by Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos | Apr 4, 2016 | Access Your Inner Guide, Uncategorized
You have sent me many dream questions and I’ve been waiting for a rainy day to answer them. Well, it’s raining. So, I’ve shut off my cell phone and hung the Do Not Disturb sign on my door that I “permanently borrowed” from a hotel room. In order to answer them all, I’ve created a dream series because I believe that by reading the answers to the dreams of others we enrich our waking-life. Each section in the series will focus on answering your dream questions.
Today, your wildest dream questions are my main priority.
Your Question: Can you give me an example of a Lucid Dream? I have a friend who is taking classes on becoming a Lucid Dreamer? Why are Lucid Dreams so special? Can you have a Lucid Dream without trying to?
Yes, you can have a Lucid Dream without trying to.
Here is an example of a Recurring Dream that was also a Lucid Healing Dream. Dreams can overlap.
A client was distraught because she kept having a recurring nightmare that would wake her during the night and leave her in a bad mood all day. And since she was always aware that she was having the nightmare it was also Lucid. She would be in an epic dream sitting in her living room watching reality TV when suddenly there would be a knock on the door. As her husband moved to answer the door she would yell, “No! Don’t answer the door.” Her husband would open the door and her deceased father would walk into the room and say, “I love you.” This would jolt her from the dream with a scream and leave her upset for the rest of the day because she and her father did not have a good relationship while he was alive.
I told her the next time she had this nightmare, to tell her father that she loved him, too, hug him and that the nightmare would stop and her life would be changed, forever. This was an opportunity to heal her past in order to move into an emotionally healthy future.
“I can’t do that,” she said, “I don’t love him. In fact, I can’t stand him. He was mean to me.”
“Somewhere in your subconscious Daddy’s Little Girl still loves him and needs to express herself and accept his love,” I said. “Your father has had time to consider the error of his ways when he was alive and is asking to make amends. We know he is asking permission because he is knocking on your Sacred Dream Door, not opening it himself and walking back into your life. Your husband, whom you always refer to as your-better-half, invites your father into the living room, or the room of the living. Your husband is also the strong fearless aspect of yourself. ”
The next night she had the same nightmare but this time…. “When there was the knock on the door I told my husband I would get it. When my father walked into the room and said, I love you,” I don’t know what happened to me but I threw my arms around his neck and said, ‘Oh, Daddy, I love you too’ and the dream shifted without me waking up.
She followed my counsel, felt wonderful when she woke up, and never had the nightmare again.
With a simple hug of love she changed the ending of a lucid nightmare into a healing dream that transformed her life forever.
Our family members challenge us the most in our life because they are our teachers, and they are humans who make mistakes. During difficult times they are given permission to return from “the other side” to give us guidance and love.
I hope this helps to answers your incredible dream question. Ask me anything in the comment box.
Join me next time for more on Your Wildest Dreams Revealed Series: #9 Symbols and Symbolism
ABOUT Dream Expert Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos TV/Radio Host/Producer of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod® believes your DREAMS can diagnose your life. Author/Lecturer of Award winning, International bestseller, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing: which promotes patient advocacy & connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams, Prayers & Meditations for success in Health, Wealth, & Love. Learn more @ www.AccessYourInnerGuide.com Download your free DREAM gift http://bit.ly/My-Free-Gift-to-You
(All pictures and quotes were used with permission from the guest or are owned by the author.)
by Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos | Apr 4, 2016 | Access Your Inner Guide, Uncategorized
Quote: “Just because life throws something at you doesn’t mean you have to catch it and keep it.”~ Kathleen O’Keefe-Kanavos
Why are you starting to feel so depressed after the best parties of the year have just finished?
Stress and depression go together like peanut butter and jelly. Believe it or not, just as peanut butter is a super food, depression can be an important part of your spiritual health. And, according to recent studies, post-holiday depression may be quite normal. Part one of this blog focused on the many possible causes of post-holiday depression. Now that we know why we may have it, let’s explore what we can we do to be rid of it? This article focuses on natural and holistic solutions found in studies cited in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, and Psych Central. Persistent or debilitating depression may require medical care.
