Send all subscription and unsubscribe requests to
Richard at rcwilk@aol.com
=========================================================
Electric Dreams
Volume 2 Issue #14
30 November 1995
=========================================================
Electric Dreams on Web:
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mettw/edreams/home.html
-- Send dreams and comments on dream to:
Bob Krumhansl <bobk829887@aol.com>.
--Send general comments, replies and articles to:
Richard Wilkerson: <rcwilk@aol.com>
--For back issues and other access see
ELECTRIC DREAMS ACCESS INFORMATION AT BOTTOM
=========================================================
CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE:
Editors' Notes: Dick and Bob
DreamSharing On Internet - >Update and
Special Group coming! Meet here for Groups
Bob's Dream site of the Month
GENERAL COMMENTARY:
Commentary on Dream Journeys (EDV2N13) & Flare dreams by Jay (951031)
Commentary on Island Dreams by Jay (951111)
Commentary on Dream Line Commentary by Island (951102)
Commentary on Dream Journeys- Spiritual Transformation
Dreams by Island (951102) - See Island Collection I
ARTICLES, FEATURES and NEWZZZZZ
DreamStudio Schedule! Donna Campos
Article: A Dream's Worth by John Suler
Cyber Update: SleepNet Web site
Special Series: Dreamjourneys: Dreams of Spiritual Transformation Part II
by Taylor Esta Kingsley
!!!! Special Supplement !!!!
Global Dreaming News for November, 1996
Dream Network Journal Update and information
Dream Poems:
"Nightmares Leave Messes" by Brandi McElhatten
"Dreams" by Stephanie Grusch
Index To Dreams & Dream Commentary Sequence for EDv2n14
(Following the title is the author and the date of the dream/commentary or submission
- in the format of Year-Month-Date/YYMMDD)
COMMENTARY ON DREAMS FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES:
Commentary on "Oaxican Animals" by Island (951102)
Commentary on "Guitar Shop Friend" (Taodreams) by Island (951102)
Commentary on "Orca Ying-Yang" (Lamb of DEC 1993) by Island (951102)
NEW DREAMS:
Dream: "Determined To Return To School" by Blair (940701)
Commentary on "Determined To Return To School" by Blair (951101)
Dream: "Now It's Dark" by Flare (951101)
Dream: "Night Of 3 Stars" by Zoom (951104)
Commentary on "Night of 3 Stars" by Narcissus (951106)
Commentary on Night of 3 Stars" by Flare (951106)
Dream: "He's Really, Really Mad At Me" by Flare (951114)
Dream: "He's Really, Really Mad At Me"-Correction by Flare
Commentary: "He's Really, Really Mad At Me" by Narcissius (951115)
Dream: "The Dark Side of The Moon" by Flare (951117)
Commentary on "The Dark Side of The Moon" by Flare (951117)
Dream: "The Knock On The Door" by Abraxas (951119)
Dream: "The Gopher In The Homeroom" by Abraxas (951119)
Dream: "The Woman and The Turk" by Abraxas (951119)
ISLAND COLLECTION I (Dreams of Christ):
Introduction: Comments on EDv2n13 Dream Journeys article
Dream: "Healed On A Bed, Rising, Once Grounded" by Island's Friend (8304XX) with comments by Island (951102)
Dream: "Indians Masked As Fish Are Missed During Target Practice In Water" by Island (8203XX)
Dream: "A 20th Century Christ Crucified In The Mid-West" by Island (8505XX)
Dream: "In The Deeps Of Outer Space, I Free Myself From A Snake" by Island (8709XX)
Dream: "Climbing, Climbing, Climbing, Crash" by Island (8803XX)
Dream: "My Father Introduces The Astrologer" by Island (880726)
Dream: "The Power Of Evil" by Island (8809XX)
Dream: "Is It A Man, Is It An Angel, Is It Christ Crucified?" by Island (9012XX)
Dream: "An Embarrassing Proclamation From Someone Who Never Gives Up" by Island (9107XX)
Dream: "The Problem Of How To Feed 4509 Black Men On The Spur Of The Moment" by Island (9108XX)
Dream: "Will The Authentic Christ Please Stand Up?" (9110XX)
Dream: "A Gift Of Two Tiny Miniatures" by Island (9201XX)
NUTCRACKER SUITE III:
Dream: "I'm With The Band" by Nutcracker (951022)
Dream: "Death By Plastic Wrap by Nutcracker (951022)
Dream: "Chickbunnies by Nutcraker (951022)
Dream: "Computers R Us by Nutcracker (951024)
Dream: "Cold As Stone by Nutcracker (951024)
Dream: "The Two Liz's by Nutcracker (951025)
Dream: "Deja Vu by Nutcracker (951031)
Dream: "If I Had A Hammer (951101)
Dream: "The Boy's Club by Nutcracker (951102)
Dream: "Noise, Noise, Noise by Nutcracker (951102)
Dream: "Dream Students by Nutcracker (951102)
Dream: "Pez Head" by Nutcracker (951106)
Dream: "Save It To The Hard Drive" by Nutcracker (951106)
Dream: "Darwin's Theory" by Nutcracker (951107)
Dream: "Beatles Song: Coke Above My Head" by Nutcracker (951107)
Dream: "Screwed Again!" by Nutcracker (951108)
Dream: "Evil Incarnate" by Nutcracker (951109)
Dream: "What Does It Mean?" by Nutcracker (951109)
=========================================================
Access Information to Electric Dreams
========================================
Editors' Notes and Day Residue
=========================================
There is a commercial postcard floating around now from the dream comic artist,
Rick Veitch, which has some rigid structures and a man's face morphed and coming
out of them, the caption reads "Walls mean nothing to dreamworkers." I think that's
the image I have of our community too. We are like a swarm transecting the net,
morphing into places that no one else goes and playing with materials that are
somewhere between dangerous and ludicrous. And so our story continues.
First, Taylor Kingsley continues to reveal some of the ideas that she has been
working on for her new book in Dreams of Spiritual Transformation. Find your
transformational dreams and join her in the second part of her series on
Dreamjourneys.
By the way, I want to apologize to Taylor for listing her last issue as "he"! It's sad
that such unconscious assumptions linger in my habits, but I would have appreciated
the column no matter who wrote it, so forward we go- Sorry Taylor!
John Suler, that multi-talented teacher stops by with and interesting article on just
how little dream material we really need to make meaningful statements about the
dreamer.
Tee-shirt Saga:
Well, the Electric Dreams Tee shirt art is done, but they only transfer onto white
tee shirts. So I'm going to be sending the logo and you can iron it on your favorite
white tee-shirt. Thanks to Jay Vinton for the funds for finishing this project and his
voluntary subscription donation!
Dreamsharing in email groups:
If your interested in learning dream sharing on the net in small groups, or just want
to get in there and try some, we are about to embark on a special group project,
DreamWheel 5. If you are interested in joining this historic experiment, drop me a
line if you are interested at rcwilk@aol.com
Electric Dreams Web Page
Matthew Parry, who donates and maintains the ED web site has separated out the
dreams sent in by people after Jerry Garcia's Death and has a graphic now heading the
page that brought me to tears... again.
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/%7Emettw/edreams/garcia.html
And finally, Bob is here to tell you about what we do best, sharing our dreams...
Richard
Thanksgiving Thoughts by Bob Krumhansl
Following shortly will be the shared dreams and dream commentary of those active
participants in the ongoing Electric Dreams experience. In honor of the Thanksgiving
Holiday just passed, I would like to take this moment to thank the contributors of
Dreams and Commentaries for their efforts and willingness to share with the Electric
Dreams community their dreams and ideas. I also thank the reader - yes you! - for
taking the time to look into this special world.
Special thanks to Flare and Nutcracker for giving us a glimpse of a sequence of
dreams (one chronological and one thematic). I am of the opinion that each and every
dream is a potential "gold mine" of wisdom and insight. A series of dreams or set of
dreams bonded by the timeframe of their recollection or commonality of theme offers
an even greater opportunity for insight into the dreamer and issues of importance to
the dreamer and through the magic of sharing insight into ourselves.
Thanks also to the "Dreamer within" all of us, however it/he/she may be called, and
the ability to recall dreams -the images they display and stories they tell. A world of
wonder and amazement are just beneath the surface of our everyday lives as those
who pay attention to their dreams know deep within.
Enjoy Electric Dreams V2 N14 !!
w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=
BOB'S DREAM SITE OF THE MONTH
w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=
Check out http://www.infi.net/~thobbs/mydreams.html which lists Tim Hobbs dreams
of the following kind:
1. Clairvoyant, Clairaudient, Precognitive
2. Numinous dreams of Spiritual Figures
3. Dreams of Water and Fire
4. Catastrophe Dreams
5. Apocalyptic and Eschatological
6. Resurrection and Transformation
7. Numerical Sequences
8. Unknown Technologies
9. Psychic Attack or unpleasant OBE visitations
10. Dreams of the Catholic Church
11. Reluctant Hero
12. Astronomical (Meteors, Stars, etc...)
13. Dreams that end in songs
All dream comments are by Thos J. Jones.
Tim's dream page is just one of the many excellent sites off of his Web Page
http://www.infi.net/~thobbs which foucuses on Spiritual, Pychic and Internet tool
themes.
Tim pointed out the following Dream Resources in a recent posting on Alt.Dreams:
Freud and Jung Dream Interpretation Primer by Duncan Barford
and some examples of numinous, clairvoyant, and precognitive dreams with comments on some from a mostly Jungian viewpoint by Thos J. Jones
http://www.infi.net/~thobbs
CENTRAL PREMONITIONS REGISTRY
http://yaron.clever.net/precog/
You can register dreams you think may be precognitive here
Dreams and Dream Interpretation
http://www.ip.net/are/dreams.html
ARE [Edgar Cayce] a brief article on dreams
Holocom: dreams!
http://www.holo.com/dreams/
Dreams FAQ [this group]
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/dreams-faq/top.html
Electric Dreams FAQ [ a zine]
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mettw/edreams/ed-faq.html
Electric Dreams archive [a collection]
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mettw/edreams/archives.html
======================================================
Until next issue: Hasta La Vista!
Bob K.
====================================================
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
GENERAL COMMENTARY:
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
1) Date: 95-10-31 21:49:03 EST
From: JAY
hi guys,
well, i just finished reading e.d. 2.13. thank you both for another wonderful issue.
i especially liked the dreamjourneys article by taylor kingsley. i would explain/interpret these integretive dreams in a less
supernatural manner, but agreed with much of it anyhow. seems like we have seen some of this kind of dream in electric dreams. in particular, i have been impressed and moved by the apparent
progression in the dreams submitted by flare, culminating in her
'changing the unchangable' dream in e.d. 2.13.
by the way, the access info at the end of e.d. 2.13 still says to
send dreams and comments to richard, even though you changed the
instructions up front to say bobk.
keep on dreamin,
2) Subj: islands 11/02 submission for e.d. 2.14
Date: 95-11-11 13:49:04 EST
From: JAY
hi island,
i just finished reading your 11/02 submission for e.d. 2.14.
i really liked your christ series of dreams.
for another fish dream similar to yours, see dream network vol 14
numbers 1&2 (a combined issue) pg 46, 'the lake of goldfish'.
3) Dream Line Issue Comment by Island
A synchronistic happening for us when the OJ Simpson trial began: my husband and
myself were listening to Dostoevsky's "The Brothers Karamazov" on tape, a great
work about an innocent man brought to trial and sentenced for a murder he did not
commit, though all evidence pointed to the contrary. I made a choice then not to
assimilate anything about the trial, as an experiment, so that when the time came and I
was privy to the "happenings" by yet another synchronistic revelation, I would have a
chance then to see how I really felt about the matter.
