Tuesday, June 17, 2025: 11:14 PM: Calling About the Red Book: This afternoon I had two dreams. The first dream took place in the house I mostly grew up in. In this dream I was in my old bedroom across from the master bathroom.
The bedroom had the old Pirate Gold paint job that was in the room when I occupied it in reality. It still had the old orange colored shag carpet, too. In reality, the upstairs of the house was totally recarpeted in the mid-1980s.
I could only see the desk in front of me, with shelves and an area for a computer monitor on top of it. But I had the sense that the bedroom had a lot of heavy oak wood furniture in it that you would expect to find in a bedroom, including a bed.
There was a lamp on the very top shelf of this desk, the desk being on the west wall of the bedroom. The lamp was casting light down on me from its position, which was on the left side of the shelf, practically in the southwest corner of the bedroom. My bedroom in reality was on the northern side of the house with the window facing north.
It seemed to be late afternoon in this dream. I was on the phone with someone that I’d already spent quite a bit of time with. I had called them back to ask them if they wanted me to buy them a copy of the book I’d been telling them about in the first conversation.
I made it clear to this person that I was only calling them again to ask if they wanted a copy of the book. I never actually saw the book, but I had a sense that it was a red hardcover about the thickness and size of a Bible.
The dream ended there, me feeling a bit of apprehension, not wanting them to resent the additional time spent with me on the phone. In fact, I was determined to simply ask the question about the book and then get off the phone without drawing them into another lengthy conversation. I don’t know why I felt concerned about taking up too much of their time in this dream, but I did.
I know it was a man I was talking to because he answered the phone saying a woman’s name, him apparently thinking it was a woman named Maria calling him when he picked up.
I think I woke from this dream around 3:30 PM. But I’m not sure. I wasn’t feeling well when I laid down to take a nap around 3:00 PM. I got up, used the bathroom and fell asleep again five minutes later. There really was no sense of feeling about this first dream upon waking. I was just that out of it.
Emotions and Moods:
- Apprehension: Concern about taking up too much of someone’s time during the phone call.
- Determination: Focus on asking a single question without engaging in a lengthy conversation.
- Sense of Obligation: The need to confirm if the other person wanted a copy of the book.
- Neutrality: Lack of strong feelings upon waking from the dream.
- Confusion/Uncertainty: Not being sure about the exact time of waking from the dream.
Key Symbols & Characters:
- The house I grew up in
- The old bedroom with Pirate Gold paint and orange shag carpet
- Heavy oak furniture
- The desk with shelves and lamp
- The red hardcover book resembling a Bible
- The man I called answering the phone and mentioning “Maria”
Visions of Data and Connections: I woke from dream two at 4:37 PM. In this second dream, I was talking to Dad about fixing a thick white data cable that had broken off of a big blue drum that it seemed to go in one side of and out the other. The cable was about the thickness of a swimming pool noodle. The drum was about the size of a fifty-five-gallon oil, kerosene, or gas drum and about the same shape. I knew the drum had a bunch of electronics in it.
Dad wanted to reconnect the cable to the drum again so he could send email through it. I told him that it was quite obvious that the company that hooked it up to the drum the first time only did it as a temporary connection. I explained to him that they had no intention of making things permanent because they were being bought out by another company that would be using a totally different digital data system for email and other things.
I then explained that we didn’t need the drum to get things working again because there was no real reason for the connection having been made the way it was in the first place. I told him the drum only complicated things, and we simply needed to disconnect the continuation of the cable from the other side of the drum, splicing the two ends together so he could send and receive his emails again.
But Dad kept insisting that he had to reconnect the cable to the drum, which I knew wasn’t going to work well at all because something was wrong with the electronics in the drum. I was getting annoyed with his insistence that he knew the right way to do this kind of connect and I told him it was an overly complicated fix as the drum wasn’t functioning properly and there was no way to fix what was wrong with the drum’s components.
Then Dad took the “my feelings are hurt” tone with me, still trying to convince me that he knew best. At the end of the vision, I told him, “Fine. It’s going to be a huge waste of our time, but since you are so sure about it, we’ll do things your way.”
I woke from this dream kind of amused, quite certain that had the dream continued on it would have ended with him doing the simple repair hours and hours later after all. In the dream I was irritated though. I have seen the same data cable in a dream before a few months back. But I never figured out what it meant.
This second dream took place in a clearing behind a building or house. I never did get a good look at the structure, our focus being on each other and the cable and drum set up.
Emotions and Moods:
- Neutrality: The initial reaction upon waking from the dream.
- Amusement: Reflecting on the situation with a sense of humor after waking.
- Irritation: Frustration with Dad’s insistence on a complex solution.
- Certainty: Confidence in the proposed simpler solution to the cable issue.
- Annoyance: The tone of interaction when trying to persuade Dad.
- Hurt feelings: Dad’s emotional response to the disagreement.
Key Symbols & Characters:
- Dad: A character mentioned in the dream about fixing the data cable and drum.
- Thick white data cable: A key symbol in the dream, described as the thickness of a swimming pool noodle.
- Big blue drum: Another symbol, described as the size and shape of a fifty-five-gallon oil or gas drum, containing electronics.
- Broken connection: Referring to the issue with the cable and drum setup.
- Email and digital data system: Concepts tied to the functionality of the drum and the cable.
- Temporary connection: Highlighted as the initial state of the setup, with implications of impermanence.
Interpretation & Meaning: I’m doing one interpretation for both dreams here because it’s pretty clear to me that the central theme of both is communication and connection.
