healer

biohacking and dreaming: an unlikely pair?

~ kimberly mascaro ~ Leave a comment

What are you willing to do in order to be at your very best?

How far would you go? Which risks are really worth it?

Since there are so many aspects of and so many options for bio-hacking these days, ranging from age old practices to contemporary ones, just about anyone can give it a try. From oral supplements, dietary changes, injections, IV therapies, external/wearable physiological tracking devices, implantable biotechnologies, and more, just about anyone with extra income can bio-hack their body, in one fashion or another, in an attempt to reverse aging, elevate performance, and increase vitality. I have found some of the methods to be quite extreme. But couldn’t one engage in biohacking for little-to-no-cost with little-to-no risk by utilizing their innate gifts? I would say so, and that is through attentive engagement with sleep, especially dreaming. While napping and extra long hours of nightly sleep can be viewed as a luxury, the free practices of dream incubation, as well as lucid dreaming, can open up a whole new world. Such nonordinary or altered-state-of-consciousness biohacking is low-level and safe. Double-bonus: these no-cost strategies, skills, and techniques can take as little as 10 minutes out of your day (or night, depending). First, I will share some words about the practice known as dream incubation, then I will say a little about lucid dreams and how they might relate to hacking our biology.

Photo by Tembela Bohle on Pexels.com

Biohacking is all the rage these days, the latest DIY (do-it-yourself) craze. You can find dissertations written on the topic, as well as, articles published over the last 14-15 years in journals like Nature Biotechnology (2009), BioSocieties (2017), and Futures (2021), differentiating between biomedical citizen scientists and fringe biohackers, alongside how hobbyist, activism, art and science intersect within a DIYbio landscape. Here, they note the risks involved, and the fact that research on such “hidden populations” brings with it many challenges. Even Forbes has highlighted the topic over the last couple of years. DIYbio practitioners, or biohackers, are increasing in number and the phenomena itself is increasing in popularity with each passing year. And why shouldn’t it? Everyone wants to be at the top of their game, and to feel that sense of control when it comes to taking charge of experiencing optimal health, peak performance, with the hopes of extending living with quality over one’s lifespan. 

Dream incubation can be used for a wide array of needs. It is an ancient practice. Dream incubation involves sending out an intention before a nap or bedtime to ask for guidance and knowledge. The manner by which one sets up a dream incubation ritual can be simple or complex. The ritual aspect is important because effective rituals are done with great focus and intention – never autopilot. Dream incubation is at home in the biohacker world because it can be utilized for diagnosing or better understanding health-related conditions or concerns and in support of healing those.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is for educational and entertainment purposes only. The information provided here is NOT a substitute for medical care. If you have any medical issue, of any kind, please go see a physician. 

Okay, now back to dream incubation. Possible questions or statements to include as part of the dream incubation process could be any of the following – but be ready, knowing that what you ask for, you just may well receive.

 “Show me a mirror that can allow me to see into my body, revealing health or illness.”

“Which foods are best for my unique makeup?”

“Show me the supplements my body needs right now for XYZ.”

“What practices I do at this time in my life for peak performance?”

“Show me a solution to this problem (or situation or issue).”

“What area of my life needs my attention right now?” 

“How can I heal from this?”

“Please give me a direct healing in my dream.”

“Take me to the time and place where the root cause of this problem came to life.”

“Show me the circumstances surrounding this concern I have.”

You may also craft your own, of course – Just be sure it is done in the positive and affirmative. Make the question or statement short and to the point. Once you have one, write it down on a piece of paper while expressing it out loud. Proclaim it. Then, place that paper under your pillow. Once you are in bed, cozy and comfortable, focus on the statement or question you chose as you drift into dreamland.

