LARP and A Concert

I am in a large hotel and while walking through the lobby, I become aware that there are many people around me in costume.  "Ah, a Sci-Fi convention!" I think to myself, but looking more closely, I realize it's a bit more - all the people are gearing up to go outside, into the wooded area next to the building.  "LARP!"  I say to a young woman dressed as an elf warrior, and she smiles back at me while saluting me with her sword.  (LARP - Live Action Role Playing)

I continue down the wide black polished stairs and see a couple of oriental young men dressed in black suits with red capes.  I wonder why they hadn't chosen capes that are more dressy to suit their smart suits, instead of pieces of unhemmed red broadcloth, but say nothing.  We smile at each other and one of them says that sadly, this will be the last time they will be able to use these facilities for their fun.

The scene shifts and changes - I am now with a group of people that are setting up for an outdoor concert.  I am supposed to provide piano accompaniment for someone playing a cello piece, but am very disorganized and ill-prepared.  I hear that the concert has started, and am looking for something to wear in the suitcase filled with all sorts of clothes that resemble underclothing only.  

The people around me have a very old-world feeling to them - it's almost as though I have traveled back in time, to the late 50's.  I also realize that it's a very ethnic community - Greek, to be exact.  The women congrate together, chattering over each other, while the men huddled over a table with a chess set on it.  None of this makes me feel any easier, since I can't even see the stage.Finally i find a blue patterned polyester dress and just as I start putting it on, I hear the opening chords of the piece I am supposed to play - Saint-Saens' Cello Concerto.  

I hurry to finish dressing but am told by one of the women that my services are no longer needed - they found someone else to play the piece.  I become very upset, and loudly start blaming "that man" (the stage manager) for not giving me the proper time cues.  I become more angry, irrationally so, and start yelling at everyone, "Who are those clowns playing out there anyways!?  I know that piece, it was my father's favourite piece, and he constantly was practicing it - I remember it well from when I was a child.  You just don't know ANYTHING!!"  

Even as I'm storming off, I think to myself in disbelief - this is not me, why am I screaming like that?

SWEEPING THE SCREEN AND ROUND MONEY

One of those "barely there" dreams that started out very strong and clear. Here's what I can recall:

I'm in a huge movie theatre. It's filled with people, and there's a sense of something special happening - excitement in the air, everyone anticipating the viewing. As in the theatres of the 50's, there are ushers to show us to our seats. As the movie begins, I notice that the screen is smudged with all kinds of dust and debris. An attendant/usher comes out and with a very long broom begins to sweep this dirt away. Somehow that breaks the mood and we all feel rather disappointed at this interruption.

Not sure how this ties in, or even if it does, my next scene is me getting paid for a job I did. I'm very excited because I get paid in "round money" - the bills are rounded, like coins, but larger. The denominations are clearly marked, and I become more excited as I see a few "circles" of brown, indicating $100 bills. I can't stop talking about it and show them off to all my friends. 

A very vague presence of Baroness Fiona and Lady Celeste is also there. 

My last memory here is of me thinking how everyone needs round money, much like everyone needs "A Round Toit" - because everyone has says that they'll get "around to it" with various projects.

A PERFECT JOB

Just images like a faded postcard from last night:

I am starting a new job, but don't quite know what that job entails. I'm taken to a small office occupied by two other women, and am told I'll be working on a computer. The work is easy and familiar, the office atmosphere very friendly. The morning passes quickly. Suddenly someone comes in and says, "quarter to 12!" and immediately the head co-worker shuts off her computer, the phone, and reaches over and does the same to my monitor and phone. It's obvious that no one works during breaks here!

We go down to the lunchroom - a comfortable space filled with tables, chairs and couches - and one of the women hands me a sub sandwich, while telling me it's their custom to treat new employees in this way. I thank her, and then I see something down the hall that looks interesting, and leaving the sandwich behind, I go to investigate.

It's a fitting room, and I see a beautiful bridal dress ready for a fitting - and look! Here comes the bride! She is a young woman with dark hair and eyes, small in stature. Without any second thought, I help her into her gown, which has now changed from the traditional white to a soft green, adorned with iridescent crystals and green gems. She looks like a forest elemental in it, especially when I place a head-dress of dark green leaves entwined with more crystals and red berries on her head.

I do not wish to go back to the computer, and instantly I know that I don't have to. I sigh happily, as I fuss over this enchanting girl...

SOME STRANGE SCI-FI STUFF

The world has gone post-apocolyptic.  We are in the grips of a take-over by a stronger power - sometimes it feels as though it's aliens from "out there", and some times it feels as though it's from a stronger military force here on earth.  The cities are just piles of rubble and the only habitable places left are under huge domes set up by the conquering forces.  Many people do not want to go in there, and really, no one is forcing them either.

I am with a group that chooses to stay on the "outside", and we soon meet up with more such groups.  There is little water or food, but we manage somehow to find enough to sustain us.  The earth has been scorched to an unhealthy yellow colour and we scramble over and through blasted craters.  Overhead, we see huge machines of all shapes flying about, and sometimes landing in the distance.  The sky feels bloated and is almost the same yellow as the earth, blurring the perspective.


Eventually we get to a top of a hill, and find some solid structures there that are obviously made by human survivors, and we find welcome and respit there.  There is a large laboratory here and some exciting work being done.  From what I can understand,  they are trying to create a temporal vortex through which they could bring fighter planes from the past, and are almost on the threshhold of achieving this.  The next morning, our group is taken outside, along with everyone else, and we witness a sudden rush of compressed air as the atmosphere around us explodes with all sorts of bombers, World War I and II aircraft, and 21st century sleek planes.  We fall to the ground, and I scream, "This is just like in my dreams - I see this sort of thing in my dreams all the time!"  

