Catherine and Tony
9/01/2007
Hi Tony, my name is Catherine.
I have your Dream Dictionary, which I have been using every morning after journaling my dreams. I write down everything that I can remember. I’ve always had incredibly detailed “dreams”, night time experiences & “events”. Some were so intense that I finally decided a year or two ago, that I should probably be writing them all down. (I’m on my third journal) Seems a lot of what I can recall is delivered in metaphors. Your book has become a MAJOR source of reference and guide to help de-code some of the hidden meanings I would never have thought of or been able to figure out on my own. I don’t exactly know why this all occurs so frequently with me but rely on and appreciate having your reference to help me try to figure out how to apply this overwhelming amount of information to my life in a helpful, healing and productive way.
The dream/subconscious state is so intriguing and fascinating to me. I just wish I could understand my personal experiences on a deeper level. Trying to make sense of it all can be quite challenging. I was wondering if there was another book or something else that you might suggest that would help me to understand & gain a little more clarity. The lists on your website are so extensive I really don’t know where to go from here! Thank you in advance for your time & reply to this request as it is very much appreciated!!!
Catherine
11/01/2007
Hi Tony! Thank you for your e-mail! I understand it’s much easier to write when you are at home & on your own computer so I’m looking forward to your full response in the next few days!
THANK YOU…
Have a wonderful day!
Catherine XO!
13/01/2007
Hi Tony,
Please contact me at 954.650.6800 at 1pm.
Thank you for your time and attention.
I look forward to your call.
Catherine
14/01/2007
It was so nice to speak with you Tony 🙂
Thank you for taking the time to call me from New Zealand!
I really should introduce myself properly…
My name is Catherine Troy. I’m 38, mother of two boys (18 and 4yrs old)
I live in South Florida, USA
What I think you should know…
First and foremost,
I love that I dream so vividly and look forward to dreaming every night!
My dreams are extremely detailed.
I dream both in color and in black and white.
Sometimes I can taste, smell, touch and feel things in my dreams!
I have a sense of direction (north, south, east, west)
I have dreams with lots of water and wind (which I feel) and people.
When I don’t get enough sleep, I have little or no recall of the nights events.
When I do get enough sleep, I wake up hoping I remember everything long enough to write it all down.
(Sometimes there’s pages, other times just one or two.)
I’ve been HIGHLIGHTING in your book to remind myself what it is that I have been dreaming about.
At times when I’m writing, other dreams comes to mind, even a dream from months before!
Some nights I think that my dreaming is too intense to deal with so when I wake up,
somehow have instant amnesia.
Other nights, I can dream non-stop and have total recall in the morning.
Recently (as of July 2006) I’ve been practicing yoga & meditation. I’ve also been seeing a hypnotherapist (named Beth) in FT Lauderdale who studied under Brian L.Weiss for 8 years.(Brian is a Prominent Psychiatrist & the author of Many Lives, Many Masters, Through Time into Healing and Same Soul, Many Bodies) Beth has been my teacher for months now & has guided me through quite a list of past life regressions. Brian L. Weiss, MD
At the end of my yoga classes, the instructor does a brief relaxation/meditation (only a few minutes) but I go straight into the meditative state, quickly and when this occurs, have experienced what Beth calls, spontaneous regressions. Some which were sad & hauntingly devastating. (surprising in such a positive environment…)
I’ve found that I can easily slip into a meditative state & out again, although coming out of it can take a bit longer. I try to ground myself but many times, I can be in a “daze” for the rest of the day.
Recently, I had a dream and while I was writing it down in the morning, my son (the 4 yr old) drew a picture with the exact color blue, the exact shape/ image of what I had dreamed of and was writing about! He had no idea what he had drawn but I knew exactly what it was! That was truly fascinating to me!
The world of “dreams” is absolutely intriguing. Even if I don’t understand exactly what’s happening or going on, or why the messages appear in metaphors, I honestly believe there is a purpose & meaning behind all of this. I know there’s a lot to be revealed and I know I’m supposed to use this information somehow. I’m just struggling a little trying to figure it all out! I’m also wondering if my dreaming and my past life regressions/ meditations are over lapping, or are they one in the same? I am actually starting to think I can tell the difference!
