Dream Journal

Walking Backwards★★
Jan, 2011

This one’s been in my head for a week or so, so I’m going to write it down. I was “walking” down the side of a country road on my way somewhere. It was actually fast-travel from about 15 feet off the ground. Up ahead in the distance I see Dan coming towards me, and I stop. At this point I’m standing on the ground. Not wanting him to see me turn and flee, I started walking backwards. I figure, from his perspective, he’ll just stop making any progress towards me. But I’m foiled by the laws of relative motion and his approach continues at the same speed, even though I’m moving away. His approach is relative to me. Soon he’s right next to me.

Relative Motion: This is strong evidence that motion in dreams is relative to the destination, regardless of the speed or direction of the destination’s own movement. He approaches me at a certain speed, and I cannot change that. Even if I had quickly traveled to a different place, he still would have reached me in the same time.

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