Past Lives and Regression Therapy

Have you ever watched a movie of a historical event and been overcome with sadness and grief? Have you ever walked into a historical site and experienced extreme anxiety, for no reason?  Have you ever met a stranger and felt déjà vu---we’ve met before? These emotions are not random.

Human beings do not have random emotions. These emotions are attached to unconscious memories. The most effective way to deal with unconscious emotions resulting from traumatic events in this current life, or that are attached to past life events is Past Life Therapy (PLT), which is often called often called Regression Therapy.

To my thinking, Past Life Therapy (PLT) should be called life therapy. As a “life therapy” the goal is to free the individual in all aspects of life---to be the person you want to be mind, body and spirit.

Mind, body, and spirit living is a holistic way of living. In the U. S. we are having a renaissance in our approach to spiritual living. People are recognizing that the enlivening, immortal spirit continues always and is a resource today. We are recognizing that the mind is a nearly unlimited storehouse of data. The beliefs and value judgments we attach to this data create our quality of life mind/emotions, body and spirit.

What is Past Life Regression? It is branch of hypnotherapy, which has grown over the last 50 years to be an important addition to the healing arts. It is a therapeutic technique for accessing and re-experiencing your past lives directly. 

What does the average person have to gain from past life therapy? The most essential answer is to say less stress. Do not underestimate the power of this statement—less stress. Stress leads to inflammation (heart disease, cancer, obesity, high blood pressure diabetes, etc.), emotional issues (depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, obsession, addiction), relationship problems, work problems, negative self-judgment, and more.

The historical or religious connotations of the words “past lives” are a huge topic requiring a knowledge base I do not have---there are many good books in the library. Hans TenDam, Dutch psychologist and internationally known PLT instructor, warns us---don’t get lost in “past life tourism.” In other words, the past life is only important in what it brings to the current life for good or ill.

It is thought that child prodigies who are piano virtuosos, speak languages they have never heard, solve intricate mathematical equations, and have specific knowledge of geography and historical events are really tapping in to past life memories.

According to Hans TenDam, PLT is regression therapy in which we accept that scenes from apparent past lives may emerge. Regression therapy derives its name from its method: recovering and reliving past experiences. The goal is the release of tension and anxiety that results from repressed feelings by bringing memories into consciousness.

Dr. Morris Netherton, my mentor, tells us it is not necessary for the client to believe in past lives for the process to work. Nor does the client need to have a specific religious, or spiritual outlook. What is needed is a willingness to accept that his/her own unconscious mind holds all the answers to current problems. Netherton focuses on the here and now life concerns.

British psychiatrist Denys Kelsey became well known in the 1950’s for his work in past life regression. He compared past-life therapy as a process with his work using traditional psychiatric techniques. Kelsey stated, “In a maximum of twelve hours of regression therapy, I can accomplish what will take a psychoanalyst three years.” (Source: Graham 1976) This speaks to the efficiency, effectiveness of the past-life therapy process.

Past-life therapy is generally short-term therapy, though the sessions are longer and tend to be more intensive than typical psychotherapy. Rabia Clark’s research (1995) shows that most therapists (74%) typically combine working in past lives with other therapeutic methods. Past-life therapy is a specialized form of regression therapy where you may regress to any point in life—adulthood, child hood, infancy, birth and the time in the womb, or previous to now.

Many therapists (26%) also do past-life therapy with children starting at about eight years of age. The main motives are childhood fears and phobias. Other motives are bed-wetting, dyslexia, depression, anger and hyperactivity.

Hans TenDam tells us about one third of clients will experience a past life while about one third remain in this life. About one third relive childhood events that appear to be older traumas that may be stimulated by past life memories. Brian Weiss, MD, psychiatrist in the U. S., (1993) found that about 40% of his patients had to go to past lives to solve their concerns.

