What if your the bad guy in these dreams? How do two people get to live in your place even in a dream, why are they ..."In your space"?
I am still caught up in Astrology, having a bit of fun,but feeling a bit persecuted, not making a money in spite of spending alot of money into learning more about astrology.
Had a dream late morning about trying to pick a fight with a guy with two Monkeys.
David
U.S.A - Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 20:00:37 (CEST)
In my dream I met two people and we wanted to talk about something. We were near my apartment so we went there but when we opened the door there were two people who had been living there who shouldn't have been and currently watching tv.
One was fat and smoking. I said something about how they don't belong here and the other real roommate was coming.
The fat one said something about getting out now but he was giving me a bad attitude at the same time. I went in the other room while that one was getting ready to leave and practiced punching in the air and laughing the stress laugh.
When I woke up, I used active imagination and grabbed the fat one's fingers while he was still smoking and lying down being a couch potato and bent his fingers so that the cigarette burned his cheek.
I also imagined saying something about how he probably wants to let go of the cigarette he so arrogantly was smoking in someone elses apartment but now he can't. I was squashing his fingers together.
Then instead of waiting for someone who thinks it's O.K. to be rude to me when they are dlearly in the wrong,I kicked the couch over which promptly dumped his entire body out the window.
Greg
Indonesia - Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at 09:35:47 (CEST)
A man tried to keep me in a room. He went out and could see me through a window. I made him think I was walking one way but then I ran back towards the door he went out.
He was onto me so I jumped out the window doing an amazing dive to the ground about 3 stories. Then I was running for a long time trying to stay away from him.
There was a police check point. I took off myshirt so they wouldn]t match my description. They had a dog sniffing people, I felt fear.
The dog barked at the man in front when it was almost my turn. I thought maybe the dog thought the fear he smelled belonged to that man but it was probably only mine.
The dog barked at the man. Then I realized I was dreaming and just walked through the gate. Four policemen shot me in the back of the chest and abdomen.
I said "This is a dream, you can:t kill me" and I spat the bullets back out at them which killed them all.
Greg, Indonesia - Sunday, May 04, 2008 at 06:30:01 (CEST)
Well thats a goodway of looking at it and you are probably right, maybe astrology is just a different way of constellating human experience and consciousness.
I think alot of people like Astrology more because it seems so definite. I learn to like dreamwork because of the mystery.Whats life without a mystery? What mystery is there in astrology?
Do we not create our reality or is everything fated, set to happen and there's nothing we can do about it?
I like the Creative Whack pack too, but I don't have the deck? If your into Dreamwork and Strephon's teachings , buy his dream cards. But I think Strephon might agree that the best deck you can buy is one you build yourself, to that point I don't do Tarot. I did get Naomi Epels, "observation deck", its mostly a deck for writers, but its like the Whack pack, with alot of good ideas about how to go about the art of writing. I'm not a writer,Naomi is a Dreamworker though.
Astrology used to be a old hobby of mine I thought dreamwork was a much better idea. I got turned on to good old rational science recently by people like Peter Duesberg a Molecular biologist and Anti HIV-AIDS dissenter/professor at U.C Berkeley.
He's an Old Kraut,from out of WWII!
But I'm not Duesberg, nor do I have his education,but I used to dream alot about being at U.C Berkeley, in Duesberg's class,or doing some research with him. In reality I'm light years from doing anything like this. I called these dreams "Arcane Studies", but I the most arcane thing I used to know was about astrology,and maybe how to cast a chart. I'm sure Peter would say in my case , " do well, what you do best" so maybe that's what the dream was saying. I didn't know it then ,but maybe i could do astrology well. On the other hand, I don't like the kind of mindset in Astrology, it not a "science", and really in this world maybe we could use more science and less fiction, things based on obsevation rather than superstition? Peter Duesberg probably would like what I was doing..
Maybe I'm not a good enough Astrologer to see an empowering solution in charts. I barely understand astrology, itwould be like looking at a train wreck and discovering whats empowering about it.
David, U.S.A - Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 21:56:21 (CEST)
Jung says of astrology that psychologists shouldn't have any problems with it since it is the psychology of the ancients but he meant that the wheel of the zodiac represented their understanding of all the parts of a complete personality not that the stars have anything to do with events or one's psychological constitution.
Most astrological interpretations are far too limiting and disempowering saying that you are only manifesting the leonine traits for example.
