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Electric Dreams Volume 01 Issue 12
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| Electric Dreams |
| Volume 1 Issue 12 |
| 7 August 1994 |
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| For mailing list information, or to send contributions, send email to |
| cbeattie@uwspmail.uwsp.edu or cbeatty@worf.uwsp.edu |
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Dedicated to sharing and exploring dreams
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Table of Contents
Article:
Message Center
Dreams and Comments
Comments on New York City Dream
Recap of Val's Serial Dream, with comments
Running with Werewolves
The Unnanameable Corpse
Castles in the Sky
Nirvana Again
Reptilian Genius
Tornadoes
Journey Through the Sewer
+++__________________________________________________________________________
Message Center
1. I guess you could say this is a special issue. We recieved nothing
but dreams and comments this week, so there will be no articles or
question and answer section. Remember, everyone is welcome to
participate, so lets hear from some of you who have been so quiet.
2. Long ago, when Electric Dreams first started out, before it even had a
name, the mailing list members voted to have a newsletter format.
Recently, I have recieved more than one request to make this an open
mailing list, with all contributions being sent out as they were recieved.
Perhaps it is time for a new vote. First, let me give you some of the
pros and cons.
Right now, Electric Dreams is difficult for me to maintain, as my work
load has dramatically increased. A straight mailing list would be less
work in that I wouldn't have to put anything together. (Hold that
thought though, I haven't gotten to the part about the difficulty of
maintaining a straight mailing list). Responses to contributions would
come much more quickly, and more discussion might be encouraged.
Mailing lists can also be a lot of work too, for everyone involved.
Instead of having one email message from Electric Dreams every two weeks,
you could get several messages in one day. Not only is this a lot to
week through, but some people have to pay for every email message they
recieve.
Also, there is no automatic listserv robot here. If you sent something
to Electric Dreams, you would have to wait for me to get around to
forwarding your contribution. Sometimes, this can take more than a day.
So, email me your vote within the next two weeks. I will, as always, go
with the most popular choice.
3. Very special thanks to Cathy for putting together the dreams and
commentary section. Cathy is our new dreams and commentary editor, and
has taken over this section for me. Matthew is editing the questions and
answers section. We didn't get anything for this issue in the questions
and answers section. If you have any dream questions you would like to
ask the group, please send them in.
To make things easier for me to sort out, you may want to put attn: dream,
attn: comment, or attn: q and a, in the subject line of your email
message, so I know what to send to who.
________________________________________________________________________
Dreams and Comments
=======Response by Cathy on Commentary of NEW YORK CITY DREAM (Iss 10)==
I want to thank Chris, Jim Hunter, Jay Vinton, Matthew Parry,
Bob, and Val for their interpretations. Jim's interpretation
corresponded eerily with some problems I was having with revising my
dissertation. I don't collaborate with anyone, so his sections 5
and 6 did not apply, but 1-4 and 8-13 were very relevant, esp. #13.
Bob's interpretation was very similar to Jim's and also seemed right
on target. I guess I couldn't see that this might be about work,
because I was to stressed about work to be open to such a reading. Jay
asked about my relationship to science fiction. I used to read a
lot of science fiction, but lately I read rather narrowly and rarely.
I used to buy a lot of trilogies all at once at the used bookstores,
but now I usually avoid committing myself to 3 books or just get the
first one to try it out. I've been disappointed in so many trilogies
I bought that I never read books 2-3. I just took this as
representing real worries about wasting time and money on my personal
pleasure. I think Matthew Parry's interpretation of the sci. fi.
section of the dream is very perceptive. It makes sense--I wouldn't
have thought of this section metaphorically.
Val's interpretation about the number 22 meaning universal
cooperation was fascinating. I have no knowledge of numerology but
this seemed an interesting and valid reading.
Thanks everyone for the interpretations, I've been
recommending all my friends join the group and send in their
troubling dreams as it is such a wonderful experience to feel in
control of your dream (interpretation=control=good feelings).
======VAL'S SERIAL DREAM, Recap of Commentary by Val, the Dream Shaman=====
Note From Val
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Wow, I've finally come to the end of my dream series. Seemed
to take forever, didn't it? Well, over that period of time I've
collected all the comments to the dreams out of the series and here
they all are for your reviewing pleasure:
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Comments on Val's Dream Series Parts 1 & 2 (Issues 4 and 5) by Jay
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I am struck by the difference between BJ and the other dream
characters. The others are just thinking of good times, going out in
the fields, carrying on in the dance club, but BJ seems to have more
serious things on his mind; getting Val's attention with the music,
rescuing Val from the bee, talking with Val rather than dancing.
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Comments by Lora Romero Schell on Dream Series Part 3: The Intruder--Issue 6
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This dream seems to be a healthy letting go of a bad
relationship. Here, she is finally putting her feelings about this
old friendship "to rest" once and for all, and actively embracing
and "empowering" her new, healthier relationships.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments on Part Four: Disturbing Evidence
1. By Jay:
More bees, they were also back in part one weren't they?
What do they represent for you?
All this stuff about Chris and Tara getting killed and you
worrying about being the serial killer sounds to me like you are
worrying about subconsciously wanting to get rid of them so you can
have BJ all to yourself. Sounds pretty natural to me.
2. By Pam:
I hope I'm not out of line in suggesting this, but I've been
following your "I'm Death, BJ's the Crow, and We Hunt Down a Serial
Killer" dream series and I have begun to wonder whether there is
some (possibly unexpressed) romantic interest going on towards your
friend BJ?
I could be way off with this, but this last dream, where other
females in BJ's (and your) environment wound up dead, and you
wonder, within the dream, if you are responsible. Well, obviously
you are--it's your dream, after all! --And you are even dressed as
Death!
The killer is even a "Serial" killer, and you present this
situation within a "serial" dream.
Chris's body being smeared with sweetness makes me feel some
ambivalence of the killer toward this victim...
Like I said, maybe I'm way off--just the impression I get as
I read!
