Encounters & Dreams

On the thirteenth of August this year, I had a close encounter of an enchanting kind. Nightfall was just starting to set in, which means around 9:00 p.m. during Pacific Northwest late summers (and much later in late spring). I was out front of my home setting up the sprinkler when a flying object from the west caught my eye. It was large and gray with an enormous wingspan. The specter made a sudden two-point landing on the electrical service line across the lawn from where I was standing.

My sense was to remain still. I didn't want to startle this amazing creature. Or perhaps it was me preferring to not be startled by this amazing creature. My next inclination was to have my husband see it. On rare occasions in the middle of the night we hear owls calling out from the woods behind our home. We've never actually seen one incarnate.

I slowly reached for the phone in my front pocket. As I started to dial the owl leaped from its perch and swooped down onto the lawn where it stood about eight feet from me, wings partially extended at its sides. I couldn't believe it. Indeed it was an owl, a very big owl, about the size of a human toddler.

My husband answered just as the owl took flight again. I could make out even in the darkness it landed in one of the two trees at the end of our front walk. In a whispered voice I told my husband about the owl and to come join me for viewing. Moments later he was gingerly opening our front door and sat beside me on our front stoop. I explained where I had last seen the owl. Suddenly the silhouette of a youngster riding a bike appeared on the street at the end of our driveway, not something we usually see at night. The bicyclist turned around and then vanished down the street. Just as they were turning around, the owl once more leaped out from its perch. We both watched as it flew from the tree over our carport before it, too, disappeared between ours and the neighbor's house to the north.

My only other close encounter with an owl was in Texas. My dad, mom and I were driving home one night. We were about a quarter mile or so from our street when the loudest sounding collision you could imagine struck our windshield, shattering the center third of it. We hit an owl or an owl hit us. The three of us screamed. I believe we were all of course scared out of our wits because of the sudden violence and on a deeper level because it was an owl.

The ancient Greeks revered the goddess Athena, who was supposed to be the goddess of wisdom and guardian of the Acropolis. Her symbol was the owl, so the bird became a symbol of higher wisdom. The owl was a bird of prophecy and wisdom in many ancient cultures.

I like to think my owl encounter is a good omen.

On Sun. 8/27 I dreamed I had a very odd looking spider on my right shoulder. It was elongated, kind of like an ant, but it was definitely an eight-legged spider. A black one. It bore into my skin with its legs. In my dream I don't know how long it had been on/in me. I flicked it off and once it was free from my flesh I noticed it had left behind crimson marks in the shape of a dog bite.

The next morning after I awoke, I was rinsing dishes and loading them in the dishwasher. I pulled the cutting board from the sink to give it a scrub and suddenly noticed a big, black spider at the base of my left thumb. I threw the cutting board and shook my hand. It fell to the floor and disappeared. I was almost more startled because my dream from the night before was still fresh in my mind.

Dream interpretation: To dream of a spider denotes that you will be careful and energetic in your labors, and fortune will be amassed to pleasing proportions. If one bites you, you will be the victim of unfaithfulness and will suffer from enemies in your business.

Another suggests little annoying or irritating things that are left undone. Can be a fear of gossipy things said about you - or the consequences of gossip you engaged in regarding someone else.

Yet another suggests it can symbolize feeling trapped in a stale or unsatisfying relationship. To dream that you are bitten by a spider represents conflict with your mother or some dominant female figure in your life.

Still another suggests it indicates that you are feeling like an outsider in some situation. Or that you may want to keep your distance and stay away from an alluring and tempting situation. The spider is also symbolic of feminine power. The dream may be a metaphor for a devouring mother or the feminine power to possess and entrap. Perhaps you are feeling trapped by some relationship. Alternately, a spider may refer to a powerful force protecting you against your self-destructive behavior. Spiders are a symbol of creativity due to the intricate webs they spin. On a negative note, spiders indicate a feeling of being entangled or trapped in a sticky or clingy relationship. It represents some ensnaring and controlling force. You may feel that someone or some situation is sucking the life right out of you.

On Mon. 8/28 I had a dream with raccoons in it. I'm foggy on the details. After I awoke the first text I received was from my bestie, who sent me a picture of a raccoon at her bedroom window and a note declaring this guy and his friends kept her up until 3:00 a.m. 

Dream interpretation: To dream of a raccoon denotes you are being deceived by the friendly appearance of enemies. Also, the raccoon has stood for deception and mischief, and thievery down through the ages because of his mask and his nocturnal ways. It shows that people are presenting false faces to you in your everyday life.

Do we travel in dreams?

Have you ever had a dream that was so vivid, so seemingly real, when you awoke you carried with you the feelings you experienced well into the day as though, possibly, what you dreamed actually happened?

Today my friend reminded me of such experiences when he shared with me about his night paralysis episodes. Some of them are too graphic for me to describe here. Several of them involved visitations from other worldly beings, demons per se. To give more insight into what my friend described, it's important to know his early world view was founded upon Christian beliefs. He mentioned the term succubus and talked about being between consciousness, having the sensation of someone sitting on his chest. He reported having actually seen shadowy figures, being unable to move his body as it lay in slumber. He reported hearing voices and sounds so real he swore it was not just his imagination.

While I'm not someone who suffers night paralysis, generally speaking, I think I may have had some brushes with it. Occasionally I find myself in dreams being haunted by someone or something. In trying to wake myself to end whatever suffering is heading my way, my physical being materializes moans, sometimes whimpers. This has awoken my husband on occasion, who then wakes me to make sure I'm alright. The fear seems real. Sometimes I am able to recount the dream, or horror, and other times I suffer short term memory loss.

Once I saw a shadowy figure. I was in college, rooming with my brother in a two bedroom townhome. My bedroom was pretty basic, consisting of a bed, desk and drawers. My bed was positioned against the far wall and window with my desk directly adjacent. On this particular night I was awaken by the sudden, startling realization I wasn't alone in my room. Yet the room was dark and still. Without opening my eyes, which I was first fearful of doing, it felt as if someone were sitting next to me, just watching me sleep. I'm getting a chill now as I type this.

When I did crack an eyelid, I saw someone or rather something. It was like a silhouette figure, sitting in my desk chair, which I usually kept pushed all the way in when not in use. Yet here the chair was, pulled out from the desk a little ways and turned facing directly toward the bed.

In the instant I perceived the shadowy figure, the figure began to dissipate, becoming a fuzz of black dots or small black spheres which whirled around, growing smaller and moving faster until it vanished in moments.

I shared this with my friend who had first reported to me about his night paralysis, and he got the chills.

I've practiced meditation over the years as well as participated in several conscious breathing workshops. Both have a very strong connection to pure consciousness, and at times I have experienced being elsewhere. I'm certain my experiences, while unique, are widely shared.

DMT, also known as the spirit molecule, is a powerful psychedelic, said to literally transport human consciousness to other realms, times, space and dimensions. It works on our pineal gland, which is located deep in the core of the human brain. This gland is responsible for secreting a substance near death that gives a person an out of body experience. Near death experiences also are attributed to the actions of the pineal gland. Meditation is said to be a natural way to stimulate it.

As I type this, scientists and engineers are working to create singularity. Singularity is a way of downloading a person's consciousness into a computer, giving someone the ability to perhaps live forever, or at least until the hard drive fails. Digital immortality. This begs the question, if consciousness can be moved from one place to another, could our consciousness possibly be powerful enough to transport us places, too?

Last Night's Dream ...

