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E.l.e.c.t.r.i.c D.r.e.a.m.s
Volume #14 Issue #1
January 2007
ISSN# 1089 4284
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Electric Dreams:
http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Cover:
http://dreamgate.hypermart.net/ed-covers/ed14-1cov.jpg
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C O N T E N T S
++ Editor's Notes
Richard Wilkerson
++ Global Dreaming News
Harry Bosma
++ Cover : Electric Dreaming 2007
Richard Wilkerson
++ Column: An Excerpt from the Lucid Dream Exchange
Lucid Dreaming and the Afterlife
Lucy Gillis
++ Column: The View - World Dreams Peace Bridge
Saddam's Execution Sparks Conversation
on the Peace Bridge
Jean Campbell
++ Article: Guide for Dream Group Facilitation
Earl Koteen
++ Dream: "Law of Karma"
Stan Kulikowski II
++ Column: Free Association: Loosen Your Mind In 2007
DreamRePlay with David Jenkins, PhD
++ DREAM SECTION: From December Dreams
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D E A D L I N E :
Send articles and news in January 20th for
the February issue
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Post Dreams and Comments on Dreams to:
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/temple
Send news, events, workshops, conferences& reviews to
Harry Bosma <
ed-news@...>
Send Articles, news and other items to:
Richard Wilkerson: <
rcwilk@...>
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Editor's Notes
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Welcome to the January 2007 issue of Electric Dreams, your portal to dreams
and dreamwork online.
If you are new to dreams and dreamwork, there are a few e-lists where
Electric Dreams people seem to congregate that might interest you. One is
dreamchatters@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe by going here and registering
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dreamchatters/
.. and another is the IASD bulletin board. Please, no dreams interpreted
here, just discussion of dreaming and dreamwork topics.
http://www.asdreams.org/subidxdiscussionsbboard.htm
Please note the Jan 31st Deadline for early discount registration for the
2007 Sonoma IASD International Conference (June 28-July3).
www.asdreams.org/2007
Dreaming and dreamwork in 2007, what does this mean? I keep thinking about a
reporter a hundred years from now looking back through early Internet
archives and finding this issue. What is the state of dreaming and dreamwork
at this point in history?
The term "dreamwork" now clearly means working with dreams, rather than just
its original meaning of being worked on by dreams (Freud's dream-work).
The International Association for the Study of Dreams continues to support
both hard science research and experimental dreamwork. IASD is also
extending outreach more globally and has officers now representing different
parts of the globe. Organizations that want affiliation with IASD can now
join as an organization. There are a half dozen or so semi-major schools of
dreamwork that are trying to raise their status to accredited institutions,
and a couple of graduate schools now offer advanced certificates and
education in dreams. The Jungians, the old guard of dreamwork as working
with dreams, continue to hold their own in local chapters supporting
psychotherapy in major cities, though they haven't gotten into mainstream
educational institutions with much success in the USA. There are a few
dream related magazines available and a professional, peer reviewed journal
dedicated to dreams.
More relevant to Electric Dreams readers and online dreaming, there is a
wide variety of dreamwork now available online. Some early groups, like the
DreamWheel dreamsharing online groups continue, and the DreamShare group is
still in operation after nearly a decade, and that community continues its
mutual support.
But the largest quantity of online dream sharing occurs more spontaneously
between individuals and groups that want to get together for a short time
and exchange their dreams. Free e-discussion groups can be created
spontaneously, as well as cheaper phone connections, both analog and
digital, text messaging "quickie" dream groups and group cam meetings.
This has created a kind of candy-story effect. The intensity of the few
half-dozen or so dreamgroups in the '90s has been distributed over a wider
variety of dream sharing venues, including dream videos, internet radio,
cell phone groups and many other devices. The trend seems to be towards the
integration of dream sharing into everyday life, even if the only thing that
people do with their dreams is share them and then laugh or say, "isn't that
interesting?"
Early experimental dream sharing has become more sophisticated as well, as
we have seen in the World Dreams Peace Bridge, where shared dreams become
the community food for nurturing international projects and services to
mankind.
Conference and discussion venues have become more sophisticated as well.
IASD has been providing an annual online conference on the latest and most
fantastic ideas in dreaming through the PsiberDreaming Conference, as well
as contests, art galleries and other activities.
Overall, 2007 looks like a very creative year for dreamsharing in
cyberspace, and I hope as you find or create projects online you will share
them with Electric Dreams readers.
In this issue:
Global Dreaming News editor Harry Bosma, brings you dream news and events
from around the world, online and offline. If you have dream news you want
to get out, please send those to Harry for next month's publication at
ed-news@...
Lucid Dream Exchange editor contributes an article she wrote on the views of
afterlife gained through lucid dreaming, and how you can continue to deepen
and explore this mystery of all mysteries in your own lucid dreaming. Lucy
Gillis draws upon both Western and Eastern traditions for help in solving
this enigma in "Lucid Dreaming and the Afterlife."
One of Electric Dreams earliest members, Earl Koteen, has been studying
dreamwork and promoting dream groups for decades. Earl returns this month
with an outline for group leaders interested in developing solid techniques
and successful groups in "Guide for Dream Group Facilitation."
Stan Kulikowski II is back this month with his unique style of dream
journaling, the selection this month called "Law of Karma" If you would
like to submit dreams for publication, please use the dream entry form at
Free association was on of the earliest techniques for releasing the secret
of dreams. DreamRePlay creator, David Jenkins, PhD explores the many sides
of association and we can move past right and wrong thinking to a whole new
world non-judgmental living. Be sure to read "Loosen Your Mind In 2007."
Cutting of one's left hand, getting felt up, getting hit by the football,
abandoned without food and water, getting puked on - is this the Emergency
Room at General Hospital? No, it's the Electric Dreams Dream Section for
January 2007!
Get your own dream published on Electric Dreams by submitting at
http://dreamgate.com/forms/dream_flow.htm
Janet Garrett archives past issues so you can search out specific articles
and authors in an easy-to-access format. These articles contain a wide range
of information for dreamers and dreamworkers. You can see her work progress
and view hundreds of article on dreams at:
http://www.improverse.com/ed-articles/index.htm
Cover by Richard Wilkerson
http://dreamgate.hypermart.net/ed-covers/ed14-1cov.jpg
--------------------
For those of you who are new to dreamwork,
be sure to stop by one of the many resources:
http://dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
http://dreamgate.com/dream/library
http://dreamunit.net/news-en/
Electric Dreams in PDF: (thanks to Nick Cumbo)
http://electric.dreamofpeace.net/
--------------------
From Planet Dream,
-Richard Wilkerson
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G L O B A L D R E A M I N G N E W S
January 2007
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Email all dream news to Harry Bosma at his special
ed-news@...
address.
Online:
- Dream Video Picks of the Month
- Dreams received for the Planetary Dream 2006
- Lotus Dream website
Physical world:
- IASD News: Radio Show
- New Mexico: Victoria Rabinowe
Books, movies, research:
- Ashtiany: The Interpretation of Dreams in Islamic Lands
- Szpakowska: Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in Ancient Egypt
- Applications of Lucid Dreaming
Reminders:
- Pregnancy Dreams Study
- Various calenders
- Strephon Says: Podcasts and blog
- Ritual DaFuMu for Peace
* * * ONLINE * * *
---
- Dream Video Picks of the Month
---
Creating and sharing videos is now easier than ever before. What are
dreamers putting online?
Three animated nightmares, a Very clever mix of animated dreams while
dreamer narrates, with information between the sequences:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC7QBo2a4hQ
The Red Blanket scence from the Science of Sleep:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=foo7kN0uNMI
The Dream Cube. A mysterious cube brings dreams to life:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=foo7kN0uNMI
Have you found other dream videos, or created your own, let us know.