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Comments on Part Five: Escape
1. By Jay:
BJ hits the rock, didn't Moses do that in Exodus? Pretty
wonderful image. Then you drop BJ. Seems like you're worried about
trying to hold him too close.
2. By Pam:
You and BJ/Brett seek shelter in nature (this is natural,
"it's our nature") You are hiding from enemy agents (Chris, of
course...) He punches a hole in the rock--you had been feeling like
"stone", but he was able to get through your defensive barriers, and
release an emotional tide within you. You are drenched by this, but
he remains untouched.
Your half-snake guise (did you know that this dream
incarnation is supposed to represent a healer...? As in snakes that
twine around the medical caduceus symbol.) You and BJ/Brett fly
into the air, but then you worry about constricting him...this seems
like a representation of your hesitation to tie him down, and keep
him away from Chris.
You drop him into water, forcing him to become drenched (as
you were earlier.) Two islands: you and Chris. Yours is sunny,
shared with Brett, hers is stormy.
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VAL'S TIME LINE OF HER SERIAL DREAM
Dream Installments 6 through 9 were probably commented on but I
might've missed them or haven't gotten them in yet. For those of
you who've missed parts, most, or all of the series, here's a brief
Dream Time line (with my own comments included):
"I'm Death, BJ's the Crow, and We Hunt Down a Serial Killer"
Part One: BJ and Chris Move Into a Dump and I Get Stung by a Bee
1. I'm the Thunderbird flying over a rickety homestead of
which Beavis-n-Butthead build an extension to and Chris and BJ move
in together. BJ's not helping Chris with her luggage. As the
Thunderbird I tried to warn them not to go into the house. They
do and it collapses on them. Only one wall is left standing. Chris
is soaking wet on her bed. BJ turns into the Crow and leaves Chris.
After he leaves, she buries herself in the debris.
1a. My comments: The Thunderbird is a symbol of power; I'm
above this wreck of a house which two idiots have dumped more stuff
on and the house cannot be repaired; BJ is being insensitive to
Chris; house collapses and the two of them separate; BJ becomes the
Crow full of dark despair; one obstacle is left standing; Chris
becomes buried and virtually disappears under "stuff"; BJ is left to
fend for himself (Chris was very busy with work at this time and a
lot of times I feel like an observer/outsider whenever the two of
them are together; aka "third wheel syndrome").
2. I'm a little girl and BJ (the Crow) are in a red and
white garage; clear skies outside and good weather; there's a field
of flowers I want to be in but BJ says it's unsafe; I go out alone
into the flowers and get stung by a bee; BJ takes out the bee and
heals the sting by licking my ear; I wipe off his Crow make-up; we
become ourselves again; we hug a crystal oak tree; then we wait for
a school bus; I'm warned by a friend that BJ is manipulating me;
BJ asks me to buy him a gift: an earring made out of rose quartz and
lapis lazuli; I board the bus and find a message written in catsup:
WHILE THE BALL'S OUT, DAD WILL HAVE HIS DAY; Messina (my roommate's
girlfriend at the time) says she doesn't have a problem with it so
why should I have a problem with it...
2a. My comments: I felt very childish when I discovered I
had an attraction for my best friend, BJ. I was sad because, even
though we have expressed affection for one another, Chris could be
hurt in some way (she's "sort of" his girlfriend). I was happy
(hence the sunny weather) because I finally had a friend (BJ) who
was thoughtful and he helped me get over (and he's still helping me
get over) another friendship of mine that had just gone down the
drain earlier this year. He healed the wound Brandon caused me by a
"kiss." When we hug the crystal oak, it's in celebration of our
friendship (not romantic interest, though I admit, there could have
been some had it gotten out of hand).
The earring made out of rose quartz and lapis lazuli: wants
to hear me express my feelings more and become more empowered that
way (he wants to help me by listening; not anything else). The
message WHILE THE BALL'S OUT...was both precognitive and reflective.
My friend Brandon cut me off after he messed around with someone else
and he left for San Diego just a few months ago, leaving me to
suffer all the rumors of things he said about/felt for me, what
happened between him and Collette, etc. Also, while Messina was on a
trip to Arkansas, she cheated on my roommate, never told him about
it, and two-timed. She broke up with him the following week. I
could relate to this because I had been hurt by Brandon "two-timing"
me.
Part Two: An Indecent Proposal
1. I went on the bus from the previous dream and it took me
to New York City; I go into the Metropolitan Museum of Art;
mannequins dressed like fashion models roll through the halls along a
conveyer belt; I change direction to see where all these "models" are
coming from; I encounter Trevor who's dressed in drag; he stamps a
smiley face on my left wrist; I meet BJ in a night club with exotic
dancers; Madonna's there with a love slave and the two of them are
connected to each other by chains; BJ gives me something blue
to drink and it makes me warm; Trevor asks us if the two of us
(BJ and I) would like to dance together erotically; we
refuse and leave for BJ's place where it is more "safe."
1a. My comments: At the time I had just applied for NYU's
Summer Publishing Institute and I was hoping I'd be accepted. The
"models" in the art museum symbolized the works of art and their
creators before me. These things are rolling out towards me on a
conveyor belt. I know I am dreaming about them and I change the
direction of the conveyor belt; I want to move my art in a
different direction. That direction (moving away from the high
class cultured fine art) takes me to a club where people are
expressing their passions (albeit sexually). BJ and I don't want to
delve into the world of physical "passion" which could be a symbol of
our reluctance to really get out in the world and do want we want
(become successful writers and artists). BJ has me drink from the
same drink he has which is blue; blue warmth for me means depression
and some sadness, yet it is warm so it doesn't chill you and you
could put those otherwise negative emotions to good use. BJ and I
get away from other people to hide in our safe little haven in
Stevens Point; we're more comfortable here--the outside world can be
scary.
