By Adam Okerblom, DAOM
As we move deeper into winter, we often see an increased incidence of patients reporting strange or frightening dreams. We are moving closer to the winter solstice; on Sunday, December 21st this year is the beginning of the winter solstice Qi Node Dong Zhi.
Cultures around the world acknowledge that around the winter solstice, the separations between the ethereal and physical dimensions are thinner. We are immersed in the mysterious depths of the water element. With the dark, quiet, introspective nature of the deep winter, we come more into contact with our subconscious, subliminal spaces, their associated dreams, visitations, and other phenomena. There are many traditions and legends of this nature, including in Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, and spiritual philosophies such as Buddhism and Daoism. For example, in traditional Tibetan medicine, dream analysis is an important aspect of diagnosis for medical treatment and pathology prognosis.
In this deep winter season, it is normal to have more dreams associated with ghosts or spirit visitations. Although these dreams often feel disturbing and scary, most of the time they do not indicate something actually dangerous. Instead, so-called “ghost dreams” usually pertain to something in our ancestral line, an unsettled ancestor spirit, deceased relatives, or other aspect of our intergenerational past.
When our patients report disturbing dreams, like something out of a thriller movie, we advise them first of all not to worry! This is rarely a sign of something actually bad. At this time of year, in midwinter, the depth of the yin time, the water element Qi, and the darkest period of the year, it is actually quite common to have this kind of dream.
If our patients experience recurring dreams of this nature or feel significantly disturbed by this phenomenon, then we provide acupuncture treatments, herbal formulas, and further advice to support them. Also, in these cases, it can be helpful to have a Polestar Astrology reading to shed light on the nature of our ancestral Qi, our past and current life arc.