Kindling the Native Spirit: Sacred Practices for Everyday Life - Denise Linn 2015
Dreams
Great Mystery: Touching the Soul
Not everyone can take time (or has the inclination) to go on a quest or take part in a sweat lodge, but in no small way, every night you embark upon a kind of quest as you explore the dream landscape of your subconscious. In Western cultures, dreams are considered relics of the human mind. However, native people used dreams to predict the future, manage psychological problems, and cure ailments. Additionally dreams revealed times and places for hunting and planting, connected one with ancestors and the Creator, and helped determine names. Moreover, creative dances and songs often came during dreams. Sometimes decorative patterns on blankets, paintings, jewelry, and clothing were also dream conceived. These designs were revered above all others because they originated in a dream.
Indigenous people believed that only a thin line existed between the dream and wakeful states, and during the night one could access the Creator, ancestors, totem animals, land spirits, and inner guidance. As a result, they gave great credence to the messages received in dreams.
Each tribe had very specific techniques for obtaining and understanding dreams. However, as our societies have moved further away from nature, we’ve forgotten our ability to access our dreams as directly and easily as our native ancestors; yet, this ability dwells in our ancestral soul. The study of the use of dreams among native cultures is a very complex one, and this section touches only briefly on a few key aspects.
The ancient Aborigines of Australia believed in the power of dreams. Their rich and profound dream world encompassed much more than the dreams at night and still remains a mystery to the Western world. However, nighttime dreams were considered very important, and the sharing of dreams and their interpretations often regulated daily activities. Some Aboriginal tribes believed that everything was a dream before the coming of white men. In African tribal traditions, the dreams in which ancestors appear are especially revered. Some say these kinds of dreams are different because they seem more vivid and more real. It’s through dreams that their ancestors’ advice and guidance could be heard. (For more information about dreams and their meaning, see my book The Hidden Power of Dreams.)
COMMON TRAITS OF DREAMS IN NATIVE CULTURES
The following traits are evident in most native cultures that possess a high regard for dreams:
· Dreams are considered vital to success in life. This attitude made it easier to recall and interpret dreams.
· Supernatural figures appear in dreams, granting special powers or giving important information.
· Shamans (medicine women and men) are expected to use their dreams to acquire knowledge.
· Dreams are induced by techniques such as sleeping alone in a power spot or a sacred place, or by fasting.
HOW TO REMEMBER YOUR DREAMS
1. Motivation: The important element in remembering dreams is motivation. To acquire that motivation, you must first perceive your dreams as worthwhile.
2. Record: Dreams are forgotten very easily, so it’s important to record them as soon as you can. Research has revealed that dreaming is accompanied by rapid eye movement (REM). Sleepers awakened during REM sleep were in the middle of a dream; sleepers awakened immediately following REM sleep recounted completed dreams; and five minutes after REM sleep, sleepers remembered only fragments of dreams. Ten minutes after REM sleep, the sleepers had virtually no recall. Thus, it’s literally within the first few seconds of awakening that a dream is still vivid in its entirety. Consequently, it’s imperative that you write down your dream while it remains fresh in your memory. Keeping a journal and pen next to your bed make it easier to capture your dreams.