Write down, draw or sketch out, or if you prefer, audio record anything you recall immediately upon waking up from the dream. Keep at it – use one intention for a full week or even two. This consistency increases its effectiveness. Once you have something, reflect. You may do a daily reflection, or wait until you have recollections accumulated from a few days of practice. I’ll add an important point here: anything a dream provides – all wisdom coming out of the dream world – deserves a thank you offering, even an offering as simple as a prayer is fine. You don’t necessarily have to offer up an object. What comes with including dreams into the bio-hackers world, is a relationship. This way of working is not a secular transaction. I’ll say more about this in the final paragraph of this article.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

I’ve practiced dream incubation quite a bit for many reasons. Years ago when I was searching for healing and cures in the dream state due to a medical condition I faced, I would regularly begin my evening with a dream incubation ritual. For some nights my recall seemed nonexistent while other times I awoke with a lot of quality information relevant to my situation. One time in the dream, a colleague who also happened to be an amazing lucid dreamer appeared right in front of me, holding “the cure” in her hands. It was a frame drum made from natural materials, slightly larger than the ones I was used to seeing. I awoke immediately after this very direct and clear wisdom was provided. I awoke angry, and sad, because after having spent years studying traditional healing ways as a, primarily scholarly endeavor, I knew what “a call” looked like and how they could appeared. Even worse, I knew what happens to those who do not follow through…those who “refuse the call.” So that this story remains a short one, I am sure you can guess what I did. That was to begin the multi-year long training with a noted, quality teacher and surrender as I embark on the deep, deep dive. Even though I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and frankly, just didn’t want to to do it, I did so regardless of the investments of time and cost. This path includes ceremonies that honor the gifts that emerge from the altered state practices, so many prayers are offered, naturally. So, while a free biohacker support, dream incubation can lead to something you might not want to do, or even want to know. Therefore, be clear before you proceed.

Now let’s move on to lucid dreaming. As for those of you who lucid dream skillfully and fairly regularly, you can use any of the statements or questions above in the lucid dream state. You might address the dreamscape first. I’ll share an example from one of my own experiences with lucid dreaming and healing. Upon becoming lucid, I called out, “Dreaming Mind, show me how to heal this condition!” I have also asked, “Dreaming Mind, what is the root cause of this condition?” Additionally, “Dream, take me to XYZ so I may understand XYZ.” Remain open and receptive to what is shown or revealed in that lucid state. Again, write down, sketch out, or audio record anything you recall upon waking up from the dream. But, of course, do not jump out of bed so quickly. Remain still for a few moments as you collect yourself, mentally gathering together what you recall from the experience.

While lucid dreaming is as popular as biohacking these days, remember that lucidity does not equate to superiority. Ordinary dreams are truth teller. In addition, the liminal zones, in fact, offer some of the best information out there, so do not dismiss them. By this, I mean, as you relax prior to sleep, stay alert enough to catch solutions whether they arise as sounds, voices, or images that may come forth before drifting off to sleep. This pre-sleep zone is rich in what it can offer. On that note, be aware when you are awakening as well, as it is another valuable time period for gaining insights and catching solutions. These are the liminal states of consciousness. Some time ago when I was dealing with a condition and using the dream arts as part of my healing protocol, I heard a strong and direct voice in a liminal state. It was a teacher of mine reminding me how the body knows how to heal itself (given the right conditions). While not a diagnosis nor a remedy per se, the liminal dream did inspire me. The experience also served as a reminder for me to provide the correct, necessary conditions so that I may move along toward a state of healing from within.  

Photo by Mikhail Nilov on Pexels.com

No matter which dreamy state you find yourself in, remember to remain physically still as your awareness rises in order to enhance recall, whether those dreams be ordinary, liminal or lucid. Treat them all with the same respect. May your dreams be your medicine, as I always say! Stay open and receptive. Allow yourself to be surprised.

I’ll wrap up by returning to a point I made earlier. That is, how important it is to act on any and all information your dreaming mind gifts you. “Dreams require action,” as Robert Moss has said. So, do something to honor the dream. In addition to ceremonial prayer, one of the other ways I have done so is through creating art. I have made paintings based of what I saw and sensed in my lucid dreams, as well as collaged images from ordinary dreams that threw me for a loop as a way to process and understand them in deeper and deeper ways. Poetry or song are other possibilities. And since we are talking about bio-hacking here, be sure to visit your doctor anytime a dreams shows you a possible or potential illness or medical condition brewing. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Happy 2024,

Dr. Kim

the what and why of amulets

~ kimberly mascaro ~ Leave a comment

Welcome to part 1 of a 4-part blog series on amulets & talismans.

