TupeloKenyon.com

Waking Dreams

Notes from Janey . . .

Do you know what a waking dream is? My interpretation is this: It is a spiritual ah-ha moment that comes when it is manifested in a symbolic way on the physical plane. Sometimes ironic, at times comical, it’s a game I often play. By example, remember when I wrote to you about the rose bush I planted in my garden representing my closest girlfriends? This is a waking dream. I am reminded of what rare beauties my friends are when each rose blooms. Since waking dreams are often times very personal, it’s difficult to give examples.

But I had one this morning I think you may be able to relate to.

We are fortunate to live in the country – on a gentle slope where the mountains meet the prairie. We have quite a bit of wildlife that shares this land with us. White tailed deer, eagles, owls, ducks, skunks, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, bear, a one-time sighting of a puma, turkeys, and one wild house cat named Pooder.

In the fall, the turkeys, which have raised their young across the creek, begin to gather into large groups. The turkey parades get longer and longer until when the snow begins to fall, over 60 congregate in our yard.

This morning, as I looked out at the beautiful fall colors slowly turning to gold along the creek running through our back yard, there was movement in the underbrush. Here came a long line of turkeys, looking for a way to cross the creek.

There is an irrigation gate behind our house that sends water to the ranchers down below in the flatlands. It is encased in gray concrete walls, which sounds like an eyesore, but in actuality, makes a picturesque waterfall, enhancing the creek’s beauty. One wall starts high on the bank and slopes to the creek, leaving about 12 feet of open water between the other retainer wall.

The leader tom thought this would be a perfect, even though incomplete, bridge across the creek. He began to waddle himself down the slippery concrete. When he got to the end of slab and the edge of the cascading water, he effortlessly flew to the far bank. The others began to line up behind him to do the same. They followed his example, making it to the other side with little trouble.

The turkeys followed each other closely, one right behind the other. It was precision take-offs and landings about every 3 seconds. They lined up like a carnival shooting arcade with at least eight on the sloping concrete. All went well until a young one’s turn came and got to the edge of the water.

He was surprised by the open water at his feet, and it sent him into a panic. His body language said, “What the hell…?” He turned to go back, but there were too many other turkeys at his heels. He caused a panic all the way up the line. They all turned to back up, but it was too late.

His only way out was to fly across the stream, and the turkeys behind him made sure he did. The peer pressure was immense. The panicked flight to the other side was ungraceful and comical. He almost made it to the grassy bank. He landed on the moss covered rocks peeking out of the icy creek. Sloshing, cursing and stumbling, he finally made it to the other side while the others flew over his head.

Besides the purely, comical National Geographic moment I had at the young turkey’s expense, this was also a waking dream.

How many times have we been pushed against our will to do something we didn’t want to do? For example: We took a less-desirable job instead of waiting for the right one. We followed through with marriage plans to the wrong person. We were coerced to volunteer when we wanted to spend valuable time with our family. We couldn’t say no to uninvited company. You get the idea.

When we are forced (by ourselves or by others) to be or to do something that is not in alignment with who we truly are, we flounder and flop and usually make an uncoordinated mess of things. Our heart’s not in it, so how can the outcome be the best it can be? It can’t.

As I mentioned, I make a game out of waking dreams. They show up when I am searching for an answer and looking for a higher meaning.

Waking dreams are snapshots of spiritual lessons we need to hear at that moment. If you open your senses to see what comes, you may be surprised and delighted. After all, until this morning, who would have thought turkeys could be gurus?