This is a good example of a visual metaphor of our latent potential for transformation, how we keep ourselves from transforming and what we need to do in order to transform. Obviously, the particular “prescription” or methodology is going to be different for different people.
Tell me a dream you remember. It can be an old one, a repetitive dream, a nightmare, or one that you’re sure you understand.
I am watching a flat, oblong plastic or metal “coffin” automatically slide slowly along hardly visible rails set in a floor. It appears to move slowly around on a large oblong track. I am curious as I watch. What is it? What’s its purpose?
What are three fundamental life issues that you are dealing with now in your life?
Doing things promptly.
Sticking to my routines – yoga, meditation, gym
Substituting low sugar for higher sugar drinks and foods
Tell me a dream you remember. It can be an old one, a repetitive dream, a nightmare, or one that you’re sure you understand.
I am watching a flat, oblong plastic or metal “coffin” automatically slide slowly along hardly visible rails set in a floor. It appears to move slowly around on a large oblong track. I am curious as I watch. What is it? What’s its purpose?
Why do you think that you had this dream?
I don’t know. I haven’t been thinking about death lately.
If this dream were playing at a theater, what name would be on the marquee?
Coffin on Tracks.
These are the characters in the dream, beside yourself…
Coffin, tracks
If one character had something especially important to tell you, what would it be?
The coffin!
Now remember how as a child you liked to pretend you were a teacher or a doctor? It’s easy and fun for you to imagine that you are this or that character in your dream and answer some questions I ask, saying the first thing that comes to your mind. If you wait too long to answer, that’s not the character answering – that’s YOU trying to figure out the right thing to say!
Coffin, are you a character in Joseph’s dream?
Yes!
Coffin, look out at the world from your perspective and tell us what you see…
I am more of the artificial or man-made shell of a seed, part of a transformational potential that is within me that is not man-made but totally natural, innate and spontaneous. What is inside me can burst forth if I am planted…
Coffin, would you please tell me about yourself and what you are doing?
I am going in circles instead of vertically. I am meant to be planted.
Coffin, what do you like most about yourself? What are your strengths?
I provide shelter and protection for amazing potentials for transformation and rebirth.
Coffin, what do you dislike most about yourself? Do you have weaknesses? What are they?
I can’t think of any. My man-made or artificial nature is stronger, more durable and more adaptable than most natural-occurring substances, so I do an extraordinary job of protecting my contents until they are ready to burst forth. I like myself just fine, but this going around in circles on this track, while interesting, is not supporting my function, which is transformation.
Coffin, what aspect of Joseph do you represent or most closely personify?
His transformational potentials.
Coffin, if you could be anywhere you wanted to be and take any form you desired, would you change? If so, how?
I would be buried, metaphorically speaking, and getting the equivalent of darkness and moisture, with ready nutrients, the ingredients that nature normally supplies to seeds and eggs. The darkness is best supplied by meditation, not because he does it in the dark – he doesn’t – he even keeps his eyes open, but because it is a state of relative sensory deprivation because he focuses on clarity rather than on senses, thoughts, feelings or images when he meditates. The moisture is best provided by emotional warmth, provided by his practice of inhaling abundance and exhaling thankfulness as well as by his constant exposure to creative ideas, generosity and service to others. The nutrients are best provided by interviews such as this one, which supply him with access to emerging potentials that align him with the priorities of his life compass.
(Continue, answering as the transformed object, if it chose to change.)
Seed Pod, how would you score yourself 0-10, in each of the following six qualities: confidence, compassion, wisdom, acceptance, inner peace, and witnessing? Why?
Confidence, 0-10. 10. Why? I can and will do what I am made to do, given the proper conditions.
Compassion, 0-10. ?? Why? I don’t do compassion; humans do compassion. I am extremely patient and durable and then go into action when conditions are appropriate.
Wisdom, 0-10. 10 Why? My wisdom is innate; I respond appropriately to the right conditions. Flow.
Acceptance, 0-10. 10. Why? I accept that I am not planted or cracking at present; when I am I will accept that.
Inner Peace, 0-10. 10 Why? Because I am high in acceptance.
Witnessing, 0-10. 10 Why? I have no problem observing my environment, my contexts objectively and dispassionately.
Seed Pod, how would Joseph’s life be different if he naturally scored like you do in all six of these qualities all the time?
He would have much less resistance to planting and sprouting me! He could break himself out of his horizontal reality, his addiction to his train of mind that mostly takes him around in circles!
Seed Pod, if you could live Joseph’s life for him, how would you live it differently?
I would take 5-10 minute meditation breaks throughout the day. He doesn’t have to do a lot if it’s quality, in order to get me the amount of time “underground” that I require to sprout.
Seed Pod, if you could live Joseph’s waking life for him today, would you handle Joseph’s three life issues differently? If so, how?
Doing things promptly: Getting started is the most important thing. He sticks with stuff pretty well once he starts.
Sticking to my routines – yoga, meditation, gym: Going over the routines for the next day at night before going to sleep will help.
Substituting low sugar for higher sugar drinks and foods: I am not too concerned about this. Not buying them is key, since you can’t eat or drink what you don’t have on hand.
Seed Pod, what life issues would you focus on if you were in charge of Joseph’s life?
1. Meditating more!
2. Moisturizing with the inhaling of abundance and exhaling of gratitude!
3. Interviews!
Seed Pod, in what life situations would it be most beneficial for Joseph to imagine that he is you and act as you would?
Whenever he does resistance. Although I am strong, solid and resistant, I do not myself do resistance.
Seed Pod, why do you think that you are in Joseph’s life?
To remind him of his potentials, which are like unopened gifts and possibilities that are ready to sprout and awaken if he will simply subject them to the proper conditions.
Seed Pod, why do you think Joseph had this dream?
As above, to show him what he is doing – living on the horizontal, mostly – and motivate him to spend more of his time living on the vertical.
Seed Pod, why do you think (some dream event happened) or (some character) was in the dream?
The tracks I am on are the habits of his thoughts, feelings and actions. His daily routines.
Seed Pod, why should Joseph pay any attention to what you have said? Aren’t these just a projection of Joseph’s own wishes and desires?
I am a representation for him of truths that he knows are authentic and important.
Thank you, character! And now a couple questions for Joseph:
What have you heard yourself say?
If I spend more time planting and watering this seed it will sprout. The potentials are unknown but the implication is that they are significant.
If this experience were a wake-up call from your life compass, what do you think it would be saying to you?
Your evolution and transformation is largely independent of external circumstances. You can support, control and encourage it by planting, feeding and watering it.
Look back over the interview and list the specific recommendations that were made:
Meditate for short periods throughout the day.
Keep up the abundance/gratefulness breathing.
Interviews once a week.
What do you think? How does transformation show up in your dreams? What works for you to support and encourage it?
