The New Age Movement's Impact on Dream Exploration

One of the factors contributing to the renewed interest in dreams is the profound impact of the New Age movement. The New Age, rooted in an older occult and metaphysical subculture, has succeeded in elevating topics that were once considered marginal and insignificant to a more prominent status in our society.

The New Age movement has embraced various aspects of dream exploration. For instance, it has given birth to new dream dictionaries offering interpretations of dream images from a New Age perspective. Similar to its approach to other occult practices like astrology and meditation, the New Age perspective on dreams views them as tools for personal transformation and healing, as exemplified by Patricia Garfield's well-known book, The Healing Power of Dreams.

Lucid dreaming, a concept not only explored by Stephen LaBerge but also found in the works of Carlos Castaneda and various forms of dream yoga from Eastern religions, has also found a place within the New Age movement. Just like other New Age topics, lucid dreaming is seen as a potential tool for healing and self-transformation.

At the core of the New Age philosophy is the belief that the world is malleable through human intention—commonly expressed as "you create your own reality." While this concept may be debatable in the waking world, it undeniably applies to the realm of dreams. Techniques like "dream programming" involve the dreamer deciding the content of their dreams and convincing their subconscious mind to dream about specific topics. Surprisingly, this technique has proven effective for many individuals.

Another way to influence dreams is by consciously reshaping the dream landscape. Since the dream landscape is a product of the dreamer's mind, it's possible to will the dream to change, particularly for those who have mastered lucid dreaming techniques. Some healers and therapists have started using this approach therapeutically, helping people prone to nightmares to manipulate their dreams for more positive outcomes.

What does the future hold? Will we program our dreams as easily as we tune our TV sets? While predicting the future is challenging, it's clear that the discussion on this topic is far from over. Until then, the following pages will provide readers with a comprehensive exploration of humanity's efforts to understand and engage with dreams.