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I would like to start this Dream Line with a short relaxation exercise.
Imagine yourself in a beautiful forest with lots of trees. Wait, most of the
trees have been cut down. It is still quite nice as you look down at the
bubbling stream. But there are empty pop cans and bottles and paper scraps
strewn around. Or maybe you are walking along the beach at sunset. You stroll,
bare footed, into the water only to feel a thick ooze cling to your feet. You
look down to see thick, black oil clinging to your feet and ankles. Okay, this
isn't working. One of the most traditional methods of relaxation, using imagery
of natural environments, ceases to be effective when the reality of pollution
and other environmental problems are brought into that imagery.
In reviewing the responses to my request for dreams of and relating to the
environment I am reminded of the rather broad definition of the word
environment. Webster's 9th New Collegiate Dictionary defines environment as
follows:
1: the circumstances, objects, or conditions by which one is surrounded
2 a: the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors (as climate, soil,
and living things) that act upon an organism or an ecological community and
ultimately determine its form and survival b: the aggregate of social and
cultural conditions that influence the life of an individual or community.
When making the request I was thinking in terms of the natural environment,
but Webster's definition reminds me of the awesome thought that the environment
is that by which we are surrounded. How accurate that is! There is no escape
from the natural environment; it is all around us. Our very existence is
dependent on it. Despite this fact the daily news broadcasts frequently report
stories environmental disasters. In just the two months I have been collecting
responses for this column I have seen a month long fire at a local used tire
processing facility; two major oil spills; and a serious leak of a toxic
chemical from a train derailment. These examples come from watching only a few
minutes of news each day.
Upon some further investigation I have found many other examples. My primary
research tool has been the World Wide Web. There are many, many web sites
relating to the environment and the various threats to it. Scrolling through the
web pages I have seen evidence of the continued deforestation of rain forests
all over the world. It is not, however, just the rain forests. In the United
States the government routinely allows lumber companies to come into federal
land and parks containing old growth forests to harvest the trees. In addition
to the continued loss of forests I have seen photos and read hypertext
describing pollution of the seas and oceans, as well as both legal and illegal
killing of endangered animals.
If the number of responses I have received can be considered an indication of
the level of awareness most people have, then the awareness is high. I received
more responses for this Dream Line than the previous two combined. My request
for dreams of the environment seems to have struck a cord. I have reviewed the
dreams, comments, and other responses received. To mention them all would expand
this column far beyond the restraints of my time budget. In that light I have
chosen a few examples that I believe represent the many responses.
One dream I have received involves the dreamer driving a car along a rural
road. She pulls over to the edge of the road and gets out of the car. After
walking about one hundred feet away she stops and notices a large oak tree
across the road from the car. Just then this oak tree shoots a bolt of lightning
at the car, destroying it. The dreamer sees that had she stayed in the car she
would have been killed. In corresponding with the dreamer I have found that she
sensed no intent on the tree's part to hurt her. This dream can be seen as a
dramatic warning. The large oak, representing the natural environment, is
attacking the car, which may be a symbol of our techno-industrial society that
down plays the significance of the environment for the sake of profit and
progress.
In another dream the dreamer comes upon a structure in the process of being
built. She describes several steel beams and wooden planks. The bases of the
steel beams are in the ground with no concrete foundation or footers. There is
no man-made concrete, only dirt. "Sometimes", the dreamer writes
during our correspondence, "there are people walking around the beams,
other times they are up high talking about construction." It seems to the
dreamer that the work will never be completed. In corresponding with the dreamer
I have found that she relates this dream to the "new land" that is
being born in that realm William Gibson so aptly referred to as cyberspace. The
dreamer also relates this dream to the not-so-evident dangers this cyber-
environment could present to the natural environment. "From the dream I did
conjecture that one unhappy outcome on the environment could be in the value we
place on cyberspace. That is if we value the information highway to the point
that we forget it is a tool not a goal, we could become less conscious,
respectful and caring for mother earth." This dream, and the dreamer's
thoughts relating to it have brought my attention to a potential danger that I
had not previously considered. Cyberspace may not pose a direct threat, but as
the dreamer wrote, it could be a powerful distraction, thereby allowing further
damage to occur to the natural environment.
