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- 83/100: DREAM.TXT
- Name: Belladonna #2 @5413
- Date: Sat Jun 15 07:55:05 1991
- From: The 286 Express PIN (Louisiana)
-
- The following essay was originally a post I made on the WWIVNet sub
- "Shamanism Druidism American Indian" in response to another user asking
- how to remember dreamms. Later, I extracted it, added to it and
- clarified it. THis essay in no way attempts to tell all there is to
- tell about the art of dreaming; many books have been written on this.
- I have, however, attempted to summarize the main ideas.
- -----
-
- There are several disciplines one can practice to remember dreams. Some of
- the easier and more effective disciplines are keeping a dream diary and
- meditating right before going to sleep; in this meditation one asks for a
- dream. There are also certain stones one can use, and certain dietary
- modifications one can make. If anyone out there knows of any other
- disciplines which are reasonably easy and effective besides the ones I
- mention, please add them in.
-
- [PAUSE] Dreams are important in many mystical and magickal studies all over the world,
- because dreams are an easily accessible gateway between the spirit world
- and the material world. Of particular note is the "big dream". This term,
- "big dream" is the English approximation for the names given a certain type
- of dream in various traditions in various places in the world. All dreams
- deserve study; not just the big dreams.
-
- The dream diary is a notebook kept by the bed, with a pen handy. A felt-tip
- marker works well, as it is easy to handle when you're half-asleep and the
- light in the room is very dim. Immeditately on waking, write down the last
- thing you remmeber. Then the thing before that, and before that, etc. Then,
- go over it again, writing down any details that come to mind. You can also
- write interpretations that come to mind, if you want. Record all dreams, not
- just the "big dreams". Big dreams are relatively rare. They seem more real
- than ordinary dreams, clearer and more important. Often they contain
- insights, teachings, or missions. They may contain music, chanting, or
- rhythm; if ever you receive music in a dream, accept it as a precious gift.
- Write it down, if you know a system of musical notation, otherwise sing or
- hum it into a tape recorder. Don't think you'll never forget the music; as
- the day goes by, you will forget, and waste a precious gift, if you don't
- write it down or preserve it on tape in some way. Some people prefer to use a
- tape recorder by the bedside in place of a notebook for a dream diary, but I
- prefer the notebook since it adds a little discipline. Discipline is sorely
- [PAUSE] lacking in modern society. Be sure to give thanks for any big dreams you
- recieve, or any gifts (insights, teaching, music, etc) you recieve thru
- dreams. Thank the Divine Principle and your personal guardian/teacher spirits
- in whatever manner seems appropriate.
-
- To develop lucid dreaming, develop a habit of asking yourself, many times
- thru the day, "am I dreaming?" Then test to see if you are. The test is, if
- you are dreaming, anything you think of will immediately manifest. If you are
- awake, things you think of will manifest much more slowly, or not at all
- (unless you concentrate purposefully and are gifted in this area). This habit
- will carry over to your dream life. When you ask "am I dreaming?" and you
- are, you will become lucid. At this point, you may do fun things like fly,
- visit other worlds, solve problems, call and speak to your spiritual guardians
- and teachers, etc. Remember that you are dreaming, you can do whatever you
- want and nothing can hurt you. If you reach a barrier, try to find a way
- around the barrier, or thru a crack or thin spot in it.
-
- Some teachings on the art of achieveing the lucid dream state suggest that you
- test "am I dreaming" by trying to fly. But a little thought cautions against
- this. If you try too hard to fly when you are awake, you could get hurt very
- badly, and if you make a half-hearted attempt to fly when you are dreaming,
- you may not be successful. So the test I suggested, to see how quickly your
- thoughts materialize, if at all, is a much safer test.
- [PAUSE]
- Right before going to sleep, lie flat on your back on the bed, spine straight
- and body relaxed. Breathe deeply and rhythmically until you feel your
- consciousness alter. Then, concentrate on what you want to dream about.
- Command yourself to remember your dreams. If possible, go to sleep in this
- position, flat on your back with spine straight and body relaxed.
-
- If you are doing any serious dream-work, ask your spouse, roommate, family
- members, etc, not to wake you unless for a very serious reason. It can be
- quite frustrating to achieve lucidity, and fly, or chat with a spirit -
- guide, or defeat your fears, or whatever, only to be awakened for some
- frivolous reason! In some traditions it is even said to be detrimental to
- one's health if one is awakened while s/he is doing heavy dream-work.
- For this reason, it is best to plan your heavier dream-work for weekends
- or whenever you don't have to get up early.
-
- Generally, dreams are private affairs. You may be temmpted to speak of a
- dream, but this is generally not a good idea, although occaisionally you may
- speak of a "big dream", when asking for someone to help you interpret it, or
- if the dream gives you a message which is meant to be shared. The dream diary
- is an assist to keeping this silence. Silence builds power and wisdom.
-
- Certain dietary modifications can facilitate dreaming. Avoid heavy meals
- [PAUSE] right before going to bed; also curtail use of drugs or alchohol including
- caffeine.
-
- Certain stones help dreaming. These stones may be worn on your body as
- jewelry or in a pouch around your neck, or, if this is not possible, kept in
- a pouch under your pillow or hanging on your bedpost. Some stones that come
- to mind are amber, herkimer diamond, turquoise, amethyst, and fossils,
- especially coiled shell fossils. There are others but these come to mind
- most readily and, except for the amber, are not difficult to obtain. Anyone
- else out there have any others they like to use for dreams?
-
- That's about all that comes to mind for helping dreaming. There are many
- boooks and articles on this. Western civilization is beginning to realise
- what our cousins in traditional cultures have always known; dreams can be an
- important gateway to spirit, and we should pay attention to them and help them
- to come. And when we get a dream, especially a big dream, give thanks!
-
- The above essay was originally a post on a WWIV net sub. If anyone has any
- comments, please address them to me, Belladonna, 2 @ 5413.
-
-
-
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- [PAUSE] Read:(1-100,^83),? :