Richard Wilkerson
---
- Dreams received for the Planetary Dream 2006
---
Hello Dreamers!
The received dreams for the Planetary dream 06 have been put on the Oniros
site: 15 participants.
See: www.oniros.fr/dreams06.html
Your corrections, commentaries, illustrations and interpretations are
welcomed.
Thanks to the participants and a happy new year 2007 :-)
Best dreaming and waking states regards,
The webmaster
Roger Ripert
---
- Lotus Dream website
---
Jacquie Lewis, Ph.D., a researcher and author on dreams in the Chicago area,
now has a new news and information site about dreams and dreaming. Jacquie
is also the E-News editor for the International Association for the Study of
Dreams.
http://lotusdream.org/index.htm
* * * PHYSICAL WORLD * * *
---
- IASD News: Radio Show
---
IASD is excited to announce "Dream Time," an Internet radio program. This
new show will focus on IASD's support of dream studies and dreamwork and
will aired be on Modavox's VoiceAmericaT Health & Wellness Channel You can
also listen through a link from the IASD, DreamScience.org. The show will be
hosted by IASD Past President and Executive Officer, Bob Hoss. Beginning
February 14, 2007 and broadcasting each Wednesday at 9am Pacific (Noon
Eastern), the show will air with a rebroadcast 12 hours later.
www.health.voiceamerica.com
www.dreamscience.org
IASD member Layne Dalfen was interviewed in an article "Nightmare Turned
into Dream Job," which appeared in the Montreal's Gazette on December 16,
2006. To read the article visit:
http://tinyurl.com/y5slja
The publishers of The Dream Book: A Young Person's Guide to Understanding
Dreams, by Patricia Garfield, Ph.D. Co-founder and President (1998-9) of
IASD, are printing a second edition. The book also previously won the 2002
Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award.
The IASD website: www.asdreams.org
---
- New Mexico: Victoria Rabinowe
---
January 16, 2007 THE VOICE OF FREEDOM (Martin Luther King)
January 23, 2007 IN THE BEGINNING: CREATION MYTH (New Year)
January 30, 2007 THE SHADOW (Groundhog Day)
February 6, 2007 THE TREE OF LIFE: AXIS MUNDI (Arbor Day / Tu B'shevat)
Visit the website:
http://victoriadreams.com
Victoria Rabinowe
Dreaming Arts Studio
1432 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe
505 988-1086
victoria@...
* * * BOOKS, MOVIES, RESEARCH * * *
---
- Ashtiany: The Interpretation of Dreams in Islamic Lands
---
Dreaming Across Boundaries: The Interpretation of Dreams in Islamic Lands
by Serpil Bagci, Olga M. Davidson, Yehoshua Frenkel, Rotraud E. Hansberger,
Hagar Kahana-Smilansky, Jonathan G. Katz, Leah Kinberg, John C. Lamoreaux,
Mohammad J. Mahallati, Eric Ormsby, Sholeh A. Quinn, Khalid Sindawi, Mohsen
Ashtiany (Editor)
Descriptions of dreams abound in the literatures of the Near East and North
Africa. The Prophet Muhammad endowed them with a theological dimension,
saying that after him "true dreams" would be the only channel for prophecy.
Dreams were often used to support conflicting theological and political
arguments, and the local chronicles contain many accounts of royal dreams
justifying the advent of new dynasties.
This volume explores the context of these theological speculations and
political aspirations through the medium of dreams to present fascinating
insights into the social history of the pre-modern Islamic world in all its
cultural diversity. Wider cultural exchanges are discussed through concrete
examples such as the Arabic version of the Aristotelian treatise De
divinatione per somnum. Some of the current scholarly assumptions about
dreams being merely stylized expressions of social conventions are
challenged by personal reports that express individual personalities,
self-awareness, and spiritual development.
This is the first volume of the Ilex Series on Themes and Traditions. The
series explores cross-cultural constructs without losing sight of the rich
texture of local variations of traditions or beliefs.
www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/ASHDRE.html
---
- Szpakowska: Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in Ancient Egypt
---
Through a Glass Darkly: Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in Ancient Egypt
by Kasia Szpakowska
Magic, dreams, and prophecy played important roles in ancient Egypt, as
recent scholarship has increasingly made clear. In this volume eminent
international Egyptologists come together to explore such divination across
a wide period.
Table of contents:
- The Social Context of Magic in the 3rd Millennium & Middle Kingdom (John
Baines);
- The End is Near (Leonard Lesko);
- Corn Mummies: "Amulets of Life" (Maria Costanza Centrone);
- The Spitting Goddess and the Stoney Eye: Divinity and Flint in Pharaonic
Egypt (Carolyn Graves-Brown);
- Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in Egyptian Narrative Literature (Alan B
Lloyd);
- Nocturnal Ciphers in the Ancient Near East: Egyptian Dream Exegesis from a
Comparative Perspective (Scott Noegel);
- In Search of the Sorcerer's Apprentice (Daniel Ogden);
- Sinuhe's Dream (Richard B Parkinson);
- A black cat from right, and a scarab on your head: New sources for Ancient
Egyptian Divination (Joachim Quack);
- The Dreams of the Twins of St. Petersburg (John Ray);
- 'and each staff transformed into a snake' The Serpent Wand in Egyptian
Magic (Robert K Ritner);
- A Lost Dream Episode (Anthony J Spalinger);
- Introduction: Tomorrow is Yesterday (Kasia Szpakowska);
- Entangled or Connected: The power of knots and knotting in Ancient Egypt
(Willemina Wendrich).
http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/60945?/Location/Oxbow
---
- Applications of Lucid Dreaming
---
Daniel Erlacher requests your help with an online survey on applications of
lucid dreaming. The survey comes in three languages: German, English, and
Dutch. Look for the language links at the top of the page.
http://experiment.klartraum.de
* * * REMINDERS * * *
---
- Pregnancy Dreams Study
---
You can help dream research gain a better understanding of the amazing realm
of dreams through participation in a short study on dreams during pregnancy!
The search is on for any woman who is pregnant, or man who is expecting a
child and is willing to offer a written account of a dream that they have
had during that time. The only participation required for the study is a
signed consent form and the dream write up. All info will be entirely
confidential, and the dreams will only be identified as from a man or a
woman, age, and trimester. Both consent form and dream write up can be sent
over email so the process is quick and easy. If you have any questions, or
if you or somebody you know may be interested in participating please email.
Marena Koukis
dreaming@...
---
- Various calenders
---
Nicole Gratton (Canada):
http://www.nicole-gratton.com/calendrier_01.htm
Robert Moss (USA):
http://mossdreams.com/xcalendar.htm
Jeremy Taylor (California):
www.jeremytaylor.com/pages/schedule.html
---
- Strephon Says: Podcasts and blog
---
Strephon Kaplan-Williams is an international expert on dreams and dreamwork.
Now in retirement age Strephon gives his podcasts.
http://strephonsays.com
---
- Ritual DaFuMu for Peace
---
The World Dreams Peace Bridge, on the 15th of each month, is holding a
monthly DaFuMu - a collective dream of good fortune - to support peace.
For more information go to:
http://www.worlddreamspeacebridge.org/dafumumonthly.htm
To join the World Dreams Peace Bridge discussion group, just send an e-mail
to
worlddreams-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
END NEWS ================================================
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Cover:
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An Excerpt From The Lucid Dream Exchange
Lucid Dreaming and the Afterlife
(c) Lucy Gillis 2006
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"If we cannot remain present during sleep, if we lose ourselves every night,
what chance do we have to be aware when death comes?. . . Look to your
experience in dreams to know how you will fare in death. Look to your
experience of sleep to discover whether or not you are truly awake."