Part Three: The Intruder
1. We hide out in BJ's room; Brandon intrudes; BJ turns into
the Crow and pulls out a sawed-off shot gun, aims it at Brandon (the
threat); I try to get Brandon out of my mind by occupying my time
with menial things (like looking through BJ's CDs); Brandon and BJ
have a heated discussion; I listen in half-heartedly; Brandon mocks
BJ's ability to use a gun and BJ answers him by telling Brandon that
there is more power in "saving/rescuing things than destroying them"
with the gun; other friends come over to visit; Brandon pops out of
existence; next I see a twilight image of Brandon being dead in a
coffin and no one else but me is attending his funeral; I hear BJ and
Chris call me and leave the "dead man" alone.
1a. BJ's dorm room was kinda fun. It was the place where we
hung out watching movies and stuff. During my heartbreak with
Brandon, BJ invited me over a lot to talk it all off my chest. If
Brandon, had ever come over, it would've been a real life intrusion.
I didn't trust Brandon anymore and I didn't think I'd ever be able
to anyone else ever again. The discussion between Brandon and BJ
was probably me subconsciously comparing these two; which one was my
true friend? I find out that BJ is and I am comforted by the support
of my other acquaintances. This support makes Brandon exit the
picture, yet still I attend his funeral. I do not mourn, I just
stare down at him, frozen. BJ and Chris helped me bury the past.
Part Four: Disturbing Evidence
1. I and my friends head out of BJ's room and go to a coffee
house which turned into a pub; we listen in on poets doing
impressions of cartoon characters; BJ drinks beer; we play pool even
though I want to play darts; I notice that Chris is missing and I
feel bad; next we hear a scream come from outside; there's a body
buried under snow; despite being warned by BJ not to disturb the
evidence, I uncover the body which has been smeared with jelly
with bees crawling in it devouring the body; we figure out that the
body is Chris'; no one's upset about this discovery, only I am; my
roommate Tom says its the work of a serial killer: A serial killer
who walked on a telephone wire to get at Chris, a person who knew
she'd be alone. The killer is also a superhuman and very crafty.
He/she walked with special shoes so they wouldn't get hurt by the
electricity of the telephone wire. The killer killed Chris by
hitting her over the head with a jar of strawberry jam. Chris
retaliated by trying to hit the killer with a 2X4, but she missed.
The killer then blasted her with ice pellets. Chris did not die by
the bees and sweetness, she froze to death...next the cops mark off
the site with shaving cream; they do not collect her body, they just
cover her with a red blanket; the cops leave driving a hearse.
1a. My comments: I noticed a connection between my "models"
from Part Two and the poets doing cartoon impressions; real art being
faked--perhaps a symbol of doing what I want to do but not doing it
in the way I want things to go--I'm faking it. It was strange to
dream of BJ drinking beer--especially dark beer --because he doesn't
care for drinking. He is doing something that's not his nature.
When we "play pool" we are just playing a game with each other;
nothing majorly serious. The discovery of the body was scary.
The snow for me represents aloofness. Bees can be both good
and bad--an ally (they make honey and pollinate flowers) or an enemy
(they sting). The bees on the body were honeybees, which I like. In
this dream the bees represented ambivalence for sure (I was close to
BJ for the most part and was just getting to know her better).
The sweetness was sticky and thick, like molasses, and
smelled way too sweet. I believe it represents some sort of
flattery. The bees are what's eating Chris, but she didn't die from
them, she died from the "coldness" of the snow thrown at her by the
"serial killer" who is superhuman and crafty (someone high up on a
wire who is protected by special shoes--someone watching their
step--who fills her head with flattery. Chris tried to fend off the
killer, but missed, then was blasted by ice which represents
unfeeling, numbness, neglect, no emotions).
The cops mark off her body with shaving cream to look good.
The red blanket could mean healing (it's an old symbol, first used in
medieval hospitals to encourage good health; red is the color of
blood). When they do not collect her body, it might've meant that
she wasn't really dead. The cops (authorities) leave in an empty
hearse (no one's really dead, so am I upset about the supposed deaths
or am I upset about the fact that no one died?)
2. I notice a billboard; the Marlboro man dressed up like Superman;
smoke rolls out of his nostrils; I didn't like this billboard; it seemed
arrogant; BJ pulls me away from this image.
2a. My comments: This billboard represented
disillusionment. I had a hero (Brandon) who turned out to be a cheat
(Superman spoils his image by becoming the Marlboro man). Friends
like BJ pulled me away from his image before it could hurt me
further.
3. BJ and I go back to his room where I help him pack up his
stuff; Tara is missing now and I'm concerned; BJ asks me to go into
his closet; the closet becomes an empty room; I turn on a light and
closet becomes a closet again; Tara's dead body falls on top of me;
she is made out of styrofoam and she has a sock in her mouth; BJ
tosses her out the window; BJ invites me to his home.
3a. My comments:
I'm helping BJ "move" or change some residence. It's only
temporary, though, because the stuff we're packing is luggage--I'm
preparing him for a journey. The closet is a symbol of things
hidden. BJ has nothing to hide. He lets me go in his closet and I
find nothing there. The image of Tara being made out of styrofoam
and BJ tosses her out the window was purely wish fulfillment. Tara
had bothered BJ so much, yet he didn't have the heart to tell her to
get lost. I was frustrated by that. So was Chris.
4. BJ and I go into an elevator which instantly transports us
to his home in Wausau (all we had to do was push a button: 99); we
check the mail and he pulls out a long poster tube which, when
opened, deposits sparrows who fly away and BJ is depressed about it;
we enter BJ's home through the back door and we meet his mother who
feeds me asparagus and kiwi soup (one served hot, one served cold);
BJ's mother asks me all sorts of questions, once she asks me if I
could do a painting of BJ; next I meet BJ's brother Lyle; the guys
resort to a male bonding ritual of tackling and tickling each other;
then Keith comes back from England and he says, "God, you're
great--I'm glad you're going to be my sister!"; BJ's mom tells the
guys to make sure I'm kept safe and hidden; BJ and I go upstairs; BJ
has a shotgun underneath the mattress of his bed; BJ assures me I'm
safe with him; I feel bad about Tara and Chris and I cry; BJ goes to
get me some toilet paper to dry my eyes when there's a knock at the
front door; Special agents Scully and Moulder from the _X-Files_
are at the door and they want to interview BJ about Chris' murder
(which may or may not have happened); BJ and I keep out of sight.
