ethical quandaries

[meredithandrews]

i have had a habit over the years of having relatively apocalyptic dreams. these amount to epic adventures where i am pitted against a usually shapeshifting ( moving in and out of beings that are in my intimate environment and beings that are organizing and managing my imprisonment, the corruption of said environment or are the orchestrators of a totalitarian takeover at a macro level) mass of entities. there are no conclusions to these conflicts. at best, the situation will come to a stasis period in which i find myself in deep reflection in said dream. i am almost always strong, cunning and have the ability to organize others to fight back. i think, if i dreamt forever, i would lose.
interestingly, towards the end of almost every dream i have i become very aware that i am dreaming. i instinctually try to prolong the dreaming so that i can understand it. like a conscience search of my unconscious while still asleep. i irrationally believe there is something important to be found in there. the periods of reflection, planning and the strange speeches that i give seem especially relevant.
occasionally, i have been having this other kind of dream that has been hard to shrug off.
the settings are remarkably more mundane than the former dreams. i just woke up from one where i was in a fully tiled taco shop for most of it.
what is striking is how little action there is in these dreams. the majority of the content lies in these seemingly endless dialogues about ideas. about morality, sexuality, about individuals i have met ten years ago that i am attempting to deconstruct- and as i am doing so- they are physically being built into bodies and their narratives appear like wormholes i can enter into momentarily. these people's lives are not at all familiar to me. they look like they are their own, however briefly i get a sense of them.
just now, it was debbie.
and the ethics of agricultural assistance for certain demographics. the nature of poverty. of quality.
how aesthetics are in part determined by the upper class and inversely molded by the lower.
these are clear conversations that i am having.
once. i woke up with the notion that empathy can be ethically reduced to an algebraic equation. that all that is required for a minimal capacity of empathy is using yourself as the variable and adding and subtracting experience in order to arrive at the subject of your empathy.
like, maybe you can't empathize with a child soldier, but you probably can imagine being unfairly treated by a parent because they have had a bad day at the job. so, you add forty instances of mistreatment to yourself and you can begin to understand a minute and a half in the child soldier's life.
in my dream, this felt really powerful.
what are my dreams doing?
is this usable knowledge?
and if its coming from me- what does it mean?
heres the thing
i am a highschool dropout who spent ten years in the library. and only recently, the last two years or so, a strange thing has happened to my mind. it is like the blind binge of reading that i did is coming together on its own.
i have never been overwhelmingly intelligent, just overwhelming. and just recently, some **** has started to click.
i believe. my mind has made answers, without much help from me ( i am a recovering bulimic, slut and drunk who has a habit of behaving impulsively) , and i want to know what it means.

[Wolfjk]

Hi Meredithandrews,
Welcome to the fold! Avery interesting pst!

once. i woke up with the notion that empathy can be ethically reduced to an algebraic equation. that all that is required for a minimal capacity of empathy is using yourself as the variable and adding and subtracting experience in order to arrive at the subject of your empathy

We are almost ont he same wavlength! I think dreams can by broken down into basic units of energy! Every unit doing a specific task in the dream! Since empathy and all other emotions are part of dreaming it is not at all strange!
Cheers Wolfjk

[katydid]

I can relate to the type of dream(s) you have been having and recently asked the question of a trusted dream intepreter. My dreams involved complex problems like math or physics or logistic problems (and I have no higher math skills or physics training) and I would find myself absorbed in the process of learning but the actual solution would evaporate before waking. These types of dreams where you are learning and being opened up to new knowledge and ways of thinking are a wonderful example of the power of the mega computer that is our brain.

Our subconscious is a wonderful problem solver and your potenial for higher thinking is being revealved to you. This is a a function of a higher dreaming state as well. It sounds as if you have more of a grasp of what is being taught to you in your dreams and if it all makes sense to you and you can use this knowledge then you have been given a great gift! If you aren't always able to grasp the solution and meaning do not think of it as defeat but that you have the capacity to unlock your mind and use your knowledge for greater good. Even Einstein paid attention to his dreams and some of them helped him arrive at this Theory of Relativity!

Bon Chance!!

[sailrmc]

First of all, know that you are gifted. This gift is at work within you, as evidenced by your written words.

