Dreams, nightmares, etc.
Ellen
Does anyone have any idea about dreams, nightmares, and interpretation?
As a child of Oya, I have a lot of dreams and nightmares. And although
I've been working to stop the nightmares from being so scary, and I've
had quite a bit of success, I don't think I've been as successful at
using the dreams as a resource of information and spiritual strength.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Do any of the other Oyas in the Ile have similar issues? I think she's
trying to speak to me, and my ancestors are there too, but how do I get
it to comfort me rather than freak me out? I've spent a lot of time
working with this, but I must be on the wrong track.
Any suggestions?
Ellen
cuban...@my-deja.com
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gran...@my-deja.com
Ellen (Cubanita99) <cuban...@my-deja.com> wrote:
> Alafia!
>
> Does anyone have any idea about dreams, nightmares, and
interpretation?
> As a child of Oya, I have a lot of dreams and nightmares. And
although
> I've been working to stop the nightmares from being so scary, and I've
> had quite a bit of success, I don't think I've been as successful at
> using the dreams as a resource of information and spiritual strength.
> Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> Do any of the other Oyas in the Ile have similar issues? I think
she's
> trying to speak to me, and my ancestors are there too, but how do I
get
> it to comfort me rather than freak me out? I've spent a lot of time
> working with this, but I must be on the wrong track.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Ellen
> cuban...@my-deja.com
>
I suppose you are keeping a record of your dreams in a dream journal?
The dream books are not really that good for interpreting dreams
because so many symbols mean different things to every individual.
Watch the symbols in your dreams and watch the patterns in your life
that might relate to these symbols. You need to learn the unique
language of your subconcious mind.
There are general interpretations- death is really change/transition
leading to new life, etc. But you need to watch your symbols and the
feelings and meanings you attribute to them. It would seem that
frightening dreams point to an unease in your life. Try to pinpoint
where you are uncomfortable or out of balance.
Go with your gut on the meanings. You have the information inside
you. You just need to access it.
Symbology is a fascinating and revealing study. I don't know if you
are familiar with the major archetypal symbols but they would be worth
researching. Try Jungian psychology. If you prefer mythology, Joseph
Campbell deals with the archetypes in his works. My favorite
presentation of the archetypal energies is the Kabbalah- (spelled
multiple ways!)- Jewish esoteric tradition. The Tree of Life is the
glyph from this system. There you will find the major archetypes.
(The orishas are there, too!)
Good hunting!
Mary
ray_h...@my-deja.com
As for orisa or ancestor figures in our dreams, my guess is that they
represent one of our voices that causes fear when we don't want to listen or
make the life changes suggested. Actual appearances of transpersonal beings
in our dreams are usually limited to emergencies and special invites.
Blessings, Ray
Ellen
ray_h...@my-deja.com wrote:
(snip - old posts)
> > First, I completely agree with Mary on two points: most "dream
books" are worthless, and it helps to have a system to approach your
personal symbols. I'm also omo oya and though I have few troubling
dreams, I do lots of "dream" work. My favorite book on the subject is
Robert A. Johnson's INNER WORK. It uses a Jungian approach and combines
dream and active imagination work. This way you can quiz dream elements
about "their" meanings.
>
> As for orisa or ancestor figures in our dreams, my guess is that they
> represent one of our voices that causes fear when we don't want to
listen or
> make the life changes suggested. Actual appearances of transpersonal
beings
> in our dreams are usually limited to emergencies and special invites.
> Blessings, Ray
ALAFIA!
Thanks to both Mary and Ray for posting!!
Yes, I must admit that a lot of "touchy feelie" dream interpretation is
not something that would normally resonate with me. But since I haven't
had much success otherwise, I will check out the dream books you've
recommended.
As for being omo oya, and the abandonment issues, I think that they play
very strongly in it.
I had a really freaky, scary nightmare last night, and when I woke
myself up to escape, I comforted myself with Mary's thought that "death"
is often an issue about "closure". So it wasn't really death I was
seeing, it was my own dislike of change and things ending.
I was allowed a lot of unsupervised, late-night television as a child
(my parents put an old black & white in my bedroom so that I would stay
in there and be quite), so I saw a lot of scary movies, and some of the
images come from there. But most of the images come from violent things
that have happened in my own life. I've had recurring nightmares since
I was a child. They all sort of have a "been there, done that" sort of
feel to them. But they're just as violent and scary now as they were
then.
So, for those who know a lot about the three types of Ori (Phil?), I
have a question. I know that, at the moment of conception, my Ori chose
a lot of things. And one of those things was my guardian Oya.
Presumably, I was trying to add the experiences of abandonment in this
life time to my "repertoire", so to speak, of experiences accumulated
over many lifetimes. Well, if abandonment was what I wanted to
experience, I will have lots to think about when this life is over...