4a. A lot of this part of the dream was precognitive. I had
never met BJ's family before and, when I did, I experienced a lot of
deja vu. Some of it was also wish fulfillment; wanting to meet his
family, that sort of thing. The part about Keith saying that he was
glad I'm going to be their sister was neat because I would very much
like to be BJ's sister--in a sense I am. When BJ tells me I'm safe
with him, that was probably my subconscious telling me
that things are alright and that I should stop worrying about
whether BJ's a true friend or not. When the agents show up, I
felt afraid. I believe that was a guilty conscious leaking into
my dream.
Part Five: Escape
1. BJ and I run out of his house and go into a deep forest;
we rest by a huge moss-covered rock; I was thirsty so BJ hit the
rock and water came out, not only quenching my thirst, but drenching
me; BJ remained dry; we are afraid of being punished; in the water
spewing from the rock, I transform into a half-serpent (from the
waist down); BJ tells me to stop dreaming about him; suddenly it gets
dark and the agents have caught up with us; BJ tells me to run but I
can't; he turns into the Crow and has the shotgun; I didn't want BJ
to hurt the agents because they were unarmed; instead of running
away, I sprout wings and pick up BJ with my serpent's coil; we rise
up into the air but I start to constrict BJ; I loosen my grip and he
falls onto an oak tree which turns into the ocean; I dive in after
him and tells me never to drop him like that ever again; we are next
on an island; it's sunny and warm; from faraway I see another island
which is stormy; BJ tells me I'm dreaming too hard and that I should
go to sleep; I go to sleep and wake up in real life.
1a. Whew! I don't know about the significance between the
image of BJ hitting a rock and water comes out and the thing where
Moses does that in Exodus. I believe Pam hit it on the head when she
said something to the fact that "I was feeling like stone and BJ hit
a nerve where all this emotion came out of me." When we're running
away from the agents, I believe that was some subconscious fears of
mine about losing another friend (I didn't want to go through that
again).
When I sprout wings; I realize that I'm not going to lose
this friend and I am free to express myself. The island images had
nothing to do with Chris, though. I believe that I was again
comparing my relationships between BJ and Brandon; the
island/friendship I share with BJ is warm and sunny, the
island/friendship I once shared with Brandon was rough and stormy.
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Concluding Note on VAL'S TIME LINE by Val, the Dream Shaman
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, more to come in the next issue. This was all I could comment
on in the small amount of time I have this week. See you all in
issue 13!
======Dream Commentary by Bob on VMK DREAM JOURNAL ENTRY #85 (Issue 11)==
1. Water Lily
"I was floating on water. Looked down and saw that I was a
lily. Someone dangerous wanted to pick me out of the water. I was
frightened." The dreamer is feeling powerless. V is floating with
no means to propel herself or set her own direction.
"I could smell the scent of honeysuckle. I hoped the
Dangerous Person would pick honeysuckles instead of a water lily like
me." The implication here is not only of powerlessness (there is no
way to avoid the Dangerous Person should he decide to pick her), but
also that being attractive in some way (e.g. smelling good) might
attract danger and by being plain one might avoid danger.
"Eventually a frog jumped onto my pad and I sunk." The down
side of being plain is that you might attract frogs instead of
handsome princes, and a relationship with a frog will bring one
"down." In summary I would say that at the time of the dream the
dreamer wasn't feeling good about herself, had some anxiety about
being picked (up?) by the wrong kind of man, and possibly also had
concerns about a relationship that was "drowning" her. The feeling
of drowning might be related to the dreamer' perception that whoever
the frog represents was putting too much of his weight (burdens?
problems? on her pad [space?]).
2. Thunder-Dance
"I felt my stomach churn and was dizzy. I was spinning.
There was lightning and I had feathers. I was Enaemkiw (Thunderbird)
again. I felt powerful. I danced in the sky." Great imagery, but
I'm a bit stumped. This snippet of a dream seems to be almost the
opposite of the water lily dream. The Thunderbird is the symbol of
the forces of a storm (something like that anyway), so V is in
control of some kind of stormy situation, or empowered by it, but
either way she's still in a storm. Could it be she's created the
storm in order to exert control?
3. Hear-say
"I was agent Scully from the X-Files. Someone wanted me to
investigate strange goings-on at the rickety house (from my first
dream on the 19th)." Does the first dream symbol (the X-Files)
represent behavior that is unknown, X-rated, or in relation to an ex-
(husband, boyfriend, etc.) The key here is what the rickety house
represents. Sometimes a house represents an individual, and rickety
would indicate an infirm or sick individual. In this case however,
because of the following sentence, the rickety house seems to
indicate a relationship. The dream voice then, is telling V to look
at a shaky relationship.
"I heard some woman say, "It can't be possible...people
living like they love each other...who can be sure someone's sincere
or not?" I went up to the house, didn't go in, but disappeared."
Here is the quandary. The relationship appears loving, but is the
appearance actual or a sham? V's response is to avoid looking at the
relationship at all.
4. Something Missing
"Next I was walking throughout my apartment trying to find
something I'd lost. I didn't know what it was, but it was something
important. I called up some of my friends to see if they might've
found anything--but I just ended up calling Brandon every time,
whether I wanted to or not. I was frustrated." It would seem in
this snippet that whatever was lost isn't going to be found, which
may indicate that it is not a material "something" but a relationship
or a status that has changed. No one can help because time
changes everything.
I've only joined the newsletter a couple of weeks ago,
so I am not familiar with who Brandon is in V's life, and obviously
this is a key to the dream. Presuming Brandon is or was a
significant other, then V is frustrated because she needs him and has
no control over that need. Could the relationship with Brandon be
what was lost (or changed in some way)?