To overcome stress or depression we need to make lifestyle assessments and adjustments.
Just because life or friends throw something difficult your way does not mean you have to catch and hold onto it for dear life. That something includes insults or negative relationships. You can choose to duck or move out of the way. And, if you do decide to catch it, take a good look at it. Then make the conscious decision to either keep it or drop it and walk away. Yes, you can!
Depression is an opportunity.
Stress and Depression can be incredible professors from the University of Hard Knocks who can help you realization that how people treat you is their Karma, how you respond to them is yours. However, not all relationships or situations should be avoided or dropped.
Most broken bones can be mended, as can many relationships. Embrace what can be fixed.
And, that is when we may learn one of Psychology’s most important life-lessons—the quickest way to change someone’s behavior is to change yours first because they will naturally respond differently to the new you.
When your heart brakes, your body falls.
Depression can help you take time out for yourself. It can teach the importance of self- respect, honor, and putting ourselves first, and to choose to change or walk away from bad habits, relationships, and situations.
These are valuable lessons for life. Draw new boundaries with which you can live. When you focus on respecting them others will follow your lead.
A friend once asked me, “How can I just quit my job or walk away from my relationship if that is what is depressing or killing me.”
Her question was answered by these questions. “Are you worried about letting down your job and relationship or yourself? Will they survive tomorrow if you are not around? Will you thrive if they are gone? You cannot hold a gift if your hands are full, especially something heavy to carry. Put something down.”
To accomplish this, the next time you feel overwhelmed take a step back and reassess your life. Check your inner-baggage; the useless stuff you have accumulated. You may be surprised by how bogged down you may have become by emotional baggage that is not yours. Simply drop it. It is so easy to unconsciously pick up other people’s emotional suitcases rather than respecting their right to carry them, or not. In part three of this series on post-holiday depression, we will discuss breaking old habits that may be the cause of stress and depression.
ABOUT THE HOST/AUTHOR: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos TV/Radio Host/Producer of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod ™ believes your DREAMS can diagnose your life. She’s Host of the Kat Kanavos Show on New Earth International, Patheos blogger, Author/Lecturer of Award winning, International bestseller, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing: which promotes patient advocacy & connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams, Prayers & Meditations. Learn more @ www.AccessYourInnerGuide.com
(All pictures and quotes were used with permission from the guest or are owned by the author.)
by Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos | Apr 4, 2016 | Access Your Inner Guide, Uncategorized
Affirmation: “I will temporarily offer my shoulder but not my back.”
Finally! The hectic holidays are over. After indulging in some of the best parties of the year, why are you feeling so low and what can you do to get rid of the blues?
Don’t despair. You are not alone. Mild post–holiday depression and even cold seasonal depression can follow you into the heat of summer. But life is often more about perception than fact. And if you choose to view it as such, depression can become an asset in your life in the form of life-saving warning signs and inner spiritual guidance. Turn the-blues into motivation for change rather than a hindrance for life.
You’ve been focused on meeting the holiday needs of family and friends. It may be time to tune-into yourself. Speaking as a three-time breast cancer survivor, my severe bouts of depression taught me to be aware of my choices; take pills to alleviate and ignore it, or face it and figure out what my body, psyche and inner-guidance were telling me about my life. Occasionally, the choice was as simple and complicated as life and death.
According to research and studies done at the Mayo Clinic, the end of a holiday is often the beginning of depression. Just as we can physically crash after extensive sugar, we can feel down after a long party. The pendulum of life had swung far over into the extreme energy mode of multiple merry-making events like Halloween, followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and finally Easter. The turkey has been carved, the gifts put away and all the eggs found. Now, as the pendulum swings back into normal it can feel like a let-down rather than a relief.
