Sunday, November 23, 2014

I'm Flying!


It is exhilarating. I merely take a few steps forward
with my arms outstretched and I am airborne!
Have you ever had a flying dream? They are among the top-five most common dreams, and dreamers love having them.

Flying dreams help us “rise above” the gravity of our daily waking lives. They can assist us in finding a new perspective or way of looking at a situation. Dreams of taking flight offer stress management, fun and peaceful soaring, most dreamers love them.

Years ago, I was a guest on The View, a television program created and initially hosted by Barbara Walters, now by Whoopi Goldberg. One of the times I was a guest, we discussed the topic of dreams and Meredith Vieira shared that she had a recurring nightmare that she was in a passenger jet that was out of control and heading down. In her terrifying dream the plane does land and she is able to walk off the plane with no injuries.

My interpretation was as follows: In the language of dreams, Air represents the mental, our thoughts. Land represents what we know for sure; consciousness, we can see it feel it, stand on it. And Water (i.e., oceans, lakes) represent the unconscious or what is below the surface. Moving up is typically good; we are rising in stature, getting promoted, our investments are increasing. Headed down, especially in a plane is not so good.

I told Meredith that this was a natural thought and feeling in her line of work as a television journalist and talk show host. As a passenger on the plane and not the pilot, she realized that she was not in control of her ratings or public approval. A natural fear would be that ratings could go down and her career could crash. However her dream demonstrates that she will always be okay, she walks off the crashed plane unscathed.

As a journalist, Meredith has had to report on plane crashes and (in reality) she is not fond of flying. However, her dream referred to her career and as predicted she is flying high with her own fabulous talk show.

She was so kind and lovely to me and I wish her all the best, always.

Wishing you every best wish for flying high in your dreams,

~Cynthia

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Test Day, Oh No!



One of the most common dreams across the board, both genders, all cultures, all ages and so on, is the dream that you are at school, it’s test day, you haven’t studied, can’t find the classroom, can’t find your locker or remember the combination, and a multitude of other variations on this theme.

Have you had that one? Most of us have. I find that so fascinating. People say, “I haven't been in school for decades—why did I have that dream?”

The dream takes other forms as well. When Simon & Schuster sent me on book tour for Dream Power: How to Use Your Night Dreams to change Your Life, I got to visit eight cities across this wonderful country of ours. I was privileged to hear dreams from so many people; I would probably never have met otherwise. Morning drive radio jocks had their version of this dream. For them it was the “Dead Air” dream. Their test so-to-speak was that they had failed the radio station by allowing dead air or silence. They were either in the men’s room, couldn’t find a tape or CD, went out of the building for a smoke and the door locked them out of their studio and other disasters.

New York’s Maurice DuBois interviewed me several times, telling me of his version of this dream. In it, this dapperly dressed journalist could not find a tie! A suit and tie were required, of course, to report the news or interview a guest and he would wake panicked. By the way, I adored working with him and found him to be an exceptional interviewer and broadcaster.

So! What does this dream mean?
What is it trying to tell us?


This dream shows up in the lives of adults, much past academic pursuits, at a time when they feel as if they are being tested and that there will be a consequence that could be dismal. This could be anything you really care about; meeting your potential future in-laws, facing a job interview, asking an online date for an in-person meeting, or something else of major consequence.

This dream reflects a mild anxiety. So! What should you do if you have such a dream? Ask yourself : “What can I do to relieve my fear in this situation? Can I prepare better?”

Stash a back up tie in your desk drawer? Add your potential future mother-in-law’s favorite flowers to the table? You get the idea. Ask, where am I being tested? How can I get an A or 100%?
In the near future I will share the remaining top three most common dreams. We’ve already discussed “Naked in Public.”

Until next time, I wish you every best wish for your sweet dreams,

~ Cynthia

Sunday, November 16, 2014

I Don't Dream,
What's Up With That?



Almost every day someone says or writes to me that they do not dream, or that they feel as if they dream but they don't remember them. I address this is my book: Dream Power, How To Use Your Night Dreams To Change Your Life, Simon & Schuster 2000, available from our Shop Link…but I want to answer here for those of you who have asked me recently.
  1. There is nothing wrong with you.
  2. Most of us forget the majority of our dreams.
  3. You are dreaming, though, you just don't remember.
  4. Great News! You can learn to remember more of your dreams.
  5. This is not difficult; dreams are our natural way of being.
  6. Every person, gender, culture, age, throughout history, from the beginning of humankind has dreamed.
  7. Dreams are valuable and important.
  8. Dreams help us deal with the stress of our waking life.
  9. Dreams are compensatory; they provide what we are not getting during our waking hours. For example, if you are on a diet, you might dream of delicious desserts, if you have been sexually active but are going through a period of celibacy you may dream of satisfying sex. If you gave up smoking or drinking you may dream of enjoying these things and wake panicked that you reverted. Your body is merely assisting you with your choice by compensating you during your sleep. And so on!
  10. To remember your dreams, simply remind yourself before you go to sleep. Tell yourself, I will remember my dreams, when I wake my dreams will easily come to mind. Have a pen and notepad or your dream journal at your bedside. Jot down your dream as soon as you wake as they are fleeting and often evaporate quickly.
You can do this and I promise the rewards will be powerfully helpful and enlightening.
Some have dreadful dreams, they may reflect past trauma or abuse. Some people squelch their dreams for this reason. I truly understand this. You may simply want a peaceful night's sleep. And, I would like to encourage you, when you feel ready, and perhaps with the help of a therapist, dream analyst, clergy person or enlightened friend, open your mind to dreaming and process those fitful, disturbing dreams. You will learn and grow from that experience. And then you can have fabulous, wonderful, helpful dreams and deeply satisfying sleep.
Until next time, all my best wishes for your best, most helpful dreams,
~Cynthia