Ten Dam tells us 40 percent of clients need regression to previous lifetimes as a key to emotional and physical healing. “When past life therapy is used to bring these long-repressed memories to awareness, improvement in the current symptoms is usually swift and dramatic.”

The clients’ primary motives for past-life therapy:

1.      Fears and phobias.

2.      Relationship problems and problems of connecting with people in general.

3.      Depressions.

4.      Physical complaints without medical explanation or not responding to medical care.

5.      Sexual problems.

6.      Addictions.

7.      Obesity and eating disorders.

Dr. Roger Woolger takes a spiritual approach. In an interview with Simon Martin (Here’s Health, December, 1991), Woolger tells us “past life memories are the autobiography of your eternal soul-—personal stories that explain who you are now and why you’re here on Earth.”

According to Woolger, “Fragments of past life memories often surface in dreams or at unexpected moments, perhaps as inexplicable abilities or as feelings of familiarity with places, historical periods and characters and the like.”

Woolger has a theory that false memories of abuse may be explained by past-life memories resurfacing during trauma. Woolger, states “Child abuse leads to shock, which can put children into an altered psychological state. And in that state they may well contact fragments of memories from past lives.”

Woolger asks, “How many of us through history have lost loved ones, seen our families wiped out by war and plague, and have not grieved? It takes a lot of energy to block feelings of pain, especially when we know we “should” be happy.” Past life/regression therapy gives allows us to put to rest patterns of sadness, sorrow and regret.

Dr. Woolger is a leading theorist and practitioner of past life therapy. His book Other Lives, Other Selves, is viewed to be one of the most comprehensive introductions to the psychological depths of past life regression.

Regression therapy is not to be confused with a past life reading, which is a passive process and has little therapeutic effect. Although some individuals try past life regression out of curiosity to see who they were in the past, for most it’s a path for personal growth and healing.

The benefits of Past Life Regression come with the help of a trained past life therapist, who can help you:

• Release fears and anxieties linked to past life traumas
• See personal relationships in a new light
• Release past life traumas at the root of physical problems
• Energize talents and abilities from the past
• Experience the transitional states of death and beyond
• Understand and align with life purpose 

Carol Bowman tells us we “were born not as a blank slate, but as a soul rich with both the wisdom and scars from many lifetimes.” Our unconscious memories create the patterns of choice and action that we weave into quality of life.

My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue, 


An everlasting vision of the ever-changing view


A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold

A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold

Read more: Carole King - Tapestry Lyrics | MetroLyrics

www.tasso.nl

http://www.earth-association.org/therapists-bios/hans-ten-dam-bio/

http://www.carolbowman.com/past-life-regression/

Understanding a Past Life Dream

Working through a past life dream is challenging and rewarding. There is no need to feel victimized by dreams and nightmares. Dreams are for healing, learning, and enlightenment (through a process of true acceptance and an action of forgiveness). Mastery of our dreams and past life memories can heal emotional and physical concerns and enhance mental, emotional and spiritual growth.

Past lives reveal the roots of our current patterns of life programming. You can identify: 1.Your coping skills, and hidden strengths and skills: 2. The root of maladaptive behaviors (alcoholism, eating disorders, feelings of financial insecurity); 3. The roots of emotional issues (anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress); and 4. The programming that leads to poor personal relationships at home and work.

How do you know you are working with a past life dream? The dream will feel historical and if you look for skin color, historical modes of dress (look at your feet), transportation, tools, etc.—you will see them. Sometimes a specific name or date sticks in your memory as you awaken. There will be a deep sense of “realness”---this was my life.

Be aware that we have all played many roles: males and females; heroes and villains; victims and victimizers; rich and poor, long lives and short lives; loved and despised; various races; various cultures; and various beliefs.

