Dream

We can’t just jump into mapping the national dream- we have so many different aspirations flying about and so few cartographers in these times. But if lots of us, all over the country, begin to draw maps from where we sit, and then start joining them together, we can all cover a lot of ground.

Take a step:  Take a little time, and begin to map our future.  Envision your personal dream, your community dream, your national dream, and your world dream.

When you imagine your future self, happily ensconced at the destination of your dreams, what does that entail? What is your utopia? I’m not saying we’re going to get everything we want, but if you COULD, what would that look like? Feel like? Taste like? Now take that fantasy from personal to community- how would your ideal community look and feel? Who are your friends? What does your community do for fun? Where do some of those fantasies meet the reality now? Where do things differ? Is there a way that you can help to change them?

Here’s a way to keep it light and easy:  Sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper and start doodling about your personal dreams. Be as wild and crazy as you like, fantasize a bit, and then take it down to essences.

For instance: If you suddenly envision yourself as Cher in an enormous pink afro and Bob Mackie gown, covered with sparklies and strutting on a stage in front of thousands of adoring fans, go ahead and giggle- but then reduce it down:  Do you long for recognition? Do you want to be a singer? Do you want to be sexy? Do you want to be special? What is the real foundation of that fantasy?

Somewhere inside of that fantasy you’ll find a tiny piece of your True Will, and one tile for the mosaic of your life’s dream. Pin it to the page, and go from there.

After you’ve done this a few times by yourself, get together with a couple of friends and show them how to do it, and then try doing it as a group. It’s a blast.

Call it a Cartography Club, or an Explorer’s League.

More later.

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