The Next Oneironauticum is Saturday, September 19

The next Oneironauticum is Saturday, September 19. I’ll be conducting this Oneironauticum at the presentation/workshop I’m giving at the Symbiosis Gathering.

My talk, “Dream Work as Visionary Practice”, will address the visionary nature of dreaming and discuss how to cultivate experiences and practices based around dream. At the end of the workshop, participants will choose an oneirogen to work with that night. As always, dreamers are invited to participate remotely, joining our world-wide network of dreamers who go to sleep with the common intention of percolating vivid dreams by using the same oneirogen. To participate remotely, acquire one of the oneirogens and use it on the night of the 17th, or simply go to sleep with the intention to join us in our group dreaming experience. Anyone who participates, either in person or remotely, is welcome to post their dream experiences to this site.

For oneirogens, we’ll have a few options:

Mugwort: is a plant (sometimes called a weed) that contains thujone, the active ingredient in absinthe, and is known to promote powerful, visionary dreams and often also lucid dreaming. You can get dried mugwort at many health food stores that sell bulk herbs. We’ll be working with mugwort as a scent in dream pillows. To make a dream pillow, start with a sachet, or sew together two pieces of cloth to create a small pillowcase, or even use the end of a sock. If you want a stronger experience, you can add a couple drops of mugwort essential oil to your dream pillow mix, but this isn't necessary. Stuff the herb into the pillow (you can use the cut off top of a small water bottle as a funnel) and place near your head at night.

Calea Zacatechichi: is an herb used by the Chontal natives indigenous to the Mexican state of Oaxaca for the purposes of oneiromancy, a form of divination based on dreams. In some Mesoamerican cultures, people believe that dreams happen in realms beyond those we consciously perceive and that the contents of dreams can convey meaningful messages or prophecy. The herb also induces lucid dreaming. Calea can be brewed into a very, very bitter tea by steeping two to three grams (a really heaping tablespoon) of dried and crushed leaves in a cup of simmering (not boiling) water for 15 minutes. The taste is nasty, but it’s effective. You can also make an extract by soaking the same proportion of dried leaves to liquid in vodka or some other alcohol for a few days, shaking frequently, then straining out the leaves. Finally, the dried calea can be smoked. We’ll use all three methods. Calea can be ordered online or purchased in some stores that sell herbs. We buy ours from the Botanical Preservation Corps.

Galantamine: or, in its organic form, red spider lily, is used to treat Alzheimer’s and other memory impairments. An alkaloid, Galantamine is believed to increase the concentration of acetylcholine—a neurotransmitter that plays a very active role in dreaming—in the brain. Used to promote lucid or vivid dreaming, Galantamine is taken five hours after you go to sleep, right when the longer periods of REM sleep begin. Set an alarm just before bed. Galantamine can be purchased at some supplement stores, or online.

Mugwort Dream Notes, by Estelle

Lights out about 930; woke 11 pm; 1215 am; 130; 4; 6; 7

A. At school a course with animated stick figure – very active and hyper

B. Self ?? images – island and other?

C. In a hot air balloon in a house – waiting for my partner who is still on the floor of the house to get organized to be with me; in Hawaii with DH and PK; DH Is driving, and I see a snorkel site in a contained pond that I want to visit and wonder how to access it. Next we three are on the Big Island looking at a house. I approach the pool area (curved pool separated from the ocean by a L-shaped house) and think “Mom is going to love this.” She comes into the area on the opposite side of pool and expresses “This is what I’ve been looking for” and/or “I could do this.”

D. At the airport and run into the entire Rolles Branch – we greet, hug, etc. – and I wish Kiki a happy 50th birthday

E. In a very large restaurant – and sitting in a very large booth – both in size and height. A large group – 30 people come and sit in the other part of the booth and extend out into the restaurant on a long, long table (made up of many tables together). This is not enough room for the group, and two people come to sit in my area – a father and child. I get up to leave because of the child.

F. I arrive at a restaurant with two men – one is my lover, the other not. The restaurant is in a house and just opening – and it is still daylight out. Are we there for early dinner or brunch? I immediately start to undress, taking off my slacks and shirt (or is it a jumpsuit?), and place these clothes on the back of chair to hold the table. I realize that I am in my bra and panties – and that they are from the same collection, but don’t match in color – the bra is nude and the panties black. I feel I need to put back on my clothes – at least the slacks – in part because the black panties seem to create a face image – a bit menacing. I go to find the restroom, and ask a young waitress pushing a cart where the restroom is. No answer as she continues on her way I gently hold her arm to stall her and ask again. She gets upset. I explain my position – that I needed the restroom and that I found it a lack of service not to respond. She tells me she doesn’t like that I held her back. I explain that I could have done it more harshly. I learn that the restaurant is on the second floor. Up there is a mirror and I dance in front on of it.