Minutes of the November Oneironauticum, by Jennifer

Posted on January 21, 2009 in All, Event Reports | Comments Off on Minutes of the November Oneironauticum, by Jennifer

I realize the November posts are woefully late. Sigh. Life.

Present at the January Oneironauticum were dreamers Vibrata, David, lissa ivy, Geneva, Juliana, Stacey, the other David, and yours truly, Jennifer. Since the dream ingredient of the night was garlic, we began the evening with discussion about the oneirogenic qualities of certain foods. Some people report that spicy food gives them bad dreams, or at least unpleasantly intense dreams. Others claim eating fish high in Omega 3 fatty acids just before bed promotes lucid dreams. Though opinions differ about the effects of chocolate, many believe it does something.

At 11:00, we prepared our oneirogen, a very garlic heavy Caesar salad and toasted garlic bread. The aroma quickly filled the room and within 15 minutes we all sat down to a light but powerfully garlicky meal. I brought mints and parsley to minimize the aftertaste and smell, but David and Vibrata—who spearheaded garlic as oneirogen because it strongly affects their dreams—suggested we refrain. They believe that the lingering of garlic in the mouth and nose contribute to its effects.

We bedded down at midnight, as we usually do. Bodhi, one of the cats in residence where we slept, serenaded us for a while with what is apparently a typical post people to bed yowling session. Afterwards, everyone fell asleep easily.

Deep in the night, several of us were awakened by Geneva talking in her sleep. After a few indistinct mumbles, she yelled clearly and in a bawdy tone “the wild ladies!” Giggles could be heard throughout the loft.

Over brunch the next morning, we discussed our dreams. David and Vibrata agreed that Geneva had what they would most characterize as a garlic-inspired dream. In the dream, she took an expedition on a ship. In an old style deep sea diving suit, she excated the deep sear floor. She particularly examined the layer between plants and insects, engrossed in her discovery before she realized that insects had gotten into her suit. She peeled it off and discovered that the insects had become woven into the fabric. Though it had a slight creepy crawly feeling, mostly she was impressed by how cool the fabric now looked.

Among the other dreamers, a few phenomena arose that echoed past Oneironautica. David dreamed us all collectively in the loft space where we physically slept; he often dreams the group of us together in dream space, in the same place where we’re sleeping. I also had other people present in the loft in my dreamspace. Lissa ivy dreamed of a family vacation, spaces with lots of bathtubs, an annoying encounter with her father. She woke up a few times and went back into the same dream again when she fell back asleep. Juliana dreamed the same soundtrack (a song called The F Word, by Sound Tribe Sector 9) throughout the night, in various dreams, that she’s heard in every Oneironauticum she’s attended.