My Dream Gourd
What is a dream gourd?
I first read about dream gourds
in Piers Anthony's "Xanth" series. The dream gourd is essentially a theatre
setting where the Night Stallion sets up nightmares for people. These nightmares are delivered by "Night
Mares" travelling to people to deliver the bad dreams. Day Mares deliver daydreams.
I dream in a similar way to the
dream gourd. It's not like in the book
where there's a bunch of horses delivering dreams out of a set of course. Below, I list many of the details of the
dream gourd that is my head.
There are many more settings than
I list, but here are a few of them. I
just jotted everything down out of my memory, so aspects won’t always be very
clear to the reader.
Important Details
People
These are always changing. Most are just extras in a movie. I may know some of them, but they’re not
important. Others may be people I’ve
never met.
Often, I’ll have someone I know
with me. When that happens, I’m usually
trying to handle an issue with them, or we’re on an adventure together, or it’s
just someone I haven’t seen in forever and they’re just there for no reason I
can figure out.
***
Details
The details of what I’m doing and
why are usually different. Those details
effect the props in the settings to a degree.
I’m not going to explain details here.
***
Blackouts
Each of my settings have blackout
paths. These are routes that don’t lead
to a specific area, but to a blackout.
In my dream gourd, a blackout isn’t
a bad thing, it’s merely a transition. I
can leave the dream to go into a deep sleep, I can leave the dream to wake up,
or I can transition to another setting.
***
Rewinds
Another cool feature is a small
rewind. I can rewind a moment of
different dreams if I need to see how it works out with a different response on
my part. It helps me to learn how to
handle the situation better.
***
Escape routes
One of my favorite features in
all of my settings is an abundance of escape routes. They allow me to escape the dream and wake
up.
If a dream turns into a
nightmare, I can use these escape routes.
If I am in danger in the dream, I can use the escape routes.
***
Dangers
There is only one thing I can
think of at the moment (there may be many more, I just can’t think of them)
that I need to escape from in my dream.
That thing is a pack of dogs/wolves.
I don’t know why, but this is the one thing that scares me in my dreams.
It starts out with them in the
far distant. I usually get quiet in the
dreams, hoping they don’t notice me.
Sometimes I succeed, sometimes not.
I continue having the dream for a
while, but they get closer. When they
get close enough, they spread out and flank me.
It’s their intention to surround me.
This is when I begin panicking.
When I see them is when I must have an escape route. If I don’t have one, I run for the
nearest. It’s truly frightening to me in
the dream. At this point, I usually
begin whimpering in my sleep. I’ll yell
out loud if they reach me and I have to fight them.
***
Transition settings
Street near a mall
and an aqueduct kinda in Los Angeles
There is an aqueduct that crosses
a street in Los Angeles. I remember
crossing it a few times. The dream doesn’t
have that exact aqueduct, but that’s the model for this dream setting. Around the aqueduct are other streets, strip
malls, a residential neighborhood and a shopping mall. I’m usually trying to escape something in
this setting and it has different routes away.
It may be a crossroads between other dreams, because there is no
definitive place to go to from here.
Each route blacks out.
***
Bathroom
This is a large locker room
bathroom with changing rooms, toilet stalls and urinals. It’s dark, in disrepair, creepy and a bit
uncomfortable. The lights are usually
flickering. When there are other men in
the bathroom, they are usually quiet and distant. The bathroom is a transition area. Many places lead to it, it leads to many
others. Instead of blackout paths, it
has doors though. Sometimes I look for a
specific door, but it won’t be there.
The layout of this bathroom usually changes based upon how I enter it. I can occasionally break down a wall to get
to another area.
And yes, sometimes I do use the
bathroom. Sometimes I change. Sometimes I’m searching for something hidden.
And no, I never wake up with a
wet bed when I use this bathroom. :p lol
***
The basement
This is the inside of a building
with lots of halls and rooms large and
small. There are usually alternate
routes to reach the roof of different buildings. Some of these are hidden and dangerous. At least one leads to the ruins in the
cliffs. Another leads to the bathroom. There are lots of pipes along some of the
walls. Other places are storage rooms
with different things and crates, usually messy. There’s a boiler room there too.
I’m usually trying to get
somewhere when I’m here. Trying to find
the right path is the key to this setting.
Most of the routes to the higher areas are secret paths with wooden
boards and tight spaces.
***
Settings
The most realistic setting is
California City, where I grew up. It’s
an important setting.
Empty lot across from house on
Corwin in California City. Usually a
scenario with flying machines that carry doomsday bombs.
Streets in California City across
from Circle Blvd? They lead to my house
and I usually am in a time crunch to make it in time.
Shopping Mall in California
City. Dreams usually start in the front
parking lot and work through one of the stores to the back streets, which lead
to my house after that.
California City Blvd. This leads to the Shopping Mall or the
Park. I’m usually chasing someone or
someone is chasing me.