A young boy, about 10 or 11 huddles close to me and I wrap my arms around him for comfort.  The reaction of the scientists is one of ecstatic joy, because now, they say, we have a fighting chance to survive.  It doesn't make sense to me, because I know that soon all the planes will run out of fuel, but let that thought go - they may know more than I do and may have a found a way to power them.  We all go inside, breathless from the experience, and I see someone new - a man dressed in dark blue jump suit with a cape.  He's very tall and muscular with dark hair, and, once he turns around, I see he's got black eyes.  He looks almost amused by all that's going on, not at all upset for being pulled out of his own time line.  He also looks vaguely familiar to me.  I shake my head, trying to remember.  The boy does not leave my side.

In another hall, food is being set out for us, and we all go there.  The man begins to entertain us with stories, and even though we know a lot of what he says is nonsense, we listen avidly - this is something new for us! - and a few minutes into the commentary, he asks if anyone would like some chocolate.  We all swoon with groans at that word and the images of rich, dark, creamy chocolate, something longed for but never to be had again, when he reaches inside his cape and brings out a couple of large slabs of that heavenly stuff.  There is just enough for us all to have a morsal.  

It is now some time later, and things have changed for the worse.  Certain groups of free people are now being hunted down, and although they haven't reached us yet, we all know that our time is coming.  We have seen how huge cages are dropped by the settlement and everyone herded into them, then one of the large flying machines comes and takes the cage away.  In visiting another settlement, the young boy and I barely had escaped this, as the thick grill came slamming shut.  He and I rolled away just in time from this, hiding behind some upturned earth.  The screams of the people captured were heard long after the cage was flown away.


But for now, our settlement is not faced with this, and we decide that perhaps it's time to be on the move again, but we do not have to walk.   The planes are ready to take us somewhere else.  For some reason, the planes have been completely ignored by the powers, and were looked on as nothing more than annoying buzzing insects.  Plans are made, things are packed, and all is ready for the evacuation at the appointed time.  The Man in the blue jumpsuit comes over to me and tells me the boy and I will be flying in his plane, then takes me in his arms and kisses me with a familiar passion.  I am startled beyond reason to finally recognize him as someone from my past for whom I had intense feelings.  I am further shocked when I notice unmistakable signs of arousal in him as he continues to kiss me.  And it is with the feel of his lips on mine that I wake up, myself startled and breathless!


Whew!!   

CHURCH, HOSPITAL AND SANTA CLAUS

I am with my neighbour, Deborah, who is driving me to the hospital for some routine bloodwork proceedure.  On the way there, we pass a church.  There is some sort of a procession involving the priest, who is carrying a heavy ornate book (The Bible?); the altar boys with tall candles, and some women dressed in ivory robes with light brown hooded tabards.  They all march slowly around the perimeter of the church, and are chanting.  It's interesting but understandable that such processions take place every once in a while.  However, I am struck by the fact that the procession does not go back in through the door.  Instead, there appears to be a hole in the wall, as though it's been bashed in by a sledgehammer, forming a crude window, and it is through there that they all enter, crawling through it in the most undignified manner.  I catch up with the last woman and ask her about it.  She replies that it's "tradition" and that's the way it always has been done.

We continue on our way, and finally reach the hospital.  Deborah drives carefully along the path to the parking lot, which is covered with snow.  She waits for me in the car while I quickly go in and complete my procedure.  

Things and events kind of blur here, and indicate a passage of time.  Once again, we are on the road going back to the hospital and again we pass the same procession.  The woman whom I stopped to talk to before is there and looks at me with recognition.  Coming up to the hospital entrance, we are very surprised to see a man dressed in a very elaborate Santa Clause costume walk by.  It's not the usual red and white outfit, but more vintage - gold robes trimmed with ermine fur and garlands of holly and ivy about his head.  As we drive further I see more people dressed in very elaborate costumes.  As I get out of the car, I am suddenly aware that I too am wearing a costume, a beautiful 17th century gown of pale blue with ivory lace.  I pass another woman wearing a gown of the same era, but in rosy peach colour, and we both curtsy to each other.  Her face looks very odd, as though she has two noses, but I realize that it's because she's wearing a mask.

The follow-up procedure is done and I'm going back to the car.  My garb disappears and I am dressed in regular street clothes again.  Before I actually get to the car, I see a woman.  She has short spiky steel-gray hair and very hard dark eyes.  I know she's a writer of some sort and I stop to speak to her about this.  At that moment I also recognize her as the woman I spoke to in the procession.  

She tells me that she writes religious material and is very proud of exposing the "evil pagans" to the Church.  She is very intent on her work and doesn't even realize that she's holding me tightly by my left arm.  I almost laugh in her face, but decide to gently disengage myself from her first.  After I do so, and am safely in the car, I tell her she better go back and check her facts on paganism again.  "I will be very happy to help you with that", I continue, "because, you see, I am Pagan and very proud of it!"

Her face becomes the very image of hatred and anger as we drive away.  Quickly, I forget about her, and instead delight in seeing Santa Clause again, in his sumptuous gold robes... 

Water Disaster and New Employment

I had two very strong dreams last night, and both of them had the same intense quality to them.  Sadly, they're fading fast, so I hope I can capture them before they go completely.

Water Disaster in a Warehouse

I am with two people, a man and a woman who are obviously a couple, and for some reason we are all in a huge warehouse.  There is a bank of windows along one wall and they're all open.  The warehouse is empty, except for us, and we need to bunk down for the night in there.  We find a small office, enclosed in glass and facing the windows, which contain three mattress  on the floor, so we spread our sleeping bags over them and go to sleep.

Some time later, there is a huge crash which awakens us, and we see that the windows have been blown out.  A wave of water gushes in through them, and our mattresses are already soaked.  The couple get up quickly, as do I, and tell me that now is the time for us to join together to work great magic.  I'm feeling very scared and confused - magic?  Where did that come from? I think to myself.

Nevertheless, I quickly gather myself together, and the three of us raise our hands as the chanting begins.  I don't know what I'm saying, simply allowing myself to be the carrier of the words.  Now I'm aware of something else - a feeling that I'm in some story book, that any moment, I will meet one of my favourite fantasy characters.  I try and ignore this feeling and concentrate on - yes, now I understand what we're doing! - creating a shield around the windows.  

