I Know How to Fly

True Story. Flying Lesson #2

Have you ever had a dream so vivid, so real, so emotion filled that you woke knowing with complete clarity exactly how the experience felt? Not just in your head, but in your body, too? I dreamt I could fly.

I am sad to say that I haven’t had a flying dream in quite some time, but the ones I had have stuck with me ever since. They continue to resonate in my body and mind. I can recall all the details, almost relive the experience whenever I need a fix.

Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.

This famous quote is by John Hermes Secondari, not Leonardo da Vinci, who many have incorrectly attributed it to. Secondari wrote the words, channeling the real ideas and passions found in Leonardo notebooks, for a TV documentary on DaVinci. Secondari sounds like he understands the experiences I am about to share.

Typically my flying dreams are of a younger me, just walking down a sidewalk alone or with friends. The first time it happened, in the dream I was thinking how fun it would be to fly. An unknown force lifted my legs up from under me so that I was in a prone position floating on air, about three feet off the ground. In another dream I was walking with friends and nonchalantly said, “I can fly.” They laughed in disbelief until I lifted my legs and floated up in the air, gently flying down the street and circling back to their amazement. The dreams don’t last long but the feelings of weightlessness, calm and peace do remain into the next day.

(I should probably note that there were no drugs, alcohol, altered states, mysticism or voodoo involved before, during or after these dreams.)

On January 4, 1997, I had my biggest and best fly dream. I remember this because the next morning I detailed it in my journal. True story.

“I had a flying dream last night. To me they are the ultimate of dreams, To me, to fly means I am relaxed, happy - totally keyed out. Just pick up my feet and float. So in this dream I had flown to Mary Jo’s. It was time to leave but I had to take my mother and sister with me. I was worried that I would not be able to fly with the extra weight - that I didn’t know how or if it would work. What if I took off and we crashed to the earth one story below [we were all standing on the roof]?

A little voice said, “Trust in your abilities, take the leap of faith. Do not doubt yourself.” I felt this to be true but then hesitated again. “I do not know the way home.” The voice answered, “You got here, didn’t you? Once you are on your way, you will discover the route as it is revealed to you.” And yes, I took off, and yes my passengers added no burden. As I flew, the path became clear. Route signs were seen through the trees.

“You got here didn’t you?” You had no map or directions.
Trust your instincts.
Believe in your special ability.
You can carry your burdens and you will find your way.

It was as clear as a bell what the message of this dream was. I am on the right path (I got this far without a map!) and no matter what extra burdens I may have to carry along the way, I WILL be able to rise to the occasion and continue using my unique abilities to spread my wings and FLY!!!

Mind you, a dream like this is the exception, not the rule. The majority of my dreams are forgotten as soon as I wake up. Rarely are they worth remembering. My typical dream is one in which I am trying to solve a problem, like I’m walking in to teach a workshop but I don’t know which one and I don’t have any supplies. Or the one you can probably relate to, that it’s time for the final exam and you’ve never been to class and you don’t even know which classroom to go to. And there are the bad dreams where you wake up right before the tragedy strikes.

That flying dream changed my life. It was exactly the sign I needed 27 years ago to continue chasing the real world dream that was forming. The dream of being an artist and sharing my discoveries along the way. It was never just about me. It’s always been about you. What is true for me is true for you, dream or no dream. Trust in your abilities, take the leap of faith. Do not doubt yourself.

Speaking of flying, have you seen Fly with Me on the American Experience on PBS? So eye-opening. Watch the trailer