Had a bizarre dream. My mom and I were having a steak dinner, and I started eating the remnants of my steak from the night before, which I suddenly realized had been left out/not stored in the refrigerator.

A friendly couple from down the way showed up and my mom invited them to join us. After my first bite of steak I realized I needed a new steak, not because it was rotten, just because I knew it was probably going to make me sick. So I excused myself and inconspicuously spit out the piece of meat I had been chewing.

I grabbed a bunch of new steaks and was sidetracked by seeing activity at an investment property my parents bought and improved. Odd because they aren't married in my everyday, waking consciousness.

Here was the snag, they bought half the property and improved the property half way. The other half owners were running an event business out of the property and my parents intended to use it as a short term vacation rental.

While I was onsite the other alleged half owners showed up. We sat down and talked about the situation. They were too quick to offer a buyout. I suspected they were squatting on the property vs. actually on title. The wife in particular was really shifty about giving me any contact details for follow up. They also alleged my folks hadn't done much to improve the property.

When I first saw the property, the home was really tired looking and dated. I recall after my folks bought their share it had been modernized, with really cool black metal framed windows, including a funky black glass interior room divide. Walls had been removed to open up the interior spaces. Now up close I was having a hard time seeing the work, and after I left I wondered if I had been influenced to see what someone else wanted me to see.

Meanwhile an event was taking shape outside. A party, a rather large one at that. Low and behold all my steaks I had fetched had been consumed.

There was a sea, like the sound, and I washed my hands in the saltwater. It was night, music was playing, jovial voices muffled below the volume.

I had set my cooler and a couple other things stacked upon it in the shallow part of the sea. I turned to grab some replacement steaks from the party BBQ, they were of poorer quality. I ended up only taking one, the best looking one left. Someone grabbed me a piece of foil to wrap it in. I ended up putting it in a corrugated to go box.

My cooler and other items had vanished. No, they were just farther up shore. So I waded out to get them and then headed for dry land.

The rest gets fuzzier. I was driving my mom's Exploder (slang for Ford Explorer) into the woods. It was either Patrick (my ex's middle brother) or my old friend Andy (from the early 90s). Or they are actually one in the same person. Either way, I told them about the odd property dealings. He knew the people and he was certain they had no business being there and no actual ownership interest in the property.

I was out of breath from having run from the shore or something. Before I knew it Patrick/Andy had loaded my unwieldy items into the back of the SUV, and I was intending to return to my mom and guests. That's where the dream ended, I think ...

Last night I met an alien

In my dream I met an extraterrestrial being, which took a human female form. She was beautiful, inside and out. This is the first time ever I've had such a dream. It's almost as if the dream were less a dream and more a memory, a faint, distant one. Aspects of the dream were clear. The being was peaceful in nature and fascinated by human beings. I asked her to help me decipher some glyphs, which looked like small boomerangs facing in various directions scribed in columns.

Telepathically she asked me to share with her what she needed to know about humanity. With gut-wrenching emotion I expressed how compassionate and clever humanity can be and the most important thing to know is as much as humans can lift you way up to an exalted state, they can let you down twice as hard, that humanity is under siege by itself, on a path to annihilation. I remember breaking down and weeping upon expressing this. The being offered her hand and telepathically gave me the sense all is as it should be and everything will be OK.

An article from Waking Times purports sleep as an altered state of consciousness. That's certainly clear, I think to most of us humans anyway. Sleep's altered state of consciousness (the theta and delta brainwave states) that opens us up to the frequencies of the astral or even mental planes while simultaneously eliminating data/noise from the physical senses.

Undoubtedly, much "paranormal phenomena" (including poltergeist phenomena, PK and telepathy) can be linked to strong emotional content. There are indications that what we experience as presentiment or precognition may be, in some sense, the strong emotional content of a probable "future" event (which is actually occurring in a parallel universe in present time, along with all our "past" and "future" lives) then filtering "back" through time into our subconscious or even conscious awareness. Yeah, that's a pretty big thought. Who really can say for sure?

This morning bestie gave me a tarot reading. I asked about my health course. Here's how the cards laid out:

In a nutshell, I've made much progress in my journey. At present I've found the two practitioners who are making the biggest difference in my wellness; my new NP and my acupuncturist. I'm approaching my treatment course with an ideal mindset and determination. The outcome looks to be one of the most favorable, eventual and complete healing. Of course there were many more details involved.

Random post, I know.

Two Nights of Dreams

The night before last I dreamed I was climbing a ladder, a very long ladder. My husband was standing at the bottom of this ladder. It looked as if the ladder was suspended in thin air, and at one junction the ladder bent away from me at a more gradual slope. The ladder had hand rails on both sides. I was climbing up toward a gleaming object, like a massive diamond in the sky. It was the more gradual slope of the ladder I was unsure of ascending because I was getting to be so far from the ground and because I envisioned sliding back down it then being flung free. That's where my dream ended, before I reached the top. I didn't fall in my dream, just had a fear that I could.

Interpretation: To dream of a ladder being raised for you to ascend to some height, your energetic and nervy qualifications will raise you into prominence in business affairs. To ascend a ladder means prosperity and unstinted happiness. If someone raises and holds a ladder for you this denotes you will climb to great heights in your chosen profession. Dreaming of a ladder means you will achieve new understanding of yourself. It also suggests growth in your social life. This is a great time to make new friends! That you are climbing a ladder suggests that you have reached a new level of achievement. it is symbolic of prosperity, hard work and your efforts.

Last night I dreamed I had traveled back in time and possibly to an alternate universe. I was once more in high school in Texas. Yet I possessed all the knowledge and experience I have at age 41. It's as though I just stepped into my life already in progress in this time and place, as if to perfectly replace my younger self without the problem of having to sequester that individual. Hard to explain. In other words, my younger self in that time and place wasn't present and couldn't get in the way of my whereabouts.

Of course I didn't really have memory or knowledge of what I needed to be doing or where exactly I was supposed to be. Just a general understanding of the place and time. I had to request so many things that at that point I should already have known. Locker location, combination, class schedule, class room locations, etc.

I had an opportunity to reconnect with my long lost friend Ken. Almost felt as if the purpose of my dream was to go back to that time in my life and atone for my misdeeds. In fact, in real life I have begun to write about that very turbulent adolescent "coming of age" time in my life.

In this dream, Ken and I had met at this amazing complex of pools and ornate, antique copper atriums. It was such a beautiful and mysterious place. We were just starting to get into deep conversation about our differences.

Then suddenly and briefly I was in another place and time. It was an intimate and rather shanty space, representing a restaurant my ex of seven years once worked in. He was there along with some of his childhood friends. We were all in our twenties. I knew what was to come of the restaurant, that it would eventually corporatize and expand. I told them all I had seen the future, and this jovial place teeming with community would all eventually transform into a hipster corral of faceless, nameless strangers who live lives of indifference. I awoke.

Interpretation: To dream about time travel indicates your wish to escape from your present reality. You may want to go back into the past (or jump forward to the future) to a period where your hopes are realized. This type also represents your romantic nature or your desire to romanticize everything. Usually the friends we see in our dreams indicate qualities we admire about them. In this case I think Ken represented companionship, guidance, fun/laughter, confrontation and desire.

Last Night's Dream

Last night I dreamed I was in Mexico. It was one of those vague dreams. I don't recall a point to it necessarily. At some point I toured an Aztecesque pyramid, which was a modern day homage to entertainment. From the outside it looked like an ancient monument. Yet each level had different exhibits and rides sponsored by various entertainment companies. The pyramid even had hotel style rooms one could rent, though the interior finishing leaned toward rustic. In fact the room I toured was a little odd to me as it had two bath tubs, one of which was adjacent to the open kitchenette.