Naked in Public!



One of the Five Most Common Dreams that people report is one where they are naked or partially undressed in public. I have heard many versions of this dream theme. I had it once in forth grade. I was a very modest girl. In my dream I had my blouse on, panties, socks and shoes, I had a bow in my hair and my eyeglasses on…but no skirt! I was at school when I looked down and realized why kids were pointing at me and laughing; I was devastated that people could see my underwear.

I woke up with a feeling of dread, shame, and embarrassment. Boys had seen my panties; teachers had seen…it was too much. Thinking back I realize that, at the tender age of 10, I was just starting to notice boys. I was a teacher's pet and Mrs. Field’s opinion was so important to me. In the dream, I felt exposed and un-worthy of being one of her favorite students in the class. I felt vulnerable. She did have a high opinion of me. I think I wanted to live up to it. My third grade teacher did not like me and she was not nice or kind to me. Kids are so easily influenced by the feelings of others, peers and authority figures help us form our opinion of ourselves.
In the language of dreams, being naked can have a few meanings. One is that the dreamer is not hiding a thing! He or she is being butt-naked honest. However, most often this dream comes when we feel that we are not entirely prepared for an important situation. If you have a naked or only partially dressed in public dream, do you know or realize in the dream that you are naked? If so, how do you feel when you make this discovery? Whatever you feel in the dream, ask yourself: When, in my waking life, do I feel the same? Exposed? What makes me feel that way? There may be some action you can take to feel better prepared and less anxious.
The way we feel when we wake offers clues to the meaning of our dream. Some wake laughing or crying! Most dreamers have awakened at some point with a feeling unrelated to just waking up. It can feel like a dream hangover. Common feelings include: anxiety, dread, fear, shame, joy and excitement. Try to pay attention to how you feel when you wake and how that feeling relates to your dream and then to your waking life.

Until next time, all my best wishes for your Sweet Dreams,

Cynthia

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Kaleidoscope Dreams


Last night I had so many dreams, in the night and I was so excited to share them with you, but when I woke it was as if a kaleidoscope blew-up in my mind. I recognized and remembered all of the sequences, but they were disjointed and confusing. Have you ever had this experience? If so, do not do not despair! This is a frequent experience for many. Some nights are like that. However, the following night can offer profound, insightful, intact nocturnal dramas that offer extremely beneficial messages. So, please do not be discouraged. The truth is that even a fragment of a dream can be amazingly helpful. 

Yesterday my daughter shared a dream with me that she had about me. I have dreams about her as well. Anyone can dream about anyone, but people who are connected by love can even dream messages for each other! I can't share the dream, but I can tell you I hope it comes true!!!

Dreaming about a same-sex relative can also be symbolic for you…so think about how you are a sister to yourself, a mother to you etc. 

Send me your 150-word dream or fewer and I will do my best to interpret in this blog.
Cynthia@DreamPower.net (Please, include your email address.) 

Until next time, all my best wishes for your most beautiful dreams,

 ~Cynthia


Sunday, November 9, 2014

Special Dream Delivery



A Facebook follower wrote recently to ask me how to control his dreams. In general I prefer to take the dreams that our subconscious mind or other dream source sends to me via Special Dream Delivery. I love and appreciate the guidance, insights, and inspirations I glean from my nightly dance with the sublime. However another use of our dreams is for problem solving, creating and visiting with teachers and departed loved ones. We can also request a particular type of dream! Setting the intension to have a flying dream, or inviting a certain experience to occur, such as let me dream about singing without fear tonight.

Being aware that you are dreaming while you are is called Lucid Dreaming. There has been much scientific research into this,  and good books and papers are available on the subject. Stephen LeBerge researched and wrote on this topic for his dissertation at Stanford and went on the further study and write about the process.  Two other authors whose works I enjoy on this topic are: J. Allan Hobson and Carlos Castaneda.


About 14 years ago I was giving a lecture on the vale and benefits of dream work to a group of 90 people. One woman told us about a recurring dream that she had had since she was a preteen and well after she was married. In the dream she was being chased by a big black gorilla! Each time she woke from this nightmare with her heart pounding in fear. Finally her husband suggested that she make an appointment with a dream therapist. The therapist's advice was: "Next time you have the dream, turn around and ask the gorilla what it wants." So, the dreamer followed those instructions and realized she was dreaming the big scary gorilla dream.