At the risk of making this unbearably long (but in reality it will allow for efficiency) I will copy and paste that which you have said and my comments will be in blue.
Cutting to the chase, I have to say that your ability to summarize your dream experiences and to convey what you have learned reflects one of the primary purposes of the unconscious mind. Yours has worked diligently and now awareness is flowing freely. If we pay attention to the collection of information (that builds and that which is eventually presented to us through dreams) we, (meaning the total person,within), (hopefully) learn, and grow from our waking life experiences AND from the unconscious mind's wisdom (which is wisdom beyond our years). One of Carl Jung's most interesting areas of thought is, individuation. In short, this term refers to the process' of the mind that enable us to become self aware and an independent human being (as noted by Tony Crisp).
i have had a habit over the years of having relatively apocalyptic dreams. taken from the context that you have given would tend to show, not only that you are in the midst of change (meaning the total you... conscious and subconscious minds), but from a multi plane aspect, shows that you are coming to understand of how and why others act the way that they do! these amount to epic adventures where i am pitted against a usually shapeshifting Exactly... Looking at people from different perspectives in order to come to an understanding of how they act and react and why they act and react the way that they do. ( moving in and out of beings that are in my intimate environment This also allows you access to very important information, that will help you learn, how you are perceived by others, and allow you to extrapolate many "what if" scenarios that are not only beneficial to self discovery, but critical in your forming ability to function in different groups and group types. and beings that are organizing and managing my imprisonment, the corruption of said environment or are the orchestrators of a totalitarian takeover at a macro level) mass of entities. there are no conclusions to these conflicts. The mind is so brilliant!! On a multi plane this refers not only to that corruption and manipulation etc that exists in the real world (waking world) BUT it also illustrates in a parallel sense, that which happens in the mind. For so many of us, as we go through change in our waking lives, there is inner conflict (characterized subconsciously and presented in dreams" as, isolation of personality traits, extinction of behavior patterns, mutiny-like take overs, manipulation, wars, etc. at best, the situation will come to a stasis period in which i find myself in deep reflection in said dream.Yes!! this is self evaluation...a how am I doing now, reaction. i am almost always strong, cunning and have the ability to organize others to fight back.Absolutely! Showing that you are weathering the storm. You have the ability to be flexible and adapt (beyond that which you apparently believed before). This indication is an incredible and wonderful acknowledgment of the realization brought on by such dreams, I AM! i think, if i dreamt forever, i would lose.Exactly...the waking mind (ego) who thinks and is distracted by the many millions of things it must do...example (you are holding a bag of groceries and waiting for a traffic light to change. the mind is thinking Ok hands, grip tightly but not too tightly or the bag will tear, Ok, feet get ready to walk (right foot first and so on) when the light turns green. Ok, I am in a hurry, I cannot wait for the light (but what if a car hits me?) AND SO ON. So many distractions exist.
interestingly, towards the end of almost every dream i have i become very aware that i am dreaming. i instinctually try to prolong the dreaming so that i can understand it. Yes! but the dreaming mind only is allowed a certain period of time to dream (regulated by sleep patterns, REM) like a conscience search of my unconscious while still asleep.Thiis is higher level dreaming and this format is does not offer the opportunity to discuss this aspect fully. i irrationally believe there is something important to be found in there. the periods of reflection, planning and the strange speeches that i give seem especially relevant.So very important as this is part of the process that allows you to bring what was learned to consciousness...in a what if type column.

Will end and start another post (due to constraints on quantity limit).
occasionally, i have been having this other kind of dream that has been hard to shrug off.
the settings are remarkably more mundane than the former dreams. i just woke up from one where i was in a fully tiled taco shop for most of it.
what is striking is how little action there is in these dreams. the majority of the content lies in these seemingly endless dialogues about ideas. about morality, sexuality, about individuals i have met ten years ago that i am attempting to deconstruct- and as i am doing so- they are physically being built into bodies and their narratives appear like wormholes i can enter into momentarily. these people's lives are not at all familiar to me. they look like they are their own, however briefly i get a sense of them.
just now, it was debbie.
and the ethics of agricultural assistance for certain demographics. the nature of poverty. of quality.
how aesthetics are in part determined by the upper class and inversely molded by the lower.
these are clear conversations that i am having.
once. i woke up with the notion that empathy can be ethically reduced to an algebraic equation. that all that is required for a minimal capacity of empathy is using yourself as the variable and adding and subtracting experience in order to arrive at the subject of your empathy.
like, maybe you can't empathize with a child soldier, but you probably can imagine being unfairly treated by a parent because they have had a bad day at the job. so, you add forty instances of mistreatment to yourself and you can begin to understand a minute and a half in the child soldier's life.
in my dream, this felt really powerful.
what are my dreams doing?
is this usable knowledge?
and if its coming from me- what does it mean?
heres the thing
i am a highschool dropout who spent ten years in the library. and only recently, the last two years or so, a strange thing has happened to my mind. it is like the blind binge of reading that i did is coming together on its own.
i have never been overwhelmingly intelligent, just overwhelming. and just recently, some **** has started to click.
i believe. my mind has made answers, without much help from me ( i am a recovering bulimic, slut and drunk who has a habit of behaving impulsively) , and i want to know what it means.

