Everything Illuminated

source: Marie S... slowly catching up...

Dream #62: Tired and frustrated I decide to go for a walk. The fields around me are aglow with crimson light. Soon I feel at peace.

meditation, more natural phenomena

Maelstrom

source: by ben▐

Dream #61: I'm getting ready for work. Somehow I'm standing in my childhood bedroom. Outside a storm is brewing. I look out the window and see ominous black clouds approaching. They spew forth soot and ashes that accumulate in great heaps on the street and beat down against the rooftop like hail. I'd better take an umbrella...

coping with negative mind

Operator

source: by gregariouspeach

"And every dream tells it all
And this is your story
You dreamed me a heart
You're the dream operator"

-Talking Heads

Incomplete

source: by Morgan Maassen

Dream #60: P and I enrolled in a painting class. Instead of working on the given assignments, I would get up during class and wander aimlessly around the studio. I felt blocked and couldn't summon the will to get started. On the fourth day, the instructor confronted me. She informed me that I was failing, but that if I made up the missed assignments I could still earn an incomplete.

I was determined to make things right, but when I returned to my empty canvas, I just sat and stared. Everyone else was making it look so easy.

creative block, fear of failure, revisiting the past

Through the Cracks

source: by malechite

Dream #59: My husband and I are hiking along a huge rock formation. Something about the site feels ancient and sacred. As I clamber up the rocks, I notice the leg of a small child protruding from a hollow below. Startled, I point it out to P.

I am too afraid to look any closer, but P crawls down to investigate. To my surprise, he retrieves a young girl. She is weak from dehydration and on the verge of death. How long has she been lying there? Who could have let this happen?

We return her to safety, but wonder and worry about her ultimate fate.

I recently started working with disadvantaged children and think that this dream has much to do with that. My husband is also my hero in waking life.

The Plot

source: by maryaveline

Dream #58: My friend T asked me to take over an empty plot at the community garden. I planned to plant quinoa and chickpeas.

nerdy!

Stella Maris

Stella Maris - by Einstürzende Neubauten

Only as long as I dream do you exist...

Taurus

source: by gnackgnackgnack

Dream #57: There was a bull running amok in the street. A crowd gathered around to gawk, but I stayed back because I was afraid I could get trampled. It was thrashing wildly and shattering shop windows. It was completely out of control.

A certain 3-year-old I know has been struggling with tantrums. ;)

Peach Blossom Spring

click images to enlarge

Guest Dream #2: This beautiful postcard comes from Yue in Beijing, who dreams of swimming through the air!

Dreams are Real

source: by moonkberry

"People think dreams aren't real just because they aren't made of matter, of particles. Dreams are real. But they are made of viewpoints, of images, of memories and puns and lost hopes."
-Neil Gaiman

Evacuation

source: by Ryan L. Johnson

Dream #56: I heard alarm bells. There was a radiation leak on campus and everyone had to evacuate. Some of the chemists I know got excited and took their Geiger counters and other equipment out in order to investigate. Skateboard in hand, I headed home. I was just grateful for the respite from work.

I don't skate!

Facade

source: by kynan tait

Dream #55: I had forgotten all about a presentation I was supposed to give! My stomach sank as I checked the schedule posted to the auditorium doors. I had just four hours left to prepare. Maybe there was a way to finagle an extension?

Ugh, I guess I'll just have to wing it...

It wasn't going to be pretty, but at least I would show up. I planned to wear a white, plastic mask.

persona, anxiety.

Menagerie

Dream #54: An old friend was hosting a house party, but I was hesitant to attend. After some deliberation I decided to go. Upon arrival, the lawn was full of debris and dozens of live animals.

source: by ~ Sandy ~

Were these her pets? I hope she is taking care of them...

As I entered the house, I was greeted by friends and someone offered me a drink. It was made of crushed ice and a dark purple syrup. They said it was a "Ravenswood Slush."

source: by rhiiiiiii

I tried to make small talk by asking if anyone had an interesting dream to share and internally plotted escape.

Discomfort, concern. "Ravenswood" wine??

Cove

source: by vinnie bailey

Dream #53: A secret, sunny cove. I'm swimming in the ocean. Playful seals swim past.

Near the shore I see a table and set of chairs submerged just beneath the waves. The water is crystal clear. I run my hand across the smooth tabletop.

I exit the waves and head to a beach shower. The water is cool and refreshing. I realize that I am holding an infant! I hang on to her tightly as we rinse off. I feel at peace.

re/birth

Secret Organization

source: by aphasiafilms

Guest Dream #1: A secret organization was trying to contact me through my dreams. I was supposed to visit www.SD.com ("SD" stood for "sleeping-dreaming.")

I actually went to that website when I woke up... they sell flash drives.

from KT in WY

Old Folks

source: by kate and douglas

Dream #52: My friend P hosted a "Come as Yourself Old" party!

Aging, humor, irony.

Longing

source: by bethfromabove

"We fear death, yet we long for slumber and beautiful dreams."
- Kahlil Girban

Bitten!

source: by Red All Over

source: by Pehpsii Altemark

Dream #51: Where am I? A hotel room? Or maybe my old apartment? Anyway, it's a mess. It's time to pack and clean up. I'm sorting through a pile of laundry when a mouse suddenly jumps into my hand and gives me a sharp bite!

I felt pain in the dream. Something is gnawing at me.

Orcas

source: by Mike Ambach

source: by toryjk

Dream #50: Following a trail head near the shoreline. I'm pushing an empty shopping cart. A path to my right leads me to the water's edge, where I can go no further. I lug the cart backwards to a second path. I come to some docks overlooking the ocean. From here I can make out the shadowy shape of killer whales below the surface. I ponder them with a sense of equanimity.

subconscious, yin and yang, power.