There’s so much more I’d like to share! Please excuse my enthusiasm, as I’ve never met anyone who can relate or even come close to understanding what I’ve experienced or where I’ve been. Nobody really has a clue about what I’m talking about! However, it seems that you do!!! Can’t tell you how happy I am about that!
Looking forward to e-mailing/ chatting again soon…!!!
Have a safe trip home…
Catherine XO!
Hi Catherine – It was good to talk with you too despite the technical difficulties of communicating from here without broadband.
Thanks so much for the photo. It is helpful and interesting to put a face to the voice.
What a spread in the ages of your children. Though I guess between my eldest and youngest son there is about the same difference.
The extra information you sent is really clarifying things for me. From the short talk we had I think we need to start with some basics of the difference between the world of waking and dreaming. But before we start on that I need to make sure I have heard you correctly and not simply shoot off in a direction I THINK is right. Meanwhile have a look at Sleep Paralysis as it covers some of the ground we might explore.
Tonight – it is already Monday here, I am flying back to the UK with my friend, and will not be able to see email for a while till I upgrade me computer when I get home.
When that happens I will be in contact again.
Bye – Tony
15/01/2007
Dear Tony,
Thank you for your e-mail 🙂 Yes, the paralysis….(This is the 2nd part, I didn’t send)
Years ago, when I was experiencing all the negative nighttime activity, nobody could explain how or why it was happening. Someone told me I had a tear in my “projection” (possibly meaning my aura?) Others told me I had what they called “Gooks” or “Entities” attached to me and in my house and that I “invited” them in!. There was a night when I had counted at least 5 (whatever they were) in an entirely horrific nighttime “event”.
This, among other “events” which occurred a few years ago prompted me to begin writing everything down. Some of the most overwhelmingly intense nighttime “events” which I personally would describe as being far beyond “nightmares” included the paralysis you were talking about…
Sometimes, a very strong, violent energy would take away my physical and vocal control/ability. At times I know I was screaming but nothing was coming out. I heard myself screaming inside but heard nothing on the outside. Hard to put into words, but it was as though it was happening to me & not just in a “dream”.
A few times, my hands or feet were bound or “pinned.” I could feel & see my hand lift and move but my hand on my body wouldn’t. On one occasion, I was forced by something very powerful, completely across the bed, but could see nothing and no one touching me. I was being suffocated with a pillow and screamed for my husband to remove the pillow because I was completely paralyzed but he didn’t hear me, or feel a thing. I woke up very upset that he didn’t wake up to help me & realized he was basically unaware that anything had happened during the night.
Sometimes, when my guard is down or I don’t have the proper “protection” in place (so I’m told), I can tell & feel (right before I leave my conscious state) when negative “energy” or “entities” are attempting to use my body for something…My entire body vibrates (involuntarily) and the constant ringing in my ears increases. There was an occasion or two where I felt the vibrating during my “sleep” state and actually at one point, was able to force myself to wake up.
Once when I felt myself “lift” I guess I was partially conscious & decided at that moment to force myself back down. (Needless to say my body was already on the bed, even though I felt and watched my legs go back down onto the bed.) I can only describe what happened as involuntary astro projection, which someone had suggested to me, since I didn’t know the right term to describe it)
Finally, after an unseen “force” “pinned” (paralyzed) fondled, and attempted to sexually molest and attack me, I immediately found someone who I thought understood & asked for her help. (I knew I had to put a stop to all of that nonsense, or I’d never want to sleep). Some nights I was so frightened, I’d force myself to stay awake. Just the mere thought of falling back asleep would mean impending doom. After what I experienced, I had to try to figure out what/who it was that was in my house, terrorizing me in my dreamstate and how to put an end to it.
As I’ve been writing this, for a moment I became a bit concerned. I don’t want to allow whatever/whoever it was back into my dreams by talking about it, but is that even possible? I sure hope not! Negative “events” like those haven’t happened in awhile…thankfully!