Even if you also include the position of the moon and other planets it's still not so good.
Tarot cards and astrology are misused. If they can suggest something a person hasn't thought of or of trying to do things in a new way, then they can be empowering.
But they should be viewed as suggestions, not prescriptions or fortelling the future.
The Creative Whack Pack and Strephons Dream Cards are sooooooooo much better than either astrology or tarot.
If they're used to tell who and what you are and then you go living your life in the same way you always have then they're useless.
Even worse than useless, they are a thing to turn to when having anxiety that further extends the conditions which created the anxiety in the first place.
It comes across as trying to inflate one's importance and specialness by saying that many of a person\s dreams are precognitive. All dreams by everyone may have an element of the future.
Dreams do not tell us what to do. If you dreamed of doing astrology perhaps it means that is a behavior you do when you're awake. It's just reflecting that, not suggesting to do it more or to do it as an occupation.
Change for changes sake isn't always good. That;s kind of the definition of cancer.
Not remembering dreams may suggest a lack of consciousness since they approach half of our total life experience.
By itself astrology is fine IF you can find ways to use it that empower oneself and other people. Most people can't seem to do that with them.
When getting a negative reading, you may be giving oneself and others a posthypnotic suggestion for the negatives to play out if you/they view them as a fortune telling tool.
It's better to see that as an opportunity to ask oneself, if this bad thing happens then what will I do about it? But thats what people don't want to do and is the reason why they are consulting the cards in the first place because, they would rather be told what to do by tarot cards, astrology or dreams than make their own decision which is difficult, scary and not always effective.
But thats the nature of decision making no matter who you are. We just take action and try consciously to accept the consequences.
Greg, Indonesia - Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 10:29:24 (CEST)
Missing some of this stuff, just saying hello to all. I've been hijacked! I got caught up into Astrology which used to be an old hobby of mine. I turned away from astrology in the past because I thought dreams,and understanding them was really central to my life. Now I'm doing Astrology charts and analysing others charts but not making any money ,and neglecting my dreamwork (project).
I'm discovering so much of my recorded dreams are precognitive. In some of my earlier recorded dreams ,They may have even hinted at doing astrology, I know more about Astrology, so why not try to find work at what I am good at? ..My past recorded dreams foretell of my present dileemas sort of...for home,relatives and health
But what is troubling about Astrology is the type of mindset alot of participants have about it. How can we effect important change in our lives? By tracking the planets/stars, or by paying attention to our dreams/feelings? I think dreams and feelings are more central to our lives. Many people would rather track an Asteroid than to ponder a dream, and so I play the Astrology game. I don't even remeber my dreams much anymore..Though now I understand alittle why they are important.
Have you ever caught up in something to disapprove of ,it's a sort of addiction though. I spending money on these Astrology programs,I can speak the language...
Bye now..
David, U.S.A. - Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 19:38:45 (CEST)
hy, thanx Greg for your good analysis
you were right in that there were recent changes in my life, begining the study of Psychology being one of them ..
which enlarges one’s perspective and often offers reasons for meditation and bending towards inner self… also.. I would make a reference to George Kelly theory of applying the concept of cognitive disonance in the personal construct of oneself as a therapy..
this implies constructing a new Personna for the subject by and making an agreement with him that he will apply the new behavior for 1,2 weeks
my proposal is to use aspects of his shadow in the new personna to allow him to reach the stage of ecquilibrium(balance) after realising his psychological profile
and not just opposites aspects of the subject,
What I am valuing more is school instead of work .. but it’s the work that allows me to go to school : )..
and I am looking at work as a slavery thing : p.. but in that of taking our time of every day, a time which could be a whole lot better used fulfilled .. and not in the difficulty of the job..
HAPPY EASTERN everyone!Jesus is resurected!
Hristos a inviat!
chris, europe - Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 15:13:46 (CEST)
Hey Chris,
perhaps your dream was not something that could be adequately dealt with on the internet. Try again with your next dream. I suspect Strephon has good reasons for taking something down.
It has happened to me too. Just know it happens sometimes and that it most likely doesn't mean anything bad (faulty electronics?)
Being only a spectator is not normally a good thing but you quickly move out of that role. Is that something that has recently happened in your outer life also?
