hummingwolf | (no subject)

Last night I dreamt of finding a gate between realities. An ordinary-looking industrial gate, it would not have looked out of place at a Metro station, which was where it happened to be. On one side of the gate, a decision had been made which affected everyone who lived on that Earth and perhaps other worlds as well, a decision which took away a basic ability of the people to act in freedom. On the other side of the gate, people's wills remained as free as they had ever been. I told a woman I knew about the gate and took her to see it, knowing that the gate's existence would give her hope. I also knew that, though she was a good person, she would not be able to resist telling others about the gate, and that certain people who craved control over others would soon claim the gate as their own property. When my suspicions were confirmed, I remained at peace. It was enough for me that the gate existed, and that I was in the world where I was supposed to be. I no longer know which side I chose.

After I woke up, I read a short story involving alternate universes. This combined with the mental strangeness that comes with a mild migraine has made my mind an interesting place today.

Some people are visited by ghosts in the dead of night, or during storms or fog-filled days. Lately, bright, sunny days are when I feel closest to my ghosts. They aren't visiting me, I don't think. It's more that on days like today I feel the urge to travel partway to where they are.

I had a conversation today which I'd expected to be difficult--and it was difficult, but it was also funny (mostly ha-ha, though also weird). I think our ghosts were there with us, helping us as we talked.

Today at the library I overheard a conversation between a man and a girl he found in the stacks. He asked her why she'd made him chase her all over the library. She said he didn't need to chase her, but she was going home soon, so there really wasn't any time to talk. He gave her his number, told her to call. It sounded like she wanted to stay in her own world, but he wanted to trap her in another place. I hoped she had sense enough to keep avoiding him as she could. Some worlds are best left unvisited.

When I went to the counter to check out my books, the library's computer said that one of them did not exist anywhere in any of the library branches. I love borrowing materials from alternate universes.

Somewhere near my home, there is a big house with a gate in front. The gate is tall and black, with a sign saying it is "Secured by [Company Name Here]." There is no fence, only a house and a gate surrounded by churned-up earth. I wonder what happens if the gate is opened.

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Hm... the mind does wonder about certain things. :)

What a fascinating dream! I love dreams like that, so wise.

Some people are visited by ghosts in the dead of night, or during storms or fog-filled days. Lately, bright, sunny days are when I feel closest to my ghosts. They aren't visiting me, I don't think. It's more that on days like today I feel the urge to travel partway to where they are.

Thank you. This may have been something I needed to hear of late, or at least an idea I need to play with.

Philip Dick-ian!

Your dream reminds me a lot of certain dreams I have had in the past.
It always gives me a sense of hope and wonder for the day after the dream. Also a sense of longing to a magical place without pain...
On the other hand, maybe this world is filled with magic and we just can't see it and the pain is necessary.

Yes, it does.

How are you?

Not sure if the dream was truly wise, but it did set an interesting tone for the day!

I'm always happy to help, even if I don't quite know what was so helpful. :-)

I've discovered that there are some modern ghost stories which play around with the idea of alternate worlds. I wonder how many ghost story writers are consciously thinking of Philip K. Dick? There should be some Borges influence in there too..

Well, like I said, I'm not sure which world I chose to be in! Maybe I chose to be in the world with less free will, because I didn't have enough free will to choose the freer world.

Indeed!

I'm good. Semester has effectually ended (I just have to grade exams), and that means that I get to work on some non-academic projects, not the least of which being some home repairs that have been put off until now. Summer is, and always has been, a welcome departure. :)

Here's hoping you get the electrical bill sorted out in time.