Conscious dreaming can be a
powerful tool for discovery and the exploration of consciousness. It can
also be a serious distraction, a detour off the path of inner wisdom into
the illusions of ego-centered personality. Usually known as 'lucid
dreaming', conscious dreaming has been around for thousands of years. It
is one of the fundamental tools used by shamans and native healers to gain
information and wisdom when called upon to treat the people who seek their
counsel.
Most people don't think much about their dreams, and even fewer think about dreams as doorways to mental, emotional and physical healing. Yet it's possible to learn how to use dreams and dreaming to accomplish exactly that. It's not easy to use lucid dreaming in this way. Although it is relatively simple to learn how to enter a conscious dream state, the challenge lies in overcoming the natural inclination of the ego-self (self with a small 's') to shape and control the dreaming experience for it's own entertainment and gratification.
In a lucid dream, the dreamer becomes consciously aware that he or she is dreaming. At this point in the dream everything changes. Because the dreamer knows it's a dream, the ego can assert control and take over the content and action, not unlike a director shaping a movie. Since anything is possible in a dream, there is an enormous temptation to turn the dream into a kind of personal pleasure dome, rivaling Coleridge's famous opium-inspired poem of Xanadu and Kubla Khan. Great sex, heroic athletic feats, flying through space-whatever one wants, one can have, in a conscious dream.
But there is another use for conscious dreaming, one that can take the dreamer into realms that are truly mysterious. These realms open when the self chooses to observe and learn, rather than dictate and coerce. In these realms one can encounter beings from different dimensions of awareness, seek out healing for self or other and come face to face with the Divine Mystery.
The techniques for initiating conscious dreaming are simple to learn. One method involves using a low intensity light device triggered by rapid eye movement that occurs during dreaming. The light signal acts as a cue to tell you that you are dreaming and to become lucid. Another technique is to give yourself a body cue, such as finding your hands in your dream (that one was used by Don Juan when he was teaching Carlos Castaneda how to dream) or seeing something that signals you to become conscious. In an episode of the television show, Star Trek Voyager, Commander Chakotay used the image of the full moon to tell himself he was dreaming.
However you choose to do it, it's worth the effort to discipline the ego and allow yourself to surrender to the images that appear, rather than shape them to your liking. With practice you may discover a source of wisdom and genuine knowledge that can help you through any challenge of emotional or physical healing.
Copyright July 2000, Alex Lukeman, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
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Most people don't think much about their dreams, and even fewer think about dreams as doorways to mental, emotional and physical healing. Yet it's possible to learn how to use dreams and dreaming to accomplish exactly that. It's not easy to use lucid dreaming in this way. Although it is relatively simple to learn how to enter a conscious dream state, the challenge lies in overcoming the natural inclination of the ego-self (self with a small 's') to shape and control the dreaming experience for it's own entertainment and gratification.
In a lucid dream, the dreamer becomes consciously aware that he or she is dreaming. At this point in the dream everything changes. Because the dreamer knows it's a dream, the ego can assert control and take over the content and action, not unlike a director shaping a movie. Since anything is possible in a dream, there is an enormous temptation to turn the dream into a kind of personal pleasure dome, rivaling Coleridge's famous opium-inspired poem of Xanadu and Kubla Khan. Great sex, heroic athletic feats, flying through space-whatever one wants, one can have, in a conscious dream.
But there is another use for conscious dreaming, one that can take the dreamer into realms that are truly mysterious. These realms open when the self chooses to observe and learn, rather than dictate and coerce. In these realms one can encounter beings from different dimensions of awareness, seek out healing for self or other and come face to face with the Divine Mystery.
The techniques for initiating conscious dreaming are simple to learn. One method involves using a low intensity light device triggered by rapid eye movement that occurs during dreaming. The light signal acts as a cue to tell you that you are dreaming and to become lucid. Another technique is to give yourself a body cue, such as finding your hands in your dream (that one was used by Don Juan when he was teaching Carlos Castaneda how to dream) or seeing something that signals you to become conscious. In an episode of the television show, Star Trek Voyager, Commander Chakotay used the image of the full moon to tell himself he was dreaming.
However you choose to do it, it's worth the effort to discipline the ego and allow yourself to surrender to the images that appear, rather than shape them to your liking. With practice you may discover a source of wisdom and genuine knowledge that can help you through any challenge of emotional or physical healing.
Copyright July 2000, Alex Lukeman, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
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There is
broad-based belief in America and throughout the world that some form of
existence continues after death. Statistics show that twenty to forty
percent of all Americans-at least fifty million people--believe they have
had direct contact with someone after the person has died. Usually it is a
loved one or someone dear and close to the person who is contacted. Some
of these contacts occur as mysterious sightings, others as events such as
electrical phenomena or strangely moving objects. But the largest number
of occurrences take the form of
dreams.
