Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-04
DYNAMIoS OF DREAMS
ATTEMPT TO SOLVE MYSTERY OF
"sLEEP THOUGHTS
slumber Visions Commonly Reflect the
Waking Consciousness and Ex-
perience Of the Dreamer.
From Current Literature.

not differ in principle and essence. So
declares Dr. Axel Emil Gibson in the Med
ical Record. From lengthy and exhaus-
i've study of many cases he arrives at the
conclusion that like waking consciousness,
dream reveals although it does not Gre
ate THE same world that surrounds the
waking individual" he tells us. surrounds
the dreaming only the viewpoints and me-
dia OF observation are changed" The world
picture, observed through the operation
of new structural media becomes visible
In new perspective-"a perspective which
involves the relations not only of space
but also of time.'' The rate of speed at
which the events Of dream unfold them
selves to us is quite incomprehensible.
But the workings of self-conscousness are
Identical Further, we are morally respon-
slbie for the nature of our dreams:
AS the life-experience of an individual
In his waking consciousness receives it's
character and value by and through his
power of response to environment. so in
similar way the value of dream depends
upon the power of the Ego to respond to
consciousness in Its various forms of emo
tons, ideas and feelings which constitute
the environments Of the subjective of
dream-plane. Waking or dreaming, the in
d1Vidual Is or becomes what he chooses to
pc at any given moment of his existence.
High standards of life will generate in him
power to respond to high IDEALS accom-
panied by corresponding growth in his
moral nature of high and sterling charac-
ter Nor has the memory of a dream much
to do with its deeper evolutionary value:
For, as the recollection OF important
changes in the working life of individual
is not a sine qua non for the value Of these
changes as character building forces, 80 the
condition, neither for it's existence as such
nor for its value as ethical and moral force
in ouE life. Dreams are concomitants to
sleep. as inevitably as mental action and
Hans Qra IN xl,p1x ireY h1it fho 11oN
ton Of dreams depends on the power Of the
mind to record the experiences Of the sub
jective plane on the tablets of waking
memory, and thus attune the corresponding
cerebral structures to the scale of vfbra-
tons prevailing on the subjective or dream
plane. The somnambulist, while seldom re-
membering his dreams, yet by his panto-
mines and soliloquies demonstrating that
he Is engaged subjective planes, bears
iIrefutable testimony to the possibility of
d. canning without the dreamer upon awak-
eDfng having the slightest suspicion OF
having dreamed"
Psychic Storehouse.
From what mental and psychic store
house" does the dreaming Ego obtain the
material out Of which to rear it's fairy
structures?" We are induced to search for
it, replies DR.. Gibson, in the mind ITSELF"
and it would necessarily follow that the
motives, ideas, emotions thoughts and
feelings with which We employ minds
at every moment, go to form our characte
and to influence our lives for good OR
bad" whether we be awake or whether we
happen to be dreaming
What the writer says about dreams as
prophetic is of equal interest:
LAS the dream presents incidents and con-
ditions unknown to the waking man, it
might be said that to some extent all
dreams are prophetic. If adjusted in con-
seriousness to the memories of the cells of
his body the dreamer, In the quietude Of
the sensory exchanges, may become the re
cipient of truths concerning his physiologi-
cal conditions.
"such dreams are prognostic, and may, If
the dreamer be sufficiently sensitive to the
cellular consciousness of his body. also be-
come prophylactic and set free powers of
self prescription. With such powers Is
meant a function already present in ami
mails and plants in the form of instinct 1t
is the power of self-preservation-th force
back of natural evolution which practically
determines the survival value of every en-
tity. In the absence of the storms of emo
lions and passions, which in the human
mind continues to drown almost every 9TH
er expression of consciousness than that of
sensation, the nature of the animal IS re-
eeHtive and responsive to the needs of It's
cell-Ives. From this springs the startling
power of selfdiagnosis and self-prescrip-
ton so frequently and incomprehensibly eX-
hibited by the animals when overtaken by
accident or ill-health."
Sight in Dreams
The entire optical apparatus is placed by
sleep in state of temporary arrest" The
fur ction called sight, being dislodged from
the channels of physical vision, is still In
tact, still seeks for expression and reap
pears in new mode of manifestation on
the plane of Dream To explain away the
power of sight in dream by designating 1t
imagination in sense detracts from its
functional value, 'for in its last analysis
what is imagination but an expression OF
the same power which manifests In physi-
cal vision. though functioning through
structures other and subtler than those of
the cerebral nuclei and connected optic
apparatus?" In waking consciousness,
while our minds are blinded by the blazing
pyrotechnics and fitting apparitions Of the
senses, the vision of imagination remains
dim and uncertain, and may even impart
misleading representations to conscious
ness. And as there Is difference between
mere seeing and observing, so Is there
difference between the idle day dreams OF
an unframed imagination and the strong,
vivid realization of ideal prototypes, as ex-
perienced by poets and artists, in whom
ina gtnatton is developed into distinct and
reliable function of subjective seeing. We
quote further:
Now in dream when the turmoil and
disturbance of the waking Consciousness are
kept In allegiance, the powers OF imagina-
ton are set free, turning every Individual,
to some degree, into an artist and a seer.
Manifesting along the lines of least resist
arce, the power of consciousness when
finding It's sensory avenues through physt-
cal fatigue rendered unavailable, seeks ex-
preston through interior and more subtle
structures. For the difference between Wis
ions Of dreams Gma ginatiom and visions or
waking Ordinary seeing) consists in the
difference OF the involved structural media,
and as a change of octave in musical IN
strument reveals new tonal powers, so the
introduction through sleep of a new medi-
I'm for vision gives to the world-picture a
new perspective Nothing new, however,
has been brought out; dream reveals, but
does not create 1t presents the same seer,
the same function, the same world; only the
view point is changed, which again results
in the appearance of new aspects, with cor
responding powers of universal express
sion"
One of DIR. Gibson's most striking conclu-
sions relates to the extent to which dreams
or something analogous are found not only
in lower animal life but even In plant life.
L. Of sleennfr Is also