Hello---
Have you all said before that if the retrieval seems all set up to go, but the Helper and retrievee are not seen leaving together that it could still be a retrieval?    Could I describe this please, and you let me know? And if it is one, I'll feel more confidant about these and not come running to you with every little experience I have.  Thank you.
This was different for me because it was not directly intended and just sort of happened during that waking-up phase in the early morning. Someone had said to let the Helpers choose what retrievals were appropriate (rather than going after relatives and being sort of an 'ambulance chaser' like I've been doing mostly), so that I wouldn't be kidding myself or hurting myself perhaps with the results. So I took that to heart but hadn't set an intention.
So in this dream
two old friends from where I used to live showed up, one lost to cancer almost 10 years ago and her husband, possibly still living but quite ill. First it was just the husband standing by their car, then he said something I didn't understand and his wife popped up, smiling and happy. I asked how he got her to do that and he said, 'oh, just some old Ojibiway chant.' (So now I'm contacting mutual friends to see if they knew he had an interest in Native American lore.) They said they were detained there by the road because all the roads to where they were trying to set up a party were blocked. They had always been 'super-host and hostess' in the small village where we all had lived. They were so happy and smiley that I didn't think about this being a retrieval situation so I suggested they look for another place to have their party. They said no, nothing was available, and they were stuck. A glimpse of two men who looked like they were from 'Skid Row' confirmed that again there ws too  much alcohol involved. So it dawned on me what was happening and I said
'oh, here's a fellow who can get you through to where you want
to go; would you like that?' I sensed a uniformed officer to my right behind me and Carol jumped at the chance and disappeared in that direction. When I looked back toward the car and John, John had dissappeared. I woke up immediately.
If this was a retrieval it will be my first one using Bruce's method. I had been using a system that accidentally developed for me several years ago when I was trying to get rid of some fears. (I've never seen a helper but am getting along with my Guides without antagonism, and I do respect them now that I realize what they do.) I'll appreciate your honest opinions. (Except for Lucy and Alysia who are trying to get me to go out and play in the lightning.  )
Thank you, bets

Hi Bets,
to me that looks like a retrieval, in every case you make them able to leave that place and that's what they wanted. I think it makes not a real difference if you had watched them leaving. If you are interested in where they go to, try to close your eyes even when you're not aware of your body in the scene you are in (for me it works) and concentrate on "I follow him/her to the place wher he/she goes to" and see if you can watch where they go to.
In some of my experiences it too was that quick. So after it I asked "That was it? I just imaginated a means for transportation? Why couldn't they go out on their own?" Thinking of it there is the word "stuck". I have a special relationship with that word, had one who was litterally stuck in a swamp and couldn't get out again. Now, this "stuck" of course means primarily a state of mind, a point of thinking, a dead end. "We can't get out of here", this can become a habit, taken as a fact which is not questionable, deep sunken in the swamp of firm beliefs. Therefore, an "outsider" is needed, who does just the simpliest things of the world, but not simple at all for the people stuck. It's somehow a "jump" over a blockage the stuckies haven't seen so they couldn't break through it.
If that was too easy for your taste, then you will gradually get some more difficult cases- trust your helpers, they know exactly your abilities.
Spooky

it probably was a retrieval Bets, the reason I think it was because at least one the people had crossed over. especially relevant is if you had not been thinking about this person recently which would have caused you dream of them. if a person shows up in my dreams that I haven't thought about consciously for at least a year, I get very suspicious that its not just a casual dream and must have deeper meaning.

but then even if I have been thinking about them theres meaning there too, but I always look for the surprise element in a dream and/or what could be a retrieval.
also the word stuck was mentioned in the dream which has special meaning due to our studies here. the dream retrieval language is chuck full of symbolism to decipher because I believe the part of you that "goes out" is trying to translate back to C1 area what your spirit is up to while the brain/body sleeps.

the surprise element would be a person popping up whom you haven't thought about for awhile, if that is the case. other surprise or personal verification would be intense emotions like joy, ironies, heavy sadness (not always yours) laughter, peace feelings, etc. if theres not feeling in a dream it usually fails to make an impact or memory in me, so I can take it apart to interpret it. another feeling I get sometimes I can only describe as a feeling of certainty. of knowing the truth. thats what you want to write down if it happens as a rote can be hanging off it as you write (it starts interpreting itself) 

I'm reminded of an old boyfriend popping up. he's not dead. he just found my website and dropped in to say congrats out there. you can imagine the surprise element for me! lol. we had parted on a sour note. he was back to say he was wrong about me all this time...the joy was incredible..a mixture of love and sadness and a balance occurring. my self esteem went up about 9 yards..effecting C1 area for awhile. if we can meet live physical folks out there, its for sure the ones without their body can be contacted just as easily.

hugs, alysia