Complaints about transport

 Dream or Journey

 

Date: 02/04/21	Dream State:SD
Title: Complaints about transport
Summary: I’m flying through London with a free day to spend so I decide to meet up with Teresa, a friend from 30 years ago.  She proposes a day trip to Brighton on the South Coast. We go by bus, a typical suburban bus which will take us about half the way, where we will have to change to another bus for our destination.  Apparently, the trip down goes well and it is a relatively mild and sunny day. On the return journey, T comments that we have really been very lucky as to make this journey and expect that the connections will work has been unusual lately.  Either the bus doesn’t come or is late and then the connecting bus doesn’t turn up.  People are left stranded and frustrated at not being able to continue their trip.  I wonder if she is exaggerating but two different passengers overhear us and come up to reiterate what she is saying. One is a teenage boy in a red track suit and the other a young woman and they say that this breakdown in the transport system is particularly hard on young people who are the ones who most use it.  I check and notice that nearly all the passengers on the bus  are young.  I also become aware that Teresa is in charge of the equipment used in the operating theatres of a major London hospital and I wonder why we are making this trip by bus and not driving by car.
Feelings afterwards? Curiosity
Connections, associations, then and now Haven’t been in touch with my friend for many years, nor been to Britain for about 20 years. A friend mentioned Brighton in a chat a few days ago and I have been reading about the negative consequences of Brexit on Britain recently. Could any of this play out? A trip by me to Britain might happen but is not among my current priorities.
What would I like to know? What does the emphasis on young people with regard to transport refer to?  Why do they want to give me this message? What in my life corresponds to a system where connections are difficult to maintain?
Input from others
Action plan I want to draw the scene on the bus and then re-enter it.
Themes and symbols: Buses, transport system, Brighton, young people
Bumper sticker The system flows

 

Holiday Ancestor Discovery

 Dream or Journey

 

Date: 26/10/21	Dream State: SD
Title: Holiday Ancestor Discovery
Summary: I am on an island for a vacation.  It seems to be Europe – Greece?  It is actually the end of my holiday and I’m listless and ready to pack, trying to do it unsuccessfully but not so keen to keep doing holiday things. I have got a touch too much sunburn.  A man comes into the area where my bed is (is this a hostel or a hotel?) and recommends a trip to see the war graves at Colinroyd, which is where the cemetery is. Apparently it has graves of NZers in it. I guess I google it because information comes to me that it has been mentioned by a NZ governmental organization in the last 24 hours and a name leaps out at me Ms Taurangarangi. Suddenly, 4 of my relatives, Gay, Erica, Margaret and Alison appear in the room and attest to my family’s suffering in the war.  I decide to get my bag packed quickly and change my T-shirt and then I’ll go, coming back later on to pick up the bag and go to the airport.
Feelings afterwards? Curious.  The intention for the dream had been “Where is the rest of me?” and this seemed like an answer
Connections, associations, then and now. I had uncles in WW2 and a grandfather in WW1 and others I did not know personally gave war service.  No one close died and was buried on an island in Europe.  The 4 women are aunts and cousins, from the Duncan side, only Margaret remains alive. I had been helping V pack his bag for travel the night before.   Could any of this play out?  Not very likely but I may one day go to Scotland to see where more distant ancestors lived and died.
What would I like to know?  Why the obsession with packing my bag?  How does this dream contribute to finding the rest of me or part thereof? Colinroyd itself does not exist as a word.  Royd means Small areas of land were cleared by farming families from forest and moorland. These clearings were often enclosed with a hedge. In the local dialect of Yorkshire, cleared land was called a 'royd'.  It is a boy’s name of Norse origin. In Maori, Tauranga means resting place, fishing ground, mooring and is the name of a city. Rangi means sky, weather or heavens Cemetery is a completely different word in Maori but the combination of Tauranga and rangi could be resting place in the heavens which underlines this idea of dead ancestors.  And a royd could be cleared land to make a cemetery.  Perhaps Colin was the man who owned or cleared the land.
Input from others
Action plan: Return to family research, especially those who passed in combat
Themes and symbols: Suitcase and clothes, Cemetery, Female relatives, recommendation, Colinroyd, Taurangarangi
Bumper sticker: Visiting cemeteries, a great holiday activity.

