TIPS ABOUT HAVING LUCID DREAMS

          Dream interpretation is one area of interest to me. I have studied dreams before and from there, I gradually developed to love the world of dreams. Dreams tell us about many things about us especially those which are hidden deep inside ourselves. So many interpretations and meanings of dreams evolved as humankind continued to develop as well. One of its definitions is :  

          DREAMS are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, as well as a subject of philosophical and religious interest, throughout recorded history. The scientific study of dreams is called oneirology. Scientists believe that, in addition to humans, birds and other mammals also dream.

Dreams mainly occur in the rapid-eye movement (REM) stage of sleep—when brain activity is high and resembles that of being awake. REM sleep is revealed by continuous movements of the eyes during sleep. At times, dreams may occur during other stages of sleep. However, these dreams tend to be much less vivid or memorable.

Dreams can last for a few seconds, or as long as twenty minutes. People are more likely to remember the dream if they are awakened during the REM phase. The average person has three to five dreams per night, but some may have up to seven dreams in one night. The dreams tend to last longer as the night progresses. During a full eight-hour night sleep, two hours of it is spent dreaming.

In modern times, dreams have been seen as a connection to the unconscious. They range from normal and ordinary to overly surreal and bizarre. Dreams can have varying natures, such as frightening, exciting, magical, melancholic, adventurous, or sexual. The events in dreams are generally outside the control of the dreamer, with the exception of lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is self-aware. Dreams can at times make a creative thought occur to the person or give a sense of inspiration. (Taken from WIKIPEDIA- the free encyclopedia)

          As such, a wide world of things engulf the world of dreams. Interpretations as well may vary from one dreamer to the other. The art of remembering one's dreams comes out of one's ability to focus his mind on the story itself of the dream. During our sessions, we were told to bring one dream in the class and if one could have a  hard time remembering and bringing a dream to class, he is asked just to bring along with him any story. From there, all of us, participants and mentors, helped in bringing related significance of the dream to the waking reality of the dreamer. Not all of us have the same capacity to dwell again on our dreams. However, experience would tell us that one's constant practice of remembering dreams enable him to bring back everything on a dream to the present moment.

                                                                    

          Yet how could we remember lucid parts of our dream? To answer this query, I would share this research done by one dream author Marc VanDeKeere. He said, 

"Increase your dream recall and write your dreams down in a journal.  You cannot have lucid dreams if you cannot remember your dreams and keeping a journal is a crucial step towards solidifying your intent.  By keeping the journal, your mind becomes saturated with the idea that dreams are important. Your dream journal will become one of the most frequently used tool sin your dreaming bag of tricks. If you have trobule recalling your dreams, then ry the following tips to increase your dream recall.  

INCREASE DREAM RECALL

Upon awakening inn the morning, do not move. Stay in bed for a while and recall your dreams before you flood your mind with everything you are going to do for the day. If you have trouble remembering them try to change your position in bed: lie on your right side for a while, then your back then left: sometimes the position you where in when you had the dream helps increase recall of that dream.   

BECOME FAMILIAR WITH YOUR DREAMS:

Get to know the places, things, and actions you see and do in your dreams (beaches, classrooms, roller coasters etc) " this is why a dream journal is so crucial in identifying your dream signs. 

DO CONSISTENT REALITY CHECKS that is ask yourself frequently through out the  day "Am I dreaming?" Do this regularly. This constant signals ensured that one would remember the reality check. When you ask yourself if you are dreaming, check your surroundings to see if in fact you are dreaming. Try to read something like a text or a street sign. The words or letters may look unstable, or they may have the tendency to change or morph into different letters   and words entirely. Upon checking looking away and then looking back  again, if the letters have altered then it is safe to assume that you are dreaming. "

           Thus, the first step towards fulfilling a successful dream journey is to have mastered these steps to become familiar with the attributes and characteristics of one's dreams. Happy dreaming everyone.

