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

Bears? Oh my!

My friend Sarah shared her dream with me this morning over breakfast. In it she was with a couple of other people when they saw a bear. The others turned and ran away. Sarah knew that a bear could easily out run a person and that that wouldn't work. She opened her heart and started sending love to the bear, over and over she said I love you bear, you are the best bear ever and so on. When she got to the bear he had risen to his hind legs, front paws up in the air. He did not harm her and she woke up. In the language of dreams bears are associated with inner wisdom, bears know where in the tree the honey is hidden. In North American Indian culture the bear is associated with healing, the shaman may wear silver jewelry in the shape of a bear claw. Sarah is a doctor of Chinese Medicine and a RN as well. Her dream tells her to embrace her instincts when working with patients and reinforces her choice of profession. The bear stood in respect of her. Sarah is a very loving woman and a wonderful healer, she found it helpful to receive this pat of the back from spirit.

What are your dreams telling you?

Until next time, I send you love,

~Cynthia

Nathan Lane

I was watching Late Night this evening/early morning while in bed, wanting to drift off to dreamland... when host Seth Meyers mentioned that Nathan Lane would be his first guest on the show. I adore Nathan, so I postponed my plans for slumber momentarily. To my delight, Nathan asked Seth if he had ever witnessed a dog having a nightmare. Seth said yes, he had and they described a few possibilities for laughs.

If you have ever been a pet parent you have no doubt experienced this first hand. The truth is that all mammals dream. Researchers are currently studying other species to determine if they dream as well. Dreams, are important to our health and well being... even if we don’t interpret them. However, when we do... well, the Talmud puts it this way: “An un-interpreted dream is like an un-opened letter from God.” Please, read “God” as “Universe”, “Spirit”, or whatever you hold as the “larger than you, contributing force of nature”... we all dream every night! You may not remember your dreams but you are still benefiting from them. Stress is managed, for example, through our dreams.

I have an early call tomorrow and now I will not get as much sleep as I prefer, however, I felt it important to share this post with you.

Do not wake a pet in the midst of a nightmare, let them follow it through, unless, of course, they will be physically harmed. The same goes for humans. :)

Until next time, all my best wishes for your sweet dreams,

~Cynthia

Sting on The Actor's Studio

I just watched the amazingly accomplished Sting interviewed by James Lipton. Sting has sold more than 100 million records, (you do know what records are, right?) has won 16 Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards, one Emmy, and a Golden Globe. He has acted in 15 movies, has written two best selling books and has recently been announced to receive a Kennedy Center Honor this year. And, he relies on his nightly dreams for creativity and for working through his psyche in a very Jungian process. Bravo Sting! Our nightly dreams are think tanks for problem solving as well as a fertile environment for creativity and inspiration.
Both Billy Joel and Sir Paul McCartney have spoken publicly about using their dreams as song incubators. Both melody and lyrics have hovered present as they woke. Joel talked about running to his piano to be certain he had captured the melody gifted to him in his dreams. And McCartney shared that the melody to his song "Yesterday" came in a dream.
Years back, for my column in the Los Angeles Times, I interviewed the woman who co-wrote the Rocky theme. Two time Oscar nominated Carol Connors, is a delightful woman, she would wake with a song in her head and (back in the day) record it on her telephone answering machine, which was on her nightstand.
The melody to “Gonna Fly Now” (you remember the one, it goes, dah - dah - dah-ta-dah - dah - ta - dah - dah - dah... as Rocky is running up the capitol steps in his training for the big fight) came to her in her sleep during the time she was collaborating with another songwriter. That was her dream, just the proper notes and sequence of that song, she woke humming the melody! She told me that this dream bought her a house in Beverly Hills and a Rolls Royce. She set me up on a blind date that didn't work out so well... but that is another story!
She would also sometimes call me at 6:00 AM, excited to share a “dream song.” I was not as enthusiastic as she, as I revere my sleep. That again is another story.
Anyway, what is so exciting to me is that YOU, dear dreamer, can do the same thing! Call in your dream muse. Ask your subconscious mind a specific question before you go to sleep. Write your dream down as soon as you wake as they can evaporate quickly. Use this valuable asset available to you nightly, free of charge and as close as your pillow! If you want a little direction to get you started, email or call me, we can set up an appointment and you will be on your way!

Until next time, I wish you creative and helpful dreams,

~Cynthia

A Dream Come True

I was hired more than six months ago to speak on the value of our nightly dreams to a group (of mostly women) at the historic Greenbrier Resort. So now, having been there this last week and having such a wonderful time at the event, it was truly a dream come true. Thank you to all who made it possible!

Until next time, here's wishing you sweet dreams,
~ Cynthia

Dreaming While Traveling

Many people who do not remember many dreams at home during their weekly routine, do remember their nightly dreams while traveling. Whether for business or pleasure being in a new environment can simulate dream recall. I am currently in West Virginia at the historic and grand Greenbrier Hotel. I spoke yesterday at the Lady's luncheon on the topic of dreams and their meanings. It was great fun.

The amazing wife of the Chairman who coordinated the many social aspects of the annual meeting of AEIC, used the vibrant colors of my book cover as her inspiration and chose shiny orange tablecloths and royal blue runners, orangey yellow Zinnias in brass urns centered each table. It was a wonderful event! A few women told me that they didn't know what to expect and didn't think they would like what I had to say, but they did truly enjoy and appreciate my presentation. That made me very happy.

Such a lovely table setting that matches the colors in my book.

Last night I felt as if I dreamed all night. There was so much stimulation, people, entertainment, my subconscious mind juggled it all throughout the night.

I woke feeling happy and at peace. I hope you did too. If not, perhaps I can be helpful.
Until next time all my best wishes for your Sweet Dreams!

~Cynthia

How To Remember Your Dreams

A few blogs ago I promised to give you some tools to assist you in remembering more of your nightly dreams.

It is truly not at all difficult for most people. But you have to want to remember them. Some people dealing with trauma or unpleasant memories have dreams in which the unsettling times or abuse seem to be relived and therefore they intentionally block their dream memory. If this applies to you, counseling can be most helpful. I encourage you to talk with a trusted family member or friend, a clergy person or therapist. The Veterans Administration has post traumatic stress programs and there are other resources available. If none of these appeals to you, try writing out your story to eliminate the need to loop it in your mind. Another technique is to fictionalize the story, make it about other characters, not you. 

If you do want to remember your dreams gather a journal and a light-up pen or small flashlight and pen to place at your bedside. Remind yourself before you go to sleep that you want to remember your dreams. If you wake to an alarm link those two; When my alarm goes off my dream will easily come to mind. If no alarm is involved in your waking simply say to yourself: I will remember my dreams, my dreams are important to me, when I wake my dream will easily come to mind. 

When you wake, try to lie still for a moment or get right back into the last position you were in as you woke. You have just completed a dream cycle. What were you dreaming about? What are your feelings? Jot down your dream, even if it is just a feeling or a fragment. You will build on this. Keep up this process and very soon your subconscious mind will deliver your vivid and helpful dreams each morning. 

For more personalized assistance please make an appointment to work with me. You will use the specific tools we will create to enhance your sleep and dream time for the rest of your life!

Until next time all my best wishes,

~Cynthia