Serie A brev nr 16

Magazine Overview

This issue of BREVCIRKELN, titled "DRÖMMARNAS VÄRLD - VÅR HEMLIGA VÄRLD" (The World of Dreams - Our Secret World), is authored by Anna-Lisa Helle and is presented as Brev Nr 16 in Serie A. The cover features an inscription from the sleep temple in Epidauros, emphasizing purity of thought.

The Ancient Significance of Dreams

The article begins by highlighting the profound importance ancient civilizations placed on dreams. For them, dreams were a conduit to divine will, used for prophecy and guidance in all significant matters. The belief that dreams could foresee future events was widespread. This ancient fascination with dreams continues to resonate in modern psychology.

Dream Interpretation and Psychology

Sigmund Freud, with his "Dream Interpretation," and Poul Bjerre, in "The Natural System of Dreams" and "The Healing Power of Dreams," are cited for their contributions to understanding dreams. Bjerre connects dream therapy to the ancient sleep temples. The enduring human hope that dreams hold the key to life's mysteries is noted. Ancient cultures collected and codified "true dreams" and "warning dreams," concepts that echo modern research into the "prospective tendency" of dreams. A crucial aspect discussed is the interplay between the waking and dreaming states, the conscious and unconscious, particularly as practiced in ancient Greek sleep temples.

The Temple of Asclepius at Epidauros

A votive pillar inscription from the temple at Epidauros tells the story of Nicanor, who was lame. He dreamed that a boy stole his crutches, and in chasing him, he awoke cured. This is interpreted as a release from a state of mental fragmentation and physical restriction, suggesting that the temple and its cult provided a constant suggestion of health and freedom, a concept relevant to psychosynthetic practices. The article posits that gathering such testimonies from dream literature would be a valuable endeavor.

Historical Dream Interpreters

The article traces dream interpretation through various cultures. The Chaldeans in Babylon were renowned dream interpreters, even competing with Median Magi. Herodotus's accounts of the Medes and Persians frequently mention dreams, particularly those that foretold a person's future elevation, like Joseph's dreams in the Old Testament (1st Book of Moses 37:5-11), which led to his rise in Egypt (Genesis 40:41-36).

Mohammed is also mentioned as a prominent dream interpreter, categorizing dreams into those from God, Satan, and meaningless ones. "True dreams" were considered messages from an angel, while "false" or confused dreams were attributed to waking thoughts, illness, or overindulgence. The influence of temperament on dreams is also discussed, with early morning dreams often being less significant than those occurring later in the night.

Philosophical and Scientific Views on Dreams

Stoic philosophers studied divination, including dream interpretation. Cicero documented examples of divinatory dreams, and Aristotle, centuries earlier, had analyzed the nature of dreams with great insight. Artemidorus, a Greek philosopher and naturalist, provided valuable information on ancient customs and beliefs regarding dreams in his work "Oneirokritikon" (Dream Interpretation Book).

The Healing Power of Dreams and Hypnosis

The ancient city of Epidauros in Argolis was famous for its temple of Asclepius, a healing sanctuary visited by the sick from afar. Asclepius, the god of healing, was depicted as a wise old man. The temple inscriptions emphasized that only pure souls were permitted entry. Archeologists have uncovered foundations of buildings around the temple, likely for priests and visitors. A small circular temple dedicated to Artemis, a hippodrome, and a theater are also mentioned, alongside the Abaton, a colonnade where the sick were placed. Numerous statues and inscriptions detail miraculous cures within the Asclepieion.

Asclepius's priests were healers, and their temples functioned as combined health resorts and pilgrimage sites. The sick, seeking miracles, would offer sacrifices, engage in rituals involving incense, singing, and music to induce a sacred atmosphere, and then fall asleep, receiving revelations about remedies for their illnesses. It is suggested that while lighter forms of suggestion were used, deeper hypnosis was employed for more severe cases. Hypnosis, known for thousands of years, was practiced not only in Greece but also in Egypt and Babylon, and by medicine men and sorcerers among the Aztecs in Mexico.

Hypnotic Practices and the Power of Suggestion

Priests discovered that through hypnosis, they could give suggestions to sleeping individuals, which would be followed due to psychic compulsion (post-hypnotic suggestion). A common method involved having the person fixate on a point, with the hypnotist suggesting increasing tiredness and heaviness, leading to a state of deep relaxation and sleep. The article questions whether an induced belief or suggestion can affect the body, its well-being, and functions, affirming that it can.

The Role of Hormones and Emotions in Dreams

The article explains the significance of the endocrine system and hormones, which are secreted directly into the bloodstream. Hormones play a crucial role in human physical and psychological states. Disruptions in hormone production, often occurring during sleep, can lead to various health issues. The article posits that sleep is essential for health and that sleep deprivation can cause severe nervous system disturbances. It draws a parallel between the onset of sleep and death, with both involving a gradual cessation of sensory functions.

When dreaming, individuals enter a state that reflects their waking life with similar intensity. The article suggests that the body's self-healing processes are amplified during sleep. It also touches upon how emotions influence hormone production. Positive emotions stimulate glands to produce hormones that promote happiness, energy, and optimism, while negative emotions can be detrimental. The