Gentle candlelight. The fragrance of lavender. Water flowing and an easy breeze. You slip between cozy, comfortable sheets, pillows, and blankets. A firm mattress supports your back. Perhaps a coyote howls or a desert owl hoots. In any case, gratitude swells within and an easy natural smile forms without. The abundance in your life is palpable, and it is wonderful to let this secret rest between you and your Maker.



You drift gently and easily to sleep.

Each night you sleep deeply and deliciously. However, some nights, maybe twice per week, you remember what you dream as easily as if you had been awake. At those times, in settings both familiar and exotic, you meet with friends and teachers in conscious, lucid adventures. Your tummy may roll in soft, healing laughter or your heart may release in gentle orgasm. Some other block may let go in an unexpected way or a lesson to be learned may be made absolutely clear.

Your being always opens to God just a little bit more and you are never abruptly awakened from your deep rest. Each experience takes its place as a beautiful memory and you drift back to an in-between place that is quiet and dark and restful until it is time to move back into body consciousness and your 6 ? hours are up.

One morning the astral voice of an angel wakes you. Another morning it's the humorous song of a guide. Occasionally it's all of your cells dancing in ecstatic joy. It's always different and it's always beautiful and you always know you're rested and have slept well and that a beautiful day is on the horizon. So you squeeze and stretch and smile and a new day begins.

Why shouldn't our rest be at least this wonderful? Why shouldn't we choose our experience of sleep? We choose the food we eat. We choose the exercise we take. We choose the work we do. Our experience of sleep is also something that we can choose. It simply takes a clear intention and plenty of patience. I wrote the above "scene" as one example of how someone might set such an intention.

Create your own clear intention and don't allow your sleeping pattern to wander too far from that ideal. Consider it a healthy part of your life experience. Begin by recalling your very best night of sleep; you probably had lots of fun. Write out your experience and imagine how it could be improved.

Remember, we spend at least 25% of each and every day sound asleep; this makes it an important fundamental component of our lives and something that needs to command more conscious attention. Being well rested reduces our susceptibility to illness, improves our productivity, and increases the enjoyment of our waking day. Why not squeeze our experience of life for all it's worth? Sweet dreams...