Yet another dream puts the dreamer in a dark place that is outside of
physical space. A shaft of light comes down from above and reflects off the edge
of a sword laying on the ground at the foot of the mythical King Arthur. The
blackness falls away as a proud native American approaches and embraces King
Arthur. The two turn and walk into the light of the world. They are followed by
other native Americans and King Arthur's knights. In my correspondence with the
dreamer he associates King Arthur and his knights with a positive, humanitarian
force. The dreamer connects the native Americans with the legend of the Rainbow
Warrior, which speaks of a time when the Earth is sick and the animals
disappear. According to the legend the Rainbow Warrior comes to save the
animals. Rather than warn us, this dream seems to be offering hope in the image
of two mythical forces joining together to battle for the environment.
A final example has the dreamer and his waking-life associates on trial. An
important waking-life detail the dreamer mentions is that before going to sleep
he had heard something on the radio about the struggle of native peoples in the
Brazilian rain forests to make a living. In the dream the dreamer and his
associates are charged with the mass extinctions of all the species that
occurred as Anglo-Europeans took over and destroyed the old growth forests of
the northern hemisphere. In the dream the dreamer acknowledges his guilt. He and
his associates are sentenced to watch the destruction of humankind because it is
not fair to ask poor rain forest nations to save their forests for the sake of
the ozone and the health of the environment when we (those of us who are of
Anglo-European descent) had thrown ours away. In corresponding with this dreamer
I have found some amazing things. As a direct result of this dream he began
studying native peoples; conserving and recycling; and, even more amazing, he
has changed careers. He now works to help organizations decrease the use of
non-reusable materials. What a wonderful example of using dreams to make
positive changes in the waking-world!
The above dreams illustrate the ways in which the Dream Time is communicating
to us regarding the environment. From the "Electric" warning found in
the first dream to the hopeful images of uniting forces in the third dream, it
is clear that the problems with and threats to our natural environment are
indeed serious matters. So often our dreams guide our awareness to areas that
demand attention. This appears to be one such area. So, our dreams have lead us
this far. Where do we go from here?
A very natural and logical question. Unfortunately, many people go nowhere.
They watch the news stories and shake their heads. Maybe they even talk with
their friends and family about how terrible the latest oil spill is. But there
has to be more! I am very glad to say that many of the dreamers I have
corresponded with do not fall into this category. They care for the environment
by recycling, or volunteering for environmental groups, and of course there is
the dreamer who changed careers!
The dreamers have found actions to help protect the environment that are
right in their own lives. We all must do the same. These problems with the
environment will not only continue, but will grow worse as the years pass
unless, that more people act, not only protect the environment, but to begin to
heal the wounds inflicted thus far.
Let us all take the time to hear what our dreams might say about the
environment and what suggestions might be offered. The range of what we can do
is as great as the range of different environmental problems. Recycling is fast
becoming something that many people must do because their local and state
governments mandate it. For those of us who live in areas where this is not yet
so we can certainly manage at least this much. Simply being aware of what
practices occur in the work place is another example of what can be done. If we
see paper being wasted or harmful chemicals being improperly disposed of we need
to voice our concerns. Many employers welcome employee feedback and suggestions.
Perhaps we could help create new, more environmentally friendly policies. On a
larger scale there are environmental groups that take more aggressive actions in
protecting the environment. I do not advocate violence or harmful destruction of
property, but most environmental groups do not engage in such activities. Many
such groups simply educate the general public regarding the environmentally
harmful practices of businesses and governments. In some cases these groups do
take direct action in an attempt to prevent the injury of animals. Considering
these types of actions forces us to explore where our beliefs and convictions
lead us.
The wonderfully exciting and sometimes frightening world of dreams can be
filled with messages of all kinds. Yet, without action in the waking-world these
messages may as well fall on deaf ears.
Now, visualize yourself in a beautiful forest picking up along a winding
stream : )
--Christopher Hicks
email: shadow45@netonecom.net
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