I know
I've talked a lot on this blog about my dreams. I hope it isn't too boring.
This post is going to be about dreaming too, particularly about two dreams I
had this past week.
I've
mentioned "lucid" dreams here before. These are dreams in which the dreamer
becomes aware that he or she is dreaming. I have these fairly often. There are
two layers to lucid dreaming. In the first layer, you become aware of the dream
but are unable to change anything about it. You're along for the ride. In the
second layer, you can actually manipulate things in the dream. I have both
experiences, though usually when I become aware that I'm dreaming I can
manipulate it. And when I do, I immediately start to fly! What can I say,
I just love flying.
At the
end of last week I had a lucid dreaming and was flying through a cityscape when
a new idea occurred to me. I was flying "around" the buildings. Why?
Since I knew it was a dream, the buildings were only there in my imagination. I
immediately decided to fly "through" a building. I turned toward a
big brick skyscraper and accelerated directly into the wall. It shattered as I
hit it and the whole top of the building exploded in a scene worthy of a modern
action thriller. I came out the other side unharmed, exhilarated as flames and
smoke rose behind me.
Two
nights ago, I had a different lucid dreaming experience, another first for me.
I'm calling it a semi-lucid dream. Here's what happened.
Lana
and I had company at our house, although the place was different. There was no
tin roof on the back porch and the yard was more open. We could see a stream
not far away. We were outside in the late evening when I noticed a distant
silhouette of some huge flying creature. A plane was flying by at the same time
and distance so I could compare. I told Lana the silhouette looked like a
dragon. Lana said, “I wish.” (Jeopardy that evening had a dragon category that
both Lana and I enjoyed.)
As
I looked back to our yard, a huge hot-air balloon without a basket came
floating through the trees and then hovered, billowing in the air over the
stream. It was shaped like a clown face, very pale, almost mime-like. As I
looked at it, it spoke to me, though I can’t remember what it said.
At
that moment I realized I was dreaming and told Lana. This is where I have to
use the term semi-lucid to describe this dream. Although I knew I was dreaming
and that the clown-face wasn’t real, I actually kept Lana in the dream with me.
I told her that we were going to fly, which I do in lucid dreams, and stepped
forward and wrapped my arms around her.
As
I tried to lift off, however, I could barely budge us, as if we were too heavy
together to fly. Then I sort of laughed and realized how ridiculous that was.
Weight made no difference in a lucid dream. I relaxed myself, held Lana tight,
and lifted off slowly into the air. As we rose, we spun around and around as if
we were dancing. Lana clung to me very tightly, and as we reached the height of
the trees around us, I could tell she was a bit nervous. I let us slowly sink
back to earth.
As
we landed, Lana was all smiles. She turned to go in the house and I moved to
follow her but glanced back one more time at the sky. The hot air balloon face
had been replaced by a gigantic fantasy moon. It was red/orange/black, with a
clearly defined face of shadowy eyes, mouth and nose. “See,” I called after
Lana. “It’s a dream.”
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15 comments:
One imagines that you are developing new knowledge and capabilities to meet life's changes, Charles.
( '>
/))
//""
ALOHA from Honolulu,
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
If you bust another building, they'll send the Avengers after you, my friend. :)
I think maybe you should do a Stephan King with these dreams--after all no one in America has made people fear clowns than him and you have one that not only talks but is immense.
I like your dreams! I remember quite a few of mine and write many of them down, but I've never flown in them!
Cloudia, I need 'em
Bernard, lol. In my dream I could take 'em.
Mark, it was definitely creepy. It'll be in a story sometime.
Sage, it is tremendous fun
Those dream experiences are cool.
I don't often remember my dreams. They fade rapidly as soon as I wake up. I do recall a couple of times late last year that I seemed to become aware that I was dreaming. I don't remember the circumstances of the dream, just that odd awareness...and then waking up.
Maybe I should pay more attention.
Always interesting! I've often wondered what are the triggers for dreams: physical factors, emotional factors, or factors best described as ineffable or supernatural? What say you?
I also think it fortunate that we sometimes have dreams that we cannot remember. Full recall could lead to some serious foggy mountain breakdowns.
Interesting stuff! I had a lucid dream some years ago and felt I had saved someone's life.
Charles, I enjoyed reading about your "lucid" dreams. It read like an sf dream. I don't think I have ever had a dream within a dream. It's nice to be able to remember one's dreams and write about them.
Travis Cody, A lot of folks use dream journals to help their recall. They keep a notepad and pen close to the bed and write down their experiences as soon as they wake up.
R.T., I have the most intense and memorable dreams when I'm 1) in a relatively good mood, and 2) when not sleep deprived.
Barbara, they are very interesting.
Prashant, one reason I look forward to sleep most nights!
Look up! It's a bird, a plane, IT'S SUPERMAN AND WONDER WOMAN flying into buildings and hovering in the night sky! When I was younger I had dreams of flying above the earth and observing things below. Now that I'm older, senile and half-crazy, I barely dream at all. Oh, where has it all gone? You are a lucky man, Charles!
Oscar, indeed I am.
Curious and curious-er.
Carole, that's me!
That's kind of neat, actually.
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