I recall being there with my mom, and the person who once had claimed to be my dad, now long estranged, inquired why she got to be there with me.

During another part of my dream, I was pedestrian in a busy open market area, weaving around auto and other foot traffic. The streets were brick paved. The architecture appeared to be was somewhat Caribbean colonial with soft pastel colors. For some reason I don't recall, I felt like I was in a hurry to get through the market, which was a labyrinth of shop spaces, many of which required having to pass through one to get to another (like a crazy Ikea). I paused in one shop to admire the wares. It looked like a crystal shop. The object I picked up appeared to be a cross between a snow globe and a crystal statue. When the "snow" was settled, a creature appeared. When the object was moved in any way, the snow would disburse in a swirl and the creature would change stance or disappear altogether. It was quite strange and felt like it had a mystical quality about it.

Upon examining the object, I was greeted by an older, white-haired man who was the shopkeeper. He was kind of Gandalfesque, kind and joyful. That's about all I remember ...

Interpretations

Foreign Land: To dream you are in a foreign land represents change in your life. Consider how you feel about the surrounding. If you are excited or happy in this unknown place, it suggests you are ready for change.

Pyramid: To dream of pyramids denotes many changes will come to you, possibly in a short amount of time. It is a symbol of longevity, stability and a firm foundation. Considered to be a focus for power, if a pyramid appears in a dream, it shows we are concentrating on the inherent power within us. If you scale them, you will journey along before you find the gratification of desires. Spiritually, the pyramid is a symbol of integration of the Self and the Soul. In dreams it can represent death and also indicates rebirth. It is a guardian of power. The pyramid always signifies a wider awareness of power and energy. There is a point inside the pyramid where all the planes intersect. This will regenerate any matter that is placed there. For instance razor blades will become sharp again. In a larger pyramid, that particular spot can be used for enhancing mystical experiences. To enter a pyramid is to be searching for the meaning of life. A pyramid is a very powerful image. On a physical level it is a building of wonder. On a mental level it is a structure of regeneration. It will depend on our level of awareness as to which interpretation is valid.

Market: To dream you are in a market denotes thrift and much activity in all occupations. This also may represent some emotional or physical need you are currently lacking in your life. You could be in need of nurturance and some fulfillment. Consider the specific items you are shopping for. A marketplace can be viewed as a place of spiritual exchange in dreams. We can establish a balance between our everyday reality and our spiritual or inner world. A market is a bustling, happy place. To dream of one may indicate that we may need to look after ourselves more and to spend time with more people. Dreaming we are in a market indicates our ability to cope with everyday life, of being able to relate to people and particularly to relate to crowds. It is also the place of buying and selling, therefore often gives us some sort of indication as to how we value our various attributes, whether we have something to sell or are buying.

Street: To see a street in your dream symbolizes your life's path. The condition of the street reflects how much control you have over the direction of your life. If the street is well-paved and easy to progress on, you are in control of your own destiny. If you dreamed about alleys or side streets, it suggests you need to be less rebellious or adventurous for now and return to more traditional ways.

Crystal: To see crystal in your dream signifies wholeness, purity, healing, development and unity. It represents your higher Self. The dream may be a metaphor for something in your life that is crystallizing or taking shape. To dream you are looking into a crystal represents how you are looking within yourself to find your true destiny. Alternatively, it indicates your outlook of the future.

First Anniversary Storm + Dream

Yesterday marked my husband and my first wedding anniversary. We were married on the 11th day of the 12th month of the 13th year of the new millennium at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, where we had first met nine years previous almost to the day.

(From left to right) Mom, yours truly, my husband, his sister, our bestie pose for a post ceremony photo opportunity at the main entrance to the Fifth Avenue Theatre in Downtown Seattle on the 11th of December, 2013.

I had planned a fabulous day and evening for us, starting with taking in a matinee of Mockingjay at Cinerama, followed by a spa retreat in the afternoon and then a lovely dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Loulay, that evening. We were about a third of the way into the movie when I began having a food reaction to the sandwich I had just eaten (at least I think it was the sandwich). So we left the flick and rolled down a few blocks to the nearest urgent care clinic. They treated me with a benedryl injection and monitored my vitals for a while before releasing us. Of course the injection induced drowsiness, so it was back home to rest and rest I did for about three or four hours.

My husband has been working so incredibly hard lately, and in very challenging conditions. We're both under quite a bit of stress, and I wanted yesterday to be really amazing. Instead we had yet another fire to put out.

Still, even in the midst of disappointment, my husband showed me true care and compassion. I cannot imagine he was not let down. I'm quite sure we were both looking forward to having an indulgent day together as well as the opportunity for much wanted connection.

While I was still coming out of my groggy haze from the benedryl, my husband picked up some provisions and made us all (mom and Al included) a nice steak dinner with baked potatoes and sauteed haricot verts. At our small reception one year ago, we dined on filet mignon, so it was a perfect nod to what had been so much our perfect day. And for me a reminder of how perfect an imperfect day can still be. I am incredibly fortunate to have such a loving, understanding, compassionate and patient husband.

Of course my mom and Al were concerned about my health, too. Add me to that list as well. While my illness has been going on for more than two years now, I can honestly say these troubling incidents are fewer and farther between overall. Still, I cannot help wondering whether things will get better or ... I want so badly to believe I am healing and I can fully restore my health.

I have to say the big storm that blew through yesterday evening was the perfect end to our turbulent and nothing-went-as-planned day. As we were sitting down to eat sometime after 8:00 p.m. last night, a couple booming explosions abruptly halted our pleasant dinner conversation as the house suddenly went dark. No sooner had the house gone dark, the lights came back on. Finally one last flicker and we maintained our power despite the howling winds outside. Living in a wooded area with huge trees all around us, I cannot help being a bit nervous during high wind storms.

After dinner we all sat on our sectional sofa in the living room. Terry brought out our wedding cake slice we had stored in our freezer for the past year. I fed him a small bite and then took one for myself, just out of the box it had been stored in. I had had the thought to fish my Grandma's beautiful gold-leafed antique cake plate out of our storage to give us at least something grand to ponder as we indulged in a long-standing tradition. It's just as well. Grandma's cake plate was historically and exclusively reserved for birthdays. I think it's good to honor traditions. According to the wedding cake tradition of having a bite one year later, it's to remind us of our wedding and help us reflect on the sweetness of our first year as a married couple. I'm also told we are to expect some luck.

While luck and good fortune are fine ideas, I also acknowledge how powerful it is to be cause in the matter of one's life. Which brings me to last night's dream. I was with some childhood friends, as we are in our current age. We were hiking up to this vacation home that had been in one of my friend's family for years and years. This home was at the top of a mountain in a very mountainous area. It almost looked like the Appalachians. Rounded mountains lushly forested with green deciduous trees. Somehow we were also close to the ocean. We were hiking upon a mountain top and shielding ourselves from high tide waves that were pushing huge piles of seafoam in our direction. It was quite bizarre. This was all occurring during what was otherwise a beautiful, bright, sunshiny day. As quick as the tide raged in, it receded, leaving what had once been a sparkling lake in the valley below an empty, dry lakebed. I also remember roaming through the old house. It had some charming qualities about it, and it also needed quite a bit of work. That's about all I recall.

