Yep. Had a dream last night of Ringo Starr. It was wonderful. I was with family and friends up in the mountains, at a resort. Getting ready to leave. We’d been there several days.
Ringo came by our room to say goodbye to one of my friends, who was also one of his friends. There were just four or five of us. Of course, when Ringo Starr stops by your room for a chat, you try to act casual, here’s just another bloke hanging out. My friend mentions to Ringo that I used to be a stockbroker (in one of my “seven year itch” vocational stints.) So Ringo and I talked a bit about investments. He said he liked to take fliers on new technology, new trends. It was clear to me that Ringo and I had very different investment needs. I was in over my head with Ringo Starr.
Things were winding down—it was a fairly brief visit. And I of course hadn’t mentioned how thrilled I was to talk in such an ordinary way with Ringo. So before he left, I said to him, “You know we all just loved you guys, and still do.” He nodded his head, smiled, talked with our common friend a little more. And then before walking out the door, he came over, hugged me, and just leaned his head softly against me, like you would a close brother, a sister, or an old friend. I realized just what an authentically loving dude he was.
I woke up with a big grin, and warmth in my heart.
Made me think, again, we really should start up the dream discussion group, here at NBMC.
# # #
Once a month a bunch of us NBMC’ers gather to play scrabble at one or another of our homes, and have a potluck, enjoy good company, laugh much and imbibe a little. We generally have an early game and a late game. This month—several nights ago– it was my wife Suzy’s and my turn to host.
But the weather was cold and snowy—really cold, really snowy. So we ended up with just eight of us scrabblers– two scrabble tables worth– old friends who lived within a few miles of each other. We played the early game, and kept the fire going.
After the potluck dinner, with all eight of us sitting around a single table, rather than play a second game we fell into quiet happy talk about the world, the nation, the state and ourselves. At some point, for some reason, we started talking about dreams.
We laughed about the common dream of not attending class all semester long and now it was time to take the test. And the dream of being naked in front of everybody. Of bad dreams and good dreams.
Then one lady friend, congregant, suggested that we should have regular dream meetings, where we work with and discuss our dreams. (Dreams are, let us remember, one of the primary “methods” that have been used for millennia to bring new light, wisdom and revelation to the tribe. Thus, appropriate for Buddhist Methodists! )
Most of us thought it was a good idea—to get together to talk about dreams. But we made no definite plans.
And then last night I dreamt of Ringo Starr.
The feeling and message this morning was very clear: yes, of course we should get together to talk about our dreams. I mean, if Ringo Starr is going to make an appearance, why wouldn’t we?
So this is an invitation to start the conversation. And here are a few questions to get things going.
1. Have you had any real cool dreams lately?
2. Any scary dreams?
3. How do you play with your dreams?
4. Work with your dreams?
5. Is there a difference?
6. Have you ever had a dream of Jesus or Buddha or some other High Consciousness Being?
7. What questions do YOU have about dreams that the group might discuss?
We’ll be back to this topic soon . And please, say hi to Ringo for me, next time he drops by.
****