5. Running Away
"I escaped my apartment and was back in the woods." Being
back in the woods may symbolize that V has left behind the feeling of
being sheltered or protected, and now feels vulnerable without a clue
as to what to do. She knows that where she was once safe (her
apartment) she is safe no more.
"I knew the serial killer was somewhere in my apartment and I
had to find BJ. I spent hours running around without any clothes on.
It got cold so I fashioned some leaves together and wore them as
clothing. " A serial killer kills others, and also kills over time.
Possibly the serial killer in this dream represents someone who has
killed relationships before, or has killed one relationship over the
course of it.
The serial killer is in V's space (apartment), so if BJ lived
with V then perhaps the serial killer killed BJ, or somehow the
relationship with BJ, or possibly BJ killed the relationship to
become the serial killer. V is running around naked, a symbol of
vulnerability. She tries to obtain some protection, (emotional
cover?) by fashioning leaves together, but it doesn't seem to help
much.
"I wanted to be the Thunderbird again, but I was grounded.
Felt like being punished." There is something of adolescent feelings
in this snippet. Parents ground teenagers as a means of punishment.
Is it possible that a relationship or situation in V's adult life is
evoking feelings of adolescent confusion If so, why? Is this a
variation of a situation that existed in V's adolescence?
V ends the dream still feeling vulnerable. "I couldn't find
BJ and I knew the serial killer was watching me. Then I felt
ashamed. I woke up and couldn't return to sleep (I had only slept
for two hours that night)" The question here is why does V feel
"ashamed." There is nothing in the dream that suggests she did
anything wrong. Shame is the feeling embarrassment at having our
faults exposed. Possibly, then, at the time of the dream you felt
not only that you had done something wrong, perhaps in connection
with a relationship and perhaps in connection with some kind of
emotional storm. You may also be feeling chagrined because that
"something" was known to others.
As always, if V disagrees with the above interpretation, that
my interpretation is wrong. Only the dreamer knows....
======RUNNING WITH THE WEREWOLVES the dream of Tom, submitted by Val,
the Dream
Shaman=========================================================
I (Val) and Tom were werewolves who were ecological warriors
(sort of like Supernatural Green Peace commandos). We were hunting
down people and corporations who were damaging the environment. We
had orders from Gaia (the Earth Goddess) to destroy all those who
were in our way. It was a very bloody dream with a lot of senseless
killing and madness, but it was all for good. We were saving the
Earth by doing this.
Eventually we received a mission from Gaia to destroy our
local paper plant, Consolidated Inc., and [we learned that] all who
worked there must be killed as well. Somehow Tom found out that BJ
was working at Consolidated, and he had to be destroyed. Tom was
reluctant to destroy BJ. BJ was _my_ friend--it was not his
decision to have BJ destroyed and he couldn't bring himself to
destroy BJ. It was the only time in the dream that Tom was hesitant
to kill someone for the Greater Cause of the Goddess.
Tom came to me. He told me, "You know we have to kill him.
Should you do it or I? I don't feel like it's my place to destroy
him. You must decide..."
In the dream, Tom said I told him, "But Tom, he doesn't know
he's harming the environment. We shouldn't have to destroy him. We
should inform him about what he's doing so he can become one of the
werewolves..."
Tom scoffed at this. "BJ a werewolf?! That's a joke." We
ended up not destroying BJ and instead finished up some other mission
which involved more fighting and killing for Gaia. Eventually Tom
was stopped by his ex-girlfriend, Messina, who asked him, "Why do you
make it your mission to destroy people? Why are you so distant and
aloof? Why can't you be more open to new people?"
Tom explained; "Because people destroy the environment around
us. They are hard to trust. Val and I are Werewolves; we keep our
own counsel--we can only trust one another. All others must be
destroyed before they can do great harm. We have been harmed once
too often. The Earth must be avenged!"
Tom felt proud and powerful. We met up with other werewolves
from out of town and we danced about a huge bonfire. We were
honoring the Earth. But BJ still had to be destroyed. Tom came to
me for my final decision, but he never found out what my decision was
because he woke up.
That's all that Tom told me about his dream. He rarely
remembers them and rarely pays any attention to them, except this
one. It's also very typical. All of the dreams that he remembers
all have to do with some aspect of defending or killing someone or
something. He likes these dreams.
======Dream Commentary by Val on RUNNING WITH THE WEREWOLVES the
dream of Tom, submitted by Val, the Dream Shaman===================
Dream Message card: Journeyman (Queen) of Swords
The message here is that the "killing" within the dream was
putting an end to things that prey on the environment. Tom and I
were werewolves; beings that are part human, part wolf. Wolves, as a
symbol, represent teaching and caring for a "pack" (friends, family,
etc.), but Tom and I are the only members of a "pack" we have created
for ourselves (we have remained close friends and still live with
each other, even though we are no longer lovers). As pack mates we
have a sacred trust and it _is_ true that we have been hurt a lot
by others.
Tom is a good guy, but he is much more introverted than I am.
He likes to be completely open and affectionate with people, but only
after he has known them for a long while and they have won his trust.
It's sort of a learned trait both he and I have. We are also
extremely protective of one another; sort of like guardian brother
and sister--we look out for one another--hence the symbol of the
Wolf.
Another spin on the Werewolves in general is that by taking
the name apart I've come up with: Were wolves...we were wolves but
now we are destroying things and people we feel may hurt us in the
way others like them have hurt us. In this dream, we are not "lone
wolves" because we eventually meet up with others like us. We aren't
exactly part of a pack either. We're a part of each other yet we are
alone. We have made it our duty to hunt down and destroy people who
have hurt our environment--we must destroy them before they can
destroy us. Yet, when it comes to having to kill my friend, Tom
cannot act, I have to literally "sign" BJ's death warrant before we
can destroy him. BJ is not one of the Were- wolves. He is still
pretty much of a stranger to Tom, but BJ is my best friend. In the
recent past, BJ hurt me in an indirect way. Accusations of BJ's
insincerity abounded.
