As I read this dream I wonder what it would feel like to be in this
situation...literally. If I had to show concern for a particular member in
a group tragedy over another, would I choose my "husband" or my "baby". If
I tried to voice this decision, would others understand or respond? I
wonder if I would even want anyone to hear me as I voiced my choice--can I
even deal with these types of choices myself. If either the husband or the
baby "had" to die (and I had chosen), would I want anyone to stop the
consequences of this decision after they had been set in motion--would I
want to have to go through this process of choosing again and again? There
would be a relief that my husband didn't live (for example) so that neither
he nor I would have to face the emotional consequences of this
decision--once made...without regard to whether it ever came to pass physically.
In my own life, a "husband" might be my self...the "baby" might be the
group--an extension of myself. I would wonder if given a group choice (a
war or something)...if I would want to live or if I would sacrifice myself
for the group. I would choose myself (the husband over the baby); but, this
decision might be different if I felt inferior to the group or if my own
sense of self was dependent on group acceptance.
My sister told me once that she didn't want to live if she was disabled to
the point that she was a burden on the group. My x-brother-in-law asked me
if (even though it would hurt my sister)...if I would kill him for a large
sum of money assuming that I would never be caught. My mother said that she
was ill one day but "snapped out of it" since she realized that no-one but
herself "gave a damn" if she was "laying there dead". I disagree with my
sister, *would* have killed my brother-in-law, and can sympathize with my
mother (but also feel sorry that she had to come to this understanding...a
loss of innocence so to speak). The life of the individual is an example to
every other individual and no-one is served (imho) if everyone sacrifices
themself for a hypothetical "other".
I think it is a maternal thing to choose the baby over the husband. I think
that the world is cleansed by this choice (that a baby is innocent and
example enough of the "sins" of her parents). I see no harm in making this
choice and verbalizing it. I also think that after seeing enough children
grow up to be like their parents that mothers and fathers must be open to
the idea of reversing this decision at some time in the adult life of their
children given that life has made them wise (and thereby purified them) and
taken the innocence of their child at the same time. I wouldn't want this
decision to be placed in the hands of some bystander (or like Solomon said
they might suggest we "Cut the baby in half").
The story of Solomon is a good story to study in response to this dream. I
think of my own mother and father going to the king and asking this question
(the mother says the child belongs to her, the father says it belongs to
him). The king says (figuratively) cut the child in half--or don't let the
child choose between the father and mother, he will become as split
internally as they are externally. He will heal the internal split and heal
their external split at the same time (but could they put off this decision
onto their child?) And, what about the king and the child, will the child
choose to be unified like the king or diversified like the couple (single or
coupled). If the child chooses to unify...will he heal the split between
the parents and remain single himself? If he chooses to be "half" of a
couple, will the parents become split after first becoming unified. Which
half of himself will he choose, the mother half or the father half? And how
about the king, did he betray himself by telling the couple to divide the
child (child being representative of the king)? I think no decision was
made; thus, the "Silent Scream". I would make a decision (even if it were
"wrong").
Each of the parents should make a decision secretly...tell the king in
private...and then turn the baby over to the king to carry out this
decision. They should never tell each other what they decided (nor would
they want to ask); nor, should they concern themselves with the kings
willingness to follow through on this decision. The king will raise the
child as the kingdom raised-up the king and they will all share the kingdom,
the power and the glory forever and ever.
Brett
The metaphysical formula behind this interpretation is illustrated by the
"foot washing" incident and "Mary, Mary; The Anointing"...that the "king"
should raise up the lowliest, bring down the mightiest and step out of the
picture.
BR
Returning,
rBERTS%n
Rabble Sonnet Retort
Every society honours its live conformists and its dead
troublemakers.
Mignon Mclaughlin