Dreaming the Photograph

A photograph of Cannon Beach Oregon from 9/9/13
CC Jean Stimmell

A dream I had on 9/13/14

Walking along the shore trying to find access to the ocean

when at last a run-down state park appears on my right.

I pass through an overgrown field of rubble and old tires

and come to a gate in an old rusty chain link fence:

Passing through, I come to the ocean,

a sandy beach shelving off steeply into swirling surf...

Large luminous waves crest and break as they near shore

 which would normally lure me to jump in and body surf

but this whole scene seems ominous and treacherous 

so i gingerly wade out in the surf just to my ankles 

when I am grabbed by an immense undertow

which I have to fight with all my might

 to escape back to solid ground.

An interpretation of my dream:

The stale, dry overgrown world of the intellect

counting how many angels can dance on a pin

is no a longer a fulfilling prospect for me.

Yet having the courage to descend down 

to immerse myself in Anima's mystery

in the moist waters of the unconscious

and raw emotions is still very scary to me