Dream Interpretations:

Mountains: To see mountains in your dream signify many major obstacles and challenges that you have to overcome. If you are on top of the mountain, it indicates you have achieved and realized your goals. You have recognized your full potential. Alternatively, mountains denote a higher realm of consciousness, knowledge and spiritual truth. To dream you are climbing a mountain signifies your determination and ambition.

High Tide: To dream of high tide is indicative of favorable progression in your affairs.

Cottage: To see a cottage in your dream represents comfort, peace and serenity. You prefer a quiet life of simplicity. The cottage may also represent an altered sense of reality and thus may be a means of escaping the responsibilities and problems associated with your home. You need to approach life's difficulties one at a time.

Foam: To see foam in your dream signifies light heartedness and pleasure.

Water:To see water in your dream symbolizes your unconscious and your emotional state of mind. Water is the living essence of the psyche and the flow of life energy. It is also symbolic of spirituality, knowledge, healing and refreshment.

Day: To dream of the day denotes improvement in your situation and pleasant associations. A sunny day symbolizes clarity and/or pleasantness. You are seeing things clearly.

In all it seems my dream puts me in a positive place. I have to say, things are in some ways looking up. My mom's house in Idaho is pending sale, slated to close just after the first of the year. I've also found an ideal place for them here, and we're awaiting a mutually accepted contract any minute now. Having mom and Al in their own space will be a huge win all the way around. Now to continue working on my health ...

Oct. 23rd & 24th Dreams ...

Oct. 23rd: If I had taken the time to jot these two dreams down sooner, I may have recalled much more detail. I was cranking a grinder and some bright, pink meat was beginning to emerge from the spout. There was something else in my dream the shade of pink - can't recall. My dearly departed Grandma was present in this dream. That I'm certain of. In previous dreams where she appears, she seldom if ever speaks. In this one she said things that didn't make much sense to me. I forget the first sentence she uttered other than it was quite strange. The second sentence is pretty clear. She said "When I woke up this morning I was wearing a new string of diamonds." Next I vaguely recall either thinking or someone whispering that she's going senile. That's all I remember.

Oct. 24th: So I'm at this really funky bar/lounge in some city (likely an American city). The walls and ceiling of this joint are painted as black as outer space. I feel like the floor is covered with astroturf. The bar is white, kind of retro-atomic-modern looking and probably forged of metal. There are rows of high-backed, pleated upholstered booths lining the walls. I'm just to one side of the bar, chit chatting it up with Martin Gore and Dave Gahan or maybe it was Vince Clarke of Depeche Mode. I vaguely recall perhaps thinking my agent was in the process of arranging a formal interview for me with Martin. I also think David Bowie was a patron at this establishment while I was there.

After the conversation winds down, I move over to the bar. I'm deliberating beverage selection. I'm handed a very simple/elegant menu and then a smaller one with specialty cocktails. They were all quite exotic. At first I was going to order something with hard liquor. Then I'm suddenly also an observer of myself. (In real life I cannot drink alcohol as my body cannot process it properly and I easily dehydrate.) I'm consciously now in control of my beverage choice as though I'm conscious I'm dreaming and yet able to continue dreaming. I ask which of the specialty drinks are wine based. I don't quite recall the names, they were all intriguing, each one of them very alluring. I select a drink.

There's a woman next to me. She's I think drinking the same thing I just ordered. My drink arrives and I begin to imbibe, slowly, carefully. That's about all I can remember. I feel like there was another dream layered on this one. Alas my mind goes blank.

Interpretations

Pink: Represents love, joy sweetness, happiness, affection, kindness. Being in love or healing through love is also implied with this color.

Grind: To dream you are grinding something represents repetition. Your life is too much of a routine. The dream may thus be a metaphor for the "daily grind." Alternatively the dream could mean that you have "an axe to grind" with someone. Are you harboring any feelings of resentment?


Meat: To see raw meat in your dream signifies there will be many obstacles and discouragement in achieving your goals. Alternatively it may reflect your untamed, animalistic nature and raw emotions.

Grandma: To see your grandmother in your dream represents nurturance, protection and unconditional love. Consider the qualities and characteristics that exist in your own grandma. (Yep. That about sums it up)

Diamonds: To dream of owning diamonds is a very propitious dream, signifying great honor and recognition from high places. Diamonds are omens of good luck.

Bar: Seeing a bar denotes activity in communities, quick uplifting of fortunes and the consummation of illicit desires. This can also signify one's desire to escape from the stresses of daily life and retreat into a light-hearted environment where pleasure abounds. Or one is seeking for acceptance in some respect of one's daily life.

Musician(s): Music or a musician in your dream indicates you have the ability to channel. You can communicate with discarnate spirits. If you accept you are a body with a soul, then communication with spirit is not so alien. It is merely one soul communicating with another.

Menu: Studying a menu or bill or fare is an omen that you need not worry about having plenty for comfortable living. It may also indicate you are seeking some spiritual or emotional nourishment. Consider the type of items that were on the menu and the costs to determine how much value you are placing on each item.

Drink: To see someone drinking (anything) in your dream foretells years spent in academic learning. You will add many degrees after your name. To dream of drinking alcohol denotes you are seeking either pleasure or escape. Spiritually there is a belief that the drinking of wine is, or symbolizes, the imbibing of Divine life and power. To be drinking in a dream is to be absorbing or taking something in. What we are drinking is also important, e.g. fruit juice would indicate we are aware of the need for cleansing and purity.

Woman: To see a woman in your dream represents nurturance, passivity, caring nature and love. It refers to your own female aspects or may also represent your mother.

Oct. 18th Dream ...

Ever had a dream inside a dream? I think I may have last night. Not sure how long ago it was or whether I jotted it down. My sense is it may have been months back. I had a dream I spontaneously took an international trip for a couple weeks. Memory of exactly where I went and what I did while there is a bit fuzzy. My first port of call was somewhere in Asia, like Taipei or Singapore. My time there was brief, perhaps a day or two at most. So really a glorified layover. I then continued onto Europe. Paris, Berlin and I think Prague, not sure what order. I think I started in Prague, made my way by train to Berlin and lastly by train to Paris before returning home.

The reason I'm recalling this is because in last night's dream I shared the details about my travels to someone in my dream. The someone I believe was a guy I was in real life with on an exchange program to Germany in the summer of 1989. The details I shared with him in my dream seemed so real to me, as though I had actually in fact had the experience in real life; like an actual memory. When I awoke, I asked my husband if in the past few years I had taken a spontaneous trip to the Far East and Europe. He confirmed I had not.

In that same part of the dream, I recall emerging from a silver car, smoking a cigarette. I also recall having a negative judgement about it as though I was at the same time an on-looker. I recall a beautiful, old, moss-covered palace of a cathedral with huge, incredible and vividly colorful stained-glass windows.

I had another dream, this one a bit more disconcerting. I, too, was diagnosed with cancer like my mom in real life. In my dream, she received her diagnosis and I received mine shortly following. I recall this hollow feeling of hopelessness and helplessness. I also recall being on the hunt for medical answers and treatment at medical-looking facilities.

Since I'm notating this late in the day, I think it's about all I can recall from around 7 AM when I began stirring.

