Ted Andrews - Dream Alchemy: Shaping Our Dreams to Transform Our Lives

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

Dream Alchemy: Shaping Our Dreams to Transform Our Lives. Copyright 1991 and 2015 by Ted Andrews.

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First e-book edition 2015

E-book ISBN: 9780738747873

Cover design by Ellen Lawson

Cover image iStockphoto.com/58906282/agsandrew

Interior art by the Llewellyn art department

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publications Data

Andrews, Ted, 19522009.

Dream alchemy : shaping our dreams to transform our lives /

Ted Andrews. 1st ed.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 9780738747873

1. Dreams. I. Title.

BF1078.A59 1991

135.3dc20 91-19444

CIP

Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

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Manufactured in the United States of America

Dedication

To Nettie, Paul, Christian, Gretel
To their dreams of a thousand dogs and
To all of the dreams they have to unfold.

Table Of Contents

Modern Shapeshifting and Dream Alchemy

PART ONE

The Mysteries of Sleep and Dreams

A Different Look at Dream Processes

Understanding Our Dream Archetypes

Creating the Dream Journal

Increasing and Influencing Dream Activity

The Rite of Dream Passage

PART TWO

Mythic Dream Work

Dream Alchemy Through Creative Imagination

Archetypes and the Mythic Dream Work Process

Four Exercises in Metamorphosis

Awakening the Ancient Dream Guardians

PART THREE

Working with Dream Cycles

The Cycles of Our Dreams

The Sun Quest of the Dream Walker

Dreams Within the Tides of the Moon

PART FOUR

Dream Totems and Mandalas

Dream Totems

Making and Using Dream Talismans and Mandalas

PART FIVE

Dream Time Initiation

Becoming the Dream Hero

Labyrinth of the Soul

The Mythic Dreamer and the Modern Seer

Mythic Dream Worksheets

Index to Mythic Images and Tales

Introduction

Modern Shapeshifting
and Dream Alchemy

Nothing is so universally fascinating as dreams. Dreams shift and dance. They mold themselves into scenarios of wonder and terror. They delight and amaze, amuse and frighten. They are never the same and yet always the same in the way they manifest themselves within our lives. I once heard a quote attributed to Cicero: Nihil tam prepostere, tam monstuose cogitari potest quod non possimus somnare. (We can dream about anything, no matter how preposterous or unnatural it may be.)

Dreams are a part of our life. And as with all life functions, they serve a purpose. Discerning that purpose and controlling that function is the purpose of this book.

In more ancient times there were certain individuals with a capability of living between the physical and the spiritual. They could adapt themselves and change their energies according to their life circumstances. They could shape and mold the life environment, creating whatever they desired and becoming whatever they dreamed. These were the shapeshifters. They lived the dreamtime while awake or asleep. There were no limits to where they could go or who they could be. These were the alchemists, shamans, magicians, and wise ones of our myths, tales, and legends.

Learning to shift the dream to reality and the reality into dreamto walk the thread of life between the worldsis to become the dream walker. Much of the ancient knowledge of techniques for doing this has been lost, but they have not been destroyed. They can be found again by those willing to put forth the effort and follow the journey. There are guides, reflections, and ways to unfold this knowledge within ourselves.

Who Is A Shapeshifter?

Shapeshifting is natural to all of humanity. Every day on some level, we shift our energies to meet daily trials, responsibilities, and obligations with great success. We learn early in life when and how to smile or when to be serious or studious, according to the occasion. Shapeshifting is not just transforming ourselves into some beast, as often told in ancient tales (tales more symbolic than literal). It is a matter of controlling and utilizing ones highest energy and potential to meet whatever situation life requires. It is a process of becoming active, of controlling what manifests rather than being passive and allowing to manifest whatever may come.

A shapeshifter is one who can

• relate to all people and adjust behaviors to work and live as conditions may warrant
• be gentle according to need and yet be capable of expressing great strength
• discipline himself or herself to achieve a goal
• adapt to change, pleasant or otherwise
• turn a foul mood into a pleasant one
• take limitations, self-imposed or otherwise, and use them as part of a growth process
• find the creative possibilities within limitation and thus overcome limitation
• overcome fear
• put aside hurt and anger to achieve a result
• transform the pains and hindrances of life, past and present

It is this kind of shapeshifting which we can develop to a fine degree. It is something we can all accomplish. It is the spiritual lesson behind all dreams, regardless of content or message. We have taken physical form to shift the energies and consciousness of the past into new and more creative expressions. It is our dreams which provide the reminders and means of facilitating this shifting of energy on all levels.

Learning to employ ancient and modern techniques to facilitate this process in all areas of our life is part of the purpose of this text. We can learn to shift the energies of consciousness, to shift the past and present circumstances of our lives. We can learn to do this in a controlled, gentle manner. We can learn to shift into higher awareness when reviewing past experiences. And we can reshape energies to eliminate karma or to manifest new opportunities. It all lies within our bounds.