The Same Dream Twice

I am doing something completely different this month for my Sunday messages. I am basing them on the novel, The Alchemist.

This novel is an allegory about life and contains many spiritual treasures. 

It begins with the shepherd boy, Santiago, who has had the same dream twice. The dream is about finding treasure in the pyramids of Egypt.

He finds two different people to help him interpret his dream, a gypsy woman and an old man. The old man tells him, 

"To realize your destiny is a person's only obligation. And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

The first question that comes to mind is, what does it mean to have a recurring dream? Metaphysically, it means  Subconscious Mind is telling you to pay attention. there is something of value in that dream. Look beyond the literal meaning. Ask yourself what the dream means to you. Only you can determine what it means even though it is often tempting to go to an outside "expert." 

The second question that arises for me is am I living my life's purpose? Am I living my dream now or am I moving toward it? If I am living my dream, excellent! If I am moving toward it, good. But if I am trying to ignore it, then I am working against my highest good.

My most passionate dream is to awaken people to their spiritual magnificence. When I see the light of awareness dawn in someone's eyes, I feel deeply blessed. I feel that my life is on purpose.

Have their been times that I have been discouraged and thought about finding a different dream? Yes, there have been times that I have been discouraged, but no, I cannot think of anything else I would rather do or am compelled to do. 

Have I had to take risks in order to live my dream? Yes, many risks. When I was first called to the ministry, I had more needs than income. I cashed in my retirement savings. That was a big risk on the human level but on the spiritual level, I know that God is my Source and the source of my supply. 

 "And when you want something, the Universe conspires in helping you achieve it."

What are the dreams of your heart? Are you living your divine purpose? There is an alchemist within you; it is ready to transform your life, when you cooperate with it.

Persistence

Our journal topic today is persistence. What helps you to persist toward your goals?

Every generation has music that motivates them to persist toward their goals, to stay the course, to carry on. One of my favorite current singers is Nate Ruess  from the band, Fun. These lyrics say it all. 

"When you're lost and alone, 

or you're sinking like a stone,

carry on.

May your past be the sound, 

of your feet upon the ground

carry on."

In order for us to experience personal or spiritual growth, we must persist in our spiritual practices. When we do not see the thing we long to see, many of us change course, pray for something else, or say "God didn't want me to have it."

The idea that God would not want the best possible life for you, is preposterous! You are the living, breathing expression of the most high God.  God put that dream in your heart in the first place. Carry on with your prayers and meditation. Carry on by surrounding yourself with like-minded people, the ones who see your the infinite nature. Surround yourself with people who won't let you quit until you have achieved your goals or something better. The Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley is such a place.

When I was a child, the motivational song for persistence was Frank Sinatra's "High Hopes."  Whether you relate to being lost and alone or you feel like an ant trying to move a rubber tree plant, you are moving with persistence toward a more abundant life.

Delay is not a Denial

Moving toward our dreams is not always easy. Sometimes we can feel lost at sea, unsure about which direction to go. The ego serves up fears and negative thoughts about our choices and then we find evidence to support "staying stuck" in our experience. The well-meaning friend who warns you of the unseen dangers, or the famous "how-to" author who cautions about mistakes to avoid. Then, of course, there is always your own past mistakes looming in the mind. Ego offers past failures and missed steps as reasons to stay right where you are and avoid moving forward.

This week the book "Joyous Living Journal" asked us to look at our challenges and obstacles and examine doubt, fears, and old beliefs. Sitting in meditation, a lot came up for me. Like cleaning out that junk drawer in the kitchen, I found thoughts and ideas long forgotten but useful in my growth. Although, I didn't know quite what to do with all these thoughts. My process and Spirit led me to this video where Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith talks about delays in realizing your dreams. He says, "A delay is not a denial." Beckwith believes that a delay simply means you are getting something you need to move forward. Wow! What a great new perspective!

Are you feeling stuck on the path to manifesting your dreams or maybe overwhelmed by the choices ahead?Check out this video. It might offer you a different perspective; a way to look at this time of perceived in action that empowers your dreams rather than negates them.

