What Dreams Mean

Be Still

By Laura V. Hyde

As I write this, I am in the middle of making an important decision regarding an opportunity that has surfaced. The time for finalizing my decision is drawing close, yet at this point in time, I am still unclear as to what the best decision is. I have been trying a myriad of decision-making approaches: letting go of attachment to outcome, discussing it with my partner, journaling about it, and so forth. Yet I know in my heart (and from past experience), that the only true method for making a decision that supports the greatest good of everyone involved--is to ask for inner guidance. The answer that my soul seeks will not come from anyone or anything outside myself, but from deep within, and that requires becoming still. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross once wisely penned the following words of wisdom, "Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from."

Being still entails quieting the senses enough so that we may hear our soul. The soul speaks quietly, so we must enter our inner sanctuary, close the door, and be still where no one can see us. When we are alone, the guidance may reveal itself, something that will never happen in public. Why? Because when we're around others our ego is on display, even in the presence of loved ones. Thus it's not necessary for us to try and access our deepest truth within, our only focus needs to be on settling into an atmosphere of faith and hope, trusting that the highest answer will surface when we are perfectly still.

Dream Symbology
The same thing is true for receiving guidance from our night time dreams; since the truth is within us, everywhere, at all times, we need only be willing to set our intention and ask for answers before falling asleep, patiently accepting that our dreams will point the way with metaphor and symbols. In the sacred language of our subconscious, the soul truly reveals the answers we long to hear.

For most of us, being still is not an easy thing to achieve. The amount of stimuli in our society is staggering, not to mention all of the noise from our own thoughts! There are so many diversions to becoming still, that it must be a priority for it even to occur. In his book Practicing the Presence, spiritual mystic Joel Goldsmith writes, "It takes constant turning within to tear away the veil of illusion, the middle-wall partition which seems to separate us. How speedily we pierce the veil has no relationship to our human goodness...It has relationship only to the depth of our desire to make contact." The middle-wall partition represents all of the distractions we experience that prevent us from connecting with our soul. It's the need to keep busy -- so busy, that we never become still. But with persistence and practice, it will occur. There are walls of resistance that must be broken down and circles of fear to overcome. Yet nothing truly meaningful in our lives ever happens without desire and diligence.

Do yourself the greatest favor possible: take time to become still. Create a sanctuary for yourself in your home so you may enter into the inner sanctuary of your heart and soul. Affirm that you're worthy of such a sacred space. By honoring yourself in this way, any problem that needs resolving, or decision that needs to be made, will be accomplished in the highest possible manner. As I finish writing this article, it's becoming crystal clear that I need to heed my own advice...be still, turn within, and listen to the calling of my own heart.