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April McMurtry's avatar

The stars 🌟 announcing last call - this line will stay with me for the rest of my life. And the dream of not being forgotten, and the roots as the brain of plants. So joyously grateful to stumble upon your piece this morning!

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Aw, I’m so glad you stumbled here too, thank you April!

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Ryan D. Hurd's avatar

thanks for this lovely read. I was on one of the research teams that validated galantamine as a lucid dreaming aid. And one of our findings is that the compound seems to have a healing effect too. Poetically I apply this concept to your wonderful metaphor here for the spring as one not just of memory but of integration.

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Oh man, that’s so fascinating, Ryan. Remarkable how powerful some of these plants are. I am so new to the world of dreams, what an amazing topic to study!

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Ryan D. Hurd's avatar

Yeah many of these dream herbs are serious! mugwort packs a punch too - one of my favorites and I love how it grows as a volunteer in our yard

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Christi York (Artist)'s avatar

Such an enjoyable read, it’s resonating on several levels with me, thank you.

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Taryn's avatar

Great read as always but most of all thank you for putting words to my hatred of daffodils— now I know the reason!

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Ahhh, so glad you also feel suspect of daffodils, haha. It’s evidently very contentious, but I stand my ground!

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Serendipity Stage's avatar

Snowdrops as a symbol have been coming up for me in art-making, coinciding with a renewed interest in dream science… really fun combo 🌀 And really lovely piece! Thank you for sharing 🙏🏼

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Meg's avatar

Woot. A really good one. Love the structure! Holy crap! By happenstance the snowdrops and the dream school coincided? Stirring.

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Thank you Meg! I especially appreciate the feedback on the structure — it was an experiment! And yes, so serendipitous. I heard my instructor mention galantamine off hand and I perked up instantly.

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Meg Bertera-Berwick's avatar

This is such a beautiful read, Kirk. Thank you so much for sharing my work; it means a lot that it resonated!

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Yes, loved the idea of the simultaneous seasons that live in one’s head!

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meghna rao's avatar

"While the majority of dream content bypasses our conscious memory— preventing neural overload and confusion with reality"—found this so fascinating. great post

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Thanks Meghna! Wherever that subconscious, sense-y, libidinal inspiration comes from, I’m obsessed with getting to know it better!

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wanji.'s avatar

You must know that I have been thinking about this essay for an entire day.

You must also know that your writing speaks to me in a way that is very personal, I adore it.

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Thank you, Wanji! This is very sweet — I’m so glad it resonated with you.

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Terry Angelos's avatar

Thank you for a beautiful and fascinating read.

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Kirk Gordon's avatar

Thank you so much for sitting with it, Terry! 🌼 🙏

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Brenden O'Donnell's avatar

I love the way you personify the limbic system “playing” in the dark. Reading this has helped me think of sleep in new ways.

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