Since speaking to this woman I found to help me, I have been guided to use a number of “tools” and techniques to help with all the Night time “stuff”, which seem to be working. Once and a while, if I’m feeling a bit unsafe, “open” or vulnerable, I will sleep with a light on. Many days I have a strong feeling there is a lot of unwanted “energy” in my house but somehow feel “protected”. Many times I feel like someone/ something following me around or is standing right behind or next to me. Other times I feel a drastic change in temperature, or a door opens or one of my son’s toys turns on and starts talking by itself. I’m not too worried. It happens often enough that I’m not surprised or too concerned anymore. I’m actually dealing pretty well with the strange, unexplainable occurrences without freaking out like I used to..
Over time, two or three people have suggested they come to the house to “clear” the unwanted energy because the sage and other “tools” aren’t enough to do the job. I’m not afraid, just extremely aware that there’s a lot going on around here, energetically. Now when my son comes to my bed because he’s frightened at night, I let him stay. (That’s almost every night)
Nighttime has been an adventure for both of us. I’ve come to understand that my 4 yr old and I are very “connected”. Ever since he was a baby, he has seen things in his room. I did too, one evening to my surprise over a baby camera/intercom. After watching a program on tv., I knew right away and believed what appeared to be zipping around his room were Orbs. Seemed something kept waking him up at night and scaring him when all he wanted to do was sleep!
Thank you for the link to your site and info on the paralysis. I scanned it quickly but will go back again and read it completely when I have more time to myself. Still Sunday here and I need to go out for a bit. Looking forward to your next e-mail. Would love to know what you think. I would be happy to explain more if/ when you have time. This is all very powerful & real for me. Talking about it makes it feel like it happened yesterday. Thank you for understanding and forgive me for writing so much. You are a very kind person to take the time to listen. Thank you, it’s appreciated more than you’ll ever know!
Please, you and your friend have a safe trip home.
Catherine XO!
Tony,
I am so grateful you have taken the time to correspond with me… I can’t tell you how much of a relief it was to read your e-mail this morning! I’m thrilled to know that you understand everything I have described. Since sharing these unique experiences with a few, select people, the interpretations and feedback I have received has been a bit confusing. I do believe I must have some sort of ability and with a different perspective and a better understanding of, I’d certainly consider a GIFT! I would love nothing more than to work with the process and learn how to apply this ability to my healing/ spiritual process while following this wonderful path I have chosen! So glad to join you on this journey and that our paths have crossed at this time! Right now the gift is my connection to you!
Thank you for your support & understanding.
Always, Catherine XO!
Hi Catherine – I am now at the house of my friend’s sister, waiting for the time to go to the airport. It is a great day here, windy but sunny.
The things you describe I have all experienced, but while awake. I gradually learned to allow the phenomena to explore it and as a form of healing.
From what you say you have a gift or ability that very few people can allow. But in the form it is, and with the understanding of it you have, it can be very disturbing or even create mental and emotional anxiety or distress. Fortunately for me I approached it from quite a different standpoint and so it was very healing. If I can I want to help you see what is happening from that point of view. You can then decide either to work with the process or to reject it and control it. I suppose it is a bit like a force of nature – fire or water. As such it can be very destructive or hugely useful and beneficial.
Also, it is something that has been used by most cultures int he past and usually treated as holy. But again, they approached it in a different way and with cultural guard rails.
I will journey with you more fully into this wehn I get back and can talk with you.
As ever – Tony
19/01/2007
Hi Tony…Glad you are home safe & sound! Seems your travel time was very long even though you did not experience any jet lag… (well, how nice!) 11 hours is a big time difference, none the less. It must be good to be home after a month abroad even though the mail pile was a bit overwhelming!!!
Just got home and received your e-mail a little while ago…Always happy to send a smile and I’m looking forward to speaking with you on Saturday! I will take a yoga class at 9:30am and will be home by 11:30am I’d be happy to speak with you anytime after that. Please let me know when the best most convenient time is for you 🙂 Also, if you can tell me your country code and phone number, I’d be happy to place the call and pay for the charges (although I don’t have Skype).
It’s now 12:34pm and the closest cities to me are Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida. It’s a beautiful, sunny day here (most days are!) and about 80 degrees.
