A Mid-Night Visit

"My mother came and sat on the edge of my bed. It was the middle of the night and I was sound asleep but the gentle movement of the bed awakened me. I wondered why she was here in my room speaking to me. It was hard to understand what she was trying to tell me, but I knew she had deep concern for my dad's welfare. "
As a therapist I often hear this sort of introduction to a client's issue or concern. However, as "Ray's" story unfolded, it was clear it was no ordinary story. Ray's mother had died many years prior to her visiting her son. And this wasn't the first time she had visited. Ray needed to explore and understand what was going on.

How do we explain these sort of occurrences? What goes on in the mind? There are some occurrences which we might pass off as coincidences, an over active imagination, wishful thinking, or some sort of odd dream. But there are some, such as Ray's experiences (more on that later) that are so powerful that they cannot be so easily explained away.
Researches find this a fascinating area of study. Not only modern researchers and psychologists, but sages and philosophers thru the ages have weighed in on topics which include the study of the mind. Where do thoughts come from? How do "coincidences" take place? How is it that we sometimes "know" information that guides us in life? How do miracles take place? And how on earth do we explain paranormal experiences such as the one Ray shared with me?

At this time in history more and more people accept the presence of angels and are more open to the idea of paranormal experiences.The book shelves are filled with accounts of special messengers and comforters. NDE (near death experiences) are talked about openly, but before the publishing of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross's work with death and dying, people having these experiences hid away their true life accounts. No one talked about these sorts of things.
What is on the book shelves is all well and good, but when it is you that has a paranormal experience, it can be a little unhinging! So, what is going on and might a clue be in studying how the mind operates?

An interesting theory is that of Edgar Cayce, a Christian mystic philosopher and intuitive healer to thousands. Although Mr. Cayce had only an eighth grade education, he was able to diagnose illnesses of those who came to him for readings and offer successful suggestions for healing. Considering that Mr. Cayce died in 1945, his holistic philosophy of life and attention to the blending of Eastern and Western traditions were well before his time.
His model of the mind and how we might traverse our spiritual quest was based on a dream he had in 1932. He received all of his information by going into a deep relaxed state. A stenographer took notes on what he said, and he did not remember the information when he came back up into normal awakened state. How was he able to be so accurate and ahead of his time?

Cayce saw the mind as being three levels: the conscious, the subconscious and the superconscious. He deemed the superconscious as the "heavens". In a very relaxed state he would quiet the conscious mind, pass through the subconscious mind and finally make a connection with the superconscious or "all knowing" mind. Mr. Cayce noted that this is where we make a connection with our higher self or the divine. However, note that we pass through the subconscious. In other postings I have shared that it is within this part of our mind that we face all our memories and emotions, fears, desires and resentments. For those of you who are interested in psychology this would be what Jung refers to as the "shadow self".

But the overall point is this: In more than 99% of Cayce's readings the source of his outstanding knowledge was within himself. It was as if he reached his way into an all-knowing Mind ~ and he thought of himself as no one special, because for that matter this same journey through the levels of the mind lies within all of us.

As for Ray, the gentleman who came to me so that we might explore and find an understanding about his mother's visits ~ the one I shared with you, in which she was concerned about Ray's father's welfare, came just prior to his father dying in a grizzly accident.
Somehow, we all inner-connect beyond time and space. Because Ray somehow knew that his father's well-being may be at risk, he made sure that he let his dad know how much he loved him and how thankful he was for all he taught him. Though he was deeply saddened at the loss of his father, he was at peace with it. And he was very thankful that although his experience with his mother's visit was out of the ordinary, that he respected the message she brought to him.

May we all respect the wonderful gift of our minds and mysteries they hold.

Until next time,
Dr.DyAnn