That time came. We went to eat in an Indian restaurant and a huge TV faced us as we
ate. One of OJ's trial attorneys was summing things up for the jury. I listened closely
for some time and realized in those moments that, no matter whether OJ was guilty
or not, I would not have delivered the verdict of guilty. That attorney was able to
plant a seed of doubt within me for those few minutes. I knew that I would rather a
guilty man go free than an innocent man be convicted. Later that week, some TV
show ran an hour on the life of OJ. Assimilating a tad more, what snapped into the
forefront was a nightmare that all of America had been riveted to see played out:
why? It would be an interesting experiment to have the event staged as a
dream/nightmare, with commentary, to learn if any meaningful associations would
evolve.
4) A Dreamer's Response to Taylor Etta Kingsley's "Dream Journeys: Dreams of
Spiritual Transformation" (ED:2_13) by Island
I found Kingsley's work fascinating and for the most part agree wholeheartedly about the necessity of distinction. But I don't know if what Kingsley has written is true for me, though it may be a wonderful starting point. From my own reference point, let me share a few examples:
100 + dreams precognitive over a 9-year period of dreams of a man that I actually
met and married; precognitive dreams of brother's murder; precognitive dream of
mass murder approximately 12 hours before it happened; dreams of the deceased;
talking to Christ after descending to the depths of the ocean. My original starting
point in the dream? Outer space. More dreams seem actually "spiritual" by this
definition than psychological, simply because the person that I am who lives day to
day had information/experience provided from somewhere? Someone? that would
otherwise have remained an unknown. It's just that the 20th century has many closed
gestalts, if you will, around many areas: dreams as "spiritual" being one.
What happens is I see dreams as "spiritual" in retrospect, but I am so conditioned to
view them as psychological as I remember them that it is more convenient to think of
them in those terms, rather than in "spiritual" terms. Therefore, my focus is on
learning the language then, when God(dess) speaks, I can truly listen. Ultimately, all
dreams may be spiritual because all dreams may ultimately provide
information/experience that would remain forever an unknown unless we can read the
signs. But our filters need a lot of cleansing, and we need to learn this for the most
part alien language of dreams. To illustrate my perspective, what follows is a
discussion of a sequence of dreams of Christ I had over a period of years. (See
ISLAND COLLECTION I - Editor)
=============================================
DREAM STUDIO SCHEDULE
=============================================
The Dream Studio is a live online discussion group in
Compuserve's New Age Forum. Hosted by Donna LoCicero
Campos and Paul TMB, the Dream Studio meets each Monday
night at 10:00pm EDT and 7:00pm PDT and looks at a
variety of dream-related topics.
December schedule:
Monday, Dec. 4: Dreams of the Big Wall Climbers with Puntalejos
--It often takes people scaling big walls such as El Capitan in Yosemite several days
--and nights before they get to the top. What kind of dreams do climbers sleeping on
--rock ledges have? (also featured in Electric Dreams, Sept. '95, Volume 2, Issue 11)
Monday, Dec. 11: Dreams and Wishes
--A fun lesson in dream incubation with dreamer Kim Healy
Monday, Dec. 18: Dreams of Birth and Pregnancy
--Come share and explore these fascinating dreams with us!
For more information, contact Donna LoCicero Campos at Imaginer@aol.com
=====================================================
A Dream's Worth
by John Suler
====================================================
A picture is worth a thousand words. You've heard it so many times that it sounds trite. But a picture really IS worth a thousand words. And if a dream is a very special kind of picture, how much is IT worth? Maybe more? What
about very simple pictures and very simple dreams? No doubt they're worth a little bit
less than complex, elaborate ones.
Or are they?
In my psychotherapy course one day, I presented my undergraduate students with
these questions. "Here's a very simple dream from a psychotherapy client I worked
with years ago. I won't tell you anything about the client. I'll just tell you his dream,
and then lets see what we can discover about him by exploring it...... O.K? Here's the
dream:" "I was wearing a white shirt and a purple tie."
The students just stare at me, expecting more to come. "No," I explain, "that's it.
That's the dream. Now let's start to explore it."
I then lead them through a group process of free associating to the dream (much like I
describe on the Working and Playing with Dreams Page on WWW).
"Just let your imagination go. Take every element of the dream and just let your mind wander on it. Whatever comes to mind. Don't censor anything, that's important. There is no right or wrong. It can be a fun, playful
exercise - although the results sometimes may be serious and powerful. Freud thought
that free association bypasses the defenses of rational, logical thinking and unlocks
deeper links within the unconscious. It opens one up to fantasy, symbolism, and
emotion - the very place from which dreams spring."
Here is a list of some of the associations the students come up with. For the purpose
of this article I've organized them somewhat, whereas during the actual exercise the
ideas surface in a much more freewheeling stream of consciousness:
PURPLE .... royalty, bruises, choking, holding one's breath, grief, a combination of
blue and pink, goes well with black, The Color of Purple
TIE .... formal attire, going to work, phallic symbol, tied up, being tied to something,
chokes the neck, confining
PURPLE TIE .... unconventional, stands out, rebellious, showing off
WHITE .... clean, pure, unstained, "good," light .
SHIRT .... the top part, covered up, tucked in, stuffed shirt, where are the pants?
WHITE SHIRT.... conventional, boring, going to work, going to church, corporate
America,
WHITE SHIRT AND PURPLE TIE.... unusual combination, contradictory
combination, very unconventional, tie really stands out.
DEPLETION?.... there's nobody else in the dream, it's so static, there's nothing
happening, where are the feelings?
After we finish this free associating, I then describe the client to the class.
At the time Dan had the dream, he was 23 years old. I would describe him as a quiet,
held-back person who was very confined (the tie) in how he talked, behaved, and felt
towards others. Put bluntly, people found him rather boring to be with (white shirt).
His emotional and interpersonal life were choked (the tie).
He had almost no friends and felt little connection to his family (the tie again). Other
than going to his tedious job (white shirt) as a low level technician for a computer
company, essentially nothing was happening in his static, uneventful life (depletion).
Dan was also very limited in understanding anything but the most surface, top-level (shirt) characteristics of his personality. Although outwardly conventional in how he dressed and acted at his job (white shirt), secretly
he felt rebellious against authority (purple tie on white shirt) and generally superior
(purple) to most people. He liked to think of himself as a political activist who firmly
believed in the rights of abused (purple) people and felt more tied to them than
anyone else. Comparing outside to inside, he was a bit of a contradiction (white shirt
on purple tie).
But none of these issues is what consciously drove him to therapy. What he most desperately needed to discuss and resolve was the fact that he was homosexual (purple tie). Yet he didn't know whether he wanted to come out of
the closet or not (the tie). Part of him wanted to let everyone know, to even show off and parade the fact that he was gay (purple tie on white shirt), to escape the feeling that his identity was being restrained and choked (more tie). His rebellious, unconventional side liked that idea. He sometimes did indeed bravely experiment with revealing his gay identity by wearing a purple
triangle, which to him symbolized being homosexual (a combination of pink and blue).
But another side of him (purple tie versus white shirt) was afraid to come out. He
sometimes felt dirty, tainted, sick, for being gay. That part of him wanted to be
somehow cleansed and redeemed (white shirt). Part of the problem was that sex in
general was a very unpleasant issue for him. When he was young he had had surgery
on his genitals. He still felt insecure and "bruised" (purple) down there. He was so
conflicted about sex that I sometimes wondered if he had been sexually abused as a
child (purple tie?, suffocating tie?).
A dream, even a simple one, is worth at least a thousand words. Freud thought that there was no limit to how much you could analyze a dream. You can always go further and further into the symbols, the links of associations, the memories that generate a dream. At some deep unconscious
level, any dream fans out into the infinite horizon of emotion and thought that constitute the individual psyche... that even transcends the individual psyche and constitutes us all. JS
-------
John Suler is Professor of Psychology at Rider University
and practices clinical psychology in Bucks County, PA. He
has published a variety of articles on creativity,
psychotherapy, and eastern philosophy.
His Working and Playing with Dreams Page on WWW is part
of his Teaching Clinical Psychology site -
http://www1.rider.edu/~suler/tcp.html
====================================================
SleepNet - a Resource for All Sleepers and Dreamers
====================================================
http://www.sleepnet.com/
Everything you want to know about sleep but are too tired to ask. Most of this
information is directly quoted from the web site - Richard.
The information in this document is not intended as medical advise. If you have
questions concerning any of the issues in this document you may want to seek the
advice of a physician.
One objective of the SleepNet is to link all known sleep information on the internet
together at one location for easy access. Most answers to questions brought up by
this homepage can be found on one of the links. Please check links before e-mailing
questions to the sandman.
Some Major Linked Areas:
Sleepnet Introduction
Sleep Disorders
Links to Other Sites (23)
Support Groups
The School of Sleep Medicine
National Center For Sleep Disorders Research
Infants and Aging (coming) see links
Sleep Deprivation (coming) see links
Tips for a poor sleeper (coming) see links
Links to Other Sleep Information sites:
Do's and Dont's for Poor Sleepers
The Sleep Medicine Home Page a well documented home page
Stanford University Center for Nacolepsy
Childrens Sleep Problems
Sleep Changes and Sleep Pathology in the Elderly
SNORE Central
Cure Narcolepsy Now
Sleep Solutions Homepage
FAQ's about Coffee and Caffeine
Brain Information Service
OSA and Children
Medline reviews of melatonin
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome FAQ's
Big Folks Health FAQ's
MedWeb:Adams Guide to Medical Resources on the Internet
Sleep Disorders
Access to Sleep Psychology>
Behavioral Biology - Sleep and Performance>
Sleep Apnea>
NIH - National Center on Sleep Disorders Research>
INSOMNIA and other Sleep Problems>
NASA Fatigue Countermeasures Program
=============================================
DREAMJOURNEYS:
Dreams of Spiritual Transformation II
by Taylor Esta Kingsley c 1995
=============================================
(An exerpt from Electric Dreams vol 2 #13, Part I)
"Some say that gleams of a remoter world
Visit the soul in sleep."
- Shelley, Mont Blanc.
I am currently researching and studying dreams of
special spiritual significance, which I call
dreamjourneys. This research will be published in article
and book form. Consider this column a "sneak preview" -
and an essential part of this research process. I'm an
avid DJ'er (dreamjourneyer), as well as LDer (lucid
dreamer), for over 25 years.
In addition to being a dreamjourneyer and
researcher, I am a shaman. I work as a spiritual
catalyst, counselor and teacher, and have guided
individuals and groups in ritual, chant, meditation, and
sacred drumming for spiritual trance-formation for many
years. I am also coauthor of "Passion Play!," the world's
first tantric sensual board game for lovers, and a
published poet and journalist.
My own shamanic initiation began with a dream, which I will share with you at some point.
I invite you to share your comments and questions inspired by this column, as well as your personal dreamjourneys. You are also cordially welcome to provide suggestions on what you'd like to see addressed in this
column. You can e-mail me at: jimbarc@sirius.com. If you
e-mail me a dream, let me know if I may use it in my
other published work on dreams. I cannot compensate you
in any way, but I promise to credit you if you so desire.
======================================================
Part II:
Dream #4
A man dreams of being in a cave. The cave is dark and cool, but feels safe.
In the cave appears a bear.
The bear says, "I am with you always. I am here to guide you. This is your safe
place of wisdom. Come here whenever you wish to find me. I am always with you and
within you." The man wakes.
Psychoanalytic-symbolic dream analysis would say the cave represents his
subconscious. The bear is a father figure (or perhaps, mother figure) that represents
his actual parent. The dreamer would be advised to consider: What part of you is the
bear? What do you feel about bears? What do you feel about your mother and father,
and how is this like your feelings or experiences with bears? Possibly it would be seen
as wish fulfillment that the man's mother or father is always with him. (They are
actually both deceased.) Freudian analysis might even add some sexual aspect, like,
the cave is a vagina. The bear is a phallic symbol for masculine virility. The bear inside
the cave is intercourse, which is integral to the man's internal balance and harmony.
He needs to resolve his issues with his parents to improve his sex life. Oedipal issues
would be raised.