But my question is this. Have I had the violent, negative experiences
because I chose Oya and everything that goes with it? Or did I choose
Oya and everything that goes with it because I knew that I was going to
have these experiences (the first happened when I was just two weeks
old), and I thought that Oya would help me to deal with it and learn
from it?
Just curious...
I don't know what difference it would really make. But for some reason
I would prefer to think that I chose Oya so that she would comfort me
through it all. Although my instinct says that it was the other way
around, and that it was because I wanted to have these experiences that
I chose Oya in the first place.
As for my ancestors appearing, thanks Ray for mentioning that. I hadn't
thought about it, because when I look in the mirror, I look "white", or
something close to "white". But the dead man trying to break through my
glass door (and sucking on the glass, as if he were underwater and
trying to get at the air in my house) was black, and probably was an
ancestor, or a representative of an ancestor during a particular
lifetime. I didn't really think about it at the time - I just thought
he was another dead guy in my dreams. And what he wanted, I don't know.
But he scared me to death, and I woke myself up to get away from it
all.
Thanks again to both of you for trying to help me work this all out!
Blessings,
Ellen
cuban...@my-deja.com
--
Eileen & Gladys
can't believe that I dream every night and that they are so wild. I have
been visited in my dreams by my ancestors, especially my grandmother.
Lately, I have taken this opportunity to talk to her and tell her things
that I wish I had told her while she was alive. I have been working with
dreams off and on. I have noticed that if while I am awake ask to speak to
my grandmother or grandfather, they will eventually come to me through my
dreams. Then while I am dreaming, this might sound odd, I make the
"unconscious" choice to realize that although I am dreaming I can speak to
them and they can reply.
I also have had many "awake dreams", for lack of a better definition. This
is where I am awake, I am aware of what is happening around me, yet I can
feel the presence of another being not from this world. This may sound
odd, but it has happen to me my whole life, and it scares the heck out of
me, because I am unable to move or speak when this occurs.
I would also like to know if anyone has had any experiences in the dream
state.
Although, I have never been told that Oya is my Orisha, I feel that she is
my Orisha. I wonder if this is a trait of Oya's children to have such
vivid dreams.
Gladys
----------
> From: gran...@my-deja.com
> To: deja.c...@list.deja.com
> Subject: Re: Dreams, nightmares, etc.
> Date: Friday, November 12, 1999 7:25 PM
>
> Message from the Deja.com forum:
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> Your subscription is set to individual email delivery
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> > tiene que emigrar....>> -- Willy Chirino
> >
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gran...@my-deja.com
I, too, have had those "awake dreams" and I feel so helpless during
them. It doesn't happen very often. I've heard 2 metaphysical
explanations. One is that it occurs when the astral body doesn't get
completely back into the body before the sleeper awakens. The other is
that it could be an alien abduction! I prefer the 1st one!
Conscious dreaming, when you realize you are dreaming and you seem to
have some control in the dream state, is a good sign that you are
communicating with the subconscious or, metaphysically speaking, you
are learning control in the astral world.
There are many factors that influence the dream state. Anything from
nutrition to allergies to stress. If the dreams are disturbing make
sure you aren't eating foods to which you might be allergic or which
have negative nutritional value. Alcohol can affect dreams as well.
Even the types of images and thoughts with which you fill your mind
will affect you.
Ellen watched horror films as a child, at a time in her life when the
subconscious was developing its symbology. That and the tragic
events/difficulties at which she hinted might explain the frightening
images in her dream world. It is possible to change this imagery
through positive programming. A dream therapist may be able to help
here.
It's important to watch the themes in your dreams. They will point to
major issues in your conscious world.
Hope this is helpful.
Blessings and happy dreaming!
Mary
Ellen
> I also have had many "awake dreams", for lack of a better definition.
> This is where I am awake, I am aware of what is happening around me,
> yet I can feel the presence of another being not from this world.
> This may sound odd, but it has happen to me my whole life, and it
> scares the heck out of me, because I am unable to move or speak when
> this occurs.
>
> I would also like to know if anyone has had any experiences in the
> dream state.
>
> Although, I have never been told that Oya is my Orisha, I feel that
> she is my Orisha. I wonder if this is a trait of Oya's children to
> have such vivid dreams.
>
> Gladys
>
Alafia!!!
Wow! I have read that other people have these awake experiences, but
you're the first person I've ever "met" who's had them! I have them all
the time! But it's funny, the awake ones don't scare me as much. I
think they're freaky, and weird, but not scary. Of course, if you could
see my nightmares, nothing would seem scary by comparison!
I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one! I really appreciate you
posting your experiences! And I believe that such experiences are
typical for Oya children, although you would have to have a Babalawo
determine your guardian to know for sure of you are an omo oya. But I
would imagine that children of any Oricha could have an Oya-inspired
experience. It's just that it's more common for us (I guess) because of
the higher concentration of her energy in us.
Once I had this overwhelming feeling that the parents of one of my high
school friends had just moved into a house with miles and miles of beige
carpeting. I could see his Mom vacuuming this vast expanse of beige
carpeting, in spite of the fact that I hadn't seen him or his Mom for
over 10 years. I exchange email with him occasionally, though, so I
sent him a quick note about my "awake dream". I had them all the time
in High School, and they really used to freak him out, so he knew my
history with it all. Well, he emailed back to say that his parents had
just moved to their newly built retirement home. And the fact that he
didn't say "but you were wrong - the carpeting is dark blue" confirms
that it definitely was beige, and he was just too freaked out about it
to say so.
So what does it mean? Why did I know that? Why does any of it matter?
I can't even begin to tell you. But I could see his Mom, as clear as
day, vacuuming her miles and miles of newly installed beige carpeting.
I suppose that some people would say that I knew she liked beige
carpeting. But the house that they were in when we were in High School
didn't have beige carpeting in it anywhere. And why did I have that
connection with her after I hadn't seen her in 10 years on the very
weekend that my friend and his younger siblings all met at the new house
to congratulate their parents. It was very strange. And I have these
sorts of things happen to me all the time. But why? I don't know...
But you're not alone! Don't be afraid! (I know that's easy to say but
hard to do.) They must be messages for us. And although some of them
are probably Oricha/Ancestral messages, I would imagine that most are
messages from ourselves. I'm trying to listen. It's not easy... :-)
Thanks for sharing your experiences! You've made me feel a lot better!
Blessings,
Ellen
--
ray_h...@my-deja.com
I've had the vivid daydreams as well and never really knew what to make of
them 'til this summer when I studied shamanism at a conference. The states
are almost the same. As for being "frozen" at a time near regular sleep, our
bodies produce a chemical that inhibits movement when we sleep or else
everyone would run, jump, etc. while dreaming. Sometimes it kicks in early
or has a residual effect. If it happens frequently I'd ask my doctor's
opinion. Alafia, Ray
Eileen & Gladys
described about your friend's mother. I remember when I was little, he
told me he had had this dream where a little red car was flying in the air,
it really affected him. Guess what? The next day on his way to work there
was an accident and a little red sports car flew up in the air, across his
car and smashed into a wall. He has had several dreams come true...or
should they be called premonitions? I just know when he calls and warns me
about something I know to pay extra heed.
Just curious, but have you had any experiences with the spirit world? That
runs very prevalent in my family. Sometimes I think that is why we have
such dreams, they might being trying to communicate with us in another
realm of reality.
----------
> From: ray_h...@my-deja.com
> To: deja.c...@list.deja.com
> Subject: Re: Dreams, nightmares, etc.
> Date: Monday, November 15, 1999 2:43 PM
>
> Message from the Deja.com forum:
> deja.comm.ifa
> Your subscription is set to individual email delivery
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Ellen
"Eileen & Gladys" <catw...@sierratel.com> wrote:
> Well I got to tell you, that my father has had experiences like the
> one you
> described about your friend's mother. I remember when I was little,
> he
> told me he had had this dream where a little red car was flying in the
> air,
> it really affected him. Guess what? The next day on his way to work
> there
> was an accident and a little red sports car flew up in the air, across
> his
> car and smashed into a wall. He has had several dreams come true...or
> should they be called premonitions? I just know when he calls and
> warns me
> about something I know to pay extra heed.
Wow! This is exactly the sort of experience I'm talking about. And I
never knew that others had these experiences. That's amazing that he
saw the car, and although he didn't fully see the context, he knew it
was going to be bad.
> Just curious, but have you had any experiences with the spirit world?
> That
> runs very prevalent in my family. Sometimes I think that is why we
> have
> such dreams, they might being trying to communicate with us in another
> realm of reality.
Well, I'm hesitant to say yes, because "experiences with the spirit
world" is too vague for my liking. But yes, I have had strange
experiences that can't be explained in a normal way. And I've had
"premonitions" (for lack of a better word) that are not easily explained
away. I gave the carpet example because it was very easy to describe.
But I've had others that are more like a feeling than a vision, and they
are even more powerful (and accurate) than the image of my friend's Mom
vacuuming her beige carpeting.
I would imagine that these images and feelings have something to do with
people who have already died ("spirits"). As for this sort of thing
running in my family, I am adopted, and although I'm very fortunate to
have quite a lot of information about my biological ancestors (more than
most adopted people have), I don't have any way of contacting them.
I've never met any of them (that I'm aware of - you never know who's
standing in line with you at the grocery store). So I don't know if
this runs in my family.
You have no idea how much it's comforted me to hear from others with
these same types of experiences. I slept better last night than I have
for a very long time. I still awoke uneasy, but much less so than
usual. Thanks!
Blessings and gratitude,