It’s a gray day and I’m falling through the wind, except it doesn’t feel like it. I’m falling so slowly it almost feels like flying, drifting away from the tree I slipped from. Eventually, I land on the lawn, but before I become another leaf on the ground, my soul travels to the center of the Earth, so fast I barely register it.

I tumble into an underground lake. The liquid is dense, almost resistant. As I rise to the surface, it dawns on me that this is not water but lava. Panic should follow, but it does not. I am not burning, so I remain there, floating.

After a few minutes, I feel it, that unmistakable sense of being watched. At the far end of the cave, the creature is staring at me. Somehow I know she is calling me, and without questioning it, I swim toward her.

When I reach the edge and pull myself out of the lava, I see the figure clearly. She looks like one of those Funko dolls, with an oversized head, wide eyes, and a tiny body. Her hair is brown and wavy, just like mine. Before I have time to question whether she is a Funko version of me, she gestures for me to follow her into a tunnel.

As we move forward, more Funkos appear, dozens of them. Taking their lead, I find myself in a subterranean city of these Funkos.

The atmosphere is thick with market noise: metal clashing, coins rattling, wagon wheels dragging. I feel the urge to find a way out and notice circular windows high above. I cross the market, and as I approach the wall, a ladder materializes. I climb it and step onto a narrow ledge that coils upward along the wall until I reach one of the windows.

The windows turn out to be slides. I jump, and the slide spirals downward, carrying me all the way back to where I started, at the entrance of the market. I repeat the process several times, always looping back to the same place.

I’m frustrated, desperate to get out of this strange place. The ladder has disappeared, and I don’t know what to do. I start screaming, and my voice cuts through the noise. Most of the Funkos hadn’t noticed my presence and are now surprised. Fear comes over me. What will they do to me? Am I a threat?

I cover my face with my hands, they’re hairy and rough. That’s when I realize it: I’m a monkey.

Their shock slowly turns to concern, and my despair to curiosity. The Funkos look at each other. They don’t say a word, they don’t even gesticulate, yet they’re clearly communicating. They begin stacking on top of one another, forming a tower of Funkos. Without warning, the gigantic mass lifts me toward the window that will finally take me out.

Upon reaching the window, I realize it’s not actually a subterranean market, but a tower. From the top, I can see the entire city: gardens, desert, sea. The tower must be incredibly tall because when I glance down, I get so dizzy I start to hyperventilate.

“Breathe,” a calm voice says. I do as I’m told, even though I can’t see who is speaking. It works.

My attention returns to the tower. I consider climbing down, but the walls are smooth. The only way out is to jump. I take a deep breath before diving out of the window.

When I hit the ground, I’m still alive. To my right, there’s a deep blue waterfall, framed by palms. Everything looks unreal, as if made of jelly. To my left, there’s an arid beach, and the sun burns. I hesitate, unsure whether to move toward the surreal, inviting jelly world or the uncertain, yet real one.

I head left and notice a few tall, modern, Arabic-style buildings enclosed by a massive wall. I start walking along the beach, picking up speed until my heartbeat pounds. I hear that voice again. “Breathe.”

I’m running so fast I turn into light. Then my direction shifts, and I’m no longer moving horizontally but rising into space.

An image of what looks like a spirit appears, surrounded by a circle of lights. When I reach it, the image resolves into a crystalline Buddha. The Buddha holds me, then places me into his mouth. He gently swallows me, and I descend as if it were an elevator, joining the other souls. For a moment, I am one of them.

Then, I’m in space again, slowly traveling back toward Earth. As I approach the atmosphere, my descent intensifies and I plunge into the sea. I’m jumping. No, I’m swimming. I’m a dolphin, moving toward an island. 

But before I arrive at the island, I hear the steady voice again, closer this time, bringing the hypnosis to an end.

Inspired by Nathalia Tavares’ transpersonal therapy experience.