I and Thou: Dream Characters and Other People

Still reading Robert Waggoner's book on lucid dreaming (see previous post) and am delighting in the chapter: "Independent Agents and the Voice of the Unconscious" in which he poses some intriguing ideas:

"Taught to believe and expect that the entire dream exists as our imagined projection, that we dream it into being, many lucid dreamers naturally resist any notion of not completely creating and controlling the dream. Yet, these conversations suggest a new level of inherent complexity in dreaming. With experience, lucid dreamers come to realize that the dream space contains various types of dream figures, behaving with varying degrees of awareness." p.58

What, who, where are the characters in our dreams? Are they aspects of our own waking personalities that need attention and integration? Of course, but Waggoner raises the possibility of autonomy in some dream characters. A key indicator of a character's autonomy or "otherness" is when he experiences in lucid dream adventures characters who resist his intentions, give him unexpected information or profess independent viewpoints. Are dream characters projections of our own personalities, created by our dreaming minds to instruct our waking egos? Or are they, as in our waking experience, independent beings, separate from us and capable of choice, as we are?

A little mind blowing, perhaps, but how valuable a consideration. What's wonderful about the dream world is anything is possible. It doesn't have to be one way or the other; it can be both, or entirely different than expected, so dreaming offers a model for expanded consciousness and creativity in the waking world.

In ancient alchemical teachings, inner and outer realities mirror each other, as above, so below. I find this is very true with dreaming. What I learn in the dreaming, can usually come in handy in waking reality. Reflecting on waking experience, how much of what I know about other people is my own projection based on my own needs, much as I might assume the shadow figures and animus gents in my dreams are? The negative things I see about people and the people I put on a pedestal, if they were dream figures, how would I see them? Why would they be in my dream?

Considering the autonomy of dream figures in my dreams heightens my sense of my own autonomy and that of others, those I like and those I don't, in waking life. I'm more mindful of my waking projections and also more eager to look at my dreams for that spark of independence in people I encounter. Perhaps these are other dreamers sharing my dream locale or people who lived in another time or on another dimension?

One of my favorite authors, Ursula LeGuin, writes about outer space as a metaphor for inner space. In her view, inner space is the real frontier for exploration, available through the vast unconscious to all of us. Dreams help me understand myself better, and they help me understand others. In my dreams there are scenarios, like when I find myself in traffic on a highway or when I'm riding on a train or bus. that say to me, "We are multitudes, but we're all in this together." I take that feeling into my waking relationships.

The idea that dream figures may in some cases be autonomous just as I assume people in waking life are creates another dimension of exploration every time I cross the threshold of sleep. At the same time, realizing that even in waking life, people I meet reflect for me some aspect of myself, especially when they elicit strong emotional reaction, helps me interact more mindfully with everyone, keeping a check on my projections and truly honoring each individual and his or her unique life journey.

Magic is in Your Hands

My title carries a double entendre. One because I'm talking about the practice of dreaming and two because I'm in the midst of reading a fun book by Robert Waggoner, Lucid Dreaming: Gateway to the Inner Self, in which the author recalls using Castaneda's teachings from Don Juan:

"Don Juan suggests to Castaneda a simple technique to "set up dreaming" or become conscious in the dream state. 'Tonight,in your dreams you must look at your hands.'" pg. 6.

Ah, yes, me too. I loved reading Castaneda's adventures with Don Juan as a teenager and beyond.

Happy New Year everyone.

I wish that everyone who has an interest in dreaming pursue it.

I see vast new territories for dreamanauts like myself to explore; ( I made up this word. A popular term in the literature is oneironaut, based on the Greek word for dream, but English is my principal language at the moment. so I like dream-astronaut or dreamanaut.)

The magic of dreaming is close at hand, always. It's easy to start your own practice and have fun, plus reap the benefits of self-knowledge and personal growth. It doesn't have to be something you do everyday, one more chore. Let it happen when it does; write it down when you do. Just pay more attention. Perhaps, discuss dream events more with friends. I follow much of the teaching of Robert Moss and his Active Dreaming practice for dream play, but any approach that works for you is fine.

I've written a lot here about developing a dreaming practice, so that's not what this post is about. It's about a new year and magic at hand. I hear many people I respect talking about new consciousness and spiritual opportunity; in their messages, I hear cautious optimism and wild hope for the future. It makes me believe 2012 will bring many good things in the service of Love.

