging gyrating platform
suspended by a length of (perhaps) rotten rope.
The Old Woman.
Old women, at least some of them, are thought to be repositories of wisdom,
if not the accumulated knowledge of the ages. It appears, though, that the
old woman in the dream doesn't know much about stuck elevators, perhaps
having grown up in a different world. She calls the fire department, as
instructed, but has to be told to do this by the dreamer. The old woman's
concern is indicated by her leaving the dreamscape instead of maybe
sticking around to direct the firemen and making sure the dreamer is going
to be okay. Despite having to deal with stuck technology and self-absorbed,
scatter-brained octogenarians, the dreamer is still in control.
Actually I am not sure how this may be received as I am a newbee. Is this
kind of the right idea here? I would have gone on to explicate the fireman,
the sharks, the jewelry, and the girls in the tank ...
Hmmmmmmm.
What thinks Jennifer?
Lisa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Astra
Hi Jennifer:
If it were my dream, I would look at the elevator as a confined space in
which I feel safe and protected, much like a womb. I'm in my mother's womb,
but it is not the safe place I thought it was because it starts falling
down. While my intellectual mind thinks I'm losing control, what I'm really
losing is the secure space that was mine before birth. The rope is like an
umbilical cord that needs to be severed before I can fall into my
unconscious mind and really know myself. The old woman reminds me of a
midwife, holding knowledge and power to help me through the transition.
There maybe a memory of my birth process in which my mother and I needed
medical intervention. And I was born, finally freed from the costraints of
my physical connection to another human being. It can feel pretty lonely up
there, waiting for the doctors (firemen) to cut the rope that will let me
live and breathe.
Now the fireman who helped me has transformed in an object of interest and
maybe desire. I'm a big girl and give in to my feelings of sensual
attraction. I'm asking myself if I'm really ready to make a jewel (child)
with this man. Social conventions tell me that a good person should have
children, but I'm considering all the options (filling out applications.)
If I want to go through with everyone's desire for me to be a parent, I
have to swim with the
sharks, in an unsafe pool where other people seem to have found their
destiny. Water is an emotionally charged archetype that speaks to me of
unconscious fears and emotions, of an environment where I can be free to
experience them, of a nourishing and comfortable environment for babies
before birth, of a cleansing element. Water is a sustainer of life, any
type of living being needs water to grow, and every being is necessary to
the balance on this planet. Earth is also the Blue Planet, the planet where
water reigns. I may want to investigate the real connection that I have to
Earth. My inner feminine calls me to trust my intuition and get connected
to water and Earth.
In my dream, all four elements of esoteric alchemy are present: Water,
Earth, Air and Fire (firemen). I can breathe under water, I have passed a
very difficult test and now I'm able to exist in a condition that would
have not been possible before, or I'm returning to my condition of fetus.
On another level, the dream may warn me against dangerous signs of
impending disease. The pool may indicate liquid retension or problems with
the urinary system and kidneys. Since the pool is infested by sharks,
although they do not seem dangerous, I would call the doctor for a check
up. The girl in the pool symbolizes my reckless self, feeding the sharks
instead of keeping them away. Is it something in my diet, smoke, alchool
that are endangering my life? Moreover, the rope I'm hanging on may
represent a dangerous lifestyle choice I have made that may threaten my
life. I get off unarmed since the firemen save me this time, but there
maybe a next time if I don't take precautions. I'm even talking about a
"kind of dangerous, primordial reflex" that reminds me of survival issues
at stake. Sorry about this, but it's better to be safe than sorry!
It was very interesting to make projections on this dream. I never know
where a dream may take me until I sit down at my computer and start jotting
down ideas. I hope this makes sense, and be well. Astra
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer
> Greetings --
Hello!
> "Interesting that in the tall building, I break free, but in the next
sequence I am more grounded. The first scene is filled with helpers for me,
while in the second, I observe others performing unrelated tasks. Firemen
wear red... the meat is red. The Fireman's eyes are blue and so is the
brooch and the water. It also seems curious to me that the building I know has
but 12 floors in reality, has an extra 2 floors in the dream. I conciously
relate 14 to a movie, and a previous dream about a guru who spoke of the
14th floor, but I do not recall anything that was on that floor other than
the old woman."
Thank you for bringing these up. I hadn't thought about the
observing/performing and falling/grounded contrast.
> "As I think of those people, I first wonder what part of me each one
could be? Could the old woman be my inner guide through a time of great
transition?"
Good questions. I do feel like I have a wise inner guide. This was probably
her manifestation in the dream.
> "Is the fireman another part of myself that pulls me back from bad
decisions?"
Another good question. It could also be the part of myself that rescues me
from them. :)
> "Is the jeweler the crafting part of me who both makes things well, and
also craftily deals with people?"
Ooh! Hadn't thought about it in the dealing with people context.
> "Am I a bit too carefree at times like the girl underwater, and unaware
of potential danger?"
Sometimes I do feel that I am too carefree. Perhaps it's because of those
carefree decisions (if they're not good ones) that the fireman part of me
has to come to the rescue. Perhaps I am afraid of making those kinds of
whimsical decisions that complicate my life. I don't make them as often
now, but I certainly did a few years ago. Perhaps that is the fear.
> "What part of me is the shark?"
The part that may have "bitten off more than it could chew" in the past. :)
> "As I usually do, I wish I could reenter the dream and ask each
character an important question:
The old woman I would ask, 'Why are you here for me?'
The fireman I would ask, 'Why have you come for me?'
The jeweler I would ask, 'For whom do you make this brooch?'
The girl I would ask, 'Why do you not fear the shark?'"
Again, very good questions.
> "Also, I know that water might mean emotions, so am I submerged in my
emotions while part of myself offers a sacrifice to the sharks?"
I do feel like I am sometimes too emotional. Perhaps I am feeding myself to
the sharks when I over-react.
> "Why does the dream begin in the building where I work? Do I fear if I
climb higher, perhaps in my job, that I might risk a fall? It does seem I
have guidance, at least, that will help me survive."
It does seem that the higher I climb in my career that the further I do
have to fall. :) Taking risks can be fearful for me.
