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Photograph by Linda Mastrangelo
Physicist, psychotherapist and founder of Process Oriented Psychology Arnold Mindell writes in Working on Yourself Alone: Inner Dreambody Work: “If your process fascinates you, you will become aware of the continuum of awareness, of the process which organizes existence. The process itself will fascinate you with its power, and this excitement creates discipline.” This passage from “The Warrior’s Element” section resonated with me in terms of my own discipline in the form of dream as practice.
Prior to this, I have been struggling with the notion of what defines ‘discipline’ and perceived it as having a more negative almost punitive connotation. Working with dreams in these past few years has shifted this view. I have discovered the power of dreams in terms of awareness by actively and daily mapping out my interior life/ soul’s progression as well as ‘blocked’ areas (edges) that needed attention. What makes this practice work for me is that excitement of its potential that Mindell speaks of and this in turn creates discipline.
I am passionate about the process and it has only grown over the years with its bold and subtle intricacies weaving in and out of my dreaming and waking life. This discipline has also been very grounding for me in terms of how my journal has evolved including capturing dream/waking content, imagery in form of art and collage, active imagination, somatic experiences, synchronicities and dream sharing. This “belief and wonder” in the work is what motivates me to continue this warrior’s art and, even more importantly, move it into the world.
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