Sweet dreams coming to CSC

Dreams of walking through a misty fog, drowning in an abysmal sea, levitating through the atmosphere – most semiologists will analyze these nocturnal happenings as attempts of the brain to process information during sleep, and many will speculate that dreams have universal meaning. Not so for local author Debbie Johnson, of South Dakota, however.

Johnson, who has authored several self-help books, argues that each dream is unique to the brain who conjured it, and that trained individuals, through spiritual means, can alter and interpret their dreams for their own benefit.

“Dreams help us to uncover who we really are, why we’re here, and where we’re headed next,” Johnson stated in a January interview with The Eagle.

Johnson is a practitioner of the religious movement Eckankar, founded in the United States in 1965. Johnson explains her relationship with the movement and its connection with dreams by explaining some of its dogma.

“Eckankar teaches that we are all unique, individual Soul, a divine spark of God. You and I don’t have a Soul, I am Soul, you are Soul. Knowing that, dreams take on a whole new meaning. We’re often having real spiritual experiences in our dreams,” Johnson stated.

Johnson recognizes that many are critical of her spirituality; yet she posits that, despite disbelief of a waking dream state, dreams don’t occur exclusively in sleep.

“We are dreaming while awake just as surely as when we’re asleep,” Johnson stated.

Johnson authored a book about dreams in 2010, “Dreams: Your Window to Heaven,” which is published by Eckankar. She is scheduled to present a “mini-workshop” on dream symbols from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Feb. 28 in the Ponderosa Room of the Student Center. Johnson will also be available to sign copies of her book.

The event is being sponsored by the Nebraska Satsang Society, an affiliate of Eckankar.