Cancer: To dream of cancer denotes illness of someone near you. Depressions may follow the man of affairs after this dream. To dream that you have cancer denotes hopelessness, grief, self-pity and unforgiveness. You feel you are wasting your life away. This dream also represents areas in your life which are bothering you, disturbing you and hurting you in some emotional way. To dream you are being treated for cancer signifies a positive change in your life. To dream that someone has cancer indicates you need to change your negative way of thinking before it creates a cancer in you. Start being more positive. Symbolically, Cancer represents the Moon, the Eternal Mother and the astrological sign of Cancer (which my husband is). Intellectually we may have worked through our fears but still be left with attitudes and beliefs that cannot be cleared away. Very often this appears as cancer or illness in dreams and equally can represent something 'eating away' at us - usually a negative idea or concept. Cancer is one of the prime fears that a human being has to deal with, so to dream of a cancer indicates we are out of harmony with our body. It also indicates fear of illness. In a man's dream his focus may be on his attitude to his mother or mothering.

Church: To see the outside of a church in your dream signifies sacredness and spiritual nourishment. It is representative of your value system and the things you hold sacred. It may also represent a need to be appreciated by those you love.

Dream: To dream you are dreaming signifies your emotional state. You are excessively worried and fearful about a situation or circumstance that you are going through.

Memory: To dream about a memory suggests you are ready to rid yourself of your old ways and undergo some sort of transformation and new outlook in life. Recalling a memory in your dream may also be less of a shock than if you had recalled the memory in your waken state. It indicates that you may have learned something from your past.

Silver: To see silver in your dream symbolizes the moon, intuition and the feminine aspects of yourself. This may be in the sense we are available, yet remote. It signifies tranquility and understated confidence. Silver color represents justice and purity. It is symbolic of some protective energy.

Smoking: To dream you are smoking indicates that you are trying to shield yourself and others against your emotions. You have trouble letting others in.

Travel: Travel is a dream that has several meanings and should be used in the dream as a stand alone as meaning a wish to leave your present environment. A dream of traveling in a car full of people usually means you will be making new friends and enjoying life more.

Oct. 15th Dream ...

One minute I'm shopping, browsing some elegant store for a formal tuxedo scarf. The next minute I'm driving my pet white Bengal tiger around. As far as dreams go, this one is pretty fabulous! Well mostly. Admittedly I had just a bit of apprehension being in the company of such a majestic and fiercely deadly creature. At the same time, I wholeheartedly admired this animal's ethereal beauty.

So I'm driving this beast of an animal around in an SUV. It's sprawled out in the back seat. A beautiful, vacant brick home catches my attention. My sense told me it was going to be listed for sale. I pulled into the driveway. I recall it may have been dusk, and there was ample daylight upon entry. We, the tiger and I, went in through the garage. I then recall an empty living room with beautiful, dark stained, wide-plank wood floors and somewhat rustic-finish, off white walls.

While this home appeared to have no inhabitants, I thought I would carefully investigate, especially considering I was trespassing. The tiger sprawled out on the wood floors, and playfully stretched out its front paws, one at a time, before coming to a rest.

I crept upstairs, which led me to a long, rectangular shaped room, flanked by a series of doors on one side which all appeared to lead to the same, large, master suite-like room. All the walls and woodwork were stark white. One of the double doors was slightly ajar, so I peered inside. A queen size bed with no frame laid on the floor. The mattress was dressed in hospital green bedsheets, which had been pulled back and were rippled as though someone had recently been occupying it. A Seahawks baseball hat rested on the far right corner at the foot of the bed. Someone is clearly living here, and I had the sense of not being alone. At the same time I also had the sense of not being noticed. I wanted to keep it that way.

I crept back downstairs to gather the tiger and make as quick and quiet an exit as possible. It had grown darker since I first entered, and I realized I had turned on a few interior lights. I switched them back off in an effort to leave things as they were before the tiger and I trespassed as to not cause anyone alarm.

My tiger was pleased to see me when I returned to the living room where it (not sure if male or female) had been resting. Upon seeing me, the tiger sprang to all fours in a manner which suggested it was feeling playful. I whispered sternly it wasn't play time and pointed with great intention toward the door we had first entered through. At that moment I felt great uncertainty about what the tiger was going to do next. Was it hungry? Would it rip an appendage from me and snack on it? The tiger lunged and then rubbed its head on me affectionately before turning toward the door. I exhaled with a heavy sigh of relief.

As quietly as I could, I led the tiger back toward the car. As I had to turn back around to gingerly pull the garage door closed, I had the sense the tiger continued wandering. With the door shut, I refocused my attention on it as it headed into an orange streetlight bathed street. There were no other cars, no people walking nearby in this moment. I called after the tiger in the loudest whisper I could muster as I opened the back car door to further assist with luring it back into confinement. It let out one roar of acknowledgement, turned tail and sprang into the backseat. That's pretty much all I remember before waking up.

Here are some interpretations:
Shopping: This generally means those things that you need (affection, friendship, spiritual support, quality time with people you care about) are available to you. However, you may need to learn exactly where to look, how to select what you need and how to ask for these things when you need them. This dream calls upon you to know yourself. Before you can ask for or get what you need, you need to figure out what it is that you want.

Tiger: To dream of a tiger advancing toward you, you will be tormented and persecuted by enemies. To see one running away from you is a sign that you will overcome opposition and rise to high positions. To see them in cages foretells that you will foil your adversaries.

House: Because I frequently dream of houses or homes, I know this is representative of one's soul. If the house is empty, then it indicates feelings of insecurity. To see a new house in your dream indicates you are entering a new phase or new area in your life. Being aware of someone else in the house suggests that we may be feeling threatened by an aspect of our own personality. Being outside a house depicts our more public side and how we relate to external interests.

A Garden in My Mind's Eye

I keep seeing a special place in my mind's eye when I'm day dreaming. I'm not exactly sure why. This place is fairly timeless in the sense of being outdated. It's classic, perhaps oldish in the way of being established. I see a small, grassy meadow surrounded by tall, dark evergreens. The grass is well manicured and has been allowed to grow just a bit since it was last cut. A small stream runs nearby. There's a white wrought iron set of table and chairs. The table is circular and there are four chairs. The pieces match perfectly and are fairly ornate. There's a white gazebo off to the side with screening, almost like a bird aviary. Perhaps if there was an associated time period, it could be the 1970s or just as easily the 1870s or perhaps now. I like to think of it as the 1970s, maybe because this is a time I can relate to with great fondness. I also like to think of it as somewhere in Western Europe.

I'm not sure the meaning of this place quite yet. It gives me a sense that it may actually exist outside my mind's eye. This place has a scent that's just a hint musty or mildly antiqued. It's barely noticeable. It could make sense that it's some place I've been to before.

Cart Racing w/My Ex-In-Laws

Yes, this is as odd as the post heading reads. Last night I dreamed of being with my ex's folks. We were on our way to someone's home or to a house and had to cross through a large shopping center parking lot. It almost looked like the shopping center was abandoned, kind of Walking Dead-esque. The more odd thing was our mode of transportation. We weren't just walking. We were standing on these little scooters, which were almost like small shopping cards. They were kind of a white mesh of metal with red wheels. There were two wheels in the front and one in the back, which turned. I recall going through some large puddle, like part of the lot either had a water feature or had flooded. The water seemed dark, but only because I don't think it was well lit. The scene took place in the day time, but I don't think it was either overcast nor bright and sunny. At some other point in my dream I was in an antique store, and may have even been with my ex. This part is really hazy.

