Dream (Photo credit: Julia Folsom)
What would you do if you found someone who shared a dream – not one that you thought about and devised in your waking moments, but one that came unbidden from your subconscious as you slept?
This is the central question of The Seed. As we first meet the novel’s protagonist, Sara, we find her in a lonely and self-limiting life, living only through her art. But in her dreaming state she dreams of another, possibly former, life which was filled with both great love and great tragedy. This informs her new series of paintings and draws into her world a man who claims to be the other half of her dream romance. Is she being given a new chance to re-write the ending of the dream story and make it a joy rather than a loss, and if so, what would that mean?
The main dream in the story is one I dreamed when I was very young – seeing a man I thought was my husband carrying what I thought was my child, and me a spirit watching over them, having died in childbirth. I’ve never found – nor sought – a man who shared this dream, but wondering what would happen if I did was the inspiration for the novel.
Shared dreams – what are they and what do they mean? When I was a young girl I would routinely have horrible nightmares about murder and forensics and on telling my mother the next day I’d find they were scenes from a novel she was reading at the time. I used to ask her to read nicer books – LOL – given we seemed to have a psychic link. But if that was what it was, rather than coincidence, then I think it meant nothing more than illustrating our connection as mother and daughter.
But what of precious dreams you might wish to make reality? What if that opportunity presented itself to you? What would you do?
Have you ever found you shared dream in any way with another person, and if so, who were they to you and what – if anything – did you think it meant?
Dreams are so powerful – they are mythic, they are archetypal, and they can seem very real even if their internal logic is absurd. What happens if we try to cross the dream-world to reality, joining with another? What do you think would occur? And would this be risky, or wonderful?
Cheers
Helen V
PS: If this has intrigued you about my novel The Seed, all the information about its availability can be found on the The Seed page above. 🙂
helenvalentina 
Reblogged this on Amanda's Words / starfire8me and commented:
that sounds totally creepy!!!
Thanks so much for the reblog. Which bit was creepy, the whole idea or the dreams I used to have from my mother’s reading habits? 🙂 🙂
I remember when I was a kid telling my brother about this dream I’d had the night before. Halfway through he stopped me and said, “You can’t have had that dream, because that’s what I dreamt.” He then went on to finish the dream off for me, exactly as I’d dreamt it. Freaked me out a bit. So, if you ever have a dream in which Daleks are chasing you, have a look around and see if I’m hiding under a table nearby.
LOL that is so cool!!! 🙂 🙂
LMAO Dalek nightmares here too! Glad I’m not alone 😉
🙂 🙂
Just bought the book and looking forward to reading it. I am really intrigued by your description of the dreams!
Wow, thank you Elaine, much appreciated! I hope you enjoy the novel, the dreams are the central focus of the plot! 🙂 🙂
Yes, I had this happen years a go with a boyfriend I was seeing at the time. It was a very moving dream in which the weather turned stormy and I could see 5 tornados coming at me and I woke up. Next time I saw him, he told me he had this very strange dream and described the 5 tornados. Within several months the relationship broke up.
I have always felt that in dreams we really do go somewhere, and that they are not happening in my head. Call me crazy, but too many people and places in my dreams are completely foreign to me.
Great topic!!!
Wow, that’s amazing – like you both could see the future and with the same symbolism – or even more than that, like you were both actually there! Dreams are mysterious – perhaps they are a place we go to, and sometimes we share that place. Fantastic example, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂 🙂
You’re welcome!
I had not thought about that dream for quite some time until reading your post! 🙂
That is spooky but awesome! Your mom was giving you nightmares and she didn’t even know it! Both my mom and I dream of death, who will die and sometimes we have very similar dreams in the days preceding. In her dreams a little girls tells her, there is no little girl for me. My dreams continue. I cross their spirit over and speak with them in their final moments, my mom doesn’t do the cross over part just the predictive part. I often come to know people have died because I just crossed them over. So my mom will call me up and I will say I know. I remember you are really good at dreams I have a dream character I am dying to ask you about should I send it here or would you rather email? My email is kesaiserris@gmail.com
Happy to dream interpret. II”ll email tomorrow when I am on my proper computer, notmjust this tablet. 🙂
Okay awesome =)
I do not think I ever shared a dream with anyone but it sounds very special if it were to happen. I love the idea of it and see why it would inspire you. Maybe I’m just weird though. 🙂
Thank you, and I am sure you are not weird!!! 🙂 🙂
I am loving it, Sis! Got slowed down because I can’t read when on cold medicine….now that I have my brain back a bit, I can’t wait for my quiet moments with your novel. I am so proud of you! Your writing is exquisite as always. Hugs!
Oh thank you so much, dear Skye! I’m so glad you are enjoying g it! 🙂
Every time I read about your novel, I bump it up on my to-read list ;). It doesn’t sound “creepy” at all. Mysterious, yes, and very intriguing 🙂
Thanks so much, hope you enjoy it if you do read it.. I hope it is kind of mysterious and intriguing! 🙂 🙂
Oh, I will read it. I have a copy 😉
Cool, thank you so much, I appreciate your support!! 🙂 🙂
Dreams are amazing. I believe there is more to our subconscious than we’ll ever know. Anything is possible. Love the story.
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂
I actually had a dream that i wrote down as a story idea about a lady who felt inextricably linked to a painting then when i read your blogs about your story it felt sort of weird. like I had dreamt about a book I hadn’t read yet 😛 (there goes one of my story ideas 😛 )
Wow, that’s really fascinating…I do think the creative process is so mysterious, and dreams are similarly so…yours seems like a synchronicity or a prescience. While I’d love to think it’s about your mind telling you that you want to read my book – LOL – I really think its probably a sign about your own creativity and expression (though by all means read my book if you like 🙂 🙂 )
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