christian-dream-interpretation.com

Christian Dream Interpretation

 

AN OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL AREAS OF STUDY FOR THE WEBLOG AT

CHRISTIAN DREAM INTERPRETATION

Today, my focus will be on those areas of inquiry that will serve as a basis for our exploration into the many mysteries surrounding human spirituality, dreams, visions, and the teachings of the Christ. The previous posts have briefly described our primary themes, guiding beliefs, and basic principles. In this post, I would like to outline a series of specific areas of study that will allow us, over time, to fulfill our fundamental goals and objectives.

As stated earlier posts, I believe that our primary topics of study are a unified whole. This unity cannot be easily divided, for if we do so we lose sight of the many dimensions, both cosmic and earthly, which makes the human being truly unique. It is my belief that such divisions as are commonly imposed by the thinking of modern man are unwise and ultimately counterproductive, for they obscure and confuse our understanding rather than provide clarification and illumination. These divisions, however convenient, are essentially arbitrary, subjective, and, ultimately, negative, and they are fundamentally destructive to the earthly and cosmic unity that is the essential characteristic of each human being. Such capricious and irrational divisions imposed upon the inherent unity of man eliminates any possibility of achieving an understanding of human spirituality, thus making a coherent and logical approach to this sublime realm of study exceedingly difficult, if not impossible.

Now, to somewhat insulate myself somewhat from certain criticism I will readily admit that in the posts to this weblog I will divide, delineate and fragment these topics as I strive at the same time to demonstrate that they are indivisible. Thus, as is so often the case in human affairs, I will be doing, to a certain extent, the very opposite of what I argue is required. Please understand that this is necessary for purposes of presentation in this forum, that we are bound by the constraints of language, time, and our chosen medium of communication. Yet, I assure my readers that I will never loose sight of the complex unity, both spiritual and physical, that is to be found in the whole human being.

 

It is important for the reader to understand that the unity of which I speak only really comes into focus among those who have made some progress in their spiritual development. For a contemporary individual who lives at what we might call normal, day-to-day levels of consciousness it is all too easy to be blinded by the many veils which shroud the mind and sensory perceptions. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “ . . . we see in a mirror dimly .. .” (1 Corinthians 13:12) However, as we make a deeper commitment to the teachings of the Christ it is possible to develop higher levels of clarity and greater insight so that things that were once hidden can come into view. The Apostle Paul describes this stage as “mature” (1 Corinthians 2:6). Paul continues to explain that it is only after the student has achieved a degree of maturity and opened more fully to the power of the spirit that they can then begin to receive some measure of illumination. At these more advanced stages we can begin to comprehend the dynamics of the spiritual planes and open to some of the deeper mysteries of the Christian religion. (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:10-14) Here, we begin to fathom the fullness and richness of human spirituality and move the center of our understanding from the fragmented and abstract thinking that is characteristic of modern man to the unified and indivisible wisdom that comes to us from God.

To use our inner spiritual experiences and the wisdom of the Lord as a means to achieve maturity is the path of development offered at Christian Dream Interpretation.

With these considerations in mind I will address in a wide range of topics within these nine areas of study:

  1. The practical skills which are necessary so that we can receive and understand the nighttime revelation of the Lord. This will include such topics as how to achieve restful sleep, how to keep a dream journal, what to look for in dreams, and, in general terms, how to so structure our lives so that we might increase our receptivity to His Word.
  2. The different kinds of dreams and the important features found in dreams, for example, symbols, setting, and narrative.
  3. How to comprehend the language of the soul and the spirit.
  4. The cosmic and earthly nature of the human being, including the soul, the spirit, the mind, the emotions, the physical body and the spiritual body (cf., 1 Corinthians 15:44) to understand how these constituent features comprise the totality of the individual human being, connect us with the spiritual planes, and interrelate with and contribute to all life processes, including dreams and visions.
  5. The stages of dream instruction and how dreams methodically guide each individual as they progress in their spiritual development.
  6. The role played by the forces of light (angels) and the forces of darkness (demons) as they appear in our dreams and in our earthly lives.
  7. The principles upon which the art of dream interpretation is founded.
  8. The dreams that are found in the Holy Scriptures and the personalities that are associated with dreams, visions, and prophecy.
  9. The ways in which other traditions understand dreams and occasionally comment on some of the modern methodologies that seek to explain the processes related to phenomena of sleep and dreams.

It is my hope that this agenda will serve to inform the reader about the supremely valuable, yet largely untapped resource that we have available to us every night as we sleep. While I believe that the topics outlined above provide an approach to our study that is fairly comprehensive, I recognize that it is possible that important areas may have been omitted. With this in mind, I would like to encourage readers to make suggestions regarding any subjects that ought to be included. I will do my best to address these suggestions, as well as your questions, in future discussions.

