By Debra Reeves.

When I was 17 I had a series of dreams that I found extremely disturbing. They would begin with me standing and watching the sunrise at my window with a passenger plane passing by. But just as it headed towards the rising sun it would start smoking, pitch and hurtle headfirst towards the ground. I would watch in horror as the plane exploded on the ground. I would know no one would be able to survive such a crash. Then I’d wake in the full grip of the horror and shock.

Lucky for me I was working as a breakfast waitress with Kat, whose mother happened to be a psychologist trained in Gestalt dream analysis.

I’d arrive at work reeling from my latest plane crash dream and would relate the dream to Kat between tables. The dreams were curious and fascinating, but she could see how disturbing they were for me and so asked her mum to meet me.

Her mum, Liz, saw me and through the Gestalt model she was able to unpack the dream as symbols and it all made perfect sense.

But the dreams continued. The planes just kept on crashing! As the months turned into years I became less affected by the dreams, but would have preferred to wake without the heart in my mouth that they created every time!

I explored spirituality more and discovered more and more ways to connect with Spirit. One way is through dreams. I discovered that Spirit – and particularly Spirit Guides – can use dreams to communicate with you or offer messages through the symbols within dreams.

There are seven positive and seven negative astral planes around Earth. We pass through the astral planes at death and during sleep when we dream. Dreams are ‘real events’ in astral – between the spiritual planes and the physical Earth plane. Most people visit the positive astral planes. Visiting the negative astral planes will result in nightmares.

Depending on your intuitive gifts, you may receive clear messages from Spirit in dreams, including precognitive dreams that show you are on the right track. Dreams can also play a vital role in helping to process difficult experiences and are a fantastic tool for spiritual growth and learning. Through my exploration, I learned about lucid dreaming. This is the ability to wake up and be aware inside your dream state.

I began experimenting with my dreams. I began to consciously step into my dreams and adjust any aspects I didn’t want. For example, I turned the passenger planes into banal and neutral things like gliders or paper planes and kites!

I did this with a simple process:

1. Set an intention before you drift off to sleep of what you would like to do. When you go to bed, hit your head on the pillow and say “I welcome lucid dreams. I enter my dreams. I am conscious in my dreams. I can change parts of my dreams. I remember my significant dreams that have messages for me.”
   
2. Have absolute conviction in your ability to enter your dreams and change whatever you need, and remember any messages from Spirit that are for your high and best good.
3. Step into your dreams and adjust any aspects you need to. Create a calm peaceful space for learning.
4. Use a Dream Journal. Keep a notebook by the bed to write down dreams and teachings that feel really profound and memorable. Write down exactly what happened and any standout symbols. Describe your feelings and emotions. This is the only way you can look back and understand your dreams and the messages held within them.
5. Use any guidance in your life. Experiment with your guidance so you can gain confidence in your Spirit guidance.

Remember to practice! It won’t happen overnight (haha) but it will happen!

As you become skilled you can start experimenting:

• Call in and request content or themes for your dreams.
• Use your intent to request to process, or release old, outmoded patterns or beliefs that no longer serve you.
• Begin lucid dreaming in your awake state, creating a similar experience and creating the same deep state of learning.
• Become intuitive with signs and symbols in your waking life. Use dream symbols and imagine your waking state the same way as you do your dreams.
• Use your new dream awareness to step in and adjust any aspects you need to.

If you are not getting enough restful sleep and feel exhausted in the morning try saying this prayer out loud:

My Higher self, from this moment on, I will undertake to work in the astral planes only when it does not interfere with my own soul’s growth or the rejuvenation of my body and mind. It is done; it is done; it is done. Thank you.

The plane crash dreams still pop up every now and then. But now I understand they symbolise new beginnings – a bit of a rocky transition but all will work out in the long run! And when the dream is too full of fear I step into it and transform those passenger planes into gliders or paper planes or kites!

Lucid dreaming is really fun! Play with it. If you struggle to understand the symbolism just ask for clarity before sleep: “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. Can you explain it again?” You can also do a Google search for interpretations and chose what resonates. Another great tool is visionary art. You might find an artist’s interpretation of your unique experience!

Have you experienced lucid dreaming? Share your thoughts in the comments!