Recommendation of keeping a dream diary

Every morning just after I wake up, I keep a dream diary.  My friend (he is a facilitator in the dream group at JFKU) recommended me to keep a dream diary to remember my dream and also to understand my dream patterns or symbols.

At first, when I joined this group, I was really surprised that every my friend shared their dream in detail.  On the other hand, I couldn’t share my dream so much because I didn’t remember my dream at all.

Happily, I become to remember my dream more than before due to a dream diary practice. Keeping a dream diary every day enhances my ability to recall my dream.  This exercise is so helpful for me.  Dream work is one of my important shadow works.

A covenant society rather than a legal society

I suppose that I have various covenants with others in my life, but the most important covenant now is the one with my host father.  He and I live together in Pleasant Hill and I owe a lot to him.  He takes care of me, so I really appreciate him every day. 

Before starting this home stay program, I contracted with him.  This contract had a literally legal binding force, for example, the cost per month, the minimum term of this program, and various hosing rules.

However, other than the above contracts written in a paper, I made an important covenant with him implicitly.  I promised myself “I will behave in a respectful manner with him.”  Based on this covenant, I have lived with him in a polite way and respected him from my heart.  Surprisingly, he also gradually came to behave in a respectful manner with me.  Due to my implicit covenant, he and I could build a good relationship each other.  If I had made an only legal contract with him, such a great relationship between us would never have occurred.  

Likewise in regard to our society, I suppose that not only legal contracts but also implicit covenants within us are important.  I think that a covenant came from our inner voice has stronger power than various laws established by someone.  That is because our covenants from inner voice are spontaneous not compulsory.  Our covenants are comprised of compassions and devotions to others.  If a lot of people make a covenant with others having empathetic hearts, the world will become better, I believe.

Our society is a covenant society rather than a legal society.

Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming

Do you know “Lucid Dreaming?”  In a word, a lucid dream is a dream in which one is aware that one is dreaming.  In a lucid dream, we understand we are in a dream world.  Moreover, we can perceive feeling or emotions vividly and can create our dream freely.

This book includes a lot of techniques and exercise for dreaming a lucid dream.  This is so useful that we can use lucid dreaming to improve the quality of not only our dreaming life but also our waking life.  Why does it enhance our waking life?  The answer is in this book!

Integral Psychology Program at JFKU

Happily, it seems that my blog contributes to someone in the world.  After I started this blog, I received some e-mails or messages through Face Book.  Every e-mail and message is about Integral Psychology program at JFKU.   So, I’d like to write about Integral Psychology program, especially what kind of classes are in this program.  If you have any questions or want to know more detail, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Pre-requisites

-          Research Writing

-          World Religion

This is my first quarter, so I take these classes now.  I learn how to write a research paper and what APA style is from “Research Writing” class and learn the wisdom of world religions form “World Religion” class.  Both of them are fantastic for me!

Core

-          Integral Psychology Orientation-IPP

-          Fundamental Psychology-IPP (or Personality & Psychotherapy)

-          Living Systems: Integral Applications-IPP

-          Developmental Psychology-IPP

-          Social Psychology & Social Transformation-IPP

-          Integral Theory A-IPP

-          Integral Theory B-IPP

-          Transpersonal Psychology-IPP

-          Cognitive Science-IPP (or Sleep, Dreams, States of CNS-CNS)

-          Somatic Psychology: Integrating Body & Soul-IPP

-          Integral Life Practice-IPP

-          Integral Spirituality-IPP

-          Cons. & Sustainability-CNS or Ecological Medicine-ITH

-          Social Systems-ITH

-          Enneagram Assesment-IPP

-          Integral Research A-IPP

-          Integral Research B-IPP

-          Effective Communication A: Emotional Dynamics-IPP

-          Effective Communication B: Intersubjectivity-IPP

-          Professional Inquiry-IPP

-          Professional Application-IPP

-          Thesis or Integrative Project-IPP

Electives Sacred Psychology and Professional Development

-          Diamond Heart Approach-IPP

-          Shamanism & Dreams-CNS

-          Integral Metatheory-ITH

-          Personal/Professional Coaching: Integral Coaching-CNS

-          Stones, Shamans, Goddess dreams-CNS

-          Shamanic Traditions-CNS

-          Neurophilosophy/Consciousness-CNS

-          Being Change/Designing Change/Leading Change (certificate)-IPP

-          Sufism: Path of the Heart-IPP

-          Teaching Practicum A-CNS

-          Teaching Practicum B-CNS

-          Publishing & Media-CNS

-          Advanced Writing/Publishing-CNS

-          Creativity/Transformation-IPP

-          Writing Your Story-CNS

-          Archetypal Mythology-CNS

-          Christian Mysticism-IPP

-          Psychosynthesis-IPP

-          Ancestral Consc. and Healing-CNS

-          Tai Chi Chuan & Taoism-IPP

-          Spirituality/Symbols/Dreams-IPP

-          Curriculum Development-CNS

The above classes include IPP: Integral Psychology Program, CNS: Consciousness Studies program, and ITH: Integral Theory program.  IPP students can take other programs’ classes electively and flexibly according their interests.