Spiritual analysis would be much simpler:
The bear is a totem for the dreamer. The message was literal. When he goes in
his mind back to that cave, he can contact Bear again for guidance. He should heed
those messages.
Clearly, there is a world of difference between these interpretations. The world of spirit.
Some Jungian therapists would also recognize this, even though they would still see the bear as an archetype of part of the man himself. It doesn't really matter whether you think of it as inner or outer, the
important thing is to validate the validity of the message and the messenger as real
and significant. To apply symbols to this dream obviously obfuscates its beautiful,
powerful message of first contact from Bear.
Once the dreamer recognized the dream as a spiritual message, and Bear as one of his guides, he honored and increased his connection with Bear and Bear qualities in himself: ferocious strength with loving
gentleness. He feels he has his masculine-feminine energies in better balance and
points to greater peace and confidence in himself.
OK, now here's a challenge for you. Here comes a dream loaded with religious symbolism, that I invite you to interpret from any perspective you like. I'm providing relevant background on the dreamer to assist. Next column, we'll look at some of your interpretations. Then we'll see what happened in the dreamer's life after this dream, and what she had to say about the dream's meaning. And other mysteries will be revealed, like:
Whose picture was on the candle?
Background: The dream took place in August 1994. The woman having the dream has been actively increasing the spiritual focus in her life for about 5 years, studying, teaching and practicing. She was raised Jewish,
does not practice Judaism at the time of the dream, but has an eclectic, growing
spiritual life focused on Goddess worship, also including shamanic, Hindu, Buddhist,
Native American and animist traditions. Four years earlier, she had had a related
dreamjourney in which her "soul was lost, in another place, a creepy version of my
bedroom as a child. I couldn't get back. I started praying like crazy, to everyone I
could think of. When I said 'Jesus,' I saw Jesus appear at the foot of my childhood
bed, smiling, holding out his hands. I jumped toward him, into him, and I woke up
back in my bed in Florida, where my body was." She credits Jesus with bringing her
back to her body, to this plane, but is not a Christian per se. "Hecate," referred to in
the dream, was a Greek goddess of the underworld, the goddess of witches,
crossroads, the moon, and night. She is not generally considered an evil figure by
modern Goddess scholars and worshippers, but is more of a powerful Crone.
Dreams #5 & #6
The night before I had this dream, I lit a white candle I had purchased months ago at a ritual supply store. I didn't pay attention to the figure on the picture around the candle, not consciously, and I don't know why I
lit that particular one that night, finally. I don't usually light any candle at all. But I
did.
When the dream starts, I'm in an elevator. There are a lot of people in the elevator with me, including a friend of mine, Jane, who moved to San Diego six months ago. I keep pushing "8" because I know we're supposed to get off
at the eighth floor. But the elevator won't stop. It's going down. It keeps going faster and faster, now we're falling, shooting downward. The indicator shows that we've even gone below the basement, just farther down,
down. I'm scared. I'm pushing the stop button, pulling a lever, nothing works.
Suddenly the elevator opens between floors. I can see a brick wall in front of us, then
the elevator falls a little more down and there's an opening.
But it's filled with demons! People with skull heads, dripping with blood, and they're
flying into the elevator! Attacking me and Jane. I'm trying to defend her, but it's not
working. Suddenly an evil woman appears. She reminds me of Hecate, but it's like an
evil anti-Hecate. She has a big nose. She's cackling at me, she's laughing and saying
weird things like "My nose knows! Ahahaha!" I'm afraid, then I try to pull off her
nose. It comes off and blood shoots off, but she just laughs and another nose grows
back.
Now the demons are coming at me again. I feel cornered in the elevator, so I decide
to run past them into the dark void beyond. I'm running and they're chasing me. I'm
out of breath and feel like they're gonna get me. I come to a chamber. In the chamber
is the anti-Hecate! There is some kind of satanic ritual going on, she's being
worshipped. I feel totally powerless.
I can't escape. They notice me and she says, suddenly nice, trying to be inviting, "Why don't you join us? We can give you whatever you want! Power! Money!" and so on. She makes me promises. I keep shouting "No! No!" and
putting my arms in front of myself to keep her away from me. She keeps coming closer and making these promises. I start to run again. I wake up.
But when I wake up, I'm not in my bedroom in California. I'm in that creepy room again - the creepy childhood bed! I feel totally afraid. I say to myself, "OK, this is just a dream. I can will myself to wake up.
WAKE UP!!!" But I'm still there! I can feel really negative energies around me, tho' I
don't see them. I know I'm lost. My soul is lost. I'm terrified, and don't know what to
do. Just then, I start to see a white light glowing in the room. I dive into the white
light!
Whew! That saved me. I finally woke up where I was supposed to be, in my "real" bed in California, in my body. When I opened my eyes, I was looking straight into the candle, which was still burning next to my bed. I
knew I had just been somewhere else, that I had almost died, really. I was shaken, but
so relieved to be back. I realized this was no ordinary dream.
I felt healing light all around me, shimmering, could actually see it, the whole room was glowing with good power. I knew what I had to do, even though I was afraid. I prayed and gathered my guides around me. I said over
and over "Circle of Power Surrounds Me."
When I felt I was strong enough, I went back into the dream! Very lucidly, although I don't remember too many details about this part. I went back to the ritual chamber and confronted the anti-Hecate and her demons. I told them something like this: "Nothing you can ever say or do will EVER get me to join your side. I use my power for good, only. Now go away! Or I will destroy you." I was growing larger and larger, glowing. I just know that I won. I woke up again, feeling totally empowered and victorious, blissful, safe and grateful to whoever/whatever was helping me. I fell back into
normal sleep.
My life has never been the same, since that dream, especially because of what
happened next...
So whatdya think? What did all this mean?
Differences Between Dreamjourneys and Lucid Dreams
One of the most common questions dreamers ask me is "What's the difference
between a dreamjourney and a lucid dream? Aren't they just the same?" There are
similarities, but they are not the same.
You may have noticed that in the above six dreamjourneys, only the second
dream in the last series (in which the dreamer chooses to return to the dream) was
lucid. The others were not.
Myself, in an average month, I have about 6 lucid dreams (LDs) and 7 or 8 dreamjourneys (DJs). Some dreams fall into both categories. As you know, a lucid dream is a dream in which the dreamer is conscious and aware
that s/he is dreaming. Dr. Stephen LaBerge has pioneered the field of lucid dreams in our culture, scientifically proving their existence and bringing them to the public awareness, as well as helping thousands have more
lucidity in their dreams. Dr. KeithHearne also deserves mention for his lucid dream
research, as do others.
Lucidity is a very useful skill, and I wholeheartedly support this work and
recommend Dr. LaBerge's books to anyone wishing to understand and develop lucid
dreams. I am very glad his work has gained popular acceptance and helped thousands
in their lives, from healing to creative problem solving to overcoming nightmares.
The recognition and understanding of dreamjourneys is not the same as that of
lucid dreams, although they are related. Dreamjourneys are yet another piece of the
puzzle toward understanding our dreams and gaining wisdom therein which we can
apply in our waking lives.
As the concept of dreamjourneys and spiritual dreams in general is not yet commonly accepted or valued in our culture, but lucid dreaming is a popular interest, I believe it would be helpful to explain the differences
and similarities between these types of dreams.
Similarities Between LDs and DJs
1. FEEL REAL. Both lucid dreams and dreamjourneys feel more "real" to the dreamer.
2. TRANSFORMATIONAL. Both LDs and DJs have great power to transform the dreamer's waking life, empower him/her, help eliminate blocks preventing success, increase creativity, receive solutions to problems, and overcome
nightmares.
3. EXPERIENCES BEYOND WAKING LIFE. In lucid dreams as well as dreamjourneys, the dreamer can experience things s/he could never experience in waking life, e.g. flying, walking through walls, talking to the deceased, becoming an animal or another person, breathing under water,
and so on.
Dreamjourneys do change scenes, and characters can still blend together and shift, as in lucid and other dreams.
4. MOST DREAMSIGNS STILL USEFUL TO GAIN LUCIDITY. Most dreamsigns presented in LaBerge's "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" still apply in a dreamjourney, and can help the dreamer gain lucidity within a dreamjourney:
* FEELINGS: You may feel such intense bliss and wisdom, such a connection with everything in the universe, such as you have never felt when awake.
* ACTIONS: You may be able to do things normally impossible in the physical waking world, such as fly, leave your body, breathe under water, speak a foreign language. Or another dream character may do something "impossible." A common example of this is animals, trees, rocks that talk, or change form.
* FORM: You may appear as another race, age, gender, species. You
may see angels, deities or other spiritual beings you do not see when awake. You may
be in a different time or place.
Differences Between LDs and Djs
1. LUCIDITY.
In all lucid dreams, the dreamer is aware s/he is dreaming.
This is only sometimes true in dreamjourneys. Thus, some dreamjourneys are also
lucid dreams.
2. A DREAM VS. "MORE" (or other) THAN A DREAM.
After a lucid dream (that is lucid, but not a dreamjourney), the dreamer feels like it
was an exceptional, powerful and realistic experience, but it still feels like a dream,
albeit a remarkable one.
Whereas after waking from a dreamjourney, the dreamer KNOWS it was MORE
than a dream, no matter what anyone says (until or unless they are persuaded to treat
the experience as if it were a regular dream). It contains dream elements, and
manifests in dream form, but the dreamer feels there was something else involved,
beyond their usual dream experience.
3. SPIRITUAL/PERSONAL MESSAGES.
The lucid dream can reveal important personal messages relevant to the dreamer's
life.
The dreamjourney reveals truths and messages not only about the dreamer and
his/her life, but about the spiritual world, the meaning of life, the nature of reality, and
other metaphysical revelations.
4. CHANGING OTHER DREAM CHARACTERS.
In lucid dreams, the dreamer can often change the environment and the actions of
other characters in the dream.
This is not true in dreamjourneys that are not lucid.
5. CONSISTENCY WITHIN EACH DREAM ENVIRONMENT.
There is somewhat more consistency to the environment in a dreamjourney than in a lucid dream. For example, in "Exploring the World ofLucid Dreaming," Dr. LaBerge states that in a lucid dream, the dreamer may
look at a printed word on a page, look away, and when s/he looks back atthe page, the words are different, or gibberish or hieroglyphics.
Similarly, when one looks at the time (in a lucid dream) on a digital watch, it may say "4:52" and a second later say "10:23." These are examples of "dreamsigns" or inconsistencies in the dreamworld that are ways to
recognize that one is dreaming in order to achieve lucidity.
In dreamjourneys, as in all dreams, the scenes may switch rapidly or be unrealistic. But in most dreamjourneys, there is more consistency within
that scene. For example, if you see a particular mark on the wall of the cave you are in, and you look away to look at the snake who is talking to you, and you look back at the wall of the cave, you will probably still see
that mark. Perhaps this is because a lucid dream is still an experience that is in the regular dreamworld, created by the unconscious mind, while true dreamjourneys are actually visits to another reality that does not
necessarily depend upon the dreamer's mind to keep the details consistent.
At least, that is my theory, but I welcome your explanations...
* Thus, it is necessary in dreamjourneys to look for other dreamsigns to achieve lucidity, as there is more consistency in the environment and specific details.
6. SYMBOLIC.
Lucid dreams that are not also dreamjourneys lend themselves well to symbolic dream interpretation.
Dreamjourneys are best analyzed from a revelatory perspective, and understood rather than interpreted. They are more literal experiences, akin to mystical visions.
7. TIME EXPANSION/DILATION.
Lucid dreams that are not also dreamjourneys generally contain a time rate of
passage that is close to that of waking reality.
Dreamjourneys, like other transcendent spiritual experiences, often transcend the regular rate of time passage. Thus, in a dreamjourney you can
feel like time is standing still and you are experiencing eternity. Or you can experience many lifetimes in mere seconds. The spiritual realms are not limited by time any more than they are limited by space.
