June 28, 1979
This dream occurred in the afternoon after I fell asleep while trying to astral project to the future. My intention was to go into the future and find a calendar or some way of ascertaining the date. When that future date arrived I would be able to verify the experience.
I awoke walking in the country. I say I awoke because I felt completely conscious and lucid. I remembered my plan and wondered if I had succeeded. I wondered what time and place I was in. Then I realized I was a little boy, around eight years old, although my adult memory was intact.
I joined the two families that were standing around two covered wagons. There were eight kids (counting myself) and five adults. I knew I was part of one of the families. My family was very close and very religious -- Christian. I went over to another little boy about my age named Mike and asked him what year it was. He said it was 1858. Everyone accepted me as if nothing was wrong so I played along trying to fit in and wondering what I should do. I played with the other children, ate dinner with everyone, and slept with them that night.
The next day we continued our journey in the wagons. In the afternoon we stopped for the day and had a meal. After eating, while everyone was still together, I stood up and addressed the group. I told them I was astral projecting from the year 1979 and I did not know how to return. I said I was worried because I had already been there about 24 hours. The length of my visit made me think I had somehow become stuck there in the wrong time. The adults chuckled among themselves and talked about my overactive imagination. The children were bewildered. They had no idea what I was talking about. No one believed I was serious. The group broke up and everyone went about his business.
I approached the oldest son in our group when he was alone. I pulled out my wallet and showed him my driver's license and student identification card to substantiate my story. He did not believe me until I showed him several US coins bearing various future years. The coins convinced him that I was telling the truth. I then realized if I had astral projected back in time and possessed a little boy, I would not have my wallet and coins. I still felt lucid and awake. I wondered if I was having a very vivid dream rather than an astral projection. I decided if I could fly, then I would know I was dreaming.
I walked over beside one of the wagons and tried to fly. I could. I flew around the clearing so that everyone could see. The children clapped in delight and the adults stared in amazement. Everyone watched. I was no longer concerned about being stuck in the wrong time. I knew I was dreaming. I tried to convince everyone that I was asleep in my bed in 1979 and that they were products of my dream. My attempt was futile. They had their world and I had mine.
Later, I accidentally broke Mike's favorite toy. I tried to give him one of my bicentennial quarters to make amends. I dropped the quarter. When I bent to pick it up I found a handful of coins on the ground from before 1858. They were all halves and dollars. I put them in my pocket to take back with me as proof of my visit.
I called the families together and said that soon I would fly away and never come back. I said I wanted to tell them about the future before I left. I told them about the Civil War. I told them that three important battles would be at Vicksburg, Gettysburg, and Appomattox. I told them that General Grant was going to be President. I told them many more things about their future. Then I said goodbye, left them, and woke up.
Copyright 2007 Jon Maloney
by Stephen LaBerge, that if you read something twice and the words change, you know you are dreaming. I knew I was dreaming. There was a guy sitting on my left talking to me but I wasn't paying attention. 