Tenzin Yangal Rinpoche
What happens when we die? Where do we go? Do we go anywhere? What will it be
like? If my body is dead, how will I be able to see or hear? Will I be able
to see or hear?
It was questions like these that occupied the mind of an ancient physician,
over 1500 years ago. He found his answers, not in his religion, not in the
science of his time, but in a more intimate and immediate way. He received
his answer in a dream - a lucid dream. In fact, this particular dream is the
first written report of a lucid dream in recorded history. The dream was
found within the letters of St. Augustine, a Christian philosopher and
priest.
.
In 415 A.D. St. Augustine wrote a letter to a priest by the name of Evodius,
in which he described the dream experiences of Gennadius, a physician from
Carthage. Gennadius, disturbed by doubts as to whether there was life after
physical death, had two dreams. In the first he was visited by a youth "of
remarkable appearance and commanding presence" who demanded that he follow
him. Gennadius did so and was led to a city where he could hear singing "so
exquisitely sweet" and unlike anything he had ever heard before. He asked
his guide what the music was, and was told, "it is the hymn of the blessed
and the holy." At this point Gennadius woke, believing the experience to be
nothing more than just a dream.
However, the next night, as he dreamed again, his young guide of the
previous night returned and asked Gennadius if he recognized him. Gennadius
replied "Certainly!" Then the youth asked him where they had met, but
Gennadius could not remember, though he did correctly recall and describe
the event of their meeting and what had occurred.
The young guide then asked Gennadius if the events he just described took
place in sleep or in wakefulness. Gennadius replied, "In sleep," to which
the youth responded with "You remember it well; it is true that you saw
these things in sleep, but I would have you know that even now you are
seeing in sleep." The youth continued, "Where is your body now?" Gennadius
answered "in my bed." (Gennadius was then lucid; aware he was dreaming,
while his body slept in his bed.)
The youth pressed on; "Do you know that the eyes in this body of yours are
now bound and closed, and that with these eyes you are seeing nothing?" "I
know it," answered Gennadius. The guide then asked, "What then are the eyes
with which you see me?" To this, Gennadius could not respond, he did not
know the answer. The young guide then provided him with answers he had been
seeking in his waking life:
"As while you are asleep and lying on your bed these eyes of your body are
now unemployed and doing nothing, and yet you have eyes with which you
behold me, and enjoy this vision, so after your death, while your bodily
eyes shall be wholly inactive, there shall be in you a life by which you
shall live, and a faculty of perception by which you shall still perceive.
Beware, therefore, after this of harboring doubts as to whether the life of
man shall continue after death."
According to St. Augustine, "This believer says that by this means all
doubts as to the matter were removed from him." Gennadius had awakened,
satisfied with his answer, and didn't doubt the existence of life after
death again.
Gennadius's "youth of remarkable countenance" or "dream guide" is not the
only one to compare the dreamstate to the afterlife. For thousands of years,
Tibetan Buddhists practicing "dream yoga" have been instructed in various
degrees of (what Westerners refer to as) lucid dreaming as a means of
increasing their awareness on the path to enlightenment. Dream Yoga was
developed to help train the practitioner to achieve enlightenment during
sleep so that at the time of death, he would be prepared for the death
bardo's. In the Tibetan language, the word "bardo" refers to an interval
between two events. In the case of the death bardo's, the intervals are
between death and rebirth.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead, ("Bardo Thodol") describes three bardos that
the deceased will encounter after death. In these realms of existence the
deceased will meet with experiences that are the result of his own "inner
manifestations"; just like dreaming, these manifestations are projections
originating from his mind.
If he does not recognize them as projections, he can become trapped within
them, believing them to be reality. Unable to attain enlightenment from
this stage, he will pass to the bardo of rebirth, to begin the cycle of life
and death again.
However, if he can recognize the projections as being manifestations of his
own mind, and can detach from them, then he has a better chance of achieving
enlightenment, after which he will no longer need to be reborn. Here is
where the practice of lucidity within dream yoga becomes important:
"The lucidity experience . . . assists in understanding the unreality of
phenomena, which otherwise, during dream or the death experience, might be
overwhelming."
Michael Katz, Editor, Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light
With dream lucidity, the practitioner learns to recognize that all around
him is a dream, an illusion. He then learns to detach emotionally from the
dream, thereby reducing the likelihood of creating more illusory imagery.
Though lucid dreaming is viewed as a necessary stage of development in dream
yoga, to the Tibetan Buddhists, achieving lucidity in dreams is not the
ultimate goal. It is merely a step along path to enlightenment, it is not
enlightenment itself.
Besides the dream state being like the death bardos, dream yogis claim that
the stages of consciousness experienced during the sleep cycle resemble the
stages of consciousness experienced when dying. Since we sleep and dream
every night, we have the opportunity to learn to consciously observe our
sleep cycle and to become more familiar with these stages of consciousness.
According to Rob Nairn, author of Living, Dreaming, Dying:
"We can have a trial run at death every single night when we go to sleep.
We can begin training to fall asleep consciously and to dream lucidly. The
process of falling asleep parallels the process of dying, while dreams
parallel the bardo of death."
Of course, you do not necessarily have to be a Buddhist-in-training, or one
awaiting divine intervention, to learn about the after-death condition in
the dream state.
From 1964 until her death in 1986 author Jane Roberts channeled Seth,
"an energy essence personality no longer focused in physical reality" or,
one who was "as dead as it gets" (as he called himself). It was Seth who
coined the now much-used phrase "You create your own reality." Seth's main
message is that consciousness creates reality and that individually we each
create our own personal realities based upon our beliefs, thoughts, and
emotions.
Seth spoke on numerous other topics as well, including extensive information
on dreams and death. When asked what happens when we die he replied that
there is no specific answer as to what happens immediately after death,
because each individual is unique with his or her own personal beliefs and
expectations, and as our beliefs shape our experience of everyday living
reality, they will also serve to structure our experiences in the after
death state as well.
Like the Tibetan Buddhists, and Gennadius's dream guide, Seth also maintains
that the dreamstate is similar to the state of existence the deceased will
encounter after death. He too, suggests that getting familiar with your own
dreams can help prepare you for the immediate after-death condition.
"In sleep and dream states you are involved in the same dimension of
existence in which you will have your after-death experiences. . . .
Therefore, the best way to become acquainted with after death reality before
hand, so to speak, is to explore and understand the nature of your own
dreaming self."
Seth
According to Seth, in the after-death state there is an almost infinite
number of things you can do. You can visit with already deceased friends and
relatives, go into the past, travel what seems to be great distances in an
instant, review your former life, review past lives, plan your next life,
move on to other dimensions of reality, and much more. He insists there are
always guides to help you out. No one is alone, but if you strongly do not
believe in an afterlife, or in helpful guidance awaiting you there, it may
take some time before you become aware of your condition or aware of any
helpers to assist you. But you will eventually become aware.
Texts on Tibetan Buddhism, dream yoga, and the Seth books go into much
deeper explanations and descriptions of the after death state. This article
merely hints at a portion of the greater tapestry, only to point out the
common thread - lucid dreaming.
If you want to know what your after death condition may be like, look to
your dreams. If you want to see in "quick time" how your beliefs and
expectations create reality, examine your lucid dreams and watch as your
thoughts and beliefs (both conscious and unconscious) manifest in imagery
and circumstance all around you. When lucid, perform experiments, ask
questions of your dreams, do all you can in order to become more consciously
familiar with operating in non-physical realities. Don't wait for science or
religion to hand you "answers." Explore, dive into your own dreaming
consciousness and see what discoveries await you there.
Is there life after death?
I'll leave that question to you, the reader, with these words from St.
Augustine:
"Nevertheless, while it is free to every one to believe or disbelieve these
statements, every man has his own consciousness at hand as a teacher by
whose help he may apply himself to this most profound question."