If I asked, point blank: Do you intentionally carry an amulet? You’d likely say no. It’s not something on the forefront of most people’s minds. Were you ever gifted a rabbit’s foot? I was, and as a child I carried it with me…at least for a while. Or maybe instead you whisper, “rabbit, rabbit” at the start of each month. Either way, calling in good luck, or repelling bad luck, with various objects is serious business within cultures across the globe.

These days it seems that amulets are somewhat increasing in popularity, yet again, these are not objects at the forefront of one’s mind. The rabbit’s foot as a good luck charm was quite popular in the United States and Great Britain for decades. The history of this particular amulet is not entirely certain and is connected to several possibilities.

So what exactly is an amulet anyway? 

An amulet is said to contain natural virtues used for warding off evil, guarding against negativity, and protecting the wearer or carrier from harm. As a protective object an amulet can come in many shapes and sizes. The power is within the material. In short, an amulet repels what we don’t want, claims Mary Grace Fahrun, author of Italian Folk Magic (2018).

Here are some examples of common amulets which are culturally and situationally dependent:

Coral

Vervain

Thyme

Garlic

A leaf of Bay/Laurel

A fresh or dried sprig of Rue

Amber

Silver and Gold

A stone, gem or crystal (such as quartz, amethyst, tourmaline, carnelian or onyx). 

Italian red coral is considered an amulet.

Amulets can offer protection in all states, whether in dream, meditative, visionary or waking states. Furthermore, amulets can serve as a general protective element as well as carry a unique function. One historical example is how fossilized amber was used for preventing nightmares with children. Another example could be the Italian corno or hunchback or the hand of Fatima, all of which are meant to provide a specific function—protection against evil eye. 

Apotropaic (aka protective) magic refers to the power to avert evil or harmful influences, bad luck, misfortune, or the evil eye. The popularity is evident, even today, by the vast number of apotropaic amulets and talismans sold worldwide. A very early example comes from ancient Greece in the 4th-century BCE – a relief showing Asklepios performing a healing ritual with a serpent and two apotropaic eyes above. These talismanic ‘eyes’ were also commonly found on ancient Greek vases and throughout parts of the Mediterranean region. See part 4 of this 4-part blog series for more on talismans.

From my visit to the archeological museum in Thessaloniki, 2019.

In the book The High Magic of Talismans and Amulets, Lecouteux (2005) provides some history on the origins of the word amulet: In the first century BCE, we come across the Latin word amuletum, derived from amoliri, meaning to protect, to drive away. Considering what amulets are and are not, the most striking example I’ve come across is revealed below. What you see is below is from an excerpt from my 2021 book, Dream Medicine:

Considering the notion of general protective capacities, let’s turn to Celtic traditions for a moment. Healing, wisdom and truth are sourced from severed heads. The most extreme example of an amulet I have ever come across, unsurprisingly, is that of a human skull fragment. According to Tom Cowan, author of Fire in the Head: Shamanism and the Celtic Spirit (1993), ancient Celts were well known for “their cult of the severed head” (p. 35); they flaunted the heads of enemies from their horses or their own necks. Celtic warriors wore human skull fragments as amulets. Sometimes the entire head was placed on a gatepost, outside a doorway, or on top of a stake for protection. In belief systems where the soul is immortal, residing in the head while alive on earth, it is not surprising that claiming or keeping one’s head “was the same as possessing that person’s soul, spirit and personal power, analogous to the practice found among some cultures of eating the heart or brain of a noble warrior or admired enemy in order to ingest his strength” (Cowan, 1993, p. 36). How about that for a power object!

Now that you know what amulets are and why people carry them, we’ll turn our attention to their care in the next part fo this blog series.

