Written on a feather

Dream: I’m in a room discussing writing a book when an Indian, dressed in his dancing best, comes in.  He says, “the outline of your book is written on this feather,  and you must dance your book into the world.” He begins to dance holding the feather before him.

Amplification:

I had spent some time yesterday looking at research software that provided a database for collecting notes and references while writing.  It turned out the software which interested me was only available on a Mac, so I dropped the idea and went on my way.

Here the Unconscious is presenting a counter argument to the methodical approach of research.  When the Indian shows me the feather, it is as if the entire text is already written on each separate line along each side of the feather.  Through the dance, each word will get released.  This approach speaks of an organic discovery instead of the constructive approach of traditional research.

The Indian was older than me, and his appearance numinous, like that of a holy one.