Erika .

Between Living and Dreaming..... by Erika .

Posted on August 28, 2009

Between living and dreaming there is a third thing. Guess it

- Antonio Machado

Ok, to be honest, I read this quote years ago, maybe when I was about fourteen, and I loved it even though I didn’t know what it meant. I wrote it down and put it away thinking that maybe with time, I’ll be able to figure out this third thing…..but I came upon this quote just yesterday, and I stood there just reading it and re-reading it….and I’m ashamed to say that I still haven’t figured it out!

I was wondering if anyone can help me out on this one. Is it an obvious answer? Because if it is, I tend to miss out on the obvious of things….

So does anybody know what this third thing is?!

Intuition?
Intelligence?
Creativity?
Inspiration?

  • Arcadia Tempest

    Arcadia Tempest

    Finding both XX

  • Erika .:

    hmmm….finding both, and ….merging them! XXX

  • Erika .:

    so KarenSue…what would you label this, what would you call it when you “find both?”

  • linaji

    linaji

    Feeling. xxxx (we seem to live and dream but it is the feeling element that manifests it all!!)
    just guessing of course.. and working too much today!!

  • Erika .:

    Yes, I guess feeling is an important one…like intuition. The feeling element that tells you what your mind cannot. Interesting! xxxx

  • Elucidate

    Elucidate

    Oh wow, Erika… Love this question. I’m afraid KarenSue has said what I find to be the best answer to this. She’s too quick for me ;) So perhaps that is what lies between…

  • Erika .:

    So you also say both. It definitely makes me think….
    So then we would have to find the way to find merge both worlds/realities, kind of like that whole opposites being one concept! Yes of course! This is what that is! Being able to find a connection between dreaming and reality, and making it one….ah thank you, that makes sense! But what would you name that third thing?

  • Fiona Christensen

    Fiona Christensen

    hmmm… good question… to me its alter reality.. its the place we are at when we are making art or performing or writing stroies or poetry… it is an altered state of mind that keeps you in reality, yet warping it to suit your dream… i like that place, my right mind (my third place)..its amazingly powerful, it got me over a firewalk with hot coals…. its a special place – treasure it my friend, not many people can find it! :) xxxx

  • Erika .:

    ahhh! your words gave me chills! Yes, I know of that place perfectly! “The altered state of mind” where you are able to think and create. Love your answer Fiona!!!! Will treasure that place indeed! xxxx

  • RebeccaWeston

    RebeccaWeston

    Spirituality ? Peace ? just throwing things into the mix !!! X
    Becca

  • Erika .:

    Peace and Spirituality! Yes, I like that too….there’s something about the peace you find in yourself…leading to your own spirituality. XXX

  • skinnyman

    skinnyman

    dare I say LOVE….if we can dream love and then live it we are blessed beyond ourselves…xx

  • Erika .:

    ahh Love….the great unifying force of the world…of everything
    Yes, that could be the third thing. Thank you Peter. xxx

  • Elucidate

    Elucidate

    Love, and dreaming, feeling and finding yourself amongst the sweeping insensitivity of life.

  • Erika .:

    finding yourself amongst the sweeping insensitivity of life…and all that you are.
    Love it….

  • Arcadia Tempest

    Arcadia Tempest

    Who you really are XXXX

  • Erika .:

    Makes perfect sense KarenSue. Thank you XXXX

  • Plum

    Plum

    Between living and dreaming makes me think of dusk, when it feels like day and night merge for a special moment. I always feel a stronger sense of “being” at this time, like there is no longer a division between the worlds, just being >:

  • Erika .:

    oh wow Plum! What an incredible answer! You painted your answer for me. Yes I definitely understand what you’re saying….I just find myself nodding. You explained that intangible feeling right at that moment in time…just love it.
    Thank you Plum..xxx

  • Erika .:

    when it feels like day and night merge for a special moment…. your words reminded me of a poem I wrote recently, but haven’t posted it yet. It looks exactly like these words…like a watercolor.

  • Plum

    Plum

    Glad it made sense Erika … dusk is such a magical time. I really look forward to reading your poem. Thank you for sharing this question and your thoughtful comments, its lovely to ponder things like this x >:

  • Erika .:

    yes, dusk bring such beautiful colors to mind. It’s definitely magical. And I’m glad you could share your thoughts with me. Thank you Plum. I’ll let you know when I post the poem. xx

  • Nawr :

    Nawr :

    Creativity is many things, from the cruel and kind nature to your own personal likes and dislikes. The simplest things in life are the soul within creativity that grow alongside with your wisdom, and evovle to enhance your creativity.
    Hope it is of some use to you.