"[ ] Climbing beyond boundaries, I fall but find guidance that rescues me
[ ] I eat the meat of my desire and it makes me anxious"
Great thought morsels! (Chomp Chomp!)
Thank you Scott for your helpful questions and for the mottos. I hadn't
thought of assigning mottos to a dream before.
Sincerely,
Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer
> Hi Jennifer.
Hi, Jill!
> "If this were my dream, stepping into an elevator and pressing the
button to go down might mean I am ready to go down into my unconscious mind."
That resonates with me.
> "I get off at the first floor, ready to take the first step in this
process, at the edge of my unconscious. Here I see an 'oldlady' part of
myself. But I find I'm not ready to take this step and have to make a
readjustment first."
Interesting. Perhaps this is where the fear first begins--having to rely on
my own inner wisdom as opposed to the wisdom or counsel of others. In many
ways, I do feel that I'm beginning my life as an independent person and
have had to rely a lot more on myself in the
past couple of years.
> "But now I am falling, plunging down and hanging by a thread. This
process feels out of control and I'm hanging on and calling for help. It's
the old lady part of me, the prudent and mature feminine, who I can count
on when things get hairy."
Feeling out of control of my life really is a scary thought for me.
> "Then the firemen arrive, my inner masculine aspects that are strong and
know how to handle precarious moments and put out the fires when they
become destructive. I know to trust them, even if what they're doing seems
dangerous. They are cutting the rope that keeps me suspended here. Maybe I
have realized that I can trust the journey into the unconscious, dangerous
as it seems."
In any case, it seems that what ever I do, I have inner reserves to help me
through the situation. Perhaps it might have been wiser to "step up" in the
beginning as opposed to trying to adjust things exactly the way I would
have wanted to be "pressing elevator button". Perhaps the dream reminds me
to step up in my life--make adjustments in myself--as opposed to making
adjustments in my environment.
> "And now, with a big thud, I am there, and find there are really some
quite attractive features in this place. First and foremost that fireman,
that very appealing inner masculine who is always available to help me out,
and keep the inner fires under control."
And to keep the inner fires burning. ;-)
> "I find it's easy to be in partnership with him, and that there are very
special capabilities that are only possible when we are joined together.
Together we can learn to make beautiful jewelry, can combine the natural
with the human in pleasing ways."
Interesting. I am an oboist--this could be what the dream refers to when it
presents the "crafting". Each piece of music is like a jewel or jewelry
that I must craft into a work of art. And very often, I do feel masculine
as well as feminine when I'm working on my music. This is probably the
partnership that the dream refers to.
> "I want this. I fill out my identity with this."
I think this is true. I do identify myself with my work--my identity as an
artist.
> "And I find that part of this new identity involves swimming with the
sharks, feeding them and taking care of them."
Yes! I often feel that when I'm working on my music that I'm trying to tame
a wilder part of myself. This has to do with the extremely emotional,
sensitive side that I have. I'm constantly trying to control that part of
myself.
> "My first thought was that maybe the sharks represent powerful
instinctual parts of myself that I have been wary of, and maybe I am
starting to learn how to take care of these parts, how to swim with them."
I do feel that I am in some control with the emotional aspects of myself
when I play, but yes, I do still worry about losing it. And actually, when
I perform, I do have a difficult time controling my nervousness.
> "But I wonder now. If it were some other kind of creature this might
fit, but I don't know if this can work with sharks. I think instead they
may appear here as a caution. Maybe there is a feminine part of me who
takes too many risks, laughing and teasing with powerful forces, and I'm
starting to realize how dangerous this could be. I could lose my hand, lose
my grip or my ability to handle things. Maybe I need to be wary, be careful
not to let those sharks consume my energy."
Perhaps I may be even be spending too much energy worrying about controling
those parts of myself. I probably need to focus more on the "crafting"
aspect of my work as opposed to the "control" part.
> "Hope I haven't spooked you. These are my own projections of course."
Very accurate projections. I have a running joke with a friend of mine
who's a therapist. Sometimes he'll say something judgemental to me and I'll
respond, "You're projecting!" to which his response is, "But I'm only
projecting on you and not anyone else!" I also say that
to him when vice-versa occurs. :) It's a joke, of course.
Thank you, Jill!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer
> Hi Jennifer
Hi, Antonius!
> "Interesting dream, thanks for sharing it. It feels like one of my
dreams because in some of my dreams i experience the askew elevator without
doors where i am afraid to fall out of it. It may be both my real fear of
height and maybe loss of control."
In my case, it's probably the latter (though I am afraid of heights, too).
> "If this were my dream... Going down often feels like its a journey into
the subconsious,
things that i have hidden from myself. I feel the elevator may tell many
different things though. I wonder if i feel isolated and out of control
here. I am alone in the elevator and it doesn't obey my commands. Could it
be that i have let outer things getting the control over me, forced me into
this small elevator where i dont got much space to move around."
Hmm. . . Another question might be "How have I allowed outer events to
influence my environment?" I'm of the ilk that not only do things happen to
us, we sometimes allow situations to become the way they are. Of course,
that's not true in every single case, but I mean generally. Another way to
"control" or to lose control of a situationlies in the way that we handle
or respond to it.
> "This older woman makes me think that maybe i have let my masculine part
control my life and now i feel stuck because of it."
Just between you and me (and the list), a Jungian therapist did tell me I
was previously "Animus Possessed". Maybe as a result, dealing with life
through my masculine side has made things harder than they could have been
if I had just relied on my feminine self.
> "Still i dont dare to do anything. I feel im hanging above an abyss and
if i move i may fall. Even if i feel im out of space, at least i got
something to hold onto. Im afraid that doing anything could make things worse."
Sometimes I feel that way about school. It's a very structured environment,
like the elevator carriage is, and I do sometimes feel that I'm clinging on
to it, afraid to let go--to trust life.
> "So i call to my feminine side for help. She calls for them firemen,
strong professional resources that i have within me. I may not understand
it but they seem to understand that the only way for me to get rescued is
to let go of the percieved control i got."
Exactly. And "perceived" is a key word here. Perhaps the control I have is
only an illusion.
> "I need to understand im not in control. Only then can i find what im
searching for."
