Dreams, Symbols and Writing a Book
Episode 18 - What is it like to write? And what is it like to dream?
Greetings,
Hope you’re doing well and are staying close to the fire. It’s been warm lately, but never during the night.
If you’re new here: you are very welcome around the campfire. You may not see them (because it’s dark) but there are bright souls all around you.
“The dream is the small hidden door in the deepest and most intimate sanctum of the soul, which opens to that primeval cosmic night that was soul long before there was conscious ego and will be soul far beyond what a conscious ego could ever reach.” (C.Jung)
What are Dreams?
Please check out the last two episodes if you haven’t done so already: I delve deeply into my personal experience with lucid dreaming, what they are and what they taught me.
If there’s anything you’d like me to cover on this or other topics, please feel free to let me know. You can do so by checking out the poll at the end of this post. On the Substack app you can also Listen to this whole thing instead of reading it, which is a different kind of experience, but useful to those pressed for time, as I’m sure many of you are.
Now, back to dreams. Most people in the modern psychoanalytical field of study argue for the idea that Dreams are Symbols. Jung himself was exceedingly occupied with this concept and dream interpretation was a huge part of his work with patients. He is quoted as saying:
“We have forgotten the age-old fact that God speaks chiefly through dreams and visions.”
Don’t be put off by his use of terminology. It’s likely that, in this context, we can see ‘God’ as being in very close association with the idea of the ‘Collective Unconscious’. You can call it whatever you like, but he is saying that Dreams are a method of communication between your conscious self and your deeper self.
Why is this so?
Because dreams are images, obviously. You are living out theatrical, dramatic events and experiences that mean something. While language can be misinterpreted (and is extremely limited) because words are symbols themselves, images that arouse an emotional response are a lot more direct and tailored specifically to you.
Decoding them may not always be easy and immediate - this is likely because the mind is drowned out by noise and language in its daily operations. So much so that it has started to mistake Reality for Language and not see Language itself anymore.
I made this point in previous episodes, but I shall repeat it again: there is no such thing as a ‘tree’ (or a table or whatever). A ‘tree’ is a word and a word is a symbol that points to a collection of various phenomena. In this sense, a ‘tree’ is not a tree. The tree is there in front of you, but the word is only in the mind.
It’s a bit difficult to wrap your head around this because we are trapped in the need to use language to communicate. It’s not evil, it’s not a conspiracy theory and you’re not trapped in any Matrix. But if you really wish to know Reality or Truth, you must become intimate with it. And in order to do that you must go beyond language.
This is the true nature of the spiritual quest - it’s not about summoning fairies or astral projecting yourself out of here. What is beyond language? What is beyond the word ‘tree’? You may notice that you don’t know. And that, in fact, is the whole point: the mind can’t know anything, it can only know ‘about’ something.
There is more to say on this, but let’s take it slowly, one step at a time.
What is it like to write a Book?
My second novel, Dreamwalker, has just released! I’ve been working on this for just over two years and it’s been a rollercoaster of various emotions, some of which have naturally become part of it.
So far I have written four books and a lot of shorter stories. Only three of these books focus on completely original fiction, so I’ll focus on that. The rest of my work involves so-called ‘fanfiction’, specifically in the universe of World of Warcraft, which I have loved since I was a child and enjoy exploring to this day.
If you’re curious, a huge project was ‘Rise of the Blood God’ (2021), a mostly original tale within the boundaries of this world, and you can find it Here, entirely free. There’s lots I can say about that one, but this is not yet quite the time.
My other books encompass a narrative I’ve been building since I was a teenager. My greatest inspirations at the time were manga and anime, specifically stuff like ‘Naruto’ or ‘Death Note’ or ‘Fullmetal Alchemist’ and many other stories that combined powerful character drama with deep, intriguing concepts.
Anime characters, when done well, are always symbols for some sort of philosophical or moral idea that clashes with another. In this sense, they are extremely layered stories: on one hand you see two teenagers flying through the air and throwing stupidly large weapons at each other, but on another layer it’s really a battle of ideas and dreams.