References:
Letter 159 (A.D. 415)
St. Augustine
www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102159.htm
Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, Edited
by Michael Katz Snow Lions Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1992, 2002
Seth Speaks: The Eternal Validity of the Soul Jane Roberts Prentice Hall
Press, New York, 1972
Living, Dreaming, Dying:
Practical Wisdom from the Tibetan Book of the Dead Rob Nairn Shambala
Publications, Boston, Massachusetts, 2004
The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1998
**************************************
The Lucid Dream Exchange is a quarterly newsletter featuring lucid dreams
and lucid dream related articles and interviews. To subscribe to The Lucid
Dream Exchange send a blank email to:
TheLucidDreamExchange-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
You can also check us out at www.dreaminglucid.com
_________________________________________________________________
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View From the Bridge
Saddam's Execution Sparks Conversation on the Peace Bridge
January 2007
Jean Campbell
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It has often been noted that the World Dreams Peace Bridge, comprised as it
is of people from all around the globe, might be seen as a microcosm of the
macrocosm, that how we deal with world crises on the Peace Bridge reflects
into the larger world. At the end of December, faced with the execution of
Iraq's former President, Saddam Hussein, Peace Bridge members talked about
the meaning of this event. This article represents only a fraction of what
was said. The end of the year also brought a few dreams, some featuring
former Peace Bridge member May Tung, which might serve to light the way
toward peace.
December 30, 2006
Ilkin-Turkey
I woke up with a very bad feeling at just before sunrise. Seems like now, we
can forget every little hope of peace in the area. Every human, who ever
he/she is even Saddam was under the protection of International Human Rights
Laws. Now, we can say "goodbye" to them too. It makes me really sorry not
being able to say "happy new year". No need to make any prediction to see it
will not be a happy one at least for the people of this area.
I don't even wonder anymore if sometime there will be any action to take
Bush to international courts for his crimes against humanity.
Saddam Hussein executed in Iraq
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6218485.stm
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jody-United States
Dear Ilkin,
I woke up with bad feelings too and I heard the news late last night that
Saddam was executed. I join you in the conviction that execution of a human
being, no matter how bad he/she is and whatever the crimes, is another
crime. Unlike you I still hope we can evolve as a species to a new common
view of humanity and ethics that supports International Human Rights Laws
and even deeper a common commitment to non-violence and compassion. We are
not there as a whole world, we are not there in many nations, not only the
US government. But we are there as many people, ourselves included, who
agree in better principles and try to live them and change policies in these
more humane and just directions.
I have a heavy heavy heart about the future in your part of the world too
Ilkin. But it is not separate from our part of the world really: that's why
I, here in a pleasant neighborhood in another country wake up just as you do
with heavy heart. You are right, it will not be a happy new year for most of
your part of the world.
And, I want you to know that I had a similar thought about Bush: why is he
not on trial for crimes against humanity? When or could he ever be on trial?
I would like him to be brought to trial, he and his cohort and to be made
accountable for all the deaths and suffering that has come from his wrong
and falsity based decisions. But even he I would not want to see executed.
I fear that the need to take revenge in order to right wrongs creeps into
all of our hearts. I wish for something else: that we evolve together to a
common humanity that sees this does not break the cycle of violence and
suffering. Only facing reality directly, calling for justice tempered with
forgiveness and most of all deep deep compassion for the confused, often
evil doing acts of our species will lead to true transformation.
I want to share with you a quote from an activist Catholic Bishop, Oscar
Romero, who was assassinated for his speaking out against injustice in his
country. A friend sent me this quote last night and I have been meditating
on it since:
"If you need hope, you're courting despair, and if you court despair you
will stop working. So try to wean yourself from this need to have hope. Try
to have faith instead, to do what you can, and stop worrying about whether
or not you're effective....Worry about what is possible for you to do, which
is always greater than you imagine." Oscar Romero
I don't know if I agree about this view of hope or not. I do agree about not
taking time to worry about being effective and I do agree that what is
needed is to continue to act out of faith in what we know to be true and
represents our core values. Ilkin, I see you and frankly myself and others
we know, acting in this way. Your beautiful action of helping the several
refugees from Iraq that you recently wrote about and urging us again to take
action to do and give whatever we can for aid....these are actions that
proceed from your core beliefs. There is no holding back, no wondering if
the outcome will be hopeful or not. You just do it. So do I.
Dear friend, this is my New Year's greeting to you: take comfort in knowing
you are not alone as one who holds her truth and acts from it without
attachment to success or happiness of outcome. This is the steel in our
spines, this is the adamantine unbreakable diamond in the Self from which
new worlds can be built.
My love to you and your family and your part of the world from mine.
Jody
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ali-Iraq
Dear Friends...
I feel ashamed of what the pigs had committed early morning today...It is
the first day of the holy Eid Al ADHA. the holy Pilgrims sacrifice to Allah
and pray and Muslims all over the world celebrate these days....but that is
not the case for the pigs of the green zone.....as they are just pigs and
their master ordered them to do it now,
I would like you to know that all Arab nations and almost most Islamic
nations condemned the execution that was carried out today..
You probably know that many other cases against him is there in the tribunal
and they want him dead before he testify any more information as that will
embarrass the Black house administration...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jean-United States
Dear Ali and dear Ilkin,
I hardly know how to reply to the messages you have sent, or to the travesty
of justice that took place last night.
I wondered, as I always do, what I could have done to change or prevent this
situation. Having been associated for a while with the delivery of abuse and
torture has sensitized me immeasurably to my belief in the power of human
consciousness. I prayed, of course. I lit a candle. I meditated. And I was
well aware that a martyr was being created.
But I continue to believe that nothing happens in the world that I cannot in
some way affect or change, and that we are all in this thing together.
I want to mention that it hurts to hear my people called pigs. That was a
bit of a surprise to me, since I have called them that myself. And Ilkin,
even though this is a terrible, dark event, I still believe there is room
for hope...and room for a blessed New Year and Eid.
Love to all,
Jean
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ali-Iraq
Dear Ilkin...and all..
Iraqis used to get a bonus or a surprise gift at every holy occasion..for
example a pardon or release some of the political prisoners...etc
Look the difference we experience now....
That happened in the past when governments were real people not pigs and
when they are loyal to their country not to the evil power brought them...I
my self and I believe many Iraqis and all Arab and Muslims get the message
out of that execution..
But...I guess they did not calculated the response that will be most
unexpected..
More hate and disrespect to the pigs at the Black house..
That is a proof that the policy makers do not take into consideration our
holy days or our feelings and from now on I will not buy any American brand
and will start a campaign to sanction American products as it is simply
imported from an out law country and governed by jungle law....am I right?
American regime only export death and death squads.....and the problem is
that those fucken liar at the black house claim that they try to implement
democracy in our nations..
What a big lie...Iraq is a good example for their evil plans and
products...death, sectarian divisions...no security rape..murders....a
country governed by death squads and the pigs at the green zone support them
with money and cover..
Thanks Mr. Bush for these Christmas and new year gifts. Please condemn his
evil acts as I think he has gone too far. Now we pray to Allah to take
revenge !
-----------------------------------------------------------
Kathy-Australia
Dear Ali especially:
I am very very sorry for all the devastation to your country and very very
sorry to hear of Saddam Hussein's execution. An execution is barbarous. I
agree totally with the quote Olivia appended to her note I lit a candle last
night, and prayed. Richard Dicker of the Human Rights Watch best summed up
my sentiment:
"The test of a government's commitment to human rights is measured by the
way it treats its worst offenders."
AND we all know that it is the US who orchestrated this pseudo trial and
execution.
I wonder if Bush considers that others could see him as committing "crimes
against humanity"? I wonder if Bush could consider that he could be executed
- just if the power balance was different.
