Dreams and Waking

A year and a half ago, when I was working in the Edinborough Corporate Center in Edina, I was taking my lunch break in Edinborough Park. It had been a strange day, and I was allowing myself to use my lunch break, to, well, totally space out. And when I space out, I really space out. I find myself naturally slipping out of my body into other places and perspectives, sometimes even when I'm not meaning to. (I suppose this is one of the skills I picked up from experiencing abuse - many abuse survivors learn how to dissociate and separate from their bodies in times of trauma. I have transformed this into a skill to use in meditation and lightwork.) I suddenly found that Edinborough Park had changed; the world was slanted, as if I was on a staircase, residing in the slant between two floors. I was between two worlds, two realities, two planes. I saw the park, but I saw the layers of energy used to create the illusion of the park. Everything was alive, and the energy was so dense I felt powerful enough to create anything I chose. I saw that everything had its own energy signature. And then, I felt an energy signature that was familiar to me. It was the signature of a dream I had had. I found myself IN the dream again, energetically. From there, I discovered I could navigate into other dreams as well, simply by seeking the energy signature. It was that day that I truly realized that our dreamworld and our waking world touch eachother, and that I could walk between them.

From that point, the two worlds became closer and closer. Dreams led to waking events, waking events led to dreams. There are many cases where I will dream something of someone and then tell that person about it upon waking. Many times, the dream will be accurate to the subject's past experiences. Other times, the dream resonates with them, and then they go on to fulfill the exact thing I dreamt. That makes me wonder a few things. 1. Did I dream a future that would have existed whether I had told the person or not? 2. Did I create the future I dreamt by telling them? And 3. Does it even really matter which is which? I have experienced psychic impressions with perfect strangers, going both ways, and I have learned deep intimate secrets from those I care about, as well as about myself. With these occurrences, I have discovered with even more conviction that the waking world and the dreamworld are connected, and what's even more important, WE ARE ALL CONNECTED THROUGH THEM!

When I began doing healings on clients, I went deeper down this rabbit hole. During the healings, I found myself emptying, transcending, going to other places and planes and seeing many things. I was quite surprised to find that while traversing these other places on behalf of my clients, I wandered through many energetic signatures from past dreams! Here, in this transcendent place of healing, is access to all the dreams I've ever had, as real as when I first dreamt them. It was in this moment that I truly realized that the dreamworld and the otherworld (the place beyond this place, the "other side") are the same place.

I often have dream familiars visit me-- teachers and guides and healers. When something is wrong, I am given strange medicines of moonstone capsules and magical fingernails. When I am in need of comforting, I dream of beluga whales and otters playing with me in big pools where I can easily breathe underwater. When I am feeling weak, Merlin visits me with oatmeal to give my heart strength. All of my prayers are being answered and all of my needs are being met in the otherworld if only I have the imagination to see it. And once I see it, it spills over into the waking world as well, where I can use synchronicity as my compass. Anything we need, we can discover in the dreamworld if only we have the eyes to see.

Let's recap:
-The dreamworld and the otherworld are the same place.
- In this place we have access to the past, present and future of ourselves and everyone we can imagine.
-We can access this place anytime we desire, for anything we could ever possibly need. 

So what are you dreaming about?
:)

Why not?

Change is most often the hardest because we've developed the tendency to make assumptions about happiness. This kind of life = this kind of structure. These kinds of decisions = eventual happiness vs. these kinds of decisions = unhappiness. If you have this = you cannot have that.

Even when we work to not do this, we still do it. I had the biggest example of this smack me in the face and blow my mind this past week:

A little over a year ago, I had this big magical dream for my life. I was going to be a shaman, traveling the world, helping to heal, living on top of a mountain, single and fabulous forever. And then! I fell in love, got engaged, and am getting married in October of this year. And when I saw myself developing this new life with this man with our new rituals and habits and lifestyles, somewhere in my consciousness I was under the impression that I was giving up my old dream for this one. I knew I couldn't be this powerful shaman and be someone's devoted wife at the same time. It just didn't work that way.

When the wedding planning started getting intense, I found myself getting lost in it all. People telling me what traditions I was to uphold, what items I was to register for, what kind of wedding I would have. I've heard a lot about what I'm "supposed" to be. So I freaked out, of course! I don't want to be this, this is not me! I don't think I want this, this is not my dream! Ugh I don't think I can do this! I wanted to be a shaman and now I can't!


And then I realized... WHY NOT?

Who said I can't have both?  I choose the life I want, and I can choose to embrace and embody both aspects which seemed so conflicting to me. Happiness to me is a fulfilled spiritual existence where I can grow and lead. Happiness to me is also being with an unconditional lover for a lifetime. Happiness = happiness. Why do we need to complicate it and limit ourselves by what we think is the way things work?

It was such a simple realization. But so rarely do we truly feel like we can accomplish all of our dreams. By allowing myself to express my limitations (via freaking out), they came to the surface to be re-evaluated. It forced me to ask myself the question Why not?

So this a simple reminder. A reminder for you to speak the limitations you're placing on yourself and ask yourself a question. Nothing poetic, nothing profound, just a simple question.

WHY NOT?

