Three Fold Utopian Dreams

I have half written DJ’s and scribbles overflowing my computer and phone…
I’ll post them eventually but for now we’ll focus on the recent one.
As always... my own thoughts during the dream are italicized & moments of lucidity are specified.


Pala
This one is from the other night.

I’m standing in a line of some sort with what seems to be mostly asian people in an enclosed stairwell? Feels like an apartment building. I look over the railing and see the line wraps all the way down past my vision… Wow. Everyone seems to be dressed in a very flamboyant fashion… feather boas, face paint, vibrant colors, spandex, & more spandex. Fucking spandex.
Ok anyways, the line is slowly moving and I see a roof entrance.
Cool, I'm almost to the top.

I go to walk on the first step of the last flight of stairs but I stumble and fall back. Some asian guy behind me breaks my fall.

Me: “I’m so sorry…”
Him:“It’s ok, no worries. All the newbies do that on the first last step.”

I give him a puzzled look and he motions back towards the stairs…
dafuq….

The actual stairs are gone and now I see 4 round vents steeply lining the right side of the wall with pieces of thick paper sticking out of them. I don't know how else to describe it. I stare in pure confusion & then turn back to the guy.

Me: “This is insane! How am I supposed to climb this?”
Him: “Here, I’ll help you through it. Just envision the paper being solid like concrete. It’s a rite of passage… they have to make sure your awareness and imagination are strong enough to handle the inside.”
Me: “…The inside of what?”
Him: “Pala…”
Me: “Pala? Like as in…”

He nods and smiles. I get excited and scared all in one breath. I turn back towards the “steps” and focus. The air coming out of the vents is making the paper shake and this doesn’t help.
I’m trying too hard…
Just relax…
Just relax…

I look towards the door and just breathe. I notice the chatter in the stairwell quiet… I can feel all the people silently rooting for me. I see the paper start to still itself in my peripheral…. I reach out and touch the first vent which is about chest height. It feels thick but soft like cardboard…
damn…
I think this is solid as I'm gonna get it…
fuck it!
I'm going for it.

I hop onto the first vent without hesitation. A roar of cheers erupts from the stairwell and the people below me don't seem the slightest bit concerned about me falling on them. The cardboard bends & I start to slip back but the asain guy grabs my ass and pushes me up! I grip the cardboard for dear life as the solidarity falters in and out. I reach out for the second vent. The cardboard feels even thinner than the one I'm on. I look back at my new buddy in fear.

Me: “Holy shit I cant do this!”
Him: “Yes you can! You're a ninja!”
Me: “What?! I’m not a fucking ninja! What the hell is wrong with you?!”
Him: “Yes you are! Tell me you're a ninja! Say you're a ninja!”
Me: (fearful whisper) “I’m a ninja….”
Him: “No! Say it like you mean it! Say it!”
Me: “I’m a aahhhh!”

The cardboard on the first vent finally gives out. I fully grasp second cardboard vent thingy to keep from plummeting onto the crowd below. It bends as I hang onto it while trying to get some sort of traction on the right wall with my sneakers. I feel a hand grab my thigh and jerk me upwards just as the paper I'm gripping starts to tear. It’s the guy again. He's standing on the paper of the first vent just below me like its solid rock. We lock eyes and he stares like he’s known me my whole life…

Me: “I am… a motherfucking ninja….”

The paper/cardboard suddenly solidifies in my grip. I feel light as a feather. I look back at him with a smile on my face as he grabs my sneaker and tucks his shoulder beneath it. I use it to boost myself onto the second vent with ease. I stare at the other two “steps” remaining and simply hop onto them... like a space man walking on the moon. I reach the platform with the door. I turn back and see everyone cheering, clapping, and some people even had tears in their eyes?
Why are they all so happy for me?
I’ve been holding up the line all this time
and yet they cheer…

My helping stranger joins me on the platform & gratitude overflows me as I hug him.

Me: “Thank you…”
Him: “The pleasure was all mine.”
Me: “I don't even know your name…”
Him: “Yes, you do….”

I step back and look him in the eyes… there’s a familiarity in them but I can’t place it. He motions towards the door and I suddenly feel hesitance. I wanna stay on the platform with him…
I don't wanna go anymore. For some reason I just knew we couldn’t walk through the door together…
It was against the rules.
I felt a familiar ache…
like I had been in this situation before... It hurts.
I know he feels my confusion and hesitance but he grabs my hand and places it on the door handle.

Him: “Go… its better if you don't remember everything at once. No worries, we’ll see each other sooner than you think.”
Me: “But….”
Him: “Hurry, you don't have much time.”
Me: “What do mean? I have all the time in world…”
Him: “No, not in this dream... not today.”
Me: “Dream? Wait… this is a Drea-“

I wake up to my alarm just as I slip into lucidity.
Story of my life….