HAVE to mention that I went to see Beth this morning and had a wonderful experience, as usual…spoke about a dream that occurred this morning that included bugs & rocks! The bugs had crawled up my pantlegs and there were so many, I felt my legs were vibrating…I had to cut both pantlegs at the seams so I could release them & get them off of me. It was then the vibrating stopped. Then, further along in the dream I had picked up an article of clothing off the ground (possibly a pair of underpants) & was going to put them into a tub to wash but when I reached down to pick them up, saw that they were filled with small, grey rocks which of course, I was to remove first! I looked up rocks in your dictionary and was pleasantly surprised. I read it to Beth and she said she wasn’t 🙂 She was excited to hear that you and I are in contact and thrilled to hear you are willing to explain some things to me!
I’m very excited myself and am so ready to work with you!!! THANK YOU a million times over for your time and for sharing your knowledge and amazing gifts with me!!!!!!!
Will talk/ e-mail with you soon…
Catherine XO!
Hi Tony…Glad you are home safe & sound! Seems your travel time was very long even though you did not experience any jet lag… (well, how nice!) 11 hours is a big time difference, none the less. It must be good to be home after a month abroad even though the mail pile was a bit overwhelming!!!
Just got home and received your e-mail a little while ago…Always happy to send a smile and I’m looking forward to speaking with you on Saturday! I will take a yoga class at 9:30am and will be home by 11:30am I’d be happy to speak with you anytime after that. Please let me know when the best most convenient time is for you 🙂 Also, if you can tell me your country code and phone number, I’d be happy to place the call and pay for the charges (although I don’t have skype).
It’s now 12:34pm and the closest cities to me are Fort Lauderdale and Miami Florida. It’s a beautiful, sunny day here (most days are!) and about 80 degrees.
HAVE to mention that I went to see Beth this morning and had a wonderful experience, as usual…spoke about a dream that occurred this morning that included bugs & rocks! The bugs had crawled up my pantlegs and there were so many, I felt my legs were vibrating…I had to cut both pantlegs at the seams so I could release them & get them off of me. It was then the vibrating stopped. Then, further along in the dream I had picked up an article of clothing off the ground (possibly a pair of underpants) & was going to put them into a tub to wash but when I reached down to pick them up, saw that they were filled with small, grey rocks which of course, I was to remove first! I looked up rocks in your dictionary and was pleasantly surprised. I read it to Beth and she said she wasn’t 🙂 She was excited to hear that you and I are in contact and thrilled to hear you are willing to explain some things to me!
I’m very excited myself and am so ready to work with you!!! THANK YOU a million times over for your time and for sharing your knowledge and amazing gifts with me!!!!!!!
Will talk/ e-mail with you soon…
Catherine XO!
21/01/2007
I meditated on these questions and this is what I came up with…
- What is my idea of conception ?
- Conception is a miraculous process that transports the essence of our existence into a physical form in order to manifest our true potential.
- Who were you?
- A spark. I was part of the divine consciousness. I believe my soul was brought forth as a result of the big bang.
- What are you?
- Energy. A spark of Light from the Source. An original soul. God’s pure essence.
(Not the ocean, just a teaspoon of water from it!)
- How has the evolution of core consciousness evolved into who you are today?
- Energetically through subtle cosmic and emotional shifts and unseen forces that re-direct me. I move from one level of consciousness and enter another. Trusting this force’s messages (from my higher self?) to guide me. I know there’s more to be revealed as far as to what I am capable of experiencing in this lifetime.
- How have you enfolded the difference in the womb and your experience today?
- Through connection. Perception. Sensitivity. Different levels of understanding.
Got any more questions for extra credit?
You are a great student Catherine. My heart is warm to you.
Today my computer went haywire. It is new and crazy things were happening. It constantly had weird patterns on the screen and then switched itself off. So this email will just be short as I try to heal it.
Meanwhile, the Q and A’s are exactly the direction we are going in. The one starting with How has the evolution of core consciousness opens up an area we can explore more fully later – not that the others don’t also, but that one is very relevant.
Extra credit? Hmmmm, let me think 🙂
Well, I was particularly struck by your connecting your origins with the Big Bang. Lots of people don’t connect self with such a prime, part of the universe, genesis. So I wanted to send you the following to read.
