Blog: Dream Borders

Our bi-monthly “Working Group on Borders” will meet again this coming Thursday, March 31. As we discussed in our last meeting, we will be talking about “Borders and Dreams.” One of our dear friends/participants, Lena Sviridova, has offered to be the “Dream Shepherd” of our flock! (Of course, Melis and I will be there, too.)

This inter-session will be something of a departure from the preceding meetings—which have largely focused on the social/cultural/political manifestations of borders, and the way these interact with identities (sexuality/gender identities in particular). Needless to say—since we must keep circling back to them—these issues have become urgent in a new way, against the backdrop of the war against Ukraine. Having said this, however, I immediately feel the need to correct myself. For this war is not a “backdrop” for those of us who have found ourselves in the midst of it, or even for those of us who find ourselves on its margins—geographically, culturally, linguistically. One of the ways this war might “show up,” unannounced or uninvited, is in our dreams—which defy borders differently, more uncannily, and more inexorably, than almost any other lived experience, whether shared or not.

We are grateful to Lena, who has chosen some relevant texts, attached here, which we will talk about, mull over, revel in . . . and we will weave some sort of shared "Zoom-space reverie.” As Melis has pointed out, this is a “safe space” of our own making. And, this time, it will be a “safe space” of our own dreaming.

Please join us, if you can.

Warmly across the borders,

Melis and Polly