I am Dreaming. Remain Calm. I am Dreaming...

It occurred to me tonight while in the shower, that the dream state may be much more than a simple playground for the subconscious. In my study of ancient wisdom texts, it is stressed over and over again the importance of the imagination, the importance of the ability to create with the mind alone.

Could it be that the dream state is a school for the spiritual aspirant? It seems that 90% of my dreams take place in some type of school-like environment. I've always thought it was just because I love to learn new things, but maybe it's more than that. I've had lucid dreams before, and it seems that one of three things happens:

1. I become excited upon realization that I can do whatever I please, and I instantly wake up.
2. I become excited, and before I realize what is happening I fly into the air - then wake up.
3. I become excited, but attempt to calm myself, and have the ability to change the course of the dream before being overcome with excitement and waking up.

What if I concentrated on remaining calm only, and avoided the impulse to live out some fantasy?

Last night/this morning I became aware that I was dreaming, but only partially. Some part of my mind knew that I could change the surroundings, so I tried and was minimally successful. In fact, I struggled to gain control, but I intuitively knew how it "felt" to change things. I didn't "say" it in my mind ("this can change into this...") but I imagined that it were different, expecting the dream to conform, which it usually does. In this instance it didn't due to self-doubt.

I think what I need to do, is train myself to 1. recognize that I am dreaming, then, 2. to remind myself to stay calm so I can remain in the dream state and gain incremental control over the surroundings. If I can do this, hopefully, I can gain enough self-control to probe my dream-world for information about myself/reality. In essence, I can gain direct access to my subconscious mind, in order to learn more about myself.

From now on, when I am going to sleep, I will repeat to myself: I will recognize that I am dreaming. I will remain calm. I will remember it upon waking.

Alchemy and Hermeticism

Hermeticism is something I've always been very interested in. The conclusions that humans have come to and the rituals that they have employed to enlighten themselves throughout the centuries fascinates me. I continue to study the works of the hermeticists, theosophists, and alchemists in an attempt to realize the truth about the nature of the self (selves) and reality.

Last weekend I read Theurgy and The Secret Fire, both written by E. J. Langford Gartsin, which I found at hermetics.org.

A major theme of Alchemical writing is the separation of the soul/mind from the physical body. Having read about this before, I tried it again (I've been experimenting with OBE or Astral Projection for years now). The results were subtle, but important:

I lied in bed, K by my side, asleep. I allowed my body to relax, as I consciously kept my mind awake (the "mind awake, body asleep" technique). I focused on nothingness, and listened to the sounds of my ears. As has happened before, my limbs stiffened, my heart-rate decreased, and I felt myself "drifting". I could feel my subtle body attempting to separate, but the "pull" or "magnetism" of my physical body kept it from it's goal.

After a little while K stirred, half woke up and began rubbing her face with her hands. I couldn't resist and opened my eyes, thinking to myself that she was distracting me from my practice. I said, "Are you ok?" She replied, "I'm washing my face..."

I began thinking about what that meant to me, given The Universe's symbolic language. I came to the conclusion that it was not a distraction, but a communication. In the Alchemical/Hermetic texts, it is stressed that the Adept must "purify" or "cleanse" himself before attempting The Art/Practice. The washing of the face was symbolic of this very cleansing.

I am now faced with the question: What exactly must one do to purify or cleanse one's self? I've taken it as an ethical/spiritual cleansing, i.e., the student must live a life of compassion, humility and suffering before Nature will grant him the privilege of separation (The First Matter).

I must take Her advice and be aware of any opportunities to be compassionate and loving, empathetic and gentle.

I am going on a trip for the holidays, which includes a long plane flight. I intend to find a book to read on the flight. I pray that The Universe puts into my hands the appropriate text.

Thank you Mother for your care and attention. I promise you, it will not be in vain.