 

2 Cakes and an ending

 

Date: 23/03/21	Dream State: SD
Title: 2 Cakes and an ending
Summary: I am in a dark hotel somewhere overseas.  It is the last day of a breathwork course and more than half the group have left early with 4 of us and the leader remaining. We have our last meditation sessions and group feedback to do but the sense is that it is already over.  Outside it is raining. I’m trying to decide if I should stay on at the hotel one more day and ask reception to reserve me a room, which I am sure they will be happy to do given the general emptiness of the place.  I also haven’t booked my flight out of the country as I didn’t know what I would feel like doing after the course.  It’s just a question of staying on a couple of extra days to rest and sightsee. I decide not to join the others and start walking in the rain to a nearby convenience store.  In the window I see some cakes and decide to buy a Danish pastry and a cream cake to take back to my hotel room.  They look quite good but often in these places they turn out to be stale and tasteless.  I’ll buy them anyway I decide as a sort of comfort food or reward. Inside the shop are two assistants, one of Asian appearance and one European. I am the only customer in the shop but before I can make my request a man barges into the shop and demands to be served first. Whatever he wants is unclear or unavailable and it seems that he will cause further disruption as a result complaining about the place.  A 3rd customer comes in and we wait patiently while the 2 assistants try to get rid of the complaining man.  The thought crosses my mind that at least one of them could be serving us.  Interestingly, the seemingly senior assistant, the European, leaves his junior colleague to do the bulk of the reasoning with the angry man. Finally, the grump leaves, I buy my cakes and wander back to the hotel in the rain. Part of me wants a lazy day and part of me is saying move on.   I woke up, write this down, go to the bathroom and return to bed to attempt a dream re-entry in a hypnagogic state. I find myself going to the hotel reception to see what they can offer me if I stay on an extra day or two.  I feel like doing an excursion to a local nature reserve in the morning and having an afternoon in the hotel spa.  The disinterested receptionist tells me that there are no tours operating at this moment and the hotel spa is closed for renovation.  She has no alternative options to suggest.
Feelings afterwards? Sad, listless, undecided and a little irritated at the lack of positive options
Connections, associations, then and now Have been in these situations at the end of courses where the buzz has all disappeared and the mood is deflating.  Have bought cakes, chocolate etc., at times as comfort food.   Could any of this play out?
What would I like to know? Does leaving on time open any doors for me that I will miss if I delay a day or two? What cycle am I not accepting as over?
Input from others
Action plan Re-entry which I did. Now, I am reflecting on all my life’s cycles to see at what point they are.  Do I have to let go of anything?
Themes and symbols Cakes, training, hotel, shop, service, lack
Bumper sticker And what if you did something completely different? (emerging from input)

 

Cake stand

 Dream or Journey

 

Date: 22/10/21	Dream State: SD
Title:  Cake Stand in a public office
Summary: I am working with V in a house in Caballito that has been converted into a public office. It has a garden behind it backing on to the train tracks.  People come here to do governmental paperwork and consult the public servants working there.  Often they come in family groups.  While they are waiting many have a coffee and a slice of cake and come to our stand.  I am in charge of this place which is too small and improvised to be a cafeteria. It’s like a trestle table.  There is a variety of cakes on it and I cut up slices for customers. V. comments on how neglected the garden is. Despite the number of people in this house and the reasons people are there, there is quite a calm atmosphere.
Feelings afterwards? Intrigued.  What am I doing there?
Connections, associations, then and now I’m not a cake maker or seller.  This is the sort of occasional job I did as a teenager to help out.  I don’t know this house or one like it.  V and the topic of gardens has been of recent debate between us but is a minor point here.   Could any of this play out? It could but I can’t see how and when.
What would I like to know? What is this public service connected to in my waking life?  Why cakes of all things?  Why with V? Does he represent himself?
Input from others
Action plan: No idea
Themes and symbols: Cakes, slices, service
Bumper sticker: Sustenance and pleasure sweetens your work (This is the most revelatory thought from the whole dream!)