 "What do you want?" she asked the primate.

"I just want to put my fingers under your armpits and sniff them." He replied.
The dreamer woke herself up laughing out loud. The dream had been a message from her subconscious to lighten up, be playful and have more fun! What a relief to no longer dread going to sleep for fear of having the gorilla dream.

You can train yourself to realize that you are dreaming and you can incubate the dream that you want to experience. However, first you must be remembering, journaling and interpreting your dreams. And thanks for the great question!

I hope this encourages you to pay more attention to your nocturnal dramas.

Until next time, all my best wishes for your Sweet Dreams.
~Cynthia



Friday, November 7, 2014

Dreaming Decisions

“It is very queer. But my dreams make conclusions for me. They decide things finally. I dream a decision.” 
~D.H. Lawrence, English Novelist
When making an important decision, we are often advised, “to sleep on it.” The reason for this sage advice is that our subconscious mind can sort out the facts and separate the emotion, or clarify the emotions for us.

If you'd like to experience this focus, before you go to sleep do your best to write the question you want answered or decision you need to make. The more specific you can be, the better the chance of a clear answer from your dream muse. After writing your question in your dream journal, repeat it silently as you drift off to dreamland. For example:
  • What is in the best interest of my physical health at this time?
  •  How can I best support my loved one through this challenge?  
  • What is the best way to increase my income to cover the holidays? 
Remind yourself to remember your dreams and when you wake, write down everything you remember. Do not worry if the dream doesn't seem related to our question. Once you interpret it, it will lend ideas and answers for you. 

You may of course, also receive information on other important issues in your life. These may at first not seem related, but often they are! So stay open minded and work with the symbols and your associations to them.

Give this a try if it appeals to you and please let me know how you do!

Until next time,
Sweet Dreams,

Cynthia

Sunday, November 2, 2014

Dream Visits From Beyond

Recently I had the honor of working with a woman who dreamt of her recently departed daughter (I've changed the names to protect her privacy).

Carol told me that her 20 year-old daughter, Amy, was away at college when she died of an aneurysm. In her dream, the front door bell rang. Carol went to the door and opened it but no one was there, she felt confused, then characteristic of her daughter, Amy peeked out from around the corner. Carol said, "Amy where are you? I miss you." Amy replied, "I'm right here Mom, I'm right here." So, Carol asked me, "What does that mean?" 

It means, of course, that even though Carol cannot see her daughter in the flesh, she is still near and listening, aware of her mother's feelings. I suggested that she talk to Amy as though she is in the room and invite her to visit her in her nightly dreams. Carol told me that I helped her more than she could possibly express. I thanked her for doing the same for me. She validated my passion for my work.

Over the more than 25 years that I have been helping people to remember and understand their dreams, the topic of departed loved ones has come up frequently. In my experience, there have been two types: 
  1. In one, the dream truly feels like a genuine visit from the spirit of the dead person. 
  2. The other is when the dead person now symbolizes or represents whatever you associate with them, just as every other symbol in your dreams does.
During the grieving process, some dreamers are dealing with regret: Did I do enough? Could I have saved him? I should have told her that I love her, and so on. The dreams can reflect these worrisome thoughts. These are unsettling to be sure, but they are not visitation dreams. Visitation dreams are always positive, always peaceful.
I record The Long Island Medium (LIM) on TLC and binge watch it on the weekend. Theresa Caputo is known for her "big hair," long fingernails and her uncannily accurate readings. She is able to "feel," as she describes it, "the energy of the departed, including how they died".

I have worked with many mediums and consider two in particular to be my friends. They are the best of the best; John Edward, also living in Long Island, and James Van Praagh, who is on the West Coast. John invited me to be the dream expert on his wonderful online university called Infinite Quest, and James invited me to be on his television show many times to help people who were dreaming of departed loved ones. I have also done a workshop with James here in Sedona, and radio with John in NYC, as well as other things. We have a mutual respect for each other and the work that we do. Many are skeptical about mediums but those born with this amazing ability will tell you that this is fine. They aren't there to make you a believer, just to communicate what your loved one wants to share.



I was very touched by a recent episode of LIM in which a mother dreamed she had handed her very ill child to her grandmother who had passed. Two days later the child died. The dream went a long way toward comforting this mother.

Our nightly dreams can bring deeply gratifying comfort, they can prepare us and they can be a bridge to communication with our loved ones that go upstairs before we do. 

One last thing, I want to address a fear that some have expressed to me, they wonder if they have a dream about someone dying if they in anyway caused that person to pass. The answer is a resounding "NO." The dream may not mean that the person is dying in the first place. In the language of dreams, death can be a symbol for change and other types of transitions. However if the person does pass on, I think of it as angels whispering in your ear to provide a bit of gentle warning to perhaps lessen the shock a bit.

Until next time, I wish you peace, love and Sweet Dreams,

Cynthia