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Electric Dreams Volume 14 Issue 01
E.l.e.c.t.r.i.c D.r.e.a.m.s
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E.l.e.c.t.r.i.c D.r.e.a.m.s
Volume #14 Issue #1
January 2007
ISSN# 1089 4284
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Electric Dreams: http://www.dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
Cover:
http://dreamgate.hypermart.net/ed-covers/ed14-1cov.jpg
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C O N T E N T S
++ Editor's Notes
Richard Wilkerson
++ Global Dreaming News
Harry Bosma
++ Cover : Electric Dreaming 2007
Richard Wilkerson
++ Column: An Excerpt from the Lucid Dream Exchange
Lucid Dreaming and the Afterlife
Lucy Gillis
++ Column: The View World Dreams Peace Bridge
Saddam's Execution Sparks Conversation
on the Peace Bridge
Jean Campbell
++ Article: Guide for Dream Group Facilitation
Earl Koteen
++ Dream: Law of Karma
Stan Kulikowski II
++ Column: Free Association: Loosen Your Mind In 2007
DreamRePlay with David Jenkins, PhD
++ DREAM SECTION: From December Dreams
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D E A D L I N E :
Send articles and news in January 20th for
the February issue
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Post Dreams and Comments on Dreams to:
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/temple
Send news, events, workshops, conferences& reviews to
Harry Bosma <ed-news@alquinte.com>
Send Articles, news and other items to:
Richard Wilkerson: <rcwilk@dreamgate.com>
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Editor's Notes
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Welcome to the January 2007 issue of Electric Dreams, your
portal to dreams and dreamwork online.
If you are new to dreams and dreamwork, there are a few e-
lists where Electric Dreams people seem to congregate that
might interest you. One is
dreamchatters@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe by going here and registering
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dreamchatters/
.. and another is the IASD bulletin board. Please, no
dreams interpreted here, just discussion of dreaming and
dreamwork topics.
http://www.asdreams.org/subidxdiscussionsbboard.htm
Please note the Jan 31st Deadline for early discount
registration for the 2007 Sonoma IASD International
Conference (June 28-July3). www.asdreams.org/2007
Dreaming and dreamwork in 2007, what does this mean? I keep
thinking about a reporter a hundred years from now looking
back through early Internet archives and finding this
issue. What is the state of dreaming and dreamwork at this
point in history?
The term "dreamwork" now clearly means working with dreams,
rather than just its original meaning of being worked on by
dreams (Freud's dream-work).
The International Association for the Study of Dreams
continues to support both hard science research and
experimental dreamwork. IASD is also extending outreach
more globally and has officers now representing different
parts of the globe. Organizations that want affiliation
with IASD can now join as an organization. There are a half
dozen or so semi-major schools of dreamwork that are trying
to raise their status to accredited institutions, and a
couple of graduate schools now offer advanced certificates
and education in dreams. The Jungians, the old guard of
dreamwork as working with dreams, continue to hold their
own in local chapters supporting psychotherapy in major
cities, though they haven't gotten into mainstream
educational institutions with much success in the USA.
There are a few dream related magazines available and a
professional, peer reviewed journal dedicated to dreams.
More relevant to Electric Dreams readers and online
dreaming, there is a wide variety of dreamwork now
available online. Some early groups, like the DreamWheel
dreamsharing online groups continue, and the DreamShare
group is still in operation after nearly a decade, and that
community continues its mutual support.
But the largest quantity of online dream sharing occurs
more spontaneously between individuals and groups that want
to get together for a short time and exchange their dreams.
Free e-discussion groups can be created spontaneously, as
well as cheaper phone connections, both analog and digital,
text messaging "quickie" dream groups and group cam
meetings.
This has created a kind of candy-story effect. The
intensity of the few half-dozen or so dreamgroups in the
'90s has been distributed over a wider variety of dream
sharing venues, including dream videos, internet radio,
cell phone groups and many other devices. The trend seems
to be towards the integration of dream sharing into
everyday life, even if the only thing that people do with
their dreams is share them and then laugh or say, "isn't
that interesting?"
Early experimental dream sharing has become more
sophisticated as well, as we have seen in the World Dreams
Peace Bridge, where shared dreams become the community food
for nurturing international projects and services to
mankind.
Conference and discussion venues have become more
sophisticated as well. IASD has been providing an annual
online conference on the latest and most fantastic ideas in
dreaming through the PsiberDreaming Conference, as well as
contests, art galleries and other activities.
Overall, 2007 looks like a very creative year for
dreamsharing in cyberspace, and I hope as you find or
create projects online you will share them with Electric
Dreams readers.
In this issue:
Global Dreaming News editor Harry Bosma, brings you dream
news and events from around the world, online and offline.
If you have dream news you want to get out, please send
those to Harry for next months publication at ed-
news@alquinte.com
Lucid Dream Exchange editor contributes an article she
wrote on the views of afterlife gained through lucid
dreaming, and how you can continue to deepen and explore
this mystery of all mysteries in your own lucid dreaming.
Lucy Gillis draws upon both Western and Eastern traditions
for help in solving this enigma in "Lucid Dreaming and the
Afterlife."
One of Electric Dreams earliest members, Earl Koteen, has
been studying dreamwork and promoting dream groups for
decades. Earl returns this month with an outline for group
leaders interested in developing solid techniques and
successful groups in "Guide for Dream Group Facilitation."
Stan Kulikowski II is back this month with his unique style
of dream journaling, the selection this month called Law
of Karma If you would like to submit dreams for
publication, please use the dream entry form at
Free association was on of the earliest techniques for
releasing the secret of dreams. DreamRePlay creator, David
Jenkins, PhD explores the many sides of association and we
can move past right and wrong thinking to a whole new world
non-judgmental living. Be sure to read "Loosen Your Mind
In 2007."
Cutting of one's left hand, getting felt up, getting hit by
the football, abandoned without food and water, getting
puked on - is this the Emergency Room at General Hospital?
No, its the Electric Dreams Dream Section for January
2007!
Get your own dream published on Electric Dreams by
submitting at
http://dreamgate.com/forms/dream_flow.htm
Janet Garrett archives past issues so you can search out
specific articles and authors in an easy-to-access format.
These articles contain a wide range of information for
dreamers and dreamworkers. You can see her work progress
and view hundreds of article on dreams at:
http://www.improverse.com/ed-articles/index.htm
Cover by Richard Wilkerson
http://dreamgate.hypermart.net/ed-covers/ed14-1cov.jpg
--------------------
For those of you who are new to dreamwork,
be sure to stop by one of the many resources:
http://dreamgate.com/electric-dreams
http://dreamgate.com/dream/library
http://dreamunit.net/news-en/
Electric Dreams in PDF: (thanks to Nick Cumbo)
http://electric.dreamofpeace.net/
--------------------
From Planet Dream,
-Richard Wilkerson
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G L O B A L D R E A M I N G N E W S
January 2007
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Email all dream news to Harry Bosma at his special ed-
news@alquinte.com address.
Online:
- Dream Video Picks of the Month
- Dreams received for the Planetary Dream 2006
- Lotus Dream website
Physical world:
- IASD News: Radio Show
- New Mexico: Victoria Rabinowe
Books, movies, research:
- Ashtiany: The Interpretation of Dreams in Islamic Lands
- Szpakowska: Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in Ancient Egypt
- Applications of Lucid Dreaming
Reminders:
- Pregnancy Dreams Study
- Various calenders
- Strephon Says: Podcasts and blog
- Ritual DaFuMu for Peace
* * * ONLINE * * *
---
- Dream Video Picks of the Month
---
Creating and sharing videos is now easier than ever before.
What are dreamers putting online?
Three animated nightmares, a Very clever mix of animated
dreams while dreamer narrates, with information between the
sequences:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SC7QBo2a4hQ
The Red Blanket scence from the Science of Sleep:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=foo7kN0uNMI
The Dream Cube. A mysterious cube brings dreams to life:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=foo7kN0uNMI
Have you found other dream videos, or created your own, let
us know.
Richard Wilkerson
---
- Dreams received for the Planetary Dream 2006
---
Hello Dreamers!
The received dreams for the Planetary dream 06 have been
put on the Oniros site: 15 participants.
See: www.oniros.fr/dreams06.html
Your corrections, commentaries, illustrations and
interpretations are welcomed.
Thanks to the participants and a happy new year 2007 :-)
Best dreaming and waking states regards,
The webmaster
Roger Ripert
---
- Lotus Dream website
---
Jacquie Lewis, Ph.D., a researcher and author on dreams in
the Chicago area, now has a new news and information site
about dreams and dreaming. Jacquie is also the E-News
editor for the International Association for the Study of
Dreams.
http://lotusdream.org/index.htm
* * * PHYSICAL WORLD * * *
---
- IASD News: Radio Show
---
IASD is excited to announce "Dream Time," an Internet radio
program. This new show will focus on IASD's support of
dream studies and dreamwork and will aired be on Modavox's
VoiceAmericaT Health & Wellness Channel You can also listen
through a link from the IASD, DreamScience.org. The show
will be hosted by IASD Past President and Executive
Officer, Bob Hoss. Beginning February 14, 2007 and
broadcasting each Wednesday at 9am Pacific (Noon Eastern),
the show will air with a rebroadcast 12 hours later.
www.health.voiceamerica.com
www.dreamscience.org
IASD member Layne Dalfen was interviewed in an article
"Nightmare Turned into Dream Job," which appeared in the
Montreal's Gazette on December 16, 2006. To read the
article visit: http://tinyurl.com/y5slja
The publishers of The Dream Book: A Young Person's Guide to
Understanding Dreams, by Patricia Garfield, Ph.D. Co-
founder and President (1998-9) of IASD, are printing a
second edition. The book also previously won the 2002
Parent's Guide to Children's Media Award.
The IASD website: www.asdreams.org
---
- New Mexico: Victoria Rabinowe
---
January 16, 2007 THE VOICE OF FREEDOM (Martin Luther King)
January 23, 2007 IN THE BEGINNING: CREATION MYTH (New Year)
January 30, 2007 THE SHADOW (Groundhog Day)
February 6, 2007 THE TREE OF LIFE: AXIS MUNDI (Arbor Day /
Tu Bshevat)
Visit the website: http://victoriadreams.com
Victoria Rabinowe
Dreaming Arts Studio
1432 Don Gaspar, Santa Fe
505 988-1086
victoria@victoriadreams.com
* * * BOOKS, MOVIES, RESEARCH * * *
---
- Ashtiany: The Interpretation of Dreams in Islamic Lands
---
Dreaming Across Boundaries: The Interpretation of Dreams in
Islamic Lands
by Serpil Bagci, Olga M. Davidson, Yehoshua Frenkel,
Rotraud E. Hansberger, Hagar Kahana-Smilansky, Jonathan G.
Katz, Leah Kinberg, John C. Lamoreaux, Mohammad J.
Mahallati, Eric Ormsby, Sholeh A. Quinn, Khalid Sindawi,
Mohsen Ashtiany (Editor)
Descriptions of dreams abound in the literatures of the
Near East and North Africa. The Prophet Muhammad endowed
them with a theological dimension, saying that after him
"true dreams" would be the only channel for prophecy.
Dreams were often used to support conflicting theological
and political arguments, and the local chronicles contain
many accounts of royal dreams justifying the advent of new
dynasties.
This volume explores the context of these theological
speculations and political aspirations through the medium
of dreams to present fascinating insights into the social
history of the pre-modern Islamic world in all its cultural
diversity. Wider cultural exchanges are discussed through
concrete examples such as the Arabic version of the
Aristotelian treatise De divinatione per somnum. Some of
the current scholarly assumptions about dreams being merely
stylized expressions of social conventions are challenged
by personal reports that express individual personalities,
self-awareness, and spiritual development.
This is the first volume of the Ilex Series on Themes and
Traditions. The series explores cross-cultural constructs
without losing sight of the rich texture of local
variations of traditions or beliefs.
www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/ASHDRE.html
---
- Szpakowska: Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in Ancient Egypt
---
Through a Glass Darkly: Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in
Ancient Egypt
by Kasia Szpakowska
Magic, dreams, and prophecy played important roles in
ancient Egypt, as recent scholarship has increasingly made
clear. In this volume eminent international Egyptologists
come together to explore such divination across a wide
period.
Table of contents:
- The Social Context of Magic in the 3rd Millennium &
Middle Kingdom (John Baines);
- The End is Near (Leonard Lesko);
- Corn Mummies: "Amulets of Life" (Maria Costanza
Centrone);
- The Spitting Goddess and the Stoney Eye: Divinity and
Flint in Pharaonic Egypt (Carolyn Graves-Brown);
- Magic, Dreams and Prophecy in Egyptian Narrative
Literature (Alan B Lloyd);
- Nocturnal Ciphers in the Ancient Near East: Egyptian
Dream Exegesis from a Comparative Perspective (Scott
Noegel);
- In Search of the Sorcerer's Apprentice (Daniel Ogden);
- Sinuhe's Dream (Richard B Parkinson);
- A black cat from right, and a scarab on your head: New
sources for Ancient Egyptian Divination (Joachim Quack);
- The Dreams of the Twins of St. Petersburg (John Ray);
- 'and each staff transformed into a snake' The Serpent
Wand in Egyptian Magic (Robert K Ritner);
- A Lost Dream Episode (Anthony J Spalinger);
- Introduction: Tomorrow is Yesterday (Kasia Szpakowska);
- Entangled or Connected: The power of knots and knotting
in Ancient Egypt (Willemina Wendrich).
http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/60945?/Location/O
xbow
---
- Applications of Lucid Dreaming
---
Daniel Erlacher requests your help with an online survey on
applications of lucid dreaming. The survey comes in three
languages: German, English, and Dutch. Look for the
language links at the top of the page.
http://experiment.klartraum.de
* * * REMINDERS * * *
---
- Pregnancy Dreams Study
---
You can help dream research gain a better understanding of
the amazing realm of dreams through participation in a
short study on dreams during pregnancy!
The search is on for any woman who is pregnant, or man who
is expecting a child and is willing to offer a written
account of a dream that they have had during that time. The
only participation required for the study is a signed
consent form and the dream write up. All info will be
entirely confidential, and the dreams will only be
identified as from a man or a woman, age, and trimester.
Both consent form and dream write up can be sent over email
so the process is quick and easy. If you have any
questions, or if you or somebody you know may be interested
in participating please email.
Marena Koukis
dreaming@sonic.net
---
- Various calenders
---
Nicole Gratton (Canada):
http://www.nicole-gratton.com/calendrier_01.htm
Robert Moss (USA):
http://mossdreams.com/xcalendar.htm
Jeremy Taylor (California):
www.jeremytaylor.com/pages/schedule.html
---
- Strephon Says: Podcasts and blog
---
Strephon Kaplan-Williams is an international expert on
dreams and dreamwork. Now in retirement age Strephon gives
his podcasts.
http://strephonsays.com
---
- Ritual DaFuMu for Peace
---
The World Dreams Peace Bridge, on the 15th of each month,
is holding a monthly DaFuMu - a collective dream of good
fortune - to support peace.
For more information go to:
http://www.worlddreamspeacebridge.org/dafumumonthly.htm
To join the World Dreams Peace Bridge discussion group,
just send an e-mail to worlddreams-
subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
END NEWS ================================================
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Cover:
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An Excerpt From The Lucid Dream Exchange
Lucid Dreaming and the Afterlife
(c) Lucy Gillis 2006
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"If we cannot remain present during sleep, if we lose
ourselves every night, what chance do we have to be aware
when death comes?. . . Look to your experience in dreams to
know how you will fare in death. Look to your experience of
sleep to discover whether or not you are truly awake."
Tenzin Yangal Rinpoche
What happens when we die? Where do we go? Do we go
anywhere? What will it be like? If my body is dead, how
will I be able to see or hear? Will I be able to see or
hear?
It was questions like these that occupied the mind of an
ancient physician, over 1500 years ago. He found his
answers, not in his religion, not in the science of his
time, but in a more intimate and immediate way. He received
his answer in a dream - a lucid dream. In fact, this
particular dream is the first written report of a lucid
dream in recorded history. The dream was found within the
letters of St. Augustine, a Christian philosopher and
priest.
.
In 415 A.D. St. Augustine wrote a letter to a priest by the
name of Evodius, in which he described the dream
experiences of Gennadius, a physician from Carthage.
Gennadius, disturbed by doubts as to whether there was life
after physical death, had two dreams. In the first he was
visited by a youth "of remarkable appearance and commanding
presence" who demanded that he follow him. Gennadius did so
and was led to a city where he could hear singing "so
exquisitely sweet" and unlike anything he had ever heard
before. He asked his guide what the music was, and was
told, "it is the hymn of the blessed and the holy." At this
point Gennadius woke, believing the experience to be
nothing more than just a dream.
However, the next night, as he dreamed again, his young
guide of the previous night returned and asked Gennadius if
he recognized him. Gennadius replied "Certainly!" Then the
youth asked him where they had met, but Gennadius could not
remember, though he did correctly recall and describe the
event of their meeting and what had occurred.
The young guide then asked Gennadius if the events he just
described took place in sleep or in wakefulness. Gennadius
replied, "In sleep," to which the youth responded with "You
remember it well; it is true that you saw these things in
sleep, but I would have you know that even now you are
seeing in sleep." The youth continued, "Where is your body
now?" Gennadius answered "in my bed." (Gennadius was then
lucid; aware he was dreaming, while his body slept in his
bed.)
The youth pressed on; "Do you know that the eyes in this
body of yours are now bound and closed, and that with these
eyes you are seeing nothing?" "I know it," answered
Gennadius. The guide then asked, "What then are the eyes
with which you see me?" To this, Gennadius could not
respond, he did not know the answer. The young guide then
provided him with answers he had been seeking in his waking
life:
"As while you are asleep and lying on your bed these eyes
of your body are now unemployed and doing nothing, and yet
you have eyes with which you behold me, and enjoy this
vision, so after your death, while your bodily eyes shall
be wholly inactive, there shall be in you a life by which
you shall live, and a faculty of perception by which you
shall still perceive.
Beware, therefore, after this of harboring doubts as to
whether the life of man shall continue after death."
According to St. Augustine, "This believer says that by
this means all doubts as to the matter were removed from
him." Gennadius had awakened, satisfied with his answer,
and didn't doubt the existence of life after death again.
Gennadius's "youth of remarkable countenance" or "dream
guide" is not the only one to compare the dreamstate to the
afterlife. For thousands of years, Tibetan Buddhists
practicing "dream yoga" have been instructed in various
degrees of (what Westerners refer to as) lucid dreaming as
a means of increasing their awareness on the path to
enlightenment. Dream Yoga was developed to help train the
practitioner to achieve enlightenment during sleep so that
at the time of death, he would be prepared for the death
bardo's. In the Tibetan language, the word "bardo" refers
to an interval between two events. In the case of the
death bardo's, the intervals are between death and rebirth.
The Tibetan Book of the Dead, ("Bardo Thodol") describes
three bardos that the deceased will encounter after death.
In these realms of existence the deceased will meet with
experiences that are the result of his own "inner
manifestations"; just like dreaming, these manifestations
are projections originating from his mind.
If he does not recognize them as projections, he can become
trapped within them, believing them to be reality. Unable
to attain enlightenment from this stage, he will pass to
the bardo of rebirth, to begin the cycle of life and death
again.
However, if he can recognize the projections as being
manifestations of his own mind, and can detach from them,
then he has a better chance of achieving enlightenment,
after which he will no longer need to be reborn. Here is
where the practice of lucidity within dream yoga becomes
important:
"The lucidity experience . . . assists in understanding the
unreality of phenomena, which otherwise, during dream or
the death experience, might be overwhelming."
Michael Katz, Editor, Dream Yoga and the Practice of
Natural Light
With dream lucidity, the practitioner learns to recognize
that all around him is a dream, an illusion. He then learns
to detach emotionally from the dream, thereby reducing the
likelihood of creating more illusory imagery.
Though lucid dreaming is viewed as a necessary stage of
development in dream yoga, to the Tibetan Buddhists,
achieving lucidity in dreams is not the ultimate goal. It
is merely a step along path to enlightenment, it is not
enlightenment itself.
Besides the dream state being like the death bardos, dream
yogis claim that the stages of consciousness experienced
during the sleep cycle resemble the stages of consciousness
experienced when dying. Since we sleep and dream every
night, we have the opportunity to learn to consciously
observe our sleep cycle and to become more familiar with
these stages of consciousness.
According to Rob Nairn, author of Living, Dreaming, Dying:
"We can have a trial run at death every single night when
we go to sleep.
We can begin training to fall asleep consciously and to
dream lucidly. The process of falling asleep parallels the
process of dying, while dreams parallel the bardo of
death."
Of course, you do not necessarily have to be a Buddhist-in-
training, or one awaiting divine intervention, to learn
about the after-death condition in the dream state.
From 1964 until her death in 1986 author Jane Roberts
channeled Seth,
"an energy essence personality no longer focused in
physical reality" or, one who was "as dead as it gets" (as
he called himself). It was Seth who coined the now much-
used phrase "You create your own reality." Seth's main
message is that consciousness creates reality and that
individually we each create our own personal realities
based upon our beliefs, thoughts, and emotions.
Seth spoke on numerous other topics as well, including
extensive information on dreams and death. When asked what
happens when we die he replied that there is no specific
answer as to what happens immediately after death, because
each individual is unique with his or her own personal
beliefs and expectations, and as our beliefs shape our
experience of everyday living reality, they will also serve
to structure our experiences in the after death state as
well.
Like the Tibetan Buddhists, and Gennadius's dream guide,
Seth also maintains that the dreamstate is similar to the
state of existence the deceased will encounter after death.
He too, suggests that getting familiar with your own dreams
can help prepare you for the immediate after-death
condition.
"In sleep and dream states you are involved in the same
dimension of existence in which you will have your after-
death experiences. . . .
Therefore, the best way to become acquainted with after
death reality before hand, so to speak, is to explore and
understand the nature of your own dreaming self."
Seth
According to Seth, in the after-death state there is an
almost infinite number of things you can do. You can visit
with already deceased friends and relatives, go into the
past, travel what seems to be great distances in an
instant, review your former life, review past lives, plan
your next life, move on to other dimensions of reality, and
much more. He insists there are always guides to help you
out. No one is alone, but if you strongly do not believe in
an afterlife, or in helpful guidance awaiting you there, it
may take some time before you become aware of your
condition or aware of any helpers to assist you. But you
will eventually become aware.
Texts on Tibetan Buddhism, dream yoga, and the Seth books
go into much deeper explanations and descriptions of the
after death state. This article merely hints at a portion
of the greater tapestry, only to point out the common
thread - lucid dreaming.
If you want to know what your after death condition may be
like, look to your dreams. If you want to see in "quick
time" how your beliefs and expectations create reality,
examine your lucid dreams and watch as your thoughts and
beliefs (both conscious and unconscious) manifest in
imagery and circumstance all around you. When lucid,
perform experiments, ask questions of your dreams, do all
you can in order to become more consciously familiar with
operating in non-physical realities. Don't wait for science
or religion to hand you "answers." Explore, dive into your
own dreaming consciousness and see what discoveries await
you there.
Is there life after death?
I'll leave that question to you, the reader, with these
words from St.
Augustine:
"Nevertheless, while it is free to every one to believe or
disbelieve these statements, every man has his own
consciousness at hand as a teacher by whose help he may
apply himself to this most profound question."
References:
Letter 159 (A.D. 415)
St. Augustine
www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102159.htm
Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light Chogyal
Namkhai Norbu, Edited by Michael Katz Snow Lions
Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1992, 2002
Seth Speaks: The Eternal Validity of the Soul Jane Roberts
Prentice Hall Press, New York, 1972
Living, Dreaming, Dying:
Practical Wisdom from the Tibetan Book of the Dead Rob
Nairn Shambala Publications, Boston, Massachusetts, 2004
The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
Snow Lion Publications, Ithaca, New York, 1998
**************************************
The Lucid Dream Exchange is a quarterly newsletter
featuring lucid dreams and lucid dream related articles and
interviews. To subscribe to The Lucid Dream Exchange send
a blank email to:
TheLucidDreamExchange-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
You can also check us out at www.dreaminglucid.com
___________________________________________________________
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View From the Bridge
Saddam's Execution Sparks Conversation on the Peace Bridge
January 2007
Jean Campbell
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It has often been noted that the World Dreams Peace Bridge,
comprised as it is of people from all around the globe,
might be seen as a microcosm of the macrocosm, that how we
deal with world crises on the Peace Bridge reflects into
the larger world. At the end of December, faced with the
execution of Iraq's former President, Saddam Hussein, Peace
Bridge members talked about the meaning of this event. This
article represents only a fraction of what was said. The
end of the year also brought a few dreams, some featuring
former Peace Bridge member May Tung, which might serve to
light the way toward peace.
December 30, 2006
Ilkin-Turkey
I woke up with a very bad feeling at just before sunrise.
Seems like now, we can forget every little hope of peace in
the area. Every human, who ever he/she is even Saddam was
under the protection of International Human Rights Laws.
Now, we can say "goodbye" to them too. It makes me really
sorry not being able to say "happy new year". No need to
make any prediction to see it will not be a happy one at
least for the people of this area.
I don't even wonder anymore if sometime there will be any
action to take Bush to international courts for his crimes
against humanity.
Saddam Hussein executed in Iraq
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6218485.stm
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jody-United States
Dear Ilkin,
I woke up with bad feelings too and I heard the news late
last night that Saddam was executed. I join you in the
conviction that execution of a human being, no matter how
bad he/she is and whatever the crimes, is another crime.
Unlike you I still hope we can evolve as a species to a new
common view of humanity and ethics that supports
International Human Rights Laws and even deeper a common
commitment to non-violence and compassion. We are not there
as a whole world, we are not there in many nations, not
only the US government. But we are there as many people,
ourselves included, who agree in better principles and try
to live them and change policies in these more humane and
just directions.
I have a heavy heavy heart about the future in your part of
the world too Ilkin. But it is not separate from our part
of the world really: thats why I, here in a pleasant
neighborhood in another country wake up just as you do with
heavy heart. You are right, it will not be a happy new year
for most of your part of the world.
And, I want you to know that I had a similar thought about
Bush: why is he not on trial for crimes against humanity?
When or could he ever be on trial? I would like him to be
brought to trial, he and his cohort and to be made
accountable for all the deaths and suffering that has come
from his wrong and falsity based decisions. But even he I
would not want to see executed.
I fear that the need to take revenge in order to right
wrongs creeps into all of our hearts. I wish for something
else: that we evolve together to a common humanity that
sees this does not break the cycle of violence and
suffering. Only facing reality directly, calling for
justice tempered with forgiveness and most of all deep deep
compassion for the confused, often evil doing acts of our
species will lead to true transformation.
I want to share with you a quote from an activist Catholic
Bishop, Oscar Romero, who was assassinated for his speaking
out against injustice in his country. A friend sent me this
quote last night and I have been meditating on it since:
"If you need hope, you're courting despair, and if you
court despair you will stop working. So try to wean
yourself from this need to have hope. Try to have faith
instead, to do what you can, and stop worrying about
whether or not you're effective....Worry about what is
possible for you to do, which is always greater than you
imagine." Oscar Romero
I dont know if I agree about this view of hope or not. I
do agree about not taking time to worry about being
effective and I do agree that what is needed is to continue
to act out of faith in what we know to be true and
represents our core values. Ilkin, I see you and frankly
myself and others we know, acting in this way. Your
beautiful action of helping the several refugees from Iraq
that you recently wrote about and urging us again to take
action to do and give whatever we can for aid....these are
actions that proceed from your core beliefs. There is no
holding back, no wondering if the outcome will be hopeful
or not. You just do it. So do I.
Dear friend, this is my New Years greeting to you: take
comfort in knowing you are not alone as one who holds her
truth and acts from it without attachment to success or
happiness of outcome. This is the steel in our spines, this
is the adamantine unbreakable diamond in the Self from
which new worlds can be built.
My love to you and your family and your part of the world
from mine.
Jody
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ali-Iraq
Dear Friends...
I feel ashamed of what the pigs had committed early morning
today...It is the first day of the holy Eid Al ADHA. the
holy Pilgrims sacrifice to Allah and pray and Muslims all
over the world celebrate these days....but that is not the
case for the pigs of the green zone.....as they are just
pigs and their master ordered them to do it now,
I would like you to know that all Arab nations and almost
most Islamic nations condemned the execution that was
carried out today..
You probably know that many other cases against him is
there in the tribunal and they want him dead before he
testify any more information as that will embarrass the
Black house administration...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jean-United States
Dear Ali and dear Ilkin,
I hardly know how to reply to the messages you have sent,
or to the travesty of justice that took place last night.
I wondered, as I always do, what I could have done to
change or prevent this situation. Having been associated
for a while with the delivery of abuse and torture has
sensitized me immeasurably to my belief in the power of
human consciousness. I prayed, of course. I lit a candle. I
meditated. And I was well aware that a martyr was being
created.
But I continue to believe that nothing happens in the world
that I cannot in some way affect or change, and that we are
all in this thing together.
I want to mention that it hurts to hear my people called
pigs. That was a bit of a surprise to me, since I have
called them that myself. And Ilkin, even though this is a
terrible, dark event, I still believe there is room for
hope...and room for a blessed New Year and Eid.
Love to all,
Jean
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ali-Iraq
Dear Ilkin...and all..
Iraqis used to get a bonus or a surprise gift at every holy
occasion..for example a pardon or release some of the
political prisoners...etc
Look the difference we experience now....
That happened in the past when governments were real people
not pigs and when they are loyal to their country not to
the evil power brought them...I my self and I believe many
Iraqis and all Arab and Muslims get the message out of that
execution..
But...I guess they did not calculated the response that
will be most unexpected..
More hate and disrespect to the pigs at the Black house..
That is a proof that the policy makers do not take into
consideration our holy days or our feelings and from now on
I will not buy any American brand and will start a campaign
to sanction American products as it is simply imported from
an out law country and governed by jungle law....am I
right?
American regime only export death and death squads.....and
the problem is that those fucken liar at the black house
claim that they try to implement democracy in our nations..
What a big lie...Iraq is a good example for their evil
plans and products...death, sectarian divisions...no
security rape..murders....a country governed by death
squads and the pigs at the green zone support them with
money and cover..
Thanks Mr. Bush for these Christmas and new year gifts.
Please condemn his evil acts as I think he has gone too
far. Now we pray to Allah to take revenge !
-----------------------------------------------------------
Kathy-Australia
Dear Ali especially:
I am very very sorry for all the devastation to your
country and very very sorry to hear of Saddam Hussein's
execution. An execution is barbarous. I agree totally with
the quote Olivia appended to her note I lit a candle last
night, and prayed. Richard Dicker of the Human Rights Watch
best summed up my sentiment:
"The test of a government's commitment to human rights is
measured by the way it treats its worst offenders."
AND we all know that it is the US who orchestrated this
pseudo trial and execution.
I wonder if Bush considers that others could see him as
committing "crimes against humanity"? I wonder if Bush
could consider that he could be executed - just if the
power balance was different.
I wonder - I'm so sorry.
Kathy
-----------------------------------------------------------
Kotaro-Japan
Dear Ali,
As my Menieres disease getting better I can focus my
viewpoint (the point where our eyes focus), I would like to
write some.
First of all, it seems insulting pigs including other
animals to use as the symbol of wicked people. Pigs never
prepare to murder, to rape...in short, to begin the war and
the occupation. Only the Human beings, like me and you,
have the ability to. And only Human beings wishes revenge
or have the courage to cut off the chain of this unceasing
killing each other.
In the second place comes a question what Iraqi people are
going to do for the peace in Iraq. If there are many
activities, are they depend on the anger against the U.S.A.
or western culture? I am not any kind of representative of
Japanese. I am personally suspicious about the logic of
super power country, U.S.A. toward other countries.
Recently I want to shut my ears when I hear the words,
Justice, Humanity, Glory, God, and so on. These words have
been disgraced their proper meanings.
Thirdly, the internal incidents might be getting worse and
worse. The puppetized government in your country does not
have any wisdom or power to settle down the conflicts, it
is clear. But other very important problems are not clear.
How and when U.S. armies should retreat? What or who will
have the wisdom to settle down internal murders,
destructions?
Dearest Ali, do you think it might be much better if U.S.
troops retreat immediately? If so, what will happen in the
poor The government without the background? Is there any
solution to build up the government by rigid election by
all Iraqi people now? How and who will calm down the bloody
incidents between sects?(I am not saying the both side of
the sects are attacking each other.)
Honestly speaking, I have no vision of the next year of
Iraqi people, and am only wishing the real peace will visit
to the hearts of every people first, not only in Iraq but
also other countries in the World including the human being
in the Black house that you call so.
May eternal light will keep shinning in your heart,
Kotaro
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ilkin-Turkey
Dear Ali; (better to change the topic because I am afraid
this is what is going to happen)
I know I can only look with an outsider's eyes, I didn't
lived what you and all your loved ones experienced in that
hell. But please be calm and logical. There are so many
questions behind this event which all will see in time.
Today, I thought that there wasn't any leaders in Iraq's
history who died with normal health reasons for the last
century. I wonder if Taliban and other leaders of today are
aware of this or what they think their future will be. I
wrote many times; "freedom, democracy cant be imported or
exported", I can add "cant be bought or sold" too. As it
wouldn't differ very much I you/ me/ all would use/ buy any
American products or not...Yes; "Bush is the enemy" but not
only yours or mine etc but also "his own people".. It is
not the "American workers/ people" who is the enemy but the
regime.
America didn't begin to export death squads today or only
to Iraq but to all the world beginning from the Vietnam.
Than I can ask; "Where were you all, all those time?".
"Where were your minds when they support, fuel Saddam,
Pinochet, Suharto and all others with all kinds of arms?".
"Where were you thinking Saddam get the chemical weapons he
used at Halepce; from you, me or US?". "Iraqis where were
your minds when the invasion begun?". "Muslims where were
your minds when you were serving US as the armies against
than USSR around so famous Green Crescedent?". "What are
you doing Iranians?".. I can ask so many questions...
If we didn't get any lessons from the history, put it aside
and look today and future. Not only Iraq but all the area
is turning to "fields of revenge". That is the most
dangerous thing and what they want to put in our minds. It
is hard to explain our friends from other areas why/ how
this execution can have such an effect, why it is so
belittling over the people. Many of them may not understand
what the role "honor" plays in the lives and understanding,
what "vendetta/ feud" can create in the lives of the Middle
Eastern people. But it is sure the "regimes and their
puppets" know it very well. There is not only religious
divisions but also divisions in religions, there is not
only countries, nations but also tribes, ethnicities and so
many more I am not able to tell in this little mail...
No my friend; we shouldn't pray Allah for "revenge" but for
mind, logic and knowledge & power to use them. To stand
against any outsider and build our "own" freedoms and
democracies. Prevent them to create "fields of revenges"
they wanted on these lands. Real people of America also
aware of this and not enemies.
I still want to wish "happy new year" at least to the
children, to the young ones not to live all these in their
future...
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jeremy-South Korea
What if we were faced with a clear hypothetical question?
If this man (Sadaam, Bush or another) lived, another
million people, children and women, mostly, would die, and
if he died that million could live, would you still oppose
the execution?
What if a malaria mosquito was about to bite my child, and
go on to bite all the members of my family and community,
would I kill it? Of course.
One would think I would naturally follow the crowd on the
Peace Train. But here my mind is not made up.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Ali-Iraq
Dear Jodie and other friends..
I do appreciate your standpoint..I know well it is not the
sum of contribution offered, however small, or may be just
symbolic, but it is the will, the intentions and the
sincere feelings that every one on the bridge share with
us, and it is really heart to heart encounters.
However...I always think that it is my duty to convey
whatever necessary to you all to make you imagine in a
better way ,the magnitude of damage and the depth of human
suffering .....
-----------------------------------------------------------
And then the dreams
Valley-Dallas
I wanted to wish you a wonderful holiday and new year and
let you in on the dreams I was gifted from May on
Christmas. On a whim, I decided to fly to San Francisco to
visit my brother for Christmas. The night before my
departure I had this short, sweet dream:
May Tung appears in my dream and she has prepared a feast
of Chinese Dim Sum in my honor.
On Christmas Eve I arrived in San Fran and that night I
dreamt of her again, but this time it was a very complex
dream and difficult to put into words. I was being shown
some kind of grid or configuration of shapes that were
representing some form of predestination. Something that
was set in time and space but had not yet happened in
waking life.
I don't know what the specifics were about this
predestination, or if she was just showing me how it works
but it felt a very enlightening experience.
I felt her presence all the while there in her home town,
and I was surprised she chose to visit me in my dreams to
welcome me with such honor and open arms. Such a jewel she
is!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Jody-Cincinnati
Here is the dream about which Ive been musing deeply:
My Solstice dream from December 22, 2006:
I see three birds, three doves, very beautiful. They are
very unique doves, each of these three doves is of black
and white coloration and more strange, each dove has a
small pouch at its breast in which it carries a baby bird.
Like marsupial doves!
There is a network or grid-like curtain over the whole area
where these birds are, a cage or aviary, and yet there is
no visible sign of confinement. On the net there is a
repeating motif or pattern, which is clear in the dream but
I cant quite remember on waking. Nearby stands a man named
Ron M. who is the Director of Regional Planning for our
county in Ohio. His presence cues me to think of a network
wide planning effort. Then it occurs to me that these are
the black and white doves of peace and the network and
planning is for a unified peace planning effort, one that
would carry on with the next generation, baby birds, which
are carried outwardly, at the breast as the young develop,
just near the heart, as an infant or a baby kangaroo might
be carried in a front pack to look out on the world. End of
Dream
On waking I reflect that the black and white seem like the
union of opposites, good and evil, light and dark as one.
And that peacemaking is just that: no exclusion of the
dark, rather a union that creates a generative third new
possibility. And, the three doves of peace might refer to
three great spiritual traditions struggling with one
another: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. But in the dream
they are together, not at odds, rather held in a common
space with an overall network or pattern which defines
their abode and contains them. To the planning part of the
dream I connect a waking life experience and recent
invitation from two Jewish women friends of mine who have
been very involved in interfaith dialogue and have been
approached by NCCJ (National Conference of Christians and
Jews) which has now become an organization for interfaith
dialogue called Bridges. (yes Bridges!) The invitation was
to become involved in visioning a World Peace Conference in
Cincinnati OH in 2007. Yes, we can dream of it! And my
dream feels like direction to me to explore this
possibility with these women and others of the three
religious traditions mentioned and others who are quite
serious about such an effort.
I share this with you at this end of the year as my gift
and connection to all of us who are living BRIDGES of
peace, peace which is a journey, a space that seems to be
an impossible dream, and yet is vividly real to all of us
and others we touch.
Carrying the baby bird of peace like at infant at the
heart,
Jody
-----------------------------------------------------------
Del-Sydney
Anyhow: I got myself involved in the planetary dreaming on
Dec 22, and I would like to share the most prominent gift I
received from it, which will hopefully bring some light for
others too. Almost every detail escaped me, but this one
thing stood out: I was shown/informed that each one of us
is like the hexagon in a beehive, in the way we are all
connected to make up the whole. This impacts me so much,
because it is a beautiful picture of interconnectedness and
how integral each of us are to the whole. I think this
picture speaks volumes!
May the new year bring multitudes of new blessings for you
all! And more emails from me, yahoo!
Joy-California
---------------------------------------------------------
A sequel to Jody's dream and Kathy's comments thereon?
I dreamed my sister and I drew pencil drawings of our
dreams both on one page, linked at their upper inner
corners by curving shapes that almost touched. "It's a
boat," she said. "It's the moon," I said - "but it's also a
boat." Then I narrated in a voice so charged with dramatic
energy it woke me:
"The full moon comes riding over the land and touches the
sun. Guan Yin, Kundun and Siefai meet!"
The bit about the boat and the moon relate to something
personal but could also relate to the larger story, the
serial group dream here. I know Guan Yin is a Mandarin
Chinese name for the Goddess of Compassion and Kundun is a
title for the Dalai Lama translated as "Presence." I don't
know what Siefai is - that's my attempt at a phonetic
spelling - my first impression on waking was of a reference
to something regarding Kaballah (Jewish mysticism) of which
I've read very little but had occasion to think of
yesterday - "sefer" the Hebrew for book; "sefirot" in the
plural or "sefirah" singular, a term that is intentionally
obscure according to the book I have here but relating to
the emanations of God and the central symbolism of
Kaballah. Any other clues, anyone?
As the full moon rises when the sun is setting, if it rides
over the land to touch the sun, then East meets West -
imagine that!
Joy
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Guide for Dream Group Facilitation
Earl Koteen
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Editor: The following is an outline for group leaders
interested in the process of dreamwork. This outline is a
summary or many years of experience that Earl Koteen has
had in a variety of settings.
Agenda
Check-in: Name, mood +/o whats most prominent, dream
title; want/need/weed to share (Need expressed importance
and urgency, want a preference to share, and weed is
between the two. We use recency and frequency of sharing
as guides for tiebreaking.
Opening Centering Exercise: Some mind, body, and sensory
awareness/relaxation. Can include a couple of deep
breaths, body scan, attention to surrounding sounds and
sensations, etc.
Identification and Sequencing of Sharers: Review
wants/needs/weeds, identify who will share (normally 2 on
weeknights; 3 on weekends) and in what sequence
Sharing Dreams and Break: Normally about 1 hours per dream
and one 10 minute break. After about 45-50 minutes into
dream work, ask 1st question to the group (Any new
perspectives on the dream?) and then 2nd question to the
dreamer (Anything you wish us to look further at or
anything you wish to do or say?)
Closing Centering Exercise: Relax and return to body.
Express gratitude for sharing of the dreams and for
contributions by group members.
Facilitation
In addition to whats mentioned above:
Set method for sharing the dream: Its dreamers choice,
though the dreamer may and often does want input from the
group on how s/he will share the dream. If the dream is
typed, sometimes the group wants to read it before the
dream speaks it. If the dream isnt typed, then there are
normally two readings. Encourage the dreamer to read
slowly, but w/o interruption the first time. During the
2nd reading, group members may interrupt at any time to ask
the dreamer to pause or to repeat.
Ignore the Speaker!!!: OK, I am exaggerating for emphasis.
I dont really mean to ignore whoever is speaking.
However, just as the use of if it were my dream or in my
dream seems counterintuitive at first, one of the biggest
challenges of facilitation is recognizing that your primary
responsibility is not to the speaker but to the group.
Notice the speaker, but do not give the speaker rapt
attention. Instead, regularly scan the room to see whom
else wishes to speak. Surprising, the speaker will know
you are attending to her/him even though you are not always
looking directly at her/him.
Air Traffic Controller: This is often the most important
part of facilitation. While one person is speaking, you
can acknowledge a raised hand or other indication of a
desire to speak by eye contact and a nod. If you notice
that more than one person wishes to speak, announce a
sequence as soon as the current speaker stops.
Often when one speaker stops, more than one person starts
to speak, even though not all of these individuals have
previously indicated their desire to be put in the
speakers queue. Most of the time, the potential speakers
quickly resolve sequence among themselves. However, if
they cant easily resolve it among themselves, please
interrupt if necessary to announce a sequence of speakers.
To make your interruption more courteous, you can make
statements like: X has had her hand up for a while now,
or Y hasnt had a chance yet to comment on this dream.
However, usually you will have no problem so long as you
set a clear sequence. When there are more than 2 people
who wish to speak, its often easiest to just sequence them
from right to left or vice versa depending on seating
arrangement.
Another responsibility is enforcing the sequence. Once
youve said that Y will be the second speaker after X,
tactfully interrupt Z if he tries to jump in.
A third responsibility, even when you havent announced a
sequence, is to see that those who have been trying to
speak get the opportunity. Comments like, X has been
trying to make an observation, usually do the trick.
Please exercise your best judgment in making your
interventions. These are guidelines and not rules and can
generate strife if imposed too rigidly. However, they
generally make for a happier and better functioning group
when reasonably imposed. Dream group members tend to less
impatience and are less likely to overtalk one another when
they are assured that they will get their turns to speak.
Earl Koteen (koteen@sbcglobal.net), a long-time dream
worker and workshop leader, is completing his studies at
the Starr King School for the Ministry (Unitarian
Universalist), Berkeley, California, where he hosts a dream
group open to the public.
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Law of Karma
Stan Kulikowski II
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DATE : 19 dec 2006 10:36
DREAM : law of karma
=( yesterday was a monday. i seemed to be a bit more
productive than i have been in the last two weeks. after
swimming in the afternoon, i took mother to the bank to
transfer some money into the checkbook for paying our
bills. then she suggested we stop for dinner somewhere and
i took us to a new mexican restaurant that just opened.
she did not like it once we got there, but i was glad to
eat out.
during the evening i entered about four months of lottery
data into my programs files which took quit a while since
the florida lottery has changed its web site so getting
past game data is much harder now than it used to be. i
had lost the weekly data entry when the lightning strike
last august burned out the network router and i had not
recovered the data for my lottery analysis programs to
process until now. i got to bed around 00:30 and went to
sleep without much difficulty. )=
the teacher is passing among us, stopping to ask a question
or two of some of us. she stops to look at me but does not
ask anything. she likes to be called teacher but she does
not really teach us. she is more like a spiritual leader
and sometimes, like now, an examiner.
eddie grout starts to sing a song to fill in the silence.
he is sitting at the end of the long picnic table where we
are all sitting.
he sounds a lot like the well known country singer, hank
snow, but with a slight eddie grout accent. i am a little
surprised how well he can sing.
without much thought, i pick up a straight clay pipe which
is filled with grass and light it to take a short toke.
the teacher freezes where she is and looks at me hard, but
says nothing. the grass in the pipe is not marijuana but
actual lawn clippings so there is nothing illegal about me
smoking it. i get a small rush from the smoke but nothing
that lingers very long.
the teacher is done now, but pauses to wait for the end of
the last verse of eddie's song, then she leaves our tent
for the next.
"you sing quite well." i tell eddie. he looks a little
embarassed.
"you sound a lot like hank snow. didn't he live around
here?" eddie does not know so he shrugs. "i think he
lived in crestview or somewhere like that. my father would
have known where."
every one in our tent gets up now to go outside.
=( i awake here, probably around 10:05 but i do not open my
eyes to look at the clock. the dream just continues as if
it is not done. )=
eddie and i meet a heavy middle age woman. "have you read
the book of lois yet?" she asks us. eddie says that he
has, but i have not.
"the teacher told me that i must lower the cost of myself."
she tells us.
"ah, that is like the law of karma." i say. "the goal of
life is to lose the self. lowering your cost is part of
that." she seems to understand and goes on ahead.
i think that is good i was smoking just grass and not
stronger stuff.
sometimes i will smoke steel wool. it is not narcotic, but
microscopic fragments of the steel make up the smoke and
they shred the linings of your lungs, so it is very harsh.
usually i smoke it until blood starts to flow out of my
nostrils and mouth then i have to quit for a while to heal
up. if anyone smokes too much steel,
they can lacerate all their visceral organs.
=( i finally open my eyes. 10:20 on the clock beside my
bed. i go over the events in this dream to help keep them
in mind before i turn on my computer to enter it into the
dream journal. i think there may have been more. this
content was a little more slippery than my normal dream
memory which is never very good. eddie grout was in my
high school and i saw him at the 40th reunion more than a
year ago.
he was a rather shy but slightly mischievious person, yet
very well liked by everyone in the class which is a rather
odd popularity. i have always thought that the law of
karma was that every action has a consequence, relating
physical actions to moral consequences. i suppose there
can be more than one law of karma, but i do not actually
recall any being stated as i have it here. this process of
waking up but having the dream continue on in conscious
thought is something that has happened to me several times
in the last few months, but i do not think i ever got one
into the dream journals before. indeed, i wonder if the
last part is really a genuine dream or something my mind
just wants to make up, but there seems to be kind of
momentum or dream inertia that drives this. it is not
really like a lucid process where consciousness happens
while still asleep because there does not seem to be same
level of control here.
indeed, it almost the reverse of lucidity, the subconscious
needs to continue to deliver its content payload even
though the dreamer comes awake before the dream is over.
the part before the awake notice is just like normal
dreams, and the part after may have a different
mental status but i can not distinguish much to tell them
apart. if lucidity somehow is cheating in dreams because
the conscious mind asserts control of the content, then
this may be like the revenge of the subconscious which will
just not quit and give up to consciousness until it is
ready. )=
--
stankuli@etherways.com
.
--- if but the cosmos could possibly have come about
innocent of history,
| | as not wholy ignorant of all its potentials,
unprejudiced but aware,
=== rather than that its only trial be performed at the
mercy of its errors.
-- treavor goodchild (1995) _the demiurge_ aeon flux, MTV
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Free Association: Loosen Your Mind In 2007
DreamRePlay
David Jenkins, PhD
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A HOLIDAY GIFT
Last week I asked readers to complete a survey to help me
improve Dream of the Week. If you've already done so, many,
many thanks to you. If not, there is still time. Please
read on.
Next month will be Dream of the Weeks first anniversary.
I hope you have been enjoying, and benefiting from the
columns. On my part, it has been rewarding to take one
small aspect of dream work and commit myself to explaining
it by Friday noon each week. I find that the exercise --
not to mention the deadline -- concentrates my thoughts
about dream work remarkably well.
The Perfect Present!
I have a request for a holiday present from you (your
choice Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice or
other.) I know it's not quite polite to tell people what
you want, but in this case, perhaps you would make an
exception: Your gift would be your straightforward feedback
about Dream of the Week easily accomplished just by
completing a survey at the link below.
I am trying to get a sense of what it is that you, the
reader, most appreciate about Dream of the Week and what
you wish was included. The survey takes about 10-15 minutes
to complete.
I would greatly appreciate your answers. Click here (or
copy this link) to begin:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=928203060126
And now for the dream topic of the week.
FREE ASSOCIATION
Free association is a kind of meditation that loosens up
your mind, allowing it to wander. All you have to do is
follow the wanderings.
If I was to make one recommendation for what to do in your
new year to aid you in your dream work, I'd suggest that
you learn or practice free association until it comes
naturally. It's also a great way to come up with new ideas
-- a brain massage rather than a brain storm.
Often, as you will see, the connections that come from
associating to the dream are the key to making sense of the
dream.
Sigmund Freud invented Free Association as a technique. I
don't use it exactly as a Freudian would but, I think it is
an essential part of self knowledge.
The Method
Essentially the technique is to notice whatever is in your
head at the moment.
If I say the word BOOK, you might immediately think of
READ, FIRESIDE, HARRY POTTER, VACATION IN MEXICO and so on.
What you need to practice is noticing whatever came first
to you. It's that simple. But!!!
In ordinary social conversation, we very naturally censor
ourselves. The first answer is quite often "wrong" or
socially inappropriate.
If I were to say, "Name a movie star who you find
attractive," you might not wish everyone to know who first
came to mind. Your mind would then go through a process of
finding an answer that you wished to present. Many of us
lose the habit of catching that first answer and come to
believe in the more acceptable one.
This process is happening all the time. Your mind searches
for an answer that is socially appropriate and acceptable.
BUT, and this is the key, a word or a concept, picture or
sound popped up in your mind first. Free association is the
practice of noticing that first one and following it.
The Difference between Thinking and Associating
We use the word think in two different ways.
If I asked you how to get from your house to the
supermarket, you would think through the steps to take and
then explain the directions. In contrast, as you walk down
the street on your way to the supermarket, you might think
about someone you knew in high school. That's the thought
popped into your mind. You did not actively generate the
thought. Instead, so to speak, you received it. It's not a
rational process.
Free Association and Dreams
A common technique with dreams is to consider what
associations you have with the dream.
I dreamed I saw a purple cloud.
Ask yourself what do you associate to the purple cloud?
Purple might remind you of a coat you wore. Or signify
something royal. You might go off on your associations to
the word "cloud." What is most useful is to notice what
first comes to mind rather than what you logically "think"
the purple cloud means.
Nicole's Dream
I dreamed I was in the supermarket. The tomatoes looked
very ripe but I couldn't decide whether to buy them or not.
When Nicole thought about tomatoes her mind went to the
tomato plants her family used to grow when she was a
teenager. The conversation steered off into the days when
Nicole herself was a "hot tomato." We came back to the
dream with Nicole considering whether she was ripe for
another relationship.
Practice
If you are not already adept at free association, try
practicing. Write down your daydreams. As you wander down
the street, catch the thoughts that you are "receiving." As
you wake up, notice the thoughts that are occupying your
mind. Take your next dream and write down whatever comes to
mind about each aspect of the dream.
Special bonus: if you are stuck on a problem, write it down
and then free associate. You'll wander way off target but
likely come back to it with a fresh, creative approach that
would be impossible if you focused on the problem.
Warning: You should not be surprised if all kinds of
unacceptable ideas come up: immoral, unethical, angry, or
other. Stop if it's upsetting.
Conclusion
Dreams are irrational. That's what people either love or
hate about them. You might be flying, your father may be
wearing a skirt, you might discover that your house has a
room you never noticed. The logic of dreams is much closer
and truer to the meanderings of free association than
it is to waking life rational thinking.
DREAM OF THE WEEK SURVEY
You can return to the survey and add or change your
answers.
Click here to begin the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=928203060126
DREAM GROUPS
The Saturday drop-in group ($20) is from 10 am to noon at
2315 Prince Street in Berkeley. The nearest major cross
street is Ashby and Telegraph. Please let me know if you
are coming.
SHARE DREAM OF THE WEEK
If you enjoy reading Dream of the Week, please tell your
friends about it. They can read back issues and subscribe
(free) at DreamOfTheWeek.com.
Best wishes
David Jenkins
Dream RePlay
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email: davidj@dreamoftheweek.com
phone: (510) 644 2369
web: http://dreamoftheweek.com
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** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS ** DREAMS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Cutting of one's left hand, getting felt up, getting hit by
the football, abandoned without food and water, getting
puked on - is this the Emergency Room at General Hospital?
No, its the Electric Dreams Dream Section for January
2007!
dream_title: Hand Cutting
dream_date: 12/1/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: I had a dream that I was cutting wood with a
chainsaw, but my left hand was broken and I had a cast on.
While cutting wood, I cut through my cast and cut my left
hand off. There was no pain or harsh reaction, but I
calmly walked into the house and inserted my severed hand
into an ice bucket. When I pulled it out later, I found I
had only cut the tips off my fingers, and I was fine with
that and carried on as normal, but my cast had been cut off
and only a small portion was left.
dream_title: me and my boy friend and my best guy friend
dream_date: 12-3-06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: well yesterday me and my boy-friend were
hanging out and then we started kissing and everything and
he then started rubbing my crotch and then after he left i
feel asleep and i had a dream me and my best guy friend c,
it was his birthday and his mom and i and him were in c's
car but he had his mom drive he was in the front i was in
the back and c held my hand and then started rubbing my
crotch and after him doing that for like 4 minutes i pulled
his hand away. so im my cream i cheated my bf and i in real
live feel bad and i wanted to know if this was a sign of
something
dream_title:
dream_date: 12/04/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: i was at school and with half of the people i
hate where like my best-friends and my real best friend was
there to soo we where walking down the hall and i stopped
at this really hot guy "L" and we hugged and he kissed me
and then he said bye baby i aid i love you and blew a kiss
then we walked out side and sat down and watched people
play football then the ball hit me and i had to be escorted
off the field but the one escorting me off the field was a
guy named "J" who i have a crush on in real life soo he sat
me down and we chatted then he left and right about the
time he left the whole school blew up luckily me and my
friends where out side but the person who was dead was "J"
dream_date: December 6th, 2006
dreamer_name: KT
dream_text: okay, so i was with a bunch of kids from my
high school and we had all gone to kansas city for the
weekend. we went swimming and were having a great time.
Then me and this guy named S (whom i in real life used to
have a "thing" with) were together again!! we were at a gas
station just me and him, when we went inside, the lady
told us to leave. we asked her why of course... and she
said it was coming. we had no clue what she was talking
about so we walked back out to the car to get in and leave.
as we were getting in the car, an earth quake started and
every single thing around us had fallen to the middle of
the earth. me and s were the only people left in the entire
world. just me and him standing together on top of the
world. it was like a tall piece of land standing alone. we
were left there with no food or water or anything. i woke
up and was so confused! what could something like this
mean?
dream_title: ex
dream_date: 12/7/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: last night i had a dream about the person who i
really loved. but we broke up when i was 15 and now im 21.
i never seen the chick that he cheated on me with but she
was all up in the dream. lt was like we were doing thing
behind her back. so could this mean that were gong to hook
up or is it that i miss him or something b/c its been a
long time since i though of him and seen him.
dream_title: Tunnel walk
dream_date: 11/2006
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: In the beginning of the dream, I met a man who
was nice to me, and he were supposed to look after me. Then
I was in another place and was kidnapped by a large, strong
man. He dragged me into an old train tunnel. As we walked
deeper into the tunnel I used my mobile-phone as a walkie-
talkie, and contacted the police several times. Suddenly we
walked about 30 meters outside, and then the tunnel
continued. After a little while we had to climb up a small
stone wall. Up there I told him that if he puked on me, I
will puke on him back. Then he puked on me, and I tried to
puke on him, but I couldn't. About 5 seconds later I pushed
the kidnapper into a box, and closed the box. In front of
me there was a big gate with bright light on the other side
of if. I opened the big metal-gate and rushed inside. At
this point I knew that the cops were just a few moments
away. Inside the gate the man in the start of the dream
stood and looked at me. "I got you now", he said, and he
was the evil boss, the kidnapper was just working for him.
Then the dream stopped.
dream_comments: Sorry for the bad language, I'm a
Norvegian.
dream_title: mates?
dream_date: 7/12/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: i cant remember it all but the main part of the
dream was spent with my mate and me sat around talking
generally hanging out the normal things and then holding
hands? she wont let my hand go and keeps wanting to hold my
hand even when im trying to pull away? then we walked back
to my house holding hands and we walked into my kitchen and
my uncle was fixing something and saw us holding hands and
i went to let go but she wouldn't let go again....?? sat
down on sofa listening to music and hugged.
and then thats where i woke up!!
dream_title: Multiple Me's
dream_date: December 6, 2006
dreamer_name: H2O
dream_text: There are 3 of me in my dream. Two of me are
arguing over doing the right thing and wanting to do it
knowing it's wrong. The third 'me' is watching. Nothing
gets resolved, but the first 2 me's argue with each other
over getting their own way. Then I wake up.
dream_title: Airplane Crash
dream_date: ?/11/06
dreamer_name: Twylight
dream_text: It was in colour, I always dream in colour. An
airplane crashed, it was flying too low near power lines.
It was during the day, clear blue sky on a deserted road or
runway. It was a red plane, not a jumbo a smaller one. I
was in a car and as I drove past the wreckage I could see
the dead people on it. One main person was the back
passenger, a man. He had a moustache and his face was
swollen and his eyes were like they were popping from his
head, they were blue, his face was blue. His head was
through the window. There was smoke/cloud and an awful
smell. Rescue services wearing yellow, were trying to find
any survivors. I woke up feeling such sadness and sick
from the images.
dream_title: In a row boat with my sister
dream_date: 11/16/06
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: My sister and I are in a row boat, and it
started to sink so my sister grab on to the green grass
with her right hand (because she cannot swim) and I was
sinking with the boat, she yell to me swim you know how and
I said I can't, so she grab my hair so i would not sink,
but I was going under, and she held on for dear life. The
End
dream_title:
dream_date: dec,10 2006
dreamer_name: confused
dream_text: hi my im not at liberty to disclose my name at
this present moment. but i have very confusing dreams .
some repeatedly over the course of several years. my most
resent dream although not a repetitious one at present.
tied in remotely to my present excursions .
it started out as me making my way out of the house one
late night early morning, sneaking past my grandmothers
sleeping soul (her actually sleeping) to rendezvous with a
recent love interest .i live in a pretty rough neighborhood
but at this time no one is active. so im relatively safe
but cautious. how ever when i reach the busy street that
goes by the name puritan that divides me from my love the
usually deserted street was bustling with civilian activity
. and me knowing that teens in my area were under a strict
curfew began to sneak across puritan hoping that the police
would not catch site of me or men up to no good would not
slow their vehicles down to pick me up. but before i made
my way across the road i did some thing very peculiar , i
stripped down to my underwear and made my way ducking and
dodging behind shadowed corners
dream_title: oprah is trippin again
dream_date: 11/29/06
dreamer_name: esoteric
dream_text: I dreamt it was a sunny day and we
(me and somebody else)was on a busy street when i heard
"oprah" on a radio (or maybe just out of the blue cause i
don't remember a radio being on at the time of the
dream)and she said (anyone who come on her show talking
about money or being sexist in anyway would be kicked off
the show)but at the time of those words i visualized the
stage setting and i saw people on the stage as if the
camera was moving from left to right as if i seen the show
on a television screen and i saw "two little girls" in my
vision, they were twins on stage but "they had on blue
dresses " and "sandy blonde hair". one of the girls had a
shocking facial expression on her face as a result of
"oprah's" comments. all of a sudden i was in "my room at
home" and i saw (two spiders/crabs)like insects crawling on
the walls of the room.
dream_title: Lots of people
dream_date: 11 december 2006
dreamer_name: anonymous
dream_text: I was upstairs in my top room of my house and
there were loads of people there. There was a cover and a
boy under it. I don't know who he was but he reminded me of
a "N". Then we got and under the covers and had sex. Then I
went out of the covers and people from school went under
the covers with him
--
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All dream and article text and art are considered
(C)opyright by the writers, artists and dreamers
themselves. Anyone other than the authors may use or
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DISCLAIMER: Electric Dreams is an independent electronic
publication not affiliated with any other organization. The
views of our commentators are personal views and not
intended as professional advice or psychotherapy.
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