via www.likecool.com
Oh, I stumbled upon this magical book bed the other day and it set my mind wandering into a world where sleep is soft and gentle. A world where ‘sleep’ is a happy word, where dreams are made, sigh. Unfortunately that is not the world that I am currently living in. My 8 month old, Louis, who fights sleep like a boxer on speed, has an ambivalent relationship to sleep. Perhaps if I commissioned the Japanese artist of this work, Yusuke Suzuki to create a bed of whimsy for my little one, he might just drift off into the arms of sleep. Hmmm, doubtful. I think any new mum would describe this problematic relationship with sleep, both your child’s and subsequently your own. As I watched my little Louis crawl around his cot, in his own way endeavoring to find his sleep, I remarked to Jef that he was looking for his spot. I was reminded of the book The Teachings of Don Juan by Carlos Castaneda. I hadn't thought of this book in many years and had to struggle to remember it’s name.
I do recall it’s cover battered and worn. This slim volume is based on the authors experiences. In 1960, Carlos Castaneda was a graduate student in anthropology at UCLA and was collecting medicinal plants in the Arizona desert. This is where he meets an old medicine man, Don Juan. In order to train with him he needs to pass a test. He has to find his spot on Don Juan's porch. He explains that there are two spots, one with healing powers and the other which can make him vulnerable and open to death. He gives him one fairly vague hint; that he needs to feel the spots with his eyes and not looking directly into things. He struggles all night, crawling around on all fours and in the morning Don Juan finds him asleep. When he wakes he flashes him a smile and remarks,‘ You found it ’.
