This is a Guest blog by Lidia Tremblay, author of books like Nightshade, Contemporary Urban Crone: A journey into Aging in Today’s Pagan Society, and many more. I have gotten to know Lidia as a very intelligent, articulate women who appreciates the value of dreams. She talks in this blog about her experiences with the previous Mindfunda Holy Night Dreaming Event. You can sign up for this year’s edition right now, we will start December 24.
Holy Night Dreaming Event: a way to Self Love
Last year, I had the privilege of participating in The Twelve Holy Nights, presented by Susanne Van Doorn. I am deeply grateful to Susanne for her hard work in pulling the meditations and incubations together, and for the opportunity to share in this course.
The only word that comes to mind from that experience is ‘intense’. From the first guided meditation I felt myself wrapped in a constant state of mindfulness not only in the dream state but also in every moment of the waking day. By the time it was finished, only twelve nights later, I admit I was mentally exhausted, as well as exhilarated. This intense time took me to a completely different level of dreaming.
A couple of weeks after the course was finished, I was thinking about all the dreams, going through them in my mind, and wondering what they represented altogether. I do remember I felt a need for a nap. I lay down, these thoughts still swirling within me, and drifted off – only to be awakened suddenly. As though I was a puppet and someone yanked my strings, I sat up, just as suddenly. The words blazed before my eyes: SELF-LOVE!
Yes! Taken in its totality, my dreams of my ancestors, diamonds, ice-blue eyes of wolves, flying high on a Eagle’s back, finding myself in the Balance of an Angel, and much more, led me to this blazing understanding. ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’! As Thyself! Self-Love – now there’s a concept that too few seem to understand. We are taught to give, to look after others, and not count ourselves worthy. In fact, to think otherwise is vanity. But these dreams, these incredibly vivid other-worldly adventures were telling me that it’s not only acceptable to love myself, but also necessary and needful.
A few days later, when I had time to assimilate this epiphany, I had the opportunity to speak to our chaplain who services the building I live in. As I told him about my experiences, I saw new light and understanding dawn in his eyes. He suddenly flung back his head and laughed with sheer delight. He hugged me, saying his deep thanks for this, that in all the years of his studies, he had never thought of this himself, nor was he ever taught this all-important lesson.
This understanding led me to explore this new reality through a number of different angles, but always, I came back to the twelve dreams, meditations and exercises I engaged in during the Holy Nights. Every day Susanne’s new message would add to and expound on what was already learned. Each day I wondered if I was up to the task. And each night, new revelations would come to me by way of dreams.
Now, it’s almost a year later, and I’m eager, as I hope you all are, to undertake another intense dream therapy session again. I cannot wait to see what Susanne has in store for us, and to share each others dreams night by night.
I wish you all insightful and blessed dreams!
I am so thrilled to read that the Holy Nights Dreaming Event is so appreciated. Thought I like the group to be compact and personal, there are a few openings left! If you are interested you can still sign up.
I would love to meet you online and share dreams for 12 days and 13 nights. This year we will also create a book with spiritual exercises: one each day. You will give yourself a little daily present: 15 minutes each day that you dedicate to your own well-being.
Interested? Want to join? Click below:
