Happy Monday, folks. I’ve sort of been working. I’m reading my rough draft through and acclimating myself to it so I can find a revision plan. I think this might be a cross post. If I can find Substack on my new computer saved passwords.
Before I post it, let me just say that I’m out of town and at least the next week I won’t be posting–my daughter is taking me to Waco and Austin for my birthday. And then I’ll be downstate doing health appointments and other stuff. May get some work done then, but it could be ten days before much happens. I’ll be reading, though, and may post.
I’m reading the Solace of Open Spaces. Gretel Ehrlich. May post on that.
We have been binge watching Yellowstone. Since I showed horses, I’m enjoying it. A bit violent. They manage to kill a lot of people in one life time. One hopes it’s not too realistic. But I love Montana, too.
Excerpt:
“What?” said Maria. “Ever since your mom died, what?”
“Well, I know it’s weird. But physics and Einstein’s theory of relativity says the past, present and future all exist at once. So even if I’m crazy, there is some scientific basis for what I’m about to say.”
“Yeah, Native Americans knew this before Einstein made it popular.”
Evelyn thinks about Einstein’s words:
“Us physicists believe the separation between past, present, and future is only an illusion, although a convincing one.”
“Well, I want to access it,” Evelyn said. “And maybe these dreams are the portal or access point.”
“I’m still missing your point, though I’m sure what you are saying is true.”
“I want to try to get Mom to show up in my dreams, and tell me who told her Jacob would have Down Syndrome. I’m wondering if that isn’t a way to access our past.”
“Sounds reasonable to me, but then they’ve always said I was crazy.”
“The problem is, I don’t dream about Mom. All the swing dreams, which seem to be the significant ones, the access point, have only my grandmother in them. She was dead by the time Mom had this premonition. Of course, since I had the absurd notion Nanna was Jacob reincarnated I guess she could figure in, too. In fact, I have questions for her, too. I sound like a raving lunatic. I can’t believe any of this is coming out of my mouth. And you wonder why I haven’t told Matt. He’d have me locked up.”
“Well, dreamwalkers use lucid dreaming to access all you are talking about. Participating in, directing, and even inviting certain dreams. I think psychiatrists use it, too. But they still think of it as merely analytical, or separate from our realities. We are open to more dynamic interpretations.”
“Jung was, too.”
How did it go in the book she was reading: dreams are doing the work of integrating our conscious and unconscious lives; the process of individuation. It’s easiest to think of individuation as the mind’s quest for wholeness, or that quality of applied wisdom that separates elders from grumpy old men. While not required, working with dreams and amplifying the mythic components can hasten along the process.
“Well, he was right,” Maria said.
L.E.K. 
Very thought provoking. I’ve tried to wrap my head around the time-space continuum as a purely human construct, but easier said than done!
I’ve put efforts into lucid dreaming from time to time. It’s hard to separate from the world.
Happy Birthday! Enjoy your time with your daughter.
Thanks, Abby. I seem to have survived the winter almost. Literally and metaphorically. I hope this trip gets me back into my life. I’m really looking forward to it. I guess I must be somewhat crazy because I do believe there are alternate realities we don’t understand and physics supports it. Interesting stuff. Not sure dreams would be the access point, but it makes a good story line! And I do believe it might be a way to access loved ones who have passed in more than a fictional or psychological way. Ha.