11 Ways to Ease Release

I've been talking to many people whose lives seem to be reaching their boiling points. Relationships, careers and lifestyles are ending or beginning. Confusion and enlightenment come a'knocking, often times both at once. The great 2012 energetic shift is already in progress, and you are a part of it! With all this new energy becoming available to us, we are offered the ability to manifest things faster, to release everything that holds us back, and to become the divine beings we truly are! But the process of releasing what holds us back can be painful, aggressive and difficult. When we release things, we often feel them rising up within us, wreaking havoc as they leave us and making us feel crazy for feeling them again. You may feel yourself releasing traumatic events, negative thought patterns and behaviors, and feelings that don't serve you (like self-loathing, guilt, shame). This is a very natural, healthy thing to experience. In order to make room for the wonderful energies coming in, we have to clear out our crap! These new energies are really moving the process along-- I've noticed the rate of release has increased exponentially since 2012 thundered in. So I have compiled a list of 11 ways to ease the overwhelming nature of release.

1. SURRENDER / ALLOW.
In these chaotic times, it is of the utmost importance to allow these changes to happen. We have all been conditioned to fight, fight, fight! Never give up, never let go! But when it comes to releasing what no longer serves us, we need to surrender ourselves to a higher will. It is okay to be struck down - it is important to be struck down. Our stubbornness in holding on to our issues will prevent us from integrating into this new energy. Surrender to the changes!

2. DON'T OVERTHINK YOUR FEELINGS.
While releasing difficult negative emotions, we often feel them as they leave us. We feel the guilt or shame or trauma in a very real way that may make us question what is happening. We may spend hours mulling over why these feelings are coming up and how. Focusing on these questions will tie you to them, creating an attachment to your negative feelings that impairs the releasing process. Acknowledge that you are feeling them, accept that you are feeling them, but don't become attached to them. Be an impartial observer. If you need to cry, cry! But don't worry about why you are crying. None of it will matter once it has been released.

3. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.
Your body is very smart. If you attune yourself to it, it will tell you exactly what it needs. Are you feeling more tired than usual? Rest - your body needs some downtime to process. Are you craving heavier foods than usual? Eat those heavier foods - your body needs grounding. Of all times to "suck it up" to continue your usual routine, this is certainly not one of them. It's okay to put off your workout or your diet or your night out if it means it will help you become who you're meant to be.

4. HYDRATE.
As you cast off your dense negative energy and begin integrating the light energy, your body may become dehydrated. In some cases, you may develop flu-like symptoms. It's very important to be drinking a lot of water. Water helps your body integrate the energy and soothe the process. Going swimming or taking a bath also helps. On difficult days, I imagine the water in the shower is divine white light, pouring through me, cleansing me. This is a great little ritual.

5. MEDITATE / PRAY.
Spend at least 15 minutes a day in meditation or prayer. Find that sense of stillness and peace and connection to God every day. Encourage yourself to continue surrendering to the change.

6. PRACTICE GRATITUDE.
When we feel our negativities rising, it can be all too easy to overlook the positive. Each day, choose one thing you are grateful for. It can be anything, tangible or not. Throughout the day, consciously send light and gratitude to your chosen thing. This will help you draw more light and healing into yourself, as well as keep perspective in a difficult time. (This is also beneficial to whatever you choose to be grateful for!)

7. CRAFT.
When you are feeling anxious, bombarded by a mixture of emotions, and you're not sure what to do with yourself, try crafting. Do something creative with your hands! Keep it easy as to avoid further frustration. Try painting or knitting or building models or whatever it is you can get your hands into! I recently took up woodburning for DIY projects. It is doing wonders.

8. LOSE YOURSELF IN STORIES.
There will be times when you may feel so hopeless, you cannot even bear the thought of meditating or doing something creative for yourself. That's okay - it happens. These are perfect times to get into a movie or book or TV show. Lose yourself in the stories of others, as they can be the best teachers. Keep the themes positive though. Avoid movies or shows with a lot of violence and anger. Exposing yourself to the positive stories of others in your hopeless state can be incredibly therapeutic. I've really been getting into the BBC show Merlin. The message of magick and honor is comforting to me. I've also been reading books by one of my favorite authors Robert Moss. He is a brilliant storyteller.

9. CONNECT WITH NATURE.
Nature can be the best medicine. Nothing is more grounding than sticking your toes in the sand. Nothing is more invigorating than breathing in fresh air on an afternoon walk. In a world where the artificial rules, the earth can be your greatest ally.

10. PROTECT YOUR SPACE.
Use sage or palo santo to clear out the energy in your home. With all the changes occurring and all the energies being released from you, it's important to clean up your mess. Those negativities may linger if not purified. The energy in your home is also connected to the energy of surrounding places. Are your neighbors unpleasant people? Is there a bar just down the street from you? Their negative energy may meander into your home. Saging regularly is always a good idea to get rid of the nasty stuff. You can also use Sacred Geometry to further protect your space.

11. ASK FOR HELP!
When was the last time you genuinely asked for help? Somewhere along the line, we've gotten the idea into our heads that asking for help makes us weak. When in fact, asking for help can be a great sign of both strength and wisdom. We cannot go it alone. Ask your friends, ask someone in the healing community, ask God! When asking from an honest place, we receive. Always.


(Many healings are available to help and activate the process. There are two I would recommend highly: the Spiritual Light Initiation and the Life Activation. Click the links for more info.)