I know these are some very big/general questions, but dreams fascinate me. Why do you think we dream? Do all dreams have meaning? Do we go somewhere else – to another realm or dimension – when we are dreaming? If I dream about someone, does it mean they are having the same dream I am at that time?
Gregory
Susyn:
You ask some very interesting questions. There is plenty of scientific information available on dreams, so I presume you’re looking for metaphysical information here. From this angle, dreams take on rich meaning and importance in our lives. There are all sorts of different types of dreams; let’s take a look at the different meanings and messages associated with each of them.
There is evidence that through our dreams, we can process subconscious fears and concerns. In this way, dreams can be considered problem-solving devices that the psyche uses to address situations we are repressing when we’re awake. For example, if we’re hesitant about confronting someone in real life, we may have a dream about having a dramatic argument with them.
Other types of dreams can be considered prophetic. These usually involve us viewing a specific event that could happen in real life that involves people we know. When we have this type of dream, it’s always a good idea to write down the details so we can take a closer look at them or compare them to actual events later on. Recurring dreams carry a common theme; they are like blinking lights, trying to get our attention. These dreams usually require that we do some soul-searching or make important changes in our lives.
Sometimes, we misinterpret an out-of-body experience as a dream when in truth, our spirit is leaving our bodies to explore other dimensions of existence. In this case, we are having experiences as real as when we are awake, we’re just having them on another plane. It’s true that two or more people can have the same dream at the same time. We don’t usually discover this until we compare notes with them. Since most of us don’t share our dreams with those we dream about every day, these dreams happen far more than we tend to realize.
Though we all dream throughout our sleep cycle, we usually only recall a fraction of the dreams we may have on any given night. Notice that you may experience your most vivid dreams just as you drift off to sleep or right before awakening. This is a part of the sleep cycle known as the alpha state, somewhere between deep sleep and full consciousness. In this state, we are more apt to remember our dreams.
To decide which dreams we need to pay attention to, we have only to note our emotional reactions to them. Whether they create fear, joy or uneasiness, intense feelings indicate that a dream is of particular importance. When we can’t forget a dream for some reason, it’s wise to get some expert help in interpreting it, for that’s a sure sign that our subconscious has something important to say.
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Oceania:
Studies of brain waves demonstrate that we cycle through two different types of sleep during the night. During deep sleep, the mind rests and brain waves are steady and long, like those of a peaceful ocean. During active sleep, the mind is busy dreaming. Brain waves become choppy and short, as if the ocean was being stirred by strong winds.
Imagine electrical impulses blinking through your brain as you dream and recalling significant images, sounds, thoughts, feelings, news and challenges from the day before. As these memories are sorted, the mind does what it always does: it tries to make sense of random data by combining it into a meaningful storyline. One difference between dreams and wakefulness is the fact that, when we’re awake, we can rise above the mechanical workings of the mind and evaluate them for meaning. This is not the case during dreams, which is why unlikely events so often seem plausible in them.
While not all dreams carry meaning, the wisdom of our unconscious minds may see a solution to one of our problems and offer a meaningful message in symbolic form. I recently had such a dream in which I took a house-sitting job for a friend on vacation. On the first night, someone broke into her house and attacked me, but I mustered my strength, overpowered him, and threw him out.
I next heard a wise voice tell me the job was dangerous. I replied that I was committed to the job and would complete it; should the burglar return, I’d fight him off again. The voice said it was unreasonable to complete this task and suggested I tell my friend I would not risk my well-being. I was surprised I hadn’t considered this option. I figured once you committed to something, you made the best of it.
Upon waking, I looked for parallels in my waking life and found one: I’d taken on a commitment to walk my neighbor’s dog whenever she needed me to, for I worked from home and she didn’t, and her hours were long and unpredictable. At some point, the commitment became too much, but whenever exhaustion broke into my world, I tackled and overcame it, as I had the burglar. My dreaming mind escalated the severity of the situation to get my attention. Since resigning from the dog-walking job, I am much less stressed. A small change can make a big difference!
I admit that I could be wrong, but I don’t think we leave our bodies when we dream, and I don’t think the people we dream about meet up with us or even share the same dream. While dreams provide daily custodial maintenance of our minds, their greatest gift is to offer wise new perspectives on our challenges, along with fresh solutions.
Astrea:
Many times in life we hear, “You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT.” Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown’s book was all it took to get you there.
Even though you hadn’t read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!
While I don’t usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity – you gotta love it!
I like your description of “getting caught.” That’s exactly what it feels like, isn’t it? One minute you’re free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!
As a little kid, I loved that “feeling of return.” With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.
I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family’s interest in “psychic stuff” will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.
You’ll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she’ll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn’t nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it’s STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!
Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.
A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don’t get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you’re doing here on Earth.
You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.