This particular type of depression is also referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder, aka SAD. According to Medicine Net the symptoms are similar to Post Vacation Depression. It is normal to have a few of the symptoms listed below. The challenge is when you suffer from many of them at the same time. It may be a sign that you are SAD.
Check the 9 symptoms below to see how SAD you may be. Do you have:
- unexplained
- cryin
- mood swings
- irritability
- trouble concentrating
- unexplained
- no
- insomnia,
- overeating and weight gain especially from
Now you know the symptoms. The causes of post-holiday depression may be:
- Unmet expectations
- Unrealistic New Year resolutions
- A return to loneliness after
- Guilt about holiday overindulgence
- Seasonal depression pattern
Depression is often a symptom, not an illness. Alleviating a symptom does not cure the disorder and this one is not something to ignore.
Research has consistently shown a strong link between suicide and depression. According to a Center for Disease Control study concerning suicide facts and Suicide Awareness Vices of Education, suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year olds. An estimated quarter million people each year become suicide survivors.
Our emotional discomfort can be so great we would rather considered death by our own hand as a means of escape rather than staying and facing our “ghosts.”
However, deciding to see what lessons can be learned from depression is often the first step toward a cure.
It is like pulling the knife from your heart and using it to cut through life’s Bull-sh#t.
As a three time cancer survivor, depression was a frequent companion. Looking back on those trying times now allows me to answer difficult questions previously avoided such as,
Our mind is incredibly powerful and will create or manifest situations to serve and save us.
My conclusion is depression and illness can be a way of forcing us to slow down and “look within” at memories (old baggage), events (past and present cycles), people (relationships), and life-style (habits) are not to our benefit. Without depression it may be easier to continue accepting whatever life is throwing our way—settling for less than what is needed and/or deserved.
Watch for part 2 of this article for solutions and tips on how to overcome post-holiday depression.
ABOUT THE HOST/AUTHOR: Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos TV/Radio Host/Producer of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod ™ believes your DREAMS can diagnose your life. She’s Host of the Kat Kanavos Show on New Earth International, Patheos blogger, Author/Lecturer of Award winning, International bestseller, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing: which promotes patient advocacy & connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams, Prayers & Meditations. Learn more @ www.AccessYourInnerGuide.com
(All pictures and quotes were used with permission from the guest or are owned by the author.)
by Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos | Mar 28, 2016 | Access Your Inner Guide, Uncategorized
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by Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos | Mar 28, 2016 | Access Your Inner Guide, Uncategorized
You have sent me many dream questions and I’ve been waiting for a rainy day to answer them. Well, it’s raining. So, I’ve shut off my cell phone and hung the Do Not Disturb sign I “permanently borrowed” from a hotel room on my door. In order to answer them all, I’ve created a dream series because I believe that by reading the answers to the dreams of others we enrich our dream life. Each section in the series will focus on answering your dream questions.
Today, your wildest dream questions are my main priority.
Your Question- What are the most common dreams that people have?
I find that most dreams fall into these 7 categories, and these categories can overlap.
• Daydreams- when you are awake but no longer focused on a task. This can also happen during meditation, and prayer. Your mind begins to wander and ends up in an area filled with spiritual guides or a place full of information.
• Lucid dreams– you know you are dreaming while in the dream-state. What makes this dream so amazing is that you can learn to return to the lucid dream to control the outcome and change your life in a positive manner.
• Nightmares– who can forget that information? But our nightmares can be blessings in disguise. Nightmares are often a call to action that refuses to be ignored. It is easy to forget a sweet dream, but who can forget a frightening nightmare? The other purpose of a nightmare may be to awaken you at a strategic place in the dream that holds an answer to the crisis.
• Recurring- because you didn’t get it the first time or solve it yet. When you have the same dream over-and-over it is telling you to keep working on the meaning or the solution.
• Healing-emotional or physical information. A healing dream may contain a recipe for life or you may connect with your Spirit-guides or Guardian angels for life-saving information.