Many have dreams of being contacted by someone who has passed on, many others relate dreams accurately foreshadowing physical death or dreams of inspirational and spiritual figures bearing messages of comfort and wisdom.
For the last several years I have frequently been a guest on many widely syndicated national radio talk shows employing the 'call-in' format, where listeners from all over the country call the studio and talk with the host and guest. The majority of callers want to know about their dreams; they especially want to share dreams about a loved one who has passed beyond. Sometimes the callers want reassurance the dreams are actual messages from the dead. Mostly they want to tell me how the dream relieved and comforted them, helping them deal with personal grief resulting from the death of a loved one.
Anyone who has experienced the grief of a loved one's passing knows it takes considerable time for emotional healing. When the beloved returns in a dream there is a profound and immediate effect on the dreamer's emotional well being. The dreamer awakens feeling the loved one is still available in a different realm of existence. On a more profound level, such dreams provide reassurance to the dreamer's personal self that he or she will also survive the inevitability of death.
I believe it is possible that departed loved ones may actually 'visit' us in our dreams. Dreams of someone who has passed beyond may easily be categorized as a form of psychological wish fulfillment, a creation of our inner mind to help us deal with the emotional loss. But many anecdotal stories indicate that something more than psychological compensation can also take place. Cultures from every part of the world traditionally view such dreams as a genuine doorway to the other side. In these dreams advice is given, forgiveness becomes reality and love brings completion and acceptance to the dreamer.
I am currently researching dreams of loved ones returning for a new book. I am also seeking dreams foretelling the death of the dreamer-a very real phenomenon that gives both the dreamer and his/her loved ones time to prepare for the transition. If you have had dreams of loved ones returning, dreams of angels, or know of dreams warning of death, please contact me. I would deeply appreciate your help. Please contact me by using the contact link provided on this website.
Many have dreams of being contacted by someone who has passed on, many others relate dreams accurately foreshadowing physical death or dreams of inspirational and spiritual figures bearing messages of comfort and wisdom.
For the last several years I have frequently been a guest on many widely syndicated national radio talk shows employing the 'call-in' format, where listeners from all over the country call the studio and talk with the host and guest. The majority of callers want to know about their dreams; they especially want to share dreams about a loved one who has passed beyond. Sometimes the callers want reassurance the dreams are actual messages from the dead. Mostly they want to tell me how the dream relieved and comforted them, helping them deal with personal grief resulting from the death of a loved one.
Anyone who has experienced the grief of a loved one's passing knows it takes considerable time for emotional healing. When the beloved returns in a dream there is a profound and immediate effect on the dreamer's emotional well being. The dreamer awakens feeling the loved one is still available in a different realm of existence. On a more profound level, such dreams provide reassurance to the dreamer's personal self that he or she will also survive the inevitability of death.
I believe it is possible that departed loved ones may actually 'visit' us in our dreams. Dreams of someone who has passed beyond may easily be categorized as a form of psychological wish fulfillment, a creation of our inner mind to help us deal with the emotional loss. But many anecdotal stories indicate that something more than psychological compensation can also take place. Cultures from every part of the world traditionally view such dreams as a genuine doorway to the other side. In these dreams advice is given, forgiveness becomes reality and love brings completion and acceptance to the dreamer.
I am currently researching dreams of loved ones returning for a new book. I am also seeking dreams foretelling the death of the dreamer-a very real phenomenon that gives both the dreamer and his/her loved ones time to prepare for the transition. If you have had dreams of loved ones returning, dreams of angels, or know of dreams warning of death, please contact me. I would deeply appreciate your help. Please contact me by using the contact link provided on this website.
Copyright 2000, Alex
Lukeman, Ph.D
All rights reserved.
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Do you have
nightmares? Millions of people all over the world have terrifying dreams.
Fortunately, most of us will only occasionally experience the fright that
accompanies a true nightmare. If you are one of the people who have
frequent dark dreams, you know that nightmares are nothing to be laughed
at.
Nightmares are a signal from the unconscious that something is amiss with our psychic well being. Often there will be other dreams that attempt to address the underlying issue, but if these are not understood or noted a nightmare may become necessary to get our attention. That is the primary purpose of nightmares: to get the attention of our conscious mind. That's all the dreaming consciousness can do-it can't force us to understand the message of the dream or get us to do something about it. But if it can make us take notice, perhaps we will do whatever is necessary to restore balance and well being.
There are many reasons why we might get a nightmare. Stress of some kind is always a factor. Work, relationships, health problems, school or college deadlines, financial problems and anything else you might think of as especially stressful can contribute to the creation of a nightmare. These are common causes-other reasons include deeper psychological issues and problems, rooted in extremely negative life events that may require professional guidance to resolve. Sexual abuse, victimization through criminal acts, physical trauma, terminal illness and events that confront us directly with our own mortality can set the stage for frequent and horrific nightmares.