Finding escape around the toilet could imply something that is undervalued or conversely something which is overvalued but is really as valuable as excrement. Drugs come to mind.
Fighting while you're running away can be a good stategy but not always.
You're very sure of your ability to kill and seem fearful of hurting others.
Some kind of transformation has taken place with the bad guy and may represent someone you know or yourself who has turned around.
As for me, I've had a string of dream fights. I must not be resting well if I'm fighting with specters every night. I'm getting a lot of practice fighting though. So, maybe they're honing my edge.
The last dream has a driver I've just paid flip me off and say "fuck you". So, I step on his foot and pinch the nerve below the clavicle and the pectoral near the crook of the arm. Nothing affects him, he's just snickering at me.
When I wake up, I do active imagination of cutting off the offending finger and tongue.
Greg, Indonesia - Friday, April 25, 2008 at 15:14:51 (CEST)
THE CHASE - CHANGING THE END
Hy everyone
I had an interesting dream…. Everything was happening like in a movie… I was looking at it as a spectator .. but both being in the dream scene as an actor…
So I was looking at a woman who was chased by the bad guys.. and she enters a toilet.. and incredibly altough the situation seemed desperate she… which is me now cause I become her…while looking at the scene manages to discover an opening.. like a big canal connected with the toilet ..for used water where she enters and finds escape.. at least for a time..
In the tunnels the search continues.. but with the passion of a movie.. only a little …
And I … the male hero fight them in impossible walking on the walls kung fu hits and beat them..
And still I am running.. until the end of the city… and then .. as all the time the same feeling of déjà vu..but like the movie was played a few times more..i remember the last one and know the following of the actions.. and suddenly feel sad..
Cause I realise that the end was to be I should turn and fight the bad leader in the final scene.. so I thought fast wherever I fight someone will get killed.. is either me or him… that is still in the dark tunnels..
So I wish to change the violedn result and in stead altough I am followed by the evil leader I make my way out of the tunnels and seeing a beautiful girl I know , related to him .. I take her for my wife and the surprise.. the evile leader of the whole gang of bad guys.. comes out of the tunnels .. where I stand on the edge of the green field with the girl and actually congratulates me for my choice..which was a way out of the only 2 way apparent solutions of the problem – the chase through the city..
I’d like to hear your comments Mr. Strephon and everyone’s on the forum.
Chris, romania - Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 12:36:04 (CEST)
DID I DO THE RIGHT THING - DREAMS COMMENTING ON US? - First, Muriel writes about dreaming of a crusty, sometimes abrupt growth leader and personality reader. And related a life incident of leaving a family dinner when someone there was intrusive. Did I do the right thing? she wants to know, and what might her dream say about the issue?
A look at Muriel's dream shows us a strong and definite dream figure, the personality reader, who acts as if she is certain about things and just expresses whatever feels right to her regardless of its effect on others.
ISSUE QUESTIONS - What style of life do you lead, want to lead, find the best to lead? Are you always committed to acting out of yourself regardless of its effects on others? Are there certain principles and truths you choose to live by? A woman once said she said to a man, If you ever hit me the relationship is over! Well, we see her values! Whether they are in reality or not is another question. Hopefully we want to live by values and life principles that work in reality. So is it better to live simply following your own feelings and choices, and accepting consequences for your actions? Or should you live in a reconciling way, always including the possible reactions of other people as you make your choices?
Should you live consciously, acting only when you know what you are doing? Or should you live more impulsively, acting out of the feelings and emotions that stream through you?
Are you enough aware of the values and principles you want to live by in life, and are you living by them, and what results from this?
Is it possible there are no right and wrong answers to anything? Only direct experience and how we do and don't deal with it? Maybe life as experience is simply "what we choose is what we become?" We are our experiences so why judge them?
We upset people, we make people happy, we get upset ourselves we feel joy at times, so what? What if we just live each moment as it comes being as much in tune with what is happening in us and in the moment? What kind of life would that create for us?
Only we can choose what we live by and take the consequences of all our choices. So maybe your responsibility is to yourself and let others deal with what that evokes in them? Or would you rather act in accordance with others' wishes and expectations so that you can spend a lot of time trying to figure out what others want and how to make them feel good, or whatever they want to feel?
Maybe you want to spend as much of your life energy as possible on making others feel good and happy and that you don't really need to know what YOU want or what YOU most value because you need your energy for others? A bit of kidding here, of course! Good luck with the issues!
