Nightmares

The dark-eyed woman spoke on impulse, “You wouldn’t want to share my dreams.” My friend lowered her chin and looked away.

“Yes, I would,” I said in thought.

She had been reading what I had written about dreams and what it’s like to share a dream with another person.

To me, dreamtime is merely another conscious experience. Although it is rare for me to share dreams with others, I would not hesitate to stand with true friends when they are called to face their fears.

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It is said that nightmares tend to recede back into the shadows as we move through childhood to adulthood. Even so, a number of people remain plagued by them throughout their lives.  Nightmares can preform an important function by preparing people to handle situations in the real world, though there are other reasons we encounter them.

The subject of dreams remains rife with speculation. It is said the source of nightmares may be related to sleep habits, medicines, psychological factors, or as evidenced by the following exchange between Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghost of Jacob Marley…

“You don’t believe in me,” observed the Ghost.
“I don’t,” said Scrooge.
“What evidence would you have of my reality beyond that of your senses?”
“I don’t know,” said Scrooge.
“Why do you doubt your senses?”
“Because,” said Scrooge, “a little thing affects them. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”

… the food we eat.

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 My remedy for nightmares is to embrace them. Through this practice I have conquered my demons. A few still remain, but are no longer a source of fear.

Earlier this year, I dreamed a large eagle attacked a small child. I ran to her rescue as I watched the talons sink into to the girl’s flesh.

An entry recorded for that dream

The scene advanced quickly and, through some means, I managed to knock the eagle out of the air while it’s talons were closing on the child. She didn’t make any sounds. I pinned the bird to the ground on its side being careful to avoid its beak and looked into its black and gold eyes….

Looking into those eyes I beheld Infinity – and when, with the aid of several other adults, the girl was saved and the eagle flew away, I discovered the jewels it left behind.

————

Nightmares are now rare for me, but they’re coming back. I think this is, in part, because of recent experiences members of my family and friends have gone through. Normally, upon waking, I can shake off any residual negative effects.

Several weeks ago I had a particularly disturbing dream and, while in the process of shifting from the dream state to waking consciousness, I asked my wife for a hug. That’s all it took for the world to become right again – one touch from the person I am bound to for life.

– Jeffrey A. Limpert

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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_terror
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/guide/nightmares-in-adults
http://www.literature.org/authors/dickens-charles/christmas-carol/chapter-01.html
https://unfoldingseries.com/awakening/awakening-chapter-2-in-remembrance-of-dreams/

Image Information:

Nightmare

By Clearly Ambiguous (Scott Robinson)

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/clearlyambiguous/39799515/

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Marley’s Ghost

By John Leech

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Marley%27s_Ghost-John_Leech,_1843.jpg

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Nightmare of Judah

By ezhikoff (Ivan)

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/47476117@N04/6199841009/

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Light lovers in bed

By Hayleyisfree (ley dallimore)

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/lostindevon/2981664677/

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