Shared Transformation Issue 19
Dreams
Regardless of where we are in our spiritual development, there is a wealth of guidance and insight available to us through our dreams. Although our dream symbols are extremely personal, there are archetypal meanings which can be found in books on symbolism. The Dream Book: Symbols of Self- Understanding, by Betty Bethards is a good book on general dream interpretation. Bethards is familiar with Kundalini, which helps. Here, for instance, is her interpretation of snakes: "Kundalini power; life force, creative energy, Holy Spirit, healing power within... If a snake bites you [in a dream], it means the energy is trying to break through in that particular area of your body... People often dream of snakes entering their bodies, which is the awakening of this energy; Snakes are a powerful symbol, never to be feared. Snakes represent the awakening or continuance of spiritual growth." Realities of the Dreaming Mind by Swami Sivananda Radha is another excellent guide for interpreting and working with dreams. "Eventually, you will have wonderful dreams of divine guidance -- confirmations, instructions, and inspirations," Swami Radha assures the earnest seeker. She also tells of a common pattern in which intensely inspirational dreams are followed by long periods of dreams of purification -- "rinsing the mud off the Cadillac," as she calls it. Then the elevated dreams return. As we learn to really listen to our dreams, visions, and intuitive inner voice, as Swami Radha came to do in her own awakening journey, "we begin to clear the way for the messages from a greater reality to come through." As these messages become stronger and we discover we can trust them, we transcend our programmed sense of personal inadequacy, powerlessness, and fear of other people's criticism and rejection.
One of our readers, who has asked to remain anonymous, has generously sent us a series of dreams
she had during her Kundalini process. The nightmarish and disaster dreams which might seem to have a depressing
or frightening significance were actually showing her that she was in profound stages of inner cleansing. Seeing
the whole progression of her dreams is very helpful, I think, in reminding us that this process is one of continuous
change and refinement.
The Awakening Dreams
Several months preceding the awakening, I dreamt that I was traveling to a jungle reserve in Mexico. At the border
I was greeted by people in a tavern singing "Consider yourself at home..." The reserve had to be made
larger than originally planned. As I entered the jungle, I marked trees, and in the center found my meditation
teacher by a stream. I had a sense of joy, of finding heaven. I realized I was expanding myself and my horizons,
and that the markings meant that I could venture into my interior on this unknown spiritual journey now because
I was equipped to find my way out. Once the Kundalini was unleashed, and I had terrible pain on my left side,
I dreamt I saw three electrical poles forming a right angle. The wires on the far left were broken and sparking.
My doctor dismissed the dream as anatomically insignificant, but my understanding was that the Kundalini was trying
to ascend with difficulty up the left nadi (or Ida channel) and was encountering blockages.
Shortly thereafter, I dreamt I brought a fixer-up house for $45,000 (I was 45 years old at the time). In the dream, I had a contractor inspect it, and he told me that the foundation was fine, but that all the electrical, plumbing, beams, etc. needed repair. Then the house would be worth $750,000. [ed. note: Houses are dream symbols for the body and the psyche. Clearly, this dream was indicating a major self- reconstruction was underway that would eventually be well-worth the effort. The individual who had this dream remarked in retrospect: "It's been hard and painful work."] Going through challenging emotions, I had a series of tidal wave dreams. These went on until I dreamt I had the tools I needed to survive. They were followed by dreams of pools of stagnant water. Eventually, I dreamed the water had become clear and I was able to swim down to a brightly lit "love seat" at the bottom.
During the purification process, one horrifying nightmare described an uncovered, previously repressed death wish: In the dream, as I sat at my desk, black gunk suddenly oozed from behind floral wallpaper and began devouring my flesh, while I was trapped in cobwebs. I knew I had to run out of the room for my life!
I also had many positive dreams of incredibly beautiful and/or mystical landscapes of the ocean, meadows, mountains and lakes, which filled me with joy and wonder. In one dream I was at a Hindu temple, being blessed on my birthday in a lit pool of water, and I received presents after the ceremony.
The theme of going home began to develop as well as dreams about spiritual issues. A few months
ago, I dreamt I was giving away my old clothes, when a powerful force lifted me up feet-first. I told myself to
surrender so I wouldn't be hurt. The force thrust me against a wall, and I fell to my knees with my whole body
in flames, my arms extended overhead in prayer. When the flames subsided, I wondered if this had really happened
or if it was a dream. Then I found a telltale glitter on my glasses to prove it was real! Recently, an Indian
mystic came to me in a dream and said I was to marry his son. I wasn't sure I wanted to give up my lifestyle and
move to India, but he said it was my destiny. To me, this represents the spiritual marriage to the son of God
or the Spirit within. The more I respect my dreams, the more my unconscious responds. Whenever I am confused
or upset, I ask for guidance and clarity as I drift off to sleep, and my Higher Self never fails me. One night
I asked for a sign (I rarely do this). I awoke around 3 a.m. and noticed a light on in the other room. I went
in and found to my amazement the lights were ablaze. At first, I feared a burglar and questioned whether I had
forgotten to switch off the lights in the room. But this light switch is very difficult to reach (in a cabinet
behind a stereo), and I rarely use it. Then I remembered my request! I guess Someone wanted to assure me that
the "light is on" and that I'm not alone. Recently, I had a waking dream in trance that fire had destroyed
everything in my home, but I was safe. After cleaning up and painting the walls white, I lay on the clean, cool
floor, looking up and enjoying the open space, but feeling exhausted and a little sad. What this meant, I think,
is that although most of the pain has past, I am often tired and unmotivated. This process has in subtle ways
changed who I am and my relationships to everything and everyone once familiar. Grief is a natural response.
I sense that in time I will have renewed energy to begin a totally different and positive life. I see new work
and new relationships awaiting me, which never would have evolved had this not happened to me.
-- Anonymous "Dreamer" & El Collie
© El Collie 1995