What Is The Nature And Function Of Sleep And Dreams?

Sleep is the process in which our energetic bodyPlanes. You 'dream' or 'project', and return, several
(also known as the etheric body or vital body) istimes in a night! Four or five times is common,
put on 'recharge'. It expands and opens in orderthough it depends on how long you sleep among
to assimilate and store energy. This energy bodyother factors. Mostly we forget the brief
can normally only do this in its expanded stateawakenings between dream periods, but we can
during sleep. In this state, the chakras (energylearn to remember these to. (For myself, I was a
centres) trickle power in the form of 'ethericdeep sleeper, but now I frequently wake up in
matter' into the energy body, which is basically athese in-between periods with full recall!)
'double' of the physical body (and sometimes"Dreams ... are not just imaginative indigestion or
called the etheric double for this reason.)psychic chaos. We are not temporarily insane
"As the physical body and mind fall asleep, a copywhen we dream, as some theorists maintain. To
of consciousness is reflected into the ethericthe contrary, we may be far more sane and alert
body, and from there into the projectable doubleduring some dream states than we are ordinarily."
as it is generated, and later into the astral and- Jane Roberts, Seth, Dreams and Projections in
higher subtle bodies. While this is happening, theConsciousness p.9
physical/etheric copy of the mind begins slidingDreams serve so many multi-purposes and
toward another type of projection, an internalfunctions that it is almost ridiculous to attempt a
projection into the dream environment. At thecomprehensive list of them, however the main
start of the process, while falling asleep, thepoints will be of some help. Especially when we've
physical/etheric mind begins losing the strength ofbeen taught that dreams only serve this or that
will to form coherent and logical thought patterns.particular function! No way! There is far more to
It slowly loses itself among wandering fragmentsthem than that...
of thought and subconscious impressions. It loses"In dreams, you give freedom to actions that
touch with reality and begins to experiencecannot adequately be expressed within the
dreams, some of which appear to be generatedconfines of normal waking consciousness." - Seth,
by the subconscious mind." - Robert Bruce, AstralSeth, Dreams and Projections in Consciousness
Dynamics p.134p.246
We may well note, we need sleep to live, and theWithout further ado then, here is a summary list
refreshing reward of a good night's sleep is notof what Dreams provide:
possible to produce by any drug or any other· freedom from the physical limitations of
means. This results not just from the resting andtime and space, allowing us to return to physicality
rebalancing of the metabolism of the physicalwith renewed physical and psychic energy
body, but the emotional and mental vigour of· sorting out and processing our daily
energies gained by our etheric and astral bodies.experiences and organizing internal and external
In this state, the etheric body is just out ofinformation
alignment with the physical, which 'uses up' this· exploration of probable realities, the living
energetic charge during the day.out of events to enable us to better make daily
The etheric body is usually about two inchesdecisions
above the physical one while sleeping, and this· therapeutic experiences, including facing
accounts for the slight change in perspectivefears, neuroses and any other major or minor
reported at the start of some Etheric Projections.concerns
Most people have experienced the 'jolt' that is· valid information about our motives,
caused by sudden awakening as the bodies 'fall'needs and decisions
back into realignment. This can be caused by· inner communication with other portions
either internal or external factors, such asof the self (deeper parts of the psyche), including
nightmares or other highly active dreams, abortedreincarnational, past, future and parallel probable
projection attempts, astral obstructions, loudselves
noises, or even being bumped too hard by a· symbolic or accurate visions of past and
partner rolling over.future events, or other translations of inner data
"In periods of sleep your consciousness actuallyinto terms the conscious mind can more readily
does leave your body... your consciousness doesinterpret
return at times, to check upon the physical· communication with other people and
mechanisms... [however] the body consciousnessentities (especially upon request)
is always with the body, so it is not vacant. But· a unique way to solve problems and
the largely creative portions of the self do leaveovercome difficulties
the body, and for large periods of time when you· greater intunement with our creative
sleep." - Seth, Seth Speaks p.120abilities and talents
It is during this recharging process that our astral· a lot of fun wacky stuff that shows us
body separates and tunes into the Astral Planeour inner world is more expansive than we may
where it can create and experience dreams. Thisthink!
is also why we still feel refreshed after projection· as many different possibilities of
as it is a separate process. And again, whetherexperience that you can (and do) come up with...
we realize it or not, we are all familiar with the"An unrecognized unity and organization lies within
Astral Plane because the dream dimension is partall of your dreams, beneath their diversity. And
of it. The difference with a conscious Astralyour dreams, while part of you, also exist apart."
Experience is that you know you are there and- Seth, Seth, Dreams and Projections in
this makes the experience far more vivid andConsciousness p.174
directable.So of course, it would be more accurate to say
"In sleeping... you focus your awareness in alteredthat many or all of these things are occurring at
form into another world that is every bit as validonce in our dreams, thus emphasizing their true
as your physical one." - Seth, Seth, Dreams andmulti-dimensional nature. In this sense, it is like all
Projections in Consciousness p.219of the dimensions of our being interacting to form
In other words, the astral body - with your maincohesive and relevant dream events for beneficial
conscious focus - 'comes and goes' frompsychological purposes. Or to put it more simply,
alignment with the etheric body and to the Astraldreams can really help us!