Skip to content

Dream Quote by Tom Robbins

“When we sleep on someone else's pillow, we sometimes find ourselves having that person's dreams. If a married couple switches sides of the bed, for example, he will have her dreams for a while and she will have his. Nothing of the sort occurs in a hotel bed, naturally, for the simple reason that…” quote by Tom Robbins
Download Open image
““When we sleep on someone else's pillow, we sometimes find ourselves having that person's dreams. If a married couple switches sides of the bed, for example, he will have her dreams for a while and she will have his. Nothing of the sort occurs in a hotel bed, naturally, for the simple reason that no one person has slept there long enough to leave a psychic imprint. Is the connection to the bedding place or to the space below it? Perhaps we draw up trans-neurological info-bits from the underworld to form dreams the way that exposed metal draws down oxygen molecules from the air to form rust. Dreams, the, may be a form of psychic oxidation. Each morning, the greasy rag of wakefulness wipes us clean. Sooner or later, however, we rust completely through, at which point we lose tensility, conductivity, and clear definition; turn senile or go bonkers; fade away. If we applied the rag more rigorously, this might not happen. which is why the message of Miho's Zen monks-the message of mystic masters everywhere-was and is, "Wake up! Wake up!””

Tom Robbins

About This Quote

Source Book: Still Life with Woodpeckers, 1980

Dreams may be influenced by the lingering psychic imprint of a familiar sleeping place, similar to oxidation forming rust.

In simple terms: Familiar beds can affect dreams like rust forms on metal.

Key Takeaway

Consider how environment subtly shapes subconscious.

Themes

psychology dreams environment metaphor

Mood

curious reflective

Type

philosophical metaphorical

When to use this quote

  • shared bedroom
  • hotel stays
  • long-term residence
  • sleep rituals

Key Concepts

psychic imprint oxidation metaphor sleep hygiene

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does your sleeping environment affect your dreams?
  • Can you notice patterns after changing beds?
A Different Perspective

The analogy may oversimplify complex neurobiology of dreaming.

2.8 out of 5 (10 ratings)

More by Tom Robbins

Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes

More Dream quotes

Browse all 26,548 Dream quotes