This is extremely profound. And extremely difficult. :)
> "I see the jewelry store as a part of me. Now when i have let go of the
things i was desparately clinging to, i can work on myself. I can get my
thoughts clear and sparkling like gems. Yet im not done. I need to confront
the things that i fear. I need to realise that things aren't black or
white. I need to learn not to judge things from their looks. I feel that if
the girls can breathe under water, then why shouldn't i be able to? Yet i
am afraid of getting eaten or maybe drowning. I feel i have to let go of
the old reflexes of fear so i can act with a clear mind."
Thank you for this. I feel that it is true in my case.
> "Maybe this dream is about spiritual search, the jewelry (makes me think
of the three jewels in Jainism), the water, confronting myself. It may be
that my current beliefs is limiting me instead of broadening my views."
This is a scary thought, so you're probably right. :)
> "Yet i dont want to let go of them because i still feel there is a
little safety in what i know. I need to realise i am fooling myself that i
am in control."
Yep. I need to learn to let go and trust life.
Thank you Antonius. This was very profound.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Jennifer
Hi, Lisa.
> "No attempt will be made here to interpret or ascertain the meaning or
any instruction carried in the dream; since only the dreamer can do that.
The object is rather to explicate it, to look at its elements in more
detail through the lens of imagination, which is itself the very stuff of
dreams."
Very intelligent introduction. :)
> "The elevator transports the dreamer from the 'top' floor, a place of
relative safety, to (more or less) the first floor, a place of danger."
Interesting thought. It seems that it would be the other way around but it
isn't. Instead of the upper floors being dangerous, it's first floor--the
"grounded" one that frightens me. Perhaps I am afraid of "coming down to
earth."
> "It does this because, as a machine constructed and maintained by human
beings, it contains a flaw."
As Antonius mentioned, perhaps this flaw is the perceived control that I have.
> "Old women, at least some of them, are thought to be repositories of
wisdom, if not the accumulated knowledge of the ages."
The archetypical crone. My inner repository of wisdom!
Thank you Lisa for the interesting insights.
And thank you everyone who has contributed their time and energy. This has
really given me a lot of new thoughts to ponder as I travel on my path
through this "precarious" life. ;)
Good luck to you all as you continue on your own paths.
Most Sincerely,
Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Message From Jennifer
Dear Astra,
Thank you for taking the time out to give such a thorough adaptation of
this dream. I really appreciate this.
> "If it were my dream, I would look at the elevator as a confined space
in which I feel safe and protected, much like a womb.
"This is a very interesting comparison. It hadn't occurred to me, but it
makes so much sense!
> "I'm in my mother's womb, but it is not the safe place I thought it was
because it starts falling down. While my intellectual mind thinks I'm
losing control, what I'm really losing is the secure space that was mine
before birth.
"Yes. This whole scenario could be interpreted as the birthing process.
Babies probably also experience anxiety or discomfort during the period
when the mother is in labor and giving birth.
> "The rope is like an umbilical cord that needs to be severed before I
can fall into my unconscious mind and really know myself. The old woman
reminds me of a midwife, holding knowledge and power to help me through the
transition. There maybe a memory of my birth process in which my mother and
I needed medical intervention. And I was born, finally freed from the
costraints of my physical connection to another human being. It can feel
pretty lonely up there, waiting for the doctors (firemen) to cut the rope
that will let me live andbreathe.
"VERY interesting. In addition to being a memory, it could also be a
symbolic birth--my birth as an adult or independent person.
> "Now the fireman who helped me has transformed in an object of interest
and maybe desire. I'm a big girl and give in to my feelings of sensual
attraction.
"Yes--attraction to the opposite sex could be symbolic of feelings that
happen to an adult. Or rather, the desire to pair or couple with him.
> "I'm asking myself if I'm really ready to make a jewel (child) with this
man. Social conventions tell me that a good person should have children,
but I'm considering all the options (filling out applications.)
"LOL! Having you been peeking into my life? I am almost 36 and I don't have
children and I'm not married. Thoughts about children have crossed my mind
more frequently than they had when I was in my early and mid twenties. And
the thought about "considering all the options" seems to be the response
that I have to those thoughts. I've also had thoughts about settling down,
but am not sure how well my career will fare if I decide to go domestic. :)
I have strong feelings about raising children and want to give them all the
attention that they need and deserve. I feel that if I did have a child,
that my career would definitely have to take a backseat, if not disappear
all together.
> "If I want to go through with everyone's desire for me to be a parent, I
have to swim with the sharks, in an unsafe pool where other people seem to
have found their destiny.
"Yes, I do feel a little pressured by traditional views. I'm not sure that
being a Mom is exactly what I want, though. I don't feel like a
"traditional" person, and am not sure that I would be completely happy
living traditionally--that I have other work to do in my life still.
> "I may want to investigate the real connection that I have to Earth.
"Interesting thought. I do often feel that I have some work that I have
been born to do here (on the planet) that doesn't fit in with the more
"traditional" views. But I'm still a little confused about what exactly
that is. :)
> "My inner feminine calls me to trust my intuition and get connected to
water and Earth."
Good advice.> "In my dream, all four elements of esoteric alchemy are
present: Water, Earth, Air and Fire (firemen). I can breathe under water, I
have passed a very difficult test and now I'm able to exist in a condition
that would have not been possible before, or I'm returning to my condition
of fetus.
"Perhaps it is in this state that I will "remember" what it is I was sent
here to do. . .> "The girl in the pool symbolizes my reckless self, feeding
the sharks instead of keeping them away. Is it something in my diet, smoke,
alchool that are endangering my life?
"I do smoke. It could be this. In the past months, I've cut out a lot of
unhealthy habits. I've tried to quit smoking, but was unsuccessful. Perhaps
it refers to this. And I do find that I smoke more often when I'm feeling
emotional, so perhaps that's the connection with water.
> "Moreover, the rope I'm hanging on may represent a dangerous lifestyle
choice I have made that may threaten my life.
"Perhaps smoking, worrying, being a control freak--all of it together.
Thank you VERY much Astra, and no, I wasn't worried about what you wrote.
Thank you for writing it. You seem like an extremely intuitive person.
