The spiritual void of modern sleep

[RobertU]

Godless communism, indeed, godless anything may be attributed, in part, to modern sleep habits. The Industrial Age and the rigors of capitalism changed the sleeping habits of all classes of people and greatly reduced their memories of dreams, their connection to the spiritual realm.

Historian A. Roger Ekirch showed that people in pre-electrified British Isles did not sleep in one long stretch but rather in two, shorter ones, with a dreamy middle-of-the-night period where they would take a waking pause to chat, poke the fire, pray and have sex. That waking period immediately followed REM sleep, so people could remember and contemplate the meanings of their dreams, unlike most modern-age people who remember few of their dreams.

Ancient humans, confronted with dream images seemingly filled with symbolic messages, concluded (I believe rightfully so) that these were encounters with an afterlife and thus formed the basis for their spiritual beliefs. Most people have lost that spiritual connection.

Related material:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazin...a-health-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/683257/

 

[noonereal]

God Bless.

 

[Luce]

I AM POSTING IN THIS THREAD.

 

[ASHES]

I must say. When I read the title and clicked in here, I expected to see something about sleeping, or a biblical verse about sleep, or something. But no. Godless communism. I don't think about that when I sleep. Godless this, godless that. How could anybody sleep?

I am not sure what to make of the rest, other than I think perhaps we understand what sleep and dreams are better than pre-biblical people. It also isn't really accurate about people not remembering dreams. Lots of people dream, remember them, log them, analyze them, and control them lucidly with great recall as well. So I'm not sure to what you refer other than a single article on CBT. What is the theology?

 

[RobertU]

I must say. When I read the title and clicked in here, I expected to see something about sleeping, or a biblical verse about sleep, or something. But no. Godless communism. I don't think about that when I sleep. Godless this, godless that. How could anybody sleep?

I am not sure what to make of the rest, other than I think perhaps we understand what sleep and dreams are better than pre-biblical people. It also isn't really accurate about people not remembering dreams. Lots of people dream, remember them, log them, analyze them, and control them lucidly with great recall as well. So I'm not sure to what you refer other than a single article on CBT. What is the theology?

When I query friends about their dreams, they usually respond that they forget most of them and the vivid ones they remember occurred a long while ago, But perhaps that is not a representative sample. About twice a week, I wake up after dreaming and record the dreams. My dream content is frequently extraordinary and seldom reflects mundane, everyday anxieties.

the Australian Aboriginals view dreaming as a realm where the past, present, and future merge, often called the “Dreamtime.” This time is seen as a mythic dimension in which ancestral spirits continue to influence the world.

Similarly, Native American tribes, such as the Lakota and Hopi, believe that dreams provide insights and guidance from the spirit world.

https://cognitivepsycho.com/dreams-...alm-beliefs-and-perspectives-across-cultures/

 

[ASHES]

When I query friends about their dreams, they usually respond that they forget most of them and the vivid ones they remember occurred a long while ago, But perhaps that is not a representative sample. About twice a week, I wake up after dreaming and record the dreams. My dream content is frequently extraordinary and seldom reflects mundane, everyday anxieties.

One must make an active choice to engage with their dreams in either recall or interactivity. If one simply waits for it to happen, of course it doesn't.

the Australian Aboriginals view dreaming as a realm where the past, present, and future merge, often called the “Dreamtime.” This time is seen as a mythic dimension in which ancestral spirits continue to influence the world.

Similarly, Native American tribes, such as the Lakota and Hopi, believe that dreams provide insights and guidance from the spirit world.

https://cognitivepsycho.com/dreams-...alm-beliefs-and-perspectives-across-cultures/

I do not believe that to be literal truth. That's a lovely cultural memory for them. It isn't reality, of brains in a rest state and neurons firing haphazardly. Dogs dream, electric sheep dream.

 

[Metanoia]

Godless communism, indeed, godless anything may be attributed, in part, to modern sleep habits. The Industrial Age and the rigors of capitalism changed the sleeping habits of all classes of people and greatly reduced their memories of dreams, their connection to the spiritual realm.

Historian A. Roger Ekirch showed that people in pre-electrified British Isles did not sleep in one long stretch but rather in two, shorter ones, with a dreamy middle-of-the-night period where they would take a waking pause to chat, poke the fire, pray and have sex. That waking period immediately followed REM sleep, so people could remember and contemplate the meanings of their dreams, unlike most modern-age people who remember few of their dreams.

Ancient humans, confronted with dream images seemingly filled with symbolic messages, concluded (I believe rightfully so) that these were encounters with an afterlife and thus formed the basis for their spiritual beliefs. Most people have lost that

Thank you for this…..time to get excited…... Interesting from a religious standpoint. I start with the etymology of ‘religion’. Re ligare from Latin…..meaning to reconnect…..in this case with God. At one time humans felt a more direct connection with God. This manifested itself in the creation stories of myths in many peoples. We have to believe that much of this came from an active dream life….and the OT makes numerous reference to dreams.

I have a recent interest in ‘grounding’ or ‘earthing’ as some call it. Understanding this helps me understand the more vivid dream life I had as a youngster. I grew up on a farm and spent much time going barefoot…so plenty of grounding for me. One can google grounding in relation to sleep and dreaming. There is a strong connection.

By your mention of pre-electric times we realize that modern life brings many impediments to quality sleep. Meditation is also excellent for slowing down ourselves and the world. I am tempted to elaborate but best to keep this short…..

 

[Metanoia]

This provides new context for the song……”I’ve got dreams to remember”……