On BlogDash - my new and additional tool on blogging

          I would like to share with you my new connection on Blogdash. I chose this site since I believed this can help me in promoting my blog. Aside from that, I will also be able to connect, find, and engage with other bloggers. As such, it would then become a two-way process for me- being able to reach out to fellow bloggers and to learn from them. With the continued evolution of latest methods on gaining more positive results on one's blogs, it is very appropriate to make oneself updated with all these latest resources such as Blogdash.

http://www.blogdash.com/full_profile/?claim_code=a416f27aef1db703d13e4b9e0e05ea13


          Nowadays, numerous resources are made available for all bloggers to utilize so as to make the world of blogging more tremendous. We only need to be that capable so that we can tap to the fullest their potentials to assist us into a higher level. Moreover, hope you can also find time to check out Blogdash and for sure you will detect plenty of interesting things you can make use in this world of blogging.

My MOOMBA Festival 2013 Experience

"Event History

The first Moomba procession, March 1955

MOOMBA FESTIVAL was a 15 day festival officially opened on March 12, 1955 by Governor Sir Dallas Brooks.^[4] The inaugural programme included a fireworks display, parade, vintage car display, Henley rowing regatta, river floats including a "Lord Mayor's houseboat", cycling race, tennis at Kooyong, concerts including performances by the Victorian Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic choir, crowning of the Queen of Moomba and riverside carnival. 25,000 turned out to watch the inaugural Moomba parade down Swanston Street. The first Moomba was heavily criticised by Melbourne's conservative establishment, including the Anglican church which at the time claimed it was hedonistic and embodying social decay.^[5] Council responded to the criticism citing that Moomba was intended to be a festival for families and as such is reinforcing family values in society.

Moomba, also known as Moomba Festival, held annually in Melbourne, is Australia's longest free community festival.  And finally, the official translation of MOOMBA is "let's get together and have some fun" - Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia"

For this year's festival, I and my wife were lucky to have witnessed  the final day- the festival day itself. Most of the celebrations were held at river Bank, Federation Square and at the Yarra River itself.  Among the amusements were: carnival including Ferris Wheel, food stalls, various games, face painting, minute exhibit and many more. It was very evident to me that all really had a good time while participating in all events. The laughters, the shouts, the chasing of the children and the adults, everything I saw was a manifestation of the day's excitement. Moreover, I observed that everyone , old and the young alike, big and small, white and black, enjoyed the day's festivities. Therefore, Moomba united the people of Melbourne and it crossed any boundary or bias that anybody may bring within himself/herself.  

On the other hand, what I enjoyed the most was the water events in particular the Women's slalom final, the Men's slalom final, Men's long jump, and the Women's long jump. I was so delighted to witness world class performances from the finest athletes representing some parts of the world such as Florida, France, Canada and Russia.  I was in awe as I watched their breathtaking stunts and jumps. Hence putting all these positive experiences that I have for this year's Moomba festival, I could claim that I am eagerly looking forward to next year's festival. 

HOW TO KEEP FIT ALL THE TIME

          Our health is one of our greatest treasures in life. No matter how rich one is in terms of material possession yet if he/she is deprived of the faculties to enjoy them specifically due  to illness hence there is no sense anymore of achieving  great amount of happiness in the midst of this prosperity.

          As one author said, "To keep fit and healthy, follow a healthy and balanced diet everyday. Make sure that your everyday diet includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and protein. You should cut down on red meat, junk foods, caffeine, and sugar intake. Avoid soft drinks or canned fruit juices. Instead, opt for a variety of fresh fruits, vegetable salads, freshly made fruit juices, milk, nutritious energy drinks, etc.

          You need to be more active in order to keep fit and healthy. Modern life has become very sedentary, with fewer scopes for physical activities. You need to exercise in order to burn those calories. Minimum physical activity slows down your metabolism rate. So, you can put on weight even when you eat less. On the other hand, exercise and a more active life will burn up the calories, even when you eat a little more. You can simply go for a brisk walk, or jog, or you can join a gym. The important thing is that you must include some physical exercise in your everyday life, because fitness and health cannot be achieved without some physical exercise".

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Messruther

          Thus it is very clear that one among the many ways to stay fit is by being disciplined in our lifestyle especially with the way we take our food. We need not to be that classy so as to become healthy and fit. What we rather need is an inner will to direct and redirect ourselves to what is best for us. 

