Tuesday, January 23, 2007

To Catch My Dreams


Most people find it rather odd to believe that I was pretty big into the beliefs of the Native Americans, namely the Sioux, when I was younger. They also find it odd that I have quite a few dreamcatchers where I sleep. I have even gone so far as to make a few myself. While dreamcatchers aren't traditionally attributed to the Sioux... I like the Lakota legend the best out of them all...

Long ago when the world was young, an old Lakota spiritual leader was on a high mountain and had a vision.

In his vision, Iktomi, the great trickster and teacher of wisdom, appeared in the form of a spider.

Iktomi spoke to him in a sacred language that only the spiritual leaders of the Lakota could understand.

As he spoke Iktomi, the spider, took the elder's willow hoop which had feathers, horse hair, beads and offerings on it and began to spin a web.

He spoke to the elder about the cycles of life ... and how we begin our lives as infants and we move on to childhood, and then to adulthood. Finally, we go to old age where we must be taken care of as infants, completing the cycle.

"But," Iktomi said as he continued to spin his web, "in each time of life there are many forces -- some good and some bad. If you listen to the good forces, they will steer you in the right direction. But if you listen to the bad forces, they will hurt you and steer you in the wrong direction."

He continued, "There are many forces and different directions that can help or interfere with the harmony of nature, and also with the great spirit and-all of his wonderful teachings."

All the while the spider spoke, he continued to weave his web starting from the outside and working toward the center.

When Iktomi finished speaking, he gave the Lakota elder the web and said..."See, the web is a perfect circle but there is a hole in the center of the circle."

He said, "Use the web to help yourself and your people to reach your goals and make good use of your people's ideas, dreams and visions.

"If you believe in the great spirit, the web will catch your good ideas -- and the bad ones will go through the hole."

The Lakota elder passed on his vision to his people and now the Sioux Indians use the dream catcher as the web of their life.

So yeah... I've been having some pretty weird dreams lately. The one last night is another reason I still haven't gone to bed. I just get that ominous feeling. I should just call them what they are... nightmares.

I don't know why they've started again. It's only been going on for like a week or so. They're all usually the same... I'm standing on a street corner... people I know pass me by, but no one speaks to me. I try to speak... but no sound comes out. So, of course I panic... and start running around. Somehow I end up in a park. I continue to try to scream but I can't. Here's where it goes wonky. Sometimes someone takes my hand and we sit under a tree and write on a pad. Other times I get pushed from behind, end up on the ground, and get dragged into the street. Still yet... and the more disturbing to me of them all... is that while I scream... the skies darken and it rains... but it doesn't rain water... and I can't breathe. The one last night though was totally different... and I think that's why it freaked me out.

So yeah... my nightmares are making a comeback. I used to have them alot a few years ago. I'd wake up screaming, sweating, and shaking. I know it's gonna sound corny... but Pudding got me a dreamcatcher and I finally got a good night's sleep. They actually stopped for quite awhile. When I wouldn't have the dreamcatcher... oddly enough they would return.

I'm thinking I should add a few more dreamcatchers above my head.
Posted by New York City's Watchdog :: 1/23/2007 01:25:00 AM :: Permalink :: 7 Bones Added to the Pile

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