In time, the wind dies down and the water stops gushing in.  By now, we're standing knee-deep in it, and the warehouse becomes much smaller, now becoming a broken-down farm house.  We continue raising the power until the water recedes from the floor, leaving behind only a thin muddy film.  When we release this power, all three of us almost collapse and take a few moments to ground ourselves.  The man then goes to the bottom of the rickity stairs and calls up, "Thomas!  Come down and meet Lidia.  Again.  For the first time."

The way he says it indicates to me that I have lived through this before a number of times.  I am again very confused and scared, because I know who I'm going to see coming down those stairs - Thomas Covenant, the anti-hero from The Unbeliever series by S.R. Donaldson.  I just have enough time to wonder how all this happened and what kind of power the couple weilded before I woke up.  

It was 5:00 a.m., and I could not fall back asleep all that quickly; when I did, I had this dream:

New Employment

I am starting a new job in a very busy office.  Not only is it busy, it's very crowded with other employees, furniture and equipment.  Nevertheless, the people are extremely friendly, and I settle in quickly.  I walk around the building to get to know it, and am suddenly aware that there is nothing solid about it - the configuration changes, morphing from one form into another.  And then I notice something else - all the employees, are friendly to the point of being non-productive.  Everyone is just hanging around, chatting away, laughing but not working.  I ask someone about this, and do not receive any reply other than a joke of some sort. 

I try to go back to my desk, but find my way blocked by a woman who appears to be a nurse.  She's carrying a needle, and as we collide, that needle falls onto my hand and scratches the skin.  I know I was injected slightly by whatever that needle contained, but am told not to worry - it wouldn't harm me.  In spite of the assurances, I feel uneasy, especially now that the top of my hand is very raw and bloodied, much more so than what that tiny scratch would inflict.  I wrap up my hand in a clean bandage, and continue on my way.  

Suddenly I hear loud cheering.  I follow the voices and soon come to an opening through which I can see a lower level.  It's full of people wearing medieval garb and they're all hoisting tankards and horns, and shouting "Wassail"!!  I would love to join them, but cannot find the door that leads to the basement, yes, I can see clearly now that it's a basement, with rough stone walls covered with banners and tapestries.  So I kneel down by the opening, while someone hands me a goblet, and I cheer along with them all.

And with that Wassail upon my lips, I rose up from my knees and walked into wakefulness...

INITIATION AND REBIRTH

By now the dream is fading and only a couple of images remain. What has stayed with me very strongly, though, was the feelings this dream left behind:

I am trying to find a young couple in a large park - they are performers, and all I know of them is that he will be carrying a guitar and she will be dressed in white.  In my search, I run into a middle-aged woman who urges me to suolcceed with this task.  She is tall, slim, very toned and fit, her hair is salt-pepper in colour, wiry and long, and she is dressed in an outfit that is deliberately ragged, as though she is clad in branches, leaves, fur and feathers of the forest.  I acknowledge this and her by bowing to her, and continue my search.  

It is not easy, because there are a number of couples that fit th e description, but eventually I find them.  I do not know how I recogniz them - something simply jumps out from them, and instantly the Woman appears.  She whisks us off to another place, one that is deep in a forest and built high among the branches of tall trees.  It's more than just an elaborate tree-house.  It's also a scientific laboratory.  To one side I see a huge cage suspended by strong vines, and within the cage are two animals (I think they were some sort of felines), wild and feral, that pace and growl.  I understand instantly that they will be released after a certain ceremony is performed.

Suddenly, I feel gripped by pain that ripples through me, and I recognize this as labour pains.  I see that I am now dressed in the same wild outfit as the Woman, who is helping me sit down.  On a level below me, I see the young lady in white also shudder.  

I do not understand it all, but do know that I am experiencing something miracleous, like a deeper Initiation and Rebirth of my spirit.  

NAP DREAM - A HAZARDOUS SPACE JOURNEY

Had a rather strange science-fictiony dream just now during my nap.  I am with a group of people who are preparing for space flight. We also know that there is a danger that we are facing which is within our own ranks.  The last words I hear as I board the spaceship is "don't forget to eat the custard - it will save you", just as a small brown live teddy bear was shoved in at the last possible second.


I see this teddy bear land on a large white platform, which suddenly is occupied by a black table with six black and red chairs around it.  The bear is pressed against a lower shelf on the table, dislodging it slightly.  I see similar platforms being similarly furnished and all the crew sitting down for dinner. I make sure I eat a few spoonfuls of this "custard" as it makes the rounds.


At this moment the door (hatch?) opens and a man and woman enter.  They look as though they're from India or Pakistan, and are both wearing the official jumpsuit uniform we all are.  That is okay, because this is an international crew.  But there is something *wrong* with them, and I feel as though I'm seeing our sabatours.  The woman comes in my direction, and asks who has eaten the custard, those who didn't are asked to follow the couple, but I catch her hand and bite hard on it.  She doesn't even flinch.  I bite harder, feeling her blood in my mouth, but she keeps smiling and talking as though nothing is wrong.  There is a sickly green haze around her mouth, as there is around her companion.  I scream to the others to help me, to contain this couple, but it's too late.  I manage to deliver one savage punch to her face, with no effect.  The other crew have no more success in detaining the couple or their crew mates as they're led out of the room.


The theme music of "Stargate: Atlantis" gets louder as I wake up...

GYPSIES!

Last night, I dreamed I joined a wandering Irish Gypsy band!  I am asked by them to become their seamstress - but only for the men.  At once, I start working on a deep blue jacket for one of the men.  It is designed to have fitted seams in the back that are closed by way of grommets, while the front will have a double row of gold buttons.  I work on this diligently.  

He loves my work, and in a middle of a fitting, we are interrupted by a hoard of small children who excitedly bring in a stranger.  I am very surprised, shocked even!, to see that it's my son, Daniel, who has come looking for me.  I assure him that I'm okay, and will be on the road for a while.  He is asked to spend the night at the encampment.