          William Messruther above clearly mentioned that we need to keep on moving everyday.....we need to practice a very active life. Avoid any temptation to be idle. Nevertheless, if we know how to be creative in our lifestyle and shun any activity that can only do us more harm then I am quite sure that becoming fit everyday is positively attainable. 

HOW DO I USE MY PERSONAL WEBSITE

          Communication is very essential to me. I would rather say that this world evolves and continue to develop by means of the vast world of communication. Basically, this is true for all may it be for human beings like us, for animals etc, there is such a mysterious world when it comes to communication. 

          Personally, one of my ways to express myself including my thoughts, my beliefs, fears, excitement, and many more is by means of my personal website done specifically through blogging. As i did research on the wide variety of the meanings of a website, I come up with the one below to share with you. 

"Personal web pages are World Wide Web pages created by an individual to contain content of a personal nature rather than on behalf of a company, organization or institution. Personal web pages are often used solely for informative or entertainment purposes.

Also often used interchangeably with the term "personal web page" are the terms; "personal web site," "personal home page," or most commonly just "home page." On technical terms, a site's actual home page (index page) often only contains sparse content with some interesting or catchy introductory material and serves mostly as a pointer or table of contents to the content-rich pages inside, such as résumés, family, hobbies, family genealogy, a blog, opinions, online journals and diaries or other writing, work, sound clips, movies, photos, or other interests.^[1] Many personal pages only include information of interest to friends and family of the author."

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

1. ^ "People's Personal Web Sites - People Tell About Themselves" ..."some great personal Web sites" -- about.com.

          Thus, blogging is my own personal expression of myself. This is my means of establishing relationship with you and others. As such, I devote a part of my everyday schedule to update my blogs. Consequently, this brings me sources of joy, fulfillment, inner peace and bonding when I succeed in coming up with new posts to be shared with all my readers. The desire to be in contact with those whom I know and those who are not yet familiar to me is that intense that spending time therefore with my personal website becomes a positive part of my day. We all have distinctive priorities in life and I would say, mine does include this desire to maintain as well as improve a constant interaction with others through various ways like blogging. 

A COMPASSIONATE HEART

          One of my daily habits is to read the daily news and update myself with what's happening around me. Consequently doing this daily routine gives me various feelings such as awe, joy, sadness, compassion etc. My sharing with you today dwells on my attention to all children who are greatly affected by the sad plight of poverty. It is a plight which is beyond their control. I am moved with pity and compassion to reflect on this reality in life. 

            Yes indeed I am understanding the sufferings and limitations of these poor children. I am moved with compassion to hear these displaced children's condition. Being in contact with underprivileged children before when I was still a member of  the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, I understand it clearly that they are deprived of enough resources to attain efficient education. There are those who  are deprived of food and shelter thus they stay in a drop in center. Some of them are living on these city streets which at times tend too risky for them. 

imagecredit: 
A HEART FOR ALL...

         The craving of my heart is to constantly offer compassion to them- bringing them light and hope. I know that there are plenty of people who offer compassion to them like the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. Yet it will continue to be my heart's desire that more people will learn to endow compassion to these underprivileged, poor and deprived children. Extension of heart to them could be in any form and some of these are as follows:

• sponsoring them to school
• offering prayers for them
• guiding them the right direction to life through free counselling
• accompanying and offering them food, school materials, etc
• many more that you could ever think of.

          Hence may you and me unceasingly involve these children to our daily concern and at the same time, we will extend to them our own way of sharing our compassionate hearts to them.

  
                                                         

How To Keep A Successful Marriage

          One of the most essential relationships that we can ever establish is that of marriage. It's the bonding together of two people in a relationship promising to make the other happy all throughout this union. It constantly remains a source of motivation and admiration when I witness any ceremony like golden wedding anniversary and the like. Awe and wonderment come into my mind merely to realize that these two persons, both husband and wife, have been together in a union for 50 long years.

          Meanwhile it is but true as well that there is the other side of the coin. This is the other aspect which at times, left so many anguished hearts. No one could ever deny the fact that there are many marriages that fail to last long. Confronted by these two conflicting realities, I am therefore asking myself this question, " What then are ingredients to a successful marriage?". And of course, bountiful inspirations come up into our minds.