Go To Oz, But Return To Tell The Tale

We might say that both the artist and the neurotic bite off more than they can chew, but the artist spews it back out again and chews it over in an objectified way, as an ex­ternal, active, work project...

- Ernest Becker

Lately I have been dreaming that I can fly, not in a movie kind of way, but in a visceral 4D,  touch taste and feel, first person kind of way. I find myself hovering over the trees, then floating down to meet with people on the ground, and loving this round world. I find myself so involved that I don't want to wake up. But in the end, Kate kicks, or the light comes. These dreams all seem to be connected in some way, like watching a TV show from one season to the next.  I have been sharing these dreams and the insight I get from them with my friends and family. It is a story that is better told than read.

What have you been dreaming of lately? Do you find yourself flying in your dreams? What is your unconscious mind trying to bubble to the surface of your experience? Are dreams our connection to a quantum multidimensional universe or just an escape from our everyday reality? That you must decide for yourself.

Want to know more about your dreams? Then sign up for our "Dream Interpretation Workshop" Sunday, January 26th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. We hope to see you there.

A Dreamy Little Waterfall

Dancing on the Countertops in San Clemente

My seductive dance with an unknown
man reminded me of Ginger Rogers
and Fred Astaire
photo courtesy of Altfg.com

I was dancing on the countertops!

I couldn't believe it.

Not flailing around kind of dancing like I do in my living room, but dancing, Ginger Rogers style!

My hair was pulled back in a tight chignon.

I had on a crisp, button-down white shirt with the cuffs turned up.  My shirt was tucked into high-rise black pants and I had on Rockette's-style heeled dancing shoes.

I looked fabulous!

Then, I jumped down off the countertop, up some stairs and on to a stage!

And then, (cue the scratching record sound), a woman that I had known very briefly in the past was dancing all up on me.  She was in my space, I didn't like it.  She flitted away and did it to someone else.  She was pushing herself on everyone trying to be provocative in her dancing, not realizing that she was repelling everyone she danced with.

I wanted to flee, so I turned to run and ran smack dab into a very attractive man.

Not all physically attractive, but energetically.

I couldn't see his face but we started dancing...like Ginger Rogers / Fred Astaire kind of dancing.

I didn't know how I knew how to dance like that, but I went with it.

It was exhilarating, seductive and such a beautiful experience.

I flowed with him allowing him to lead me and I simply enjoyed the dance.

I woke up from this dream intrigued with the meaning!

Dr. Heather's topic last Sunday was about Joy + Vision = Your next dance

Did that tie into my dream of dancing like Ginger Rogers?

I got up immediately, headed downstairs and sat down with my trusty journal!

What came through as the true meaning of the dream was very pivotal for me.

Here is what my inner self explained my dream to symbolize:

(exactly as they were written in my journal)

"This dream represents life and the dance with God. 

When you try to force yourself into life and "make things happen," or attempt to make it something its not, like the woman dancing up on people represented in the dream, God pushes back. It gives you what you are giving and your life ends up feeling like you can't escape it. 

When you dance slowly with it and allow the movements to come naturally, it becomes a seductive dance of life. 

God, emulates your moves, what you think and do, in life, without even thinking about it.  When you are in the flow of the seductive dance of life, It becomes an energy-driven experience.  It happens naturally and you won't know how. 

My dear, this dream encourages you to dance in life. Allow your body, your heart- thoughts and your actions to lead you. Be an observer like you were in the dance of seduction.  You were not even thinking of what the next dance move would be. You simply followed the lead of your partner, which symbolizes God. 

Your partner in the dance of life is God. Allow yourself to follow  it's lead. Your dance moves are the one's that seem natural because they come from your heart. Close your eyes and listen to what your heart is saying. You may think, with your rational mind, that you don't know those dance moves, but when you allow yourself to flow with the idea, you naturally know how to do it.

Don't rush, or try to lead with the idea. Allow it to flow in Divine timing. Just as you flowed in the dream with your partner. You intuitively knew that you were not leading the dance, but flowing with it. 

This is a beautiful reminder to flow with the dance of life. Flow, don't try to make things happen quickly. Allow them to come. You will be provided for, my dear."

All I could think was, wow.