Strephon, Netherlands - World - Monday, April 14, 2008 at 14:18:33 (CET)
Had a very different dream experience than usual, that surprised me by what it said. I was with a female spiritual teacher who has, in reality, a crusty persona that can be kind of abrasive at times. In my dream she was doing a reading of my energy field and I was smiling at her. She smiled back and asked why, and I said something like, "Because I'm quite taken with you."
As she was reading my energy field, I knew she was seeing something very positive, and there was a good feeling between us. This surprised me because I've seen her speak, and I wasn't sure I liked how abrupt she was with the audience.
It also suprised me because the dream came on the heels of a dramatic event where I walked out of a family dinner with my 'inlaws' because my boyfriend's sister was being intrusive. I was shaken up afterwards, and didn't know what to make of what I had done, feeling unsure of myself. I'm wondering if this is a confirmation dream, because I had experienced so much uncertainty about what I had done!? Does the crusty female spiritual teacher appear as some kind of 'crone' energy to reinforce me?
Muriel, Australia - Monday, April 14, 2008 at 03:12:07 (CEST)
Dreamed about two very tall men who were talking shit about me and laughing at me under their breath but not so I wouldn't notice. I walked over toward them and told the tallest one, who was VERY tall, to fuck off. I wondered what I was getting myself into. He can probably kill me. They kept at it so I stood up on a bench and said "come on" so as to fight.
The bench made me taller than him. He started laughing so hard he fell on the floor at my feet. I stepped off the bench onto his head and I heard it crack. I could see in his eyes what someone getting a knock out punch looks like. Unconscious. He didn't move again. I thought probably he was dead. I had the thought that I'll get into a lot of trouble for this since all they were doing was talking crap about me.
In the waking world, that is something that makes me fighting mad. Since it happens frequently here in Bali, from obnoxious taxi drivers every few feet along the street who have all been demanding I use their taxi service for 7 MONTHS, calling me names in Bahasa Indonesian to their friends and talking about me.
Like most expats, I've already found a driver who does not have a mafioso personality. I'd like to select the biggest baddest tattooed one who thinks he's the leader of the mafia and make an example out of him. Then maybe I wouldn't have to listen to their constant snide remarks every time I walk by. They'd shut the fuck up and show me some respect.
Also, relates to my family, taking exception to everything I say. If I really had it out with my father then maybe they'd stop contradicting me with what looks to me like just absolute stupidity.
Greg, Indonesia - Monday, April 07, 2008 at 04:33:03 (CEST)
HY Mr. Strephon and the group! It is with great delight that i announce you that i've entered the Psychology School at University and is so passionate.
it's been a long time since i started writing my dreams.. and applying ideas..
and a whole world appeared in front of my (closed) eyes.. : )
I 'm writing a study on dreams now.. hope to retake the communication with everyone ..this time on academic bases too :P
I'm looking for inputs on C.G. Jung on the net and which of his books are relating on dreams
Chris, ROMANIA - Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 14:11:14 (CEST)
CHOICEMAKING IN DREAMS AND LIFE - Following Cary and the issue she raises. Okay, you can think about it, you can interpret, you can complain about it, you can try and understand but what will you do about it? Action makes the difference. How we act determines what we become. What we choose is what we become. Why don't we all act more and think and emote less?
With actions come consequences. In a sense there are no right choices and no right outcomes. Is it not better then simply to make your choices and deal with the consequences?
As I look back on my life I could say I have had some good relationships and some bad ones. The good ones I mostly enjoyed and gained from. The bad ones I lost energy to and suffered a lot of frustrations. However, labeling my relationships history this way is not the reality. The reality is I had the relationships I had and I dealt with what I experienced.
In sports you win some and you lose some, but that is only a labeling because in sports they create something called the score and something called a winner. In point of fact there is no winner to a match until that match is over. What then is the value of the playing against each other while the game is on? The value is in the playing itself.
So, how can we also label choices and relationships good and bad? In direct experience there are only choices and the consequences that result. Oh, but I did not want those consequences, you say. I made a bad choice. If I had it to do over I would not have made that choice in that way.
But you don't have the chance to do anything over. So the point is not to make good choices and not make bad choices. Simply make choices and deal with the best you can the outcomes that result. This is your life and it could not be otherwise because what happened is what is. So why waste energy on this extra level of evaluating?
