Not a performing monkey.

The complete phrase that came into my awareness is “The dream self is not a performing monkey”. Reviewing the dream art aspect of my practise, twice this week I’ve read or listened to advice re taking waking consciousness into the dream plane both TSM and Rick Stacks, but neither give a how to technique. Stephen Laberge on his audio ‘controlling your dreams’ gives a simple method and it’s an easiest precursor to lucid dreaming I am aware of.

It involves allowing the body to relax deeply while keeping oneself mentally occupied with something simple and monotonous while repeating ‘I am dreaming’. In the past I’ve found it both pleasant (mostly) and cinematic as I become caught up in the imagery of the hynagogic state.

The ‘not a performing monkey’ relates to a reconstitution of intent. An inner push to out grow seeing the dream plane self as some exotic- other that can do tricks like the organ grinders monkey for benefit of the physical plane self.
JR’s note on her practise in Seth, dreams and projections of consciousness’ .

“ I was incredulous at the instructions and information given by Seth. Yet I’d already had enough experience to know that Seth’s theoretical material worked. As we followed it, our own results brought the material itself to life.”

Seth dreams..page 315.

But I am also aware because of the tone that came with the ‘not a performing monkey’ phase that there is an unresolved issue around fear, which though subtle in nature does bring on the breaks. Is it safe out there, will there be monsters what if I encounter something, some energy form on the dream plane that I can’t handle? I have never been reassured by Seth’s statements to the effect that encounters are my projections and that saying peace and sending love will be sufficient. Perhaps the conditioning I had that anything trance estates/obe was dangerous still exists, in part. Yet I have not had any ‘negative experiences’ to date.
JR again
Dream investigation or manipulation as an aesthetic pursuit as an art, embarked upon for its own sake, this is something else again and is suspect because of its solitary nature, Yet…just reading such ideas will never convince you of their validity. Seth has always emphasized that all true knowledge must be directly experienced.”

Seth dreams…page 195