I wonder - I'm so sorry.
Kathy
-----------------------------------------------------------
Kotaro-Japan
Dear Ali,
As my Menieres disease getting better I can focus my viewpoint (the point
where our eyes focus), I would like to write some.
First of all, it seems insulting pigs including other animals to use as the
symbol of wicked people. Pigs never prepare to murder, to rape...in short,
to begin the war and the occupation. Only the Human beings, like me and you,
have the ability to. And only Human beings wishes revenge or have the
courage to cut off the chain of this unceasing killing each other.
In the second place comes a question what Iraqi people are going to do for
the peace in Iraq. If there are many activities, are they depend on the
anger against the U.S.A. or western culture? I am not any kind of
representative of Japanese. I am personally suspicious about the logic of
super power country, U.S.A. toward other countries. Recently I want to shut
my ears when I hear the words, Justice, Humanity, Glory, God, and so on.
These words have been disgraced their proper meanings.
Thirdly, the internal incidents might be getting worse and worse. The
puppetized government in your country does not have any wisdom or power to
settle down the conflicts, it is clear. But other very important problems
are not clear. How and when U.S. armies should retreat? What or who will
have the wisdom to settle down internal murders, destructions?
Dearest Ali, do you think it might be much better if U.S. troops retreat
immediately? If so, what will happen in the poor The government without the
background? Is there any solution to build up the government by rigid
election by all Iraqi people now? How and who will calm down the bloody
incidents between sects?(I am not saying the both side of the sects are
attacking each other.)
Honestly speaking, I have no vision of the next year of Iraqi people, and am
only wishing the real peace will visit to the hearts of every people first,
not only in Iraq but also other countries in the World including the human
being in the Black house that you call so.
May eternal light will keep shinning in your heart,
Kotaro
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ilkin-Turkey
Dear Ali; (better to change the topic because I am afraid this is what is
going to happen)
I know I can only look with an outsider's eyes, I didn't lived what you and
all your loved ones experienced in that hell. But please be calm and
logical. There are so many questions behind this event which all will see in
time. Today, I thought that there wasn't any leaders in Iraq's history who
died with normal health reasons for the last century. I wonder if Taliban
and other leaders of today are aware of this or what they think their future
will be. I wrote many times; "freedom, democracy cant be imported or
exported", I can add "cant be bought or sold" too. As it wouldn't differ
very much I you/ me/ all would use/ buy any American products or not...Yes;
"Bush is the enemy" but not only yours or mine etc but also "his own
people".. It is not the "American workers/ people" who is the enemy but the
regime.
America didn't begin to export death squads today or only to Iraq but to all
the world beginning from the Vietnam. Than I can ask; "Where were you all,
all those time?". "Where were your minds when they support, fuel Saddam,
Pinochet, Suharto and all others with all kinds of arms?". "Where were you
thinking Saddam get the chemical weapons he used at Halepce; from you, me or
US?". "Iraqis where were your minds when the invasion begun?". "Muslims
where were your minds when you were serving US as the armies against than
USSR around so famous Green Crescedent?". "What are you doing Iranians?".. I
can ask so many questions...
If we didn't get any lessons from the history, put it aside and look today
and future. Not only Iraq but all the area is turning to "fields of
revenge". That is the most dangerous thing and what they want to put in our
minds. It is hard to explain our friends from other areas why/ how this
execution can have such an effect, why it is so belittling over the people.
Many of them may not understand what the role "honor" plays in the lives and
understanding, what "vendetta/ feud" can create in the lives of the Middle
Eastern people. But it is sure the "regimes and their puppets" know it very
well. There is not only religious divisions but also divisions in religions,
there is not only countries, nations but also tribes, ethnicities and so
many more I am not able to tell in this little mail...
No my friend; we shouldn't pray Allah for "revenge" but for mind, logic and
knowledge & power to use them. To stand against any outsider and build our
"own" freedoms and democracies. Prevent them to create "fields of revenges"
they wanted on these lands. Real people of America also aware of this and
not enemies.
I still want to wish "happy new year" at least to the children, to the young
ones not to live all these in their future...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jeremy-South Korea
What if we were faced with a clear hypothetical question? If this man
(Sadaam, Bush or another) lived, another million people, children and women,
mostly, would die, and if he died that million could live, would you still
oppose the execution?
What if a malaria mosquito was about to bite my child, and go on to bite all
the members of my family and community, would I kill it? Of course.
One would think I would naturally follow the crowd on the Peace Train. But
here my mind is not made up.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ali-Iraq
Dear Jodie and other friends..
I do appreciate your standpoint..I know well it is not the sum of
contribution offered, however small, or may be just symbolic, but it is the
will, the intentions and the sincere feelings that every one on the bridge
share with us, and it is really heart to heart encounters.
However...I always think that it is my duty to convey whatever necessary to
you all to make you imagine in a better way ,the magnitude of damage and the
depth of human suffering .....
-----------------------------------------------------------
And then the dreams
Valley-Dallas
I wanted to wish you a wonderful holiday and new year and let you in on the
dreams I was gifted from May on Christmas. On a whim, I decided to fly to
San Francisco to visit my brother for Christmas. The night before my
departure I had this short, sweet dream:
May Tung appears in my dream and she has prepared a feast of Chinese Dim Sum
in my honor.
On Christmas Eve I arrived in San Fran and that night I dreamt of her again,
but this time it was a very complex dream and difficult to put into words. I
was being shown some kind of grid or configuration of shapes that were
representing some form of predestination. Something that was set in time and
space but had not yet happened in waking life.
I don't know what the specifics were about this predestination, or if she
was just showing me how it works but it felt a very enlightening experience.
I felt her presence all the while there in her home town, and I was
surprised she chose to visit me in my dreams to welcome me with such honor
and open arms. Such a jewel she is!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jody-Cincinnati
Here is the dream about which I've been musing deeply:
My Solstice dream from December 22, 2006:
I see three birds, three doves, very beautiful. They are very unique doves,
each of these three doves is of black and white coloration and more strange,
each dove has a small pouch at its breast in which it carries a baby bird.
Like marsupial doves!
There is a network or grid-like curtain over the whole area where these
birds are, a cage or aviary, and yet there is no visible sign of
confinement. On the net there is a repeating motif or pattern, which is
clear in the dream but I can't quite remember on waking. Nearby stands a man
named Ron M. who is the Director of Regional Planning for our county in
Ohio. His presence cues me to think of a network wide planning effort. Then
it occurs to me that these are the black and white doves of peace and the
network and planning is for a unified peace planning effort, one that would
carry on with the next generation, baby birds, which are carried outwardly,
at the breast as the young develop, just near the heart, as an infant or a
baby kangaroo might be carried in a front pack to look out on the world. End
of Dream
On waking I reflect that the black and white seem like the union of
opposites, good and evil, light and dark as one. And that peacemaking is
just that: no exclusion of the dark, rather a union that creates a
generative third new possibility. And, the three doves of peace might refer
to three great spiritual traditions struggling with one another: Judaism,
Christianity and Islam. But in the dream they are together, not at odds,
rather held in a common space with an overall network or pattern which
defines their abode and contains them. To the planning part of the dream I
connect a waking life experience and recent invitation from two Jewish women
friends of mine who have been very involved in interfaith dialogue and have
been approached by NCCJ (National Conference of Christians and Jews) which
has now become an organization for interfaith dialogue called Bridges. (yes
Bridges!) The invitation was to become involved in visioning a World Peace
Conference in Cincinnati OH in 2007. Yes, we can dream of it! And my dream
feels like direction to me to explore this possibility with these women and
others of the three religious traditions mentioned and others who are quite
serious about such an effort.
I share this with you at this end of the year as my gift and connection to
all of us who are living BRIDGES of peace, peace which is a journey, a space
that seems to be an impossible dream, and yet is vividly real to all of us
and others we touch.
