What Matters?

 Dreams…they do divide the being       

                                — Byron

I’ve realized a few things during the course of dream work and dream analysis.  Several years ago it occurred to me that I don’t pray in my dreams. This seemed strange as I spent so much time in prayer, meditation, and divine petition during my waking life. I wondered why I never reacted to any of my dream scenarios–even in life-threatening situations, with prayer.

I asked my brother and my friends if they prayed in thier dreams. Not one of them could recall an instance when they asked for divine assistance while dreaming. These are people with varied religious and spiritual backgrounds: born-again Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, and even a New Thought minister was among my group of friends.

Recently, I’ve discovered something about my dream self in the lucid state that bothers me. My waking, ego-tethered self has questions and longings, which my dream self doesn’t share. She’s not aware of any of the problems, questions, desires that buzz through my waking mind. My dream self seems to be this wild thing who accepts everthing as it happens, doesn’t think about the future or the past, doesn’t want or need to know why she’s here or what she’s supposed to do next. None of these things things ever dawn on her.

I’m troubled because I wish to access the lucid state and delve deeply into it, but the part of me that wishes this sleeps while the part of me that dreams and can understand that I’m dreaming, dreams. I may never get the two together, and I have to ask, if these things aren’t important to  my dream self, then are they important at all? I want them to be important. My waking self seeks to define itself in its questioning and understanding. The art of being and staying present is how we achieve lucidity during our waking hours, I believe.

But it’s just too damn hard.

Station VIII: Jesus Consoles the Weeping Daughters of Jerusalem

Chakra: Brow                     Illusion: Death

 Concern: Legacy              Revelation: Eternal Life

The flesh will succumb to death, but the God light in each of us is eternal, and this is our spiritual legacy.  Spirit manifests itself in all the generations to come, and will not cease with physical death. Life is eternal, in its myriad forms, from age to age.

Meditation: Though my ego-filtered experience in this life is finite, my awareness is infinite. The past has never been, the future never arrives, because the present is  eternal and deathless.

Station VII: Jesus Falls the Second Time

Chakra: Crown            Illusion: I am opposed

Concern: Assimilation   Revelation: I am guided 

We’ve arrived at an assimilation point a place, a time, or situation which requires us to be present, mindful, surrendering to the momentum of our process. Now, action is futile, and all we can do is trust that we are guided, no matter how alone we may feel. We will not fail to reach our destination. 

Meditation: All I am asked to do is to trust that I don’t have to know what to do.  

Station VI: Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Face

Chakra: Brow      Illusion: Who I was

 Concern: Perspective    Revelation: Who I am 

We are each a masterpiece taking form. Through our blood, sweat, and tears we are made, magnificent in both our  pain and triumph, each of us  unique but from the same divine cloth. Regret nothing; cherish the lessons of spirit and flesh. 

Meditation: I am a work of splendor , formed by Spirit and my experiences in this life.  My very being is an inspired work of God. 

Station V: Simon of Cyrene Helps Jesus Carry His Cross

Chakra: Throat                         Illusion: Independence

Concern: Expression & Receiving      Revelation: Providence 

We experience divine providence and assistance when we open to the gifts of Spirit. In humility we pray, and in a state of surrendered grace we will receive. Nothing will be denied us.ה

Meditation: I am so grateful for all I have, and for all that I have to give.