Albert visited last night

Albert visited last night.

Now I don’t know if you all have similar dreams, and I have no idea about dream meanings, it doesn’t really light my fire at this point in my life, but Albert told me that ‘words heal’.

This came during or following one of those dreams where you are stuck to the ground and no matter how hard you push or pull there is no budging. Speaking to a few folks, the theme of walking through treacle or not being able to move at all seems to be quite common in dreams.

My mum and I used to talk about being able to fly in our dreams, usually (always) away from danger or being chased. We both had the same dream. It was very liberating.

In this dream I was pinned to the floor, outside what seemed to be a portacabin, on a slabbed and gravel path, flat on my face, and could barely move my fingertips never mind my body.

I sensed that I had to move, there was danger or urgency.

Clawing at the gravel I was able to push my arms into a press up position. It felt there was a massive weight on me. I could feel the enormous effort required to get on my knees then stand up. I was knackered.

But I needed to get to speak to the old man (Albert) over at the picnic table area. He was with my son, and another close friend. My friend was sitting at the table drinking a cup of tea out of a china cup and saucer, pink rose

patterns on the cup. My son was helping Albert to walk over to the table. He looked about 103. Albert, not my son.

Once up I could move freely, although weary from the effort to rise.

I touched Albert on the shoulder, and he slowly turned to face me.

I noticed the age in his body and skin, yet his eyes were intense and easily the most vibrant part of him (apart from, perhaps, his mind).

This was the part of the dream that was no dream, it was real, it had the clarity of physically being there in reality.

His only words were ‘words heal’.

Then he faded back to dream land Arthur.

Soon after, seconds, immediately perhaps, I woke up. With the clarity of a blast of sea air.

Wtf was that all about, I thought.

Words heal. Yeah but words can destroy. Words can be colourful and uplifting. And words can be dark and foreboding. Jeezo, I’m going all ‘Yin Yang’ again. (And it is Yin Yang not Ying Yang, I looked it up)

Essentially though, we talk, dogs ‘talk’, the earth ‘talks’.

Our background and life events shape how we communicate – The ‘it’s a nightmare’, or ‘it’s an opportunity’ could be a response to the same situation depending on our frame of mind, or to what we have been exposed, and how we have been supported.

Generally speaking, our nature is to survive, whether that be as an individual or as a family or group.

Threats challenge our primal instincts, and we respond in some form or other. Threats, minor or major, are part of life for us all, and words tend to be the first items out of the armoury.

But, as we like to think we are intelligent and measured in this modern world, those words can be either abrupt or comforting. We choose. Or we think we do.

But there is also nurture. We have been taught how to respond by those that have gone before us.

Both nature and nurture have their place, but it must be balanced with our own sense of values created by us, in a manner that feels right in our own personal gut.

Attached to our innate sense of survival, is the drip feed of parental and familial teachings, that give a bit more colour to the raw primate. A bit more flesh on the bones.

Do these values help or hinder you towards the goals that draw you?

I am convinced that the fire in your belly comes from somewhere that is meant for you.

If the values that have been taught or drip fed to you over the years are in conflict with that fire, then there is a discomfort, and a pause to be had: do you adapt your values or your goals, or indeed live with the discomfort.

No-one can answer that for you, although many will try. With their own words. Born out of their values, born out of their experiences, and aiming at their goals.

I think what Albert was alluding to was to follow the healing words and discard the hurting words.

They can even be the same words, but the tone or context is different.

Only you can sense which it is.

It has certainly been a message for me over the years, and a message that I have often not heeded.

Much to my discomfort. Sometimes significant discomfort. Sometimes nearly destroying me.

My coach James often says ‘does it feel light or does it feel heavy’. You will know what is right for you, no-one can tell you.

If there is the word ‘should’ in any advice, then it is an indicator to seriously avoid that advice, or at least pause to think.

As my wise son says: Be kind. Have a blast but be kind.

And as I was told many years ago: Do what makes your heart sing, but to do that you have to listen to the song.

It was probably Albert.