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Making conscious choices in the New Year...

12/27/2016

6 Comments

 
by Gwendolyn M Plano
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In the early 1980's, I was part of a Catholic Peace Corp organization trying to do what I could to help others. Fran Kramer had also joined the same organization, and she and I became friends. We lost touch with one another over the years, but through our writing, we reconnected. Fran now lives in Hawaii, continues to write, and offers workshops on dreamwork. Today I offer a glimpse of her work; it seems particularly relevant as we begin this new year.......  

      One of the many benefits of remembering, recording and working with dreams is that it allows one a deep and profound window into the workings of the soul: one can see some of the many parts of the self which are often hidden, or in shadow, to the waking mind. It is a challenging undertaking but one that is indeed worth the effort of ongoing dreamwork.

We know that ignorance, misconceptions and lack of understanding all contribute to fear and evil. But more than any of these contributors to negative energy is our own ignorance of our unique blind spots. We like to think of ourselves as good or aligned with the good, making us often unable to see the evil in ourselves--or if we catch a glimpse of it, we often justify our negative actions by rationalizing that it serves a good purpose. Very few people who do evil believe they are doing evil. It is no wonder that the Buddha said ignorance is the root of all evil and Jesus asked the Father to forgive his executioners on the grounds that they didn't know what they were doing.
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The reality is that people who are not in touch with their deep inner selves will more likely be driven by inner forces, good or bad, in a way that leaves them pre-programmed like a computer, unable to act in an enlightened and choice-filled way. Dreamwork allows one to get to know those forces in a safe and conscious manner, and make better, conscious choices when strong energy comes on.

Working with a dream as if everything and every feeling in it represents a part of one's self or one's own energy is a way of owning and acknowledging that there is good and evil and other opposing voices residing within—all of which want recognition. By prayerfully reflecting on, and encouraging each thing or person in the dream to have a say in what's happening in one's life at the moment, one can go far in integrating all aspects of the psyche into a creative and functioning whole. In this way, evil is not acted out unreflectively or in ignorance, and the good within is not blindly projected onto others who don't deserve it.​

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Fran Kramer
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6 Comments
john howell link
12/29/2016 07:20:15

Wonderful post, Gwen. I for one tend to concentrate on what I perceive as my evil doings and ignore the good. I find it tough to imagine people doing evil deeds and thinking they are doing the right thing. Of course, history shows us that this condition is very real. Thanks.

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Gwen Plano link
12/29/2016 12:25:56

Thanks for stopping by, John. I share your way of thinking, as I tend to be overly self-critical. Some folks, though, just do not have a normal conscience...and for that reason alone, I could never survive in politics. :)

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John Fioravanti link
12/29/2016 13:26:22

Thank you, Gwen, for another thought-provoking, beautifully written post. I find this field of understanding dreams to be fascinating. I can readily understand that our subconscious mind is more likely a harbinger of the reality of self than our conscious mind.

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Gwen Plano link
12/30/2016 09:49:08

Thank you, John. Fran has spent years studying dreamwork, and I can only claim minimal exposure. But, I agree with you about the subconscious....

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Jan Sikes link
12/30/2016 11:16:54

I have consciously and actively done dream work for years and am astounded at some of the deep parts of me that are revealed during dreams. Sleeping is as large of a part of living as being awake. We tend to think we're wasting time by sleeping, but our bodies, minds and soul were designed to thrive with a balanced combination. Great post, Gwen. I always love reading your insights!

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Gwen Plano link
12/30/2016 11:55:31

Thanks so much, Jan. Fran Kramer has done amazing work, and plans to write a book about her efforts this year. Hope you have a very Happy New Year celebration with your friends and family.

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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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