8. AWAKENING FEELS DIFFERENT.
When the dreamer awakens from a LD that was not also a DJ, s/he is struck by how vivid and real the LD felt, but the sense of "waking up" is close to that of other dreams. There is a change in state, a barrier or
veil that is pushed through to wake up.
Awakening from a DJ feels "Like I was already awake and just opened my
eyes."
Each column, we will analyze one or more dreams from this new perspective, comparing, contrasting and combining it with other styles of dream analysis, to discern meaningful messages and find universaliies to
the human dream experience.
Other topics to be covered:
* Detailed analysis of specific, real dreamjourneys of all types
* How to use spiritual techniques to increase your ability to DJ
* How to recognize and validate your dreamjourneys
* Techniques for understanding dreamjourneys
* Similarities and differences between DJs and awake visions
* Carlos Castenada and other shamanic perspectives on dreamjourneys
* Dreamjourneys and the creative process
* Your suggestions
* Your dreamjourneys!
NEXT COLUMN: DreamJourneys Throughout the World
Many cultures have recognized the spiritual significance of dreams, and have understood that dreams are always journeys to an alternate reality
of sorts. In the dreamstate, we are closer to the spirit world. Next column (space
permitting), we'll look at the spiritual dreams of many cultures, possibly including the
Senoi, Iroquois, Mohave, Hopi, Ojibwa, Indian Upanishadics, ancient Greeks,
Siberian shamans, Islamic world, pagans and more.
Sweet Dreams! And dream on...
Taylor
1 By using the word "just," I do not intend to trivialize the importance of other dreams. I use this word because this expression is almost universally the way people describe dreamjourneys, in their own
words.
2 The psychological perspective tells us everything is within our own minds, that the entire universe exists within our perception of it, in the mind. Many spiritual perspectives look without, rather than within, and see
that there are deities, energies, or forces, and planes of existence, beyond the mind and beyond the self, that are accessible by others and not just existing in the individual mind. Perhaps both of these perspectives
differ only in semantics. Or perhaps they are truly different, yet both true. The worlds
of the mind and spirit do not know mutual exclusivities.
My own spiritual experiences, including dreamjourneys, have "proven" to me, beyond any proof science or mental (of the mind) activity could ever do, the actual existence of spiritual forces, good, evil, neutral, that are both contained within and simultaneously beyond my self. When you have directly experienced Spirit, God/dess, heaven, hell, angels (or your own equivalent), and receive divine messages every day, you know - at the
soul's level of knowing - that there is more than the mind creating these things. I do not think, though, that it is necessarily true for everyone that the spiritual world has to be beyond their own self. I recognize that
for many spiritual people, all these things are parts of their self, and they see Spirit or God/dess as their Higher Self, their God Self, etc. I don't argue with this perspective. Psychology and spirituality are intricately, intimately interwoven, not opposites. I do think, though, that it is a Cartesian denial of Spirit to say that everything is "mind" (and self) only. If all the great sacred experiences every human being has ever had are just a part of their own mind, then what is meant by the word "mind" must be truly expansive and must therefore include what I call "soul" and "Spirit." Jung recognized that there is a universality to human transcendent experience, which he called the collective unconscious.
Perhaps this is exactly the same as what I call Spirit, or what many of us call God,
which manifests in different forms. But whichever camp you lie in, I believe
dreamjourneys can be a powerful transformational vehicle on your own personal path
to Spirit.
3 The question arises: Is it true that the place visited in a dreamjourney exists
separate from the dreamer, and can be visited by others? In other words, can the
existence of the spiritual world(s) be proven in the physical world? I will discuss later
the work of Carlos Castenada, myself, and other shamans of various cultures that do
point to the separate, real existence of spiritual worlds. I have experienced them
myself, and know that many millions of other people have, too. But can this be
proven to the nonbeliever, or to a skeptic who wants tangible proof of the intangible?
No, probably not. No scholarly, literary or artistic work about religion or spirituality
to date has conclusively proves the existence of the soul and the spiritual nature of
reality. I do not purport to be able to do this in this single work.
Many will read this and dispute it on the basis that it is not scientifically confirmed. This is an age-old conundrum. I myself seriously doubt that the existence of Spirit or spiritual realities can ever be
"proven" scientifically; the very nature of spiritual reality is beyond our physical
reality. (This may sound like circular logic, but it is true, by definition.) But there is a
great deal of anecdotal evidence. I have collected many examples of dreamjourneyers
who have never met having visited very similar places in dreamjourneys. Also, there
are thousands of documented cases of similar dreams and visions of heaven, God,
white light, bliss, characterizing near-death experiences (NDEs), whether as waking
visions or dreamjourneys. But this still doesn't prove to the skeptic that this place, or
even a deity, exists. It is possible, after all, that these people simply share a common
internal concept of heaven, God, the afterlife, etc., rather than that this is universally a
heavenly, accessible place for everyone.
But far more convincing even than the accumulated centuries of anecdotal evidence is direct experiential evidence. Even more than "seeing is believing," experiencing is believing, and understanding. I know what I know, at the level of the soul, through direct experience. I hope to reach some of you who will read this, to help you recognize your own sacred dreamjourneys, to broaden the understanding of your dreams to honor the spiritual, as well as the psychological, perspectives. If you experience it for yourself, you know. As David Engle put it in Divine Dreams: "No rationalizing discourse from a mere human could surpass the effect of even a five-second visit from an angel who looks more beautiful and beams forth
more wisdom than any sight you have even imagined." I recognize that not everyone is ready, willing, able or even interested in this spiritual approach. But some people are, and this perspective has been thus far a
tiny voice in dream study in this country. In ancient times, the focus was almost exclusively on the precognitive, revelatory aspect of dreams, to an extreme. Now, the pendulum has swung the other way! If my work can be even a tiny part of the spiritual awakening of some, and enhance understanding of the dream experience, it will be worth this work. And, at the very least, we will enjoy some stimulating discourse on spiritual dreams. But
prove the existence of God, the soul, the afterlife, alternate realities?
Probably not to the satisfaction of many... and that's perfectly all right. It's supremely
difficult to squeeze stuff of the spirit into these tiny boxes we call "words"!
======================================================
[PUT DREAMS HERE]
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
GLOBAL DREAMING NEWS November 18, 1995
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
A joint project of Electric Dreams and The Novato Center for Dreams, coordinated by the Wilkerson DreamGate, an International Internet Dream Community Center (IIDCC) project. Send all dream news to Richard Wilkerson,
rwilkerson@igc.apc.org or post as instructed below:
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
If you see this posted in the alt.dreams newsgroup, feel
free to post additional information.
INDEX:
DREAM CLASSED VIA EMAIL!
ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF DREAMS UPDATE
- ASD HomePage now online
- Registration form for ASD XIII
- Call for Presentations Hotline
- Internet Projects at the convention.
- How to become a member.
- Location on the net
ASD SAN FRANCISCO REGIONAL CONFERENCE: SPIRIT & SOUL
SPECIAL REQUEST FOR DREAMS: RESEARCH BY M ADAMS
SPECIAL REQUEST FOR DREAM: DOLPHIN DREAMS
THE ALEXANDRIA PROJECT: For The Donation & Preservation
Of Dream Resources
=======================================================
DREAM CLASSES VIA EMAIL!
Although there is a $10.00 fee for this class, you
couldn't find one offline like it for under $250.00!
From Freud to Jung, from Existential to Phenomenological,
from early 20th Century theories to late 20th Century
practices, this class covers it all! Learn about the
opinions of modern science as well as the practices of
ancient dream arts. Also, learn about all the ways dreams
are now explored on the net. All to your email doorstep
and at your own pace!
For Class syllabus and information, send to Richard Wilkerson at rwilkerson@igc.apc.org
QUICK! NEXT CLASS STARTS ON DECEMBER 15TH - RESGISTER TODAY!
========================================================
ASD NEWS UPDATE:
ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF DREAMS EVENTS
==== ASD HomePage is now online =====
Jayne Gackenbach has turned on the new ASD homepage and
though it is under construction, you can find lots of
useful information about ASD, join and register for the
convention and look up information on some members.
======= ASD 13 in Berkeley, California ========
The next ASD International Conference will be July 9-14 , 1996 at the Claremont in Berkeley, California.
For online information, see:
ASD has a delightful new web page created by
John Suler that has the registration form and Joanne
Rochon's Flyer.
John has also created links from the page to the ASD San
Francisco Regional meeting information on Dan Cumming's
DreamMosaic Web page.
The URL or web address for ASD Registration form is:
http://www1.rider.edu/~suler/asd.html
Be sure if you visit the site to check out the rest of his stuff ondreams, play and psychotherapy _>
His Working and Playing with Dreams Page on WWW is part
of his Teaching Clinical Psychology site -
http://www1.rider.edu/~suler/tcp.html
======== Registration Form ==========
Available online at http://fred.outreach.org/gmcc/asd/96regist.htm
13th International Conference
of the Association for the Study of Dreams
Claremont Hotel and Resort
Berkeley, CA - July 9-13, 1996
REGISTRATION FORM
Make check/money order payable to ASD (U.S. dollars) or fill in your American Express number below and mail with this registration form to: ASD Conference,
P.O. Box 1600-P, Vienna, VA 22183, U.S.A.
Name ________________________________________________
Address _____________________________________________
City ________________________________________________
State/Province___________________ Country ___________
Zip/Postal Code______________________________________
Day Phone (___)________ Evening Phone (___)__________
Special needs/requests: _____________________________
CONFERENCE FEES Prior to June 24, 1996 On-site Only
Member................... $200.00 $250.00
Non-Member............... $270.00 $320.00
Student member........... $110.00 $115.00
Student non-member....... $150.00 $155.00
Limited income........... $110.00 $115.00
One Day.................. $100.00 T_W_T_F_S_ $105.00
Student Limited income.. $50.00 T_W_T_F_S_ $55.00
Evening event............ $20.00 $20.00
Conference Fee: $____________
JOIN A S D NOW AND RECEIVE THE MEMBER CONFERENCE RATE.
Annual membership fees:
Regular $70.00
Student $45.00 -> Proof of full-time student status
Limited Income $45.00 -> Under $20,000 annual income
Couple $90.00 ->Living at one address, one copy of pub.
Patron $150.00
[ ] Check here if you *do not* wish to have your name
included on the distributed membership and conference
attendance lists.
Membership Fee $ _____________
TOTAL Enclosed $ _____________
American Express # ________________________________
exp. date________________
Signature _________________________________________
=========================================================
THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL GATHERINGS ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR
CONFERENCE FEE - PLEASE INDICATE IF YOU WILL BE
ATTENDING:
[ ] Tuesday Evening - Opening Reception
[ ] Thursday - Special luncheon
[ ] Penne Pasta w/ Grilled Chicken Julienne, Dessert
[ ] Fresh Grilled Ahi Salad Nicoise, Dessert
[ ] Vegetarian Lasagna w/Basil, Dessert
[ ] Saturday Evening - Annual Dream Ball
========================================================
ROOMMATE REQUESTED
[ ] Male
[ ] Female
[ ] Smoker
[ ] Non-Smoker
=======================================================
REGISTRATION POLICIES: Mail registrations will not be accepted after June 24, 1996. On-Site registration will be available in Berkeley on a space-available basis. for refund requests received prior to June 24, 1996, we will assess a $15.00 handling fee. No refunds will be processed for cancellations received after June 24, 1996. Address questions to the ASD Central Office in Vienna, VA, USA, (703) 242-0062 or phone/fax: (703)242-8888, or the ASD Conference xiii Hotline (510) 869-4066.
LODGING: Call Claremont Hotel Reservations 1-800-551-7266. You *must* mention that you are attending the ASD conference to receive the discounted rate. *Please send NO money for lodging with this registration form.