In our next series of posts I will examine a range of topics related to the question of how to achieve restful, refreshing, and revitalizing sleep. This skill is the foundation upon which all successful dreamwork is built. The important role that high quality sleep plays in our lives is largely misunderstood and is not widely appreciated in our culture. While there is a general recognition that many suffer from insufficient sleep and poor quality sleep, there are only the most superficial ideas about how to address these challenges. I will cover these and related questions regard sleep, and especially focus on the relationship between quality sleep and illuminating dreams.

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Understanding Sleep and Dreams in relation to Christianity

Christianity, Sleep and Dreams

This post continues our discussion of the range of topics contained within the deep, complex, and profound relationships that exist between sleep and dreams, the teachings of the Christ, and the Christian religion. As portrayed in the Holy Scriptures, these facets of human consciousness and areas of human life are deeply intertwined, a fact that is no less true today than when the gospels were written two thousand years ago.

To begin to grasp the intimate and sweeping way that our chosen areas of study interrelate in the mysterious realms of human consciousness it will be necessary for many in the modern world to open their hearts, broaden the horizons of their imagination, and prepare for a deeper level of inner experience. It is impossible to begin to comprehend the grandeur of the divine spiritual realms with a heart and a mind that is closed and confined within material reality. However, with imagination and inspiration you will begin to move into the fullness of the spiritual heritage that is unique to Christianity.

As the world’s community of Christians prepare for the return of the Lord a new and deeper understanding of His teaching will carry mankind into the next phase of our spiritual development. For some Christians among us today, this process has already begun. Already there are a growing number of individuals who are receiving the direct illuminations found in His word. These individuals represent the future of our religion, they are pointing the way forward for a humanity that will be less consumed with material reality and increasingly aware of our spiritual heritage.

Right now, in our time, the numbers of those individuals who are more spiritually aware are beginning to grow in a most extraordinary way. Unlike many contemporary Christians, these individuals will not look to the past, to public opinion, or to the organized church for sanction or guidance, but rather to the living Christ who provides unique instruction from within.

At Christian Dream Interpretation we believe that the first place in which we become aware of His immanent presence is in our sleeping dreams. These nightly revelations can serve as a point of departure that will allow any sincere and devoted Christian to explore the fuller dimensions of their unique spiritual nature under the loving guidance of the Son of Man.

So what must be done so that the contemporary Christian can move forward on this path? What must we do to avail ourselves more deeply of the Lord’s nighttime presence? What are the initial steps that are necessary so that we can open to this vast untapped inner resource?

First, we must adopt a frame of mind and a basis for understanding that creates a fertile field on which the actions and the words of the Lord might take hold within us and grow. We must position our forces of thought and feeling to be receptive to His word so that His promise can become a reality in our lives. It will be necessary for us to gradually, yet persistently, transform our thinking; we must be willing to move toward a new and deeper understanding in regard to our religion. An understanding that is more spiritual and less material. We must bring much greater clarity to our relationship to the forces that reside on the divine spiritual planes.

If we insist, as many do, on rigorously adhering to traditional approaches to and understanding of Christianity we will remain stuck in the past, we will be unable to move forward and prepare our consciousness so that we can “see him as he is” and “be like him”. (1 John 3:2)

The Spiritual Nature of Dreams

The Spiritual Nature of Dreams

Everyone has had occasion when they have been profoundly affected by their dreams. We have all had dreams that are frightening, forecast the future, convey specific instruction, or fill us with wonder and awe. Dreams are almost always difficult to decipher, and often they convey a degree of mystery that few other forms of human experience can match.

Why do dreams so transfix, confuse, and inspire mankind? It is because dreams are, at their very essence, spiritual experiences. They are expressions of the soul and the spirit, and as such they form a link between our experiences in material reality and our inherent spiritual nature. Dreams sometimes reflect circumstances and events of the physical world, but they are not of the physical world.

In the Judaeo-Christian tradition it is acknowledged that dreams are a gift from God. Not all dreams are from God, although some are and those that are reveal a deep insight into the spiritual nature of man, into the dynamics of individual human consciousness, and into the continuous spiritual transformation of all of humanity.

Dreams are an integral part of the Christian experience, and we all know from our studies that there are many examples of divinely inspired dreams recorded in the Holy Scriptures. These dream experiences guided the development of human consciousness, gave instruction to specific individuals, and offered warning, protection, guidance, and insight to the patriarchs, prophets, disciples and apostles.

Today, these experiences are available for every sincere and devoted Christian. Indeed, many Christians are having these experiences on a nightly basis although often they are not recognize for what they are.

There is a tendency among some modern Christians, and among many non-Christians, to view the Biblical examples of divine revelation as quaint stories or child-like mythologies from the distant past. But they are much more than that. These mythologies come down to us as clear examples of divinely inspired instruction for specific individuals, for communities, and for whole nations. There is often an immediate utility to these experiences, a warning to flee, for example, and there is a longer term purpose that is intended to remind humanity that we are not alone in the world, that we have not been abandoned to the dark forces of the universe.

The dream visions of the Holy Scriptures are there to remind us of the manifold ways in which the Lord guides, defends, and protects the development of human consciousness. Anyone in the modern world can avail themselves of this divine guidance merely by paying more attention to their sleeping dreams.