There are many books that give insights and techniques. For some people and dreams it is enough to recognize the dream as part of yourself, to accept and not judge (forgive). To understand a past life dream, you must look for patterns of cause and effect. (The idea of reward and punishment is too simplistic.) You could try this method:

• Write the dream down---write the dream in first person—“I am___, I did____”
• Tell yourself this is who I was in the past—I am not that person today, I do not have to be that person today
• If you saw something ugly and feel emotionally shocked pray for strength to help you heal---put the dream away until you are ready to work with it.
• Write down specific images that illicit strong emotions and make note of the emotion
• If every thing is hidden in blackness, ask yourself “Am I blind? Is something covering my eyes? Is this so horrible I refuse to see (accept) this event?”
• Go into a meditative state visualize strongly and re-experience the past life
• One of the most important things to do is heal your death---do not take negative thoughts into the next life. For example, say to yourself  “I leave behind fear of drowning—I take perfect beauty, health and self-respect into my next life.”

An actual past life memory, which emerged in a dream:

In the dream I am myself now, but I am looking back into the darkness following the chain links of lives and events. I see various people attached to the chain who are all me.

The blackness makes me feel as if I do not want to see what is happening. It reminds me of a previous dream that was all black, no visuals, just an intense feeling of regret, remorse and horror. (A dream I had close to 20 years ago) I did not want to see it and I did not want to talk about it, because it was so awful. When I awoke from that dream I was in shock. I could not think or focus my thoughts. I felt like I had done something so wrong my heart was a black empty hole.

I know now that I am looking at what I could not face in the previous dream. I am now ready to see the pattern of my past.

In this current dream I am looking back down the black iron chain to other past parts of myself. I am very aware of the links in the chain.

The self nearest me in time is unclear and basically unimportant at this time. He is a man who had died of syphilis. (His importance was made clear after I worked with the dream.)

The next person back in time was a Catholic nun.

The focus of my attention is on next person back in time. She is a richly dressed courtesan woman in a red dress a large veiled hat with a feather. This woman has leprosy. She seems to be the focus of the past life memory. She is deeply conflicted. (I can feel her inner conflict and shame.) She is trying to pretend she does not have leprosy. She does not want to be isolated and shunned. She is dependent on her beauty to survive and does not care if she puts others at risk. She cannot bear to give up her lifestyle---to be alone.

A nun confronts the woman about her self-absorption and tries to stop her evil and wickedness. The nun tells the leper courtesan to separate herself from the people of the community. The courtesan will not stop. The nun's beliefs and sense of duty drive her to kill the courtesan. She buries the leper women in unconsecrated ground.

As I am the leper woman in spirit, I watch as the nun buries my body by a tree. I can see into the graveyard to the place where the good people are buried. I feel isolated and alone. In the spirit I feel compassion for the nun who has killed me. I know she has damaged her soul to protect the people from leprosy. (In spirit I am standing behind the tree as the nun reverently buries my body.)

Again as I look back further down the chain of past lives I see another lifetime hiding in the blackness. When I allow myself to feel it I can see it.

I see the lifetime when we as people had been bioengineered. (Lemuria? Atlantis?) We have the ability to destroy our enemies by looking at them. This technology is supposed to protect us from what we fear so we always feel safe. But the technology has mutated. Anytime we look at anyone else, even in friendship, this self-defense lazar mechanism activates. Our fear has created our own prison. I see myself as burned and mutilated and lost in my isolation. 

As I awaken from the past life dream I feel confused, guilty and ashamed. What do I do with a dream like this? Are these people my past? First I must always face the emotions. The emotions verify the reality of the significant dream.  No life is perfect, but by accepting the truth we are set free.

First, I accept my emotions. I draw on my spirituality and accept what I have seen. God forgives the repentant person. The hard part is to forgive myself. Forgiveness is essential to be free of the past programming. Past lives' feelings and actions are not me now.

Negative self-judgment is not useful. When I allow the strength of the mental mind to take over, I can look at the dream with discernment.

The dream seems to lacks internal logic. How can I be the nun killing the leper woman and be the leper woman at the same time? Is this truly a chain of connected past lives? Answer: I am not the nun killing the leper woman. However, the words of encouragement and faith she said at my death scene set a desire in my soul (soul code) that leads to choosing my next life time as a nun.

