the etheric body or vital body) is put on 'recharge'. It expands
and opens in order to assimilate and store energy. This energy
body can normally only do this in its expanded state during
sleep. In this state, the chakras (energy centres) trickle power
in the form of 'etheric matter' into the energy body, which is
basically a 'double' of the physical body (and sometimes called
the etheric double for this reason.)
"As the physical body and mind fall asleep, a copy of
consciousness is reflected into the etheric body, and from there
into the projectable double as it is generated, and later into
the astral and higher subtle bodies. While this is happening,
the physical/etheric copy of the mind begins sliding toward
another type of projection, an internal projection into the
dream environment. At the start of the process, while falling
asleep, the physical/etheric mind begins losing the strength of
will to form coherent and logical thought patterns. It slowly
loses itself among wandering fragments of thought and
subconscious impressions. It loses touch with reality and begins
to experience dreams, some of which appear to be generated by
the subconscious mind."
- Robert Bruce, Astral Dynamics p.134
We may well note, we need sleep to live, and the refreshing
reward of a good night's sleep is not possible to produce by any
drug or any other means. This results not just from the resting
and rebalancing of the metabolism of the physical body, but the
emotional and mental vigour of energies gained by our etheric
and astral bodies. In this state, the etheric body is just out
of alignment with the physical, which 'uses up' this energetic
charge during the day.
The etheric body is usually about two inches above the physical
one while sleeping, and this accounts for the slight change in
perspective reported at the start of some Etheric Projections.
Most people have experienced the 'jolt' that is caused by sudden
awakening as the bodies 'fall' back into realignment. This can
be caused by either internal or external factors, such as
nightmares or other highly active dreams, aborted projection
attempts, astral obstructions, loud noises, or even being bumped
too hard by a partner rolling over.
"In periods of sleep your consciousness actually does leave
your body... your consciousness does return at times, to check
upon the physical mechanisms..
is always with the body, so it is not vacant. But the largely
creative portions of the self do leave the body, and for large
periods of time when you sleep."
- Seth, Seth Speaks p.120
It is during this recharging process that our astral body
separates and tunes into the Astral Plane where it can create
and experience dreams. This is also why we still feel refreshed
after projection as it is a separate process. And again, whether
we realize it or not, we are all familiar with the Astral Plane
because the dream dimension is part of it. The difference with a
conscious Astral Experience is that you know you are there and
this makes the experience far more vivid and directable.
"In sleeping... you focus your awareness in altered form into
another world that is every bit as valid as your physical one."
- Seth, Seth, Dreams and Projections in Consciousness p.219
In other words, the astral body - with your main conscious
focus - 'comes and goes' from alignment with the etheric body
and to the Astral Planes. You 'dream' or 'project', and return,
several times in a night! Four or five times is common, though
it depends on how long you sleep among other factors. Mostly we
forget the brief awakenings between dream periods, but we can
learn to remember these to. (For myself, I was a deep sleeper,
but now I frequently wake up in these in-between periods with
full recall!)
"Dreams ... are not just imaginative indigestion or psychic
chaos. We are not temporarily insane when we dream, as some
theorists maintain. To the contrary, we may be far more sane and
alert during some dream states than we are ordinarily."
- Jane Roberts, Seth, Dreams and Projections in Consciousness
p.9
Dreams serve so many multi-purposes and functions that it is
almost ridiculous to attempt a comprehensive list of them,
however the main points will be of some help. Especially when
we've been taught that dreams only serve this or that particular
function! No way! There is far more to them than that...
"In dreams, you give freedom to actions that cannot adequately
be expressed within the confines of normal waking
consciousness.
- Seth, Seth, Dreams and Projections in Consciousness p.246
Without further ado then, here is a summary list of what Dreams
provide:
· freedom from the physical limitations of time and space,
allowing us to return to physicality with renewed physical and
psychic energy
· sorting out and processing our daily experiences and
organizing internal and external information
· exploration of probable realities, the living out of events
to enable us to better make daily decisions
· therapeutic experiences, including facing fears, neuroses and
any other major or minor concerns
· valid information about our motives, needs and decisions
· inner communication with other portions of the self (deeper
parts of the psyche), including reincarnational, past, future
and parallel probable selves
· symbolic or accurate visions of past and future events, or
other translations of inner data into terms the conscious mind
can more readily interpret
· communication with other people and entities (especially upon
request)
· a unique way to solve problems and overcome difficulties
· greater intunement with our creative abilities and talents
· a lot of fun wacky stuff that shows us our inner world is
more expansive than we may think!
· as many different possibilities of experience that you can
(and do) come up with...
"An unrecognized unity and organization lies within all of your
dreams, beneath their diversity. And your dreams, while part of
you, also exist apart."
- Seth, Seth, Dreams and Projections in Consciousness p.174
So of course, it would be more accurate to say that many or all
of these things are occurring at once in our dreams, thus
emphasizing their true multi-dimensional nature. In this sense,
it is like all of the dimensions of our being interacting to
form cohesive and relevant dream events for beneficial
psychological purposes. Or to put it more simply, dreams can
really help us!
About The Author: William Ember is an self-trained explorer of
Lucid Dreaming and Astral Projection experiences, and has
recently authored the most comprehensive and in-depth training
guide to these experiences available anywhere. It is available
at: http://www.ultimate