In reality I saw my ex of seven years last Friday. It was his 40th birthday. I deliberately stopped by his home with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. He and our long-time neighbor Rob were just walking back down the side yard on their way back from the chicken run. It had been a while, and it was good to see them both. I embraced RC and then Rob. My presence seemed equally well received, and Rob has always been kind to me. In fact as he headed back home he patted my ass when he walked by, almost in the manner of a coach. RC and I chatted for a bit. He showed me what he's been doing with the garden, that his brother was coming over the weekend to help repair the deck that appeared to be falling down. It was good to see him. I think he is happy. The home looks in need of some tidying up. I think he likes it the way it is, and that's all that matters.

Dream Definitions:

Skates: To see skates denotes discord among your associates.

Shopping Cart: To see or use a shopping cart in your dream indicates you are reaping the rewards and benefits of your hard work. If the shopping cart is empty, then it suggest you are coming up empty in some endeavor or plan.

In-Law: To see your in-law in your dream represents a working relationship which can take many different turns. The dream may also be a pun on being more careful and playing by the rules.

 Ex-Boyfriend: It is very common for people to dream about ex-partners. Individuals that have been an important part of our lives continue to take up a part of our mind and heart. It is impossible to very dramatically shut the person out of thoughts and feelings. Just because the relationship ends does not mean that all is finished. As we go through relationships we learn and at times pick up "battle wounds." You will continue to dream about your ex-boyfriend until you "let go" of them on a very important level, or until you learned your lessons from that relationship. Either way, dreaming about your ex-romance does not predict future involvement. It may be wish-fulfillment, reliving memories or working out old issues.

Parking Lot: To dream you are in a parking lot suggests you need to slow down and take some time to relax from your daily activities. (This is very poignant)

Antique: To dream of antiques represents your time honored values, tradition, wisdom and inherited personal characteristics. It symbolizes something genuine or proven. Some things in your past are worth holding onto or worth keeping.

Three Consecutive Dreams (End of Feb.)

For the past three nights, I've had memorable dreams. All of them a bit unusual. Usually I don't dream every night or consecutively, so I thought this somewhat significant. I can recall the two previous nights' dreams more vividly than the last night's dream, which was very bizarre.

2/26: The dream seemed to have taken place in Austin (or somewhere like it). The main subject was a very large, old world brick apartment high rise which was being converted into condos. An office colleague I know in real life bought a unit in this building, completely gutted and remodeled it. In my dream he was a single dad with two daughters. In real life he's a bachelor. His unit on a higher floor (at least 10 or so stories up) was extraordinarily beautifully lavished open-concept with Romanesque columns and a stone terrace with a water feature. I recall lush greenery either bordering the outside edge of the terrace or surrounding the terrace from outside. I had the sense of daylight when looking out toward the terrace, which is uncommon in my dreams. I was looking at another unit across the hall, which was in such horrible shape I couldn't imagine someone trying to salvage it. As I was exiting the ruin, I was greeted by a woman on my office colleague's team. In real life she is pretty and just an all around lovely person. In my dream she appeared distorted and unclear. While still kind, there was a very bent sense about her I can't quite put into words.

Building: To see a building in your dream represents the self and the body. How high you are in the building indicates a rising level of understanding or awareness. To see a building in ruins or damaged indicates that your approach toward a situation or relationship is all wrong. You need to change. Your own self-image may have suffered and taken some blow.

Brick: Brick in a dream indicates unsettled business and disagreements in love affairs. Alternatively, this represents a person's individual ideas or thoughts. Experience and/or heartbreak may have hardened you.

Red: Red being the color of anger could be a warning to stay cool and keep your temper under control. A deep, blood red is usually a portent of good news to come. It is also the color of passion. Red is also the color of danger, shame, sexual impulses and urges. Perhaps one needs to stop and think about one's actions.

Coworker: To see coworkers in your dream highlights aspects of your waking relationship with them, including difficulties/support. It signifies your ambition, struggles and competitive nature.

Girl: To dream of seeing a well, bright-looking girl, foretells pleasing prospects and domestic joys.

2/27: My husband, best friend and I were making dinner inside a beach cottage. The kitchen had white cabinets, which appeared to be somewhat updated. We had plans to further remodel the home. Even though by appearance the kitchen looked reasonably nice and well maintained, all the surfaces were filthy. We were all grossed out by it as we swept up tons of hair and dust. I recall going up to the rooftop deck as I needed to get the spare key. It was inside a panel on the wall of the box which housed the stairs back into the house. I remembered the first two numbers of the lock combo, 24 and 13, and guessed 5 as the last number and it worked. Even though I didn't see the beach or the ocean, I had a sense we were in this type of setting.

Husband: To see your husband in your dream signifies the waking relationship with your husband and the unconscious feelings you have towards him. The dream may be trying to focus on hidden elements that you are not addressing in your waking life.

Best Friend: The best friend can often symbolize your ideal situation or preferred outcome. The dream will be about what is best for you.

Cottage: To see a cottage in your dream represents comfort, peace and serenity. You prefer a quiet life of simplicity. The cottage may also represent an altered sense of reality and thus may be a means of escaping responsibilities and problems that may be associated with your home. You need to approach life's difficulties one at a time.

Coastal: The coast symbolizes the meeting between your two states of mind - the rational and the irrational. Alternatively, the dream may be a metaphor of how you are "coasting" through life. You may need to take things more seriously. (I'm skeptical about the relevance of the latter part of this in relation to my current state of being).

Dirty: If you dream of being in dirty or messy surroundings, it is a positive omen meaning that whatever is worrying you will soon come to an orderly conclusion.

Lock: To dream of a lock denotes bewilderment. If the lock works at your command, or efforts, you will discover that some person is working you injury. If you are in love, you will find means to aid you in overcoming a rival; you will also make a prosperous journey. To see a lock in your dream signifies you inability to get what you want or that you are being kept out of some activity or situation. A lock can suggest either a new spiritual freedom is being offered to us or that the way forward is barred. Our actions are not appropriate. It is very easy to lock away the emotions, supposedly to keep them safe. A lock appearing in a dream may alert us to the fact that we need to free up whatever we have shut away.

Key: To find keys brings domestic peace and brisk turns to business. To see a key in your dreams symbolizes opportunities, access, control, secrets or responsibilities. You may be locking away your own inner feelings and emotions. Or you are close to unlocking the answer to some problem.

Numbers: Numbers in a dream often represent something deeply significant from the dreamer's real life. The numbers could represent a date. Or they may represent the age of a person you know or the time that an important event happened. Try to relate the dream numbers to your real life and see where they match. Alternatively, if you are worried about money in real life, dreams of numbers can be a reflection of this. To see or hear numbers in your dream may also symbolize material gains and possessions.

Twilight: To see twilight in your dream signifies an end to old conditions and situations.

2/28: I was in the Big Easy with a college acquaintance turned successful musician. The person I was with is those things in actuality, although very unlikely someone I would see often if ever in real life. We got stoned, and I think we were drinking because I worried about how consuming alchohol and spoking pot would affect my breathing ability and overall wellness. I remember walking through town. It was possibly supposed to be the French Quarter, it looked more like a 1950's downtown set with classic black building facades that had rows of white bulb lights and neon signs. I remember a basement where we were making music or there was a band. That part is vague as is having a brief run in with Baron Samedi before my dream completely transformed to another place and time.

The next part of my dream put me in what was supposed to be high school campus. It looked more like offices, like Microsoft's main campus in Redmond. The buildings were very minimalist, cube-like structures framed in black steel with walls of glass (some ceilings, too). I attended classes there at my current age of 39. I was reprimanded by a teacher for something I can't quite recall (being late to class or speaking out of turn). So I paid the principal a visit and was given 30 days of suspension, initially. I think somehow I had that overturned.