Frequent nightmares are one of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an increasingly common diagnosis in our frenetic society. Combat vets, police officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, EMT personnel, emergency room personnel and anyone who works in a job with high responsibility for others or in hazardous conditions may be a candidate for PTSD.
What can you do about nightmares? The most important thing is to realize something needs to be done and to identify the source of stress or distress. Once identified, you can take action and change the situation. That may be as simple as finding time to relax and escape from the pressures of daily life. Short breaks, moderate exercise, meditation or any other stress-relieving practice can help. If the issues are rooted more deeply, as in cases of childhood abuse or traumatic life events, therapy is a good answer. When resolution and understanding is achieved, the psyche's need to get our attention goes away. Put another way, if we get the message and do whatever it takes to follow up on it, the nightmare is no longer necessary.
If you are interested in learning more about nightmares, please pick up my new book Nightmares: How to Make sense of Your Darkest Dreams. It's available at any bookstore or on the internet. In the meantime, if you are having nightmares take time out to nurture yourself-perhaps that alone will make those bad dreams vanish.
Nightmares are a signal from the unconscious that something is amiss with our psychic well being. Often there will be other dreams that attempt to address the underlying issue, but if these are not understood or noted a nightmare may become necessary to get our attention. That is the primary purpose of nightmares: to get the attention of our conscious mind. That's all the dreaming consciousness can do-it can't force us to understand the message of the dream or get us to do something about it. But if it can make us take notice, perhaps we will do whatever is necessary to restore balance and well being.
There are many reasons why we might get a nightmare. Stress of some kind is always a factor. Work, relationships, health problems, school or college deadlines, financial problems and anything else you might think of as especially stressful can contribute to the creation of a nightmare. These are common causes-other reasons include deeper psychological issues and problems, rooted in extremely negative life events that may require professional guidance to resolve. Sexual abuse, victimization through criminal acts, physical trauma, terminal illness and events that confront us directly with our own mortality can set the stage for frequent and horrific nightmares.
Frequent nightmares are one of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, an increasingly common diagnosis in our frenetic society. Combat vets, police officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers, EMT personnel, emergency room personnel and anyone who works in a job with high responsibility for others or in hazardous conditions may be a candidate for PTSD.
What can you do about nightmares? The most important thing is to realize something needs to be done and to identify the source of stress or distress. Once identified, you can take action and change the situation. That may be as simple as finding time to relax and escape from the pressures of daily life. Short breaks, moderate exercise, meditation or any other stress-relieving practice can help. If the issues are rooted more deeply, as in cases of childhood abuse or traumatic life events, therapy is a good answer. When resolution and understanding is achieved, the psyche's need to get our attention goes away. Put another way, if we get the message and do whatever it takes to follow up on it, the nightmare is no longer necessary.
If you are interested in learning more about nightmares, please pick up my new book Nightmares: How to Make sense of Your Darkest Dreams. It's available at any bookstore or on the internet. In the meantime, if you are having nightmares take time out to nurture yourself-perhaps that alone will make those bad dreams vanish.
Copyright 2000, Alex
Lukeman, Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
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Throughout all of recorded history, dreams have merged at crucial times and in crucial places to those who were given temporal power. Kings, queens, pharaohs, emperors, chiefs and rulers of all cultures have been visited by dreams that influenced their choices, and therefore altered the course of events around them. Those of us who are not rulers of kingdoms or leaders of great nations are no less able to tap into the vision and guidance that dreams can brings us. We, too, may choose to alter the course of our life's events because we are able to obtain wisdom through a dream.
In many cultures the journey of exploration into dreams is guided by a shaman or medicine man (or woman). These have always been (and still are) people who were able, in some powerful fashion, to tune in to the underlying messages and prophetic knowledge that dreams bring to us. The techniques, rituals, cultures and approaches vary tremendously, but the reasoning behind the exploration is always the same; by consciously entering the mysterious and shifting world of dreams, the seeker can connect to a source of inspiration, power and knowledge that is normally unavailable.
The search for wisdom in dreams resulted from a desire to understand the spiritual mystery of our existence. The first shamans and seekers were attuned to daily life a way we have long forgotten. Early cultures saw their world as one in which real mythological and unseen forces directly affected their lives. The shamans, wise women, and magicians served as bridges to the unseen, interpreting the messages from the unknown and converting them into practical advice for survival and spiritual health in a dangerous world. Many ways of divination and exploration have developed over the millennia. The interpretation of dreams has always been a consistent theme in all cultures and all places.