Also have a look at – http://www.dreamhawk.com/aphorism.htm
Walking the way with you – Tony
THE VISION OF THE BEGINNING
During my life I have been blessed with a reasonable amount of human pain. But a greater blessing still has been that at times I have been given visions of such wonder the pain has been washed from me.
The vision I describe here came about when, after many years of trying to heal an agony of soul connected with my sexuality, I held onto the question of why had this occurred to me. Having seen that the events of early childhood had been the instigators of much of the pain, I felt that if my pain had a causal explanation, why shouldn’t the events that produced it also have a cause.
I therefore asked the question as to why these events had arisen in my life. All of what happened is not relevant in connection with Genesis, so I will describe only the major feature of the vision.
Christ stood before me. Not as it were in a body, but I was overwhelmed by the presence of a great being which appeared to be a part of all things and all time. Christ lifted up my consciousness, causing me to feel as if my awareness also spread over the immensity of time, and from this condition I was shown the beginning of things.
I cannot say I saw this, more that I experienced the condition of the beginning. And this condition was the gathering together of what I understood to be a whole universe that had previously existed. All that had existed had come to such unity that although this beginning was physical, it was also, in its unity, a being.
As I experienced this I felt at last as if a resolution between science and religion had taken place in me. For here was something like the cosmic egg science suggests preceded the ‘big bang’. But what had been left out, I realised, was this consciousness, this immense being. In retrospect, it also suggests to me the difficult question of Elohim being many beings and yet one. For all life had here found a unity in one immense being beyond my comprehension. It was, in fact, difficult to grasp because I was overcome by emotion as I witnessed this.
As I opened to this enormous perception, there was a deepening of understanding, in which Christ aided my comprehension. For I realised that the oneness or unity of this being was unbroken. It was everything. Nothing could exist outside of it. Even if it were to create something, that thing would not have existence outside of the one.
This condition of ‘all-one’ had led to a form of al-one-ness. This was as near as my human understanding could grasp. Christ in fact said to me – “You must understand, this is your perception of it.”
Out of this aloneness, this great being had longed that other beings might exist. But in its present form this was impossible. Then I understood something that tore my heart to pieces, as it still does today when I dwell on the memory of the experience. This Being purposefully went about destroying itself so that our present universe – we – might have existence. It was such a wondrous action, for it was done in such a way, with such skill, with such love and self sacrifice, that its very death was a magnificent creative act. In other words its death struck into action forces and effects that created the universe in all its variety. This death is what we know as the ‘Big Bang’.
As I experienced this, I realised that everything that exists is a part of that wondrous being. There is nothing that is not of its love. So that whatever arises in the universe arises out of, and as, THAT. The human sense of God is a realisation of the very substance of our own being. The awe we might feel is from an intuition of what has been given us as our own existence.
And as that being died, its very last impulse was for those new beings who might arise from its death. That impulse we call love. It flashed through the universe and still permeates every particle in a way that we cannot yet perceive, but which is like a touch upon the pulsating chaotic movements of particles and lives.
We are the seeds of that love. We are God. And in our small portion of the universe, we face a particular lesson through the shortness of our bodily lives. We face death. Yet that is the greatest of things. For that is the heart of everything, the very act of love out of which our lives have been formed. If we discover the secret of that, we discover our creator and eternal nature.
23/01/2007
Each friend represents a world in us,
a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
~ Anais Nin ~
27/01/2007
Hi Tony! Thank you for your note…
I hope your friend is doing well. Much love, luck and many blessings for good health and an accelerated recovery.
I know you are an extreemely busy man and I don’t expect you have too much time to yourself let alone for me!!! Thank you for the time you have spent reading my e-mails and please, always know the depth of my gratitude & appreciation. For me, no interpretations necessary, I guess I should have been more clear about the question…
I have looked over your site to try to find & put into words what I experience sometimes and if there is a defined explaination for it. I guess my inquiry is this…
How is it that during my sleep state or meditations that I return to a conscious state with something like the taste of smoke in my mouth, (when I had had seen myself as a small Indian boy by a bonfire) or get up out of bed all hot and sweaty after dreaming I had just been in a steamy bathroom? OR waking after dreaming I was riding my bike in the wrong gear, to find the chain on my bike in the garage was off the prongs…
How is it that I have experienced the feeling of being water (not just being in it) and the feeling of wanting to become the smoke I was burning?