Sincerely,Jennifer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
End Session
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can subscribe to the DreamWheel by sending an e-mail to:
dreamwheel-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
You're also welcome to try out this dreamwork process in your own online
groups.
Read more about the process in John Herbert's research paper comparing face
to face groups with online groups:
http://users.aol.com/john0417/HuSci/Greet.html
A brief history of online dream sharing by Richard C. Wilkerson
and Dr. Herbert can be found here:
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/articles_rcw/ed2-6jh.htm
Also see Richard's article, "A Short History on the Rise of Dream Sharing
in Cyberspace," in the October, 1998 issue of Electric Dreams Magazine (the
same issue includes the "Coins of Life" DreamWheel transcript from that
year):
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/ed-backissues/ed5-9.txt
Phyllis Howing, DreamWheel moderator
Richard Wilkerson, DreamWheel founder
o|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|o
John Herbert's Pioneering Online Research and Dream Groups
By Richard Wilkerson
o|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|+|o
John Herbert's work became know to me in the early 1990's through the
grassroots dream grapevine, but hadn't been able to track him down on the
Net. Search engines in those days were not what they are today. In 1994 he
found me and I had a chance to go through two of his online groups, one as
a commentator and the other using one of my dreams. It was immediately
clear to me from John's work (at this time on AOL SeniorNet venue) that
were just the structure we needed in the Electric Dreams community for our
own groups which had been using a round-robin approach that was less
structured. John Herbert's approach provided a quick, yet in-depth approach
to online dreamwork.
Further, Herbert's research provided a background support for the emerging
communities of concerned dreamers on the Net. Was it safe? Did people
benefit from it? What were they getting out of it?
Herbert's research on CMC (computer mediated communications) vs.
Face-to-Face dream groups suggested that many aspects of dreamwork work
just as well with CMC and some aspects are even superior. Herbert has a
great deal of experience with face-to-face groups and highly values them as
well, the issue was not one of competition, but of providing real data and
empirical support for the dream movement to advance online. J
Herbert speaks about his early development:
" Most of my professional life has been associated with aviation, but
my introduction to group dream work started with an Edgar Cayce group in
New York in the 1960's. I later attended one term at the C.G.Jung Institute
in Zurich, which started my serious work with dreams. My desire to learn
more about dreams and research led me to back to school, first at San
Francisco State Univ. (M.A.Psychology, 1970) and recently to a Doctoral
program in Psychology at Saybrook Institute (San Francisco), where I was
introduced to Montague Ullman's "If it were my dream" approach by Stanley
Krippner, who has been my major mentor. Progressively, I became more active
in face-to-face group dreamwork; I have studied under Ullman and have
moderated FTF groups for several years. " (Wilkerson & Herbert 1995,
Electric Dreams 2[6])
Herbert then shifted his attention to online dreamwork:
"I became aware, however, of the changing modes of communication
available to the electronic community and I wanted to find out if it might
be possible to conduct group dream work on electronic BBSs. As part of the
research for my dissertation, I have done test groups on the Internet
(alt.dreams), Delphi, Compuserve, the WELL, and America OnLine. Group
Dreamwork is currently being conducted on AOL in the Seniornet
sector\Communities Message area\Group Dream Work topic. I have over 3500 of
my own dreams stored in electronic format, and I have been able to use them
for research, documenting how dream metaphors have commented on various
life situations." (Wilkerson & Herbert 1995, Electric Dreams 2[6])
Online Dreamwork Found To Be More Meaningful
Herbert's awareness of the usefulness of dreamwork in group settings
offline led to a pilot study he compared these to an online group and found
this online group produced more meaningful responses than the offline
group. This result was reproduced later in a more extensive
study. (Herbert 2000)
Why more meaningful online? The speculations centered on the asynchronous
nature of this online group. That is, with a delay in posting the dream,
the questions, the replies and the comments spread out over a week or two,
the participants had time to ~reflect~ and give more considered answers.
However, dreamworkers such as Fred Olsen and Jeremy Taylor were reporting
very meaningful dreamwork taking place in real time chat rooms. It was
hypothesized that the anonymity also contributes to participants expressing
their ideas more freely. Herbert also observed that the online groups
elicited more new information from the dreamer. That is, the dreamers were
more responsive in online venues. Again, this seems to be due to the extra
time the dreamer has to reflect on the situation.
Ullman Method Developed For Online Use
John Herbert went on to develop several series of online dreamwork
protocols and techniques with a special interest in the AOL SeniorNet
Bulletin Boards. He favored the parts of Montague Ullman's method over
other dreamwork techniques as the method allows a group to participate in
the construction of meaningful metaphors and other reasons, but above all,
because "…ultimately only the dreamer can take responsibility for which of
the associations are meaningful." (JH 2000, pg 19)
Much has been written about the Ullman method, developed for peer groups to
discuss dreams. (see Ullman, M. and Zimmerman, N. 1979, Working with
Dreams. Los Angeles: Jeremy Tarcher, Inc and
http://www.pp.htv.fi/msiivola/monte/ ) The most famous line "If this
were my dream…" comes from this process, though Ullmanites are quick to
point out that its only a fraction of a whole process. John Herbert worked
with his initial groups to deploy aspects of the process that would lead to
meaningful extractions of metaphors in a reasonable amount of time. The
process was simple; a dream from the group was posted, and during the first
stage, questions could be asked of the dreamer who might or might not
respond. Then the moderator asked for comments in the "If this were my
dream" style and the dreamer could respond to them if they wished. The
final Electric Dreams DreamWheels were (and still are) modeled closely
around John Herbert's process, as are many other online dream groups.
