Neon Dreams
Every night, I have the most vivid dreams and in them I see the world in its most perfect form; colorful, strange, and endlessly wonderful. I dream of a vibrant, enchanting world, where color and magic dance in unison. A realm where nakedness is not offensive, where the body is not hidden, and where the bizzare is embraced. But there are those nights I dream of horrors that distort my paradise. So be warned some of my dreams may haunt your mind, but the majority will delight you.
Dream Yaga
By Celeste Lam
As I walked through the meadow of tall feathered grass, I glided my hands over them and focused on their softness, their smell, and their quiet whisper as wind blew through them. With varying shades of iridescent purple and aromas of vanilla, I lost myself in their comfort: in the security. With a deep breath and release, I looked to the pink sky of rolling swirling clouds and caught sight of a structure moving over the hill of feathered trees. As it neared, I saw that it was a house unlike any other, it seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, as if it were alive and breathing in the dreamscape. Every step it took that brought it closer to me, I felt a wave of ease and warmth swell within me and the slightest aroma of Christmas cinnamon mingled in the air, dancing with the vanilla.
The house was a mesmerizing sight to behold. Its roof was soft with a striking shade of yellow, radiating a playful energy. And below the house, supporting its weight were two enormous chicken legs, their feathers a brilliant shade of yellow and blue that shimmered and swayed as if alive. As I approached, the legs bent down to give me entry. I marveled at the intricate stained glass windows, each pane a dazzling spider web of colors that danced and shifted in the ethereal light, making them appear as eyes. I reached for the door and as I opened it, I knew I was safe, I knew I was home.
GalactaCat
By Celeste Lam
In my dream, I am drifting through the endless void of space with colors and stars swirling around me. Amidst the quiet and the darkness my mind drifts to thoughts of fear and isolation. Will I drift forever? Will I be lost to the void with no one to anchor me? Alone in space with only the sound of my mind has become almost too much and as I consider my options, I hear a faint whisper.
“Need help?”
Who said that? Where did it come from? And as I searched around me, I saw him. What a sight to see, a floating cat head with one eye and a melting neon patchwork coat. His eye glimmered in the endless night with what looked like a target laid over it. He had two thick purple whiskers that wrapped around his head like the rings of Saturn. And for the first time in eons of drifting, I felt hope. I felt my days of loneliness were over.
Neon Nakedness
In my dreams, the abstract beauty of the raw human form is not something to be turned away from. Rather, it’s a testament to the powerful essence of our inner being, a manifestation of our true nature, unbound by the constructs of society. Through the unfiltered expression of our nakedness, we discover the essence of our humanity, the scars of our experiences, our unique individuality, and the boundless potential that lies within. In the abstract realm of dreams, where societal limitations fade into the background, the beauty of our most vulnerable form becomes a source of liberation, creativity, and inspiration.
Spa Day
By Celeste Lam
As I drifted into the night, the sky transformed into an endless expanse of neon pink stretching over a gleaming pool. Nothing surrounded me but the quiet stillness of the water, a soothing embrace that invited me to release the weight of the world. I laid there afloat adorned by nothing but a single purple flower resting across my face. In that moment, I found myself lost in contemplation of life, purpose, and the baggage I had carried for so long. But as I floated there, I allowed myself to surrender to the tranquility of the water, to embrace the rejuvenating power of stillness, and to wash away the worries that had once consumed me.
For the first time, I granted myself permission to truly rest, to be still, and to reconnect with the deepest parts of my being that yearned for peace and healing. As the gentle water cradled me in its embrace, I discovered a profound sense of freedom and release, a testament to the transformative power of self-care and introspection.
Aubergine
By Celeste Lam
I wander through a dimly lit hallway, a stream of lights guiding me toward a curtain at the end of the corridor. As I pull it open, an eerie silence hangs in the air, broken only by the faint hum of a neon glow. A figure begins to take shape in the distance, its form unsettling yet strangely alluring.
As I approach, the figure reveals itself: a severed torso, radiant in neon orange, hangs within a glass case like a twisted exhibit. A steady stream of purple blood cascades from the dismembered legs, pooling at the thighs and dripping to the bottom of the enclosure.
The exposed spinal cord at the top of the torso exposes raw vulnerability, a testament to the brutality of experience. The bone gleams amidst the pool of purple blood, an unsettling reminder of the pain and trauma inflicted.
Upon the smooth, feminine skin, two tattoos etch their stories – one, a bright strawberry jam, its sweetness defying the bitterness of suffering and evoking memories of simpler times; the other, a stiched heart bearing the name “Richard,” the tortured identity of this individual. The name they hold dear, the name they have chosen, the name that represents them, and the name that contradicts their physical form. With the extension of a large menstruating aubergine, I understand the pain, the fear, and the bodies betrayal.
This dreamscape, uncomfortable yet captivating, embodies the duality of pain and healing. It serves as a powerful reminder that even amidst the most brutal experiences, there lies the potential for growth and transformation. Our bodies may bear the scars of our experiences and may not match who we know our true selves to be, but they do not define us; instead, they become emblems of our strength and resilience on the journey toward healing and the courage to be ourselves.
“Every night I escape to paradise. ”
Auntie Celeste
Artist & CEO, Aunties Curiosities
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