When you journey to the unconscious, bring a map

During a recent trip to Mexico, where I’d come to present a program on Dreaming Toward Bliss at a conference on dreams and healing, I did what I often do when I travel: I wandered the streets, exploring. Or, more truthfully, I spent a lot of time getting lost. Which is a lovely thing to do when you’re on vacation.

Sometimes you stumble onto unexpected delights: A cafe with a beautiful garden, a sudden sweeping view of the city, or a gallery with its doors open and art inside that sings to your soul.

But much of the time, I know from experience, you end up with calloused feet from walking stretches of roadway crammed with car dealerships and gas stations. And you get grumpy because you need water, and can’t find a tienda that sells some.

This isn’t the picture of the idyllic vacation we yearn for, so we pack a map, or buy a guidebook to prepare. But what I’ve described is, frankly, what most of us do, most of the time, when we sleep and dream. We wander into a vast territory without a plan. As for a map? We didn’t even know there was one.

But it is possible to be a prepared visitor to the land of dreams. Which is important, because statistically speaking, the odds are against us. Most of us experience more fear, anxiety, anger, and sadness in our dreams than the sweet emotions we hope for. That’s because the happiness-boosting neurotransmitters such as serotonin are in short supply during REM sleep, where most of our vivid, narrative, and memorable dreams take place.

Moving beyond anxious dreams

But it’s not necessary to accept that our dreams will be mostly mildly unpleasant if not downright disturbing. We can become skillful dreamers by using yogic and mindfulness-based practices along with dreamwork to experience more dreams of clarity, joy, and even bliss.

Then, even when we do encounter dreams of anxiety or angst, we can use what we learn from those dreams to transform challenging encounters with our subconscious, and enjoy more positive and productive experiences both asleep and awake.

Once we have the guidance we need to understand even a little bit about our nighttime mind, we can see that  dreams offer reports on what needs attention and healing within us. Using the information they offer, we can identify the issues and address them so we can experience much more of the health, ease, and wisdom that are are innate and accessible to us. 

Once you become familiar with the terrain of our inner being, you’ll become the kind of explorer asleep that is quite different than the kind of tourist I am awake. It’s easy to learn some simple dreamwork techniques and practices so you won’t have to bumble through a chaos of crazy streets, sometimes turning a corner into a neighborhood of delights—but mostly missing trains and getting lost in the dark.

You’ll no longer be content to drift mindlessly into sleep, anymore than you would walk out of your home most mornings without even a vague sense of direction for your day. And you’ll more reliably reach your destination–the heart of joy at the center of your being.

Imagine…

Think about it: What if we could navigate the terrain of our inner worlds, as confidently as we navigate the sidewalks and streets of our neighborhoods?

What if we were as familiar with our inner wisdom as we were with our height and weight? What if rather than looking ever outward for guidance, we turned inward to our own wisdom and highly informed intuition?

What if we spoke of dreams as the royal road to joy and we entered sleep with faith that our nighttime consciousness is moving us toward something good?

Imagine what we might attain, individually and collectively, when we are no longer tourists of our inner worlds, but instead active and empowered explorers? If we knew that bliss was at our center and we knew the way to reliably access it?

[learn_more caption=”Are you ready to listen to your dreams?”] Through dreamwork, Tzivia takes dreams off the pillow—and off the analyst’s couch—and into the light of day. Her approach is thoughtful, engaging–and practical. Whether your dreams mystify or intrigue you, Tzivia will help you gain insight and understanding, so you can bring your dreams’ wisdom, healing, and guidance to your daily life.[/learn_more]

[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://thirdhousemoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/THM-Doorway-OS-THIS-IMG_8213-683×1024.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Using a unique blend of dreamwork and mindfulness-based practices, author and certified dream therapist Tzivia Gover awakens people to the extraordinary joy, beauty, and wisdom hidden within the ordinary moments of our daily lives. She offers one-on-one sessions, workshops, and keynotes to spark new insights on who we are and who we might become. Tzivia is the director of the Institute for Dream Studies, where she offers online courses in Dreams and Dream Certification. Tzivia’s workshops and classes are appropriate for corporate, community, and educational groups, as well as for retreats and special programs. She has led events at: Esalen Institute, Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, SOUND Center for Healing and Art, and various colleges and universities, among many others. Tzivia has her MFA in writing from Columbia University, and is also a certified Proprioceptive Writing instructor and Reiki Master. Her books include “The Mindful Way to a Good Night’s Sleep” and “Joy in Every Moment.”[/author_info] [/author]