I Have a Dream – Now Can I Interpret and Use it to Improve my Life?

I’m inspired on this birthday anniversary weekend in which we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., his vision and all his work for peaceful ways that all members of our society to work, live and play together as brothers and sisters in the beloved community. This vision is especially immortalized in his wonderful “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s well worth the time to read the entire speech if you haven’t already. Dreams of the noctural sort have been occupying much of my waking life recently. I’ve renewed my interest in recording, interpreting, and applying dream guidance (which I’ve been doing for about 25 years now).

Syncronistically, as I write this post, my Pandora is playing “Sleeping to Dream” by Jason Mraz. Gotta love it! When syncronicities appear, I understand they’re a sign I’m on the right path.

So, I’m being prompted to explore more about lucid dreaming — dreams in which you are aware that you’re dreaming. I’m reading books about research on how to become a lucid dreamer, like Lucid Dreaming by Glen Bryant. I’m also exploring the ideas about dreams from the Seth books, in particular The Nature of Personal Reality: Specific, Practical Techniques for Solving Everyday Problems and Enriching the Life You Know by Jane Roberts. In addition, Bashar‘s material on The Awakening presents some practical tips and guidance to become more lucid in dreams and to learn to alter what he calls the “template level reality” to be more the way you like it — in the dream and ultimately in your waking life/dream.

After watching the full Bashar video of “The Awakening”, I decided to read a little from the Seth book on The Nature of Personal Reality before going to sleep with the suggestion to myself that I would meet Seth in my dream and become lucid. It was an interesting experience as I had a vivid dream in which I was jumping over a gap in the ground and fell into the crack to a “home” below ground. A face appeared above the gap and told me it happens all the time and how I could find the stairway out. When I got up the stairs, a nice man helped me and was explaining things to me. I don’t have that sense that I became lucid. However, when I awoke, I took the time to write down my dream and recognized the symbolism of the “gap” and remembered thinking in the dream that there should be a bridge across the gap so people didn’t fall in. I recalled then that the last section I had been reading from the Seth book was about “bridge beliefs” and their significance in our personal reality. I had the sense that the “nice man” in the dream was Seth giving me additional guidance. It was an exciting confirmation that I’m making some progress…slowly, surely, one step at a time…having fun along the way!

Learn more about using sleep and dreams to change your life.

Jumping Off the Roller Coaster of Panic Attacks and Anxiety

Lately, I’ve spoken to several friends and coworkers who are dealing with anxiety and panic attacks…to the level that they are on medication or considering it. It  made me think back to when I was in my twenties and I had panic attacks for several years, although I didn’t know what they were at the time. I experienced an unusual heartbeat–my heart would skip a beat and then pause and then there was a big beat that I really felt in my chest. Often, after that I would have palpitations or my heart would race. I was so scared and bewildered, but I was too scared to even find out what it was. I guess I thought I was having a heart attack and was going to die but didn’t want to know.

It got to the point that I was afraid to go out to the grocery store and stand in line, or sit quietly in church where I couldn’t “escape” when the feelings started. I was having such fear that I had episodes of hyperventilation and shaking all over my body. Not fun at all.

Ironically, when I became pregnant I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse and found out it is a very common but not serious condition. That helped me immediately to understand and not fear my heart irregularities. And then my cardiologist gave me the simplest tip to stop my heart racing–he told me to just hold my breath for a few seconds until my heart calms down. It works like a charm! Maybe this will help you or someone you know.

Anxiety continues to be a challenge at times, although I don’t experience panic attacks anymore. Usually, it’s a kind of nervousness that happens when I have to give a talk at a meeting, or discuss an emotional issue with a loved one. Since I prefer not to use medications if possible, I have tried many natural remedies and techniques over the years. These “vibrational medicine” remedies that I have found to be most effective are:

• Bach Rescue Remedy–one of 38 essential flower essences and formulas created by English physician, Dr. Edward Bach, in the 1930s. All 38 of the Bach Flower Remedies are officially recognized as homeopathic drugs in the Supplement to the Eighth Edition of the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States. They work by healing emotions from a vibrational level.
• Lavender aromatherapy–a form of complementary medicine that treats moods and emotions through the use of plant scents, called essential oils. Lavender is particularly helpful for calming and pain relief.
• Music therapy–using specially-designed calming music. Steven Halpern’s inner peace music is my modern favorite, and I also use several CDs with music by Bach and other classical artist’s to create specific moods and upliftment.

If you’ve tried these basic natural approaches and need additional support for relieving your anxiety and panic attacks, please consult with your health professional.