Dream from Dec. 13, ’09.
There are two tribes. They used to be one tribe but there was a conflict or disagreement — some hurt or injury or anger — that resulted in a division such that they were no longer one tribe, but two.
Even the land is divided – half of it is dry (parched, cracked), and barren of trees.
The other half is also dry, but there are some trees for shade.
I see (as if as an observer or watching a film), a close-up of what’s happening.
The cattle and people in the land with no shade have nowhere to hide, nowhere to go when the sun is high. The sun beats down on them – everyone and all the cattle lay on the ground as if they have collapsed from the heat. At first I see this as a ‘general’ image, then the specifics of these people, and these cattle, as I move in closer to the scene.
I hear myself say, looking at the dark, red, sunburned bodies of the people ‘they are being baked alive’.
There is place on the earth — a line – a clear demarcation, which marks the boundary between the two tribes. They (either both tribes, or perhaps the one that left) put it there when the tribe split in two. At first it was more like a line of chalk upon the ground (‘this is my side, that’s your side’), but over time the earth itself has changed and now the ground is clearly different on each side of this dividing line. The ground on the side with no trees is dry, deeply cracked, hard. The topmost surface is so dry and dessicated that it curls up along the edge of the cracks, as if the earth is shriveling. The earth on the side with some trees is not quite so dry — the ground is more brown and looks more like earth, and there are scattered blades of grass. Even so, it is far from lush.
I go to the side with the trees. In the same heat of the day, the people and cattle take refuge under the trees. It’s not much, but it helps. (The trees provide little shade — it’s more that the people and cattle gather close to the trees and it is the shadow of the trees that they seek).
I notice, around the trees, a raised section of earth – like when landscapers put mulch (compost/wood chips) around a tree. The outer rim of each raised section is somewhat higher than the rest of the mound, like a ‘lip’ around the edge. I notice at one point that the depressions or indentations within the raised edge are filling with water (as if from a hose).
I walk around, looking at these raised areas. I am near some cattle.
I am surprised – I hadn’t expected to find water! I realize that all/many of the trees are filling with water within the indented mulch mounds around them.
At one point, I reach down to one of these mounds around a tree and open the edge/lip – the water flows out. But then part of me understands the purpose of the mounds – it’s supposed to collect the water – the indentations/depressions are supposed to hold the water so it has a chance to be absorbed by the trees.
I repair the hole I made – pulling the soft dirt back up into place – it’s not as neat as the original, but it holds.
The other tribe has heard that there’s water. They are crossing over into this area – as if this tribe has called them to come over.
I see the people and cattle of the other tribe – they are so exhausted that they can barely walk. Their heads hang – they are too weary, too burned, too parched to fight. They did not come to fight – this is not a raid – they came here because whatever it was that the original fight was about – whatever it was that they left over – no longer matters.
What matters is that they are dying and will all die but for their brothers and sisters of this tribe who have called them here. [‘brother’ & ‘sister’ as inclusive terms, denoting that they are all one family]. They are too weak to fight and can only accept what is being offered: shade – and water.
What I see is a group of people so weary and exhausted that they can barely walk. I see that this other tribe, while they don’t have much, miss their brothers and sisters and seek to be one tribe again.
I have the impression that the tribe in the land with the tress has long been calling to their brothers and sisters. There are other impressions and associations about being divided and coming together and healing and time.