The unconscious mind is like a blank slate, or computer waiting for code. The unconscious mind of every person is in contact with the unconscious mind of every other person. Because I am aware of the emotions and drives of the nun who killed the leper (me), my soul was emotionally coded by her conscious thought process. Her words became my thoughts at death.

The negative aspect of cause and effect:  The death scene codes future life programming on the soul, however it may not be evident for several lifetimes. I see the fear of isolation, and an overwhelming need for human contact and connection as initiating in the Atlantis lifetime. I see the coding of unresolved issues and needs: for a loving relationship, for physical connection, personal need fulfillment creating a diseased outcome (bioengineering=leprosy=syphilis).

The positive aspect of cause and effect:  Soul coding created a life-path where: to become a nun is to live in a community, personal need fulfillment focuses on knowledge of good health practices, loving relationships are characterized by acts of service (like the life of the nun), and physical connections are based on respect for the other balanced with personal need.

A horrible past life is not a justification for current bad behavior—it is an opportunity for healing. Typically we do not dream of joyful, enlightened lives because those lives do not need healing. If you dream of a past life that is joyful and enlightened, it is a reminder to live those gifts in the here and now.

George Santayana wrote (in The Life of Reason, 1905) “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

 https://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/blog/churchill-quote-history/

Healing Past Life Dreams

The first past life memory I had came in a dream or you could call it a nightmare. I was trapped in a barn fire. I remember seeing beams falling down on me, and flaming hay streaming down from the loft. The next moment I knew myself as a blackened and charred body. I was screaming out in my mind, I’m still in here, I’m still alive.

I was saved from this shocking dream by a friend pounding on my door. I was a graduate student and my friend wanted to go partying—of course I went. To this day I can see the image of the burning barn and charred corpse. It is strange to contemplate but I was put in a state of shock by a past life memory.

Each of us should learn to use our dreams and past life memories for healing (emotional and physical) and for growth (mental, emotional and spiritual). It is possible to work with past life memories on your own—but it is a challenge. Currently, I am studying advanced training as a past life regression therapist. To be free of unconscious memories is liberating.

My mentor, Dr. Morris Netherton, teaches past life therapy is effective for healing present life issues. Past life therapy is very effective for certain cases of anxiety, obsessive/compulsive behavior, post-traumatic stress, fears, phobias, and health issues such as asthma and chronic pain. Netherton tells us past life is anything that is not this very moment. Any time you are unconscious, or fear that you are dying you become vulnerable to negative emotional programming.

The relationship between the physical brain frequency and the function of mind and emotion is central to understanding why past life therapy is so effective. Past life therapy occurs in the Alpha and Theta frequency range. The therapist’s function is as a facilitator as the client consciously tells his remembered story. The point is to be aware and heal the emotional programming of the story.

Charles Skillas (PhD, DD, BCH) tells us understanding brain wave activity (EEG) enhances our understanding of hypnosis and meditation.

• The Beta Range frequency, 14-28 cps, describes conscious functions like problem solving, worry, fear and processing visual information.
• The Alpha range, 7- 14 cps, correlates to prayer, reverie, relaxation, meditation and light hypnosis.
• The Theta frequencies, 4-7 cps, identify with visual reverie, deep hypnosis, anesthesia and perceptual changes.
• Delta frequencies, .5 to 4 cps, are associated with deep sleep and [danger] awareness (ex. alarm clock awakening, sounds outside the window.)

EEG studies demonstrate Alpha and Theta waves as the most powerful, with higher peaks of voltage and longer duration. Dr. Skillas speculates that the information that is being impressed on brain cells in a stronger, more effective manner during Alpha and Theta states. If this is true, it may explain the powerful changes that may be effective under deep hypnosis in a brief time, say Skillas.

