Hey Everyone,

Has anyone ever tried guided dreaming?  Don't know the correct name...?  In any case, this dates back many years to when I was a kid at camp and had a wonderful experience (as I relate this, I am only to wonder why I have not tried it since?).  So, as part of this camp, they had really interesting nightly activities, one of which was guided dreaming.  ...Bare with me, it does get interesting  

In my dream, they had you walk down a trail, visualizing things, doors, boxes and people.  Being 15 at the time, I was kind of skeptical (although that may have been to appear more cool ) and was surprised to later wake up remember every detail, vividly.  

Here is the strange part (of two)

#1.  The person in my dream was a combination of two,  there were two elderly men from my early childhood, whom have in some way always seemed ethereal to me.  One of which was the husband of an old babysitter I had during my preschool years.  I have very fond memories of this elderly couple.  They had fled Poland during the war and their accents were still very thick.  They were extremely kind hearted people and (although as a child brat I never showed them) I really did grow to love this couple.  The second was a man I met who was friends with my grandparents.  I only met him once, maybe around the age of 7 or 8, but have to this day, more than 20 years later, never forgotten him.  It was brief, but somehow, I don't know why, he just had such a big impact.  

Well, both of these people were in a room where I was to meet someone.  Not exactly both, they were rapped up into one.  The accent of my babysitter, and the artistic skills of the other.  Basically, in my dream I was overwhelmed and sad but happy.  I was told by this person 'not to worry, they would always be there to protect me', that although they weren't next to me physically, they would never leave my side.   They gave me a gift, and now I have no clue what it was (as this was over 17 years ago and the memory comes and goes), I remember not wanting to say goodbye as we were led out of our dream.  I was reassured by these people of their presence.  When I woke up, I was surprised to find myself crying.  

NOTE:  Later that year or the next (can't remember exactly, I think it was the same), I was talking about my old babysitter and found out he had passed away at least a year before, but was never told because my family thought it would hurt me too much.

#2.  That night after the dream guiding, I went to bed and dreamt about my dog (of 15years, we grew up together).  I dreamt that my dog died and again woke up in tears.  I was so upset that I called home the next day only to be told 'no, he's alright he is laying in front of the tv sleeping' which was his nightly routine.  After camp finished and a 10 hour drive home with my father, it wasn't until we reached our driveway (while a family reunion was underway) that I was told my dog had to be put down.  He was very sick, and during the 2 weeks of my being at camp, they made that decision (oh yes, forgot to mention, I had specifically asked not to do anything until my return).  Turns out, the evening I had the dream session, and later to have the dream about my dog during the same night, was the night they put him down.  They didn't have the heart to tell me over the phone knowing how upset I would be.  

Now I don't know if the events are related, but now remembering that whole time, I would love if someone knew about this guided dreaming, I think it would be fascinating to do it again!!  ....although, hopefully with better outcomes  Have already done the sad stuff..

sorry I never heard of dream guiding unless you mean lucid dreaming
is that what it is?

I have not heard of guided dreaming, but it does sound interesting!
Does anybody have more information on the subject??

I have lucid dreams where I know I am dreaming but can control what happens. But I haven´t heard of this either, unless you mean a guided meditation where you relax but are not sleeping.

Sleep is to replenish the body, mind, spirit.  When we enter into exercises that formulate and/or control our dreams, we are not getting the rest that was intended to rejuvenate the individual.  Setting patterns in our mind can work by our intent.