Carrying the baby bird of peace like at infant at the heart,
Jody
-----------------------------------------------------------
Del-Sydney
Anyhow: I got myself involved in the planetary dreaming on Dec 22, and I
would like to share the most prominent gift I received from it, which will
hopefully bring some light for others too. Almost every detail escaped me,
but this one thing stood out: I was shown/informed that each one of us is
like the hexagon in a beehive, in the way we are all connected to make up
the whole. This impacts me so much, because it is a beautiful picture of
interconnectedness and how integral each of us are to the whole. I think
this picture speaks volumes!
May the new year bring multitudes of new blessings for you all! And more
emails from me, yahoo!
Joy-California
---------------------------------------------------------
A sequel to Jody's dream and Kathy's comments thereon?
I dreamed my sister and I drew pencil drawings of our dreams both on one
page, linked at their upper inner corners by curving shapes that almost
touched. "It's a boat," she said. "It's the moon," I said - "but it's also a
boat." Then I narrated in a voice so charged with dramatic energy it woke
me:
"The full moon comes riding over the land and touches the sun. Guan Yin,
Kundun and Siefai meet!"
The bit about the boat and the moon relate to something personal but could
also relate to the larger story, the serial group dream here. I know Guan
Yin is a Mandarin Chinese name for the Goddess of Compassion and Kundun is a
title for the Dalai Lama translated as "Presence." I don't know what Siefai
is - that's my attempt at a phonetic spelling - my first impression on
waking was of a reference to something regarding Kaballah (Jewish mysticism)
of which I've read very little but had occasion to think of yesterday -
"sefer" the Hebrew for book; "sefirot" in the plural or "sefirah" singular,
a term that is intentionally obscure according to the book I have here but
relating to the emanations of God and the central symbolism of Kaballah. Any
other clues, anyone?
As the full moon rises when the sun is setting, if it rides over the land to
touch the sun, then East meets West -imagine that!
Joy
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Guide for Dream Group Facilitation
Earl Koteen
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Editor: The following is an outline for group leaders interested in the
process of dreamwork. This outline is a summary or many years of experience
that Earl Koteen has had in a variety of settings.
Agenda
Check-in: Name, mood +/o what's most prominent, dream title; want/need/weed
to share (Need expressed importance and urgency, want a preference to share,
and "weed" is between the two. We use recency and frequency of sharing as
guides for tiebreaking.
Opening Centering Exercise: Some mind, body, and sensory
awareness/relaxation. Can include a couple of deep breaths, body scan,
attention to surrounding sounds and sensations, etc.
Identification and Sequencing of Sharers: Review wants/needs/weeds,
identify who will share (normally 2 on weeknights; 3 on weekends) and in
what sequence
Sharing Dreams and Break: Normally about 1 hours per dream and one 10
minute break. After about 45-50 minutes into dream work, ask 1st question
to the group (Any new perspectives on the dream?) and then 2nd question to
the dreamer (Anything you wish us to look further at or anything you wish to
do or say?)
Closing Centering Exercise: Relax and return to body. Express gratitude
for sharing of the dreams and for contributions by group members.
Facilitation
In addition to what's mentioned above:
Set method for sharing the dream: It's dreamer's choice, though the dreamer
may and often does want input from the group on how s/he will share the
dream. If the dream is typed, sometimes the group wants to read it before
the dream speaks it. If the dream isn't typed, then there are normally two
readings. Encourage the dreamer to read slowly, but w/o interruption the
first time. During the 2nd reading, group members may interrupt at any time
to ask the dreamer to pause or to repeat.
Ignore the Speaker!!!: OK, I am exaggerating for emphasis. I don't really
mean to ignore whoever is speaking. However, just as the use of "if it were
my dream" or "in my dream" seems counterintuitive at first, one of the
biggest challenges of facilitation is recognizing that your primary
responsibility is not to the speaker but to the group. Notice the speaker,
but do not give the speaker rapt attention. Instead, regularly scan the
room to see whom else wishes to speak. Surprising, the speaker will know
you are attending to her/him even though you are not always looking directly
at her/him.
"Air" Traffic Controller: This is often the most important part of
facilitation. While one person is speaking, you can acknowledge a raised
hand or other indication of a desire to speak by eye contact and a nod. If
you notice that more than one person wishes to speak, announce a sequence as
soon as the current speaker stops.
Often when one speaker stops, more than one person starts to speak, even
though not all of these individuals have previously indicated their desire
to be put in the speakers' queue. Most of the time, the potential speakers
quickly resolve sequence among themselves. However, if they can't easily
resolve it among themselves, please interrupt if necessary to announce a
sequence of speakers. To make your interruption more courteous, you can
make statements like: "X has had her hand up for a while now," or "Y hasn't
had a chance yet to comment on this dream." However, usually you will have
no problem so long as you set a clear sequence. When there are more than 2
people who wish to speak, it's often easiest to just sequence them from
right to left or vice versa depending on seating arrangement.
Another responsibility is enforcing the sequence. Once you've said that Y
will be the second speaker after X, tactfully interrupt Z if he tries to
jump in.
A third responsibility, even when you haven't announced a sequence, is to
see that those who have been trying to speak get the opportunity. Comments
like, "X has been trying to make an observation," usually do the trick.
Please exercise your best judgment in making your interventions. These are
guidelines and not rules and can generate strife if imposed too rigidly.
However, they generally make for a happier and better functioning group when
reasonably imposed. Dream group members tend to less impatience and are
less likely to overtalk one another when they are assured that they will get
their "turns" to speak.
Earl Koteen (
koteen@...), a long-time dream worker and workshop
leader, is completing his studies at the Starr King School for the Ministry
(Unitarian Universalist), Berkeley, California, where he hosts a dream group
open to the public.
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Law of Karma
Stan Kulikowski II
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DATE : 19 dec 2006 10:36
DREAM : law of karma
=( yesterday was a monday. i seemed to be a bit more productive than i have
been in the last two weeks. after swimming in the afternoon, i took mother
to the bank to transfer some money into the checkbook for paying our bills.
then she suggested we stop for dinner somewhere and i took us to a new
mexican restaurant that just opened.
she did not like it once we got there, but i was glad to eat out.
during the evening i entered about four months of lottery data into my
programs files which took quit a while since the florida lottery has changed
its web site so getting past game data is much harder now than it used to
be. i had lost the weekly data entry when the lightning strike last august
burned out the network router and i had not recovered the data for my
lottery analysis programs to process until now. i got to bed around 00:30
and went to sleep without much difficulty. )=
the teacher is passing among us, stopping to ask a question or two of some
of us. she stops to look at me but does not ask anything. she likes to be
called teacher but she does not really teach us. she is more like a
spiritual leader and sometimes, like now, an examiner.
eddie grout starts to sing a song to fill in the silence. he is sitting at
the end of the long picnic table where we are all sitting.
he sounds a lot like the well known country singer, hank snow, but with a
slight eddie grout accent. i am a little surprised how well he can sing.
without much thought, i pick up a straight clay pipe which is filled with
grass and light it to take a short toke. the teacher freezes where she is
and looks at me hard, but says nothing. the grass in the pipe is not
marijuana but actual lawn clippings so there is nothing illegal about me
smoking it. i get a small rush from the smoke but nothing that lingers very
long.
the teacher is done now, but pauses to wait for the end of the last verse of
eddie's song, then she leaves our tent for the next.
"you sing quite well." i tell eddie. he looks a little embarassed.
"you sound a lot like hank snow. didn't he live around here?" eddie does
not know so he shrugs. "i think he lived in crestview or somewhere like
that. my father would have known where."
every one in our tent gets up now to go outside.
