I dream I'm at a beach, near an inlet. I am with other people. We have large wooden barrels. One is full of sand and warm water. I stand in it and it is healing for my legs.
Eventually my water cools down and I want to replace it with hot water. I dump it out and find lots of very large (l ft. across) snails. How could they have been in there without my knowing? I throw them out. Maybe a few small ones remain. I fill up the barrel with more hot water and sand.
THE PAINTING
I began this painting as a meditation on the symbol of the snail. It seemed very ancient and to signify turning inward--appropriate for winter, when I painted it.
As I painted, I had a second beach dream:
I am on a beach with Hank, my husband. I am about to give birth and ask him to catch the baby. The baby's head comes out. It is my son Leon, not looking newborn but about one year old: smiling, lively, full of beaming energy, radiant. It is again the image of the hope, the renewal of life.
