Dreams

[wiufcaoltp]

Does anyone think that many dreams are, basically, thoughts that resemble reality? Because while awake, since vision and hearing and every other sense is having an impact on you, your thoughts are more subtle, yet in a highly relaxed state where you aren't aware of what's happening around you (well, a bit, but...) thoughts can become more pronounced, without any interference from senses. I do think that dreams often have meaning and importance, but I think this is partly true.

[Pressed_Rat]

Some have suggested that dreams are a way of the brain filitering out burried thoughts and emotions from the subconscious. I believe that is probably true. It seems like dreams are often a representation of our mostly subconscious desires and fears. Then again, it's hard to say exactly what subconscious thoughts are because that's exactly what they are: subconscious.

I am very much fascinated by dream states, primarily the state of consciousness found between being asleep and being awake. This state is the hypnagogic state. In this state you are still semi-conscious of your surroundings. You might experience some closed-eye visuals, but not actual dreams since your mind is still fairly alert. During this state there is also a feeling of floating sometimes. There is also a strong feeling of a presence or a communication with unseen entities of some sort.

Anyway, I find this to be one of the most valuable states of consciousness because conscious thought is still maintained, if barely. You can condition yourself to use these states to their full potential. You have both the subconscious working with the conscious mind, which allows for much insight into your inner-self to occur - much more so than with actual dreams.

Another thing that fascinates me is lucid dreaming. I can lucid dream whenever I want, as long as it's in the morning, after waking up for a brief period of time then going back to sleep. You might notice that the most interesting and vivid dreams occur in the morning as this is when the brain is most active in its sleep state.

[wiufcaoltp]

Yeah, the state being being awake and asleep is very interesting. I would like to be better at manipulating my dreaming state, but it usually seems to come when it comes, since I can rarely remember to do anything. I guess I'll try to progressively condition myself to.

Anyway, now that I think about, dreams couldn't be thoughts. I guess because thoughts are the product of a mind in motion, and at times of rest they wouldn't exist. I guess that it's the subconscience, playing films of what it holds.

Speaking of this, a story: One night, Laety and I asleep in bed, we were both dreaming and she said out loud "save one of those fur coats for me". I heard her say this, though I was still asleep (I don't remember how asleep I was, this was all a very long time ago) and I laughed a bit and said "fur coats? I thought you were against them". I don't think it's weird or anything, since everyone talks in their sleep sometimes, but it was interesting that we were both talking to each other.

[Penny]

Yeah, that was a funny experience! We were both asleep, and still talking to each other, when we woke up we realized what had happened, and just couldn't believe it!

I've always been fascinated by the dreaming state. I do believe that dreams express our known or uncounscious desires and fears, but I also believe in communication with some spirits. I communicated several times with people I lost, and what I believe is my "spiritual guide" (guardian angel for Christians). I get signs, that I wouldn't see or that my mind wouldn't perceive being awake. It also happens to me during deep meditation. For example, if I ask myself lots of questions before going to sleep, or I'm just very worried, I usually get signs and messages in my dreams. I don't really know what it is, I believe it is some guide from another dimension of the universe, what some people would call an angel. I don't know...

Something that is realated to dreaming but that I never understood is sleep-walking. I'm a sleep-walker, and some people have told me that nervous people often sleep walk, but I really don't know about it.