From The Stadium to The Trout Stream

The dream this morning begins in a huge domed football stadium. There is a stage on the field and on the stage is Bert Convy. He was a television and movie actor, and most widely remembered for hosting games shows. He died in 1991 from brain cancer. He was a likable man.

In this dream Bert is hosting an event to screen contestants for a talent show. I see him on the stage with microphone in hand. The stadium can seat 100,000 but I see only 200-300 people in the seats. The people are applicants and are auditioning to appear on the talent show. I see them seated in rows that are roped off. They are segregated into different categories, such as comedians and singers, and so on.

I walk up the steps to the group that are the singers. I intend to sit and compete with them, however, I end up changing my mind. I see within my mind's eye that I would do a much better job competing as a comedian and that I would win, and become famous. When I stop to consider this I change my mind yet again. Fame is not all it is cracked up to be and I do not want to have any part of it. I take a side exit and walk into a warm green sun light world. I see my car, a silver 2008 Ford Taurus, parked near a clear brook filled with trout. The trout are huge. I watch them in rapt fascination. The trout dart about and move against the current. I watch their mouths work open and shut forcing water through their gills. I almost think they want to speak to me. On the bottom of the stream is an enormous brook trout.    



The brook trout rises up to the surface. Rainbow trout move aside to allow him to appear. I suddenly become hungry. I love the taste of trout. This is when I wake up.

Last night was a stressful night with my job. This, I am certain, may have coloured this dream. I need an escape from the pressures to perform and conform. I am so ready to enjoy some time off from my duties and have a quiet time moment at Christmas with my wife. We plan to have salmon with our holiday meal.

I really do not have a desire to be famous. Neither the desire of fame nor envy motivates me. The freedom of action and thought is my greatest desire. I don't like being controlled, manipulated or dominated. Such things grate against the very core of my being.

When I saw all the competitors for the talent show roped off in rows and told where to sit, and limited to how they could best express themselves that just irritated me to no end.

The walk into a warm sunny world out of that depressing stadium was like a breath of fresh air. Winter feels unbearably cold and sterile to me right now. It felt wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and see green again.

The trout in the stream evokes life, vitality and vibrancy, and a desire to be in that environment and fully experience it. I miss the wonder of the natural world.

Seeing my car, the Ford Taurus, in the dream symbolizes the freedom to travel. The car is my means to get where I want to go. It seems funny to me to me to be seeing my poor beat up old car. She is falling apart. I feel a sense of shame for letting her get so damaged and not having enough money to repair her completely. I get attached to every car I have owned and tend to humanize them.

What have I learned from this dream? I seem to have a richer understanding of what makes me tick and what is most important to me as a human being. I like being free and despise being oppressed. I want to luxuriate in the sensual experience of life.

Lately, I feel like I have been trapped. I remember when I was young and life was full of possibilities and adventure. Today, I am hungry to rediscover that feeling and revive that memory.