Why/how is it that can I touch, taste, and feel things in my dreamstate?
I’m a bit baffled! Is there something you can send me to read?
I’m honored and excited that this is happening, just want to try to understand it on another level 🙂
(((((Hug))))) and a big smile,
Catherine XO!
Hi Catherine – Okay, here are a couple of things I would like you to try and I am looking forward to seeing what you make of them. Their aim is to open up your waking awareness of the dream process and develop ways of allowing it to express. Remember we are dealing with the life process here and it is energetic. Life is full of movement, feelings and passions. So we are looking at ways to allow a greater range of inner expression.
First go to www.dreamhawk.com/gurub02.htm and do the relaxed arm test.
Maybe you have done this when you were younger. Even if you have do it again as it gives you the experience for the next stage.
Let me know what happens with this one before we go on to the next.
What have you arrived at from our last talk?
Bye – Tony
04/02/2007
THANKS Tony! I loved the homework!
I used to do this when I was younger, only in between a doorway, both arms at once! This time around, I have a much better understanding of the idea behind the exercise. What a euphoric feeling! It works for me, right away…20 seconds or so is all it really took! This was fun!
What’s the next step and or stage???!!!
As for our talk, I’ve thought about it while reviewing my notes…
You led me on a truly amazing journey back to myself and to a place & time where my existence was of a beautifully pure, more simple form. I realized I was able to shift my energy nearly effortlessly. I was able to see, feel and experience profound simplicity and elation that brings from a culture I believe I was a part of. The familiarity was refreshing and invigorating. Being there was very uplifting…a gift to my soul, mind and spirit! Very loving and nurturing…like inner child work! A lesson and experience I won’t soon forget!
Now I can begin to BREATHE LIFE with a stronger, deeper connection to myself, those concepts and the world around me!
You are a wonderful man with fantastic gifts!
Thank you for being with me for that experience.
These are truly the moments I cherish so much!
Catherine XO!
(More Homework……Pleeeeeeeeeease!!!)
Hi Eager Beaver – Tell me more about the culture you feel you were a part of if you can.
OK, the homework was to give you experience of what it feels like when your body moves spontaneously in a way other than heartbeat, sneezing, yawning, etc. Some people can’t do it.
The next stage is to set the scene for your core to start flowing into your waking life in any way that is possible. By this I mean we open our whole being as far as possible to spontaneous action and experience. Maybe do the arm rising exercise first to remind yourself of simply allowing.
But read this next bit to gather what is meant about opening our whole being.
The Keyboard Condition
Remember you are dealing with the dream process, and this process can create a spontaneous drama that involves your whole being. So in becoming approaching waking experience of your core you need to know how to ‘hang loose’ and how to slow or control the action. You need to learn how to allow the spontaneous action and how to stop it. But for many of us who have learned control from childhood onwards in controlling our bladder or emotions, the big lesson is to learn to relax and allow spontaneous core action.
So you need to learn to drop unnecessary tension, until you are like a keyboard ready to be played.
I find it helps if you create something of this feeling consciously, holding your body, your emotions, your sexuality, your mind, memories and imagination as if they were keys upon which the inner dream maker can play. In a sense you are seeking to create a condition similar to sleep. As you fall asleep you let go of your control over what you think, what you do with your body, and what you fantasy. Your ‘I’, your decision making self has relaxed and left the stage free for the dream maker to create its dramas. So, in beginning to access the deeper possibilities of your core such as intuition, you need to take on a similar relaxed state without actually losing awareness. At the same time you approach what you experience with the question of what lies within the symbols of what might arise.
A simple test helps you to find out whether you are actually achieving this state of letting go and allowing. Try the following.
The Arms Circling Exercise
For this exercise you need sufficient floorspace to move easily, or even lie full length if necessary. It also helps to have loose clothing.. You start by standing in the middle of your floorspace, giving yourself time to explore what you feel and experience.
