Zynell/Logs/Damaris Temple Dreams

Dream 1

``` You kneel at the edge of the water. You set the candle afloat in the pool. A scented smoke drifts over the water. >blink You are amidst a vision, you can't do anything. The black walls of the temple dissolve from your vision and you begin a waking dream. The cool mist of a foggy rain wets your cheek. A burning dream candle sputters suddenly and then goes out.

You are surrounded by a redwood forest, the trees dripping with moisture and the ground moist with damp. As you wipe the wet from your cheeks, you realize you are weeping silent tears. You stumble through the forest, overwhelmed with a feeling of loss and despair. Your body is finally dry. You stop to rest and hear the gasping rasp of your struggle to catch a calming breath. Before you is a giant stump of a tree, cut and charred with the flames of destruction. As you raise your eyes to examine the stump, you see a small tree rooted and growing up from the center of the ruined tree. The young tree is strong and tall already, its roots feeding on the decay of its predecessor. You feel your own sadness lessen somewhat, with a crack of hope for your own survival. With a deep breath, still catching the scent of wet forest, you become aware of those around you.```

Dream 2

```>put can in pool You kneel at the edge of the water. You set the candle afloat in the pool. A scented smoke drifts over the water.

The black walls of the temple dissolve from your vision and you begin a waking dream.

Your eyes focus upon green hills in the distance, and a trail of people along a narrow path beneath them, singing and dancing.

A burning dream candle's light grows much weaker.

You are walking over a sweet new green meadow towards the people, approaching them as they approach you.

The singing of the procession carries accross the space between you on the wind.

As the line of singers comes closer, you see they are carrying something on a bier.

A burning dream candle's flame flutters slightly.

As you come closer still, you realize this is a group of mourners carrying a body. Their loud cries of grief-song resound pitiously in the dirge they sing.

You pass the group on the road, realizing it is an old woman stretched upon the bier. Her arms dangle over the edge of the stretcher as she is jostled by the journey.

You gaze at the face of the woman and suddenly realize this is your own ancestor.

A burning dream candle dims drastically.

As you continue to pass them, one of the woman's arms bounces up to brush your arm with her long bony fingers..... You awake from the vision, screaming.

```

Dream 3

```>put can in poo You set the candle afloat in the pool. A scented smoke drifts over the water.

The black walls of the temple dissolve from your vision and you begin a waking dream.

As you stare into the flame of the candle, it grows larger.

A burning dream candle's light grows much weaker.

The crackle of wood burning transports you in the dream to a campfire, where you sit surrounded by a dark forest.

Ashes and sparks from the fire drift upwards into the night like sparkling fireflies.

A cool wind brushes your cheek and you turn to behold a dear friend sitting at your side.

In a quiet voice the friend speaks, "Thus is life, falling upwards, just as the fire's sparks go."

"We are born, we grow, we fall upwards towards death, to a bright end."

"That is all one must know of life, we cannot resist that fall."

A burning dream candle dims drastically.

You nod quietly and stare into the forest.

The flames dance, the sparks rise, you breath.

The black walls of the temple now fade into focus.

Dream 4

```>put can in pool You set the candle afloat in the pool. A scented smoke drifts over the water.

The black walls of the temple dissolve from your vision and you begin a waking dream.

A branch gusted by wind smashes against the eave of your dwelling.

Startled, you grasp the hilt of the sword you wear and go outside to see.

A burning dream candle's light grows much weaker.

You peer up into the night and see a moon, turned up like a cup, so new the edge like light from a crack under a door.

A star, bright near the edge of the crack, the dark of the moon occulting it....

The wind slams the door of the dwelling behind you and you run --

You run down a dark path, frozen grasses crisp, coated in ice the sound of wind and breaking grass in your ears!

At a small pool crusted over with ice, the crack of the moon staring down on you, you draw the sword and plunge the blade into the pool.

The blade plunges through the ice, smashing the surface of ice, nothing but cold...cold blade...cold ice..cold stars.

The blade goes back to its sheath...icy water from the pool on your face, your arms wet to the elbow...the moon sinking...

Your terror, at real or imagined things, dreams, or memories, a dark hole that takes you from yourself, again you run --

Again within your dwelling, you bolt the door and stare through a window at the strange moon, upturned, sinking to the horizon, the dark of the moon in the new faint light, no closer to grasping this cold fear.

You shiver even as the black walls of the temple slowly fade back into focus.```

Dream 5

You set the candle afloat in the pool. A scented smoke drifts over the water.

The black walls of the temple dissolve from your vision and you begin a waking dream.

A mass of swirling colors comes into focus as you find yourself gazing on a large loom.

The unfinished weaving is intricate in color and design.

You tentatively touch the threads and with a shock of recognition you realize this is the fabric of your own life.

The spot you touched on the weaving is changed somehow, the fabric thinner and the threads fragile.

You trace the threads with your eyes, seeking to find knowledge of your future.

You notice bright eyes staring at you from the dark corners, and you meet the gaze with a cold fear.

A voice whispers to you from those corners, speaking slowly and carefully, "Your future is yet unwoven, it is gift enough to recognize your own present."

With a slow nod, you touch the warp of the loom and back away reverently.

The colors of the tapestry swirl and fade to the present, and the black walls of Damaris' temple come into focus.

Dream 6

You set the candle afloat in the pool. A scented smoke drifts over the water.

The black walls of the temple dissolve from your vision and you begin a waking dream.

You are walking along the sand with the ocean tide washing around your ankles.

Seaweed washes around your feet, tangling around your legs and increasing the difficulty of moving forward.

You pause to unwrap a slimy strand from your leg.

A sudden wave swells to toss you flat upon the sand.

You gasp for air and balance, and struggle to keep your head above the cold sea foam.

As you finally rise to your knees, a scarlet starfish appears at your right hand.

You reach to take the beauty as the vision begins to fade...

The thought penetrates your mind -- looking at little dangers you may miss the greater, but then you may miss the wonders of life, altogether.

The vision fades completely from your mind.

Dream 7

You set the candle afloat in the pool. A scented smoke drifts over the water.

The black walls of the temple dissolve from your vision and you begin a waking dream.

A rush of air and wind streams past you.

You gallop on horseback over a lush green plain.

The sound of the hoofs are like pounding drums.

The horse strains to go faster!

You lean close to its neck, flat against its body.

As one you travel, across the summer into winter snows.

Even faster you hasten, with bits of white snow blinding you and tasting of steel.

Surrounded by white you journey on, the steed taking a great leap into the air!

You sail, sound silent, breath stilled.

With a hard jolt the horse touches ground, and stops. Its breath is steaming and harsh.

You straighten in the saddle and behold a great army assembled on a vast plain before you.

A great cry goes up, and you realize it is in your behalf.

A thousand salute you and you know your journey did not fail.

The black walls of the temple slowly fade into focus.