=======================================================
=========== end registration form ================
COMPUTERS, INTERNET AND ASD
More will be presented on this later this year, however, if you are planning an internet or computer project for the convention or would like to connect to the convention via the net, there is an asd mail list which you may join by contacting Richard Wilkerson rwilkerson@igc.apc.org
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS:
Hotline for hardcopy: 1-510 869 4066
===== Deadline for Submissions for the conference is
JANUARY 15, 1996. =====
ascii copy of Call for Presentations at :
IIDCC Dream Community Center
gopher://gopher.igc.apc.org:70/11/orgs/iidcc
look under Projects/asd96
(source: ASD Conference Planning Committee)
HOW TO JOIN ASD:
Also, if you are interested in information on how to join ASD and receive a quarterly journal _Dreaming_ , the quarterly newsletter _ASD Newsletter_ and some
cuts on conference rates, just send your request snail
mail to:
ASD P.O. Box 1600 Vienna, VA 22183
or use the Web form at http://fred.outreach.org/gmcc/asd/homepage.htm
**If you say you saw the ad for membership on GD News or
internet you will receive some extra goodies!**
(Source: ASD Newsletter, Rita Dwyer)
=======================================================
The Association for the Study of Dreams
and the
California Institute of Integral Studies
Present
Dreams, Spirit and Shadow
February 16-17, 1996
Bogzaran, Bulkeley, the Coburns, Deslauriers, Garfield,
Krippner, Laberge, Magallòn, Siegel, Taylor and others
A Regional Meeting of the Association for the Study of
Dreams.
Spiritual seekers across cultures have turned to their
dreams for inspiration in their innermost quest. Powerful
dreams offer a direct and intimate gateway to our
spiritual self. Thus, cultivating dreams brings us in
touch with the numinous in all its manifestations. This
includes both light and shadow aspects. As Jung once
wrote, "It can be expected that we are going to contact
spheres of a not yet transformed God when our
consciousness extend into the sphere of the unconscious."
This conference is dedicated to the exploration of
transformative power of dreams to align the self and the
community toward a lived and meaningful vision of the
sacred.
Invited addresses 7-9 p.m. Friday Night
Who was that masked man, I wanted to thank him--
Dreams, Spirit and Shadow.
Jeremy Taylor, M.A. is a Unitarian Universalist minister
and an internationally known author, teacher and dream
worker.
He is past president of the Association for the Study of
Dreams (ASD) and is author of Dream Work: Techniques for
discovering the Creative Power in Dreams and Where
People Fly and Water Runs Uphill: Using Dreams to Tap the
Wisdom of the Unconscious.
Saturday Afternoon
Dream Messages from the Dead
Patricia Garfield, Ph.D.,
Internationally known pioneer in the field of dreams, Dr
Garfield is the author several books including Creative
Dreaming; Women's Bodies, Women's Dreams; Pathway to
Ecstasy; The Healing Power of Dreams; and Dream Messages
from the Dead (forthcoming).
Concurrent session: Saturday morning and afternoon
Transpersonal dimensions of lucid dreaming Fariba Bogzaran, Ph.D., faculty member at John F. Kennedy
University teaches classes on Dreams and Consciousness
Studies. She had done extensive research on the
transpersonal aspects of lucid dreaming. She is the
director of the Center for Dream Creations and has
pioneered non-verbal approaches for working with dreams
through trance and expressive arts.
Dreaming as a Spiritual Practice
Kelly Bulkeley, Ph.D. is the author of The Wilderness of
Dreams and Spiritual Dreaming and the editor of Among all
these dreamers (forthcoming). He is a visiting scholar
at the Graduate Theological Union at U.C. Berkeley and
Chair of the ASD Education Committee.
Shaman's Dream: A Spirit Guide Adventure
Chuck and Shirley Coburn
Chuck Coburn is a professional psychic, teacher and
lecturer. He is the author of Funny You should Say
That... A lighthearted awakening to psychic awareness..
Shirley Coburn is dreamworker and co-producer of
educational films. She serves on the board of Directors
of the ASD.
Dreams and Meditation
Daniel Deslauriers, Ph.D. is core faculty at the
California Institute of Integral Studies where he teaches
classes on dreams and imagination. He is co-author of
the book Le rêve: sa nature, sa fonction et une méthode
d'analyse. He has done qualitative research on dream
incubation, dream understanding, body awareness and
spiritual dreams.
Power Points in the Dream Mandala
Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., is a professor of Psychology at
Saybrook Institute and past president of the ASD. He is
a fellow of the American Psychological Association and
The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. He has
co-authored several books including Dream Telepathy and
Dreamworking and edited Dreamtime, Dreamwork.
Integrating the Shadow in Lucid Dreams
Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D., author of best selling book Lucid
Dreaming, is a research associate in the Department of
Psychology at Stanford University. He is also the
coeditor of Conscious Mind , Sleeping Brain: Perspectives
on Lucid Dreaming and the founder of the Lucidity
Institute.
Mutual Dreaming: The flight from the Shadow
Linda Magallòn, M.B.A. is the author of Mutual Dreaming
(forthcoming), and does research on lucid, telepathic,
mutual and flying dreams. She is co-founder of the Bay
Area Dreamworker Group and a former publisher of the
Dream Network Bulletin.
Light and Shadow in Turning Point Dreams
Alan Siegel, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice
in Berkeley and San Francisco and is on the faculty at
the California School of Professional Psychology. He is
the editor of the ASD newsletter and the author of Dreams
That Can Change Your Life: Navigating Life's Passages
Through Turning Point Dreams.
In addition:
Panel on current research on dream and spirituality
with Nora Archambeau and others
LOCATION: CIIS, 765 ASHBURY STREET, S.F. CA 94117
Cost: Friday evening public lecture, $10, $8 (students)
Entire Workshop (including Friday evening public lecture),
$100
REGISTRATION: CIIS, Public Program, (415) 753-6100, ext.
241.
ASD Contact Person:
Daniel Deslauriers, Ph.D.,
East-West Psychology
CIIS, (415) 753-6100 ext. 157
**If you say you saw this on Internet or GD news when you
register, you will receive a "Dream Guide to Internet" at
the registration table! **
(Source: Daniel Deslauriers)
This conference file is also available on the Web
at Dan Cummings site:
http://www.itp.tsoa.nyu.edu/~windeatr/
asdregionalconf.html
=======================================================
SPECIAL REQUEST FOR DREAMS
RESEARCH BY MICHAEL VANNOY ADAMS
Michael Adams is completing a book _The Multicultural
Imagination: "Race," Color and the Unconscious_ which
will be published by Routledge in 1996.
The book will include a section on what he is calling
"color-change" dreams (which he presented at the 1993
ASD conference in Santa Fe as "Racial Identity Dreams".
M. Adams is now asking that anyone willing to share
dreams where they have color-change. These dreams need
to be sent with permission to publish as they might be
included in his book.
"I would appreciate receiving from you dreams in which
the dreamer or any other figure in the dream changes
color or 'race.' I would also be grateful for any
associations or interpretations that you would be
willing to share. I would also need to know the 'race'
(or ethnicity), age and sex of the dreamer. Please let
me know if you would like to be acknowledged and
credited by name in the book or if you would prefer to
remain anonymous." Michael Vannoy Adams
Please send all dreams through email
rwilkerson@igc.apc.org
(Source: Michael Vannoy Adams)
=====================================================
Seeking: Dolphin Dreams
Trisha Lamb Feuerstein (dolphintlf@aol.com) is seeking dolphin and whale dreams for a book on the psychological and spiritual significance of cetaceans as evinced in myth, art, dreams, fiction, and human-cetacean
encounters.
(Source: T.L. Feuerstein)
========================================================
The Alexandria Project
For The Donation & Preservation Of Dream Resources
========================================================
The Alexandria Project is named after the famous
library in Egypt (founded ca. 300 B.C.) which stored the
collective wisdom of the Hellanistic world. At this point
in history,there has been a resurgence of dream materials
from a broad spectrum of sources. Today we can gather a
wide variety of information and knowledge on the subject
of dreams. Due to modern technology, we have an
unparalleled opportunity and responsibility to keep these
materials available for the present and safe for the
future. The long-term goal for this collection is to use
electronic means to scan, duplicate and access these
materials.
The fact is that the dream resources of our age are
vanishing due to the lack of a central collection point.
Dreamers and dreamworkers are producing and collecting dream materials which have no place to go where people who care about dreams can access them now and in the future. The Alexandria Project is the remedy to that situation.
Specifically what is needed now?
Dream-related Materials:
Books, hardcover and soft, dream inspired fiction and
nonfiction, adult and children, which have at least one
chapter on dreams. Rare books, welcome for the archive.
Unpublished manuscripts including bachelor, master and
doctoral theses. Conference papers, term papers, published and unpublished articles. Pamphlets and booklets. Newspaper clippings, dream cartoons and notecards. Short stories, poetry and sheet music. Periodicals, both current and past. Teaching materials, resumés, business cards or a personal statement of how you work or play with dreams. Flyers, past and present, including xerox copies. Audio tapes, video tapes and cds of dream-related music. Photos, colored xerox and slides of dreamworkers, events and art. Dream-inspired art and incubation materials. Dream-related products and devices.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Money to acquire precious materials available only through purchase. Funding to assure non-profit status.
Materials donated to the Alexandria Project go to the
Dream Library and Archive located at the Novato Center
For Dreams in Novato, California. Both the Project and
the Dream Library and Archive have been in existence
since 1990. Novato Center For Dreams was founded in 1987.
The Dream Library includes an on-site reference library
available by appointment and a lending library. The
Archive houses on-site rare or fragile materials which
receive special care and handling. Once the library
holdings reached 1000 titles, momentum and interest from
the dreaming community increased dramatically.
How have people become involved in this project so
far?
Donated used books from their own collections, especially at time of moving and spring cleaning. Offered complimentary autographed copies of their works. Sent copies of past and current flyers or brochures. Given complimentary dream products. Donated subscriptions to a dream periodical or a set of back issues. Scouted for unaquired titles in their own area or while traveling. Contributed a piece of dream art for wall display. Recommended materials for inclusion in collection. Posted project requests and placed Center on their mailing list. Visited the Center and took advantage of the opportunity to informally document themselves and their work via photograph, audio and video tape. Duplicated slides
for the slide registry. Separated their dream books etc
from other books and sent a list of dream materials owned
to the Center. Volunteered time at the Center; do data
entry. Sorted out dream materials for donation at a later
date. Made bequests and included the Dream Library and
Archive during estate planning.
How can I donate?
Send materials to Jill Gregory, Director of the Dream
Library & Archive, Novato Center For Dreams, PO Box 866 Novato CA 94948 / (415) 897-7955 or Linda Lane Magallón,
1083 Harvest Meadow Court, San José, CA 95126 / (408) 266-5397. For donations by electronic means, e-mail Richard Wilkerson at <rwilkerson@igc.apc.org>
To volunteer for the project, please contact Jill
Gregory. Available for volunteers are further information
on this project, a wish list of materials desired and a
current list of holdings. Join us in collecting and
preserving our dream gifts and wisdom for all of us ...
now and for the future!
(Source: Novato Center for Dreams)
================================================
=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=
If you want to submit news to Global Dreaming
News, send to Richard Wilkerson email address
<rwilkerson@igc.apc.org> or post on the alt.dreams
current issue.
w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w
Dream Network Journal and World
w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w=w
Special Thanks to Dream Network Journal for posting a notification for Electric
Dreams. What, never heard of Dream Network Journal?
_Dream Network, a Quarterly Journal Exploring Dreams &
Myth._ Since 1982, They have been providing encouragement to dreamers, information and networking services, internationally. Each issue contains a section on The Art of Dreamsharing & Dream Education, the Mythic Dimension and articles which respond to Questions posed in the previous issue. The classified section offers
dreams/readers the opportunity to initiate and engage in
research projects and to form or participate in existing dream groups. Sample issue: $5.59/One Year/$22. Also
available, a 44 page booklet, The Art of Dreamsharing &
Developing Dream Groups that would enhance dreamplay on
any Electric Dreams dreamsharing activity: $5 + $1 (P&H). For Information, email to Roberta Ossana's email address DREAMSKEY@delphi.com
or subscribe via VISA, Mastercard, AmEx : 1-800-To-1-DREAM (800-861-3732).