Start by slowly circling your arms with eyes closed. Take the arms above the head, down to the sides of the body with the arms fully extended, then upward from there crossing the front of the trunk. In the full movement the hands are then forming wide circles that cross the front of your body. This arm circling is simply to help you learn how to allow spontaneous movement. It is a way of working with the natural forces within you.
So, as you are circling your arms with eyes closed, bring your awareness to the shape your hands are making or carving in space. As you become aware of the shapes the hands are carving in space, watch what feelings you have as to how your arms would like to move if left to themselves. So after a period of circling your arms give your hands and arms permission to doodle, to make any sort of shapes your feelings or body incline you to.
Allow any sort of posture or movement, as active or quiet as you like. Allow sounds to accompany the movements if there is an urge to, and allow whatever feelings accompany them. Hold the attitude that what you are doing doesn’t have to make sense. Nor does it have to comply with what other people might expect of you. Realise that you are allowing another part of yourself, perhaps a non verbal part, or a facet unknown to the rational mind, to express. With a non critical watching attitude, relax and let your body and feeling-sense direct what happens. There is no need to fiercely concentrate in order to wipe the mind clear of other influences. But you may need to relax the part of the mind that always needs to know beforehand what you are going to do.
This is not like creative dance, in which there may exist a need to produce something pleasing for others to watch. With this exercise you need an open area in which your inner being can make its own adjustments, and movement and feeling have a chance to express outside of rational criticism and demands of everyday life.
Give yourself at least fifteen minutes in which to explore what spontaneous movements and feelings emerge. Below is a summary of what may happen in this practice. But only read this once you have tried the above. Then, on a second go at some other time notice any changes.
- Although the movements may at first appear haphazard and irrational, if you allow them to continue without criticism, they usually express – perhaps only over a period of several sessions – a particular theme or point.
- Like a dream, the theme or drama often symbolises your life situation, or something within you, such as the remaining emotions or attitudes from past experience, or a creative realisation. Or the movements may be expressive of the body’s own need to release energy or mobilise itself and its urges.
- There are obvious stages or depths to the experience. Movement is often the first. Feelings and fantasy can then combine with the movement. Only with a few people do they occur without each other. If met in the right way the movements, fantasy and sounds can lead to insight into what is being expressed. In other words the symbolic movements, if that is what they are, can give way to rational understanding. This is not because one has thought out a plausible explanation for what happens. It is because your critical, conscious mind has watched the spontaneous working of what usually only occurs in sleep and unconsciousness. This gives automatic feedback to the unconscious mind and it can speed up its processing and problem solving. A communication takes place between the unconscious and conscious mind.
- When you reach a stage that you can easily allow spontaneous movement, along with sound and perhaps feelings, you can dispense with the arm circling to start you off. You will find that if you simply stand in the open condition ready to let your body express what is at your core, it will begin.
The exercise is a way of entering into the usually unconscious processes of your being and working with them. Usually the only way we let go so fully and allow the spontaneous action of our inner nature is when we sleep and dream. But in this way you can open to your core while awake and be healed and taught by it.
As ever – Tony
07/02/2007
Hi Tony!
Honestly, I didn’t know anything about the Aborigine people or their society until I looked it up online. After waking from my dream, it repeated over and over in my head, as if to tell me that is where, who & what I was in my dream. Aborigine, Aborigine, Aborigine… I kept thinking, ok, ok, I’ll go onto the computer to see who they were! I don’t know much (if anything) about the Aborigine culture but I can tell you about how I felt when I was there.
I felt as if I was in an incredibly familiar place…I sensed I was a part of something big and very real. Not only was I connected to the people, but to the earth, sky, and all that surrounded me. It was if I knew nothing else. I had no desire to come back to these times or leave that place. I believed that was THE way of life and I was there to live it. There was nothing to complain about or question. Life there was simply, understood. Somehow, I just knew it…As young as I was, I had a sense of belonging and importance. I felt safe and content. I was loved and cared for by the entire community and had much to offer and share with my people. Seemed we were all parts of one. I was completely aware of my existence at that time and know in my heart that it must have been a truly significant part of my personal develpoment and spiritual growth. Evidently it was an integral part of my evolution!
- I did complete the homework this morning. It was fantastic!
I will share that with you in a separate e-mail…