We settle down for the night and I fall asleep quickly under the clear night sky, but soon am awakened by some boys who obviously want to play a trick on me.  They're creeping around my sleeping bag, giggling, and shushing each other up.  I smile to myself, preparing myself for whatever they may spring on me.  I see an hand and arm coming my way and on it, is the most gorgeous moth I have ever seen!  I gasp, and they think it's because of fear, but it's in total admiration for this creature.  It's huge, about six inches long, and it has silvery white wings of exquisite softness.  I hold out my hand and the boys carefully transfer it to me.  Its legs make a slight tickling sensation on my palm as it flutters the wings a bit.  

The boys call this The Moon Moth, and say it's a rare find, but one that brings good luck to the encampment.  But, they warn me sternly, it must be released and never harmed.  I look closely at it, as it turns it's triangler head towards me, still lost in admiration for it.  I get the distinct feeling that it's quite happy where it is, but will fly off when it's ready.

And so I continue, until waking up... 

FLYING ABOUT, AROUND AND THROUGH...

Some time at around 4:30, I woke up briefly, and decided to go sleep on the couch for the rest of the night.  Almost immediately, I felt myself gripped by paralysis, and know that I will be doing some flying soon.  During the initial separation of my astral self from the body, all was very clear and "real" but from that point on, the experience took on more of a dream quality; that is, it became more indistinct.  I also experienced something new and totally unexpected.  Here's what happened:

The paralysis and buzzing  is very strong, and my astral self sits up.  I am giggling inside because of what's about to happen and rise up above my sleeping body.  At this point, I recall a conversation I had with Charles about this and make very careful observation as to what I look like and what I'm wearing (in all other instances, I am always "myself" but have no knowledge of how I appear externaly).  For this, I float to the bathroom, and observe myself in the mirror.  I see myself just as I am in life, and wearing the gray robe nightgown.  I giggle more, and with a flick of a thought, change it to white.  Floating back into the living room, I rise above all the furniture and go through the patio door into the dark outdoors.  

For a few minutes I just do some lazy turns and loops, spread my arms wide and "will" myself to feel the cold wind go through me.  I feel ecstatic!!  For some reason, I decide to do something different, and take myself towards the highway.  The cars and trucks go by as I "walk" above them, and wonder if I would cause an accident if I suddenly made myself seen.  It's an entertaining thought, but I decide not to do this, for fear of really causing one.  

I stop by an overpass bridge and am suddenly aware that there is another astral someone huddled in the shadows.  I approach it and introduce myself to what appears to be a very young man.  He's very scared and bewildered, and it doesn't take long for me to realize that he's taken his first astral journey and doesn't know how to deal with it.  He takes my hand, as I offer it to him, and I assure him that this is something wonderous.  Slowly, I draw him out and he gasps as he finds himself able to fly effortlessly.  He wobbles slightly as I let him go, but steadies himself immediately.  I take him to the top of the overpass and together we dive down towards the cars, sometimes even passing through them, in our exhuberance.  Taking flight ever higher, we fly to the mountain and play among the trees, marveling at the lighted city below us.

Time does not exist in the same way when in that state, nor did we need to use words.  All was instantly and completely understood, and so it was when it came time to part company.  We said a leisurely farewell in a fraction of an instant, and a blur later, I found myself on the couch again...

... woke up just long enough to register where I was, and again...

... I go astral.  

This time, I am alarmed as I emerge out of myself.  My apartment is empty!  Someone has somehow stolen all my furniture - the piano, wall unit, tv, the bamboo screen - all of it is gone!!  I am furious and immediately fly out through the balcony doors again.  Following the trail - yes, I can distinctly see the distortion before me - I come to a large square building which turns out to be a theatre hall.  (Here is where the experience goes from "real" to "dream".)  I find all my furniture being used as a stage set.  There are many people working there - some holding rehearsals, some doing painting and stage work, others setting up lights and sound.  All the activities are very familiar but I'm still angrily wondering how and who was able to take my stuff.  

I feel I know these people, especially one woman who is the stage manager.  Familiar, but not so - it's as though I recognize another astral spirit, but not the person.  All the people appear to be that way - especially when I suddenly am aware of the fact that they're all flying and floating about, as needed.  All the heavy pieces, like my piano, also have the ability to weigh nothing and be moved at a touch of a finger.  They wave greetings to me and are in no way embarrased about being caught red handed in this "theft".

In all this activity, which is very indistinct and fuzzy as is the way of dreams, one other image stands out clearly - I am talking with someone about something, and am approached by yet someone else who enquires about the gray scarf I am wearing around my neck.  I'm startled to see it's the one I'm knitting in "real" life, but have not yet completed.  This person wants to know if he (yes, definately a male energy) could buy it, and how much it would cost.  On an impulse, I say $100.  I go on to say that there are thousands of stitches in this scarf, and I had spent far more than 10 hours working on it.  I also feel strongly that it matters not to me if I sell it or not, but if I do, I'll make sure to get a fair price for it.

So, now I have to ask - how many of you dreamers did I actually meet up with last night!?

DARK HAPPENINGS

I woke up very early this morning - around 4:00 am, because I knew I had to get up early to prepare for a very full day today.  However, 4:00 am is still a bit too early, even for me.  So I shifted around, closed my eyes and...

... find myself waking up again to a most extraordinary scene!  My laptop is on and there's a movie playing on the screen, or so I think so at first.  The screen is filled with images  that are too large to be so contained.  Indeed, I realize that what's on screen is just camera images of what's happening all around me - giagantic steel square structures are floating all around us, like Borg cubes.  They seem to be modular, and at first I don't know if the cubes are breaking apart or being built together.  Pieces the sizes of tallest skyscrapers now look like lego pieces in relationship to the cubes.  There are so many of these cubes that the sky, which is an ominous dark yellow-green colour, is almost completed blotted out.