Park in California City. There are two entrances. There is usually a choice made here. One entrance leads to the church in town, the
other leads to the main parking lot of the park which allows me to go to different
areas of the park.
House on South Charlene in
California City. I rarely go into either
of the houses. The dreams are usually
outside. Here, the streets around the
house play the biggest role. There’s
usually a journey before reaching the area.
Most things happen around the long row of windbreak trees. There’s a lot of going back and forth either
hiding from someone or someone hiding from me.
Intersection of Hwy 14 and
California City Blvd. There’s a convenience
store there. I’m usually going to
California City or away from it to Mojave.
There’s usually a decision to be made as to direction of my life. The other two directions lead to blackouts.
Where Cache Creek intersects Hwy
14. This is usually where a barrier
happens. The road washes out or I’m
forced into the desert. I have to
overcome the obstacles.
***
Mojave
Intersection of Hwy 14 and Sierra
Hwy. (still Hwy 14) There is a gas station there called the
Oasis. I have to make choices and argue
with whoever wants me to do something else here.
Railroad in Mojave. I end up on a street that the train
crosses. I’m almost always driving and
have to make it across the tracks before the train. Usually signifies a deadline of sorts.
The streets outside are in Mojave
and are usually reached by that location, often related to the trains. I’m usually passing people on the way to
school and take one route. Other times,
I’m leaving and go by different streets.
One street is a tree lined blvd that is not normally in Mojave. There are always groups of people on these
streets. Some are dangerous, most are
not.
The streets lead to areas around
Sierra Hwy, the main street the town was built around and where I took drivers
ed. There are rows of houses in my
setting that are very dangerous. The
streets and alleys pass gangs where it’s possible for me to get attacked. These streets are not in the real
Mojave.
There are shops and buildings
next to the Hwy 58/Sierra Hwy intersection.
I have a number of choices as to where to go from here. Usually into the housing area or to Sierra
Hwy to leave. I can also do the train
challenge from here.
There is a desert mountain nearby
that I can go to. I don’t remember much
more, but it leads to various desert paths.
***
Sierra Hwy.
Sierra Hwy continues from Mojave
to Los Angeles. The dream version is
different from the real version though.
The desert section goes by the
desert mountain. A path leads to
it. Between that and a specific freeway
exit is a connection of roads that go into the desert. To the left, they go to a couple of different
ghost towns.
The highway continues through a
mountain pass. It’s very curvy and can
become a tunnel. There’s a rest stop to
the right that I can go to, usually to discover some sort of treasure, or
something important. I’m usually happy
when I leave here.
The city comes down out of the
tunnel to a city resembling LA. To the
right is a hillside area with drivable roads.
It leads to caves where I can hide or search for things.
As I get further into the city,
it becomes night and all the lights are on.
***
Ghost town one.
It’s not really a ghost town,
just a small town. This is off a
mountain freeway. It circles from the
mountain on two exits. It’s a bit of a
challenge to get to it.
There is a glass-front house in
the town. There is usually some sort of
trouble with the law here.
If I go on the street to the
left, it leads to the desert north of California City. From there, I can take the back way to the
treebreak on South Charlene.
***
Ghost town two
There are some mountains in the
distance that I can reach. The tallest
has a trail from one of the ghost towns to reach the top. From the top, you can travel along the ridge
of the mountain to another city.
***
The School
I went to Mojave High School in
Mojave California. The outside of the
school is here. The inside is an consolidation
of the school and other places.
I take the bus to the parking
lot. Sometimes it’s the wrong bus,
sometimes it’s crowded. There’s usually
someone trying to bully me or someone else on the bus. I believe there’s conflict resolution here.
The parking lot is always full of
cars and busses. There are lots of
people here.
Inside are glass hallways (Not
Mojave High) They lead to different classrooms. I’m often just beginning school, or I’ve
graduated and I’m revisiting.
There are classrooms and I am
usually late to reach them. They are
full and I am there to meet with a student or a teacher. Most of the time they direct me to someplace
else.
There is a grassy area outside of
the classroom area. It leads to a
circular building with a large parking lot.
I can go in here and search for something. There are a lot of glass encased classrooms
here.
There is a football field next to
the gym. But there’s also a grassy
parade field next to it too. The parade
field is where a lot of band routines happen when I’m not in the band. When I am in the band, I think they
happen . . . wait, that’s not right . .
. hmmm . . . usually, I meet with someone under the bleachers of the football
field. The football field is dark and
spooky most of the times and it’s surrounded by fog. The parade field is bright and sunny and
there’s light gleaming from flags and instruments. There’s also a gymnastics team on the parade
field sometimes. It’s all very grand.
Instead of going to the classroom
area, I can go to glass hallways that lead to upper levels. There’s often a chase in one of these and I’m
helping others to escape danger here.
There’s a path on the ground floor that leads to the basement transition
area.
***
Airfield.
