I would say almost monthly if not weekly I have at least one dream related to being a JW. They usually involve a younger version of me, still living at home with me parents, but being consciously aware of the fraud the religion is. The setting is always at a meeting (usually the Kingdom Hall I remember first attending) or at a convention.
Do you have JW-related dreams (nightmares)?
by compound complex 41 Replies latest social humour
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flipper
CoCo- Hey man, you're not alone. I used to have a lot of dreams about the JW's. In the dreams I was always OUT of the cult trying to explain to some of my friends and relatives who are JW's about the injustices within the WT organization. Or I'd have dreams about reconnecting with my adult JW daughters since I've been shunned by them for years now. I still dream a lot and remember my dreams ( I even write my dreams down - I've now logged almost 700 pages of dreams the last 7 years ) . But I don't dream about the JW experience as much anymore as it's been over 14 years since I've been out .
https://www.amazon.com/Gestalt-Therapy-Verbatim-Frederick-Perls/dp/B000KQ84JS.
The link I just posted is to Amazon regarding the book by the well known psychologist Frederick Perls Gestalt Therapy Verbatim which I highly recommend to read about dreams and their meanings. For years Perls held dreamwork therapy seminars at Esalen Institute at Big Sur, California assisting people to work through their dreams and own them. In a nutshell Perls theory about dreams is that he felt that we dream about unfinished situations in our lives that have been rattling around in our subconscious for years and these unfinished situations come out in our dreams. Negative or positive situations. I've read several of his books, and when I analyze my dreams- I tend to agree with him. When giving the seminars he would have the volunteers restate their dreams and reenact the dreams in the here and now - or restate them as if they are happening now. It was fascinating seeing what emotional baggage was deep within each of these people that would come out. But it was very helpful in assisting them to re-own this hidden part of their subconscious.
Here's a link to wikipedia about Frederick Perls Gestalt Therapy :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gestalt_therapy.
Let me know what you think after reading it a bit ! Pretty cool stuff in getting people to become actualizing and opening up to their inner subconscious dreams and thoughts. Take care my friend , Peace out, Mr. Flipper
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flipper
Here is another link that briefly describes Frederick Perls Gestalt therapy -
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FedUpJW
Yes. I have them too.
The majority of these dreams take place at conventions but with really weird trappings.
I described one of them to another JDub who I still get along with. They asked me if I was watching internet porn, because the demunz come through the internet porn and then influence your dreams.
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compound complex
Thanks, FedUpJW, Flipper, and others . . .
I appreciate your comments and links (Mr. Flipper). Will get back to you. Like the idea of journaling dreams.
Later, . . .
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jp1692
I just found this in Recovery From Cults: Help for Victims of Psychological and Spiritual Abuse:
"Nightmares ... are symptoms of what is called post-traumatic stress disorder; they are commonly found in survivors of destructive cults, incest, rape, and war, as well as victims of natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes" (APA, 1987, as cited in Langone, 1993, p. 321). - [Bold added]
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finallysomepride
Hell no, got better things to dream of in my dream time
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Xanthippe
Not for a while but I did dream last night I went to the doctor to get my jabs for a trip to India and the doc was dressed as Jesus! What the heck?
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compound complex
Thanks for posting about dreams -- JW or non-JW -- jp, finallysomepride, and Xanthippe.
Dr. Jesus! Cool.
Speaking of Jesus, some people call me Jesus. When I was still going to meetings, I was allowed to comment, that despite my long red hair and beard. But I was called by my first name, not Br. XXXXXXX.
Anyway, my recurring dream (which I didn't think to mention earlier) occurred again last night. Looking like Jesus in a business suit and tie, I had parts in both the TMS and Service Meeting. All my scattered bits of paper notes were jammed into my beloved AID TO BIBLE UNDERSTANDING. My time onstage was rapidly approaching and I was frantically trying to figure out what to say . . .
No one seemed nonplussed by my appearance.
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Half banana
Coco, over the years I have many times had the same sort of dream, either I am giving the prayer at the meeting but I’m no longer a believer, or I am out in field service and spouting the JW party line but guiltily conscious of knowing that it’s a load of rubbish. In real life I escaped the Borg before I felt pressured to do these things.
But may I tell you about a vivid dream I had at the time I was waking up from the JW delusion:
I was walking along a country lane late one evening and came to the gap in a well trimmed hedgerow which was the entrance to a field. Instead of a proper gate there was a thin pole across the opening and two men guarding the entrance. There was a bonfire in the field surrounded by people but to my horror a man was being held by his outstretched arms and legs by four others and he was being roasted as it were over the fire. I shouted for them to stop what they were doing and the two guards immediately came together and quietly explained, in the manner of JWs justifying some other Biblical madness, that it was quite alright because the man who was being scorched was happy to have it done to him.
This was nearly thirty years ago but the dream meaning was clear to me then; that a JW colludes with the organisation to be a dumb servant and actually enjoys suffering because privately it confirms his subordinate role and gives a clear definition of his or her faith and the relationship to the organisation......or make of it what you will.