I am on some sort of flying machine - a shuttle or a plane, not sure what - and it's carrying me through these structures.  I feel terrified!  The next thing I know is that I'm back on the ground in some park, sitting with my head down on a picnic bench and my computer beside me.  I look at it and am dismayed to see that the entire right side of it has melted into a gooey mess.  Although warped, I could still see the screen clearly.  Nevertheless, I am very upset about it, as I am over the fact that three men were coming over towards me.  One of them is dressed as a mechanic in dark blue overalls.  He grins and says that the computer can be fixed by 5:00 today.  I tell him that it's a new computer and I'm sure the warranty will cover it.  Inside, i'm very upset and not at all sure that is the case.  I just don't want to give up my laptop to him.

Somewhere along the line, I acquire a young girl, about 5 years old, for whom I am responsible.  We walk into an office where I got a job.  It's a very busy place and I tell her that she must stay quietly at my desk while I do my duties.  My warped and burned laptop is there and I set her up with some games.  Somehow I feel as though I am both too early and too late for being on the job - it's a very disconcerting feeling.  I photocopy something, but the tray is so full of papers that I cannot find my photopying, while the rest goes flying on the floor.  I start to pick it up, and a male co-worker joins me, telling me to be more careful.  Now I feel angry.  "If you'd all pick up your own printing and photocopying stuff", I say, "This wouldn't happen!"

I go off to get the child and find her missing.  I look for her and find her in the kitchen where she's picked up an old rotting pumpkin and is dragging it all over the place.  I tell her to leave it, and give the pumpkin to the young man who helped me pick up the papers, and taking my laptop, I lead her away.  I feel very overwhelmed and almost panicky, but decide the first thing to do would be to find adequate care for the child.  After that, I say to myself, I'll take one thing at a time.

We go out  into the nightmare world of giant cubes and dark yellow-green sky, and I lead her into a tunnel that takes me to my bed, where I wake up.  My clock tells me it's 5:30 am and time to get up... 

A GLIPSE OF THE FUTURE

Last night's dream took me into the far future:

Somehow, by science and technology, about a quarter of the popuation was propelled into a future time, and I am among those so transported.  I have a strong feeling that this may not be a very good thing, but do not remember why - there is a bit of disorientation among us all.  That does not last long and we all scatter.

I walk along wide, highly, silver-gray polished and empty halls.  Every once in a while I see large circles on the otherwise featureless walls in bright electric blue, green, yellow, and red.  These are accomponied by smaller circles leading into inner halls.  There are no written signs anywhere other than these glowing circles. I begin to understand that these lights identify certain establishments and business, but still have no idea what they mean beyond that.Eventually, I come to an outer wall that has windows, and for the first time I look out on this new world.  The streets do show the human population, all going leisurely about, all well dressed.  For some reason I feel hugely relieved to see trees and  flowers and lawns about, and now run to find the exit.

Eventually, I do and see that another couple of people from my group are also there - but we cannot budge the door.  Someone suddenly taps me on the shoulder and points up.  We all look there and gasp.Hanging above us is not the Moon, but a huge planet, swollen to blotting out half out the sky, which I recognize as Jupiter, because of the giant red spot.  "We're not in Kansas any more," someone murmurs.  Realizing that we will not be getting out soon, we begin to wander around again.  Somehow I figure out that one of the coloured circles (red) indicates a bank, and we try to access our accounts through it.  I know that I have a lot of money in there, we all do, but we cannot find a way get it out.  In fact, it has now occurred to me that money may not even be used any more.

Across the way, I see a wall move back (one with a blue circle) to reveal a brightly lit restaurant-bar.  We all head there, and someone asks what we're to do now.  The wait-staff cannot help with that, but says we are welcome to sit down and enjoy a meal.  No one says that we cannot pay, we all worry about it, but at the same time, none of us turns down the invitation.  I wander off a bit and somehow suddenly figure out how to get the cash!  Something feels wrong about this and shortly after I do this, a woman wearing a red and white outfit approaches me.  She knows exactly who I am, and what I have done.  I adopt a jaunty and confident stance, and respond to her queries that I took only what was mine.

This works for a short while, but I know that I am in trouble for some reason.  This gets me angry - no one met us in this new world, no one has told us what the rules and laws are, and this show of initiative is obviously wrong.  No one here raises a voice or becomes hostile, but the feeling that I and others with me will be punished is overwhelming.  I break free and run towards the exit again, hoping that it will be open.  Outside, I see another man from my group, and with a huge wave of hope, know that if one of us got outside, another one can - yes!!  It's open and I run straight for him!

He's easy to identify, because he's the only one that is wrapped in a blanket, which he opens up to envelope me in.  Puzzled, we look back and see that no one is pursuing us, and the feeling of peril has left me.  Hand in hand now, wrapped up in one blanket, beneath the baleful eye of Jupitor above us, we slowly walk off to make our way in this new world.

NOT ONE, NOT TWO, BUT THREE FIREPLACES!!

I am in my apartment, speaking with someone, and mention how much I would want a fireplace - more for the mantle piece and ambiance than warmth.  (This is something that is directly tied into my desire for one, and I have mentioned this to a number of people lately.)  I then go on to say how I would rearrange the furniture to accommodate it.  A few minutes pass in this way, when I suddenly realize that something has changed.  

I am now in a small house, and there in the middle of the main wall, right where my book case is now, is a small pot-belly stove.  Of course!  How could I have forgottent hat I owned one!  I open the door on it, and see that a fire is already dancing hot - a fire that is blue, and I sbyee that it's gas-fed.  I watch this for a while, and become somewhat alarmed when I see the wooden beams in the basement appear to also have these blue flames.  I run to the basement, and see a large puddle of coffee spilled on the flag-stone floor, and my son Pete muttering about the loss of his coffee while he's diligently mopping it all up with a rag.  I tell him I'll put some more coffee on, right after I check the stove connections.  I do this and find that everything is in order, and go back upstairs.The living room has changed again in my absence.  

