The Dream State
Sigmund Freud believed that dreams were a means of expressing repressed thought. But today, with advancements in science, dreams are thought to be the product of the brain and the still-misunderstood concept of consciousness. Could it be a combination of both of these theories? Could it be a doorway to the other side that is tapped into for cross-communications?
Stages of Sleep
Stage 1: This lasts for only a few minutes and is very light sleep. The person can be easily woken up by outside disturbances.
Stage 2: This stage is a much deeper sleep than Stage 1. Dreams begin to start in this stage with unclear images and vague thoughts drifting in the person's mind. However, outside disturbances will break the sleep even at this stage.
Stage 3: Muscles become relaxed now and blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing become slow and even. Waking a person in this stage is difficult. Only repeated calling of the person's name or a loud noise can awaken him.
REM Stage: This is the stage when all dreams occur, as it is the deepest state of sleep. The person is difficult to awaken and will take a few seconds to wake up. In this stage, blood pressure and heart rate fluctuate and rapid eye movement takes place. This stage, also known as the REM state, lasts for about ten minutes. Then the person goes back into deep sleep, or NREM stage. The cycle continues between the REM and NREM stages.
Mechanism of Dreaming
As measured by an EEG (electroencephalograph), the electrical impulses generated by the brain during deep dreamless sleep are less than 3 Hz. However, in REM sleep the waves record 60–70 Hz, which is five times more than the waking state! Since there is no physical cause for such high values, the brain activity must be due to some internal activity or external nonphysical activity. The latter view suggests that dreams are a gateway to the supernatural realm, as one's consciousness begins interacting with other dimensions.
Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, has said, “Dreams have a psychic structure which is unlike that of other contents of consciousness.” He also described how some dreams seem prophetic in nature, or telepathic.
How can I remember my dreams?
The best way is to keep a pen and piece of paper near your bedside. When you wake up in the middle of the night, first thing in the morning, or whenever you come out of a daydream and you remember something that's significant, write it down.
Contact
The other side is always trying to make contact through the dream state. It is much easier for them to tap into the subconscious state at that level. Not needing to gain attention through outside conflicting stimulus, the dream state is a “communication connector,” a highway that is wide open. As soon as you reach your dream state, the road is open and contact can begin.
How do I know if my dream is a visit to the other realm or just my own thoughts?
You may remember that the colors are more vivid, the sounds are more pronounced, and that you recognize the people you see; you know instinctively that it is different from one of your ordinary dreams. These are all clues that you have actually tapped into the other side of existence.
Communication can be visual, as you can see them and they can see you. Many people can remember encountering relatives and friends in their dreams. They can connect with you through speech and sound, as you might relive or enjoy a moment together in a world that is as solid as the one you currently exist in.
The dream state is used to communicate more complex messages that otherwise would be difficult to send during the waking state. While awake, most people are overwhelmed with stimuli from many different sources. Most have pressing responsibilities, and with them as a distraction, complex messages are difficult to receive.
Daydreaming
Daydreaming is a state that is not only healthy, but also an opportunity for the other side to touch in and give insight and instruction you might need at that time. Many times your mind has slipped into a daydream and wandered from thought to thought. This is very similar to being in meditation; thoughts slow down and begin to wander without focusing on any particular thing at any particular point. So this opening allows easy access to insert creative ideas, problem-solving techniques, and other forms of information that may be needed or wanted at that time.
Clairvoyant Dreams
Parapsychologists like Charles Tart believe that dreams are entry points into another realm. The clairvoyant dreams or prophetic dreams are those that seem to foretell the future. Some claim that dreams are gateways to past lives; others say they are ways of gaining knowledge and understanding complex ideas. Many creative expressions such as music and inventions have been formulated in the dream and daydream state.
According to Higgins, you must first understand the possibility and means of communicating with the other side. “Since the beginning of time, dreams have been the most efficient and easiest way for them to communicate with you.” So sleep well, keep an open mind, and enjoy the conversation.