Speaking of growth in the service of Love, people talk a lot about the need for self-esteem, which is after all, self love. Knowing yourself in your capacity as a dreaming being is one of the most liberating, self affirming experiences for the ego on this planet. I think so and so do the many dreamers I know. Dreams are healing magic, excitement, wisdom and adventure; kind of like the six flags of the night.

It's in each human being's power to consult her or his inner wisdom through his or her dreams. Connecting to dreaming more frequently; perhaps seeking guidance from dreams, are practices that anyone can adopt. There's fabulous teaching out there in books and media for anyone who wants to launch. And, of course, I write this blog to inspire you.

Have you looked at your hands lately?

This ink drawing was a wedding gift from a dear college friend; it's sign language for "the Christ". A friend of hers, Charlotte Graesser Henderson, is the artist.

Hope for the Future: a Dreaming Society

What a wonderful year of learning this has been. My adventures in the dream world have taken on more dimensions, literally. Lucid dreaming and OBE experiences have heightened my passion for dreaming as a daily practice, as if I needed more reason to love my time in the dream worlds. I promise to keep sharing anything I find out that might prove valuable to you, too.

I want to comment about the year that’s dawning because it’s accompanied by mythical apocalyptic doomsday fame, even for people who aren’t practicing Mayans. Why is it so much easier to imagine the gods doing away with us than helping us? Why do so many religious paradigms consider a terrible, gruesome end to this beautiful world the only way out? Why does their deity deem this a fitting punishment for the wicked creatures He supposedly loves? I think we risk creating self-fulfilling prophecy scenarios when we adopt doomsday religions or beliefs.

So, at the dawning of this auspicious new year, the year of the Black Water Dragon in Chinese astrology, I propose that we set our intention on realizing our best dreams and that we view whatever crisis we might face as an opportunity to make beneficial changes.
And most of all, let’s set our expectations on good things happening; let’s collectively dream the future we want into being.

Many authors and teachers I admire share the opinion that we’re experiencing a spiritual revolution, a revolution in human consciousness. Perhaps the next evolutionary shift for humankind is not about technology but about paradigm: who are we, where do we come from and where are we going? In such a climate, inner exploration and personal change can manifest as positive ripples in our communal circles. We can each make a difference, even if it’s just by changing ourselves, expanding our own awareness. Of course, to me, dreaming is each individual’s portal to self-awareness and personal development.

Recently, I had an ultra-vivid dream that I wake up, get out of bed and head down the hall to the bathroom. I see through the bathroom window at the end of the hall a spectacular morning sky. I’m filled with excitement and know that I want to be down at the beach with my camera. I decide to get dressed and leave Jim a note telling him where I am. As I’m writing the note, I wake up again, this time into actual waking time and realize I’m still in bed and it’s raining outside.

When I woke up the morning of November 28th, just before dawn, the memory of this dream guided me to the beach, allowing me to honor it with these pictures.

I wish everyone continued adventures, insight, entertainment and blessings in both the dream and waking worlds throughout 2012.

Revelations and Everyday Dreaming

Recently I met a lovely new friend who is awaiting the birth of her first child, a son. We talked about names and she mentioned she was considering Samuel, but didn't like the nickname, Sam. A dream from March of 2006 snapped into my consciousness. Today I searched and found it. I also found a previous dream incarnation of my little boy in this drawing, a blond version, but otherwise, much the same.

I'm sharing it as a gift to her and with you because it illustrates well what I mean when I say that my spirituality is fed by my dreaming.

Sam My Son

A friend of mine has a baby, but she doesn’t want to or can’t keep him, so she gives him to me.

I get him at party. I learn his name is Sam, a name I wonder at, Do I like calling my son Sam? Who named him? At the time I’m introduced to my son at this party, he’s about 2, but he could be younger.

The woman who raised him until this age took care of him very well. Now, at this party, I’m introduced to him and my new role as his mother. I’m in awe of just how beautiful he is. He has large dark eyes and beautiful wavy brown hair. He’s wearing a short set with a short sleeve shirt; I instantly fall in love with him and accept the responsibility.

He’s playing with other children as I’m talking to a woman about becoming a mother; I can’t remember his name. I ask someone and they say; it’s Sam isn’t it? I wonder who named him and if I have to keep the name. I’m talking to Sam and I ask him; do you like your name? Is there another name you’d like more? He says he likes Sam but he would also like a name that means “ONE WHO LOVES’ I’m amazed at this and feel very blessed that this is my child.