Of course my ego wishes that all my relationship choices turned out much more positive than negative. But hear the ego speaking here trying to impose its categories and attitudes onto direct experience? Perhaps the less energy you give to living in your head and evaluating your experiences according to ego desires the more able you will be able to live in and create with the direct experiences you are actually having.
Don't think either that as you are more conscious and active with your dreams that your dreaming will get better according to how your ego defines better. Maybe your dreaming will get worse in the sense of that what you want you don't get.
You are not on this earth to have good experiences or to get what you want in this life. The ego does not even know that what it wants is what it needs. The experiential fact is that you are simply living your life, making choices and being affected by the consequences. All that is truly asked for is that you be in reality and deal with things as they come along.
Strephon, Netherlands - World - Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 13:33:47 (CET)
Two dreams. One in which I was being confronted with a choice I had made that had turned out for the worst. Instead of getting defensive, I simply agreed that it had been a poor choice. Having such a choice in how to 'react' is something I have been working on for a long time... So I am encouraged that my dream 'ego' is suggesting that this change is taking effect at deeper levels. Also, in reading Strephon's books, I have been sitting with the fact that I have done lots of journaling, reflecting, pondering but often have fallen short in the acting... appropriate action in the real world is what creates real change.. so I have been picking real world tasks that relate to what my dreams seem to be suggesting I pay attention to.. with some good results! I dreampt last night that specific action was required, and that I did whatever it was that was required... and it had a positive result... Thanks.
Cary, USA
- March 26, 2008 at 05:13:27 (CET)
Dreamed of sleeping with a young tiger. I had to get up kuz another tiger was around. It was in the sink. I took it out and was going to clean the sink, the tiger and the floor but a drunk person came in and poured coffee into the side of the sink that had a large container of sugar in it so it went into the sugar. I kicked him out. Outside there were large quartz crystal clusters on the ground. The largest was being pulled underground. There were lots of young tigers around so I grabbed the nearest cluster and wanted to go back to the house but my way blocked by lots of young tigers that seemed more sinister in such a large pack. They were also a bit afraid of me. They knew I was going to walk down that street so made their way towards me and around the corner to get out of my way. When I got home there were a lot of people outside my door for a party. I told them to fuck off. They didn't leave so I was swinging at the one closest to the door but kept missing. I was really in his face though. Wishing I had a club. Went inside and my cluster fell apart even though each crystal was nice by itself. Went back and collected the remaining crystal clusters. After waking, did active visualization of diving after the largest cluster that was being sucked underground and pulled it with all my strength to keep it for me. I believe this dream relates to a treasured relationship I may be losing and have nearly completely lost more valuable than all the others.
Greg, Indonesia - Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 03:50:13 (CET)
WHAT IS THE ESSENCE OF MARTIAL ARTS? Is it to win over your worst self? To compensate being a loser we may set ourselves up as a loser, be caught in the victim archetype.
Once years ago to test my Seven Basic Archetypes model I made the Double Pyramid Structure and placed all my dreams titles with dates on it with their dominant archetype. I was amazed to find that a large percentage of my dreams were about me fighting adversaries and losing. I had little in the opposite to Adversary, the Heroic. So realizing this I did go into martial arts, and watched myself to start identifying with the Heroic more in doing winning things, not just in fighting, whether in business or against personal demons.
The point of compensation is to balance the opposites within oneself and in ones life. Deal with adversity but also create positive outcomes in what we do.
Thanks for sharing!
Strephon, Netherlands - World - Tuesday, March 04, 2008 at 23:54:38 (CET)
Physically, my weakness is my back, at least nowadays. So, I stretch sometimes and try to use common sense when lifting things etc... Also, a lack of energy is a weakness from long habit of never exercising, but that's changing now.
Just because you remember what to do in a fight doesn't mean the person is actively training, which isn't necessary for most self defense situations. But does help that, as well as helps in having more energy and banishing depression. Another weakness is communicating compassionately.
I was too mealy mouthed in the past and now have overcompensated. Another weakness is not being able to identify and stay with something to invest time and money in. Something that provides enough return on the investment. Something worth it that isn't a moral compromise. I may be getting a handle on that now.
My eyes and ears are also not as good as they used to be. So have to wear glasses sometimes etc... Other weaknesses are mindfullness and a lack of expression of my inner accountant.