It is now larger, and another black cast-iron fireplace is stocked high with hardwood logs.  This one is considerably bigger than the pot-belly stove, and is placed around an alcove that materialized in the living room.  This room has many large windows all around, and now the floors are also sporting the gray polished flagstone.  My furniture is rearranged for maximum comfort and coziness, but I can see that it's somehow not enough in the spaceseness.  Through one of these windows, I see the huge back-yard and the forest line of trees in the distance, but close to the house, is Pete, chopping up more wood, singing loudly as he's doing so.

I smile and turn to wonder at the fireplaces and am shocked to see that I am now in a huge hall - indeed a castle hall!!  The furniture and the two fireplaces look absolutely lost.  The flagstones are now covering the walls as well, and there are columns in wide double rows soaring up to the arching ceiling.  Against the opposite wall is indeed a fireplace - huge, over six feet tall and double that in width, capable of burning whole logs!!  The stone mantle piece, which is no less than a yard wide,  is filled with beautiful ornaments, tall candle holders, vases, garlands of greens and flowers and huge baskets of fruit.  As I struggle to take all this in, I see my daughter Dorry on the gallary balcony above me, and waving to her, I run up the gracefully curved stairs to her and hug her, marvelling at this transformation.  But it's not finished yet - I see from this height that the place is now hung with bright tapestries and banners.  The room next to the "living room" is actually a gallery that is filled with magnificent paintings.  But more shocking to see is that the entire space is occupied by people dressed in magnificent clothing, some arm in arm, some singly.  From somewhere unseen is the sound of pipes, drums, harps, lutes and violes.

This was kicking the SCA experience up by about 100 notches!!

My "living room" is still there, looking pathetically swallowed up in all this grandure, and I worry momentarily about my loss of privacy, but I do know that all this will be sorted out soon.  For now, I'm thrilled to see my new "digs", the centerpiece of which is that magnificant fireplace and mantle piece!!

A HODGEPODGE OF IMAGES

All I remember of my dreams are little snapshots:

I am rummaging through some clothing in my bedroom, and something jumps out.  "Oh no," I think, "I have mice again!" But then it occurs to me that it's not a mouse but a little bird, and off I go chasing it...

... I am seated by a big basket of mismatched socks.  I'm there sorting through them for a long time and only manage to match two pairs (yes, now this is a *real* nightmare - lol!)...

... Now I find myself at some kind of day camp, trying to organize the little kids into some semblance of order (Okay, I think we're onto some kind of theme here.)...

... I'm on a bus heading home.  At a stop, I see a procession of people in costume, the men are all dressed as Arthur and his group from Monty Python's "Quest for the Holy Grail", and the women are beautiful mer-creatures.  I recognize them as one of the couple I married recently, and I call out to them by name, very excited to see them.  The couple turns to me and waves ecstatically and the bride runs over to me, quickly shoving a bunch of papers into my hands as my bus rolls out again.  

I look at these papers and see a bunch of post-dated cheques, all sorts of brochures with huge discounts to many different places and a beautiful thank-you note.  I am stunned that they would have this ready for me, since our meeting is so random.  More so, I am amazed that they would think they owed me any more than my standard fee!  There is a sense that the brochures were hand-picked just for me...

THE AQUARIUM

I find myself walking along a deserted road.  On either side of me there are rolling hills and woods.  It's cloudy and dark, threatening to rain, with a cold wind blowing steadily.  I am wrapped in a piece of fur over my clothing and sometimes struggle when the wind blows directly at me.  Soon I see some cars, and am relieved to see signs of civilization, and as I walk further, suddenly it's filled with people, cameras, light and sound equipment.  It's a movie shoot.  The location is beautiful, very wild, with a river rushing through the craggy hills.  The woods on the other side is dark with close-growing pine trees.  

For some reason, I feel as though I'm intruding, and make my way around the edges, hoping that noone would see me.  I pass behind the director, who is seated on an elevated platform, and duck into a covered bridge.  It's obviious that it's part of the set, but it does provide me with the cover I need.  I quickly walk through it, grateful for the momentary shielding from the winds, and when I step out, I am amazed to see piles and piles of beaver skins stacked up.  At the same time, the winds have now brought the hard, cold driving rains.  Behind me I hear someone joke about how appropriate it is that they should be working with "pelts" in the "pelting" rain!!

I know that I could have stayed in the shelter, but something is driving me on.  Since I'm already wrapped up in one skin, I help myself to another one to adquately cover myself.  As I do so, I recall having read that a movie was being made about the early explorers and the Hudson Bay fur trade.

I continue walking in this rain, and eventually reach a large house.  This is my destination. Memories come back of how I used to live here and that I've been away too long.  I walk in through the gate and suddenly the rain stops and the air becomes calm and warm.  I see palm trees and other tropical plants growing in a rather overgrown garden and promise myself that this will be taken care of soon.  The garden has all sorts of trails made of flagstone, and although I cannot see it all, I know it's huge, and I relish the thought of exploring it all again.

Inside, I go inside to the lower level and step into a room full of aquariums, and here, I'm overcome by guilt.  Not only have neglected the gardens, I have also neglected all these fish!  How long were they without food!?  I examine the tanks, and am relieved to see the small tropical fish darting merrily around but am also distressed to see a few larger goldfish floating dead in a couple of tanks.  I wonder if I have to decontaminate all the tanks now, and where is the fish food anyways?  I go around and check everything and simply cannot find the fish food, but I do find one tank that holds a large allegator.  This startles and frightens me, and I dash up the stairs again to one of the adjoining trails.  

A short distance away, I hear something thrashing through the underbush, and catch a glimps of a huge serpentine animal.  It's not anything like I've seen before.  It heads straight for a deep river that runs through the property.  It was about 15 feet long and it disappears quickly under the water.

While I am frightened, I am also thrilled to know that this is my world, my personal domain.  I have returned to this place after a long absence and yes, there are some changes.  I make plans to systematically go through the grounds and the house, get help where I need it, and care for it, monsters and all, as I'm meant to.