Be sure to visit the Dream Net Web site at
http://waking.com/waking/dream/
Explore the networked world of DN and be sure to
read H. Roberta Ossana's new Dream Autobiography!
======================================================
Reprinted with permission from:
SPIRAL CHAMBERS ONLINE November, 1995
Issue #2 - contact Repsi at SK@aol.com
"Dreams"
--------
by Stephanie Grusch
Autumn wind around the painted leaves
Chilled the forest heart without a rest.
Ever the pounding silence of the air
Stirred reminders of the frost in the robin's breast.
In the chill air in the forest walked
A figure almost without life or name
In endless sorrow to the silent wind
It cried in endless agony and painful shame.
And I watched from the safe window
Shut in like a dreamer-no power
No power over the dream, only a watcher
And so I stared for a silent, fearful hour.
Safe from the cold outside, doing nothing
Nothing to help the figure in its pain
Unknowing, even careless of its cries
Never wondering its business or its name.
Never questioning the sorrow in the dark cold woods
Where the autumn wind blew the painted leaves
I turned from the window and did not look back
For the dream lasts only while the dreamer believes.
**********
*Section 3*
***********************
"Nightmares Leave Messes"
--------
by Brandi McElhatten
Rain washes the blood
off of streets stained and sinned on
broken glass litters the ground
feet are cut and bruised
Furniture lay broken in the middle of the street
this odd sight seems out of place
the starving dog trots by burning remnants
and hungry tenements.
There is no food for him here.
It's hard to believe there ever was.
Something echoes in the air
although it is silent.
It's dead, this place.
It could be anywhere
now it's gone
a rag doll lays on the ground, its eyes closed
Nightmares leave messes.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
DREAMS DREAMS DREAMS DREAMS DREAMS DREAMS DREAMS
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
COMMENTARY ON DREAMS FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES:
1) Commentary on Dream: "Oaxacian Animals" (Marys Sister) Some Dream
Boorlean Logic by Island
(gray) wolf - owl (eyes) - (beautifully painted) snake/dragon/lizard(expecting a snake)/dragon
-deer - rabbit - eagle - bear
(gray) wolf -- Teacher/pathfinder (obscure) <share info by writing or lecturing>
owl (eyes)-- Deception/clairvoyance - magical practices <incapable of being deceived>
snake (transmutation) - <emphasized in dream; variegated colors; having its own life
in metamorphosizing because against dreamer's expectatation>
dragon <fabulous monster>
lizard <the dreamer who expects the snake>
dragon <initial resolution>
deer <much to the dragon's anger/sorrow/surprise/delight/joy, his armour melted
away in that presence>
rabbit <fear -aha! gotcha>
eagle <courageously attacks fear of unknown by connecting to the Universe>
bear <introspection/seeker of Wisdom/Truth/inner knowing>
Source: Medicine Cards: The Discovery of Power Through the Way Of Animals by Jamie Sams & David Carson, Bear & Co., Sante Fe, NM
=========================================================
2) Taodreams "Guitar Shop Friend" by Island
Original dream: I was with a woman and somehow the conversation got around to guitars and I said I needed a new one. Shesaid we should go to the Old Town School of Music (its a folk music school that presents folk concerts, etc). I said I didn't think they sold guitars and if they did they would be expensive. She said even if they were expensive the owner would know where we
could get one cheaper. So we went to the schooland sure enough they had a store that sold guitars, mandolins, banjo's etc. We walked around looking at the prices and they were expensive
($1,400 for an acoustic and the same for an electric) so the woman went up to the
owner to ask if there was somewhere close that sold cheaper guitars. For some reason
I tried to discourage her (I think I felt foolish looking for a cheaper guitar), but she
went ahead and asked. The owner said there were several stores close by. We
decided to go look at the other stores and left, looking at a few more instruments
(banjo and mandolin) on the way out. The dream ended before we left the store. One
of the things I found interesting about the dream is that the woman i was with was
not my wife, and I don't know her in real life, but I felt very comfortable with her as if
she were an old friend.
If it were my dream, I would say to myself, Island, you...told the woman you needed a new guitar, but you resisted your own need, not once, but several times. They don't sell guitars and, if so, they're too expensive; you feel foolish; you try to discourage her (from helping you find what you said you needed to begin with). The suggestion that somehow the conversation got around to guitars hints at a subject that is either intimate or difficult to broach. Is there the anything especially wrong with the guitar you now? Remember musical instruments can be symbolic for the human being, and the quality of music being played or piped is similar to the tenor of the personality. Think of how music differs throughout the world, depending on what peoples are doing the composing and/or playing. Or even how music differs through the centuries. But maybe the instruments with strings (for plucking) are especially suggestive of the soul of the human being played upon, or sounding out of its own volition. Remember that the lyre, another stringed instrument, is considered by some poets to be the vessel which is receptive to the wind, or muse, sweeping through it. Where is that written? Oh, I found it. Here. Shelley wrote in his Defense of Poetry, "Man is an instrument over which a series of external and internal impressions are driven like the alternations of an
ever-changing wind over an Aeoliain lyre which move it by their motion to ever-changing melody (in Shelley's Prose: Or the Trumpet of a Prophecy, ed. David Lee Clark, Univ. of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque, 1954, p.277).
But it's interesting here how the woman in the dream says "we should go to the Old Town School of Music". When a voice refers to something very specific in the dream, I perk up. Remember one
time I had a dream that I got married in Erewhon? Never heard of it (though now a
health food company sells some kind of cereal by that name). Turns out Erewhon is
ananagram for Nowhere.
Anyway, Island, you suggest what "Old Town School of Music" is about. Folk music (as in the sixties, the radical fringe with peace/love/freedom and all of that)? What has become of that Old
Town School of Music? If they sold guitars, your take on it is that "they would be
expensive." Values like that do come at a high price this day and time. Nearly
prohibitive. Yet the school's owner knows where to get a cheaper guitar. Is someone
selling him/herself short? Are someone's values being cheapened? Who is this owner?
Anyone you know? Then looking at a garden variety of guitars: mandolins, banjos,
etc. Real folksy, grass roots sound. These were being sold, as in sold old? Sold down
the river? But so expensive. And then too I have a hard time imagining folk songs
being played on electrical instruments, but why not? Anything's possible. You have a
choice here: whether you take the high tech road (electrical instruments -- they don't
sound on their own, requiring amplifiers, etc.) or the low tech road (acoustic
instruments, making their own music), the cost to (lucky) the price will be the same.
Uh-oh. Has the piper been paid lately? Always gets his/her cut. Speaking of costs:
know any adolescents around 14? But what really springs to mind is the number 1+4
(foundation for manifestation) resolving to five: active will and creative personality,
doubly emphasized with use of zeros. So the dream concludes with a decision: leaving
the Old Town School of Music for other stores (a place of exchange where goods are
bought and sold? Storehouse? Free enterprise? Options opening up?). And you
looked at a few more instruments on your way out. So in the meantime before you go
shopping around at the other neighboring stores, pull up a chair, grab a smoke, and
muse/dream on it awhile. I 'spect you'll be strumming soon.
Here's another man's take on how someone imagined himself an "instrument" to drive
a point home. Hopefully it'll provide yet another possibility of considering the dream.
Hamlet: "Will you play upon this pipe?"
Guildenstern: "My lord, I cannot."
Hamlet: "I pray you."
Guildenstern: "Believe me, I cannot."
Hamlet: "I do beseech you."
Guildenstern: "I know no touch of it, my lord."
Hamlet: "It is as easy as lying. Govern these ventages [stops] with your fingers and
[thumbs], give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music.
Look you, these are the stops."
Guildenstern: "But these I cannot command to any utt'rance of harmony. I have not
the skill."
Hamlet: "Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would
play upon me, you would seem to know my stops, you would pluck out the heart of
my mystery, you would sound me from my lowest note to [the top of] my compass;
and there is much music, excellent voice, in this little organ [instrument], yet you
cannot make it speak. Sblood, do you think I am easier to be play'd on than a pipe?
Call me what instrument you will, though you fret [finger an instrument, or vex] me,
[yet] you cannot play upon me."
[From Hamlet, III.ii.350-372, The Riverside Shakespeare, Houghton Mifflin, Boston,
1974]
=====================================================
3) Comment on Trisha Lamb Feuerstein's Dream (December 1993): "Orca Yin-Yang
Dream" (ED2:10) by Island
This could be my dream, but since it's not, I'll say if it were dream, these are the
thoughts and feelings I would have while exploring it more deeply. Thanks to Trisha
for having both dreamed and shared it...
< I was driving across a vast expanse>
Suggests alienation in an arena of unlimited potentiality. Also a desert comes to mind,
which can suggest a spiritual haven through which the car is being driven at some
speed.
< of flat land, all of it brown and dusty,>
the earthy color, "brown," combined with "dusty," perhaps emphasizes the sense of
"from dust to dust": though there is potential, all potential culminates and ends. The
feeling tone here is desolation, perhaps with that thought, which might have given rise
to a question, "Why drive at all?" We seem in control of our own destiny, however.
< in my mustard-colored Toyota Corolla.>
If I owned such a car, and was driving it at the time, here is the present. I would not push the color and make of the car, as symbolic, if such is the case, too far, but the dreamer did choose the color "mustard" to describe the color (e.g., the car could have been described as something akin to yellow/orange). And we did acquire the make. Therefore, what springs to my mind is the proverbial "mustard seed" which only takes a grain to eventually move mountains. Who knows if mountains may not be at the edge of this vast expanse? (Turns out in this dream, though, a slope of some kind, instead of a mountain, initially breaks the monotony). And also springing to mind is the fact that "eyes" are emphasized in the recounting of the dream: later a "crystal clear river" is described as a color, <pale, aqua blue>, like <malamute's (an Alaskan sled dog) eyes.> Also the dreamer frequently exercises the use of sight to move the dream forward ("could see; what looked; saw; staring). Both the driver and the Toyota (a foreign car; its name suggesting to me an
element of play, perhaps trivial play... (also doesn't the sound "toyota" evoke a
miniature of some kind?) have eyes (headlights) and are on the move just like the
malamute.
And the word "corolla" resonates with the words, "corona," which has as one of its many meanings, a ring around a celestial body visible through a haze, and corola (the flower's outer env
elope, the word itself a diminutive or corona, which in this instance, means "garland" or "crown") What a nice resounding ring...
< 1) Off in the far distance I could see>
Far sighted, even visionary...
< 2) what looked like an industrial area, >
A lot of communal activity going on, in contradistinction to the at present lonely drive
< 3) with large buildings,>
How many dreamers are housed within? Who's dreams have been crushed, perhaps?
< 4) smokestacks, >
Quite a masculine symbol, which can be described as entering the womb of the sky;
and smoke pours out...the image is potent enough, without further ado
< 5) pollution,etc. >
Pollution is like nature's own mist or fog, but manmade. An impurity or even desecration of values is suggested: the priorities are, perhaps, like the smokestacks, and the
"large buildings" perhaps are not really delineated in finer detail, therefore, a huge unknown. What's the old adage? Where
there's smoke, there's fire? Or has the fire already happened, and the smoke remains?
< 6) It all seemed so desolate and lifeless.
Dreamlines I've numbered 1-6 brings to mind poetic line from Ezra Pound's Pisan Cantos: "The enormous tragedy of the dream in the peasant's bent // shoulders" though no peasants or workers
are imagined as being dreamt (LXXIV). Desolate because perhaps currently being
viewed through a polluted fog or mist. But what is really interesting is what the eyes
take in: a sort of rhythm of movement: first, the buildings (physical body); followed
by smokestacks (penetrating the sky); settling on the surrounding pollution, which
may settle like the brown and dusty earth the car ventures across.
