March/April 2003 Spirituality
Lucid Dreaming and the Merging of the Two Worlds

by Matt Guest

Lucid dreaming is one of the most amazing, intense and enjoyable experiences a person can ever have. The ability to fly, to travel to distant places, to see the dreaming body in person, to interact with spirit guides or foreign energies, to access the collective unconscious and find answers to questions, or to see one’s own physical body asleep all produce a very striking and exhilarating impression – they move us to our core. And they impact us in such a profound way because they come from the merging of two worlds – the world of the physical body and the world of the dreaming body. The world of the dreaming body is the ultimate frontier, the ultimate adventure, and it is through the tangible and conscious witnessing of this world within the world of the physical body that we can catch a glimpse of the full-blown totality of ourselves.

The unification of these two worlds produces two unusual experiences. The first occurs when your daily awareness, or your consciousness, suddenly becomes operational within a dream. It often feels like you’ve just ‘awakened,’ but you are still asleep. This is lucid dreaming. The second aspect of this merging involves dreaming while awake, or the realization that the physical world is also a dream. This signifies the presence of your dreaming body’s awareness within your physical body and results in a very distinct feeling of standing outside of the force of time. Normally, you are only aware of your existence through the mirror of self-reflection, or through the memory of an event immediately after its occurrence. The presence of your dreaming body’s awareness within your daily consciousness, however, enables you to become aware of your own existence in the moment. Déjà vu is one result of this merging of awareness.

The merging of your physical body and your dreaming body can only occur if your physical body provides a safe haven for your dreaming body. This will not happen if your physical body is full of fear and the remnants of fear: energetic blockages and the resulting physical toxins. Your dreaming body should fill your physical body as water fills the container of a potted plant. The energy of your dreaming body must be able to permeate and inhabit every organ, bone, muscle, gland and the majority of your brain. How can it do this if your body is full of fearful memories and toxic sludge, and your brain is full of thoughts, stagnant beliefs and fears? How can it do this if you ceaselessly talk to others or to yourself when alone? In order for your dreaming body to inhabit your physical body you must first empty your physical body. This is not done through forced meditation. Meditation is a way of life, not a program that you impose upon yourself. Your mind becomes still because your life becomes simple and you focus on the Unknown. If you are busy all of the time your mind will reflect that, and trying to quiet it is a sheer waste of time. Do not engage your thoughts. Allow them to come and go, and don’t feed them with made-up conversations or ‘what-if’ scenarios. Listen instead to the voice of your dreaming body. When you listen you are feeling the universe, and you will suddenly find yourself understanding and communicating with everything and everyone.

To empty the fears and toxins that inhabit your body, take the time to face the fears that inhibit the movement and manifestation of your energy in this physical world, and recapitulate past events that are still lodged in your memory and in the organs and tissues of your body. Remember that recapitulation isn’t just about recollection; it is about the assimilation and processing of the energy that you ignored or repressed at the time of the event. Learn to pay attention to the feelings and energy directed at you in the moment so that there is no residue left over to affect your mind and body as you sleep. Your mind must be clear and rested in order to receive the information coming from your dreaming body and for lucid dreaming to occur. If your brain does not let go of past memories it will eventually become too full to listen to your dreaming body and to the energetic or psychic information coming from those around you. The same is true with your internal organs. Your internal organs retain the feelings associated with those past events. Part of recapitulation involves the release of the repressed emotion associated with the memory.

Lastly, take good care of your physical body - it is your vehicle in this physical dream! Supplement the recapitulative process by resting, eating well, breathing deeply and cleaning out your system with herbs. Get the knots out of your muscles and free the tendons and ligaments through bodywork. Exercise lightly and in harmony with your rejuvenative process. Slow down and enjoy life. Remember that life is for the living - for those who seek something other than death. May you find your highest fulfillment.

Matt Guest is the author of The Face of Power (www.thefaceofpower.com). He lives in Oregon.