Quicksilver

Life is but a Dream

I got into a discussion on whether or not all creatures dream and thus decided to ponder the topic. What caught my attention was the question of whether other mammals dream. I do indeed think that mammals dream. I know my dog has an active dream life, judging from her ridiculously active sleep behavior.

I think the difference between animal dreams and human dreams is the level of self-awareness. I agree with Native American lore that each animal contains the spirit of that animal, ie, all wolves are Wolf Spirit. All cats are Cat spirit, but likely broken down into species, like Tiger Spirit, Lion Spirit, domestic cat spirit, etc. This would be attributed to physical, environmental and experiential differences. I believe this also applies to all living organisms, even trees, insects and bacteria. Butterfly's spirit would be different from Birch Tree's spirit.

What I'm saying is that there IS consciousness in other creatures besides humans but that, for example, all wolves think and act like any wolf. There is a Wolf consciousness. It has certain guidelines of behavior based primarily on survival and needs. Its dreams are related to Wolf's collective experience. However, unlike humans, there is very little room for individual self. There may be a little leeway for identification; by relationship, unique pattern/color, unique smell, unique 'name' (as with domesticated animals especially) but overall their experiences and dreams are very common ground.

We humans are at a higher level of self-awareness. We have a more developed sense of, and connection with, All That Is. We are more like the original spark of Oneness/God/Universe, whatever. We are more complex, independent and individual. Our dreams may have common elements, but they are rarely similar to anyone else's, except perhaps sharing a few themes.

There are also theories that this waking life is the dream and what goes on in our dreams is the true reality. I'm not sure I'm ready to deal with that as yet.

05.16.2001

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