Listening to Dreams as a Spiritual Practice

 Listening to Dreams as a Spiritual Practice

Guest Writer Bridget Hyde

“What I have continued to find… is that dreams are sources of wisdom for problem-solving and life enhancement. They put us in touch with dimensions of ourselves that are normally hidden and that we need to grow toward our full potential.”—George R. Slater in Bringing Dreams to Life (Paulist Press, 1995).

Dreams are a dynamic form of spiritual direction. They come to us in the service of wholeness. A visit from a dream brings unconscious information to our consciousness. Dreams carry a divine desire to make us whole, to integrate the conscious and unconscious worlds, and to find a balance between soul and persona.

There is much talk in spiritual direction about the “ego” and how it keeps us from God, our most authentic self. My experience has taught me that ego is not inherently bad. However, it is an ego out of balance that harms. 

Don’t we all need egos for our basic needs? Our ego drives us to get dressed and go out into the world. My faith tells me that God gave us our egos so that we could have the confidence to put forward our gifts and accomplish necessary daily tasks. Unfortunately, some of us fall into situations here on earth that sap the vitality of our egos and self-esteem. For example, during dark or denigrating times, people often dream of kings and queens. Here, the dream seeks to balance a personal sense of worth by calling forth a regal, powerful archetype.

When an ego is out of balance the other way, it becomes inflated and sees itself above others, immune from harm or wrongdoing. If this happens to a person, the unconscious will sometimes bring a dream of falling from a high place to land on solid ground. The dream will seek to bring the person “back to earth.” Thus, a person may dream that a plane crashes, yet they land safely. Another example is a dream where a car stalls, and the dreamer must get out and walk. The major thrust of such dreams is to help the dreamer feel grounded to avoid the fate of Icarus.

Bridget Hyde

 Joanna https://www.joannaseibert.com/

What I Learned from a Famous Pediatric Radiologist

What I learned from Dr. Taybi: A life of gratitude

“Before I ventured forth,

even while I was very young,

   I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.” Ecclesiasticus 51:13.

As I pray today for refugees and those trying to immigrate to our country, I came across a note from Dr. Hooshang Taybi from 2006, posted on Daily Something yesterday. Dr. Taybi wrote the letter three weeks before he died, responding to my email after hearing the news of his terminal illness.

If you are a radiologist or pediatrician, you will remember Dr. Taybi, best known for studying children with difficulties that become part of a syndrome. He was acclaimed professionally for his encyclopedic memory of over 100 journals he read, leading to his classic textbook, The Radiology of Syndromes.

 But I most remember his kindness, humbleness, and caring for others, empowering others, never too important to spend time with you.

A colleague shares a phrase from Dr. Taybi’s favorite Persian poem: “The best way to show your gratitude for having a strong arm is to extend a helping hand to the weak.”1

I see the life of a brilliant man who, close to his death, still expresses gratitude for those who helped him over 50 years before. Dr. Taybi still empowers us today by telling stories of children with illnesses, recounting how he was empowered, with gratitude for all who touched his life, even to the end. I continue to see daily the difference gratitude can make in a person’s life.

So today, I will try to remember and give thanks for those who empowered me, and pray that I can pass empowerment and gratitude on to others. I also want to remember Dr. Taybi’s story of the many strangers who helped him in his lifetime. I hope to do the same for those who come to our country, remembering Dr. Taybi’s story, of how he sought a new life.

I also remember that if a travel ban had been in place for Muslim countries such as Iran, Dr. Taybi would never have come to his America. I think of all of us whose lives would not have been touched by his wisdom, especially the children and their parents, who would have missed his medical expertise.

1Ron Cohen, Charles Gooding, “Memorial Hooshang Taybi,” in AJR, 187:1382-1383, 2006.

Joanna   https://www.joannaseibert.com/

A Letter From Dr. Taybi

A Letter from Dr. Taybi

I received this letter from a refugee from Iran shortly before he died:

Rev. Joanna J. Seibert: 

Dear Joanna (please call me Hoosh):

Thank you very much for a very kind email. Your encouragement is most appreciated. I have accepted my illness and have no trouble dealing with the situation, thanks primarily to the support of my loving wife, Alice, and my children.

I am so thankful for all the opportunities I have been given by my mentors, friends, and, many times, strangers in this country. Your kindness and reading your email brings me back to 1946, when I was a practicing pediatrician in the city of Hamedan in Iran. An American missionary had a small hospital and clinic headed by a young American, Dr. Frame. I told him one day, I planned to go to America and get more education. A son of a missionary, he spoke Farsi fluently. I told him I wanted to learn “American.” He taught me a few words in “American” [English].

When I left Iran, Mrs. Frame gave me a letter to deliver to her parents, the Andersons. I arrived in New York City in December 1948, just before Christmas, and found my way in Manhattan to the Andersons’ apartment. Mr. Anderson took me to New York University, met with Professor Tobin, the Dean of Students, and enrolled me in English class. Andersons were missionaries, having spent many years in South America’s jungles. 

Their kindness did not end there. Many times, they invited me to their home, and I spent the 1949 Christmas at their home in New Jersey. The Frames moved back to USA, and Dr. Frame had a practice in New York City.

It was in 1964 when we gave a course in Pediatric Radiology at Indiana University Medical Center. I sent an invitation for Dr. Frame to come as my guest and attend the course. He could not come. But in a nice note stated: “I see your ‘American’ has much improved,” referring to my use of American instead of English in 1948!! This type of kindness is unforgettable. To the end of my life, I shall remember what they did for a man from another land and another culture. Two of the Anderson photographs from my album are attached.

I appreciate very much your family remembering meeting this old friend. Please extend my regards to them, and I hope we meet again at another SPR gathering.

Hoosh

Joanna  https://www.joannaseibert.com/