full of interesting, fun, strange, inspiring, wonderful, and otherwise relevant dreamstuff

Thursday, April 29, 2010

This Endless Present's Dream Compilation Album


Yes, dear dreamers, it is true... This Endless Present (dreamzine) is currently accepting submissions for its first dream compilation album.  This project will feature a selection of original music created by *you* and artwork created by *you*, and promises, therefore, to be extra wonderful!

Please email thisendlesspresent@gmail.com with any questions, and remember to have fun with this!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Free Energy: "Dream City"



This song, "Dream City," has an amazing vibe, and if Free Energy had created an official video for the track, that is what would be featured here.  However, behold instead a live performance with the boys shrouded in a red glow.  The sound quality is quite decent, and if this is your first exposure to the group, you will be given a fair example; please, whether or not you find yourself tapping your foot to the beat, do yourself a favor and seek out the original recording, with its improved distorted guitar and happy beats.

Of course this song is about dreams... Songs this happy usually are! :D

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Whatever you can do, or dream you can...

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now." -Goethe

Thursday, April 22, 2010

I Dream'd in a Dream by Walt Whitman

I dream'd in a dream
I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the
whole of the rest of the earth,
I dream'd that was the new city of Friends,
Nothing was greater there
than the quality of robust love, it led the rest,
It was seen every hour in the actions of the men of that city,
And in all their looks and words.

-Walt Whitman

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

The Dark is Rising

"The Dark is Rising," is the first track and single off Mercury Rev's 2001 release All is Dream.   The lyrics are very dream-centric, and emotional, and these, being emitted in Jonathan Donahue's voice, along with the orchestral crescendos and simple strings, give the song its powerful mood.  The video has quite a bit to offer in that way as well, with its combination of dark and bright colors, fast-paced nature scenes and even the integration of some surprising steampunk, it is a very dreamy four minutes (and perfect Springtime music)! 

Monday, April 19, 2010

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland aligns with This Endless Present...

["Oh, I've had such a curious dream!" said Alice.  And she told her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange Adventures of hers that you have just been reading about; and when she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said "It was a curious dream, dear, certainly; but now run in to your tea: it's getting late."  So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been.]

-Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

If you have not yet been exposed to the classic children's book by Lewis Carroll (a nom de plume of English writer Charles Dodgson) entitled Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (often accompanied by its sequel, Through the Looking-Gass), it is, indeed, highly recommend by yours truly that you change that.  The version quoted above is the Barnes & Nobles Classics, with introduction and notes by Tan Lin (ISBN 9781593080150); it comes complete with reproductions of the original artwork done by the artist selected by Carroll, John Tenniel, which are, of course, Victorian masterpieces in themselves. 

This amazing and inventive story has been acted and altered countless times since its publication in 1865, but no matter what attempts are made to recreate the fictional realm of Wonderland, none around Alice seem to understand the reality of the world she has visited upon her explaination, of the place we, as readers and observers, have experienced, but those around her believe to be a creation of dream. 

Perhaps you have experienced a similar scenario when recounting a dream sequence to another individual; emotions feel heartwrenchingly strong, the imagery vividly burned into your eyes to an extent that you could not cool it, some mysterious music or a bloodthinning scream pierced your veins and you had never been so glad to awaken...

This Endless Present: Dreamzine is the place for you, dear dreamers.  It is your playground.  Come in and stay awhile...

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

"In dreams begins responsibility." -William Butler Yeats

Hulu's got Ink

Hulu can be a great resource for anyone who doesn't own a television or other electronic equipment.  (I have watched the entire catalog of "Lost" via Hulu... but that is another story...)  Often I will come across films that I would never have heard of without it.  One such film is Ink, a science fiction film in which good and evil battle during our dreams for our souls.  An interesting concept, and personified execution.  Check it out here: Hulu's Ink.

Monday, April 12, 2010

IASD, Art Contest 2010

Making art from your dreams, as This Endless Present Dreamzine encourages you to, can have a double reward!  The International Association for the Study of Dreaming has an annual conference, this year held in Ashville, North Carolina, June 27-July 1.   Not only is this an extremely interesting event for those of us interested in dreaming, but additionally, part of the conference includes an art contest for art inspired by dreams!