< As I drove I suddenly found myself>
Great shift in consciousness, through the act of driving
< alongside a river, >
but the scenary has changed, as well. Now journeying on a path parallel to the
emotional, rather than physical, or sensual, realm.
<on the opposite side from the vast expanse of flat land I had been driving through.>
Opposite, but all opposites are ultimately a synthesis. Here reconciliation (of emotions
and materiality) is lacking. Notice how we do not get out of the car and take a dip but
instead...
< Here I drove up>
ascension controlled by the driver
< an almost vertical slope >
Vertical
(angular) suggesting masculine;
and slope (round)
suggesting feminine
<of dry, dusty, brown land>
sterility in that climb: TS Eliot's The Wasteland calls home to me! See particular
sections...
< that descended just as steeply >
"What goes up / must come down / spinning wheels"...but the car (and itsdriver) does
not descend, with the eyes witnessing the descent.
<beyond the rounded crest. >
Crest? Breast? The shape of the land confirms the sound chosen to describe it.
<At the crest of the slope >
How high was the slope? A dune, hill, mountain? Whatever its height suggests how far we go in
that particular direction.
<I stopped the car and got out>
Shifting consciousness; no longer requiring a vehicle for movement or direction. In
fact, the car seems to disappear at this point from the dream.
< and saw that the river >
River: not a pool, lake, or ocean? Vital, mercurial emotional life in flux. I thought of
Heracleitus in musing this dream, and turned to read that Anaximander, one of
Heracleitus sources, believed that all opposites were contained in the Infinite: the
potential becomes actual; and diversity results, followed by dissolution, where all is
resolved. In this rise and fall (much like the slope your car stopped on midpoint),
these new worlds are born in endless succession, only to evolve and die (speaking to
the philosophical question perhaps being posed at the dream's beginning).
But significantly, hostile elements struggle with one another throughout this cycle. And for this opposition, "Things perish into those from which they have been born." This seemingly futile
struggle can be imagined to be taking place in the buildings alluded to earlier (or can
be imagined not to be taking place, honoring whatever the dreamer's predilections
may be). And what would appear to be capable of presenting great opposition and
struggle are what comes later, the polar bear and two orcas, who play, suggesting that
-- as joy goes hand in hand with sorrow or pain, hostility and aggression go hand in
hand with harmony. As Yeats said, "Everything we look upon is blessed."
<was divided at the crest by a bar of land, just slightly submerged, that ran across the width of the river>
I am reminded of primordial beginnings; a whale's back just emerging from the water; left/right brain; secure ground in the midst of flux; a necessity for division or the right or wrong of
something; and an old folk song whose words resound in my mind, The river is wide /
I cannot cross over / Neither do I have wings to fly / Give me a ship / that can carry
two ....
< The water in the river was crystal clear-->
Nothing muddy here: no dust, smoke or pollutants
<a pale aqua blue, >
Obviously spiritual: spirituality giving way to fertility (blue/green)
<like a malamute's eyes. >
Shot through with the dreamer's reference to a decidedly masculine being: one who can traverse harsh, Alaskan natural environment (in stark contrast to the industrial c
omplex) pulling a sled (instead of a car)
< On the left side of the river,>
Opposites emphasized yet again. No need to comment on left/right approaches --
< just under the water, and right next to the bar,>
Under the weather, perhaps? Bar, as in the bar scene? Entering or leaving? Oh well.
Just thought I'd throw that in. The dream seems a little bit too profound for that, but
one never knows for sure...
< stood a polar bear. >
(Say his/her name. Rather, sound out his/her name backwards. "Bear - polar." Sounds
much like: bipolar, doesn't it? Which is the expression of two opposite or
contradictory ideas or qualities, yin/yanging around the globe ...)
<He (or she?--I recall that it had a masculine feel,>
Is that all? Boy, if I saw a polar bear staring at me, I'd have gotten back into my car,
placed it in reverse and retreated for that slope I saw just before! Does he/she hang
out with the malamute?
Maybe later...
< but the gender has never been clear) >
Great. I'm all for androgeny. So is June Singer.
<stood completely motionless, staring at me.>
Hey, wait a minute! Is he/she a mirror of sorts? Are we dealing with Narcissus, who
looks into the pool and sees his image reflected therein? No, he/she is out of the
water, for the most part... yet actually more poetry comes to mind: "...and your hair
wet, I could not // Speak, and my eyes failed, I was neither // Living nor dead, and I
knew nothing, // Looking into the heart of light, the silence. // Oed' und leer das Meer
(empty and waste the sea)" Actually TS Eliot is inspired here in The Wasteland by
Wager's opera, Tristan and Isolde.
< It was very disturbing,>
Especially if we like to travel the flat lands, being in control...I sure do.
<almost ominous, >
a little approach/avoidance (or a lot)? I'll say, again, I'd run for the hills, but they do make for the best Tristan & Isolde-like relationships. You can have it. I've already h
ad mine, and the polar bear dreams right along with it.
<and seemed to represent everything buried and unexamined in my unconscious. >
Yes, perhaps. Though springing to my mind is Wagner -- another mammalian capable
of delivering archetypal surges of adrenalin...just as the orcas (if they are indeed killer
whales, I'm not sure, are they?) coming up...too much specificity in the dream to
easily settle on the generalized, "everything buried and unexamined in my
unconscious." Is there something more specific going on?
< On the right side of the river,>
Perhaps consciousness is becoming as clear now as the river with the color of
malamute's eyes
< two orcas>
Hey! I forgot to finish the old folksong lyric I quoted earlier: and both shall row / my
love and I
< were atop the water>
Something has happened here! I'm all for it.
< joyously playing toss >
Rather joy than happiness any old time. And it doesn't end, seemingly. Just spins from
nose to nose to nose...
<with a big sofack and forth between them (from nose to nose).>
And I'll quote Tennyson (again, as I did in an earlier note): "Where is he who knows?
From the great deep to the great deep he goes."
< They were in complete balance and harmony--their happiness and utter ease was
perfect,>
nothing could be added--and seeing them gave me extraordinary joy!> Isn't it marvelous that we have all been given more than just a pair of eyes ... We have noses too!
(Sniff-sniff).
=======================================================
NEW DREAMS:
Bob: Here's one of my favorite dreams, rich with detail and symbolism. I was most
enlightened by Shadow's comments on my "Incredible Controlled Dream" in a recent
issue. I'll keep sending my dreams.
Thanx,
Blair
==="Determined to Return to School" by Blair===
July 1, 1994
I dreamed that I was driving my old Mercedes 220 Diesel "Doom Doom" back to
Oklahoma State University (going back to school is a recurring dream theme). School
had already been in session for a week, so I was rushing to get back before it was too
late to get in for the semester.
I didn't dream this part, but it seemed to be present in my dream memory: I had been
living on the 5th floor of Kerr Hall dorm (I actually lived on the 4th floor in my days
at OSU) but moved out. I think I didn't like my pot-luck roommate, so I moved out
and started to drive back home to Tucson. But I turned around to drive back.
I arrived at the dorm late at night. I put on my empty backpack, put my golf bag over
my shoulder, and went into the dorm. There were a few other people around the
front desk (not the same as the actual front desk at Kerr Hall).
I asked the desk clerk, a young, short, black-haired, cocky loudmouth, if I could have
my dorm room back. He said that somebody else had already moved in. I then asked
if I could have any dorm room at all. He said that it was too late at night and I
would have to go to a hotel. I stormed away and yelled, "F*** you!" so that
everybody else in the area could hear me.
The clerk then looked around and asked loudly, "Who said that?"
I looked back and said, "I did! I said 'Forget you." He looked at me and I
approached him and said calmly and sincerely, "I really appreciate all that you're
trying to do for me."
I was then at the entrance of the stairwell. I noticed an open dorm room next to the
stairs where there were some dirty-looking rednecks with cowboy hats, unshaven
faces, and no shirts on. One was wearing black and white snakeskin cowboy boots.
They were laughing, drinking beer, and having fun, but I didn't even pause to look on,
nor did I consider joining them.
I went up the stairs to search for an empty dorm room, but could have taken an
elevator. I was still carrying my golf clubs and backpack (In the dream these were all
my possessions. In reality, however, my car was packed very full with stereo, guitars,
records, and clothes when I went to school). I was glad that I had not yet bought my
books because they would be heavy. A few flights up there was a place where
everyone seemed to leave their golf clubs. There were dozens of bags of clubs
crowded together, all standing strait up. I reluctantly left my clubs, afraid that
somebody may steal them. I could barely squeeze through all the clubs to continue up
the stairs.
I kept imagining a vision of my dorm room--empty and bare except for a bed with
ruffled sheets and a thick brown blanket. It looked so comfortable and was motivating
me to continue searching for a room.
I continued up the stairs. I got off on a floor that had a big restaurant and an adjoining shop. There was a big balcony that overlooked an impressive city (it was not Stillwater where OSU is located). But I didn't have time to take in the view. The restaurant and shop had black walls, cheap black chairs & tables,
black everything--but very clean, organized, modern, well-lit, and attractive. (Reality
note: all my house furnishings are black, my favorite color).
There were a few people in the shop all grouped together and chatting. There were a
couple of people walking by on the balcony. It now seemed to be about 6:00 pm.
The store looked like a record/cd store with similar shelves, racks, and displays. An entire wall of the store was stocked with a Queensryche sheet music book for their album Operation Mindcrime (this has no significance to me). The other racks and displays were full of nick nacks that were of no interest
to me, but I don't remember what they were. My vision was blurred when I looked at
the things for sale, except for the sheet music books which I could see clearly.
I walked through the store to exit the front so that I could continue searching for a
dorm room. As I walked by the front I noticed Geddy Lee and Neil Peart (the bassist
and drummer of Rush, one of my very favorite bands and two of my very favorite
musicians) behind the cash register counter. They owned and operated the store and
restaurant! Geddy Lee was wearing the horn-rimmed glasses that he wore in a
picture on the "Permanent Waves" album. They just looked at me as I walked by.
They were just like still pictures--they didn't move at all. Geddy Lee's eyes looked
huge through the glasses.
I exclaimed, "Wait a minute!" as I walked out the front sliding glass door and turned
around suddenly. I noticed the name of the store was "Hephamania" on a pink &
green neon sign over the door. I wanted to go back and see if there was any other
sheet music for sale.
I walked back in and Neil Peart approached me and asked if I was staying for the
party that night. He was closer to me, but never moved--again like a still picture. I
enthusiastically responded, "You guys are the greatest!" I reminded myself not to be
starstruck, but I was awed and choked up.
I walked back to the small group that had congregated in the store. A girl who struck
me as ordinary-looking (dirty straight blond hair, poor pale complexion) approached
me and asked if I was staying for the party. I responded, "No, I have to get back to
school."
I turned around and walked away. (Then I woke up.)
That's it!
===Commentary by Blair on Determined To Return To School"===
Blair's Self-Analysis of "Determined to Return to School" by Blair:
A simple and obvious explanation is that this dream represents my struggle and
determination for success and the requisite sacrifices to achieve that success.
Determination is represented by the decision to return to school, driving late into the
night to get back in time, searching for a dorm room after being told to find a hotel,
taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and finally telling the girl that I had to get
back to school. Sacrifices and rejections include leisure/recreation (symbolized by
leaving my golf clubs), frivolity (the partying rednecks), my music ambitions (Geddy
Lee & Neil Peart), material possessions (the nick nacks of no interest, the bare &
empty dorm, and my empty backpack), and social life (the party and the girl).
But I did not actually reject the music in the dream, still an ambition in my life. I
simply made it a lower priority.
What is "Hephamania?" Perhaps it means a heptameter. A heptameter is a verse in a
meter of seven. Perhaps this refers to some Rush lyric. Excerpts from "The Analog
Kid", which I listened to the previous day, are in 7/4.
I also recall a nick nack shop in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, called "Hephalumps and
Woosles" which were creatures from Disney's Fantasia.
