Page 23

Dreaming of Uncertainty Principles, kind of

In the land of Nod, she began life in a relaxed lucid dream, much as her mother and grandmother before her.

Some people believe there are only two forces which shape human beings:  nature and the environment.   And since the personality is largely formed during the first three years of life, it is written that it is the environment which is paramount.

Not so in the land of Nod, where dreams can be controlled by the dreamer. As such, the effect of the environment on the personality is negligible.  An after thought.  What is important are desires. Because desires in the land of Nod are endlessly fulfilled, the quality of desires determines the character of the individual.

But in all lands, even Nod, there are rules.

Most of her prison term in the land of Nod was served in Mimizon where the beds are small and uncomfortable.  Nevertheless, in Mimizon, she had wild adventures in the four corners of the realm and intrigue with the most handsome men.  She also vowed to the warden at the appointed times that she would never again dream the forbidden.  But still she stayed and was not be released.

Her bed of course was a magical bed, but as she grew older objects began to appear that she could not control.  This is as true in Nod as it is in other realms.  In fact, one of the interesting things to explore in this little circle you have started is the lack of difference between Nod and the other realms.   

Anyway, one of the most persistent objects that appeared and she could not control was a white tree.  The tree beckoned to her, but she knew better than to listen to the objects in her dreams for it was written that voices in dreams are the path of nightmares.

"You are alone," said the tree.  "I live as one with all objects around me.  Forgetting an individualized self, you discover the totality of who you are.  Love is forgetting your self.  Set aside you worldly desires."  And so forth.  And so on.

And she felt that there was a certain element of truth to what the tree said.  For she knew this was the Pando tree, the largest organism in the land of Nod which spread its many tendrils, roots and branches into many lands, including the legendary land of wakefulness.  But still for many years she avoided its call.

I'm not sure what pushed her to the brink.  When we are under stress we sometimes take drastic steps and sometimes throw caution to the wind--perhaps regretting it later--perhaps not.  It is written that every dreamer eventually wakes up.  But its not clear exactly what happened to her.  At least not yet.

When I'm With You, It Doesn't matter what we do.

You don't have to start at the beginning of this book.  I know its the customary thing to do, but a little bird told me that you can start wherever you want.   I think I'm going to start at page 23.  Page 23 is a great place to start if you just woke up and are not really focused yet.  If you still remember the dream you had last night, page 23 is recommended   But I'm sure wherever you start, we are going to meet somewhere along the way, like we always do, like all humans always have and always will.  Because we are not really separate.  But we won't get to that until page 42.

I guess I'm really not that much into the idea that there are beginnings, middles and ends of things, even books.  Think of what you are reading more as a circle, perhaps.  Or don't think of it at all.  I think I'm more into exploring things rather than thinking.  Or at least that is my aspiration.  

If you do keep reading, page 2 can be a little disconcerting.  I think in some ways it is the end of this little adventure, the answer to all our little questions, perhaps even before the adventure started.  Which is a natural progression of things, I suppose.  We are born, we live, and we die.  And its not a happy ending, actually kind of macabre unless there is a whole lot of context.  And I think that is where the fun begins: adding context.  Or maybe letting everything else fall away.  Or both.

So without further adieu,