I went for a 40 minute bike ride first thing this morning. I feel amazing.
There are so many reasons why I can't get the amount of exercise I need to feel the way I want to feel. So when things (weather and smoke conditions, energy levels and what my symptoms are doing) line up and I can get a ride in, this always feels sooooo good.
But while I was on my ride I was remembering when this particular ride was a path I used to take in the evenings, after already having ridden that far, or further, throughout the day. And I thought about how I FELT then when I had the right amount of exercise for me, how much energy I had and how easy it was to take care of my mental health. I thought about how much I miss those days.
Yesterday we had another beautiful and transformative Co-Dreaming call. (Replay is here for members)
We started with a 40 minute alchemy meditation for getting the insight/advice/healing/shift you need from the soul of your dream. Then we focused on STAYING IN THE MAGIC for the rest of call, and using that magic to work on whatever we wanted to work on.
The soul of my dream said to me: STOP TRYING SO HARD TO BE WELL.
Which felt like WTF? I am struggling with my health so much, of course I am doing everything I can to be well.
I asked the soul of my dream if it could make things easier for me and it suddenly grew arms, reached out, and pushed me down (!!)
It was saying "Hit rock bottom. There is something for you there."
I felt upset by this advice in the moment.
The soul of my dream insisted: What if your most messed up, sick and depressed self is the version of you who can take these next steps?
When it put it like that, I thought about how I would never suggest that anyone who is working with me needs to stop being depressed before they can have their dream, or even take their next steps.
Often we FEEL LIKE we need to "get our life together" before we can dive into this magic but that's NEVER true.
I thought about, and this is another thing that came up on our call yesterday, how we are pushed to conform on so many levels in this culture and how our dreams are generally pushing back against that and how hard that can be.
Dominant culture always wants us to be well. Productive. Positive. Accomodating.
Your dream wants you to be YOU. In all of your glorious mess.
Your dream also understands the reality of life... that there are so many ways to be and all of them are valid. Your depressed self and your sick self are completely worthy of your dreams.
A healthy culture would make space for diversity. Ours does not. We can internalize this without realizing it.
We can feel like we need to be "our best self" to make our dreams happen.
That's not true.
Your dream wants you to be your most REAL self.
Your dream wants you to remember that you were born worthy and nothing ever changes that.
So this week I am going to be thinking about...
Where am I pushing myself to be well instead of validating where I am...
Where could I better care for myself AS I AM instead of care for myself as a way to trying to coerce my body and mind to behave the way I want them to...
And what magic exists right here during flare ups that make me miserable?
PS: Yesterday I added the Anti-Doomscroll Journaling + Meditation Kit to the membership! Get it here.
I also added a new meditation to the Weekly Dream Status Report process.
Creative Dream Incubator Coaching Membership members:
Do a Hello Day Practice (from Dream Book 2026)
Get your next Dream Book lesson or get a weekly journaling + alchemy kit.
Go the Library of Creative Dream Alchemy to find a practice that fits for where you are or use the Dream Lab if you're not sure where to start.
Check out the calendar of upcoming calls. Make a plan to join us live or catch a replay.
If you're not a member - find out more + join us here!