===NOW IT'S DARK-- BY FLARE===
It's just turned dark outside. I am downtown walking around and getting ready to go
meet a friend of mine. I am wearing a long, dark black trenchcoat. I begin walking
down to the building where I am supposed to meet. There are a lot of strange people
outside. I don't know them and they all scare me. Strangers who brush their way
past me. A friend of mine comes around the corner, holding his large cat, Tango.
The cat is a long-haired cat, with brown fur and black stripes and a white belly and
paws. This other friend is wearing his air force uniform.
"What are you doing out here this late, Andrea?"
"I am supposed to go and meet George over at that building over there."
A strange, almost indignant look crosses his face, "He didn't offer to walk you from
your car?"
"No."
"I'm going to have to go and speak to him, then."
He walks off, still holding the cat. I am left alone on the street corner, where it is
dark and scary.
Flare
===='Night of 3 Stars' by Zoom ===
I was at a party with Antonio Banderas and Teddy (the lawyer/Murder One). There were beautiful trendy people everywhere. I was travelling, so I only had travelling clothes with me....rather casual and schlumpy. I remember feeling self conscious about everything, so I decided to make love to Teddy
first. He was so sensitive and thoughtful (and so HUGE) we had to make love
sideways. Weird. The room was lit with candles and decorated with lots jewel tones
and gauze. A fire was burning in the fireplace. Large french doors opened onto a
second story balcony, it looked like one of the houses in New Orleans' French
Quarter. Later, Antonio and I then went to a party. There was a long, freestanding,
spiral staircase. At the center, a cellist and another woman were giving a
performance. It was so cold that they decided to do a piece based on goose bumps,
based on watching goose bumps bump. I was jealous till I found out that the (non
cellist) performer, who looked lovingly at Antonio, was his sister. I remember
waking up in Antonio's arms, nude, and tearing the room apart looking for my rings
(wedding band and engagement ring included). Later that same night, John Travolta
and I were going out to eat. No attraction, just two friends having dinner. We were
in a house converted into a brightly lit restaurant. We were standing just inside the
dining room doorway. I leaned up against a radiator, (once again I was cold) which
wobbled. John warned me to be careful, in case the radiator broke off at the steam
valve, or I'd be scaulded with steam.
(Comments from Zoom: Any interpretations from the Dream Team? I'd love an
analysis...espesciallly about being cold and self-conscious. I'm not sure if this matters,
but I take Deserel (an anti-depressant) to deepen my REM sleep after a day of Ritilin.
They may want to comment on my med's as well.)
====== Commentary on: "Night of 3 Stars" by Narcissus ================
>I was at a party with Antonio Banderas and Teddy (the lawyer/Murder One). There were beautiful trendy people everywhere. I was
>travelling, so I only had travelling clothes with me....rather casual
>and schlumpy.
I'm struck here and throughout the dream by the fact that the
characters are not from the dreamer's everyday world, but rather are the "beautiful"
people. If this were my dream, I'd ask myself how I could incorporate into my
consciousness the beauty of the people I see in my dreams. I'd also ask how I could
beauty in those around me.
>I remember feeling self conscious about everything, so I decided to
>make love to Teddy first.
I often feel self-conscious at parties myself. I hadn't consciously thought of this as an
immediate solution to that problem (but I wish I had!). The dreammaker obviously
knows what it wants and goes for it.
>He was so sensitive and thoughtful (and so HUGE) we had to make love
>sideways. Weird.
I'll say. It reminds me of the old jokes about oriental women. If this were my dream,
I'd ask myself in what ways I couldn't take my pleasures straight on. Why are things
kitty-cornered?
>The room was lit with candles and decorated with lots
>jewel tones and gauze. A fire was burning in the fireplace. Large
>french doors opened onto a second story balcony, it looked like one of
>the houses in New Orleans' French Quarter.
>Later, Antonio and I then went to a party. There was a long,
>freestanding, spiral staircase. At the center, a cellist
>and another woman were giving a performance. It was so cold that they
>decided to do a piece based on goose bumps, based on watching goose
>bumps bump. I was jealous till I found out that the (non cellist)
>performer, who looked lovingly at Antonio, was his sister.
If this were my dream, I'd ask myself whether I'm in love w/ someone
who's self-absorbed, who can't see me for focusing on his own anima.
>I remember waking up in Antonio's arms, nude, and tearing the room
>apart looking for my rings (wedding band and engagement ring
>included).
This, w/ the previous image, would lead me to ask about my relationship w/ my
animus. Have I lost the inner ring, the connection w/ my animus? What is the state of
the sacred marriage?
>Later that same night, John Travolta and I were going out to eat. No
>attraction, just two friends having dinner.
Interesting. Almost calls for an essay question: Compare and contrast Teddy,
Antonio, and John. What are the relative attractions of each and why are you not
attracted to John? What is the basis for friendships w/ men to whom you are not
attracted?
>We were in a house converted into a brightly lit restaurant. We
>were standing just inside the dining room doorway. I leaned up
>against a radiator, (once again I was cold) which wobbled. John
>warned me to be careful, in case the radiator broke off at the steam
>valve, or I'd be scaulded with steam.
My friend is worried about my safety and recognizes how close I am to the heat that I
don't even feel. If this were my dream, I would have buried anger or passion which I
can't touch. John might be my guide to the warmth I'm looking for. I would use
Gestalt techniques to dialogue w/ him and get his help.
I hope these thoughts are of use to you. Write if you wish to explore them further.
Narcissus
===Commentary on "Night of 3 Stars" by Flare===
What an intriguing dream.. I'm not too sure about this one, but since I have the time,
I'll try and hash this one out as if it were my own.. There are some biases, of course,
the first being that I am a woman and may miss some of the more interesting concepts
of this dream. A sex-blind interpretation, if you will.
I am at a party with Antonio Banderas and Teddy( the lawyer/ Murder One). There are people here whom I would consider to be "beautiful, up to date, and trendy" everywhere at this party. They are so incredibly up there in society that I find myself at almost a total loss, standing amongst them.
They are trendy, I am not. They have this incredible position in life where they are set
to remain for the rest of their lives; I don't ( indicated by the traveller's clothing). I am
insecure around these people, knowing my own status in life, that I don't have the
elite positions they do, I am not the same as them.
Here is where the dream breaks into two possible interpretations.. I was always a
person to be straight up with everyone, so the two sides possible are: a heterosexual
man in life with homosexual tendencies in the dream and a homosexual man in life
with the same tendencies in the dream. If the dreamer is heterosexual, there are many
possibilities. Explore the possibilities. How do you feel about the actors presented in
the dream?
Are they the favorite actors of me or my mate? And what am I doing at a party with them? Why do I choose to make love with each of them, and why them out of the entire group of "trendy" people there? Is there a desire to BE each one of these men? How is my intimate relationship with my mategoing? Do I feel "insecure" about the way I make love to her, and wish that I could be more like these sexy stars of the screen that women drool over and secretly wish they could be with? Can I learn their secrets from them? Learn to be sensitive and thoughtful? Even though there are the possibilities of wonderful feeling and love making.. I am still cold. There is something wrong about this whole picture, which I can't place my finger on. Antonio's sister is at the next party I go to. I am jealous of the way she( and other women) looks at him until I realize their relationship. What can I learn from Antonio? What does he represent in my inner-most desires? Is he the pinnacle of all that I want to be? I get up, and realize that I have misplaced my wedding band and engagement ring. Time to go back to
reality? I rush to find them. Later, I decide go to a restaurant with yet another
famous individual, John Travolta. We are sitting together enjoying conversation
when I lean up against a radiator.. I am cold yet again! There is still something
wrong here. He warns me about the radiator, and the fact that I could get "burned".
What does this imply in my life? What am I afraid of getting burned from?
If the dreamer is homosexual, then.. What does each man represent to you? Again,
what do you hope to learn from each of them? They are the role models of society,
and there is much to learn from their success in life and love.
Why do you feel cold in the dream? Ask yourself honestly about your own love-life
and relationships. I wish that I could interpret how the drugs interact with this dream,
but since I am unfamiliar, I will not attempt to. Perhaps someone who knows can
incorporate this dream with the possibility that it was influenced by the drugs. And as
always, take this dream and get to know yourself a little better. There is much to
learn about ourselves in the dream world that cross over into waking life..
==="He's Really, Really Mad at Me" by Flare===
Background info..: Just recently, I had a good talk with my friend Aaron( the same
on in "I'm really really mad at you"). He has been having problems communicating
with a good friend of ours( just happens to be Jason). I said some things last night
when I talked to him that I probably shouldn't have. I told him that he was being
prideful and that he needed to try harder to communicate with Jason and tell him how
he feels. I don't think he reacted too well, he just stormed out of IHOP, where we
had been studying.
The dream: It's late at night, later than usual for my dreams. I am walking through
the parking structure to find my car. I am wearing a dark black shirt and red shirt. I
pass many cars on the way to my car, one of which belongs to Aaron. The body of
the car has been smashed on the front and left side of the car. It's a fairly new white
car. Aaron is there, looking over the damage. I am instantly afraid upon seeing him.
The trench coat appears as soon as I summon it. I think it shows up because I got
nervous when I saw him. The coat is again swirling about me in a wind that I can feel
this time, and it's cold. However, I notice that the air is not blowing through the
structure. It seems to be just around me. Aaron looks up and sees me standing there,
trenchcoat and all. He stands up and starts to accuse me of the damage done to his
car. I notice that my car is parked right next to his, but on the wrong side to have
done the damage. He is really mad. I can tell, because he has raised his voice to me.
He never does that, and he told me before that he doesn't do that unless he's really
mad. He is wearing a black t-shirt and light blue jeans. I also took note that he was
wearing his contact lenses. He steps closer to me, and I instinctively back up. He has
entered my "private space". He keeps advancing and I keep backing up. The wind
that is only blowing around me is colder, and is now blowing around him also, that's
how close he is. I begin to cry quietly, this is the first time I have done this in my
dreams in a while. He sees the tears and stops yelling. He raises his hand as though
to hit me and I start to cry more. He backs off, gets into his damaged car and drives
off, leaving me standing in the dark structure by myself. The wind has stopped.
Flare
Subj: correction to "He's really, really mad at me"
Date: 95-11-15 08:21:04 EST
The shirt was black, I was wearing red jeans in the dream, not a black and red shirt.
Flare
===Commentary by Narcissus on "He's Really, Really Mad at Me" by Flare===
Once again, thanks for the background info. If I remember correctly, you had a
romantic interest in Aaron which you hadn't expressed.
Background info..: Just recently, I had a good talk with my friend Aaron( the same
on in "I'm really really mad at you"). He has been having problems communicating
with a good friend of ours( just happens to be Jason). I said some things last night
when I talked to him that I probably shouldn't have. I told him that he was being
prideful and that he needed to try harder to communicate with Jason and tell him how
he feels. I don't think he reacted too well, he just stormed out of IHOP, where we
had been studying.
The dream: It's late at night, later than usual for my dreams. I am walking through
the parking structure to find my car. I am wearing a dark black shirt and red jeans.
I read this as hiding myself above (the black shirt) while being
passionate below (the red jeans).
I pass many cars on the way to my car, one of which belongs to Aaron. The body of
the car has been smashed on the front and left side of the car. It's a fairly new white
car.
The left is often associated w/ the feminine. If this were my dream, Aaron would
have exposed the white feminine side of himself in the recent conversation at the
IHOP, only to feel that it was smashed frontally by the accusation of pride.
Aaron is there, looking over the damage. I am instantly
afraid upon seeing him. The trench coat appears as soon as I summon it. I think it shows up because I got nervous when I saw him. The coat is again swirling about me in a wind that I can feel this time, and it's cold. However, I notice that the air is not blowing through the structure. It seems to be just around me. Aaron looks up and sees me standing there, trenchcoat and all. He stands up and starts to accuse me of the damage done to his car. I notice that my car is p