Next I recall some sort of prom or high school reunion where I saw a bunch of people I recognized from my Issaquah graduating glass of '92. Macklemore was the evening's entertainment. Women wearing a cross between a dress and a gown in various colors. Men wearing mostly black jackets and ties with white shirts. They styling of the venue looked much like the Big Easy scenes from the earlier part of this same dream.

City/Town: To see a city in your dream signifies a sense of community and your social environment. To see a busy town in your dream signifies warmth and your social nature. You get along with others.

Acquaintance: To meet an acquaintance and converse pleasantly with him foretells that your business will run smoothly, and there will be little discord in your domestic affairs. This may also represent aspects of yourself you are still trying to get to know.

Drugged: To take drugs as a source of amusement signifies someone is trying to lead you astray.

Marijuana: To dream you are using marijuana signifies illicit activity or ill health. It can also denote the fact of not being able to think clearly if you dream that you are smoking it, and this could cause you much trouble or stress. As an herb, it has curative powers. For the older generation of dreamers who still think of this as an herb, this is a warning to have your health seen by a professional. (I saw my doctor the day prior to this dream).

Drinking: To dream you are drinking alcohol denotes you are seeking either pleasure or escape.

Grim Reaper (Baron Samedi): To see the grim reaper in your dream signifies the negative, rejected aspects of your personality. It represents aspects of yourself that you have repressed. Alternatively it symbolizes death or the end of something.

High School: To dream of high school foretells ascension to more elevated positions in love as well as social and business affairs. This could also be a sign of a love affair that will be both exciting and disturbing. Another possibility is a reference to bounds and friendships one made while in high school. What spiritual lessons have been learned? This aspect of a dream could be an indication of needed preparation for the real world.

Suspended: To dream you are suspended from school indicates you are feeling disconnected. You may be questioning your identity and who you are. Perhaps you are questioning your future. Alternatively it refers to feelings of guilt and shame from your actions. You need to clear your conscience.

Prom: Proms in dreams represents celebrations, creation, new beginnings for romance and going with what life has to offer you. If you dream you are attending or going to a prom, it represents your attempts to achieve happiness.

Reunion: This signifies you will have cooperation of a kind that will help you to further your ambitions. This may also suggest feelings from the past need to be acknowledged and recognized. Alternatively, it indicates you have incorporated the various aspects/qualities of the people in your dream reunion.

Colors: Colors in dreams represent energy, emotions and vibes.

Musician: Music or a musician in your dream indicates you have the ability to channel. You can communicate with discarnate spirits. If you accept that you are a body with a soul then communication with spirit is not so alien. It is merely one soul communicating with another.

Stormy Ex In-Law Party Dream

Perhaps a mildly misleading post subject line. Last night's dream took place on a stormy, rainy night. I was at some party and the home belonged to my ex's folks. He was nowhere to be seen, but his two brothers were, one was bare chested and in incredible shape. It was one of those fragmented dreams that doesn't have a clear beginning nor a reasonable chronology to it. I remember trying to leave the house, and we had to do so through the basement. Yet the basement had a very small egress by which to exit. One had to literally squeeze through it.

After leaving the house, we were in Seattle's Downtown Belltown neighborhood. It was dark and raining. I had a bunch of stuff I was carrying from the party, too much for one person to handle. It needed to be transported back to my apartment, which was apparently nearby in my dream. Everyone nearby was kind of tipsy and no one really offered to help. A cardboard cutout of a teen heartthrob laid face up in the rain.

Suddenly I'm in a restaurant, apparently one in which I worked. I was there at this point to dine instead of serve. There weren't really any other people in the restaurant except for our party, and I was trying to help figure out the best accommodation for us. Faintly recall a large table in the back corner with bench seating on one side and large wooden chairs on the other with tables of varying heights having to be pushed together. The settings were nice.

Lastly I recall a red Jeep wrangler with the soft top off. I was trying to maneuver it around what appeared to be a junk yard and gas station combined. At one point I thought I was going to collide with the gas pump. Someone intending to do harm approached. I don't recall anything after this point.

Party: To dream of an unknown party of men assaulting you, and if you escape uninjured, you will overcome any opposition, either in business or love. To dream of attending a party of any kind for pleasure, you will find that life has much good.

Rain: To be out in a clear shower of rain denotes that pleasure will be enjoyed with the zest of youth, and prosperity will come to you.

In-Law: To see your in-law in your dream represents a working relationship which can take many different turns. The dream may also be a pun on being more careful and playing by the rules.

Restaurant: To dream you are in a restaurant suggest you are feeling overwhelmed by choices that you need to make in your life. This dream can also mean you are seeking emotional nourishment outside of your family or regular group of friends.

Car: To dream you are driving a car symbolizes your ambition and your ability to navigate from one stage of your life to another.

Night: To dream of night time signifies obstacles in achieving your goals. You may find that some issues you are facing are still unclear. Take more time to think before making a decision.

Man: To dream of a man, if handsome, well formed and supple denotes you will enjoy life vastly and come into rich possessions.

Last Night's Dream

My husband and I were in a newer townhome either on NW Capitol Hill or otherwise near to Seattle's Eastlake neighborhood. We had a view of Lake Union from across Interstate 5. A seaplane coated in branding representing one of our local lifestyle TV news programs took off from the lake, buzzed the freeway and the home we were in while spraying some sort of fog out its tail. I noticed the window before me was open, so I closed it just before the spray hit. It was like a crystallized or frozen sort of white foam. This must be some form of chemical. I thought it a good idea to find something to collect a sample in, so I went into the kitchen and fumbled around looking for an airtight container. It was then when I awoke ...

Interpretations
Airplane (no definition for Seaplane found): To see an airplane in your dream indicates that you will overcome your obstacles and rise above to a new level of prominence and status. You may experience a higher consciousness, newfound freedom and greater awareness. Perhaps you need to gain a better perspective or wider view on something. If the airplane is taking off, then it suggests that an idea or plan is about to "take off" and be put into action. It may also represent your need to get away and escape from your daily life.

Chemicals: To see or use chemicals in your dream, signifies that you are undergoing some transformation and individuation process.

Window: Looking through a window represents insight and attitude towards life. What you see out the window, whether it's a positive or negative view, suggests how optimistic or pessimistic you are in general. To see windows in your dream, signifies bright hopes, vast possibilities and insight. To dream you are looking out a window, signifies your outlook on life, your consciousness, point of view, awareness and intuition. You may be reflecting on a decision and seeking guidance. Or you need to go out into the larger world and experience life.

Lake Dream

I've been writing about my dreams as of late for several reasons:
1) I've been dreaming again after a period when I had no dreams and wasn't sleeping well.
2) I believe dreams are a significant part of one's awareness
3) So many of my really vivid dreams in the past couple years have included my late Grandma, who I have an incredible connection with
4) I sense dreams are a gateway to another world

Still trying to piece together where I was last night. I recall a fantastic mountainous and lake or river setting. Winding roads and beautiful homes. It was dusk. The skies were a dark sapphire blue, reflected in the still waters. The rising moon gave the lake a sparkling appearance. I was with my family, and a family which once had a close friendship with mine.

We drove unusually fast to the house we were staying at. I was sure we might just miss a sharp curve and plummet off a cliff and vanish into the innocent looking waters below. We reached our destination intact. The home itself doesn't register as much as the artifacts within it. There was a wall calendar, or something like it, with somewhat historic photos that had been colorized. One was of a water skiing pyramid, and I was informed one of the beautiful women atop the pyramid was my Grandma in all her glorious youth.