Lisa Miller, AUG. 27, 2010, in an online article for the New York Times, tells us according to data by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, a quarter of Americans believe in reincarnation. Women are more likely to believe than men. There are nearly a billion Hindus and a half-billion Buddhists who have for thousands of years believed in reincarnation. (Not to mention the ancient Greeks, certain Jews and some ancient Christians) They have a cyclical view--you are born, you live, you die, and because nobody is perfect your soul is born again — not in another location or sphere, not metaphorical but right here on earth.

Brian L. Weiss M.D. is Chairman Emeritus of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami started his career as a traditional psychotherapist. He has become a foremost expert in the use of regression therapy for healing, mind, body and spirit. According to his website, Dr. Weiss was “astonished and skeptical when one of his patients began recalling past-life traumas that seemed to hold the key to her recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks.

Dr. Weiss tells us:

• Not all problems have their source in the past.
• Often dreams contain fragments of past life memories. 
• Frequently the material elicited through past life regressions contains metaphors and symbols and can trigger dream experiences.
• Using free association or the active imagination helps free the mind from any negative connotations.
• One can replace the word reincarnation with the word imagine and the process still works.
• It is not always necessary to see a therapist in order to discover one’s past lives
• Meditation on your own can open the unconscious mind
• Or using audiotapes or CDs can help you to have your own experiences. 

There are people who feel victimized by their dreams and nightmares. The true purpose of our dreams is for healing, learning, and enlightenment (through a process of true acceptance and an action of forgiveness).  Each of us should be a master of our dreams and past life memories for healing (emotional and physical) and for growth (mental, emotional and spiritual).

How do you know you are working with a past life dream? The dream will feel historical and if you look for skin color, historical modes of dress (look at your feet), transportation, tools, etc.—you will see them. Sometimes a specific name or date sticks in your memory as you awake. Most important—there will be an intense inner knowing. A past life dream is only one type of dream.

Types of Dreams:

1. Psychological Healing

2. Belief Dreams

3. Problem-Solving Dreams

4. Physiological Dreams

5. Dreams of Daily Life

6. Compensatory Dreams

7. Recurring Dreams

8. Lucid Dreams

9. Psychic Dreams or Prophetic Dreams.

10. Nightmares

If you are drawn to work with the past life it will reveal to you: 1.Your coping skills, hidden strengths and skills; 2. The root of maladaptive behaviors (alcoholism, eating disorders, feelings of financial insecurity); 3. The roots emotional issues (anxiety, depression, post traumatic stress); 4. The programming that leads to poor relationships at home and work.

Over time I have developed techniques for healing past life dreams. There are many books that give insights and techniques. For some people and dreams it is enough to recognize the dream as part of yourself to accept and not judge (forgive). There is no one special strategy. You could try this method:

• Write the dream down---write the dream in first person—“I am___, I did____”
• Tell yourself this is who I was in the past—I am not that person today, I do not have to be that person today
• If you saw something ugly and feel emotionally shocked pray for strength to help you heal---put the dream away until you are ready to work with it.
• Go into a meditative state visualize strongly and re-experience the past life
• One of the most important things to do is heal your death---do not take negative thoughts into the next life. For example, say to yourself  “I leave behind fear of drowning—I take perfect beauty, health and self-respect into my next life.” 

A horrible past life is not a justification for current bad behavior—it is an opportunity for healing. Typically we do not dream of joyful, enlightened lives because those lives do not need healing. If you dream of a past life that is joyful and enlightened, it is a reminder to live those gifts in the here and now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/fashion/29PastLives.html?_r=0

http://www.drskillas.com/A-Hypnosis-and-Brain-Waves.htm

http://www.dreaminterpretation-dictionary.com/types-of-dreams.html

http://www.brianweiss.com

Embrace the Power of the Dream

Dreamland is a vast uncharted place that has no boundaries. I believe people do not remember their dreams because they do not know what to do with the dream, or they believe it has no value.  I intend to share a few thoughts that will help open up this aspect of self so you may explore this excellent gift—the dream. I do not record or analyze all of my dreams only dreams that seem to have real power, or appeal. Yes, I have a couple of books in my library that discuss symbols but the mind often creates symbolism specifically individual to the dreamer and her/his current life experience. Always double-check your proposed interpretation with your inner knowing. Working with your dreams is a good confidence builder!!