[sailrmc]

Ok ready to resume in continuation of my first post.occasionally, i have been having this other kind of dream that has been hard to shrug off.Suggestion; do not try to shrug off dreams that remain or seem memorable in some way. Typically they have been labeled (in a manner of speaking) this way so that the dreamer will in fact pay particular attention to their meanings.
the settings are remarkably more mundane than the former dreams. i just woke up from one where i was in a fully tiled taco shop for most of it.
what is striking is how little action there is in these dreams.The taco shop with tiles represents the many thoughts that have contributed to the thought process that you currently work off of (the results of the subconscious minds efforts that have in fact been brought to consciousness or waking awareness, that serves as a valuable foundation as to HOW you will likely act and react in your waking life). the majority of the content lies in these seemingly endless dialogues about ideas. Exactly!!about morality, sexuality, about individuals i have met ten years ago that i am attempting to deconstruct- and as i am doing so- they are physically being built into bodies and their narratives appear like wormholes i can enter into momentarily. Yes! The process of individuation at work! these people's lives are not at all familiar to me. they look like they are their own, however briefly i get a sense of them.
just now, it was debbie. I completely understand where you are about to go with this, so try to keep the multi plane concept that I referred to earlier in the forefront.
and the ethics of agricultural assistance for certain demographics. the nature of poverty. of quality. Apparently you understand these concepts and ideas all to well. Not only have you (most likely) lived in some of the real life scenarios but your mind is exploring the many facets of each concept and how in real life they apply to your and to others, it is giving you complete and full perspective from all sides. From the multi plane, think of it as also a possible reference to your inner self as well, to personal growth, the positives and negatives, all up for consideration as to their impact, (again figuratively...relating to the Debbie within you...aspects of your personality that represents this person Debbie.... and realistically...you construct in your mind, a person called Debbie. She could be real life person or not, it does not matter, and you allow certain criteria to make up her traits actions and decisions). Then you let the model take control, to a certain extent. At times you will change things she thinks and does so as to see what will happen. This is a wonderful tool of a (healthy) mind that is helping to formulate a sense of self or if it is used to gain understanding. I have seen this process backfire, when it is applied irrationally of if the dreamer is not of sound mind. As long as this extrapolation is not allowed to get out of control and formulate defects within, such as confusion as to, (who you are) defects that could contribute to irrational self identity this is a great tool that lends to greater understanding of self and the world around you.

how aesthetics are in part determined by the upper class and inversely molded by the lower. I see that these are summary dreams that allow you to apply that which you have learned (both from books and in real life). This allows you to apply a what if set of circumstances.
these are clear conversations that i am having.
once. i woke up with the notion that empathy can be ethically reduced to an algebraic equation.I love this!! that all that is required for a minimal capacity of empathy is using yourself as the variable and adding and subtracting experience in order to arrive at the subject of your empathy.Brilliant!
like, maybe you can't empathize with a child soldier, but you probably can imagine being unfairly treated by a parent because they have had a bad day at the job. so, you add forty instances of mistreatment to yourself and you can begin to understand a minute and a half in the child soldier's life.Understanding of both conditioning and how it can totally effect what was once an innocent and unknowing child (to the negatives of real life)...allowing you (the dreamer) to fully understand (to even a greater extent than a Hollywood movie, the feelings and emotions, compassion, and empathy)and how this could possibly come to pass.
in my dream, this felt really powerful.It was this powerful to you, because of the processes of the mind (through dreaming) that you have experienced (and by the way) that you have so eloquently expressed.
what are my dreams doing?Your dreams have prepared and are continuing to help you to apply that which you encounter in life!
is this usable knowledge? Absolutely! It is useful to the core of who you are and how you understand any and all events that you encounter.
and if its coming from me- what does it mean?It means that you get it! You have come to a long way, to a greater understanding of yourself and to others (all of this has been made possible as a result the process' at work in your mind, coupled with that that you read about and experience first hand.
heres the thing
i am a highschool dropout who spent ten years in the library. and only recently, the last two years or so, a strange thing has happened to my mind.An incredible thing has happened to your mind. it is like the blind binge of reading that i did is coming together on its own.Yes!
i have never been overwhelmingly intelligent, just overwhelming. and just recently, some **** has started to click.Exactly...
i believe. my mind has made answers, without much help from me ( i am a recovering bulimic, slut and drunk who has a habit of behaving impulsively) , and i want to know what it means.I cannot even begin to tell you what this means, other than to say that your dreaming mind is giving you a chance. It is therapy in the highest degree and now it is all up to your waking mind (conscious mind) to carry forward the knowledge and abilities that have been presented to you. Think of the waking mind as your free will, because it has the ability to command your body to do whatever it tells it to do. Think of the subconscious mind (also known as dreaming mind) as an incredible aspect within you, that is wise beyond comprehension, and whose purpose it is, to help you achieve success in this life. In a healthy state of mind, it has absolutely no direct interface with the waking mind, meaning it cannot command your muscles to carry out tasks. The power that it has is it's wisdom alone, and this is conveyed through dreams (and or hypnosis). It helps you to assemble the tools that will allow you to function in the way that is intended however it cannot command you to do so.
What does this mean? It means that it is all up to you. How you use the wisdom and knowledge that you have managed to accumulate is completely up to the conscious state of mind. Is it evident that you have the tools. Now the question remains, what will you do with them?
I am sorry to have said so much here, but that knowledge that you have gained in dreams and otherwise has allowed you to understand what others never understand. Your posting epitomizes the importance and the power of dreams and beautifully demonstrates the minds processes at work that enable us to come to higher levels understanding.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
All the best to you!
sailrmc
no time to proof this...