 

Barbara looking for work

 Dream or Journey

 

Date:21/10/21	Dream State:SD
Title: Barbara looking for work
Summary: I am in Wellington at the corner of Willis and Ghuznee Streets attending an IELTS training. Jennie L is in charge (the big boss from Australia) and it is going well. During a lunch break I go down to the street for a sandwich and see Barbara M wandering the streets in her black winter coat, knocking on doors looking for work.  She is past retirement age but has a sick husband and dependent child to support.  I know she will knock on our door but I don’t think there is work for her here, or am I just wishing that I don’t have to meet up with her?  Then I see that she has met Jennie and that they are having a long conversation.  Jennie then returns upstairs to the office.  At least Barbara had a chance to talk to her and I don’t have to be the go-between.
Feelings afterwards? Relieved but slightly guilty
Connections, associations, then and now. The people are real.  Jennie I only know through web meetings but she is my ultimate boss and is an efficient no-nonsense person.  Barbara is a former headmistress of a college I worked at and we also met through painting classes.  I found her somewhat clingy and needy but also felt that she was lonely living abroad as she was with an ill husband.  Intelligent but not someone I would naturally be friends with.  I felt she was seeking to take more from me than I was getting in return but not through malice, simply through her loneliness, The night before this dream I hosted a meeting within the IELTS network and I had felt nervous about it beforehand.  It went ok.  I am also asked sometimes by people to pull strings or put in a good word for them to get a job but there is little I can do beyond giving references.  I feel bad when it is someone I really want to help and thinks deserves a chance.  This is happening with a friend now but he is someone I would definitely recommend for certain jobs, though for others he needs more qualifications.   Could any of this play out?  Sure but hopefully not with Barbara.
What would I like to know?  More clarity of message.  What should I take from this dream?
Input from others From breakout group. Someone talked of the feminine gifts that I have based on the two main female characters. Someone suggested that if I wouldn’t write a referral for Barbara, is it not the case that I wouldn’t write a referral for myself. Maybe I should just accept that B wouldn’t be a good fit in the company I’m in and not worry about it and shift the guilt I felt about that to a guilt about not doing enough to launch myself and the use of my gifts. Someone suggested that my going back up in the lift was a sign that I needed to get back to work with elevated spiritual matters.
Action plan Ask the universe
Themes and symbols. The heavy black winter coat catches my attention
Bumper sticker Be a drawbridge

 

Eye infection

 Dream or Journey

 

Date:16/10/21	Dream State:SD
Title: Eye Infection
Summary: I’m attending workshop for English teachers on the topic of theuse of the perfect tense.  It’s being run by my friend Maria Marta. I’m there with two other teacher friends Adriana Santos and Laura Szmuch.  On the way there I realise my eyes are half-closed and I will need to put in drops.  But the condition continues all morning and I begin to think I have an infection.  Hopefully, I can hide the worst effects behind my glasses.  I sit in a back corner of the room and the session starts.  I’m called upon to give my opinion and theorise a bit on functional language, a bit theme in the 60’s and 70’s.  Some of the senior experts there debate with me.  Then the session is interrupted by a programmed visitor, a delivery boy bringing a cake for someone present.  It seems we will get planned surprises all day long which is Ma Marta’s way of injecting some fun into the day.  Regardless, I’m planning an early escape.
Feelings afterwards?  I checked my eyes on waking from the dream. They are OK. I’m clearly not too excited in the dream at being there, more like going along to support Ma Marta and my friends.  I do get the sense that my eye infection is a good excuse to get away from it.
Connections, associations, then and now. Used to attend and give a lot of these workshops and talks.  I recently studied perfect tenses with some students.  The people were all familiar to me but not the venue. The only new feature was the delivery boy. I am suffering from dry eyes these days and do need to administer drops.   Could any of this play out? Not planning to go to such an event but something similar could emerge.
What would I like to know? Is this related to a change of profession?  Is there a message regarding my eyes?
Input from others
Action plan. Ask the universe
Themes and symbols : Eye drops, Glasses
Bumper sticker: Always have dark glasses at hand

 

Sudden Snow

 Dream or Journey

 