SCARY ENCOUNTERS

It's not often I get disturbing dreams, but I think this one would qualify as such.  Backtracking a bit, I was awakened by my phone at about 5:45 am, and by the time I got to it, the answering machine had already kicked in.  No message was left, and it registered as a Private Number.  I became concerned, for some reason, that it might be the hospital calling about my father, but rejected that notion because the hospital would have left a message, so I went back to bed, fell asleep instantly and had the following dream:

I am in a small housing community, like a row of townhouses, and there I meet up with two male friends.  I am not very comfortable with them (they are not my Guardian Brothers that so often show up in my dreams).  One is blond and stocky, the other has light brown hair and is slim.  Both are tall.  Overhead I hear a lot of airplanes flying by.  They take me inside one of the units and I realize that it's like the TARDIS - much larger on the inside, and set out like a very futuristic office.  There are computers everywhere, but ones that look like several generations beyond what we have now.  Also sharing space with this technology are many plants, that occupy every available space, trailing down the stairs and off cabinets.  

The blond man tells me that everyone here in this community is very much occupied with airplanes, and he goes on to pantamime how a child would react, talking on the phone with the mother, and telling her that he now has to check out what's flying overhead. The small personal computers the children have are filled with statistics and specifications on all the flying machines.  As he's telling me all this, I look beyond the door, and see something absolutely amazing:  Hanging low to the Earth is another world.  It's much larger than the moon, filling half the horizon, and is yellowish-brown with very little greens or blues on it.  At first I think it's a giant balloon, but soon see that it's not - it's definitely another planet.  There are tiny silver streaks that I know are shuttles flying between our worlds, and recognize this as a variation of my "Lights in the Sky" dreams.  They always seem to bring bad news.

I am seized with a total dread at the sight of this, and more so because neither of the two men show any concern over this phenomenon.  Eventually, we leave, and try as I might, I cannot get any more information about this from my companions.  We go to another small community, much like the one we left, and this one is more residential.  Each unit has been personalized to the occupant's tastes - one is middle eastern, another oriental, etc.  I am ushered into a unit that bears no such ornaments, but is very comfortably furnished.  The phone rings and the brown-haired man answers it.  He tells me that it's the hospital and I need to go see my father, but not to worry, he's okay now.  They insist on driving me there, but not just yet.  

They start talking about how good it will be when I move in here.  I am totally bewildered at this statement, but then I seem to remember that I did indeed make such arrangements.  I now worry about giving notice at my old apartment, and worry about my father.  Something is not right, but I feel very overwhelmed by all that is happening.

I take a walk outside, but do not get far before the blond man catches up with me.  He becomes very aggressive with me, demanding my affection.  I find myself pinned against the wall as he tries to kiss me, and I struggle to get away from him.  I am very grateful when his partner comes by with another man, whom I recognize as my ex-husband, because at their appearance, I am roughly released.  I run away from them all, towards other voices around the corner.

The voices grow louder and suddenly, I realize I'm awake and hearing them still.  It takes me a few seconds to realize that these are coming from the parking lot outside my window.  

GROUP OF WOMEN AND AN HEIRLOOM GIFT

Just before I woke up this morning, I was bombarded with all sorts of dream images. The entire mood of these dreams was very upbeat and happy, filled with people that I was delighted to meet. It's difficult to say whether this was an evacuation or a party - the dream had elements of both, but my first remembered image was of me being in a different apartment, filled with mostly women, and a few young boys.

As I walk about, talking with this woman or that, I remember having dreamed of a red and white dress. I mention it to someone. There is a young boy lounging on the couch, and he is telling me about his parents and other relatives. It suddenly occurs to me he's talking about a branch from my family tree, and I remark how much like my grandson he looks. 

Curiosity gets the better of me, and I go out, exploring the building. In the hallway I meet a lady who said she used to live here before it went all corporate. We are standing by a vending machine that she's trying to get something out of, but nothing works. She pulls her thin sweater tighter about her, saying that it did change and not for the better, that she's feeling very cold in the hallway and will leave as soon as she can. 

I go back into the apartment and step into two women having a rather heated discussion as to how to best create a small office in this space. I like the idea that one has, which seems to incorporate all necessary office elements into a very efficient and cozy space, complete with a full-size filing cabinet (for some reason this was very important to me, this filing cabinet), and on my say-so, the matter is settled. Another woman keeps saying that she has a large pot that needs to be seen by someone - she looks intently at another young lady as she says this, making it obvious who she means. 

This young lady finally throws up her hands and says, "Okay - let's see this large pot you have for me!" She is beautiful, with flashing dark eyes and long wavy black hair. She appears to be in her late teens or early 20's. I feel that the other older woman is her aunt and wants to give her a family heirloom. Delighted, the "aunt" goes into another room, and comes back carrying a beautiful red and white sequenced retro-style dress. The instant I see it, I hug the "niece" and tell her I just dreamed of this dress!! Then the aunt disappears again and comes back with a huge box which she sets on the table.

We all crowd around the table as she unwraps the box. At first I see not a pot, but a beautiful deep blue glass pitcher, but it's soon obvious this is only a part of it. By the time it's all unwrapped, this pitcher has become a part of a huge glass display with all sorts of doodads and bangles, icicles and tear-drops extending it into an unbelievable display. Without a doubt I even see a colourful merry-go-round in there!

The "niece" leans close to me and whispers, "It's a monstrosity!", echoing my own assessment of this. Nevertheless, she shows true gratitude to her aunt for this heirloom gift.

HOSPITAL ENCOUNTERS

I am standing outside a huge building, like a hospital complex and am trying to get across the parking lot to the front doors.  It is a cold and dark winter day, with old patches of snow and ice on the ground.  To my right, there is a long wide winding road that cuts between two hills, and I see some cars parked along the side of it.  And for some reason, that one silver car right in front of me is blocking my way to the hospital entrance.  I could not go around it!  