Herbert and Ullman both feel that the role of the moderator was important
and that much can be achieved when we go past the "Oh, I had a dream like
that too!" phase. In Herbert's process, the moderator presents the phase
structure format and decides when to move from one stage to the next,
keeping the structure of the group together. The moderator may also
participate as a peer in asking questions about the dream and later making
comments. Herbert felt that by extending a structure over time, more
in-depth work could be done and noted that, "Intent, commitment, and
sustained involvement are crucial elements. For thoughtful, contributing
group members, the electronic medium may provide adequate communication to
work with dream metaphors." (Herbert 2000, p 55)
In Herbert's doctoral dissertation, the element that fell out as the most
important was intent:
"In reference to the question about the elements required
for a successful dream study group, intent is a most critical factor. It is
important to the success of any online dream groups, that a member has
ample time to reflect on the dreamer's metaphors before responding. As one
dream group member commented, 'I like being able to 'sit with' a response
and ponder it at my own pace.'" (Herbert 2000, p 118)
In the question stage, the questions are limited to clarifications of the
dream rather than questions that might call for interpretations beyond
description. One might ask what color the coat was, or if anyone one else
was in the large room, but not what a coat means to the dreamer or if the
dreamer was agoraphobic in large rooms in waking life. This stage is an
important learning stage for new dreamworkers and is the beginning of both
an existential/phenomenological approach as well as the beginning of owning
one's own projections. That is, if one is limited to asking descriptive
questions about the dream, an attention to details in the dream texture
become deeper and the body of the dream image richer. Focus on the kind of
leather in a coat adds substance to the dream and moves towards
particulars, while asking what the leather in general means can lead to
abstractions of the image. Further, by withholding questions about the
meaning of the dream (or traditional meanings of the dream) the dreamworker
learns to differentiate his/her own internal mechanisms that give the dream
expression. Working with the clarification of descriptions is a distinctly
different way to express the dream images than moving past them into their
(other) meaning and values.
Herbert has noted (Herbert 1991) that too much emphasis on this stage
can freeze up and make later stage "If this were my dream…" expressions of
the dream stiffer and more difficult for the participants. However, we
have found on the DreamWheels that this stage vitalizes the dreamer who may
not feel they get much attention to their dreams, or know how to give
attention to a dream image. In other words, the non-defensive questions of
clarification are felt as an expression of care an attention, and allow the
person sharing the dream to feel the others in the group are interested.
Besides the inherent value in this, it can also lead to better dream recall
both after the dream and in later dreams. That is, the impact of caring
attention can enter into the dreaming process itself and provide more
colorful, detailed, emotionally deep dreams.
Is the trade-off worth it? Do the benefits to the dreamer offset the
difficulties of providing a more elaborate dream image for the group to
have to digest? There is no research at this time, but a study of the
populations used in the two groups (Herbet's AOL SeniorNet and the
DreamWheel) might indicate that the answer depends on the psychological
sophistication of the group and perhaps the mean age of the group as well.
Robust groups that are heavily invested in trying something new or have
introspective skills may be better able to handle more elaborate imagery
than other groups.
The Comment Phase.
In the Comment stage, the participants pretend that the dream is their own
and image what the dream would mean for them. These dream-stories are then
posted for the dreamer to take or not take as possible intuitions beyond
what they may have themselves attributed to the dream. By posting them as
one's own dream, there is a reduction of the feeling that the meaning or
value of the dream is being imposed and the dreamer may pick and choose
those insights using an inner authority. Herbert selected the "If this
were my dream…" part of the Ullman/Zimmer process for the format of the
comment stage. To further the notion that the dreamer was to take the dream
on as his/her own, Herbert further suggested the people taking the dream on
preface the comments with "In my dream…."
Even though the "If this were my dream" phrase begins the process of
the dreamer owning the dream as his/her own, there can still be pretense.
That is, one can say If this were my dream…" but really mean "If I were
you, this is what you should do." Saying "In my dream" doesn't eliminate
this attitude, but does further the respondent along this path.
Although the dreamer is not required to respond to the comments, the whole
group is more cohesive and finds more of a sense of completion when this
occurs. To allow the dreamer to be in control of the process, they can't be
pushed to respond here, so it needs to be clear in the instructions that
this is an option.
The moderator's final role is to give closure to the process and depending
on the situation, begin the new stage one with another dream.
New Venues
Besides bulletin boards, Herbert also worked extensively with Jeremy Taylor
on the AOL DreamShow, a live chat venue that was highly moderated.
Variations of this process were outlined a presentation at the Association
for the Study of Dreams in 2001 by Herbert and reprinted with permission on
Electric Dreams 8(12). These include a useful table where venues can be
rated across the x axis as real time vs delayed, and across the y axis a
public vs. private. This doesn't provide the full spectrum of options
online, but begins to tease apart some of the important differentials. New
venues that include CMC Virtual Reality are coming out of development an
into the mainstream and the addition of having one's actions or pictures
will add new dimensions to the research. Other emerging technologies
include haptic (body sensations) and other sensory enhancements. Robert
Bosnak and Jill Fischer demonstrated importance of voice and the possible
importance of polygraph devices that allow us to see a wide range of
reactions, even though the groups may be meeting from different spots
around the world. (Bosnak and Fischer, 2000)
For an exploration of these and other new dream sharing venues, see both
the online CyberDreams Issue of ASD Dream Time 17(3).and the January 2000
Electric Dreams issue.
Herbert's work continues to inspire and produce new forms of dream sharing.
References
Bosnak, Robert and Fischer, Jill (2000) The Cyberdreamwork Movement.
ASD Dream Time 17(3).
http://www.geocities.com/asdreams_2000/cyberdreams/bosnak.htm
Herbert, John.W. (2000). Group Dreamwork Utilizing Computer Mediated
Communication. A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Saybrook Graduate
School
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy in Psychology. Saybrook Graduate School. Copyright 2000 by
Herbert, John W.
All rights reserved. Available Online:
http://dreamgate.com/herbert/
Herbert, John.W. (1991) "Human Science Research Methods in Studying
Dreamwork: Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Face-to-Face and
Computer Dream Work Groups" Unpublished Manuscript, Saybrook Institute, San
Francisco. Available Online:
http://users.aol.com/john0417/HuSci/Greet.html
Herbert, John (2001 November). Reflections on Online Dream Groups. Electric
Dreams 8(12). Retrieved December 28, 2001 from Electric Dreams on the World
Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Wilkerson, Richard Catlett (1995 June 8). Dream Sharing Experiment: The
E-mail Dream Circle. Electric Dreams 2(8). Retrieved July 31, 2000 from
Electric Dreams on the World Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Wilkerson, Richard Catlett (1997 August). Cyberdream - History Notes.