Colony

source: by Polished Lance Photography

Dream #49 Navigating a big city on foot. There is a lot of construction and the only way to get across town is to take a long, plastic tunnel that users must crawl through on their hands and knees. It looks crowded, cramped, and hot inside. A fellow onlooker tells me that it takes about 45 minutes to reach the other side.

There's no way I'm going in there.

Self-preservation, power/control issues, tedium

Flight Test

source: by donliddard

Dream #48: I held the record for the longest distance flown in a crazy winged/glider contraption. I was planning to make a new attempt, but there were some mechanical issues I first needed to resolve.

Note: I did not actually fly in the dream.

Periods of happiness.

Triathlon

Dream #47: Scouring the racks for my missing bicycle. Someone tells me it's been taken to the triathlon staging area. There must be some mistake, I'm not participating in any triathlon! Plus, it's not even a race bike. Annoyed, I cut through to the transition area to look. There I see my friend M, swapping out her gear. There is just enough time to wish her luck before she whizzes off on her second leg of the race.

Sometimes I feel that I have opted/been left out of some exclusive competition in life. I just want to go at my own pace, which is not always as liberating as it sounds.

source: by rawshooter72

The Laundry Thief

source: by Wzrdry

Dream #46: I'm at a crowded laundromat in a foreign country. I'm staring at the loose change in my palm, trying to figure out which coins the machines will take. Meanwhile, a stranger quickly attempts to take some of my clothes out of the dryer nearby. I call him out, but realize that I don't really care whether or not he makes off with them anyway.

source: Professor Arronax

Cleansing, change, identity

I often see my hands in dreams - #16, #28

Gloomy Sunday

source: by brookeshaden

"Dreaming, I was only dreaming
I wake and I find you asleep
In the deep of my heart, dear
Darling I hope
That my dream never haunted you..."
-Bille Holiday (Sam Lewis lyrics)

Living Statues

source: by dullhunk

source: by Mr Atrocity

Dream #45: I was outside near a great cathedral. Statues of all kinds towered above. Among them were angels, kings, warriors, and ancient Greek busts. As I looked more closely I realized that they were all somehow alive. Their clothing and limbs made almost undetectable movements in the breeze though their complexions were pallid and their eyes remained shut.

I was somewhat fearful of what might happen should they fully awaken.

When I mentioned this dream to my sister, she told me that there is an episode of Dr. Who like this.

Crossfire

source: by Wyatt Hatfield

Dream #44: Some remote cabin. I have just showered and am wrapped in bath towels. Something out the window catches my eye. Grizzly bears have wandered quite close. Suddenly, I hear gunfire. Hunters are shooting at the bears. I feel quite frightened and lie down on the floor in case of any stray bullets.

This dream represents a very specific situation in my waking life. However, I have been thinking a lot lately about vulnerability and the illusions of security we create. I also noticed that I tend to dream about bears when I am worried.

Sleeptalking

source: by Zoe McMahon

The other morning I woke myself up in the middle of mumbling, "I always think maybe they're doing it on purpose."
Who was doing what?, I wonder. Do you ever talk or walk in your sleep?

One Woman's Trash

source: by Laurabelle1

Dream #43: I found a cute apron with kittens on it stuffed into a trash can. I took it out to wash and keep for myself.

Reexamining my attitude toward women's work?

Unread

source: by KATHY TRAN

"A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read." -The Talmud

Advisory

source: by hitherto

Dream #42: On some country outing. Dark clouds begin circling above. What will I do if there's a tornado? There is no place around to take shelter.

Foreshadowing, turbulence, exposure

"This tornado loves you / What will make you believe me?" - Neko Case

β

source: by whitscraft

Dream #41: I wandered into a cluttered shop. There was a section with small pets for sale. All were kept in assorted tanks and bowls. I gazed into a glass jar containing colorful betta fish.

confinement, volatility, insight

Stand by Me

source: by Ewan-M

source: by ir0ny

Dream #40: It was the night before the Last Day on Earth. My husband and I were trying to decide how to spend our final hours together. Why not take a trip to the museum?

We were eerily at peace!

Instantly

source: by Kiyo Murakami

"Covered with the flowers,
Instantly I'd like to die
In this dream of ours."

-Etsujin

Injured Animus

source: by Paxsimius

Dream #39: I came across a pitiful apelike creature. Though his legs were chained, he balanced on a small unicycle and performed tricks. He must have escaped from some cruel circus nearby.

I am not proud of my over the top behavior of late.

Rehearsal

Dream #38: My sister E was teaching me a dance that she had choreographed. I had just a matter of hours to learn it before the performance.

source: by Anna Mac Photography


source: by Beth Jusino

It was fun, but I was completely hopeless. I was trying to think of a way to have the steps outlined for me on the ground. I would never remember it all in time.

joy. letting go.

A Pillow of Winds

source: by Olivier ()

"Now wakes the hour
Now sleeps the swan
Behold the dream
The dream is gone"
-Pink Floyd

Transcendence

source: by melanie1127

source: by rdodson76

Dream #37: Rolling hillside. An artist has installed a series of earthworks mimicking Stonehenge. I ponder them from above. It's getting late. I think I see a snake in the grass.

Mystery, threat?

Sterntaler

source: by sam i am

Dream #36: There were delicate gold stars hanging on string in the window. I gently blew them down, as if blowing out candles on a birthday cake.

Happy New Year!