Date:  15/10/21	Dream State: SD
Title: Sudden Snow at a resort
Summary: I was at a hotel in the countryside to do a weekend course. When we arrived it was sunny and definitely not winter. We met up in the dining room and got to know our team.  People kept coming and going from the table but I was able to get to know my colleagues at least in part.  A young man in a pale orange shirt watched us aloof. We were surprised by a sudden fall of snow outside completely covering the ground.  It was very quick.  It would affect our plans for our free time.  Seeing the snow covered land was quite beautiful if disconcerting.  Then we saw some helicopters that the hotel had returning to the main building, folding up their rotors and hanging themselves up like bats under the roof.  Very cute system. There was an add on as I returned to sleep and I was in a similar place but more of a hostel, which was in Poland.  This was a dining room (in Silesia?) except that I was in a separate smaller room for teachers or leaders and the young people all passed by this room to go to the main hall.  There were a couple of steps down to that space.  In my room there were 2 tables and little space.  People kept coming and going to get food and the décor of the place is 1950-60´s and not very inspiring.  I tell myself and others that it is only a night.  No snow in this scene but a sense of making do with a situation.
Feelings afterwards? Curiosity as to why the snow fell and philosophic resignation regarding the change of plans
Connections, associations, then and now I have been on workshop and retreats at this type of set up but nothing was something I remember ever having been to specifically. Sudden weather changes are becoming more frequent.  Have been reading about Poland.   Could any of this play out? Sure but no plans for now.
What would I like to know? Is there a personal message here for me or is it something more general about coping with sudden changes on this planet?
Input from others
Action plan Do something about the bat helicopters
Themes and symbols Bats Snow Meeting new teams
Bumper sticker Snow changes everything

 

 Dream or Journey

 

Date: 14 October 2021	Dream State: SD
Title:  An Alternative Stockholm
Summary: I am in Stockholm. I spend the day wandering around doing touristy things  At the beginning I am at the container port seeing the huge container ships up close. Then I wander into a shopping centre with low ceilings like a converted and enclosed old market in the older part of town.  There are small cafés selling fish dishes, souvenir shops, furnishings, etc.  After that I go outside and walk along a sort of causeway to an island.  I think that it must be under water in bad weather or at especially high tide.  I see fishermen casting their lines out into the muddy water and in the distance on the right there are two naval training sailing ships like the old barques.  They are moored alongside one of the royal palaces that looks very closed.  At the end of the causeway I reach a small island. It has ark sand and a tropical feel that does not seem like the rest of Stockholm at all. People are growing tomatoes there and I see signs pointing to a small zoo which I do not get time to visit. The next day I follow exactly the same itinerary but I am with my friend Ruth and am showing her around.  We see the container ships, browse in the market like shopping centre.  Ruth is interested in the souvenirs and we also get a tour of the small fish restaurant whose new owners (two young men) are keen to show off. We head out along the causeway and the sunny light is just the same.  This time we notice that there is a party of school kids visiting the two sailing ships.  We also notice octopuses that are leaping out of the water like dolphins or fish but they are clearly octopuses of a yellowy-grey colour. Someone has left their fishing line in the water and we joke that it belongs to the Queen of Sweden.  We reach the island and step off the causeway but the junction between causeway and island is wet and we have to jump over some water and scramble up a small bank.  I go first, show Ruth how and then we set off together to visit the island.
Feelings afterwards? Intrigued about the repetition of two daysdoing much the same activities.  It is a relaxing calm dream.
Connections, associations, then and now. I went to Stockholm once and this was almost completely different. Maybe the palace and sailing ships were things I saw then.  I was watching a film with a scene in a container port the previous evening. I used to travel frequently with Ruth during several years.  We were very easy travel companions.   Could any of this play out? Yes, once we start traveling again, maybe not Stockholm or with Ruth but the type of exploring is highly likely
What would I like to know? The fish and the octopuses seem to have some meaning.  The tropical element in a non-tropical setting? Who am I guiding in my life and having a trial run so I can show them what it is like?  Are the sailing vessels important and the contrast with the container ships? Is the fact that it is Stockholm significant?
Input from others
Action plan. Draw something from this – maybe the causeway scene.
Themes and symbols Octopuses Old and new – sailing vessels vs container ships Old market transformed into new shopping centre The closed up royal place Contrast with tropical island scene
Bumper sticker Flying octopus spotted by tourists in Stockholm harbour