  • Erika .:

    The simplest things in life are the soul within creativity that grow alongside with your wisdom, and evolve to enhance your creativity.….wow, I feel my mind being stretched into my soul as I find beauty in your words. Beautiful words Nawroski, and thank you for sharing them with me. x

  • CLiPiCs

    CLiPiCs

    Between living and dreaming there is merely existing

    that sorry state of not being alive, but going through life, and reaming of what it could be

    Between living and dreaming there is hope

    hope that your dreams will come to life

    Between living and dreaming there is emotion

    every single one of them, all binding living to your dreams

    Between living and dreaming there is a third thing, Guess it !

    Love ‘N’ Laughter Kriss

  • Erika .:

    ME!! :DD

  • CLiPiCs

    CLiPiCs

    I’ll go with that Erika :-)

    no wait it’s me !

    Love ‘N’ Laughter Kriss

  • Erika .:

    So it’s you now?! haha!

  • Tomi10

    Tomi10

    I agree with Skinnyman….he beat me to it. Love between living and dreaming there is Love.
    I also think there is no real right or wrong answer. It is what you feel inside.

  • Erika .:

    No right or wrong answer..hmm…now that is interesting. I wonder what the author of this quote thought the answer to be then! Or if he intended for the reader to find out for himself. Perhaps it is love as you say. Thank you Thomas. :)

  • Tomi10

    Tomi10

    The correct answer is always printud upside down in the right hand corner!! lol

  • Erika .:

    haha! That’s true!

  • Mikyle

    Mikyle

    I love that you have brought this up Erika. And i agree with just about everyone’s opinions above. Fascinating point of discussion. I can’t wait to discuss it further with you when we meet… But for now, I would have to say, most simply… Between living and dreaming there is a third thing… Thought? Awareness of the fact that we are living. The awareness that we dream. Consciousness. I think that spirituality comes into this in a huge way too. Dusk, as Plum so beautifully pointed out, I think is the best way to describe it… And back to your quote… The point between sleeping and being awake. That is the third thing. The connection between reality and the imaginary. Life and the mind. Creativity and the unseen. Not sure, but just a few random thoughts. xxx

  • Erika .:

    The connection between reality and the imaginary. Life and the mind. Creativity and the unseen.….your random thoughts are like music to my mind!
    Love what you’ve said! Yes, we shall discuss this further, and I cannot wait!
    I’m counting off the days too!

    xxxxxx

  • oscarelizondo

    oscarelizondo

    Having a part of you that tells you when to go for it, or when not to engage in whatever activity is before you is the intuition part. This ability comes with wisdom that is hard to find in everyone and mistakes are created that are of upmost importance, so you must act fast, and you must have the clearity to deal at the spur of the moment.
    Having the intelligence to use it to better serve the greater masses will follow the choice you made in the first place. Making choices may be hard but being wiser than a wise person makes you smarter to deal with real important issues that can effect many lives. When someone closes the door in front of you, you need to find a way to open it away without breaking the door to get in again, thus you creative a new path to enter a place that has problems and a place you know needs to be either rebuilt, or restructure in order to live in a humanly situation. And when you find yourself alone, thinking about the choices that others don’t seem to understand why you made them and the ones that want to tear inside your heart, you find the goodness even in the most bad persons, and you draw that inspiration to go where no one else dares because you believe in yourself because you have all of these four traits that in you, you trust. Of course, it’s just my opinion, sorry.

  • Erika .:

    ooh! Lovely thoughts and opinions Oscar!
    Wow, just enjoyed reading your comment. I guess in short, these four traits help you throughout life to be able to discern certain situations and things, circumstances and people. And the power of discernment allows you to make the choices you need for yourself while listening to your intuition and following your inspiration. Interesting thoughts you wrote, Oscar
    Thank you for sharing them!

  • Shoaib .

    Shoaib .

    falling asleep :)

  • Erika .:

    hahaha! I would think so too! ;D
    Thanks Shoaib, made me laugh!

  • Achromatico

    Achromatico

    Creating. Between living and dreaming. There is creating. We live for dreaming. Live for creating those dreams.

  • kavilyn

    kavilyn

    evil?

  • ali-h138

    ali-h138

    Nothing. Between living and dreaming there is nothing for life and dreams are not separate. They are one and the same. Or so they should be if one is to live fulfillingly…

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