~Dr. Kim

Consider joining the Dream Medicine retreat in Mexico this Fall – we are booking now, so get all the details here: www.ConsciousChimera.com/Retreats

Thank you for reading part 1 of this 4-part blog series. The next part (2) will place attention on the cleaning of amulets. For fuller exploration of this subject, read Dream Medicine: The Intersection of Wellness and Consciousness (Toplight Books, 2021).

#traditionalways

#magic

#power

#ritual

#amulets

#ancientgreece

#talismans

#goodluck

#folkmagic

#craft

#folkloric

#protection

#evileye

#Asklepios 

#rabbit-rabbit

#apotropaic 

journeys into the imaginal

~ kimberly mascaro ~ Leave a comment

Do you ever think about how different our lives would be if we were born several hundred years ago? That’s a lot to think about, I know. How about specifically with regard to health and healing? What did people do before modern medicine, psychiatry, and wellness coaching? Who or what did they seek out in order to get well? Historically, healers across the globe have gone by many names. In this short article, I will focus on a particular type of healer, a practitioner of traditional ways, sometimes referred to as ‘shaman.’ For shamans, healing is equivalent to transformation, not simply focusing on curing an ailment (Kalweit, 1992).

Shamanism has an extensive history (evidence suggests going back tens of thousands of years) on every continent of the world. The word ‘shaman’ comes from the language of the Tungus people of Siberia (Harner, 1980, 1990), although, the word ‘shaman’ however is not typically used by shaman’s themselves (it can be considered bad luck) and traditionally, it is not a role one volunteers for (Ingerman, 2004, 2008). Basically, one does not chose shamanism, it chooses you. Shaman’s, appointed by their communities, act in service of those communities on many levels. Shaman’s are also skilled dreamers. Restoring balance (physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually) is among the many duties performed. Duties can take place in dream consciousness or others states of consciousness, such as a shamanic state of consciousness.

Whether we call them shamanic journeys, imaginal journeys, ecstatic journeys, or something else, humans across time and place have known how to travel to, entering and exiting, otherworldly realms, or unseen worlds. This is done in order to gain access to a wide variety of information, ask for spiritual help and support, and heal themselves, their families and communities. These unseen realms have been referred to by different names across the globe, such as “Other World” in Celtic Shamanism and the “Dreamtime” in Australian Aboriginal tradition (Ingerman, 2004, 2008). These ‘other’ locales can be divided into three major territories: Lower, Middle, and Upper Worlds. Each ‘world’ has something different to reveal to us or teach us. The ‘laws’ we have come to know and expect, do not apply any longer. The community-appointed shaman is considered an expert in navigating these realms. Diverse communities across the world have used various means to assist the shaman in altering consciousness in order to begin the journey. Most commonly repetitious, monotonous sounds, such as those created by a rattle or drum, or chanting, are used.

One can experience a shamanic journey without being appointed shaman, and many do, myself included. As one who uses hypnosis and various types of meditation and breathwork for my own benefit (and offers these services to my clients), it is clear that there are similarities and differences among these trance-like ‘altered states.’ An ability to concentrate is key! Learning the skills to enter a shamanic state of consciousness with intent and purpose, and return to the ordinary state of consciousness can be taught by experienced practitioners and skills can be honed by dedicated students. After all, these are natural conditions. That being said, the worlds entered through a shamanic state of consciousness are not playgrounds and there is a lot to learn before jumping onboard.

Restoring wholeness, coming into balance and harmony with the universe, as well as our full creative potential can be supported through shamanic journeying, as the practice supports us moving forward in our own soul’s journey (Ingerman, 1991).

If this topic interests you, and you would like to learn more, I recommend reading the books written by Michael Harner, Holger Kalweit, Sandra Ingerman, and Robert Moss, for starters. If you want additional references and resources, contact me.

As we approach Samhain, Dia de Los Muertos, All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day, I wish peace and harmony to you and to all of your family members and ancestors, whether embodied or otherwise.

~Dr. Kim