Dream Weaving

Descriptive Essay # 109010

Psychology > Dreams
Religion and Theology > Other

Dream Weaving

Reflects on the properties, value and representation of dreaming.

1,710 words () | 4 sources | MLA | 2007 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, although they are not considered by most people to be an actual place, dreams create a very realistic atmosphere in which it is often difficult to believe that these places are not factual. The paper then discuses the spiritual system of shamanism and premonitions as two very distinct ways to associate dreaming with the concept of place. The writer concludes that the religious beliefs of shamanism and the author's indisputable experiences with premonitions sway him towards believing that the idea of being in a real place does exist in dreams; however, there is no proof to this condition.

From the Paper:

A shaman is trained to travel between our "world" and any other existing "worlds." The ways in which shaman train in order to do such, depend on the type of shamanism they abide by. The shaman may then mediate between two different worlds whether it is the relay of simple messages, or escorting souls from one world to another. These "jumps" from world to world that a shaman can make are made through a mental state of awareness. A mental state of awareness can be described as one dreaming, but at the same time, "waking up" in this dream and in a way, taking control of it. Shamans see this "control" of a dream as an art. This art is the very basis for all types of shamanism as every shaman must be able to control their dreams in order to achieve the goals of shamanism through their mental states of awareness. Neo-shamans such as David Lang use this mental state to find their true "place" in the world. Through dreams Lang must foresee a reality in physical existence and find this place. Though the goals of each shaman may be different, there is one goal they must all achieve which is to act as healers of a sort through spirituality. Of course, one would say that because these traveled places are traveled mentally and not physically, no such "place" exists. But if Lang and other neo-shamans are to foresee their true place, a place of physical existence

Sample of Sources Used:

"Dream Interpreting - Premonitions." Geocities. (2000). 02 Oct 2007 <http://www.geocities.com/hairybobby2000/dreambookpremon.html>.
Hefner. "Premonition." The Mystica. 02 Oct 2007<http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/p/premonition.html>.
Lang, David. "Dream Weaving - Re-Dreaming the Dream of Your Life." Alternatives Magazine. 0. (2001). 02 Oct 2007 <http://www.alternativesmagazine.com/20/lang.html>.
"Shamanism." Deoxy. (2000). 03 Oct 2007 <http://www.deoxy.org/shaman.htm>.