• Prophetic- comes true and can be validated by scientific tests or life events. Watch for the validation in your waking world. Validation is the key.
• Epic– like an entertaining storybook you pick up and continue while sleeping. The only thing missing is the popcorn. Enjoy!
Within those groups are many subgroups. An example would be precognitive dreams that are also in the subgroup of shamanic. Many dream groups can overlap. An example might be a lucid nightmare (meaning you are aware of the fact that you are dreaming) that is also precognitive (comes true with validations in the waking world) and is healing (causes positive emotional or physical change in you).
I hope this helps to answers your incredible dream question. Ask me anything in the comment box.
Join me next time for more on Your Wildest Dreams Revealed Series #8 for Your Recurrent Dreams.
ABOUT Dream Expert Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos TV/Radio Host/Producer of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod® believes your DREAMS can diagnose your life. Author/Lecturer of Award winning, International bestseller, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing: which promotes patient advocacy & connecting with Inner-guidance through Dreams, Prayers & Meditations for success in Health, Wealth, & Love. Learn more @ www.AccessYourInnerGuide.com Download your free DREAM gift http://bit.ly/My-Free-Gift-to-You
(All pictures and quotes were used with permission from the guest or are owned by the author.)
by Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos | Mar 22, 2016 | Access Your Inner Guide, Uncategorized
I really slept in late this morning. By late, I mean well past 12:00–noon. But then, I was up well past 2:00am finishing two more chapters in my book. Many 2s and wells there. Synchronicity?
Once I am writing “in the zone” it’s difficult to break my concentration and stop typing.
“Leave the rest for tomorrow,” is not in my vocabulary. By mid-chapter, I am driven. Forget food and water.
I’m quite content in my self-inflicted jail cell.
This driven feeling is more than work ethic or time restraint. It is emotionally based. Painful memories must be dragged out of hibernation, (often kicking and screaming,) from behind locked mental doors, convert them into word and sew them to page before they can snap back into the dark bowels of my mind like a bungee cord. It is much like reluctantly remembering a nightmare months after having had it–a struggle on many levels.
So why would I inflict such masochism on myself?
How does that saying go? “Those who forget the past are destined to repeat it.” Your journal can become the skeleton for your book. My notes from my first battle with breast cancer helped me live through stage 4 the second time. Those journals and memories became my emotionally packed book.
My story is unconventional, but not unique.
Doctors are human. Scientific tests are only as accurate as the people who perform and read them. Life is not infallible. But Inner-guidance from dreams validated in the waking world just might be.
My second book is more than halfway complete because I have my own style of cutting out my literary pattern and sewing it together with a running stitch that can be removed to make adjustments.
I write the beginning and ending of my book–then fill in the middle.
By using this technique, I always know where I am and where I’m going with a story that is filled with impassioned twists and turns. It gives me a mental edge–no floundering around in the dark while retrieving dark memories. I never feel like I have wandered off the books path. Rather than holding one tread of the story’s line in my mind, I have two. This extra balance anchors my writing so I can interject humor yet not wander away from the serious nature of the main theme.
Writing a book is much like sewing a garment.
Somewhere between the beginning and the end product, areas no longer fit. Some seams must be let out, others taken in, and extra material trimmed.
But, I always save my scraps because they could be the collar of another adventure.
Kathleen (Kat) O’Keefe-Kanavos is a TV/Radio Producer/Host of Wicked Housewives On Cape Cod™ and Author/Lecturer of the International award winning bestseller, Surviving Cancerland: Intuitive Aspects of Healing which promotes patient advocacy and connecting with inner guidance for success in health, wealth, and love, contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams & Premonitions, PATHEOS Blogger and Columnist to Women Voices Magazine: SOUL and HOME, Kat taught Special Education and Psychology. She has been featured in newspapers, on CBS News, in American Express Open, and published in medical journals. Learn more @ www.AccessYourInnerGuide.com
PATHEOS http://www.patheos.com/blogs/aboveandbeyondthe5senses/
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