Dreams Help Us See the Bigger Picture

By James Tissot – http://www.jesuswalk.com/jacob/images/tissot-joseph-and-his-brethren-welcomed-by-pharaoh-415×600.jpg, Public Domain, Link

While reading the biblical story of Joseph welcoming his brothers into Egypt years after they had sold him into slavery (Genesis 45:1-15), and noticing his forgiving and gracious reception of those who did him in, it was clear to see that Joseph understood the bigger picture of God’s plan in the awful treatment his brothers gave him.  Joseph held no grudges or desire for revenge.  Instead, he welcomed his brothers, saying “God sent me here to preserve life.”  He was able to offer his brothers refuge in Egypt from the famine that was rampant.

Joseph was a famous dreamer of dreams.  He had vivid prophetic dreams which told him early on he would have power over his older siblings.  This, of course, is what added fuel to the flames of sibling rivalry, resulting in his being sold into slavery.  Later, Joseph’s dreams and ability to interpret dreams won him Pharaoh’s favor in Egypt.  In other words, Joseph knew all along his troubles would lead him to greatness, even though he probably suffered greatly when his dreams seemed far from having anything to do with reality.  However, he kept the faith and believed in his dreams.

Being in touch with one’s dreams over a long period of time gives one clues to the major themes, meanings, challenges, loves and tragedies of one’s life.  Much of this drama is played out ahead of time in dreamtime if one is only “awake” enough to witness it, record it and remember it.  As they say, the story is not nearly so scary when there is an inkling of the ending, and the drama doesn’t dominate one so much.  An aware dreamer like Joseph is able to act with kindness because he or she understands the deeper meanings already suggested in dreamtime.

Joseph’s ability to see the big picture of his life surely made him understand that resentments, grudges and revenge had no place in the greater drama of God’s plan as shown to him in dreams.  It lifted him above the level of cruelty and pettiness of his siblings to a higher consciousness where God gave him the grace to act well on a grand stage.  If we are in touch with our dreams, they will guide us through the story of our lives, helping us to act with dignity and graciousness even in the worst of times.

Meditation Classes: Heart Centering, Relaxation and Visualization for Health

Grow Spiritual Seeds

Starting Classes on Meditation!

Many thanks to your generosity, we are starting our first class on Thursday, Aug. 31, 6:30 pm at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 2062 S. King St., Honolulu, HI  96826. Topic: Heart Centering & Relaxation Meditations. The second will be the following Thursday, same time and place. Topic: Visualization Meditations for Better Health. BOTH CLASSES ARE FREE! So please come and tell others.

If you want to support more classes like these to grow spiritual seeds please visit https://www.gofundme.com/StMary-SpiritualLife or make a check to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, send to same at 2062 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96826 and put “Spiritual Life Program/Ministries” on the memo line. A BIG MAHALO!

Accessing the Inner Healer Through Dreams

Image via Pinterest.

A good argument can be made that there is a healer within each one of us.  The evidence lies in the fact that for most of our lives we are healed of many colds, sores, wounds and other conditions without the help of any specific medication which actually cures the ailment.  Our bodies have an interior intelligence that knows how to heal and works wonderfully well when we cooperate by providing enough rest, a nutritious diet and exercise.

Where does this power to heal come from?  What activates it?  Can we work with it other than getting rest, good food and exercise?  The answer is yes!  Dreams let us work with this healing energy in very creative and effective ways because they present us with the images, sounds and processes we can use to interact with and engage the energy used in healing process.  Dreams offer us symbols of the various kinds of energy that animate us at the present moment.   We only need to 1) look for symbols, sounds and processes related to health to literally see how our healing energy is working within us now and to 2) engage those symbols so that they give us specific insights.

Symbols of Healing in Dreams

The obvious symbols are physicians, nurses, aid workers, first responders, clergy, nuns, psychologists and social workers.  Whenever these figures appear in a dream, you can be fairly sure the issue of the dream is health related, either of the body, mind or spirit. Other symbols might be spirit guides that are related to health such as St. Michael or St. Blaise, the patron saint of throat conditions.  Still others might be bandages, ambulances, sirens, healing ointments and even snakes, which were associated with Aesclepius, the Greek god of healing.

Sounds of Healing in Dreams

The dreamer may hear a voice which says “You have skin cancer on your back,” or “We will heal the pain in your stomach.”  These voices often speak with a tone of authority and knowledge, and I have found them to be very reliable and accurate over the years.  They offer specific diagnoses, advice or deeper explanations for a condition that the dreamer may or may not know about.   They should be taken seriously, and a waking-life physician should hear about them if the condition is serious.

Healing Processes in Dreams

A dream may indicate a series of events that will show the way to treatment and recovery.  An outcome may be presented.  If the dream is nightmarish, as dreams often are prior to surgery, hopeful symbols or events may be presented among the scary ones which encourage the dreamer to go through the healing process, even though going may be rough.

When a healing symbol, sound, or process is presented in a dream, it is important to write it down, reflect about it in the context of the whole dream and other dreams that occur in the general time frame.

Actively Accessing and Engaging with the Dream

One accesses information from a dream by not only reflecting on the dream but also asking for a dream that will give specific answers about a previous dream.  The dreamer may choose to ask for a dream that will allow him or her to learn from a symbol, sound or process that has appeared in a dream.  For example, the dreamer may ask for a dream that will let him or her talk to the doctor who previously appeared in a dream, and perhaps find out why the doctor appeared or what additional information the doctor wants to give the dreamer.  If the dreamer had a dream about a having a certain disease, the dreamer may ask for a dream that will give a treatment.  The key is to ask specific questions relating directly to the dream in question.  Try it yourself, and you will find yourself interacting with your Inner Healer!  While this approach is not a substitute for seeing your doctor, it can greatly help your doctor find out what’s wrong, and may save you money.