As with all powerful and truthful techniques for obtaining wisdom, there is an uncomfortable and challenging aspect to successfully interpreting dreams. The seeker must be willing to accept what he or she finds, whether it appears nurturing or horrific. In other words, we cannot limit our search to only those things we would like to know, or to areas of our consciousness which are pleasant and brightly lit. We are not in control of our dreams, just as we are not in control of the forces which make up the fabric of our Universe, or the mysterious force that we call the Divine. We cannot limit wisdom, if we seek it, and often wisdom may not tell us what we want to hear. However, the interesting thing about wisdom is that it is always worth hearing.
Just as the ancient shamans prepared themselves for the journey of dream exploration, we also must learn to prepare our psyche for both the journey and the understanding of whatever is found on the way. Meditation, ritual, reverence, respect for what is unknown, and techniques for capturing and remembering the visions are all necessary. If we take up the challenge, the reward is nothing less than the opening of a direct doorway into a powerful and luminous dimension of self-understanding and spiritual connection.
Copyright 1996, Alex Lukeman,
Ph.D.
All rights reserved.
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Dreaming becomes a Sacred Art when it puts us in touch with an experience of the Sacred. Beyond our personal understanding of the dream's message to the individual self, dreams can also be messages from spirit to mankind.
Much imagery in dreams is common among many people. This collective imagery gives us a clue to the nature of the Divine. By looking at the images we dream in common, we gain a larger perspective through which we can tap into a mysterious place where the Divine and mankind interface.
Through the perspective of dreaming as a Sacred Art we can reach for a sense of harmony of the human realm within the divine. We can feel a joyous peace which comes from recognizing that our existence fulfills the Divine as much as we desire the Divine's presence for our own fulfillment.
Dreaming as a Sacred Art is admiring our personal dance within the great cosmic dance. We exist within something greater that ourselves which is revealed in our dreams. We open a direct pathway for spiritual and Divine guidance. That guidance will unfailingly lead us through the challenges of our daily existence.
Copyright 1995, Alex and Gayle
Lukeman
All rights reserved.
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Through your dreams, your inner wisdom guides your conscious mind, telling you what you most need to know at this time. This consistent flow of wisdom is not concerned with whether or not you are listening. It merely presents the information. In fact, your dreams will often repeat the message in a new dream if the information is not received. The value of learning to listen to the messages in your dreams is an experience of greater personal harmony, well-being and joy. When you live in-step with your inner wisdom your life takes on greater meaning and fulfillment.
Dreams present a variety of messages. They may let you know your perspective is being skewed too far to one side and that you may need to bring in a balance. They may tell you it is time for you to break out of an old manner of perceiving that is no longer valuable to you and is holding you back. They may tell you that a major change is coming and you need to prepare, or that you are in the midst of change and you need to pay attention. They may inform you that you now have new resources available which you can use.
Dreams contain more than one layer of understanding. The first and second layers of the dream will often give you information about what situation or subject the dream is referring to. For example, examining these layers of a dream amy tell you about feelings you are having about an external situation in your life. Or they may explain you are lacking something you need in your life. Many people stop working with the dream at this point before they get to the layer of meaning that indicates what action is called for in the dream. This third layer has the most direct influence on your awakening to who you are. When you do recognize the suggested action and take it, you will often have a dream which reflects that change. Perhpas your new dream will give you more information or will reward you with a nurturing experience.
The images in your dreams have meaning for you in relationship to your individual experience. They provide a map to follow upon your journey. To understand the map, you must reflect upon these images to discover the dreams unique meaning. For the beginner, this can be a daunting and confusing task.
Understanding dreams is greatly assisted by the unconditional loving and appreciative frame of mind which a good teacher will provide. Your teacher should have a deep respect for who you are as an individual as well as extensive experience in looking at the symbols, patterns and messages that dreams reveal. For the advance dreamworker, an experienced guide provides opportunity for deeper reflection and celebration of the soul's journey.
He or she assists you in gently letting go of a perspective which may close your mind to the dream's message. This support allows you to open to a more nurturing, expansive, and wonderous awareness that exists just below the surface of your normal conscious mind. Your soul's message becomes clear to you. It is like placing prescription glasses before your eyes to correct your vision. You are not told what the dream means. You are invited to discover what it means for you through guidance. You can see as deeply into the dream as you desire and you are never asked to see more than you feel ready to see. When you learn dream understanding in the presence of a good teacher you are immersed in the process that allows you to quickly absorb the skills. Whether you are interfacing with a teacher, looking at your own dream or observing the interface between the teacher and another in a group context, your skills quickly expand.
Through the development of these skills you will have a more expanded awareness through which to view the rest of your life. Whether you are looking at the messages which come through images in your sleep or you are viewing your waking experience as a dream, greater wisdom and understanding will be available to you. Your previous problems will look like opportunities to discover and grow as you apply your wealth of inner resources to their resolution. You will be walking your path in harmony with your soul which will bring you more joy, energy and inspiration.
Copyright 1995, Alex and Gayle
Lukeman
All rights reserved.
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