#92: Dream Visitors
A story of a symbolic message delivered to me in a dream from a lost loved one
Currently listening to: Songbird by Eva Cassidy
Hello, friend.
What can we make of the meanings of our dreams? Are the people we meet in them more real than we think?
Earlier this week, as Monday turned into Tuesday, I was looking into the eyes of my great grandfather. You may remember him from letters #54 and #55.
John Alden, the family man, the father of 12, the wonderfully kind man who was quite a talented singer and guitar player, was sitting on a camp chair, smiling at me.
As I approached him, he rose to greet me with a hug. His embrace was strong, not like it was toward the end of his life. I felt the scraggle of his facial hair that was just beginning to peak through on his jaw—unusual, as I only remembered him in life with a clean shaven face.
With our hug ending, I took a step back and again found myself locked eye-to-eye with him, almost hypnotized. Then he began to speak.
“I hear you saw my bird,” he said. “Make sure you take good care of it.”
I nodded, assuring him I would, “It’s good to see you, Grandpa.”
I woke with a start, the gold of the morning beaming in through the blinds of my bedroom window. My comforter was warm around me, a barrier against the frigid air conditioning and my cat who was on my chest already begging—an hour early—for breakfast. My wife continued to snooze beside me.
“My bird?” I recalled as I rubbed the sleep from my face. What did he mean? Did he have a favorite bird?
As the day went on, I set the dream aside and settled into my routine. I mentioned it to my wife, who asked what his message might have represented—she and I both believe our dreams often bear some kind of deep symbolism. I sent a message to my mom and my grandmother (who is the daughter of my great grandfather). Neither of them were certain about a favorite bird or any bird with a strong connection to him.
I found the sentiment interesting given that, recently, my wife and I have been noticing birds often. My wife said she’d like to get into birdwatching as a hobby, and we’ve been listening and watching for them everywhere. She even downloaded an app where your phone can identify the bird calls around you. Maybe grandpa was encouraging this newfound interest?
It was until the mid afternoon when I remembered: my great grandfather’s guitar bore the image of a bird.
The precious guitar, currently in the possession of my uncle Alan, must have been what my grandpa was referring to. It was a bit odd, because I hadn’t actually seen the guitar in quite awhile, and it was not mine to care for.
I messaged my uncle for the second time that day—I had already wished him a happy birthday. Interesting timing, I wondered. Here was our brief exchange:
I marveled at the magical timing of it all. A dream visit from my great grandpa who passed several years ago. A day spent considering its meaning. A revelation at just the right time. Can you imagine if I hadn’t reached out to my uncle and later found out something had happened to the guitar on his walk into the woods?
Still, I think my grandpa’s message was more than just a single warning for my uncle. A few days before this dream, I had picked up my wife’s acoustic guitar and fiddled around with it. I never learned to play—stringed instruments don’t click with my brain for some reason—but I always loved the idea of it. I can sometimes figure out little things here and there. Perhaps my grandpa was encouraging a new musical pursuit with his favorite instrument.
Or perhaps, it meant something even more mysterious. Something about the bird as a “spirit animal” that represents some lofty ideas about the state of my being. A quick search showed me that birds are often thought to bridge the heavens and the earth, acting as spiritual messengers, which seemed to fit given my dream visitor from the other side.
This all made me reflect on the other visitors I’ve had over the years, the loved ones I’ve lost. My cousin, Karl (also a descendant of my great grandfather). My friend, Kyle. I have been visited by both of them in my dreams since their passing. Every time, I am always greeted with silent smiles and small messages. Every time, I wonder what they might be trying to tell me and come up with a range of different answers.
As my life moves forward—work goes on, time passes, and the world changes—I think the purposes of my dream visitors are never singular. They mean to make me think, to consider their secret meanings, to wonder about where they are. I believe they are asking me to remain open in the way I interpret the world around me, to always read between the lines.
I also believe that they are there just to smile at me, to give me a hug, and to assure me know that they are still there, somewhere. They are okay. And I will be too.
The Living Music List
Hello again, friend. I hope you enjoyed today’s reflection—and I hope you have had some meaningful dream visits in your lifetime. I’d love to hear about your own encounters. Feel free to share them in the comments!
As we sit and reflect on these dreams, let’s listen to some new music! A bunch of new album recommendations for you below.
Happy listening.
Still Beauty by zakè & marine eyes (album / drone, vocal ambient) [Past Inside the Present]
A new collaboration of quiet, minimalist music from 2 of my favorite ambient artists in the PITP family, with soft textures, cool voices, and tape-saturated drones melding together like a healing salve for the ears.
Pareidolia by Jake Muir (album / dark ambient, drone) [enmossed]
This dark and uneasy ambient album was formed from manipulated atmospheric excerpts of hundreds of black metal and death metal tracks.
Tamayura by Haruhisa Tanaka (album / new age) [Nettwerk]
This suite of tracks sounds like the twinkling of refracting light constantly overlapping, ramping up and then receding. In Japanese, “tamayura” translates literally to the sound made when two jewels or beads gently strike one another, but is commonly used to describe a fleeting moment or ephemeral resonance.
Lithic by Laura Misch (album / downtempo jazz) [One Little Independent]
While it’s difficult to categorize Laura Misch’s music, it’s simple to fall in love with it. Her soft saxophone riffs, ambient drones, lowkey textural beats, and her deep, satin-smooth voice all combine to create a spellbinding and meditative listening experience.
Entertain the Space by Lennie Rayen (album / indie rock) [Independent]
Heartfelt, yearning, and headstrong, Lennie Rayen’s breathy voice is the soul of this traditional singer/songwriter-focused indie rock record. The guitar tones are super satisfying throughout too.
Philadelphia’s been good to me by Kurt Vile (album / indie rock) [Verve]
This new Kurt Vile record channels a different slice of indie rock that bleeds into the buzzy, twangy territory of both country and folk. I’m reminded of artists like Jeffrey Lewis. This is a fun one for a drive in the sun.
Music List Reminders: Bandcamp links provided first when available—if an album is not on Bandcamp, then YouTube or other preview links are provided. List format: Title by Artist (release type / approximate genre or subgenres) [Label].
That’s all for this week’s issue. Thank you for reading. Until next time.
Your friend,
Melted Form
Read the previous issue of The Living Music List:
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love your great grandfather dream. gifts from the beyond. and thanks for your kind words on still beauty! appreciate you.
A great story. As far back as I can remember, I've always been fascinated by the dreamworld, and they substantially influence my work.