I am in Manhattan, and have a big lecture scheduled to start at 7:30 PM at a center on the Upper East Side, I think in the East 70s. I have included the word “Sex” in the title of my presentation, and this has people very interested.

At the apartment or hotel room where I’m staying, I’m delayed by my need to do battle with a demon-like creature. He first appears as a round-faced younger man with reddish hair en brosse but he is a shapeshifter who changes form. We start out fighting with swords. We are keeping score of who’s ahead in each round. I know that I can’t afford to lose any round. In round #4, my adversary shrinks himself to the size of a mouse. The weapon in his hand now seems no bigger than a needle. He moves very fast, and I find it harder to avoid his lunges now he’s so small. However, I win once again. In the final round, #5, he shrinks to the size of a large mosquito or flying bug. It’s really hard to avoid being pricked or stabbed by him, but I succeed and win yet again.

Our duel is now over. I let him go – I think he flies out the window. I never had any intention of killing him, and there are (and were) no hard feelings, at least not on my side. My dream self regards this episode as just one of those things that happen, especially in New York City.

I am far more preoccupied with what to wear to the lecture than with the battle I’ve just fought. I consider my blue blazer and slacks, but they’re a bit crumpled. I decide to settle for basic black – black tee, black jeans, black leather jacket, with my Aussie elastic-sided boots. I’m running a bit late, but nothing starts without me…

I wake feeling amused and cheerful

Reality check: I sometimes give lectures in New York City. Strange psychic disturbances are routine in a hyper city like NYC; they require a combination of good humor and effective parries, which I am glad to see my dream self is managing.

I’ve often joked (since the article came out last year) that “lucid dreaming” has become a hot topic since the New York Times ran a piece that basically said that if you become a lucid dreamer you can have sex with anyone in your dreams.

Maybe it’s time for me to write and say more about sex and dreaming…Who is not interested?.

Black leather blazer by Pierotucci