I ddn't attend because I did not have a "nightmare" to share. Two of the three dreams you analyzed did not seem to me to be nightmares, but the third might have been. You made a most important point, though: early in dreamwork, dreams come fast and furious. After Self receives confirmation, through dreamwork, that it is being listened to, the dreams become more "gentle," in your words. That has certainly been true for me. Have you presented any of your thoughts on dream circles? I tend to shy away from many of them because they seem to be all about money and not necessarily about honest dreamwork.
I haven't spoken at length about dream circles, but we did engage in one here at The Artemisian early this year during the Dreamwork Foundations program (just for two months/two meetings).
I find that dream circles can be a wonderful form of community, with the the opportunity to see dreams in a whole new light. But with all things, there are some bad apples. It requires discernment to find the right one with a facilitator you resonate with.
Shamanic ritual practice also often involves violent imagery for exactly the reasons you're talking about regarding the purpose of nightmares. Clearly, these ritual processes arose from dreams.
It can arise as a feature of the inner journey that the shaman’s patient goes on. For example, the person might encounter an animal that tears them apart and then the patient gets reassembled in a new way, new form. Rites of passage and shamanic journeys can have symbolic features like this. A new being is being created. So, the old must go or no change will come. Shamans themselves can go through nightmarish experiences in their becoming.
"Sea lion." But then the dreamer says the father, who wants to shoot the "sea lion," doesn't "see." Sea/see. Or says, why doesn't he "see" it's not a sea lion but a real lion? Did I remember hearing that correctly? Okay, then. What's up with Dad?
I ddn't attend because I did not have a "nightmare" to share. Two of the three dreams you analyzed did not seem to me to be nightmares, but the third might have been. You made a most important point, though: early in dreamwork, dreams come fast and furious. After Self receives confirmation, through dreamwork, that it is being listened to, the dreams become more "gentle," in your words. That has certainly been true for me. Have you presented any of your thoughts on dream circles? I tend to shy away from many of them because they seem to be all about money and not necessarily about honest dreamwork.
I haven't spoken at length about dream circles, but we did engage in one here at The Artemisian early this year during the Dreamwork Foundations program (just for two months/two meetings).
I find that dream circles can be a wonderful form of community, with the the opportunity to see dreams in a whole new light. But with all things, there are some bad apples. It requires discernment to find the right one with a facilitator you resonate with.
Shamanic ritual practice also often involves violent imagery for exactly the reasons you're talking about regarding the purpose of nightmares. Clearly, these ritual processes arose from dreams.
That's an interesting connection. Is the violent imagery evoked by the shamanic practitioner, or is it suppose to arise nagturally?
It can arise as a feature of the inner journey that the shaman’s patient goes on. For example, the person might encounter an animal that tears them apart and then the patient gets reassembled in a new way, new form. Rites of passage and shamanic journeys can have symbolic features like this. A new being is being created. So, the old must go or no change will come. Shamans themselves can go through nightmarish experiences in their becoming.
Thank you for sharing!! Absolutely fascinating and totally aligns with the process of evolution may engage in when they begin deep inner work.
"Sea lion." But then the dreamer says the father, who wants to shoot the "sea lion," doesn't "see." Sea/see. Or says, why doesn't he "see" it's not a sea lion but a real lion? Did I remember hearing that correctly? Okay, then. What's up with Dad?
Ohhh, I like this nuance. Dreams absolutely play with wording…so this is a good insight!!
The subconscious can be way witty!
So much humor and wit!! We don't always appreciate just how well our dreams are formed.
Thanks for this. Fun to see the Cirlot book which I bought very early on and should try to locate here. Probably the 1962 edition!
It’s a beautiful resource!