Stepping back a few feet, I look at the car and then the side road, and think how much easier it would be to just move the car there.  With that thought clearly in my mind, I begin to move the car, slowly, gently, until it merges with the traffic and eventually I get it parked where I want it to be.  Only then do I realize that the driver is still in the car, looking very startled and confused!  Ooops, I laugh sheepishly to myself.  Neither he nor anyone one else even suspects that it is I who did this, so I continue on my way.

I'm not sure if I work there, am visiting someone, or am a patient/client within it.  I walk the halls, that are bustling with all sorts of activities, until I run into someone who looks familiar.  It is a middle-aged man, with a full salt-and-pepper beard, dark blue eyes and full bushy silver hair.  He's dressed in a dark gray suit and is walking with a clipboard, which he's checking quite often.  He stops when he sees me and tells me that now would be a good time for us to have our talk.

I walk with him to his office - a small space cluttered with books and papers - and he makes space for me on the chair by taking off a s stack of books and setting it on the floor.  I now recognize him as the pastor of the chapel.  He tells me that it's too bad I hadn't come to see him earlier, because the position I was enquiring about has been filled by someone else.  "There is still much to do", he says ruefully indicating the clutter around him, "but i cannot afford to hire a second person".  I am not that easily put off, and suggest that perhaps, since I already live in the facility, I could do transcription work from my own quarters?  Or maybe assist with non-traditional ceremonies?  He looks thoughtfully at me, and says that he will have to think on this.  He's genuinely interested in having me work for him, and I'm satisfied that I will indeed be given fair consideration.

RATS, CATS AND FLOWER-POTS

I am sitting with a group of women around a large table and we are all involved with some kind of sewing or knitting projects.  Someone is speaking about making a gown, and I turn to the lady next to and with a wink, because it obviously means something special to us both, I say, "I'll just bet it's going to weigh 387 pounds too, won't it?"  I wink at her, we all laugh and continue our handwork.  There was something very specific about that number.

Now I am in my apartment, but it's a diffferent place.  I notice that there are more windows, which are all at street level, and there is a sense that it's not the best part of town.  People pass by and have no problem looking into my space.  I tell myself that I need to hang up some heavy curtains on them, but for now I am busy talking with my granddaughter as we both sit on the couch.  I tell her that I am happy there are no more mice in this place, but the next instance proves me wrong.  From under the couch, crawls out a large gray rat, followed by a brown one.  There is a sense that these two rats are very buddy-buddy, because of the antics as they chase and tumble around each other, eventually disappearing into a crack in the wall.  Both Abby and I shudder at seeing them, and are anow afraid to walk around.

As we're getting over this, some other friends walk in (they're very indistinct), and I tell them of the rats.  I say that I'm going to speak to the superintendent about it immediately so that she can set up traps.  Suddenly, from the back of the couch we hear suspicious noises, and someone moves the couch away from the wall.  The first thing that falls over is a rather large flower-pot with a variety of plants in it.  I am astonished, because I have never seen that pot or the plants before.  I am further surprised to see how healthy and large they all are, and remark that they had no attention or watering at all.  

Something moves from behind the pot - a tiny black and white kitten suddenly leaps out, all claws and teeth and huge saucer eyes, onto someone's shoulder.  We all coo and ahh over it as it continues its attack, which soon turns into loving play, and within minutes another little kitten, this one being gray and beige, does the same thing.  I wonder where they came from, amazed to see such a managerie in my home, when someone suggests that before I moved in, there was a mother cat here.  Perhaps she came back to birth them here because she was so secure here?  

I do not know what to say for a moment, because I am very overwhelmed by the onslaught of these animals.  I fight the urge to flee.  Instead I say, "The rats will be trapped, I'm keeping the plant, and whoever wants the kittens, please take them.  In the meanwhile, let's have some tea!"

SCA EVENT AND ENCOUNTER IN A THEATRE

I am at an SCA event.  It is held in a large building and on an upper floor, which we all think is very unusual.  The venue is quite beautiful, with large columns on either side of the long hall.  I am in a company of old friends (known to me only in the dream), and one of the ladies asks me if I would be going to Pennsic, because she has space in her car to take me, but we would have to leave immediately after this event.  I am very excited about this, telling her that I've never been, and it would be wonderful to go.  Suddenly, I remember that I left my camera at home.  I ask if we can make a quick stop at my place to pick it up.  

"In fact", I continue, "I got so excited about this prospect that I completely forgot that I have nothing to bring with me!  I'll need to pack!!"  My friend is not that impressed and again stresses that we will need to leave immediately.  I realize that it would be totally impossible for me to go now, since everything I need is at home, that it would take me some time to pack.  Finally, I tell her that I will not be able to go at all.  My passport is expired and there won't be time to get a new one.  She is very upset, accusing me of stringing her along.  I shake my head and leave her.

Now I find myself in a darkened movie theatre.  Except for one other woman closer to the front, I am alone there.  Something about that woman makes me feel she's in distress of some sort, so I walk down the aisle to see if she's all right.  She's obviously crying.  I ask her if she's okay, and she lifts her tear-stained face to me - young, mid to late 30's, dark eyes and dark blond thick hair tied back at the sides.  In spite of the fact that I know I've never met her, she is familiar to me.  "Kris?" I ask gently, as I sit down beside her and put my arms around her shoulders.  

Eventually, we get up and walk out of the theatre.  We go through the empty lobby and into a long hallway.  She silently leads the way to a large glass door and motions me to preceed her.  I do so, and immediately find myself almost stepping off the ledge several stories above ground.  Just in time, I find my footing by grabbing onto a support column.  Below me I see the snow and slush-filled streets, and heart pounding hard, I begin to scream for help.  The woman is no longer there, and eventually, after several terror-filled moments, a couple of people come running and help me up. 

As I finally walk along the solid floor between the two rescuers, I wonder why I just didn't fly off, and why this situation should have so frightened me.