When Messina enters the dream, she asks Tom why he is
destroying people, or at least what she considers "destroying"
people. Tom tells her it's because people have hurt him and the
environment (home, security, stability, etc). Messina hurt Tom by
leaving him for another guy in real life. Messina then left the
"other guy" for yet another guy. All this in a matter of a few
weeks, not even a month! She destroyed people by superficially
giving her affections to them and by pretending to be open and
sincere. By doing this, she won Tom's trust, then destroyed him by
leaving. As Werewolves, Tom and I are keeping others away by not
openly giving out our trust and love. It's too big of a risk and
everyone's (even a friend like BJ) a potential enemy. But in the
dream, Tom doesn't destroy Messina. He just answers her question,
then leaves to put it all behind him.
It's very fitting that I pulled the Journeyman of Swords.
This Swords Person (most likely representing Tom) is a defender of
home, property, and loved ones. Nothing passes him without him first
taking notice. He's not watching out for number one, he is watching
out for the home environment. He wants it to be undamaged and safe.
He knows how to plan, defend, negotiate, interrogate, and basically
take care of things and people. If something gets broken (such as a
heart) he seeks out the person who did the breaking (destroying) and
must avenge that person's feelings. When others are hurt, this hurts
the atmosphere of the home environment (earth) and therefore hurts he
who lives within this environment.
As a friend, the Journeyman of Swords is unselfish, sometimes
a martyr, gives his best efforts and advice and asks for nothing in
return. His feelings come second to those of others' feelings. When
others are hurt, it hurts him more than the person who got hurt.
This is Tom through and through.
Another influence on this dream is the fact that, for the last
few weeks, Tom and I have been role-playing a game called _Werewolf:
The Apocalypse_ by Whitewolf games.
Also, contrary to any impressions I might've accidentally
left due to the comments following this dream, Tom is _not_ a
delusional, paranoid psychotic. He read my retelling of this dream
and told me (at gunpoint) that I'd better tell everyone that, even
though his dreams are filled with violence, he does not lead a
violent, blood-thirsty life. Honest. I swear... I mean it. It's
true. What, you don't believe me???
--Val, the Dream Shaman (or the Dead Shaman after Tom gets a
hold of me)
======Dream Commentary by Cathy on RUNNING WITH THE WEREWOLVES the
dream of Tom, submitted by Val, the Dream Shaman========================
This dream seems to me to mask (perhaps subconscious)
hostility towards BJ and Messina. The aggression towards BJ and the
verbal reproof of Messina are hidden under a divine command and a
great cause--save the Earth.
The dreamer seems clearly to identify with the figure of Val
deeply. That BJ could be like Tom and Val is denied by the dreamer.
The werewolf image associated with Tom and Val hints at the hostility
of the dream which is masked by the good cause--in the dream, Val and
Tom are half inhuman, half wolves devouring others, but half human
enough to require justifying doing so.
The dream could directly relate to environmental activism
practiced by Tom and Val or environmental activism could be a mask
for some other activity that the two share that is theoretically or
supposedly benign, but in actuality in somehow violent. For example,
dream commentary is a bit of "violence" in imposing a meaning upon a
dream and a dreamer. Of course in this journal, we are all trying to
be human not wolves ...
======THE UNNAMEABLE CORPSE by Val, the Dream Shaman
=====================
When you have come to the edge of all that you
know, you must believe one of two things: There
will be ground to stand on, or you will be given
wings to fly...
--Author Unknown (but very wise)
=====================================================================
======
I was with a group of people I didn't know, and we were
walking toward a nature reserve (Smeekle Reserve) where I used to
live across from. Only two other people were there that I
recognized: Tom and Will. For some reason we were singing the U2
song "When Love Comes to Town." I don't really care for that song
in real life, but I was getting a lot of enjoyment singing it with
this crowd. The crowd disappeared when we reached the reserve. Only
Tom and Will were with me.
When we came to the corner by the reserve, I smelled
something really awful--something like dead flesh that's been left
out in the sun too long, not necessarily "rotting" flesh, just
recently dead flesh--kinda like fresh roadkill. I looked over into
the reserve. There was a mass of scattered clothes in the bushes
that had been spilled out of a luggage case. And there was
photographs and money (in big bills) all over the street.
"Looks like someone threw it all out their car window," Will
suggested after viewing the mess.
"I don't know," I told the guys, "maybe someone was attacked
on their way to the airport. Who would leave this stuff behind?"
The guys told me not to worry about it. We walked across the
street. I slipped on something slimy and fell. Will and Tom suddenly
seemed very far away, but they were aware that I had fallen and I
could hear them calling out to see if I was alright. I tried to get
up. I was sticking to the street by a thick layer of gook. The
roadkill smell was disturbingly strong now. I looked behind me and
realized the slimy thing I slipped on was a severed left hand, and I
was lying in a pool of congealed blood. I was horrified. Before I
got back up again, I noticed another mass of clothes--a grey business
suit with suspenders, to be exact. I crawled toward it.
As I did so, I came face to face with a mauled human head
that was still attached to its body, but by only a few strands of
worn, stringy flesh. It had only one eye, and it was watching me. I
got up immediately, frightened and repulsed. The body had been
hacked to death. Suddenly, I felt something attached to my right
leg...it was the other severed hand...it was sticking to me by the
congealed blood. I brushed it off me. By that time, Tom and Will
were with me again.
"We have to call the police," I cried, "someone's gotta know
what happened here..."
Tom shook his head. "No, Val, that wouldn't be a good idea.
Don't you know that the killer always comes back to admire his
handiwork?"
After Tom said that, a semi-truck careened out of control
down the street towards us. We had to run. Thinking it could've
been the killer, we ducked into this overgrown creek bed and hid
among the lavender and cat-tails. We were safe, for awhile. While
there, my face began to itch. When I attempted to relieve myself, I
spread more of the blood (now quickly drying) onto myself. I almost
felt like I was going to puke.
