Dreamwork

I write notes on my phone to remind me of possible blog topics. 

I have slowed down my blogging, I think, because I feel very busy at work. 

So, when I’m not working, I spend time with my loving wife, I read, and I try to get exercise… 

Additionally, I think there are so many good books, articles, and blogs out there… 

I don’t want to add to the “noise.” 

So, I write when I feel moved to write… 

One note I wrote was the following:

“Even though you might get lost for awhile, I would rather see you, whether young or old, still out searching for the Truth.” 

Of course, my own projection… 

I am always out searching for the Truth.  

Could be in the realms of conventional science, medicine, or the far edges of what is, or might be, true and real… 

Of course, some say “Everything is Real.” 

Jeremy Taylor wrote a wonderful book “Where People Fly and Water Runs Uphill:  Using Dreams to Tap the Wisdom of the Unconscious.” 

May be out of print, but easy to order online used or new… 

 

I often like a book, because it agrees with my worldview… 

This is true here, but it also gives some great practical advice on dreamwork. 

Not only on your own, but how to form a working group to work on dreams together… 

I love synchrony… 

In this book and in yesterday’s book on Griefwork, I had placed 12 bookmarks… 

Jeremy’s book feels quite a bit lighter… 

He does touch on many dark matters… 

Most inner work deals with the unconscious Shadow… 

Some highlights:  He touches on psychedelics p89, working with introverts and extroverts p152, organizing a group p156, lucid dreaming exercises p215, shamanism p220, even the edges of science p234, archetypes p238, and, finally, 10 basic methods for working on dreams on your own p263. 

The most important message I received is, as I’ve written before, there are many paths that one can take on the road to evolving your consciousness. 

Meditation, psychedelics, shamanic journeying, dreamwork, and a multitude of rituals such as those outlined in Francis Weller’s work. 

Choose a path, or 2, walk that path with intensity, grace, and humor, by yourself or with others… 

Examine when you might be done with one path… 

When you have used a boat to get to the next level, perhaps it is time to choose a new boat… 

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2013/03/carrying-ocean-around-carrying-source.html

So let me end here with a reminder:  

There is a strict order to The Three Commandments.  

          1-There is only one Source.

                    2-Love everything.

                              3-Enjoy yourself.

And avoid the mistakes:

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-second-commandment-love-everything.html

Namaste 

The Wild Edge of Sorrow

An interesting book by Francis Weller… 

Subtitled, Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief. 

I tend to be a voracious reader.  

I have piles of books and magazines.

I am usually reading at least 4 books, at various stages.

 

My generalized reading slowed down a bit during medical school, residency, and as an assistant professor bucking for tenure… 

I mostly read science books and science fiction in middle school and high school… 

After getting tenure, I encountered Ken Wilber’s writings, through my good friend Malynn, which lead me on a deeper search… 

I am interested in how the world and, particularly, how humans, work… 

Early psychedelic use and meditation lead me to explore the edges of science and spirituality… 

Training in medicine and alternative medicine, helped me to see what was known, and what was unknown… 

This book is not at the edge of science, nor spirituality… 

I heard about this book from another voracious reader, my good friend Willow… 

I am writing about this book because it struck 2 chords in me… 

The first chord is how different I am than Francis Weller… 

I suspect my friend Willow is much more like Francis. 

During my self-exploration, on my own and in psychotherapy, I came to realize I was a highly sensitive child, later taking up martial arts to be tougher. 

I am also an INTP, a “Rational.”  That gives me a degree of “tough mindedness.” 

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2013/02/just-stranger-in-strange-land-part-3.html

Francis Weller writes about how he can be totally overwhelmed by horrible events that are happening in the world. 

He writes very well… 

It was compelling to me to resonate with how he suffers so deeply, and I can see how this has made him such a great therapist and teacher… 

And I see that I do not suffer as he does… 

Interesting! 

It is not that I have not realized before that I suffer less than others… 

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2013/03/just-bags-of-saltwater-carrying-ocean.html

I was just struck by the way he writes about the darkness he feels and, yet, how much I resonate with the rest of what he writes… 

That is the second chord… 

I know I like a book when I put in bookmarks and make remarks on the sides of pages… 

I have 12 bookmarks in this about 200-page book… 

A quick aside, I dislike the word “soul.”  He uses that word extensively.  I just don’t know what that means… 

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2017/12/soul.html

On the other hand I love methods to help us to grow and understand our place and flow in the world. 

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2013/04/enlightenment-part-5-final-secret.html

Here is where I do resonate, starting from the end:

Excellent outline of methods and rituals to deal with grief:  How to practice self-compassion through Metta.  Working though “complexes” using “The Worldview of the Child.”   Talking Circles (old stuff here), Stone Ritual, Speaking to the Earth. 

In his chapter 9 “Becoming Ancestors,” he speaks on how ethics is about good manners, kindness, affection.  

In chapter 8 he gets to the place I resonate with most:  Grief and darkness is the place to find the light… 

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2013/02/when-im-lost_22.html

What comes up for me is that going “in and through” this fear of death, physical and ego-death, are central to healing our fear of living fully…

http://enlightenedmdphd.blogspot.com/2015/10/psychedelics-meditation-and-death.html

Those are my highlights… 

There is so much to read in the world…

A lot of junk, too… 

Not that I don’t like “brain candy” 

I like a great novel, and have read many… 

This blog is about how we can grow… 

Next up, Dream Work! 

Namaste