Electric Dreams 4(7). Retrieved July 26, 2000 from Electric Dreams on the
World Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Wilkerson, Richard Catlett (1998 October). A Short History on the Rise of
Dream Sharing in Cyberspace. Electric Dreams 5(9). Retrieved July 8, 2000
on the World Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Wilkerson, Richard Catlett ed. (1998 October). A Transcript from an Online
Dream Group 'Coins of Life' An August 1998 DreamWheel. Electric Dreams
5(9). Retrieved July 8, 2000 on the World Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Wilkerson, Richard Catlett and Branka (1999 August). Special Section: Dream
Sharing with Serbia: A Special Report of a Dream Group Held During the
Crisis in Kosovo: Transcripts and Notes by Richard Wilkerson & Branka.
Electric Dreams 6(8). Retrieved July 14, 2000 from Electric Dreams on the
World Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Wilkerson, Richard Catlett (2000 April). "Mel", A full transcript of an
Electric Dreams dream sharing group. Electric Dreams 7(4). Retrieved
December 31, 2001 from Electric Dreams on the World Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Wilkerson, Richard Catlett (2000 April) A Brief History of the Electric
Dreams DreamWheel. Electric Dreams 7(4). Retrieved July 14, 2000 from
Electric Dreams on the World Wide Web:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<|||||||>>>>>>>>>>>|||||<<<<<<<<<<<<
Where is the Global Dreaming News?
Now at the beginning of Electric Dreams!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<|||||||>>>>>>>>>>>|||||<<<<<<<<<<<<
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
New Series begins with
dream-flow@... Digest #1 09/29/2000
This issue includes volume #468 - #502
Hello and welcome to the DREAM SECTION of Electric Dreams.
This section is edited by Elizabeth Westlake and the DreamEditor, a
software creation of Harry Bosma, author of the Dream interpretation and
journaling software "Alchera".
(homepage:
http://mythwell.com)
Please note that we print these dreams as they come to us and that means we
do not correct the spelling. Some dreamworkers find these spelling mistakes
a great window on the dream and dreamer.
The Electric Dreams DREAM SECTION includes dreams and comments from the
DREAM FLOW, a project to circulate dreams in Cyberspace.
Many mail lists participate, including
dream-flow@...
dreamstream@...
DreamsRus@onelist.com
The Dream Sack http//www.deeplistening.org/ione
Usenet groups (too many to name, search DREAM)
If you would like to send in single dreams for the flow, you can leave them at
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/temple
If you have a mail list or would like to contribute dreams and comments on
a regular basis, you can subscribe to the dream-flow by sending an E-mail to
TO:
dream-flow-subscribe@egroups.com
You may get a note back to verify the subscription. Simply hit the return
or reply key and send the note back.
If you have any comments or suggestions for the improvement of this section
(but not about the content itself), please send it to
dream-flow@....
An Archive of dream-flow is available at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/dream-flow@egroups.com/
Pre-November 2000:
http://www.mail-archive.com/dream-flow@lists.best.com/
Pre-November 1998
http://www.mail-archive.com/ed-core@lists.best.com/
Pre-April 1990
Use Electric Dreams Backissues
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/ed-backissues
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 468-001
Subject: (unknown)
Hi. My name is [name removed] and my boyfriend wanted me to find out about
a dream he had. He had a dream that I smiled at him and my teeth were
falling out. Most of them were gone and the others were crumbling out of my
mouth. Please write me back and tell me what this means. Thank you.
[name removed]
comments: 469-001, 469-002
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 468-002
#ed.note: message removed - non-dream post#
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 468-003
#ed.note: message removed - non-dream post#
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 468-004
Subject: Sea of waterlike energy
dream_title: Sea of waterlike energy
dream_date: june 151997
dream_text: Looking at a Sea of waterlike energy while on a cliff. A
Aquatic Humanoid stands beside me and tells me to dive in. Once doven in I
see aquatic creatures of past and present, when I sight a Black Sphere in a
cluster of coral. I come to the surface where he awaited me. I was dry and
laid the coallike sphere on the gagged ground before the Aquarian. The
object levitated and burst into a electic rage all of which absorbed into
me and filled me with a strange power that I could not control yet. Four
more did apear Around me one of fire, wind ,water, and one of white light
all of which I at 22 years of age can't explain to this day.
dream_comments: All I ask is an explination to my dream if at all possible
comments: 469-003
______________________________________________________________________
Message: 469-001 [468-001]
Subject: Re: (unknown)
I have heard (but I don't remember where) that dreams of teeth falling out
can signify a feeling of loss of control, but this usually refers to the
dreamers own teeth. Don't know if that helps any, but that's what I know
about the subject.
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 469-002 [468-001]
Subject: comment on the teeth dream
I have had some dreams myself that are like the one your boyfriend had,
[name removed], but I always interpreted them as being a simple fear that
is being repressed or maybe just isn't being confronted the way it should
be. I think that maybe the fact that your teeth fell out in the dream were
that maybe your boyfriend is worried about a personal habit of yours that
he's afraid might have long term effect on you, like biting your lip or
something, and he's afraid to talk to you about it. It could also be
something silly. Maybe that day you ate a lot of candy or drank a lot of
soda and in the back of his head he was a little nervous but in his
conscious mind he didn't think anything of it. Dreams are very strange, and
the set meanings to parts in dreams sometimes don't apply. It all depends
on the dreamer and what caused the dream.
[name removed]
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 469-003 [468-004]
Subject: Re: Sea of waterlike energy
It is common dream lore that water means life, or new life. The black
sphere could have been something good or bad, because dreams tend to go
"opposites" on you at times, but either way I think it may have been some
kind of premonition, or warning. I myself have a tendency to dream
something and then it happens, but I believe that when a person premonizes,
they're either comforting themselves or warning themselves. A woman who
premonized about a rather memorable train wreck told me once that the
psychic part of the brain we all have, but whether or not we use it is what
makes a person a psychic. I think your dream meant that at some point in
your life, you're going to have a change, perhaps where you will be in a
position of "power". I'd imagine you'd probably get a major promotion at
work, but then again I don't know you, it could be something completely
different. But what the dream was trying to tell you was that no matter how
good that power feels, don't let it consume you, otherwise you might abuse
it. Abused power can result in a lot of pain and conflict, and eventually
the abuser gets what's coming to them. I think your dream was comforting
you because you may have been at a weak point in your life, but at the same
time it was warning you.
