Susan Elizabeth Hale

Recently, sorting through some old papers, I came across dreams I had about singing. Reading them speaks to me of the time we are in now and of the healing power of song. I believe these dreams are not for me alone.

Dream One: I'm driving through the country. There's a flash of yellow light in the sky. I realize it is a nuclear explosion. I'm scared but I hear a voice say, "Don't worry, You're safe. It's not what you think." I talk with a singer.We tone and sing together. We are supposed to take the energy from the nuclear explosion and let it out through our voices."

Dream Two: I'm outside in Indonesia with my parents and a tall man. We're trying to decide where to go. I hear women chanting. The tall man looks and me and says, "Susan, do you want to go there?" I say "yes." I am in the place where the chanting emanates from. It is full of temples and interesting trees and I am in awe.

Dream Three: I'm outside underneath a wooden stairway tyring to find my way. There are cobwebs on the wood frame. I crawl on my belly underneath a board and emerge in a backyard full of people. Facing us, sitting on the sidewalk, is a group of antagonistic people challenging us. We sit on the grass facing then. I sing "We Are the World," People from both sides sing with me until we mingle and become one group.

Dream Four is similar: I'm at a large outdoor gathering. Someone asks me to go on stage. I don't have anything prepared. I don't think I can do this. I go on. As I look at the audience I talk about song and peace. People are interested and follow me out to the land. I talk about two extremes. One person wants to live her life as a prayer. The other is despondant. I talk about the importance of bringing them together and sing a song from Paul Winter's Missa Gaia:
If the people lived their lives

As if it were a song

For singing out of night

Provides the music for the stars

To be dancing circles in the night

What do your dreams say about singing? Do you hear music in your dreams?