In life there are times when we may feel completely out of control and a sense of impotent frustration at our lack of ability to be able to change the ways things are. This can happen for a variety of reasons, lack of money, lack of job security, or finding yourself in a unequal relationship where you have no say.

It is said, that there are no prisons, nothing holding us back, except our own inability to act. There is a quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne which says, “What other dungeon is so dark as one’s own heart! What jailer so inexorable as one’s self”. Many do not realise to what extent they are imprisoned, and I would say they are the lucky ones. For those who do, the emotional pain and stress can be excruciating. Adding more to their feelings of low self worth and the self perception of weakness.

I believe the key to this is finding an inner strength, by digging deeply within. Easier said then done I know. The mental prisons people find themselves in have high walls and can seem insurmountable, especially if they feel they have no one to help them.

People rarely share with others their sense of hopelessness. For again, they often blame themselves, and feel that it is not something someone else can help them with. Up to a point this is true, for the only one who can release you is yourself. But often it does help to share with others. It helps to diminish the sense of isolation and provides an outlet for the emotional pain they are feeling.

The important thing to remember is that non of us are alone, for God is always with us. Often he sends people to us who can help. Be aware of the people you meet. Be open to new idea’s. Write down your dreams, often they can be a wonderful source of insight and guidance from the universe.

Ultimately, the choice is ours, you can continue to suffer in silence or you can decide to change your life for the better. There is always a period of upheaval, this is natural when great change occurs. The point is, is it better to face the flux of change then to continue to stay in the dark place that holds your soul captive.

I thought you might like to know a little more about dreams and their interpretation, so thought I would share some of the information I have read with you. It may also encourage more of you to share, and maybe take note of things in your dreams, like colour,texture, time of day and how the dream made you feel. For example, happy, sad, scared, curious etc. All these things are actually very important when it comes to interpreting dreams.

We spend over a third of our lives asleep and according to scientists enjoy between three and six dreams a night. Dreaming is a universal human activity over which we have little control, and until recently very little concrete knowledge. It is also a proven fact, that dreaming is actually a very important part of our physical health and well being. Sleep deprivation has been shown to also be very detrimental our health over long periods of time.

Scientists have analyzed physical changes in our sleep patterns, but no one can state with any certainty, why we dream or Whether our dreams have any significance. Although both Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud both believed and wrote at great length about the psychology and significance of the dream state.

Dreams are intensely personal experiences known only to the dreamer unless they choose to share it with someone.They are visual experiences and often words simply are not enough to convey the subtle nuances involved. We all have unique dreams woven from the thread of our unconscious, in hopes, fears and memories and imagination.

Should we pay attention to what appear to be messages from within, and the messages they seem to hold. Or are they just the bizarre workings of a brain trying to sort the events of our daily life into some sort of order? I personally believe they offer us a window, into our unconscious mind and even into our souls. Dreams allow us to wrestle with life’s daily problems, at times offering us solutions or a opportunity to view them from a perspective, we might not see in our waking life. A rich source of information and guidance from our higher self and the spiritual realms.

Dreams and dreaming usually raise more questions then solutions, however the first being the perennial cry…”Oh why can’t I remember, my dreams”? The second being prompted by tantalizing glimpses of brilliance and half remembered shafts of pleasure, is it to wonder how and why one’s brain has managed to conjure up tales worthy of a Hollywood movie. And the third, what does it all mean?

Many ancient cultures set great store by their dreams and use them to influence their daily activities. The ancient Chinese regarded dreams as the experiences of the soul, which went wondering while the body slept…rather like an out of body experience. The Taoist philosopher Chuang-Tzu encapsulated the feeling of being unable to differentiate between reality and the dream world one often experiences on waking.

“Once upon a time, I Chuang-Tzu , dreamed I was a Butterfly fluttering hither and thither. To all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was aware only of following my fancy as a butterfly, and unconscious of my human individuality. Suddenly, I awoke and there I lay myself again. Now I do not know Werther I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly or Werther I am now a butterfly dreaming I am a man”.

I have several dream books that I like to use, my favourite is The Dream Book, by Betty Bethards. When I do Dream Interpretation, the symbols I use are but a basic structure, onto which I can also use my own intuition. This, is what guides my interpretation, as I walk alongside the dreamer. I always feel that when someone asks me to look at their dream it is a privilege, an invitation to enter into their psyche and explore with them, their personal dream world.

I find this all fascinating stuff and it touches something in me, I hope it does in you. I will share more things about dreaming from time to time. If anyone has any questions or would like to learn more about dream interpretation, please do not hesitate to ask

Finding happiness is the number one feeling we all seek as human beings. It is more important than money, health, or relationships. Without happiness, it is unlikely that you are even able to enjoy and appreciate those things.

This is one of my favourite quotes. “Happiness, is when what you think and what you say and what you feel, are in harmony,” Mahatma Gandhi. It makes perfect sense, it is simple and you would think an easy thing to do. But if it was, then why are so many people unhappy?

Happiness brings us greater health, greater wealth, and more honest and loving relationships. It is our greatest gift. For when we are happy, everyone around us is happy, and we attract positive circumstances into our lives. Life just flows easily and effortlessly.

Basing your personal happiness upon a successful relationship, or doing well in your chosen profession, or your social standing in life, is building your happiness upon very shakey foundations. It could be likened to constructing a pyramid, made of playing cards. If you pull just one of those cards away, the whole structure collapses. Happiness that is based on this, is not real, it is simply an illusion.

I believe, the key to finding true happiness always starts within. It is about liking yourself as you are. It is about staying true to your own inner moral compass and integrity. It is about, not, trying to be someone you are not, simply to gain love or approval from others. Accept that you are perfect just as you are. Happiness is a spiritual journey. It is a discovery of who we really are. It is a lesson in living in peace.

Love and light
Kaz