Behind the Name

'Taming the Lion' is based on memorable aspects of the first childhood nightmare that I can recall in vivid detail to this day. This lion has become a symbol for fear in general to me, and now serves as a reminder never to let fear take control - both in dreams and in waking life.

More on dreams: it is my hope to become a regular lucid dreamer - aware and fully capable of taking control whenever I choose. Maybe I will see my childhood dream lion once again. If I do, I will not run away! To kick his ass, or to befriend him? Ah, the power of choice!

 My Childhood Lion

I was in my bedroom, holding my silky ('silky' was the tattered blanket that I took with me everywhere until I was school-aged) when I suddenly had an urge to look outside. I cautiously walked over to the window, glanced down and noticed that there was a lion circling the space in front of my front porch (since my bedroom was on the second floor, I could see the lion clearly, looking down from in front of the window).

It seemed as though he sensed that I had noticed him because he stopped in his tracks almost instantly and met my stare (he had very scary, but shiny eyes that I could see clearly even from that far up). My heart was pounding, not knowing what he was about to do, I decided to run for my parent's room ...

before I finished deciding, he jumped all the way up to my window! I turned around just in time - I know he jumped up, but I ran away before he was level with my window.