The Sport of Our Dreams

Yesterday’s post, Our Cosmic Holiday, was inspired by Mr. Vane in Lilith by George MacDonald. I just had to do another post inspired by the next sentence, “When a man dreams his own dream, he is the sport of his dream; when Another gives it him, that Other is able to fulfil it.” This suggested to me that when we envision our own desires or aspirations, we are at the mercy of our own subconscious or internal forces—essentially, we are “the sport” of our inner dreams. Think about the times we give ourselves encouragement or the times we get in our own way with self-doubt or overthinking something.

In contrast, when an external force or another person presents or influences our dreams, that external entity holds the power to shape and fulfill those dreams for us. As in all his works, MacDonald was masterful in Lilith with his allegorical approach by allowing the “Another” or “Other” be God or someone else in our worldly life like a mentor or friend. He very aptly reflected the tension between individual agency and external influences—perhaps highlighting how dreams and desires are not always entirely within our own control, especially when influenced by others or larger forces. Remember, that influence can be positive or negative. Also remember, what might seem negative today, turns out to be positive for us in the long run. As my mom used to say, “When God closes a door, he always opens a window – go find it!” Gosh I miss my mom!

This all underscores the interplay between personal longing and the shaping forces outside oneself, which is well explored by MacDonald in the Lilith through the interactions between characters and the broader metaphysical or societal currents. All this underscores the idea that while, we as humans, want control and understanding, much of our experience is shaped by influences beyond our grasp and understanding—whether divine, metaphysical, or societal. Macdonald taught that it was okay to be content with not knowing everything—there would come a day when it would all be revealed.

Byron's Babbles