The Erratic Oneironaut - Issue #72
Date September 18, 2011
Greetings, fellow Oneironauts and Mortals!
We are turning this issue's opening commentary over to our own beloved
mu. This post has sparked some pretty intense discussion, which is linked below. You are of course invited to join that discussion. (It is in the Smoky Back Room, so you will need to have ten on-topic posts here in order to access that area.)
I was walking my dog earlier today. It was finally a cool and windy day, after months of miserable humidity. It's the type of weather typical of my favorite kind of lucid dream, and there were more than a couple instants when I was not sure I was not dreaming. In them was still and infinite beauty. In them was some of that which lead me to Mortal Mist.
My thoughts then turned to Mortal Mist. That blissful and fleeting thing was gone; in its place were dozens of restless things, not so much thoughts as...distractions, reactions, and habit. I knew also that I was quite responsible for inviting those things there.
I joined Mortal Mist about this time three years ago. I had no real reason, other than, perhaps, having had the sort of experience before, of the nameless thing that makes dreams like dreams. At that time, it seemed that very thing was everywhere here. I think it's probably impossible to understand if you weren't here, but there was a magical quality of this place, and the people in it, because of its natural intimacy with that other place or thing. It was effortless, and was all that was needed. It was spoken of in nearly every word, even when we weren't talking about it.
Now I come here out of habit, to talk about web development, or when I'm sick of that, to play games. Maybe I'll make a couple pointless jokes in an off-topic thread, or play with DreamBot for a few minutes. The strange thing is that I have no interest in any of these things. They're fun for a minute or two, but I come away feeling like I've killed a little bit more of Mortal Mist, its former magic, and the thing from dreams behind it all..but it was with us not so long ago.
What happened? I'm as guilty as anyone. Mortal Mist is not what it was before.
We can do or create so many things around dreams that we forget why--but continue anyway--until the pointlessness hits us. Then we search for our focus or our goals, and wonder where we're going--but the answer is that there are none, and there's nowhere to go--there never was. The only thing that ever mattered was the fascination that got us here in the first place.
It seems to be human nature, or at least normal for society, to turn everything beautiful into something mundane, or to some practical purpose. Maybe that's why a lot of great artists are insane. I don't know. Whatever it is, it's a very deep, subconscious process. When that beautiful thing starts to slip away from us, we'll never see it again, unless we let it go.
It's been asked before what our direction is. I don't think we can choose. I think a direction will find us, but only if our hearts are in it.
Therefore, I am considering creating a new account for myself here, beginning a new DJ, and discontinuing some current habits.
http://mortalmist.com/forum/index.php?topic=4747.msg121598#msg121598--
September's Lucid ChallengesYour
Basic Challenge for the month of September is to swim in a lake of money like Scrooge McDuck or, alternatively, to complete one of your own goals.
Completing this challenge will, at the beginning of next month, give you one cup in place of your regular stars, set your member group title to "Completed Basic Task", and will make your name appear purple in the online users list at the bottom of the main page.
The
Intermediate Challenge for the month of September is to find a DC and wake them up.
Completion of this task will, at the beginning of next month, give you two cups in place of your stars, set your member group to "Completed Intermediate Tasks", and make your name appear purple in the online users list on the main page.
The
Advanced Challenge for the month of September is to find a DC that is lucid and convince them that the dream is real.
Completion of this task will, at the beginning of next month, replace your stars with three cups, replace your member group with "Completed Advanced Chalenge", and will make your name appear purple in the online users list.
Report and discuss your experiences, successes and failures in the corresponding stickied thread in the Featured Monthly Challenges and Meeting Place forum:
http://mortalmist.com/forum/index.php?board=38.0September Monthly Meeting Place - The Funny FarmPlease record all of your visits to The Funny Farm Here:Making it to The Funny Farm while lucid and talking to another person there, either crazy or normal, will earn a Gold Award. Making it to The Funny Farm while lucid but not talking to another person there will earn a Silver Award. Making it to The Funny Farm in a non-lucid dream will earn a bronze award. Just remember to use your lucid skills to get back out as The Funny Farm might be an interesting place to visit, but you would not want to live there.
Report and discuss your experiences here:
http://mortalmist.com/forum/index.php?topic=4710.msg121243#msg121243
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From around the Mist:- Due to circumstances beyond our control, the mid-month newsletter now has an even number, so don't be alarmed. The fact that it now has an even number should be adequate proof that you didn't miss anything.
- Due to circumstance beyond our control, we were offline the first weekend of September. The problem was a combination of logistics and infrastructure, and had nothing to do with our server or systems. Nothing was lost.
- Due to circumstances entirely within our control, we were offline for a short time on September 8 while some of the aforementioned infrastructure issues were addressed and the kernel was updated. Successfully. Without regrets or surprises.
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Closing ThoughtsIt is interesting how one person's honest and forthright introspection can shine a light of truth that leads others to do the same. Beyond all else we have to give, use and waste in this life, our time is by far the most precious of all. We cannot save it or reclaim it, and the amount we have remaining in reserve is unknown.
This community we call Mortal Mist is built of precious time given by individuals who have deemed it worthy. Far beyond all the ensuing questions and discussions about how Mortal Mist has changed over the years,
mu's insights indirectly ask each of us if what is here is still worthy. Your time is yours to spend as you and only you see fit. There is no need for excuses or explanations. Nobody and nothing here has any claim to your time.
Could it have been better? We can speculate on that, but nobody really knows how any other path might have worked out.
Can the magical synergy that sustained Mortal Mist through its beginning be recaptured? I really don't think so, as we will never again experience that particular combination of time, circumstances and personalities. But so what? We will never again experience THIS particular combination of time, circumstances and personalities either.
Can it be better?
That, my dear friend, is your call. Speaking only for myself, I deem what we have and what is possible here worthy of my time.
Until next time,
pj. . .
CARPE NOCTEM
