Description
Book Synopsis This book surveys both the scientific and the spiritual terrain of altered states of consciousness, highlighting how extrasensory encounters can be soul-healing balm. It explores a wide range of cultural interpretations of out-of-body experiences, from shamanistic practices to the importance of dreams in ancient world cultures. A dozen or more interviews with health-related professionals present unique, holistic glimpses of our inner lives.
Dreaming takes center stage, with the author presenting her most profound and insidious dreams. Part reference work and part guidebook, this book tells readers how to make the most of their dream experiences through a variety of techniques like incubation, talisman creation, tarot and more.
Table of ContentsDisclaimer
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
One. Medicinal Dreaming
Dreams Are Real Experiences 15
But What Is a Dream? 16
We All Need Medicine 19
Two. Consciousness and Shamanism
Initiations 29
Tasks, Roles and Duties 31
Three. Oracles, Divination and Dream Medicine
the Classical, Celtic, Nordic and Germanic Worlds
Greco-Roman 39
Diagnosing in the Dream State 41
Nordic, Germanic, Celtic 41
Greece, Then and Now 42
Four. All at Once Time
Five. Dreamwalking
Six. Sleep Yoga, Lucid Dreaming and Dream Yoga
Yoga Nidra 57
Lucid Dreaming 60
Dream Yoga 65
Seven. Hypnosis
Self-Hypnosis 73
Eight. Intuitive Development
The Nervous System 78
Regulation
Nine. Italian Folkways
Ten. Surprise Visitors
Announcing Dreams 90
Disembodied Visitors and Visitation Dreams 93
Along the Recovery Road 102
Eleven. Animal and Plant Spirit Guidance
Twelve. Feeding Spirit Allies
Thirteen. Sleep Hygiene
Fourteen. Dream Incubation
Incubating Health 130
Incubation Techniques 136
Fifteen. Dream Reentry
Sixteen. Facing Challenges
When Nightmares Creep In 143
Recovering the Soul 148
Seventeen. Ancestral Work
Altar Crafts and Shrine-Making 154
Eighteen. Amulets and Talismans
Creating Your Own 159
Cleansing Amulets 163
Nineteen. You Are Your Own Dream Dictionary
Lectio Divina 167
Dream Tarot 168
Tracking and Collaging 171
Conclusion
Glossary
Resources
Bibliography
Index