Eventually, we heard sirens. The police came to collect the
mutilated body. Will, Tom, and I decided it was alright for us to
seek shelter in my old apartment. Once inside, it was daylight
outside and it had been months since the discovery of the mutilated
body. But it never ceased to puzzle me. Who was that corpse? I had
to know the truth.
One cloudy afternoon, Tom, Will, and I gathered into the
dining room for espresso and cookies. We turned on the TV. _A
Current Affair_ was on. They figured an article about "The
Unnameable Corpse of Stevens Point." It seems their investigative
reporters found out who the corpse was, and first they were
interviewing "his" friends (all of this without mentioning the actual
name of the corpse). The corpse's friends were all acquaintances of
my ex-friend, Brandon, and these are some of the things they had to
say about the corpse:
"Oh, he was an excellent friend. We were very close..."
"The Greatest Individual Who Ever Walked the Earth! We're gonna miss
'em! I loved that guy like a brother." "He was wonderful and
witty...it's too bad he had to go like this..."
And, then there was a long interview with Collette, Brandon's
ex-fling. "I loved him so much--no--_we_ loved each other very much.
And now he's gone. Well, I'm not surprised. He had to do it, you
know, leave--even if it meant like this... I know he still loves me.
What man wouldn't? I give everything for free and take nothing
back."
After the interviews, they showed THE UNNAMEABLE CORPSE. His
now cadaverish parts were put on display like items on the Home
Shopping Network. In one display, some re-enactor tried to piece
together the parts on one golden slab, but you could still tell he
was a corpse in pieces. In the last display, a demonstrator pulled
something out of the corpse's stomach; it was three shriveled up
fetuses. It was disgusting. "These were the children he could've
had...had he not died on them," said the demonstrator.
Throughout the whole program, Will and Tom laughed.
Eventually a knock came to the door. It was a reporter for _A
Current Affair_.
"What do you have to say about Brandon Peterson's mutilated
body?"
A microphone and a video camera were shoved into my face. I
felt somewhat nervous, but told the truth; I had no "sweet lil'
remembrances" to fill the American public with.
"He's dead to me," I replied, "and his corpse stinks..."
After that, I woke up.
======Dream Commentary by Cathy on THE UNNAMEABLE CORPSE by Val, the
Dream Shaman==========================================================
There seem to be two major themes to this dream: 1)duty vs.
self-protection and 2) what is the character of the dream person
"Brandon." The first theme, the conflict between protecting oneself
from a killer and reporting a killing could reflect any similar duty
vs. self-protection crisis in the dreamer's life. Or the dream could
reflect such major social issues as wife beating, brought into public
notice almost daily due to the OJ case. The intense smell and gore
of the dream suggest that the conflict between duty vs.
self-protection is being played out in the dream in conjunction with
deeply affecting issues.
The second theme, the character of Brandon, really depends on
the dreamer's attitude to Brandon in real life. The relationship,
defined by the term "my ex-friend," seems clearly hostile. The
hostility towards Brandon in the dream thus seems to be a treat for
the dreamer in one way--he is dead and she is able to tell everyone
she doesn't care one bit. But the dreams seems also to be guilty
punishment because the other people praise Brandon a lot. The
ambiguity of the dream may represent the dreamer's attempt to resolve
in dream time her own confused feelings about the end of the
friendship.
======CASTLES IN THE SKY by Alan Eyzaguirre===============================
I am in a castle reminiscent of Cinderella's castle in Disney
World. It is sunrise. I am looking out the window when I notice
that the entire castle is being lifted into the sky. As the castle
twists and turns through the clouds, I notice that the beams of
golden sun strike the blocks and make them sparkle.
The castle lands in Hillsborough, by the first house I lived
in when I moved to California. I get out and notice that only a
foundation is left. I have a happy feeling of remembering the fact
that California was just a distant dream back then, but I made it.
On the foundation, a house alarm still stands. When I moved it went
off.
======Dream Commentary by Val, the Dream Shaman, on CASTLES IN THE
SKY by Alan Eyzaguirre===============================================
Dream Message card: Six of Swords (Reversed)
A wish/vision of stability (the castle and your old
California home) is literally "up in the air." There is a foundation
left, but nothing [is] attached. Perhaps what you really want is out
of reach. All the things you want are too good to be true, and you
can't "bring them down to earth" for some practical use. The sun
shines on your castle, making it sparkle and it lands back where you
used to live. Was living in Hillsborough more stable/comfortable for
you? You left your "foundation" there and had many hopes and dreams
(like the castle) that manifested (just before then, California had
only been a distant dream).
The alarm clock is some sort of "warning" telling you that it
wouldn't be a good idea to "move" away from this foundation. But you
do and it goes off. Moving takes you away from what you want and
where you want to belong.
With the Six of Swords (Reversed), I feel that you are
perhaps experiencing some sort of self seclusion. In the past,
California was just a distant dream, you achieved that, moved, and
left your "stability" behind. While pursuing other dreams not yet
accomplished, you are torn from friends and loved ones to concentrate
on what needs to be done (you have to work to make dreams come true,
dreaming's only the beginning).
You are also in a state of some much needed rest before the
big work must be done. You are conserving your energy for when you
really need it. Just don't make a move without setting a
"foundation" first; otherwise you're "up in the air" like the
Cinderella castle.
======NIRVANA AGAIN by Alan
Eyzaguirre====================================
I am at a Nirvana concert and I know Kurt is dead. The band
is about to start. My sister Sherry comes to pull me out of the
crowd. She says, "Don't you know you're on in five minutes? Get
Ready!"
I go stumbling back stage and put on some grunge wear.
Someone tells me to stay in line. I go on stage and the crowd goes
wild. I start with "Teen Spirit" even though I don't know the words
(who does?).
As I sing, the band jams along. At one point, I decide to
break in between songs to try out a few of my own lyrics. There
are tears in the audience because they all know Kurt is dead. As I
sing a song about a martyr, the lighters start twinkling. The band
grabs me and pulls me off stage. "You didn't follow the plan. Don't
you know what people want?"
"They can't be fooled. People know he's dead. They don't want
a clone, they want to true energy and feel that he brought."