I encourage you to submit art to this contest, as this is a great opportunity to get your name and your art out into the world; also, the cash prizes wouldn't hurt... :)

Find more information here as soon as possible for more information about the contest, as the submission deadline is approaching quickly.  And please, remember your roots by mentioning the zine and url, and of course, by submitting your art to This Endless Present Dreamzine, too! 

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Priscilla Ahn's Dream

This is a lovely song that I came across recently, pretty perfect for Sunday night.  Enjoy...

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Zen Koan #40: In Dreamland

Zen Koans are familiar to practicioners of Zen Buddhism; they are very short stories involving a riddle with a deeper meaning that cannot be obtained via logic or rational thinking.  Often the solution is realized through intuition, stemming from meditation or thought. 

There are more than a hundred Koans in Zen Buddhism, originally conceived and written in Chinese.  The fortieth Koan has the translated title "In Dreamland," and is below, as translated by a Japanese teacher named Muju in the thirteenth century.  

To follow the Zen approach, I will not comment any further.  Enjoy. 



(40)  In Dreamland

"Our schoolmaster used to take a nap every afternoon," related a disciple of Soyen Shaku. "We children asked him why he did it and he told us: 'I go to dreamland to meet the old sages just as Confucius did.' When Confucius slept, he would dream of ancient sages and later tell his followers about them. 

"It was extremely hot one day so some of us took a nap. Our schoolmaster scolded us. 'We went to dreamland to meet the ancient sages the same as Confucius did,' we explained. 'What was the message from those sages?' our schoolmaster demanded. One of us replied: 'We went to dreamland and met the sages and asked them if our schoolmaster came there every afternoon, but they said they had never seen any such fellow.'"

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Joseph Heller on Dreams

"I want to keep my dreams, even bad ones, because without them, I might have nothing all night long." 

-Joseph Heller

Monday, April 5, 2010

Live Your DREAM Life

I wouldn't categorize myself as a "fan" of Deepak Chopra, as being a fanatic over something or especially someone is almost indicative of having a lack of self-definition, and generally something I try to avoid.  I could allow being referred to as a habituĂ© of his Agni website, however, where this month the feature is "Living your DREAM Life." Here is an acrostical preview of what the lifestyle revolves around: 


--
Digest
Relax
Exercise
Awaken
Meditate
--

I found it more than mildly appropriate to make a referral to it.  Not only did Mr. Chopra use a parallel name to this dreamzine project, this endless present, but the ideas behind it are very integral to living the ideal, balanced life that allows one's dreams to be fully functional.  Therefore, I am giving you the aforementioned  referral to his Agni website; found here.

I'd also like to highlight the fact that next Wednesday, April 14, at 14:00 (PST) they are offering a free Live Your Dream Life webinar.  Check out the website for full details from a spiritual & well-being guru who wants you to live the life of your DREAMs.  

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Lady Gaga Does Dreams

"Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you're wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn't love you anymore." 

-Lady Gaga

 

I came across this quote by the self-proclaimed Lady Gaga, which I am passing on for a few reasons.  Most relevant to the dreamzine is that it serves as a reminder to all of us; dreams are not only a jumbled, often confusing, nightly occurrence-- we should not forget about the other types of dreams; those desires which drive our soul. Yes, she may have placed a somewhat cynical slant on it, but the message is still the same: we need to nurture them, follow them, and understand that when we do, we will end up exactly where we are meant to be. 

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Last Day Dream

I don't like to over-exaggerate anything, so in trying to keep my words about this short film simple and minimal, let me just say this... It is powerful, and I sincerely believe that it will change you.  At the very least, it will alter your mood.  Chris Milk did a fantastic job; he succeeded in pulling emotions to the surface in record time as well as making a dramatic point about life.  So give it the amazing 42 seconds of your life that it asks for, but give those 42 seconds your full attention.  And then you will not need to watch it again.  Its point will have been made.