There is an airfield that’s a
collection of different places I’ve been, but not any one specifically. In this airfield are the flying machines that
are fighting off the end of the world that ends up at my house on Corwin
Street. At first, I drive around outside
of barbed wire fences but I can’t get in unless I go through the battle.
Battlefield. I travel in WWI or
WWII style gear over forested areas to a fence that leads to enemy
territory. There is usually someone
shooting at us. A small group of us make
it while others die in the battles.
Enemy lines. We get across enemy lines. There’s a river canyon to get across. Then we end up in French countryside trying
to sneak past enemy lines. There’s a cottage,
which is our goal to reach. Once there,
something momentous happens. Then we
have to get back to our own lines. This
inevitably leads to the airfield.
Flying the plane. I fly over the airfield and usually chase an
SR71 Blackbird, or I am the Blackbird.
We’re at war and the enemy is shooting at the airfield. At some point I have to land. This eventually leads to the house on Corwin
where the end of the world is fought off.
***
Plantation.
This is a stereotypical
plantation with lots of rooms. Usually
an argument or meeting is held inside and it is necessary to find a hidden
item.
Outside of the plantation is
verdant southern forest with lots of old willows, moss, ponds, streams and
humidity. Plans are usually made with a
group as to which way to go. A hunt or
escape is usually involved.
There is a path. Usually another group is met along the
path. From there, we end up further into
the wilderness.
***
A freeway stop.
The buildings are on a cul-de-sac
off a freeway.
One’s a fast food place. I’m a manager there sometimes, or sometimes a
team leader. Usually, I have to catch
someone stealing, or inspire a group of workers to accomplish something.
Another is a Denny’s type
restaurant. I go there to drink coffee
and contemplate. After that, I go to the
kitchen or leave to the outside.
The kitchen. This is the restaurant kitchen, but it also
intersects with a couple of other areas.
Usually, I’m just passing through here like it’s a mystery novel.
Another place is a service
station. Usually my vehicle is broken
down. I get gas, or get it fixed, or
leave it there. I can leave to go back
to the freeway or go off onto a lonely desert road.
***
The City
When you get deep into the city,
it’s very bright. It’s a combination of
LA, San Francisco, London and a city from the future. (Don’t ask, it’s a dream) I remember entering this city on a
Zeppelin. I don’t know why.
There is a west to east river
cutting the center of the city. It’s
difficult to get across. There are a
couple of bridges, or you can get a Zeppelin, lol.
On the southwest side of the
river is the point of San Francisco. There’s
a wharf into the bay. It’s just above
the rough seas and dangerous to cross.
There’s a small city area with a circular garden there.
There’s a British military base
with a large park on the southeast side.
It has a garden area with a parking lot and guards that prevent anyone
from passing the chain-link fence.
Whoever I’m with has a friend that lets us in anyway. Inside, there are warehouses. Dangerous materials are in the
warehouses. There’s always some sort of
shootout too.
***
The flea market/state
fair
My parents always took me to flea
markets. Oddly enough, this isn’t any of
the ones they took me to. There is an
entrance where we have to pay to get in.
Sometimes, there’s not a lot of
people. It’s late in the afternoon and
all the tables are on an asphalt parking lot.
People are tired and at least one person is shielding their eyes from
the sun (odd observation) They sit in
cars, vans or trucks behind their tables.
I usually end up haggling with someone.
I usually look to see if there are any bargains on toy trains or cars.
The other version is very crowded
and on dirt. Everyone has covers over
their tables and most have scarfs or sheets hanging from them. There are lots of trees and tall plants. The vehicles are all cleverly hidden.
The flea-market has a warehouse
area with livestock that’s more like a county fair. There are areas with antiques and other old
rusty items, including one thin warehouse that carries worn tools.
***
The skyscraper!!!
This is a bit of a scary
place. It’s a double tower rising high
above a bright city. It has two banks of
elevators, one with glass elevators, one with service elevators. There is at least one single elevator that
goes along the outside of the building.
It’s very windy on the roof of
the building. Scary windy. Sometimes I won’t go onto the roof, other
times I do. Sometimes I’m alone,
sometimes there’s someone there to challenge me to something.
Penthouse. There is a very businesslike penthouse at the
top. Important decisions are made
here. I can leave by plane, leave by the
roof, take one of the elevators, or take a secret tunnel.
The elevators. Often, the elevators are broken, representing
an obstacle. Other times, the elevator I’m
on doesn’t go to where I need it to. The
elevators are also transitions. I can travel
to different settings.
The skyscraper basement. The basement has lots of pipes and secret
paths that lead to other buildings and exits.
It connects with the transition basement.
***
The canyon/cliffs
There is a desert canyon with a
river far down below. There is a trail
along the south cliff that leads to a cave.
Inside the cave are ruins. The
ruins are Egyptian style, but also have a roller coaster style mine cart system
sort of like in Donkey Kong 3 for Super Nintendo.
This area is very dangerous.
***
That's about all I have the energy to write about. I have no idea if any of that was interesting or not, but . . . well . . . there you go.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