It was this layered approach that has always inspired me. And no, I have not written ‘anime’ books, but it’s hard to deny that the foundations for my novels are found there. Additionally, I illustrate all my books and my art style has manga at its foundations (and manga itself has traditional Japanese art at its foundations, which is a topic I want to explore further down the line).
Writing a book is a process of exploration. It’s also a process of creation. In some sense I could say: ‘Writing is the creation of discovery.’
It’s not just discovering these characters and ideas as they emerge from the Unconscious - it’s about structuring them into a logical, cohesive narrative with a beginning, middle and end.
But simultaneously, the process also involves allowing these characters (and any writer will tell you the characters are extremely real) to just do their own thing. The more you try to force them to do and act in ways that serve your plot, the more they shrivel and die (or sometimes they rebel), much like living, breathing people. And so it’s about getting to know them intimately and trying to understand them.
Sometimes they move and act and do their thing without your conscious input. Then you just watch and you write what you see. This is the magic of art itself and is what gave rise to my entire brand and this whole thing I’m doing here, with the exploration of the Unconscious. This stuff fascinates me to no end.
Stephen King has a wonderful book on this topic called ‘On Writing’ (2000). In it, he describes the job of the writer as that of an archaeologist, unearthing buried artefacts. All artists in fact, are explorers. And we know that our greatest joy comes from that inner movement, not knowing what’s around the corner.
Here’s what he has to say about this:
“Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.”
This book is legit and it’s part of my list of the best, most transformative books I’ve ever read, which I explore Here.
He also says:
“Your job isn't to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.”
All writers write the books they want to read. It cannot be any other way. But they are also my love letter to Art and Imagination, and in my view these are part of, or indistinguishable, from the Divine.
So in some sense, all my books are dedicated to the Divine because the Divine gives birth to them. In another sense, they are God’s gift to me. And here things start to get blurry, as they should.
But they are also my gift to you and they are dedicated to you. It could also not be any other way, because that awareness behind your eyes which reads them is exactly the same. This is a grand, continuous process of the Invisible becoming Visible. Though the modern world fails to recognise this, when we share Art with each other, we are engaged in a sacred dance.
On Pricing and Formats
Dreamwalker releases in three versions: Ebook, Paperback and Hardback.
Here’s some pictures of the Hardback:
Due to the cost of production, the size of the book and the fact it contains over 30 original full-page colour illustrations, the Hardback edition is priced as an Art Book rather than a novel, far surpassing the market price for most books in the same genre. It is, in many ways, a piece of art that takes the shape of a ‘book’.
The Ebook contains just the story with no art whatsoever, and is the ideal version if you’re just interested in the story for its own sake.
The Paperback meanwhile, contains all the art, illustrations and design elements as intended.
The Hardback version is the definitive experience, with an enhanced cover design, premium ink colour and an additional bonus section at the end of the book which showcases concept art, insights and reflections on the cast of characters as well as the process of writing and designing them (think of a mix between a novel, an art book and a videogame concept-art sheet).
I should also mention that, again, I do NOT use AI-generated Art and I’m not selling you an AI-generated art book. There are a few small instances where AI has been used and integrated into one or two illustrations, but precise details about this are included in the book.
I despise the idea of throwing something at you without fully explaining what it is and how it got made. Technique, as the Greeks would say, remains fundamental and the price of something should reflect imagination, creativity, design, effort and intention.
Art is SACRED and I will hammer down this point until the day I join my ancestors in Valhalla (if I make it there): Art is Divine. It is a Symbol for a connection between mankind and the Gods, a bridge between the visible and the Invisible.
Do not squander it. Do not cheapen it. Do not take it for granted.
You can find my gallery HERE, should you wish to get to know my art journey across the past two decades. I love experimenting with various styles as well as combining 2D with 3D. Some of this is also part of the book.
Conclusion
Thank you for making it here. I have a lot more to share soon, but I’d also like to know what you’d like to see from me. So I’ve made a little poll, and you’re invited to click away your suggestions:
