Dreams…
Grab your favorite beverage and pull up a
chair, because we’re gonna chat about something that’s as elusive a topic as it
gets ─ even more so than, say, politics or whether or not alien life really
exists. Note: It’s no accident that I
mention politics and alien life in the same sentence, but that’s a totally
different topic altogether…unless, of course, the elements of your latest dream
had something to do with both ─ which is completely plausible in this day and
age.
Okay, take a moment to think about the
last dream you had. If you’re like most,
that may be a daunting task. While we’re
typically able to recall remnants of our dreams, rarely are we able to fully
recall enough of a dream to “put the pieces back together,” so to speak. Depending on the encounter, we may recall
random glimpses of what occurred during a dream that we quickly discount as “weird
or bizarre.”
Human thought exists on several layers or
aspect planes. Loosely defined, our
minds operate in three dimensions: the conscious, the subconscious, and the
alter-conscious. It is the
alter-conscious plane where dreams principally occur, and the one aspect that is the most elusive and difficult dimension to
define. All three dimensions freely
interact with one another and have some level of affect or influence on each
other.
A great deal of focus has been given to
the study and science (both psychological and physiological) of our
dreams. Because of our cognitive
limitations, we're not yet able to fully understand how to control and/or manipulate
our dreams. Therefore, like the early
pioneers of our existence, we do the best
we can by assigning meaning and interpretation through symbology and
conjecture.
An understanding of dream symbology
requires a delicate approach and an admission that this too is not an
all-inclusive or absolute method of clearly defining that which still eludes
us. With every attempt to increase the
wisdom of our understanding through symbolic reference, we must be open to the
likely possibility that we are simply wrong. After all, symbolism is not an all-encompassing
approach that is universally applicable to a population of those who dream of common symbols. That said, this “uncharted territory,” is a rich
forum for unbridled opinions, insights, theories, and interpretations ─ all of
which lend themselves, albeit in an eclectic manner, to the advancement of our
understanding of a fascinating aspect of the human psyche.
One of the methods used to understand
dream symbology is a practice called amplification. Amplification is a process of focusing on the
remnant elements of a dream that we’re readily able to recall. Those elements are analyzed as symbols that are
associated with similar elements and circumstances we have come to know through
the knowledge, wisdom, and interactivity of life. In other words, we associate the
alter-conscious with the conscious…the unknown with the known…in much the same
way we do with virtually any science or process of discovery.
It has always intrigued me to listen to
someone describe a dream they have had.
From a listener’s perspective, we associate only our own symbolic visual,
emotional, and psychological references while listening. We can never truly enjoy a first-hand account
of another person’s dream…unless of course, we’re paired with them in the same
dream. Yes, that has been known to
happen. See? I told you this could go in virtually any
direction. We’ll save that for another
time however.
Suffice it to say, our dreams, as elusive
as they may appear to be, have a purpose.
That purpose is, in large part, a deeply personal process that I believe
offers infinite possibilities of insight and introspection ─ both of which can
increase knowledge, wisdom and spiritual acuity.
What are your dreams telling you? Are they a mere reflection of your conscious
life? If so, do they offer insight on
the state of your life…opportunity, warning, assurance? Carefully analyzed, do they reveal a hidden
nature previously unknown and plausibly possible, yet to be discovered?
Drop me a line and share the experience
of your dreams. And don’t be concerned about how bizarre it
may sound. We’re principally looking for
signs and symbols. In fairness, I’ll be
the first to disclose one of mine. For
some reason, the major themes of my dreams seem to be most closely associated
with maneuver, conflict, weapons,
driving, and water.
Walking
down a dusty street, minding my own business, I was approached by a man. He had a sinister sense and directed me to
sit at a table at the edge of the road.
I sat, curious as to what he wanted.
He placed a hammer on the table.
I took it as a threat. He
confirmed the threat and told me I was to go with him to be interrogated. I looked around to assess the situation and
saw that there were other men behind me.
Several thoughts ran through my mind…what information would I
divulge? What were my escape and evade
options? The dream “warped” (dreams tend
to move quickly sometimes, going from one scene/experience to the next) and I
was with an unknown ally. We were hiding
from a pursuer and were forced to make a decision to jump off a rooftop into a
body of water...
The dream elements became sketchy after
that, as they often do. But there were the typical
elements of maneuver, conflict, weapons, water, and even some kind of vehicle
in the end. Chew on that and let me know
what YOU think!
Embrace the experience of your dreams!
Until next time!
- G -
"Dreams are made of the elements that are an intrinsic part of who we are, the guide of our souls, and the possibilities of our existence."
─ G. Westfal
─ G. Westfal
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The last dream I had there were massive spiders crawling over me and I understood the immediate threat of them however I wasn't frightened and I screamed without a sound not out of fear but because I should have been afraid, I can never hear anything in my dreams and no one ever speaks. Lately my dreams have been of things of which should be terrifying and of things I should be afraid of but I'm not.
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