I first started studying my dreams about twenty five years ago when I attended a workshop at the Adlerian Summer School Institute the presenter was Sadie “Tee” Driekurs. The important things I learned—

1.  Everything in the dream is an aspect of yourself,

2.  Dream symbols/metaphors/actions are very rarely literal, (therefore when I dreamed I stuck a spear through my brother’s heart I realized I really did not have murderous intentions)

3.  One’s dream may have individual/cultural/national/global/and spiritual messages all at the same time and can be interpreted from each perspective

4.  It is possible to dream a dream for someone else and/or to dream a dream with someone else

5.  The dream may continue in your subconscious while you are awake, if this is needed for your growth and development,

6.  Do not worry if you cannot write the whole thing down immediately—note your emotions and anything that seems to hang around in your thoughts--a word or two to help you recall the dream later

Also I was a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams for many years.  Key ideas I learned here are

1.     Pay attention to the emotion you felt during the dream—write emotions down as part of the dream

2.     How to approach and utilize lucid dreaming,

3.     The historical, cultural aspect of dreaming—dreaming is not new age

4.  Many great inventions were first envisioned in dreams

My Dream:

I was on the side of a red desert mountain.  My father said wait for him and he drove off with three other people. I saw they were showing a movie in the park at the base of the mountain. As I walked to the movie I stopped to look at a display table of books, magazines and handmade jewelry. I found a tapestry chair to sit in to watch the movie. A woman and her son came by. The son sat with me in my chair for a while and then left; he was a nice kid. A man came by and flirted with me—I flirted back. The man said why do you trust me? I said I like the way you look (his energy was good.)

The ground began to rumble and heave. People on top of the Red Clay Mountain began to run down. I said we have to go. He said it was nothing. The rumble knocked him off his feet on to his back. Two others and I helped him up. His back was covered with leaves and I brushed the leaves off. I said we need to run to the car. He said I don’t think so. A giant crack appeared on the Red Clay Mountain and I could see it was chasing the people down the mountain. I began to run. The man began to run. Sinkholes started appearing and the man was swallowed up.

Everywhere I went I told the people to run; some ran and some did not. I ran into a building because every other way was blocked. It was like a maze but I kept running. I ran through an apartment. It was beautiful with much artwork. The husband and wife were arguing and seemed oblivious to my being there and the son played video games. I said you have to run the RED Mountain is crumbling. They looked at me blankly and said what about our things? I kept running through the house past the artwork. I saw the daughter, in a pink tutu, practicing ballet in the living room. As I ran out the front door I said you must run the RED Mountain is crumbling.

I was out on the street it was chaos with hundreds of people running. I saw the parking lot with my car; most of the cars were blue but one or two were red. I got my car. I shouted go, go the red mountain is cracking. The cars took off in a line. Some few cars turned right down a gravel road; most people went straight on the highway. The gravel road went through a dark neighborhood. The highway was lighted. Then I woke up.

This dream is symbolically rich. For another person to truly understand the dream’s implication for me, one would need to know the current context of my life. The emotions I awoke with were: overwhelmed, thoughtful, purposeful, fatalistic, what will be will be. The following are standard interpretations of the notable symbols.