What a beautiful reminder of how repulsive it is to God when I try to make things happen.

What a gift it is when I allow myself to flow with vision and joy knowing that my flowing in life is my acceptance of life as a dance.

I have JOURNALS-full of dream messages that have helped guide me, transform me, and allow me to know a deeper side of myself.  

Dreams have been a pivotal part of my spiritual evolution.

I invite you to join us at an amazing event on January 26th where we will be hosting Paula Chaffee

Scardamalia as she teaches us how to interpret dreams and create conscious dreaming if we don't dream! 

CLICK HERE to learn more, and to join us, at this workshop and learn the powerful affects dreams have on living our best life!

A Small Home With an Amazing View - What This Dream Really Meant

Live in that small, cozy home with the amazing
view, and your life will expand by leaps
and bounds. 

My home was very small, but as I showed it to friends, I was so proud of it.  

I would take them out to the outdoor deck and show them the breathtaking view.

It always inspired a breathless, "Wow."

The important part of this process was how I felt.

Proud.  At peace and very much in harmony with life.  

That was my dream, and being one who is an avid journaler, I write out my dreams and allow a stream of consciousness to help me interpret them.  The most important part of journaling dreams, I have found, is paying attention to the emotions that it evokes. 

What came in my journaling session was a whole new lesson on practicing the presence...being in the now.

Not a surprise since I am currently taking the Inner Journey class with Dr. Heather and our focus now is practicing the presence of God at every moment, of every day.

The way in which this lesson was communicated with me through this dream was interesting, however.

A small home that had an amazing view.  The peace and harmony I felt about it.

One might think it symbolized a home that I desired or maybe the desire for a nice view from my physical home. 

What came in my stream of consciousness was that this dream did not symbolize a physical home, but my inner home....

...That small space within, that when lived in, brings peace, pride and harmony.

The dream was a message from that One Power that lives within all of us to remember to be in that space, that home, at all times.

It was a reminder that when I find myself not feeling peace, pride and harmony to notice where "I'm living."  

When I have feelings outside of those three, I am living outside in the space of chaos and confusion. 

It's cold.

I'm homeless.

When I find myself homeless, I can easily step back into my warm, small cozy home with the amazing view.

I can change my perspective at any time.

This was a gentle reminder to me of the importance of the present moment.

As a result of this intense Inner Journey class, I am raising my awareness to the present moment.

As long as I am present, I am home.

When I am at home, I feel pride, peace and harmony.

There is never any reason to leave our true home...allow my dream to be a reminder to you to find your peaceful home with an amazing view.

###

I would like to hear from you.  How do you interpret your dreams?  Do you ignore them when you awaken thinking they are figments of your imagination?  Or, do you recognize them as messages from God directing you in your life?  

Share in the comments below any dreams that have deeply impacted your life....when one leaves an impression, dreams will become a distinctive event in your daily life.  

They truly are your conversation with God. 

Dreams or Fears? You choose!

What are you thinking? Does it support your dreams or your fears? That's what Bruce Fredenburg asked me a few weeks ago. 

In the moment he asked I didn't really know what I was thinking. It was just that same old self talk. But after he brought it to my attention, I discovered that much of my self talk supported my fears.

"What if they don't like it?" 

         "I can't believe I said that. What a stupid thing to say." 

                   "How could you miss that photo? What were you thinking?"

                            "Oh she is definitely a better photographer than me. I will never be that good."

That voice in my head just chattered on with commentary. 

Not once did I hear: 

"Wow, that was really awesome!" 

          "Beautiful photo! I can't wait to share that one!"

                     "I am such a great photographer."

Since Bruce said, "What are you thinking? Does it support your dreams or your fears?" I think about what I think about. When I catch myself feeling defeated or sad, I notice that inner commentary. And, by simply noticing, I can change it.

"Don't make yourself bad or wrong, just notice," Bruce encouraged me. And so I notice. With awareness, I can choose a thought that supports my dreams. So, now, I find myself changing my thoughts. I'm supporting my dreams more and more. 

I've come a long way in three short weeks since my coaching session with Bruce. His wisdom, insight and effective coaching has launched me on a path toward success and fulfillment. Could I have gotten here without his help? Maybe, but definitely not as quickly. 

You get to choose to support your fears or your dreams every moment, every day. Do you want to make better choices? Join Rev. BruceFredenburg for his workshop, Turbocharging the Law of Attraction, for easy-to-use, practical exercises to live the life of your dreams. It's this Saturday and you don't want to miss it!

Do You need Some Dream Therapy?

In my latest Hypnotherapy class called Dream Therapy I learned the importance of sleep and dreams. We really got into the nitty gritty of the why's and how's of it. I'm excited to share a bit of what I learned. I think you will find it eye opening!

Every night when the sun goes down all over the planet human beings go through this ritual. We remove our day clothes and put on this special uniform and go into a dark room and lie down on a platform, cover ourselves with some warm material and lay vertical for a few hours. If you're in good health its usually eight hours. Anything less and problems start to occur.

When we engage in this behavior we enter into a dream state. It has three stages, 1st stage is the lightest and least important called Wishful Thinking. 2nd stage is called pre-cognitive and the 3rd stage and most important and the longest is called the Venting Stage.

Imagine all day you are taking in millions of what's called Message Units or information from your environment. By the end of the day you are done. You can no longer take in anymore information. Any further information causes irritability and actually hurts. Your brain has to process all these Message Units or you could actually go crazy. That is the job of your three sleep stages. To go through all this information and decide whether its important to keep it or vent it out through the third stage of sleep. This usually happens in the early morning hours. You are able through your dreams to let go of information and stress that isn't serving you anymore. When you wake up you are literally a blank book ready to take in millions of message units again until your own personal meter shuts itself down at the end of the day.

In a clinical study they deprived 10 people of sleep for 205 hours. The subjects experienced a gradual increase in fatigue, as well as a decline of perceptual, cognitive, and psychomotor skills. episodes of brief hallucinations were experienced by the subjects. After some sleep and follow up studies all the subjects recovered without any permanent  affects. Another group was studied the same way. Only this time they were awakened before they reached The Venting stage or full REM sleep. These subjects were even more anxious and irritable when awakened before the third stage of sleep. If REM deprived subjects are permitted uninterrupted sleep on subsequent nights they will dream more (more REM activity) for a night or two. This phenomenon is known as the "REM rebound effect." These observations have led experts to believe that REM or The Venting Stage, is necessary for proper development or functioning during sleep.

Have your sleep interrupted by even one hour and you will be operating throughout your day on %10 less capacity. Add drugs and or alcohol and you will never reach REM. Waking up not feeling much better than the night before.

So tonight before you go to bed put a journal or a piece of paper on your night stand and when you wake nice and refreshed quickly write down what you can remember about your dream. You will be amazed at how much you've let go of and some insight you may have gained. You may need help interpreting those strange dreams. That's a whole other class!

Goodnight and don't let the bed bugs bite!

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Just the other day, Rev. Pattie Mercado and I were having a conversation about Thomas Troward, who was one of the key influences on Dr. Ernest Holmes and the teachings of the Science of Mind, and it reminded me of one of my favorite quotes of his:

"You never get what you want just because you want it.  But you always get what you believe whether you want it or not."  

This is such a statement of freedom for me.  Why?   Have you ever prayed or pleaded for something like winning the lottery, getting the perfect, well-paying job, or finding the perfect mate even though you didn't feel deserving of it?  When you really go within yourself and examine those pleads or prayers, did you really believe that you were going to attain them or was it just hopeful (doubtful) thinking?  The freedom for me is knowing that believing is seeing, rather than seeing is believing. When everything in your heart and soul is telling you yes, that is believing.  When your head is messing with you, telling you why you should or why you shouldn't believe something or move forward with it, that is simply the ego or fear trying to make sense of whatever your dream is.

One of my all-time favorite movies is "Field of Dreams," not only because it involves baseball, but because of the profound leap of faith and belief Ray (played by Kevin Cosner) took to allow his dream to unfold at the risk of losing all of his and his family's material wealth.  Listen and watch the argument between his intuition and his ego...

"People will come."  BELIEVE in your dream, and watch it manifest!