Hey everyone – Aaron here again!

So, it is interesting that our very first newsletter was written by Brenda Sue on March 3rd, when we were all dreaming of warmer weather, and it was on the topic of Dreams. Fast forward to the present as I type this in July, and it is 92 degrees outside, humidity is in full force and those warm days are HERE. The Devil has come to sit his butt crack on the surface of the earth. In any case, I’m here to talk about dreams today, too. Dreams and Fear. 

I have always been, from as far back as I can remember, (and still am) terrified of enclosed spaces and heights. I truly believe this is some past life trauma shit that is sticking with me and I’m trying to work through. I have answers and clarity on some of it, not so much on other aspects of it. However, still to this day I will NOT, I repeat will NOT ride an elevator. It makes it inconvenient when traveling or in a new space with other people and having to explain my terror. I once explained it to my boss at an insurance job I had in college as he was waiting for the elevator for (he was mistaken) US to get in and ride upstairs to the office. I explained my horror and he laughed and then realized I was serious and kindly took the stairs with me, even though I insisted he should take the elevator. And folks wonder why I have anxiety? Imagine that interaction alone! Jeez… As our girl Camille (or as I fondly refer to her as Camillionaire – should she ever pursue a career in R&B music or performing spoken word poetry, she owes me for that one) would say: I digress…

With the combination terrors of heights and enclosed spaces – I have (yes, gasp and clutch your pearls) NEVER flown in a plane before… and I am 29 (will be 30 at the end of this year #SagSeason). I know that part of that is due to my upbringing in a working class – transitioning to lower-middle class family and then continuing to let those two fears control me into my adulthood. However, the THOUGHT of getting on a plane scares me to death, not to mention the take off, travel, landing, and goddess forbid TURBULENCE?! Oh no, no!).

The other night, I had a dream – (see how I’m coming back to it, stick with me and also welcome to my brain, lol.. Also, not a hot take but I used to prefer typing “Haha” when something was funny and now I prefer “lol” regardless of the context, so does that make me old? Sound off in the comments below which team you are #TeamHaHa or #TeamLol) wherein Christian (my husband for those of you who listen to the podcast) and I were tied together with these yellow chains at the wrists and feet. We were being led through an airport and being guided toward the plane. We were both freaking out internally but saying nothing to each other – just exchanging terrified glances. We are finally seated on the plane (btw, it’s a “normal” plane – like a commercial airline plane and not a small “sky-diving” plane, and every seat is full.) 

In the dream, I look over and tell Christian “I can not jump out of this plane.” He looks at me and says, “I can’t do this shit either.” Suddenly, this male passenger from the front of the plane turns around and yells back at us, “You can’t jump even if you wanted to! Neither of you have parachutes.” We both nervously laugh and I feel (in the dream) a huge weight being lifted from us both. The male passenger then re-engages us by stating, “See! Flying isn’t so bad now that you don’t have to jump out of the plane, is it?” In the dream, Christian and I both start to laugh and relax into our seats as the plane continues on its voyage.

I woke up the next morning feeling lighter and remembering every detail of this dream (which, as I’m sure is the case with many of you reading this, is very difficult for me to do). I told Christian about it over coffee and he found it to be very strange and interesting. I kid you not, y’all – the mere THOUGHT of getting on a plane used to terrify me (up until the night of this dream, even) and now I WANT to fly. I have been thinking about getting on a plane and traveling someplace else and it seems exciting rather than scary (although, I’m still not there yet with elevators.) I told this story to Brenda when I went to her house recently and she felt that it was one of my guides – the man on the plane – helping me overcome this fear. I have to agree because it just seems too divine.

I’m wondering – have any of you ever overcome a fear by living through it in a dream? Have you ever had a vision or traveled to another plane (*pun intended*) (during a dream or otherwise) wherein you face something that ends up allowing you to release or move past a fear or restriction? It was such a cool experience, and as soon as I get on a plane to travel, I will update you all on how it felt for me. Take care of yourselves and each other; always with love – 

Cheers,
-Aaron Barringer