
I had a dream last night that a sorcerer bound myself and two of my friends together with black string, with a few feet of length between each of us.
We attempted to cut the string, but each time we tried, it became stronger and thicker, until it was a tightly coiled black rope that no one knew how to cut or unbind.
We were told that there was another sorcerer in a distant land who should be able to help us, and we set out to find him, having many adventures – both challenging and fun, along the way. On our journey, we learned to cooperate and collaborate well, and to navigate together successfully. The thing I remember most about the feeling of this experience within the dream is the humor that we all shared at our situation, and by the time we did finally find that other sorcerer, it no longer felt like a frustration to be bound together.
But we had come to have those ties unwound, and the sorcerer easily dissolved the ropes. At first, we were all overjoyed to finally have our freedom and set off in three completely opposite directions to re-find our individual paths.
But it didnāt take very long to realize that once we had become accustomed to the challenges of being so closely tied, we had all been so much happier, together. I felt a tremendous sense of sadness and loss, and I began walking back to the crossroads that we all had parted from, hoping my āfamilyā would also be moving back that direction to find a path that we could walk together. I awoke, still experiencing a little of that grief.
In the Yogic tradition, we are taught that we all have invisible lines of energy called Nadis that connect us to Source, each other, and the Universe at large. Those lines that connect us to our most loved ones are like the thick cords of my dream, but we have many etheric connections to those around us. They are there because we need connection to others. These cords can provide information, give and receive energy and to those trained to recognize and move energy, even heal.
But these cords can also be used to harm, siphoning energy or life force from those around or conversely, draining ourselves dry as we give too much of ourselves to others, if we are not emotionally healthy.
The pain from this can cause us to isolate; to draw away from everyone out of our hurt and pain. As we create this distance, we also loosen those ties and the connections we have to others, often leaving us feeling empty and alone. I believe our addiction to technology ironically emphasizes this. We are more connected and also disconnected than ever before – perhaps a large reason for the dramatic uptick in depression, suicidal ideation and most tragically, unaliving – a rarity until the last decade or so.
I think the dream was a reminder that we need those cords. It is a reminder that even when we are annoyed or frustrated with our loved ones, when we communicate, cooperate, collaborate and find healthy ways to compromise to work together, we will always be happier journeying together than when we isolate or think that we always have to walk our paths alone.

This is not to say that codependency is a healthy thing. If we feel that we need another human in our life to feel fulfilled – If we canāt be content or at peace when we are alone with ourselves, it is probably because there is some aspect of our internal self that we are avoiding out of fear or dislike. There will also be times when we really do need to spend some time on our journey with ourselves – to heal, to figure out something important or just to learn to truly like and feel complete and comfortable in our own company.
But big picture, we need those cords that keep us connected to others. We need to be loved, and to love. We need to share laughter, tears, ideas, adventures and experiences with other souls – our families, our friendships (framily) romantic partners, or our communities. Ideally, a combination of all of these, and maybe even a furry companion or two (or four, for some of usā¦šš)
This need for connection and collaboration is true on a larger scale, as well. Democrats versus Republicans, men versus women, white versus⦠every other raceā¦you get the picture.
Itās all fear-based indoctrination and intentional segregation/separation. But this division is not truth. We are all a unique amalgamation of past experiences and patterns that lead us to whatever ideology we happen to be holding right right now. But if we are at the extreme of one place or another, we are in separation and lacking the balance that being able to see two sides of what is often the same coin can bring.

If we allowed ourselves the ability to step outside of our egos and identification to recognize the fact that underneath our ideological programs, we are all just humans, trying our best to figure things out on this big, beautiful planet.
Wouldnāt it be better if we had the gift of many different mindsets to learn and grow from? Not to mention, if we made all of the folks out there that we labeled as āotherā or even āenemyā into friends on our journey, what an amazing, big beautiful party this life could become.
Something to think about.š
Big loveš
