A Dream from May 24, 2020

I am visiting an enormous, infinite exhibition of dreams. A woman therapist who serves as the curator of the exhibit is showing me around. She looks like someone famous whom I have seen before but can’t quite place. The exhibit is often used as research. The woman is letting me look through the dreams to research a question that I have about them. Reading some of the dreams in the exhibit will reveal the answer.

The exhibit consists of long rows of banquet tables. Each table is set with simple, uniform white place settings. On top of each white plate, there are two dreams that someone has contributed to the exhibit. Each dream is handwritten and hand-drawn in a letter or card format. Each pair of letters becomes a nourishing meal, when you read them. People are encouraged to express their dreams in creative, colorful ways; as long as each dream consists of a card or letter inside an envelope. The paper, envelopes, writing, illustrations, and art reveal a lot about each person. The care with which someone writes and illustrates their dream, expresses their love. Most of the dreams consist of writing surrounded by some art. Some have no art at all, and just the color and choice of paper, as well as the person’s handwriting, becomes the art itself. Looking at and reading each letter/dream is an act of great intimacy. The exhibit appears to be an extensive and fun project that connects people. However, anyone who reads the dreams, comes to know the personal depth and meaning of the exhibit.

The most recent dreams are up close to where we are standing. The woman doesn't want me to look at them, because I might recognize someone, and she wants to respect a person’s privacy. So we move a number or rows further into the exhibit. I am overwhelmed by its ongoing size and scope. She wants to show me her dreams. When we get near her spot, I pull out and look at a dream several down from hers. The simplicity and care put into the presentation of the card was poignant and moving.

Then the woman begins to tell me about her mother and how they were very close. That she called her mother everyday; sometimes three times a day. I realize that what she is telling me is like a dream, and that anecdotes of daily life may be interchangeable with dreams. I am no longer sure what is a waking life preamble to her dream, and what is the dream itself.

I tell her about how some dreams are mostly like compost; they simply process the memories and material of daily life. However, other dreams are the most intimate things that I could write about myself. Those dreams reveal my deepest fears and hopes —- the underlying meaning of my life. The revealing dreams were the ones intended for this exhibit. The dreams are presented in pairs, because they are meant to be like bookends, however an individual may interpret what that means. The two dreams could function as problem solving. One may dream of a problem and then its solution. Or one could dream a before and then an after dream. Or the two dreams may simply reveal different facets of a person, so they wouldn't be pegged into just one thing. (End of dream.)

When I had this dream, I was amazed by how realistic and specific it was. I hoped to manifest it in waking life. I immediately knew the first dream that I would contribute to the exhibit. I then started watching my dreams for a sequel. Many months later I saw a photo of someone who reminded me of the therapist in the dream. It prompted me to read back through my dreams. I then discovered that I had already dreamed the sequel several months before I had this Banquet Exhibit Dream.

I have published my two dreams and they may be read here:
December 26, 2008: Inner Bardo Dream
March 10, 2020: Rising Black Water

I intend to follow what the dream said, and handwrite and illustrate these two dreams in letter format. When I do, I will replace the stock photos with ones of my actual handwritten and illustrated dreams.

I would love to manifest this exhibit in waking life exactly as the dream portrays. If you are inspired to contribute to a Banquet Exhibit of Dreams, you may contact me for my address. Please put each dream in its own envelope, but they may both be mailed together in one larger envelope. The handcrafted love and care that people put into writing their dreams and selecting the paper and envelopes is intended to be a significant part of the collective healing.

Perhaps I may also do an online Instagram version of this exhibit.