"Secret" knowledge from the past on the back of each dollar bill.

I have long been fascinated by the Masonic imagery included on the U.S. $1 bill. Though conspiracy theorists weave compelling stories about these symbols and their meaning, I have my own theory about significance of the pyramid symbol. My theory is based on Dr. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs.

Maslow illustrated human needs as a pyramid composed of the following levels: physiological, safety, love/belonging, self-esteem, self-actualization. In Maslow's theory, the higher level needs only come into focus once the lower level needs have been met.

We in the Western world have many of our basic needs met by default. Even the poorest among us live comfortably compared to some in the Third World. As such, many of our desires focus on the higher levels of love/belonging, self-esteem and self-actualization.

The pyramid on the back of the dollar bill reflects this in the way that the lower levels are depicted as one piece while the highest level is separated from the rest. In our society, we use many things to try and reach that top level: money, sex, religion, food … we want to reach the summit and be all that we were meant to be.

I have fallen into this trap myself and have been disappointed when a new and improved [fill-in-the-blank] does not fulfill my innermost desires. Yet our system continues to insist that those needs can be met by purchasing, consuming or refocusing.

Maslow wrote of self-actualizing people that:

• They embrace the facts and realities of the world (including themselves) rather than denying or avoiding them.
• They are spontaneous in their ideas and actions.
• They are creative.
• They are interested in solving problems; this often includes the problems of others. Solving these problems is often a key focus in their lives.
• They feel a closeness to other people, and generally appreciate life.
• They have a system of morality that is fully internalized and independent of external authority.
• They judge others without prejudice, in a way that can be termed objective.

Was Maslow onto something with this? He listed traits that are internal and available to us all. One does not need a big bank account to embrace the facts and realities of the world. One does not need a guru or priest to be creative and solve problems. One does not need an extensive education to judge others objectively. Maybe the very things we long for are already within our grasp.

In order to reach a goal, one must start with a dream. Dreams beget reality. How it all happens is a mystery to me as I'm not some enlightened soul claiming to possess hidden or specialized knowledge. I'm just your average person, doing the best I can with the life I have. I've made plenty of mistakes and from time to time I really screw things up. However, I have also experienced rare moments in which I understand how we all share some of the same dreams and goals even though we may vehemently disagree on how those things should be achieved.

Stamping the word "dream" on the back of the dollar bills in my pocket reminds me that life is bigger than my perspective alone. It reminds me that we're all in this together and that world peace begins in my own life. I have made Dream Dollars for years. There are hundreds out there: in Nashville, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Austin, pretty much any city I've visited in recent history. I live in a great country. I have great friends and family. The Dream Dollar project is my way of sharing my appreciation for the blessings this life has brought me.

I wish you and yours all the best in the pursuit of your dreams.

Namaste
Landry 2009

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