          Thus I am so inspired to share with you some wonderful insights coming from an author named ELAINE GEORGE on her contribution to the site sexologyaustralia.com wherein she made mention of the following as some of the realities of a successful marriage:

imagecredit:
By Sharron Goodyear, published on 18 January 2009

" FOR A GOOD RELATIONSHIP * Total commitment from both partners is essential * Marriage is hard work * Difficulties are inevitable and must be dealt with * Conflict is inevitable but healthy, and enables growth to occur, once resolved * It is essential to maintain emotional intimacy even if physical intimacy declines * By changing your behaviour in response to your partner, we heal our partner and ourselves"

Source: Elaine George (sexologyaustralia.com.au)

          I suffice it to say that in marriage, it all boils down to the fair contribution of both couple to consistently share positive energy to dance even when there's no background music, when the going gets rough and tough. Indeed marriage is a give and take relationship. Allow me to share with you this quotation I got: Make the Other Happy (from: You're Stronger Now Than On Your Wedding Day by: Judy Serrano)..... this is a primary consideration of any marriage...think of the other partner's happiness more than that of your own. 

                                                           

My Forum Discussing Relationships

I know that basically human beings are dealt into various types of relationships. There are those that involve husband and wife, others may fall into the category brother-sister, while some are into friend to another friends relationship. However the main ingredient among all these relationships is that every person interacts with others. And on these interactions so many varied feelings, reactions, actions and the like are produced. There are relationships that bear fruits of joy and there are those which result to sorrow. Others tend to imprint their treasured relationships in their hearts while some knowingly or unknowingly buried their own on the deepest part of themselves.

Moreover constant exchange of time with others result to a form of relationship that later on becomes a treasure or the other way around. Time therefore becomes an essential element to the building up of relationships. One needs to manifest to the person he/she cares that time is therefore allotted in the midst of the relationship. If there is a void in time, this results to its withering thus everything that has been started is gone. Another essential element to a relationship is space. It refers to the ability of any person to preserve the need of every person to provide a private space so as to retreat and positively look back on the succeeding events in his/her life.

Privacy does play a unique role in any form of relationship. Human beings need to savor the idea of being alone with oneself. Through this, one is given the opportunity to look deeper into one's heart and check what then are the pros and cons on this event in his/her life.

Everyday it is included in each news that certain relationships are wasted... are lost exactly because of some factors like selfishness, distrustful, envy, low self-esteem and many more. On the contrary there are also those which blossom and bear much fruits. Thus the success or failure of any relationship lies on all persons affected and participated on them.

Finally the enormous challenge for every human being is that any established relationship should be nurtured, shared, and keep on its highest place----inside the heart of each one. Let this be a constant reminder for each one that any form of relationship must be kept on a highest degree.

Hence it is my constant desire that every human person becomes a bearer of truth for others by means of direct in touch with his/her relationships.

Come and share your being a gift to others... let us do this by exchanging notes on our various levels of relationships

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roldan_C_Jugan


                                                     

Daily Decision Making

Everyday, we find ourselves in situations in which we need to make a decision. Commencing from the moment that we wake up from sleep up to the last waking moment we have on each day, we are already in a decision making state. " What will I wear today?" "Shall I attend the meeting or not?" "Will I go to the concert tonight?" so on and so forth.

In fact, one famous blogger, Jocelyn K. Glei, mentioned in one of her works that " We make hundreds, if not millions, of micro-decisions every day – from what to focus our energy on, to how to respond to an email, to what to eat for lunch. You could easily argue that becoming a better (and swifter) decision-maker would be the fastest route to improving your daily productivity."

Thus, we exercise our capacity to reach any decision, no matter how trivial or significant that could be, in any moment in our life. Some of these conditions could even make a remarkable impact on others' life while some may just affect the person himself/herself. However, I would say that a significant part of decision making is the owning of the consequence of that decision, no matter what will it be. It's either that there could be victory in a particular decision such as when we earn successes when we decide to put up a business or it could be the other way around like when we stumble in our goal to succeed.

To emphasize further, let us not "cry over spilled milk" and may we never put any blame on anybody if a decision outcome comes out negatively. Hence, I would also solicit from anybody any comment or ideas on how you perform any decision making everyday as well as how you face the consequence to whatever decision you have made.