=( i awake here, probably around 10:05 but i do not open my eyes to look at
the clock. the dream just continues as if it is not done. )=
eddie and i meet a heavy middle age woman. "have you read the book of lois
yet?" she asks us. eddie says that he has, but i have not.
"the teacher told me that i must lower the cost of myself." she tells us.
"ah, that is like the law of karma." i say. "the goal of life is to lose
the self. lowering your cost is part of that." she seems to understand and
goes on ahead.
i think that is good i was smoking just grass and not stronger stuff.
sometimes i will smoke steel wool. it is not narcotic, but
microscopic fragments of the steel make up the smoke and they shred the
linings of your lungs, so it is very harsh. usually i smoke it until blood
starts to flow out of my nostrils and mouth then i have to quit for a while
to heal up. if anyone smokes too much steel,
they can lacerate all their visceral organs.
=( i finally open my eyes. 10:20 on the clock beside my bed. i go over the
events in this dream to help keep them in mind before i turn on my computer
to enter it into the dream journal. i think there may have been more. this
content was a little more slippery than my normal dream memory which is
never very good. eddie grout was in my
high school and i saw him at the 40th reunion more than a year ago.
he was a rather shy but slightly mischievious person, yet very well liked
by everyone in the class which is a rather odd popularity. i have always
thought that the law of karma was that every action has a consequence,
relating physical actions to moral consequences. i suppose there can be
more than one law of karma, but i do not actually recall any being stated as
i have it here. this process of
waking up but having the dream continue on in conscious thought is something
that has happened to me several times in the last few months, but i do not
think i ever got one into the dream journals before. indeed, i wonder if
the last part is really a genuine dream or something my mind just wants to
make up, but there seems to be kind of momentum or dream inertia that drives
this. it is not really like a lucid process where consciousness happens
while still asleep because there does not seem to be same level of control
here.
indeed, it almost the reverse of lucidity, the subconscious needs to
continue to deliver its content payload even though the dreamer comes awake
before the dream is over. the part before the awake notice is just like
normal dreams, and the part after may have a different
mental status but i can not distinguish much to tell them apart. if
lucidity somehow is cheating in dreams because the conscious mind asserts
control of the content, then this may be like the revenge of the
subconscious which will just not quit and give up to consciousness until it
is ready. )=
--
stankuli@...
.
--- if but the cosmos could possibly have come about innocent of
history,
| | as not wholy ignorant of all its potentials, unprejudiced but aware,
=== rather than that its only trial be performed at the mercy of its
errors.
-- treavor goodchild (1995) _the demiurge_ aeon flux, MTV
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Free Association: Loosen Your Mind In 2007
DreamRePlay
David Jenkins, PhD
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A HOLIDAY GIFT
Last week I asked readers to complete a survey to help me improve Dream of
the Week. If you've already done so, many, many thanks to you. If not, there
is still time. Please read on.
Next month will be "Dream of the Week's" first anniversary. I hope you have
been enjoying, and benefiting from the columns. On my part, it has been
rewarding to take one small aspect of dream work and commit myself to
explaining it by Friday noon each week. I find that the exercise -- not to
mention the deadline -- concentrates my thoughts about dream work remarkably
well.
The Perfect Present!
I have a request for a holiday present from you (your choice - Christmas,
Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or other.) I know it's not quite polite
to tell people what you want, but in this case, perhaps you would make an
exception: Your gift would be your straightforward feedback about "Dream of
the Week" -easily accomplished just by completing a survey at the link
below.
I am trying to get a sense of what it is that you, the reader, most
appreciate about Dream of the Week and what you wish was included. The
survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.
I would greatly appreciate your answers. Click here (or copy this link) to
begin:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=928203060126
And now for the dream topic of the week.
FREE ASSOCIATION
Free association is a kind of meditation that loosens up your mind, allowing
it to wander. All you have to do is follow the wanderings.
If I was to make one recommendation for what to do in your new year to aid
you in your dream work, I'd suggest that you learn or practice free
association until it comes naturally. It's also a great way to come up with
new ideas -- a brain massage rather than a brain storm.
Often, as you will see, the connections that come from associating to the
dream are the key to making sense of the dream.
Sigmund Freud invented Free Association as a technique. I don't use it
exactly as a Freudian would but, I think it is an essential part of self
knowledge.
The Method
Essentially the technique is to notice whatever is in your head at the
moment.
If I say the word BOOK, you might immediately think of READ, FIRESIDE, HARRY
POTTER, VACATION IN MEXICO and so on. What you need to practice is noticing
whatever came first to you. It's that simple. But!!!
In ordinary social conversation, we very naturally censor ourselves. The
first answer is quite often "wrong" or socially inappropriate.
If I were to say, "Name a movie star who you find attractive," you might not
wish everyone to know who first came to mind. Your mind would then go
through a process of finding an answer that you wished to present. Many of
us lose the habit of catching that first answer and come to believe in the
more acceptable one.
This process is happening all the time. Your mind searches for an answer
that is socially appropriate and acceptable. BUT, and this is the key, a
word or a concept, picture or sound popped up in your mind first. Free
association is the practice of noticing that first one and following it.
The Difference between Thinking and Associating
We use the word "think" in two different ways.
If I asked you how to get from your house to the supermarket, you would
think through the steps to take and then explain the directions. In
contrast, as you walk down the street on your way to the supermarket, you
might think about someone you knew in high school. That's the thought popped
into your mind. You did not actively generate the thought. Instead, so to
speak, you received it. It's not a rational process.
Free Association and Dreams
A common technique with dreams is to consider what associations you have
with the dream.
I dreamed I saw a purple cloud.
Ask yourself what do you associate to the purple cloud? Purple might remind
you of a coat you wore. Or signify something royal. You might go off on your
associations to the word "cloud." What is most useful is to notice what
first comes to mind rather than what you logically "think" the purple cloud
means.
Nicole's Dream
I dreamed I was in the supermarket. The tomatoes looked very ripe but I
couldn't decide whether to buy them or not.
When Nicole thought about tomatoes her mind went to the tomato plants her
family used to grow when she was a teenager. The conversation steered off
into the days when Nicole herself was a "hot tomato." We came back to the
dream with Nicole considering whether she was ripe for another relationship.
Practice
If you are not already adept at free association, try practicing. Write down
your daydreams. As you wander down the street, catch the thoughts that you
are "receiving." As you wake up, notice the thoughts that are occupying your
mind. Take your next dream and write down whatever comes to mind about each
aspect of the dream.
Special bonus: if you are stuck on a problem, write it down and then free
associate. You'll wander way off target but likely come back to it with a
fresh, creative approach that would be impossible if you focused on the
problem.
Warning: You should not be surprised if all kinds of unacceptable ideas come
up: immoral, unethical, angry, or other. Stop if it's upsetting.
Conclusion
Dreams are irrational. That's what people either love or hate about them.
You might be flying, your father may be wearing a skirt, you might discover
that your house has a room you never noticed. The logic of dreams is much
closer - and truer - to the meanderings of free association than it is to
waking life rational thinking.
DREAM OF THE WEEK SURVEY
You can return to the survey and add or change your answers.
Click here to begin the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=928203060126
DREAM GROUPS
The Saturday drop-in group ($20) is from 10 am to noon at 2315 Prince Street
in Berkeley. The nearest major cross street is Ashby and Telegraph. Please
let me know if you are coming.
SHARE DREAM OF THE WEEK
If you enjoy reading Dream of the Week, please tell your friends about it.
They can read back issues and subscribe (free) at DreamOfTheWeek.com.
Best wishes
David Jenkins
Dream RePlay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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email:
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phone: (510) 644 2369
web:
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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cutting of one's left hand, getting felt up, getting hit by the football,
abandoned without food and water, getting puked on - is this the Emergency
Room at General Hospital? No, it's the Electric Dreams Dream Section for
January 2007!
dream_title: Hand Cutting
dream_date: 12/1/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: I had a dream that I was cutting wood with a chainsaw, but my
left hand was broken and I had a cast on. While cutting wood, I cut through
my cast and cut my left hand off. There was no pain or harsh reaction, but
I calmly walked into the house and inserted my severed hand into an ice
bucket. When I pulled it out later, I found I had only cut the tips off my
fingers, and I was fine with that and carried on as normal, but my cast had
been cut off and only a small portion was left.
dream_title: me and my boy friend and my best guy friend
dream_date: 12-3-06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: well yesterday me and my boy-friend were hanging out and then we
started kissing and everything and he then started rubbing my crotch and
then after he left i feel asleep and i had a dream me and my best guy friend
c, it was his birthday and his mom and i and him were in c's car but he had
his mom drive he was in the front i was in the back and c held my hand and
then started rubbing my crotch and after him doing that for like 4 minutes i
pulled his hand away. so im my cream i cheated my bf and i in real live feel
bad and i wanted to know if this was a sign of something
dream_title:
dream_date: 12/04/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: i was at school and with half of the people i hate where like my
best-friends and my real best friend was there to soo we where walking down
the hall and i stopped at this really hot guy "L" and we hugged and he
kissed me and then he said bye baby i aid i love you and blew a kiss then we
walked out side and sat down and watched people play football then the ball
hit me and i had to be escorted off the field but the one escorting me off
the field was a guy named "J" who i have a crush on in real life soo he sat
me down and we chatted then he left and right about the time he left the
whole school blew up luckily me and my friends where out side but the person
who was dead was "J"
dream_date: December 6th, 2006
dreamer_name: KT
dream_text: okay, so i was with a bunch of kids from my high school and we
had all gone to kansas city for the weekend. we went swimming and were
having a great time. Then me and this guy named S (whom i in real life used
to have a "thing" with) were together again!! we were at a gas station just
me and him, when we went inside, the lady told us to leave. we asked her
why of course... and she said it was coming. we had no clue what she was
talking about so we walked back out to the car to get in and leave. as we
were getting in the car, an earth quake started and every single thing
around us had fallen to the middle of the earth. me and s were the only
people left in the entire world. just me and him standing together on top of
the world. it was like a tall piece of land standing alone. we were left
there with no food or water or anything. i woke up and was so confused! what
could something like this mean?
dream_title: ex
dream_date: 12/7/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: last night i had a dream about the person who i really loved.
but we broke up when i was 15 and now im 21. i never seen the chick that he
cheated on me with but she was all up in the dream. lt was like we were
doing thing behind her back. so could this mean that were gong to hook up or
is it that i miss him or something b/c its been a long time since i though
of him and seen him.
dream_title: Tunnel walk
dream_date: 11/2006
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: In the beginning of the dream, I met a man who was nice to me,
and he were supposed to look after me. Then I was in another place and was
kidnapped by a large, strong man. He dragged me into an old train tunnel. As
we walked deeper into the tunnel I used my mobile-phone as a walkie-talkie,
and contacted the police several times. Suddenly we walked about 30 meters
outside, and then the tunnel continued. After a little while we had to climb
up a small stone wall. Up there I told him that if he puked on me, I will
puke on him back. Then he puked on me, and I tried to puke on him, but I
couldn't. About 5 seconds later I pushed the kidnapper into a box, and
closed the box. In front of me there was a big gate with bright light on the
other side of if. I opened the big metal-gate and rushed inside. At this
point I knew that the cops were just a few moments away. Inside the gate
the man in the start of the dream stood and looked at me. "I got you now",
he said, and he was the evil boss, the kidnapper was just working for him.
Then the dream stopped.
dream_comments: Sorry for the bad language, I'm a Norvegian.
dream_title: mates?
dream_date: 7/12/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: i cant remember it all but the main part of the dream was spent
with my mate and me sat around talking generally hanging out the normal
things and then holding hands? she wont let my hand go and keeps wanting to
hold my hand even when im trying to pull away? then we walked back to my
house holding hands and we walked into my kitchen and my uncle was fixing
something and saw us holding hands and i went to let go but she wouldn't let
go again....?? sat down on sofa listening to music and hugged.
and then thats where i woke up!!
dream_title: Multiple Me's
dream_date: December 6, 2006
dreamer_name: H2O
dream_text: There are 3 of me in my dream. Two of me are arguing over doing
the right thing and wanting to do it knowing it's wrong. The third 'me' is
watching. Nothing gets resolved, but the first 2 me's argue with each other
over getting their own way. Then I wake up.
dream_title: Airplane Crash
dream_date: ?/11/06
dreamer_name: Twylight
dream_text: It was in colour, I always dream in colour. An airplane
crashed, it was flying too low near power lines. It was during the day,
clear blue sky on a deserted road or runway. It was a red plane, not a
jumbo a smaller one. I was in a car and as I drove past the wreckage I
could see the dead people on it. One main person was the back passenger, a
man. He had a moustache and his face was swollen and his eyes were like
they were popping from his head, they were blue, his face was blue. His
head was through the window. There was smoke/cloud and an awful smell.
Rescue services wearing yellow, were trying to find any survivors. I woke
up feeling such sadness and sick from the images.
dream_title: In a row boat with my sister
dream_date: 11/16/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: My sister and I are in a row boat, and it started to sink so my
sister grab on to the green grass with her right hand (because she cannot
swim) and I was sinking with the boat, she yell to me swim you know how and
I said I can't, so she grab my hair so i would not sink, but I was going
under, and she held on for dear life. The End
dream_title:
dream_date: dec,10 2006
dreamer_name: confused
dream_text: hi my im not at liberty to disclose my name at this present
moment. but i have very confusing dreams . some repeatedly over the course
of several years. my most resent dream although not a repetitious one at
present. tied in remotely to my present excursions .
it started out as me making my way out of the house one late night early
morning, sneaking past my grandmothers sleeping soul (her actually sleeping)
to rendezvous with a recent love interest .i live in a pretty rough
neighborhood but at this time no one is active. so im relatively safe but
cautious. how ever when i reach the busy street that goes by the name
puritan that divides me from my love the usually deserted street was
bustling with civilian activity . and me knowing that teens in my area were
under a strict curfew began to sneak across puritan hoping that the police
would not catch site of me or men up to no good would not slow their
vehicles down to pick me up. but before i made my way across the road i did
some thing very peculiar , i stripped down to my underwear and made my way
ducking and dodging behind shadowed corners
dream_title: oprah is trippin again
dream_date: 11/29/06
dreamer_name: esoteric
dream_text: I dreamt it was a sunny day and we (me and somebody
else)was on a busy street when i heard "oprah" on a radio (or maybe just out
of the blue cause i don't remember a radio being on at the time of the
dream)and she said (anyone who come on her show talking about money or being
sexist in anyway would be kicked off the show)but at the time of those words
i visualized the stage setting and i saw people on the stage as if the
camera was moving from left to right as if i seen the show on a television
screen and i saw "two little girls" in my vision, they were twins on stage
but "they had on blue dresses " and "sandy blonde hair". one of the girls
had a shocking facial expression on her face as a result of "oprah's"
comments. all of a sudden i was in "my room at home" and i saw (two
spiders/crabs)like insects crawling on the walls of the room.
dream_title: Lots of people
dream_date: 11 december 2006
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: I was upstairs in my top room of my house and there were loads
of people there. There was a cover and a boy under it. I don't know who he
was but he reminded me of a "N". Then we got and under the covers and had
sex. Then I went out of the covers and people from school went under the
covers with him
--
------------------ END DREAM SECTION ------------------
-------------------- END ISSUE -----------------
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