It occurred to me last night, as I drove in a dream-like state from sheer exhaustion, that the dreams we experience in REM sleep and those that our soul manufactures for our future do, indeed, intersect.
In the land of greeting cards and self-actualization, dreams are lofty ideals. A higher state of being to which we aspire. Some goal, which in the practical nature of the ‘real world’ seems too good to be true, unattainable. If we could do anything with our lives, it is our dreams we would live. Some bliss-inducing, talent-utilizing best form of our lives. The realization of our truest potential.
In the land of our subconscious, dreams are bizarre alternate realities. Different worlds where I tour Jamaica with Ziggy Marley, but don’t leave the restaurant until I collect the empty glass spice jars from the table that came from my kitchen. Where another woman literally tries to insert herself between me and my husband. Where I’m forever late to work, in danger of missing the bus, grossly under-dressed for some huge milestone in my life.
Ironically, the only way we remember dreams is when our sleep is interrupted. The whole story, the important details would be lost if the alarm or an insistent child didn’t come calling. And usually that’s perfectly all right. More beneficial. All those anxieties that would eat me alive – or that at least would gang up with those that torment me in my waking hours – are processed by my subconscious so I don’t have to worry about them later. I’ve always been one for multi-tasking; if my brain can tick a few worries off the list while I sleep, fantabulous.
If my subconscious can harness its power into removing some of my anxiety while I sleep, I will be more able to achieve my waking dreams. More at peace, calmer, even-keeled, ready to step up rather than be dragged down. The physical processes of sleep prepare our mind and psyche to focus on achieving that other sort of dream – the ones that don’t even occur in our wildest dreams.
So while one sort of dream seems unattainable, the other bizarre, one begets the other. Our subconscious and our soul working in concert to give us true vision.
I would LOVE to have dinner with you – if you bring the spice!
Chopping Potatoes 
Do you know while all of science and the world would disagree, I don’t actually believe I dream at all, at least not on a good night? For years I’m absolutely certain I didn’t, and I slept like the dead — okay, the deeply unconscious — when I slept at all, and I slept happily.
Now I take pills, but if I happen to fall asleep without them I am miserable and untested for the dreams, and more often than not they turn into nightmares. For whatever reason, I think my brain is wired to process everything while conscious, then have complete and total blackout rest when I sleep.
But then I am an anomaly in most everything. 😉
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*that was meant to be unrested, not untested 🙂
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No dreams is better than nightmares, I suppose! And processing things while conscious would allow you to at least have a hand in how things turn out! My subconscious most likely is making decisions without my permission! Watch out!
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