I recall being in a room which was in most ways like any other. The one exception was a nook adjacent the four-post bed which had a very modern looking brown chaise, which affixed to a custom hole in the floor via a metal post. Apparently this hole accommodated interchangeable furniture pieces. A small twin bed in this case was the alternate piece that had been placed there at one time. This area of the bedroom had a kidney bean shaped area of wood flooring whereas the rest of the room was wall-to-wall carpeted.

My Grandma came into the room. She looked around and appeared sad when she saw the area featuring the chaise. She didn't speak, I just read it on her face. She recalled the bed having been there, something about her and the bed or someone she was close to and the bed. It's blurred in my recollection.

Another part of my dream placed me with childhood friends, now grown adults. We were at a child's party at one of their homes. The home had a sunken, tiled living room and built-in sectional. The home seemed cavernous, literally, as if built into a cave or otherwise subterranean. There was an elevated water feature in the corner of the room, a naturally occurring one that had been built around. Somehow I managed to be wielding a 3-drawer vertical filing cabinet, placing it near or in the water feature. Then suddenly the cabinet was sinking. I reached in to retrieve it only to discover it hadn't been sinking so much as it was being sucked into a porthole inside this small pool. The pool was blue-green in color and the surround inside looked much more like a natural tide pool than anything remotely man made. I managed to fully recover the file cabinet, and knew something had been pulling on it vs. some form of suction, otherwise the water would have been drained out. My friend apologized for the incident and mentioned they have plans to finish the jacuzzi. Odd.

Dusk: This is a dream of sadness; it portends an early decline and unrequited hopes. Dark outlook for trade and pursuits of any nature is prolonged by this dream.

Water: To dream of clear water, foretells that you will joyfully realize prosperity and pleasure.

Lake: To see a lake in your dream, signifies your emotional state of mind. You feel restricted or that you are unable to express your emotions freely. Alternately, the lake may provide you with solace, security and peace of mind. If the lake is clear and calm, then it symbolizes your inner peace.

House:  To see a house in your dream, represents your own soul and self. Specific rooms in the house indicate a specific aspect of your psyche. Being aware of someone else in the house suggests that we may be feeling threatened by an aspect of our own personality. The house is popularly known as the seat of the soul, and in spiritual terms links us to the way we are in the world. A house represents security and safety, and therefore signifies protection and the Great Mother.

Bedroom: The bedroom portrays a place of safety where we can relax.

Bed: Since sleep is a way of leaving the busy world behind, a bed can represent a form of spiritual sanctuary and a sense of purity. For most people the bed and bedroom signify a private place. If the bed is made, then it symbolizes security.

Photographs: In dreams these can represent a spiritual need to understand the past. In a sense they are a microcosm within a microcosm, a small part within a greater whole. Obviously photographs represent memories, past occasions, perhaps past difficulties. To be looking at photographs of someone from the past is to be looking at that person's qualities, perhaps bringing them forward into our own lives and making use of those same qualities within. When we dream of looking at photographs, we are often looking at an aspect of ourselves, perhaps our younger self or part of ourselves that we no longer feel is particularly valid.\

Friends: Signify aspects of your personality that have been developing and making you grow as a person. The relationships you have with those around you are important in learning about yourself, so look to the friends you dreamed about for signals of personality traits they have that you desire in yourself, and work on those things. Additionally, dreaming of friends sometimes foretells that you will hear happy news from them.

Grandmother: To see your grandmother in your dream represents nurturance, protection and unconditional love. Consider the qualities and characteristics that exist in your own grandmother.

Memorial Dream

After a couple weeks of unrest, I am finally sleeping well again. About a half hour ago I awoke from a vivid dream, another where I saw my dearly departed Grandma.

The dream began in some very strange city with narrow streets lined with concrete walls about three to four feet in height. It could have been in Europe, no offense intended. I was attempting to maneuver my SUV into one of the last remaining parallel parking spaces anywhere in the vicinity of my destination. My purpose there was to browse a consignment shop for furnishings as I was moving into an apartment. Despite moving into a roommate situation, the place was going to be sparse as the person moving out was taking several key pieces with them. My friend Brent made a cameo in this part of my dream.

The consignment shop had many antique pieces dating back to the 1950's and 1960's. They had other eras of furniture represented, but I was favoring the more "retro" mid century modern style furnishings. There was this brilliant wooden console, out of which popped up a vintage stereo. The console was tall and narrow with really cool wood, honey maple with an accent of light blue-green. I don't know how to describe it in words, other than in my dream it was a very unique and fabulous piece.

There was a dark turquoise-ish sofa and then this great light ruby armchair. Someone had already bought the console. I ended up buying the chair, and vaguely recall putting it in the back of my SUV.

The next part of my dream involved a memorial service for my dearly departed Grandma. My business associate Kerri had attended to pay her respects. I arrived late, I don't know what delayed me. Upon my arrival, Senator Ed Murray was just completing a eulogy of sorts. There were men in black suits, and a few members of my mom's family. I saw my aunt and three cousins. One of my cousins hugged me, I nudged by one and walked past the other.

My mom was there grief stricken, but then she wasn't there. I don't recall if it was because I continued on my way, following the procession of pallbearers. This would be quite odd for a memorial service. Still, the procession proceeded ahead of me from an outdoor, grassy area surrounded by evergreens into an enclosed area of hallways, which led to another outdoor area.

Upon entering the hallway I saw my Grandma running in my direction wearing a beautiful fuchsia-colored robe with satin collar, cuffs and hem. She looked like she did in the '80s, with large, set hairdo and her signature round eyeglasses. Her eyes were particularly blue. She had a very determined look on her face, and appeared to not be aware of my presence as she dashed by me. I felt some degree of tension for being able to see her and being unable to truly see her.

I continued through the hallways until I reached the burial site. The men-in-black pallbearers had disbursed. Ed was sitting on the lawn resting on his right elbow adjacent the site. I had been crying, and really just wanted a moment alone, yet held silent for wanting to be polite. Ed remarked about my Grandma being a wonderful lady. In reality he doesn't know anything about her. He and I only barely know one another through my involvement with the Seattle Monorail Project, the GSBA and via a mutual friend.

Sensing my desire to have a moment, Ed gets up and makes mention the ferry will be leaving shortly. I would need to be on my way soon if I intended to catch it. I told him I wasn't taking the ferry. He asked me where I lived and I told him Normandy Park. I asked if he lives in West Seattle and he affirmed, then was on his way.

Of course I consulted with my Dream Book:

Fuchsia: The color fuchsia represents your connection with your spirituality and meditation. You are letting go of old attitudes and ready for change. This color is also associated with emotional stability.

Hallway: Often represents spiritual growth and learning. They can also mean the dreamer has untapped psychic abilities. A dream of walking through a long hallway or corridor can also represent your frustration in trying to escape a repetitive situation.

Furniture: Represents how you feel about yourself and your family. It refers to your relationships with others and how they fit into your life. To dream that you are moving furniture indicates you are going out of your way to please others. Also, you may be changing your ways and trying to reevaluate your relationships/attitudes. To see old or worn furniture in your dream symbolizes outdated attitudes, former relationships and/or old ways of thinking.

Grandmother: To see your grandmother in your dream, represents nurturance, protection and unconditional love. Consider the qualities and characteristics that exist in your own grandmother.

That's all I have time to notate for now as I prepare to embark on a day-long mindfulness retreat.