Then I’ve left the party, talking to a friend. All of a sudden I remember that I forgot Sam and left him at the party, I know that it’s a group of good friends that I know are taking care of him, after all, it’s where I got him, but I go rushing back to get him. I feel badly that he’s a little chilled, not feeling well and hungry. I cuddle him and carry him home and realize that I’m going to have to get used to being a mother.

I wake up feeling joy, sure that this dream is a gift and recognizing my little boy from other dreams.

The next day, Jim tells me that he Googled for the meaning of “Samuel” and it means “I Am God”. My knees went weak and a big smile spread all over my face. I met “I Am God” who doesn’t mind being called “One Who Loves” either.

This seems like a fitting Christmas story, too.

Movie Magic

I don’t know if Martin Scorsese is interested in dreams in particular, but one of the things I enjoyed most about his fabulous new movie is the key part dreams and dreaming played in it. Treading carefully to avoid a spoiler moment for anyone, I’ll try to explain why.

First, there is a marvelous focus on the history of cinema. Sir Ben Kingsley is stunning in the role of one of the early great artists in the field, Georges Melies, who used the inspiration of dreams for his images and film plots, at least this is the picture Scorsese paints of him. Seeing excerpts of his actual films in Hugo, it’s easy to believe that it's the case. Besides Melies’ work, it’s wonderful to watch classic clips of original old footage of the great silent movies and stars from the cinema’s nascent days. All this great film history is woven into the main story of a little orphaned, abandoned boy and the young, orphaned, adopted girl who befriends him.

But the icing on the cake for me comes in the dream sequence, Hugo's dream, that leads to the climax of the movie. Bravo, Martin! Whether you meant to or not, in my opinion, you got it right. Plus, it was absolutely fabulous cinematography, everything!

The 3D did give the movie more of a “magical” surreal and, yes, even dreamlike quality, but I’m still annoyed by it at times. As Jim puts it, “Even with the glasses, some things are still slightly out of focus so your eyes have to work to adjust.” My eyes were strained after 2 plus hours of it. I don't think the technology is there yet, so it doesn’t add enough viewer value to justify the expense or the wear and tear on my vision.

I wish I could talk more about Hugo’s dream, but there’s no way I want to lessen the impact or the pleasure of the experience for you. I recommend the movie. I think it has its corny moments, but the acting was superb all of the time. There was drama, humor, tragedy, love and redemption; most of all there was the heart, courage, imagination and curiosity of two children, Hugo Cabret and Isabelle. Both roles were superbly played by Asa Butterfield as Hugo Cabret and Chloe Grace Moretz as Isabelle.

When the movie has been around a while; I’ll probably write about Hugo’s dream more specifically. I'm interested to hear what you think of it, if you see the movie.

Watcher Dream

In my dream last night, I watched a scene from a movie; that’s how it felt.

A woman lies in her bed. She’s wearing panties and a tank top and has a lovely, young lithe body. Her straight, shoulder length light brown hair floats around her on the pillow as she lingers in that dreamy in between of sleep and waking. It’s a double bed, from the look of the covers, she didn’t spend the night alone.

Into the room walks a man, obviously older than her by at least ten years, her lover. He’s dressed in a red flannel shirt and jeans. He’s not a handsome man, really rather ordinary looking with thinning blonde hair and workman’s features. He’s telling her that he’s leaving, for good. It obviously comes as a painful surprise to her. She does a languid backward somersault off the side of the bed, which is near a wall, and stands to face him.

It’s as if that incongruous physical gesture allows her to register her emotions. She stands, back against the wall and speaks her truth to him. I don’t remember the dialogue in detail, just the tone of it. She’s recounting their brief affair and what it meant to her. She’s describing him, his behavior, lamenting his inability to grasp the depth of emotion she opened to him. At one point I’m amused to hear her say sadly, but without bitterness or irony; “the truth is, you’re not that smart.”

Then another man is in the room; he’s a friend of the other one, stockier, white haired and definitely hostile. I got the impression he’s the impetus for her lover’s departure. He is physically aggressive towards the woman and lunges towards her, as if to attack her. I think she’s either going to kung fu his ass or get hurt herself. Instead, she embraces him, pinning his arms to his side, and unleashes her grief in a torrent of wails and tears. The man is helpless in her arms.

I wake up. The feelings that lingered for me were wonder and satisfaction. I witnessed the power of true emotion expressed. I honor the power of women to channel emotion and perhaps to open that door for men. I also take home the beauty of speaking my truth, however emotionally messy it might be.

My training in psychotherapy leads me to ask what does this dream mean about me and my emotional life and my relationships to the men in it? But recently I’ve been reading a fascinating book by Jurgen Ziewe, Multidimensional Man, in which the author relates his many journeys out of body, (OBEs) into other dimensional worlds. He believes these very dimensions are the places we’ll all travel to after physical death. Here’s a thought provoking quote from his book regarding ordinary dreams:

“I was talking to people in my dream, becoming fully awake and aware while maintaining my conversation…I was distracted only briefly from our conversation by the realization that many dreams are probably as real as waking life, except for our lack of awareness. I wondered how many dreams were real.” Pg. 173

Robert Moss frequently states that a dream is a place, one that the dream self, free of the physical restraints of our three dimensional world, explores and experiences, just as the waking self explores and experiences events in daytime life. A psychological interpretation of dreams is what our Western, rational oriented world accepts as the most plausible. As Robert recently reminded me, it’s not the approach favored by ancient and indigenous cultures, nor is it his.

I was there in this dream place, watching the events unfold but not interacting with the characters directly. Are these Shadow and Animus figures acting our a drama for the benefit of my psychological growth; or are these other dimensional people, living out their own dramas, flickering on my dream screen for this one scene? Do they know I saw them? Was I meant to watch, to learn?

Since the beginning of this month, I’ve been absorbed in renewed studies of OBE, lucid dreaming and ordinary dreaming experiences, my own and those of authors I’m reading. I’ve attempted many times to post something meaningful about exploring these dream dimensions and have been daunted by the mind-boggling quality of this subject. This morning, this simple dream experience featuring this brave and honest woman tipped the scales for me. I offer it in its simplicity as the beginning of a conversation I’m eager to entertain, on this dimension and on many others.

What is a dream? A dream is a place.

(FYI: http://www.multidimensionalman.com/Multidimensional-Man/Astral_Travel_and_life_after_death.html)

The Time Is Now

Remember code yellow, orange and red? What would you say the emotional code is on people's fear these days? Dear Turkey, Haiti, Japan, Chile and New Zealand devasted by earthquakes and nuclear leakage, Libya and other Middle Eastern crisis points. Hurricane Irene, here in the East coast, fires in Arizona and Texas. And there is more.

Yet, I am still on my soul's journey here; I have work to do, work I specifically came here to do. How do I feel the world soul and my individual soul at the same time? How do I reconcile the needs of many with just my one person's needs?

The answer is I don't know. But here are my thoughts:

Fear is a black hole best avoided.

In my dreams, I experience time past, present and future out of sequence. Sometimes I'm in Medieval places, the 19th century west, outer space or as I see myself in waking life. What that says to me is that outside of this existence time is different, perhaps it doesn't exist.

All spiritual teachings emphasize being in the NOW, the present moment we are living. In moments of fear or crisis, this is essential. Let me breathe deep, ground and focus on my heart. What can I do now, today, this moment to give and to receive comfort? One step, one act and a focus on hope are the provisions emotionally that bring us through hard times. Bathe fear in love and trust, believe in a divine outcome and move forward, one step at a time.

Our heavily guilted patriarchal paradigms have taught us to imagine the worst and fear retribution from God. Lots of religions gleefully teach about doomsday scenarios that the sinners had coming to them. Well, some God of Love that is.

This is just what happens every so often on the amazing planet Earth; She shifts and moves and causes great upheavals. Is there a Divine Plan behind it; perhaps, but it certainly can't be the mean spirited preemptive strike of a supposedly kind and loving God. It's geology; geology happens.

Unfortunately, we're caught in the eruption, the flood, the tornado or whatever else the elements create that is so much mightier than our human strength. It doesn't mean we're bad or had it coming. It means we mourn and rebuild and we grow stronger in wisdom.

If this is my dream, which it is, I realize that this is the dreamscape I'm in and that it matters what I do, how I feel, NOW. I know that I can dream it lucidly; I'm aware that regardless of how great the monsters, the allies are even greater. If I'm brave and face the monster, it might turn out quite differently than I first expected.

The time is Now. Regardless of the seeming hopelessness; I am the seed of hope. Regardless of my impotence in the face of the present, I have the power of my original purpose. I asked to come here, Now. I trust the little I do, to be just the little bit it takes to tip the scales in favor of the Good.

My dreams confirm this; they are the doorway to the More than Now. They lead to more than this dimension, opening the dream gates to a more certain existence of Love, Truth and Hope than what I can tenuously hold on to in this Earthly dimension.

(The picture is of the harvest from my garden this year. It's simple beauty is stunning; it tasted great. Long may we grow and eat our food on this planet; long may we live to love and defy all odds).