Am I dreaming?

Excerpt from Cafe of the Heart 2 - The Dark Journey.

The overhead sun radiated warmth. I felt its comforting embrace as I soared across the sky. I flew higher and higher as thermals in the warm air made it easy to ascend. I effortlessly flew on for miles and miles, oblivious to the daily requirements of life. The ocean was a portrait of blue below me and presented itself in all its glory. Occasionally whales or dolphins would break the surface, adding to the richness of the view. I knew I would have to get back to the flock eventually, but for now, in this moment, I was free. I was further elated when joined by an old friend. We flew in unison, movements synchronized as if we were one. On and on we flew, content and grateful for the beauty of this life.

A small voice beckoned me, from somewhere deep within my consciousness. It said, ‘wake up’. It seemed strange as I had never heard this voice before. I ignored the voice for a time but it continued, louder, ‘wake up, wake up’ and suddenly I was in my bed, my wife sleeping beside me. The dream was so vivid and so real, it was disorienting. But in this moment, in the company of my wife with my children near at hand, I was completely happy and content. My life was beautiful and I knew it.

I got out of bed and went the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready for the day, but strangely the voice was still there: ‘wake up, wake up’ it continued. I was confused as I was awake, the dream had ended, yet louder the voice came again, ‘wake up, wake up’ and suddenly I was not myself. It was a very strange feeling, I was everyone all at once. I could see and feel the lives of all the people who have ever existed or will ever exist. It wasn’t me viewing these individuals as separate – I was all of them all at once. A feeling of perfection overcame me. It was beautiful, a panorama of lives – all the manifestations and experiences that made up who I was overcame me. I felt the truth of it all. I knew this was real, but still the voice persisted, ‘wake up, wake up’ but I was awake, really awake, the dream had ended, I could see what I was.

But the voice continued, ‘wake up, wake up’ and then there was nothing – the void, no experience, just simple awareness. Awareness of the One that Is, and I am that. The One Consciousness that manifests experience. I was everything, the only thing, and it was perfect.

Then, disorientation again as I peered at myself in the mirror, toothbrush in hand. Am I dreaming again? Did I just dream of a life as a bird? Did I just dream of a life as all people? Did I just dream of the Universal Consciousness, or am I dreaming that I am a man holding his toothbrush looking at himself in the mirror?

I couldn’t answer any of those questions.