[name removed]
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-001
Subject: Yosemite Sam and the demon girl
dream_title: Yosemite Sam and the demon girl
dream_date: 1998
dream_text: I am sleeping in my room during a thunderstorm. A girl breaks
through my window with a knife saying I'm going to die. The thing that
really scared me was that she was half-girl half-bloody skeleton! All of a
sudden Yosemite Sam jumps up from under my bed and scares her away!
dream_comments: I woke up screaming and crying. I was six at the time and I
still remember it.
Comments: 470-003, 472-004
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-002
#ed.note: message removed - non-dream post#
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-003 [470-001]
Subject: Re: Yosemite Sam and the demon girl
You know, I dreamed something like that last year. I was in bed in the
dream, thinking I was awake, and I was moaning about a guy I liked, when
this really short dwarf-like man in armor threw a dagger at me and it hit
the board on the bed right above my head. He was very angry and I think he
was yelling something about my future that might have involved the
apocalypse but all I remember about what he said was that it was something
I didn't believe in. While he was yelling, a robot strongly resembling R2D2
walked up behind him and was nidding in agreement that he should kill me or
something. Then right behind him came this person who I think was a man and
he resembled a Buddist monk. The monk agreed with the dwarfman too but it
seemed like he was in a way trying to help me, like he was stalling the
dwarf for a while. Then the monk led all of us into a room full of
television security monitors, and the monitors were showing my previous
dream that night. That particular part that we walked in on was me dancing
like an absolute moron. The Buddist monk guy said, "Look, there's [name
removed] 'shaking it' ". After I sat down to watch whatever was on these
monitors, suddenly I forced to glance at the dwarf, as if it were against
my will, mind control or something. I don't remember much else about that
dream except that on the way to the room with the monitors, we passed an
island party with women in bikinis. I suddenly felt a strange urge to dance
with the women, but when I did the Buddist monk grabbed my arm and yanked
me away so fast it felt like it were real. It was really weird. I just
thought I'd share that with you because your dream seemed to strike a cord
and remind me of this one in spring 2001.
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-004
Subject: roaches
dream_title: roaches
dream_date: 5/17/02
dream_text: I keep dreaming that I put a bunch of seeds in a glass jar with
water. After about a half an hour on my clock in my dream, the seeds turn
into roaches and i put a book over the jar's top because i'm afraid that
all the roaches will come out of the jar. Finally i put the whole jar in
the garbage and throw it away.
dream_comments: What does this mean?
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-005
Subject: The Collapse
dream_title: The Collapse
dream_date: October 1998
dream_text: The first part of the dream was more vague as to my exact
activities and the characters. I was at a church meeting where some of the
elders were trying to get me out, it was clear they wanted to shut me up. I
was threatening to the leader, an evil man. I was trying to expose him for
what he was. There was a young woman also involved helping me. The focus
shifted and I became aware that all of earth's systems both man-made and
natural were collapsing, implosions. The sky had gone dark as night. I
recall looking at the sky and feeling shock and a lump of fear in my throat
as I looked around me and wondered what to do. I felt awe, fear and panic
at the realization of the things around me, those things that I relied upon
were falling apart. I decided to go to LC & JC's to be with them. [this
family in reality live in a very rural, primative area of the country] I
went to a house [not known in real life], up a long stairway to an
apartment and set to work to quickly gather some things together for the
move. The house was old, the stairway long, steep and narrow as so many of
these old style houses have. I felt a strong urgency to leave, unsafe and
vulnerable. I urged others to join with me to strengthen, encourage and
support each other. There was a man in this upstairs area who was close to
but not yet retired laborer. He seemed closed off, tired and cynical in his
own world. He wore a muscle shirt over his pop belly along with his tan
twill pants for work. He sat in his recliner, remote control in hand
watching TV. He would not respond to me, or acknowledge a word I said even
though I tried to explain to him what was happening. He remained untouched
by the declaration that all systems were failing. He was content to watch
TV and obviously intended staying where he was. I left down the stairs,
letting him go, respecting his choice. I had no more time to spend
convincing him although I felt pangs of sadness about him but glad there
were others with me. The dream ended with me closing the door to the man.
dream_comments: A very powerful dream. It struck terror in my heart and
still influences how I think and feel about the world events.
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-006
Subject: plane crash and flooding
dream_title: plane crash and flooding
dream_date: 18/19 May 2002
dream_text: In a small plane and I remember seeing lots of deep green trees
below me. The pilot turns around and says we need to make an emergancy
landing. I look at the trees and think there is nowhere to land. Just as we
are about to crash and i start to panic a clearing on a beach turns up and
we land safety in Hawahi (i am from southwest england). Next thing I know
is I am making a chicken salad for someone in a beach bar with not much on
and my friends brither walks in. My boss is also there.
FLOODS- Running away from the floods trying to get high ground. My
boyfriends says he knows a short cut but i dont trust him and say we should
stick we the others. My antie is with me and she is drubk so I feel the
need to look after her more.
dream_comments: My dreams are always really vivid. I can also go back to
sleep and go back into the same dream.I am soon going travelling for a year
with my partner. I have been with him for 12 years. I am 25 he is 28.
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-007
Subject: senior prom dance
dream_date: 5-20-02
dream_text: I was in my senior prom dance and i went without a date and all
my friends were there with their dates. but i was happy and i felt pretty.
then this boy who i've liked since junior year comes up to me telling me
that he loved me since senior year started. i told him i liked him since
junior year. then he told me there was a problem that he had a prom date
already and i walked away to tell my friend what happened. then she told me
to just wait. then i turned around and he was there. he told me he left the
other girl for me and that he loved me. but then i walked away from him.
dream_comments: I'm a junior now.
