The other day I woke with the word interregnum suspended in my mind. Like the tail end of a dream (except without any imagery or narrative) the word swished and lingered there. I had to pause for a moment to recall the definition: the period between monarchies, between different forms of government, or between phases or chapters.

Interregnum: Like the pause between being asleep and awake, that liminal period that is so rich in possibility.

I was perplexed and intrigued. So, before brushing my teeth, starting my morning stretches, or changing out of my pajamas, I brought the word to my notebook: Interregnum. I wrote the word at the top of the page and before I knew it a story began to form around it—the way they say a pearl develops around a grain of sand in the belly of an oyster’s shell.

I continued to follow the story line by line for about three pages, before capping my pen.

Following a word from a dream, or from the interregnum period (more typically called hypnopompic—another great word to follow around for a bit) as you transition from sleeping to waking consciousness, is an expansive way to start the day.

This practice is particularly potent for poets and writers. It’s also a playful way that anyone can develop a friendly relationship with their subconscious, and add more richness to their life.

Follow a word into your day

This week, start each day by exploring the first word or image that floats to mind in the morning. Take whatever comes, whether it carries over from a dream or whether it simply rises up in your waking-up mind. Write for 5-10 minutes, or the space of time it takes to fill two or three pages in your notebook. Have fun witnessing what develops, both on the page and off!

© 2022 Tzivia Gover all rights reserved
Photo Credit: Pro Church Media on Unsplash

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