Anyway, the latest dream has me noticing that my pubic hairs are REALLY long and has me cutting off the excess. Not sure what that means. I saw something I didn't like about myself and took care of it?
But maybe there's also something about acceptance to learn so perhaps I cut it off too hastily. It was shaped like a beard.
Greg, Indonesia - Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 08:53:02 (CET)
FIGHTING ABILITY??? - It's always a question who fights well and who doesn't, evaluated by what set of values.
My best Aikido teacher lost his dojo and his reputation, not from being a terrific Aikidoist who could go at anybody, but because he could not stop himself from molesting two girl students. Message: True strength is best measured by how well we know our weaknesses and are able to deal with them.
Never identify with either strength or weakness but approach each equally with a harmonious attitudes, is maybe a good practice.
A True Dream from a high ranking Japanese Sensei told to me at special staff dinner by the Sensei. A Japanese woman bar owner he knew came at him very angry and he threw a shirkin right at her forehead but this did not stop her. He woke himself up to escape from her. This was his dream showing non-mastery. A high-ranking student, very powerful physically, could not master an attacking dog in his dreams, but ran from it.
From my own dreams I learn to yield to superior force and thus am better able to handle the situation. Seems to make me congruent with the dream situations and thus the dream shifts for the benefit of all, including myself. Thus we learn not to win but to balance the energy, even yield to it, and thus there is no conflict and no fight needed!
When I am able to, I practice these principles in outer life as well.
For what it's worth . . .
Strephon, Netherlands - World - Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 22:33:47 (CET)
Thanks for your response Strephon. Actually, the assumption that I am not able to fight well is not correct.
My brother, only one year younger, often tried to engage me and he always lost. After studying Brazilian Jujitsu for three semesters at my university a Canadian tried to attack me in Korea.He went to the hospital with a sprained neck and I went home without a scratch.
Even the big fight with my family about living in Asia and being assertive about my perspective concerning what really happened to me and my brother in childhood (this is where I have felt like a long term loser) has been forcefully affirmed. Progress has been made with my parents that all the problems were a combination of their projections, unrealistic expectations and my unconscious acceptance of them. It seems they have accepted that they can forget about trying to brainwash me into believing their view again using coercion and manipulation.
The compensation that was received, though not really equal to the damage in my opinion, affirms that.
I don't carry myself like a strong person, so actually many people have thought they can take advantage of me. But then they are surprised that my normal soft spoken nature is not the whole picture. I let people shut me up if they speak louder, faster and longer than me.
I don't like the normal positioning that men do to show who is more intelligent, strong etc... in order to gain social position. Always having to prove something to others. I don't normally even play that which is the normal faire for men. Raised by my mother so didn't learn that.
But the assumption that Greg lacks strength or intelligence is not really correct. I know how to fight physically and win quickly. Everyone has a soft spots on their bodies no matter how big or strong they are. So, if you're willing to take advantage of that, winning is not so difficult at all. But if a person hesitates with fear, then the advantage is lost in milliseconds.
The latest dream has a wolf at the door and believing my kick to close the door would close it but it didn't. The wolf is feared to be coming in. Then there was avoidance through waking up.
Still can't sit very long with difficult situations. Still in the habit of escaping.
Even had a dream where I was carrying drugs and trying to find a place to hide it where the police wouldn't find it.
Looks like the ego cherishes it's ability to escape. A long term habit, difficult to break.
Greg, Indonesia - Monday, February 04, 2008 at 08:10:14 (CET)
SUICIDE OR FAILURE AND DREAMS - Rick, this is two months old in response, but I have been out of it myself with a lot to carry.
I wondered from what you said about the possible missile attack dream and your mother in bad times, and should you leave, if there was happening in you the negative fantasy of escaping this life?
Granted, this life is difficult for a lot of us. A way out of our suffering and failure is death and destruction, whether visited from the outside or we destroy ourselves. There are millions on a downward course because they see themselves as losers in the battle of life. This is a reality view problem.
Of course we all are beset by failures, oppositions, conflicts, defeats. The source of our watching athletic contests and belief in winners is certainly because most of us are not winners in life.
So, how can we counter the great negation that life really is for most of us and for most of those we know? We can't! We can't make life successful for ourselves or for others. But this we can do: we can change our attitude and our actions.
