Weekly Random Thoughts (feelings, questions, and experiences).

Weekly Random Thought: Why work with dreams?

Some people call them ear-worms, some call them mind-pops, but random thoughts that enter your brain for no apparent reason are actually important. According to academics and scientists our brains can shock us with sudden random memories. It could be a scene from a movie that you saw from 5th grade (mine always goes back to Stand By Me, the train track scene.) or a song from a commercial that you saw last week. Fuck, wait that’s so obsolete, are there commercials anymore?

The complete randomness of these thoughts can be both a troubling and fun part of being human; we get to still be amazed by our brains. Even when science has explored almost all of our grey matter, they are still able to learn new things that we are capable of.

This introduction to lean into your random thoughts is an invitation for you to dive into your own random thoughts, see what they are telling you, more so be kind to yourself - ultimately learning, grieving, embracing and accepting your life you are living.

I am often catching myself flooded with random thoughts. Ideas surface and I start to follow them, they frequently provide me the chance to meander down a trail that provides me answers to questions, explore emotions (good, bad or indifferent), receive comfort in the world at large or simply entertainment outside of the fucking Internet, television or social media.

These random thoughts are going to travel the spectrum of emotions I am feeling, thoughts I am thinking, questions I am asked and I am asking of myself and experiences I am living.

The invitation awaits. What's your random thought?

Weekly Random Thought: Why work with dreams?

For the past four years or so, dreams and dreaming have had a very bad reputation within Western intellectual, academic societies. It is my opinion from studying dreams for the last fifteen years that in general, educated people have tended to dismiss dreams as either unimportant or totally meaningless. At best, dreams have been viewed as curiosities – the unconscious – or dare I say a smattering of nonsense that is to keep our brain busy as we sleep. Because that’s what we need for our silly little brain is more stimulation.

Those who say, “I never dream,” are actually saying, “I routinely forget my dream experience.” There is a generous reason to believe that all living things may participate in the dream state. (Note: I take psychedelics and believe everything is a dream.) It’s interesting to state that shamans and mystical thinkers of all influences have said for centuries that this is the case, and now contemporary science has begun to verify it experimentally.

All this to say: Why work with dreams?

· Dreams have long been associated with creative inspiration.

· Dreams reconcile our personal life when working with them.

· Dreams give access to the divine, dare I say God in our dream state.

· Dreams explore the idea that we are all interwoven and experiencing the same journey.

These are just a few reasons why I encourage you to work with your dreams. It truly is a great expression of healing by looking at what dreams are telling you.

The sacred knowledge that is provided through dreams can be unlocked and transformational when you work with your dreams.

What’s holding you back from working with your dreams?

If you are interested in working with your dreams, I provide a unique dreamwork model that I have created and incorporate into group and my individual therapy practice.

Dr. Ryan Westrum is a clinical psychologist and licensed marriage and family therapist who specialize in addiction, psychedelic integration, and everything non-ordinary. Please reach out for information about his practice at healingsoulsllc.com or email him at ryanwestrum@gmail.com