I see [King] Louis-Philippe for the first time (this dream dates from 1846). There is an association of ideas between the head of the July Monarchy [name of his reign, 1830-48] and its symbol [a cockerel]; here is Louis-Philippe turned into a cockerel.

However, a bailiff was on his way to deliver a letter to the citizen-king at the time of the metamorphosis. This idea did not disappear, but it was modified. The letter and the tray on which it was carried were transformed into a basket full of grain, which the bailiff very gravely presented to the Gallic bird!

Source: Dreams and how to direct them, 2022, pp 182; Daniel Bernardo's translation of Les reves et les moyens de les diriger by Hervey de Saint-Denys, 1867.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Saint-Denys was, in this chapter, out to show how even bizarre dream transitions look reasonable when you view dreams simply as thoughts made visible, proceeding by free association and ignoring physics and conventional plotting. So the letter's change into birdseed just logically follows the king-as-his-symbol motif. Very Enlightenment French, this view--processes and logic.

I, of course, am a shaman--a savage. I see something else. I see a sense of humor. At least while he's asleep!

Sadly, then he wakes.

--Chris Wayan

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