Dream Oracle: Creating
a Dream Oracle Temple
by Julie Gillentine
In ancient times
people traveled to sacred places of power, seeking answers from “the
gods” to troubling questions, or hoping for guidance in important
life decisions. These pilgrimages were probably undertaken
at great sacrifice and perhaps only once in a lifetime. Delphi
in Greece was a famous oracular site where seekers came to
sleep, perchance to dream, at the Oracle temple. The famous maxim “Know
Thyself” was carved above the entrance. This is still
excellent advice.
Similar in some ways to a modern health spa, seekers were instructed
on how to facilitate a powerful dream through rites of purification,
including bathing, special diet, and most importantly, asking for
the dream. Having come a long way at great cost the aspirants
were in a mood to listen. The nature of a dream received at
the temple might dramatically impact the seeker’s life, perhaps
signaling a profound change in the path or suggesting different
choices.
At Delphi the dream was presented for interpretation to priestesses,
called Sybils, who inhaled vapors from a deep underground cavern
inside a cave, inducing a trance in which they spoke in a strange
language. A specially trained priest was on hand to translate
for the seeker, gleaning meaning and significance from the mysterious
utterances of the priestesses.
Dream Incubation
We seek the counsel of the Higher Self where we need a broader
perspective and a grander view and have perhaps felt we have exhausted
our human resources.
No dream should be viewed in isolation and should never be
a replacement for good judgment, abdication of personal responsibility,
or reduced to a parlor game.
Dream incubation, sometimes called “seeding” a dream,
is an ancient technique in which the dreamer strives to dream with
a specific question or intention in mind; usually related to soul
purpose or spiritual path. This technique can still be used
today and willingness to listen is still the most important hallmark
of the seeker.
Most dreams are not worthy of intense analysis as they are merely
routine processing of the prior day’s events, acting as a
kind of sorting mechanism to shift the information from the data
buffers of short term memory into storage in the vast warehouse
of our subconscious mind.
Dream Temple
You can create your own dream oracle temple when seeking counsel
on a serious or spiritual question. Cultivate the same intention
and attitude as if you are undertaking a meaningful journey to
an ancient sacred site. Take time to consecrate the space
where you will do your ritual preparations and cleansing. Eat
sparingly at your evening meal, consume no alcohol or mood-altering
substances. A soothing tea such as Chamomile may help to
calm your mind.
If you work
with Tarot it can be very useful to perform a Tarot spread, using
the archetypes of Tarot to incubate dreams before retiring to impress
these symbols onto your subconscious.
Some helpful hints from people
who have had success with this process:
* Take a warm, soothing bath before retiring.
* Scent the water with aromatic oil such as jasmine or lavender.
* Turn the lights low and light a pure white candle or two.
* Surround your tub with crystals, especially amethyst, which
is believed to open the higher centers of the mind
* Listen to calming and inspiring music while you
soak.
* Still and quiet the mind, emptying the thoughts
and concerns of the day.
* Put on special sleep wear, like a rich cotton robe,
which feels nurturing.
After your bath spend a few minutes asking for a dream, creating
a positive expectation in your mind. Imagine your mind like
a blank slate or screen on which your subconscious will create
a compelling story during the night. Meditate before sleep,
and ask your question. Gently repeat your question before
you turn out the lights. Don’t forget to ask for a “Big
Dream.”
If you decide to undertake this process, resolve to heed whatever
council your Big Dream provides. Take care formulating the question, identifying
the real issue and not just a list of symptoms. In order to
get good guidance it’s vital to get to the heart of the matter. If
you are uncertain about your question you can set the intention
to receive general guidance about your life path. You can
also ask to see the true nature of a mental pattern, which repeatedly
magnetizes pain in your life. Openness of mind and humility
of heart are the most important attributes of this work.
If you don’t remember your dream in the morning, don’t
lose heart. Maybe you aren’t ready for the changes your dream
message requires. Rest assured the message was received and
stored by your subconscious, and when the time is right the symbols
will emerge into your conscious awareness.
Julie Gillentine is the award-winning author
of TAROT & DREAM
INTERPRETATION and other books and articles. Each year she leads
a sacred journey to Egypt. Julie can be reached through her web site
www.queenofcups.com or in Colorado at 970-264-7474.