Task: no more identifying with failure! Let the missiles come if they will. We can't keep running because everywhere there is danger. No one is safe from conflict, failure and suffering.
Yes, there are far more failures in life than successes for most of us. What can we do about it if anything?
Change our world view, our attitude, our approach. Practice this: learn to be a problem-solver. Work on solving, not all problems, but ones we can solve in our day. When we have a success doing so, affirm it, relive it in our imagination.
Even if there be few positives for us, build on at least one positive, then go on to two, and so on.
But what if there are no positives? you ask. Sometimes I have had to tell people, "Well, look at how good you are at failure, at imagining the worst. Is that not a success? Are you not terrifically good at achieving failure? Thus with a laugh, maybe, we turn the situation around.
Well, if I am so good at failure, why not put more focus on achieving some successes as well? Why run from failure? Why not embrace it and make shifts, turn it all around? Why fear disaster? Why not embrace it? Create with disaster new positive possibilities, however small. At the end of your day, review the positives, not the negatives.
Strephon Kaplan-Williams, Netherlands - World - Friday, February 01, 2008 at 08:45:40 (CET)
WINNING CONTEST - Greg, your dream interests me because it shows in the dream your doing successfully something challenging in the dream that you are not able to do in outer life. Right?
At issue is: When a dream shows us more powerful than we are in outer life does this show our potential to achieve? What if we completely dedicated ourselves to a major task or value in life, how would our life be different?
What is the difference to live ones life as a taster of experiences, or to settle into a commitment to achieve something of major importance, such as winning a contest?
The Committed can live a life totally different from the uncommitted. There is no knowledge without commitment.
I win at martial arts, tennis and other activities, not by being the best at the top but by being consciously focused in the moment so that I achieve a perfect moment, a right action, a key insight.
I was never the best in the dojo. I did not have to be. However, I had perfect moments. I relished those. My practice after a challenge situation is to pick those "best moments" and revisualize them, thus making them more a part of my being. This reinforcement helps me in becoming more of a success in life.
Start with one perfect moment in your day that really works for you. Build on that. The mountain is climbed with the first step. Everything else follows. But take that first step. We build the mountain as much as climb it.
Strephon, Netherlands - World - Friday, February 01, 2008 at 08:06:45 (CET)
I frequently have the 'word of the day'. A word that pops in my head or comes to me over and over until the event happens. Then I say "oh, thats it". Precognitive daydreaming? Usually lasts for a couple of weeks then the event takes place.
....latest word and dream... I was in New Jersey with a friend and we didn't like it so we hopped a bus and went to Ohio. It was lush and green and beautiful. Ahhh. This is it. I felt relaxed and peaceful. The following two days, Ohio came to me 4 more times. One had to do with a trip from NJ to OH on a forum that I read. I have never been to NJ or OH. I live in the West and have only visited a couple of states. I have not had anymore Ohio flashes for about 3 days.
Lea, USA - Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 17:11:44 (CET)
I used to have a painful dream which I guess I haven't resolved. I use to dream that a nuclear missile attack was coming to my city. So it was my idea to try to escape the impending destruction. But first I'd always try to rescue my mom grandmother and other relatives. I'd was never successful at doing this, petty bickering,fights prevented U.S from doing anything in the dream. So at the last minute I'd try to escape,anywaqy I could and would be always caught in the Nuclear blast has the missile hit.
In my life at my late age (45) I sort of find myself in this situation, where I sort of feel the need to escape, but I'm relucent to do it. I maybe be paranoid, but the danger signs are there. I'm afraid of leaving because it might present a danger to some of my relatives. My mom might not make it with some but not very many able people to trust or to help her. People are even threatening to harm her if I leave.
If I stay then I'm threatened with destruction I guess unless if I comply with their demands. Seems like I'm being harrassed by the whole community, with very little help out here that I'm aware of. What should I do? Its almost unbearable to stay here and the forcers that are corrupting this society are getting stronger seems to me. Iguess my mother figures on me staying around to her her, but I'd have probelm with well-being, and even supporting myself if I stay here.
I guess there is a time for goodbyes. My mother has been mostly the only meaningful person I knew. To have something bad happening to her because of the tyranny of stupid, evil men, as a threat against me, I'd have a hard time forgiving myself.
Rick, U.S.A - Saturday, December 01, 2007 at 19:38:34 (CET)