The Oneiromancer's Manual

[alexseanchai]

Title: The Oneiromancer's Manual
Rating: G
Summary: Karen, dream interpretation, and big sisters.
Pairings: None.
Warnings: None.
Word Count: 160
Notes: Inspired by ysabetwordsmith's title prompt in the crowdfunding Creative Jam.

Karen buys every dream interpretation book the Barnes and Noble has. "It's all humans making stuff up," Cassandra tells her. "Not a drop of real magic."

Big sisters, Karen thinks. What do they know?

The thing is, all the books are wrong. Chocolate is love, celebration, and self-reward, but also overindulgence? That doesn't make any sense. Claws mean vulnerability or hostility? Some fae—like the Cait Sidhe, for instance—simply have claws sometimes! Nimbus clouds signify depression or anger? Or (according to a contradictory book) feeling overshadowed, or illness on the way? No, they just predict rain.

"What, you expected wisdom about fae magic from a telephone game that might or might not have a merlin at the other end?" Cassandra says. "You know how rare oneiromancers are. You want a manual, write it yourself. Or at least start keeping a journal." She grins. "I know the perfect place, too."

Dreamwidth, huh? Big sisters can be pretty wise sometimes.

Comments

*laugh*

[ysabetwordsmith]

All of these things are equally true! The reason for so many different books is that dream interpretation is unique to each person, and that's also why you have to write your own. You have to learn what things mean to you. But there are overlaps based on shared culture (in Christianity a snake means evil, but in Paganism it means rebirth) or innate qualities (snow is cold, white, and comes in winter so it can symbolize any of those things). Looking at dream dictionaries can give you ideas of the possibilities.

Re: *laugh*

[alexseanchai]

Indeed!

Glad you enjoyed!

Excellent!

[dialecticdreamer]

Then again, I love the idea of writing your own manuals to begin with. Doing so for dream interpretation just makes me wonder why it's not the default advice!

I love the characterization you've offered in so few words, too.

Re: Excellent!

[alexseanchai]

Glad you enjoyed!