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-008
Subject: Bad dream
dream_title: Bad dream
dream_date: 5-4-2002
dream_text: I was in a school with the girl from Alex Mack adn the black
girl who is on her show and they were detectives, but suddenly they
disappeared. So then I was a detec. and I started looking through these
halls. Then I saw one that had I HAVE SINNED written all over the wall in
blood. Than I though to myself that I'm in a dream and if I go down that
hall I'll get caught in a bad dream. So I turned around and went to other
halls that were painted green, and was peeling. The halls were lined with
doors that had a bright shining light coming from within so I couldn't see
inside of them. Then I was with my mom at some museum kinda place and it
was christmas. Than I was with my brother [name removed] fishing on a
bridge and I caught a fish and he was helping my reel it in. I remember
feeling as if it was still christmas. Than I was with this white woman and
this black man cooking ham. Than my mom came to get me and when we got
outside we looked up at the sky and it was pink and gray in one place and
it was lightning. End of Dream.
dream_comments: I have no idea what this means.
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-009
Subject: Afraid to Fall
dream_title: Afraid to Fall
dream_date: 05/19/02
dreamer_name: Danielle Marie
dream_text: I dream I am on the second level of a place like the
mall...Everythings fine until it's time to go down the escaltor...then I
freak out. I can't go down, I am scared. I try to go away from the escaltor
but something is holding me to stand right where I am. The glass barriers
surrounding the walkway aren't there anymore, and the paths are getting
narrow. I try to walk into a store but I can't. Something still won't let
me. I always end up laying down or sitting, I guess I feel like I have
better chances of not falling, then I wake up.
dream_comments: I am not afraid of escaltors in real life. This has been a
dream I have had for years now. Please use the name I put above...thanks
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-010
Subject: Dying in a collapsing building
dream_title: Dying in a collapsing building
dream_date: May 14, 2002
dream_text: I was in, and walking through a large heavily structured white
building with lots of architecture. Someone was next to me but I couldn't
see their face. I noticed that one of the beams that support a wall was
coming loose and someone else touched it and pulled at it. The entire
building became weak and began a soft, low rumble - it was in the stage of
total collapse. I looked at the ceiling which was huge, white and rounded,
and shifting because of the weight of the struture becoming weak. We ran
down stairs to try to escape the building. My heart yearned out for my
husband and my daughter which were not with me and I didn't know where they
were. I knew I would never see them again as I waited impending death in
moments to come. Parts of it were already crumbling down. We got to the
bottom level and stood in the center of the room realizing that there was
no longer any hope for escape - death was inevidable. The person next to me
got on the floor on their knees with their back to the cieling, I did the
same thing for less impact when the heavy white ceiling would fall on me. I
anticipated if I would feel any pain while the heavy ceiling came down on
me. In my last few seconds of life I cried out in a loud voice in my mind
"[name removed] I love you", "[name removed] I love you", God please
receive me and forgive me. There were all kinds of low rumbling sounds
heard from the building's beginning of final collapse. In my last few
seconds I wondered if I would feel the sudden impact of the weight of the
building crushing the life out of me or if it would be so instantaneous
that I would not feel a thing? Then there was an eary silence, and
unkowing. I asked the person next to me "are we dead"? They said yes. I got
up with a feeling of "it's over - my life as I knew it is over - it's all
gone - everyone I love and that was a part of me is gone". I had a feeling
of cold emptyness inside and a feeling of abandonment, and a question, what
do I do now?
dream_comments: I welcome any insight. I think I have figured out parts to
this dream but I need more information to complete it. Thanks!
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 470-011
Subject: Constantly searching
dream_title: Constantly searching
dream_date: often over past few years
dream_text: I've had this dream over and over again.... the only thing that
changes is the building i'm in.... I'm in a large building, could be a
college or multi story office building... I keep running searching for
something... i do not know what i'm looking for but my pace takes me
through all sorts of hallways, doorways, cubbie holes, stairways going up
and down... when there is an elevator it's the really old type with the
sliding mesh door... but i never find what i'm looking for... there are
others in the dream - i don't really know them but sense them to be
friendly... sometimes i run outside to the exterior of the building but
re-enter only to find myself in another maze.I do not find myself to be
afraid or even out of breath from my searches... just lost.
dream_comments: I've had this or like dreams, on and off, for the past 3 to
4 years... i've never been able to figure out what it meant.
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 472-001
Subject: The Frame
dream_title: The Frame
dream_date: 1989 - present (2002)
dreamer_name: Vox Angelis
dream_text:
[1989] - I am standing in almost total damp darkness in either a stadium
sized room or outside. there are no sounds. before me theres an old
victorian picture frame barely visible. it is about 7 feet tall and its top
is tilted away from me. i cant see what is beyond the frame but whatever it
is it wants me to go through. i dont even know if there is any ''ground''
on the other side.
[1993] - this is my fifth visit to the ''frame'' and each time its becoming
more vivid. attention to detail is an understatement as i have now become
aware that im dreaming the moment i see the frame. the ground beneath me
has tipped toward the frame like a ''gravity wagon'' and although before i
could stop myself from sliding through the frame by grabbing its left side,
the frame has become too wide. it is clearly a gold flaked old elegant
frame that is chipped all over. i used to be able to wake myself from the
dream the moment i saw the frame, but its getting harder and harder to wake.
[2001] - the frame has adapted quite well to my balking its calling. the
absence of the bottom of the frame now is only making an easier task for
the invisible formless hands to ''pull through'' me to get me to enter the
frame. i keep thinking while i fight that this is only a dream and i should
go through the damn frame so i can end this nightmare, but the terror i
encounter is paralyzing me now from thought based action. i now am
scurrying for my life AWAY from the frame while i fight to wake up. my fear
is at the same level as a perpetual ''shock value'' of the monsters that
make you jump at the theater. imagine feeling that moment of psychotic
shock for an ENTIRE dream you fight to control.
dream_comments: people keep telling me that its a tough decision in the
waking world that i must make, and by going through the frame somehow birds
will sing and i'll find ''the meaning of [my] life.'' i even tell myself
that in my dream every time...'here i go. im going through it now... thats
what im supposed to do... AAAAAAAAA'' and i still won't go through.
feel free to share my name and my email:
vox2vox@...
comments: 472-003, 476-002
________________________________________________________________________
Message: 472-002
#ed.note: m
(Message over 64k, truncated.)
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