======Dream Commentary by Val, the Dream Shaman, on NIRVANA AGAIN by
Alan Eyzaguirre======================================================
Dream Message card: Seven of Wands
Competition and enthusiasm. Pressures from loved ones and
insecurity (your lyrics are good, but they are not Kurt's). You are
asked to perform something well within a short amount of time and in
full view of audience. No wonder you were singing about a martyr.
You were asked to replace a star who is dead. The band (the people
who backed Kurt) are angry/disappointed with you because they want
you to stop trying to be a "clone" of Kurt and to perform with "true
energy" and intensity. The message here is trying to perform well to
please the loved ones who support you and to please yourself by
being the "star" you deserve to be. You want to do your own thing
yet still please others. It's sort of like you're stuck in between
a rock and a hard place.
======REPTILIAN GENIUS by Alan Eyzaguirre============================
A friend of mine had a baby. At about the age of one, it was
walking around and talking. Not just talking, but making
philosophical commentary on our perceptions and the "true"
child-like knowledge we lost when we were forced into society's
institutions.
After talking with the genius for a while, I noticed that it had
reptilian feet. He noticed I noticed, smiled, and said, "Shhh."
======Dream Commentary by Val, the Dream Shaman, on REPTILIAN GENIUS
by Alan Eyzaguirre===================================================
Dream Message card: Novice (Page) of Swords
The first words that came to me about this part of your dream
were: "The infant who walked before he crawled." This coupled with
the symbolism of the Novice of Swords could mean:
A youthful mind, full of wonder, child-like, yet wise. The
Novice of Swords is knowledgeable in many things, yet he is young and
inexperienced; perhaps for good reason. Youth and inexperience are
not necessarily traits of stupidity or gullibility. You are unbiased
because you have not experienced the things the Older Ones have
become cynical and "too knowledgeable" about. Being young brings
freedom--you are not limited by age and you are not dependant upon
"society's institutions." Also, when you are young you are much more
aware of the world around you. You can take the time out to really
look and experience things in a way Older Ones no longer appreciate.
Since the Novice is a Swords Person, this youthful wisdom is more
mental; based on keen observation and perception. You have observed
and re-learned some things in your life and therefore have begun to
rethink your way through stuff.
When you notice the "baby" had reptilian feet, this suggests
to me that you have just begun to walk a wise path with wise feet.
The serpent (or any reptile creature who sheds its skin) is a symbol
of wisdom, healing, and transmutation. When the "baby" says,
"Shhh," that could be the hiss of a friendly serpent. The "Shhh"
sound was also used by priestesses of old who imitated the serpent in
a dance. By making that sound, they became like the serpent who is
quiet, forever youthful, and wise.
======TORNADOES (7/30/94) by "RoboJay"===================================
While driving through a city I encountered a nasty
thunderstorm. Then two or three long, sinuous tornadoes descended
from the sky. I stopped my car and watched them for a while. For a
few seconds they had sharp and distinct outlines, then they would
become fuzzy, perhaps from dust and debris.
Then I decided that I had better get my butt to safety. I
went to this large, sturdy looking building that had a high,
impressive atrium. Inside were several young women, or girls. As we
were headed for the basement I got a strange image in my head of
Darth Vader, wounded, being helped by several people, one of whom
might have been a paramedic or fireman. They helped him onto a bed,
or a table. I couldn't see any blood but I knew he was badly hurt.
And why would anybody care about him? Then I remembered the end of
"Return of the Jedi," where he slays the evil emperor and saves Luke
Skywalker, his son.
======JOURNEY THROUGH THE SEWER (7/31/94) by
"RoboJay"=====================
I was walking through the woods, near a railroad track. Off
and on I seemed to have a companion; I had an impression of Darth
Vader, so perhaps it was somebody dressed in a costume. As I was (we
were?) walking along the tracks a train approached. The tracks were
ordinary looking, but they were strange in that both freight trains
and MARTA (Atlanta rapidrail) trains used them. I/we dodged the train
by jumping into some trees that hung low over a creek. At this time I
could clearly see that I did have a fellow traveler, and it was Darth
Vader or somebody dressed like him.Then I had fallen into the creek,
but I had a raft of sorts, a large piece of wood. I had lost "Darth."
The creek flowed into a sewer, and I rode a swift but smooth current
through wide, square tunnels. I held up one arm in case I blundered
into any cobwebs. I recalled that the Michelin guide gives zero stars
to the tour of the Paris sewers.
Finally I had stopped, at a dead end. However, I knew that I
could retrace my path. With some consternation I dipped my legs into
the filthy water and paddled my way back. After a few turns I came to
a door, and found that it let out to some water works. It was early
in the morning, around six AM. In a small courtyard a man was playing
guitar and singing. I was concerned that I would be late for school,
but then I realized it was just a dream. I began to rise in the air
and drift back for home.
======ROAD TRIP (8/1/94) by "RoboJay"====================================
I was driving somewhere, using the highways. Maybe to a Mensa
RG. Meanwhile, somebody else was trying to get to the same place. He
asked directions from a group of Indians who were hanging around what
looked like a welcome center or other sort of site. After he drove
off, they scoffed that he would never find his way to Highway 10, or
Route 10--he was looking for a road numbered 10.
Meanwhile, I was driving along a two-lane at night. Suddenly
I was on foot, and I entered somebody's house, a two-story house with
the lower story sunk into the ground. I entered a den full of
various birds, including several albino cockatiels. [cockatoos?
(editor's note)] The birds were tame, and I let one step on my
finger while I petted it.
The man who lived there saw me but expressed no surprise or
dismay at seeing me. Instead, when I asked him for help, he happily
got out a road atlas and allowed me to look over it. I found my
destination, near a city called Huntsville. (I will be attending a
Mensa gathering in Huntsville, Alabama later this month.) One map
noted that mysterious Route10, but though there were highway and road
numbers and town names aplenty there were no lines showing exactly
where the roads went.
___________________________________________________________________________
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