The dream symbol of labyrinth: Process of Growth

Every Thursday, I look forward to participate in “Dream Work” group at JFKU.  In this group, we share each dream and exercise various dream works.  This group and members (my friends) are so fascinating for me. 

I have to protect the confidentiality of information shared in this group, so I can’t write about other members’ things, but I can share my dream.

Last week, I had an interesting dream.  In my dream, I lost my way in a labyrinth…  In the beginning, I was walking uneasily in a labyrinth.  While walking, suddenly, I heard a song from somewhere… The song was “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini Op. 43” by Sergei Rachmaninoff.  This is a most favorite song for me.  I felt relieved and continued to walking in a labyrinth listening to this song.

After walking some more, I came to a fork in a labyrinth.  I chose one way but I was not sure about this decision…  Here again, I heard another song from somewhere…  The song was “Requiem K.626 Dies irae” by Mozart!!!  Of course, I highly respect the world view of this song, but I don’t like this song too much.  I feel fearful to listen to this song…  This dream ended here.

Later, by coincidence, I found the description about the symbol of labyrinth in “A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy: Complexity, Integration, and Spirituality in Practice (Suny Series in Integral Theory).”  This book says that labyrinth expresses the process of human growth (p.64).  Umm, now, I’m in a process of growth?  Maybe not human growth but my English growth, hahaha.

Reference:A Guide to Integral Psychotherapy: Complexity, Integration, and Spirituality in Practice (Suny Series in Integral Theory)

Good thoughts, good words, and good deeds: From Zoroastrianism

Now, I take “World Religions” class at JFKU, and this class is wonderful and exciting for me.  To tell you the truth, I didn’t know the reason why I should study world religion before taking this class.  This was because “religion” was somewhat taboo for me.  As with many Japanese, I have no religion although I’m not a complete atheist.  However, this class gives me wonderful insights about world religions.  I’ve never thought about world religion deeply before, but this class is a great opportunity to think about various religions.  In addition, as I always say, the book “The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions” is highly recommended.  It includes world religions’ great wisdom.

This week, I learned Zoroastrianism , so I’d like to post my simple impression about this religion.

Regarding Zoroastrianism, I think that morality is a key concept.  The following citation from Zoroastrianism was really helpful for me to recognize the importance of morality.  This was the first time the concepts of heaven and hell, “best existence” and “worst existence” were connected with morality.  I’m not sure that there are heaven and hell after our death, but if they exist, I am really careful to my thoughts, words, and deeds…  It depends on my righteousness.

Listen to my angels

This week, I learned about Zoroastrianism in the World Religion class.  To tell you the truth, I didn’t know about it at all before the class.  So, this week’s class was really helpful to understand it deeply.  The following post is about my essay which I wrote in the class.

Does Zoroastrianism contribute to my heath and wholeness?  Yes, it does, I think.  I received a beneficial hint from the Zoroastrianism’s idea about discernment of wrong or right.  To tell you the truth, I can’t sometimes discern good from evil about my act and will. And also now, I’m wrestling with the dilemma between good and evil, especially about my future.  After I graduate from JFKU (Integral Psychology Program), I’d like to be an organizational consultant and coach by applying Integral Theory and psychological knowledge.  In other words, I’d like to contribute to the business world based on my unique insights or experiences which I cultivate here. 

However, I sometimes feel guilty about the following question.  “Who could benefit from my work?”  I’d like to answer this question “Of course, not only my clients but also those around them could benefit from my work.” ,but I sometimes suppose that not my clients but I could benefit from my work and I may have a strong desire for my success not for others’ success.  I really would like to support my clients from my heart and I hope that my clients will succeed.  However, perhaps I may wish my wealth and fame deep in my heart…

Although I disliked the duality hidden in me, I decided to accept my duality after reading the Zoroastrianism’s idea that “the dualism of good and evil spirits is a moral dualism, existing not in nature or in the Godhead but in the human heart and mind.”  It is not unusual for us to face with moral dilemma in various scenes.  Therefore, it is important for us not to look away from the dualism but to face it sincerely.

Here again, I’d like to answer the previous my question “Who could benefit from my work?” like this “Yes, both others and I. I’d like to work for others and me devoting my heart and soul.”  This is my honest answer.

If I face with ethical dilemma in my future, I’d like to relax and listen carefully to the voice of my angels which are messengers of my God.  I believe that the voice will give wholeness to my life.

Addiction recovery process: More detail