• RED---anger, rage, trouble, misunderstanding, human lust/desire, creativity, endocrine center, base chakra, evil, or aggression
• CLAY—something from which new things spring, can be molded/shaped/formed
• DESERT—not fertile, bleak, abandoned, lack insight or spirit, abandoned wasteland, hopelessness
• MOUNTAIN—higher state of mental development, spiritual heights, understanding awareness, where physical and mental world can be viewed clearly and understood, a challenge/ obstacle to be overcome, an ambition one has chosen
• DESCENDING the mountain—close of an experience, obstacle successfully overcome, the end of something
• FATHER—authority, leadership, power, energetic, forceful, protective
• MAN—individuality of one’s self, masculine side of one’s nature (strength, courage, determination), relates to second chakra/endocrine center, creativity
• MOVIE—see from another perspective, opinions, thoughts, world-view of others
• MAGAZINE—general information, personal insight/intuition
• JEWELRY—spiritual truths/gifts, wisdom, mental health, beauty, that which is eternal
• ART—creative ability, untapped potential, self-expression, externalize emotion, 2^nd chakra
• CHAIR—attitudes, position, stature, thoughts, foundation, belief system, one’s rightful place
• TAPESTRY—visual representation of one’s life story, soul journey, higher self, creativity, subconscious, Karmic memory
• EARTHQUAKE—warning message, break up of internal forces or situation, shattering of problem/one’s beliefs/stance/values
• DEAD LEAVES—things once part of self that now must be discarded
• CRACK—potential opening, or potential problem in current direction, belief systems are crumbling
• SINK HOLE—dark situation/experience/passage, hidden or concealed trap, hole in one’s plans/ideas/thought process
• RUNNING—anxiety, apprehension, inferiority, uneasiness, inability to handle the current experience, inner conflict
• NEIGHBORHOOD—subconscious aspects of self one has to accept and live with
• BUILDING/APARTMENT—place of residence, one’s physical body personality/current situation/experience/temporary lodging or condition; MAZE—confusion, uncertainty, lose of direction, disorganized
• ARGUMENT—conflict between parts of self, internal struggle
• VIDEO GAMES—mental focus/involvement, mental games in which one is involved
• BALLET—corresponds to balance and preparedness
• PARKED VEHICLES—rest or period of inactivity
• CAR—the physical body/self, vehicle to use in life’s journey
• BLUE—truth, insight, spiritual value, wisdom, healing, inner voice, tranquility
• TURN RIGHT—future, that which is fixed, proper choice, good judgment, correct direction; DARK—devoid of life or spirit, the unknown, to be without knowledge/insight, disheartened where one meets one’s self
• TURN LEFT—past, receptivity, open-mindedness, unconscious parts of self, intelligent/logical/focused; LIGHTED—associated with great lessons/truth, higher knowledge, spiritual insight, hope in the midst of difficulties
• Dream Images and Symbols: A Dictionary (Creative Breakthroughs Books) by Kevin J. Todeschi (Nov 1, 2003)

INTERPRETATION:

Key aspects to understanding this dream and to apply it to my current situation are to,

1)    Notice the contradictory emotions on waking up

2)     Notice the conflict between the subconscious/inner/spiritual life vs. conscious/physical/worldly life

3)    Notice standard symbols right/future vs. left/past, light vs. dark, mountains vs. sink holes, argument vs. video games/ballet 

4)    Also it is important to realize symbols are simultaneously positive and negative. This indicates a need for me as a dreamer to have active discernment and not to make quick judgments of  “goodness or badness.”

The dream is a story meant to empower me. I learned many things from the dream but simply put: I am in a period of transition (retired from my job) where I am leaving behind the surface level self that was focused on the work and physical daily needs of every day survival. I am entering a period (work that reflects who I really am) that requires balance, focus, creativity, courage, and determination as I externalize unconscious abilities and my inner insights in a new direction. The dream warns me not to get caught up in inner conflict, my own ruminations can create traps, but to brush off inner conflicts just as I would brush dead leaves off my clothes. Actually there is more meaning to the dream but this is enough for now. My hope is that this dream example encourages you to embrace the power of the dream as it releases healing and motivational energy. The dream is truly one of the greatest gifts the Creator gave us.