- Transmission of Information: In the first dream, I made a phone call with a singular, focused purpose; to ask if someone wanted a copy of the red book, a thick volume that reminded me of a Bible. That brief call could be considered almost ritualistic, a careful and deliberate approach to sharing something weighty. The second dream showed me repairing a data cable in order to restore email communication. Both experiences underscored that how I transmit information; whether by spoken word or digital signals; is crucial for maintaining proper and effective communication.
- Symbols as Conduits: The red hardcover book serves as a symbolic repository of knowledge or wisdom, perhaps even a specific message that I’m meant to share. In the other dream, the thick white data cable and the big blue drum act as tangible tools for channeling digital data. Each of these symbols represents a medium of connection; they bridge gaps; be it between people or between electronic points; and remind me that every transformation of information requires deliberate management. I’m exploring the balance between sharing what I know and the frustration I feel when communication channels become overly complex.
- Efficiency vs. Complexity: I noticed that in the first dream I was determined to ask just one clear, direct question, avoiding unnecessary interaction. In contrast, the second dream left me feeling frustrated with an overly complicated connection setup with Dad, where simplicity was sacrificed for complexity. These contrasting approaches highlight an inner tension: how much energy am I willing to invest in communication or problem-solving, whether it’s personal or technical?
- Interpersonal Dynamics and Authority: The first dream carried a subtle anxiety about imposing on someone else’s time, while the second featured a clash with Dad, who insisted on a method I found inherently flawed. Both scenarios reveal a struggle to balance taking initiative with respecting the expectations or authority of others. They remind me to examine the ways in which my methods of communication; among peers, family, or in my work; serve to be both effective and respectful.
These dreams suggest I might be processing how I connect with my inner self (possibly symbolized by the red book’s wisdom, assuming that it actually contained wisdom) alongside my social and familial relationships (as seen in the data connection with Dad). They leave me with a few probing questions:
- Personal Rhythms: Do I sometimes feel that my methods of communication; both personal and technical; are growing unnecessarily complex when deep down I yearn for something more streamlined and direct?
- Modern vs. Traditional: The juxtaposition of a timeless object like the red book with modern symbols such as email and data cables might be reflecting an inner dialogue about balancing tradition with contemporary methods. How is this interplay shaping my approach to both my spiritual and technical projects?
- Control and Efficiency: My insistence on a simplified, efficient fix in the dream with Dad might be tied to a broader desire for clarity in my daily practices; whether I’m crafting incantations, optimizing WordPress databases, or refining my spiritual routines. Are there parts of my work or personal life where simplifying my methods could create more harmonious outcomes?
Both dreams, set against very different backdrops; a childhood bedroom versus a clearing that hints at transition; converge on the idea that communication, in all its forms, holds a sacred and ritualistic power. These insights invite me to explore how I might blend the depth of traditional wisdom with the clarity of a modern, direct approach.
Connections to Waking Life: These dreams may reflect my focus on improving communication in my personal and professional life, as things have become overwhelming. I’ve noticed that people often overcomplicate their lives, which then affects mine from time to time. I’m working to make sure I’m insulated from that more and more.
So, there’s a chance that the dreams could be a report of how well that is going, too. If that’s the case, “Things aren’t going great, but they aren’t bad, either.”
The dreams might illustrate how I feel when I consider other people’s time, and they do not reciprocate. This dynamic is evident in Dream One and Dream Two in distinct ways that are noticeable. In Dream One, Brian attempts to be considerate by offering a book to someone, being aware that he had already spent a long time on the phone with that person earlier in the day. Then, in Dream Two, here’s Brian sharing his expertise with someone who’s hell bent on wasting Brian’s time right along with their own because they can only see doing things their own way.
How often has that played itself out in reality? More times than I care to count, “That’s for damn sure!”
And what is the emotional common denominator for Brian in both dreams? “Stress!”
Stress Example One was My Apprehension. I was truly concerned about taking up too much of someone’s time during the phone call in the first dream, really not wishing to piss them off. That is something I would be concerned about in reality, which causes me stress.
Stress Example Two was My Irritation. I was feeling frustration with Dad’s insistence on a complex solution in the second dream, me knowing that the work it would generate wasn’t worth it. But here’s me, trying to be nice anyway, “Right?”
In the first dream, some would say my apprehension or anxiety over making that second call is the good kind of emotional stress to have. And, to some extent that’s probably true. However, I can’t really help but wonder if it’s necessary for me to be feeling the angst I do at times when such a situation comes up in reality? “Perhaps I really do stress too much about reaching out to some people?”
The second dream raises a valid point, too. I still tolerate irritating behavior from others more than I should. While I’m improving at stopping their manipulative tactics, I need to work more on preventing their drama from affecting my life. So, when I stop to consider the emotion I was feeling in the second dream, I think it was partly meant to illustrate this point.
I could probably look at all of this from other angles. But I’m pretty sure that after six pages of AI assisted analysis and writing, I’ve got a pretty good handle on what this was all about. If I don’t, “I’m sure I’ll know soon enough.”
One more thing to note. It appears that in visions and dreams, “Dad” now represents pending communication with either my niece or nephew. Previously, my brother primarily fulfilled this role, but it seems that Dad has since taken over.
It’s not written in stone that I’m going to get a call from my niece or nephew when I dream about Dear Old Dad, but more often than not, “It happens.”
Occasionally, Dad appears in my dreams, his presence there indicating to me that he will visit Brian Schnabel’s Head Space soon. This doesn’t happen often, even when his IP address changes, him sometimes using Google services to hide his identity. So, if the dear boy turns up in my server records, “I won’t be surprised.”