Search for the Zar

In this excerpt from a soon-to-be published book by Katrina Valenzuela (Khadija), we learn about the Zar, an Egyptian ritual performed to appease spirits (the Jinn) and relieve the stresses of life.

Khadija describes her first clandestine experience in a Zar ceremony, arranged after considerable searching and effort, as the secret ritual is illegal in Egypt.  She is accompanied by her friend Mostafa, who had initially discouraged her determination to participate.

The story begins as they meet a tall, gaunt figure under a bridge, who guides them to a private home where the Zar takes place.

The mysterious stranger greets us in solemn monosyllables and we follow him in silence over unpaved roads, dodging muddy trenches and stray dogs, through the poorest section of Old Cairo to a small stucco house. My clothes are mud – spattered and dusty, but the sound of drumming and the wafting myrrh and frankincense cause my heart to leap with anticipation. A woman answers the door and takes us in with her wide dark eyes, assessing us in a suspicious manner as she adjusts her hijab in a modest gesture, covering the front of her hair. After extensive, huddled discussion among the group, the mood shifts entirely and we are suddenly welcomed in and embraced.  We are told we are the first newcomers to the group in years and so they were uneasy.

Because I speak Arabic, the women consider me one of their own; they become overprotective and feel free to ask direct questions about my marital status and personal life, which I answer as briefly as possible. “Yes, Mostafa and I are only friends. No, I am not presently married or engaged. No, my father does not know where I am.” Shaking their heads in astonishment, their eyes reveal both envy and disapproval. Still, I am taken under their wing with motherly concern and I feel completely safe.

Bathed in candle light, the living room of the small house is a sea of movement, heads swaying, eyes flickering in ecstatic trance, each lost in their own inner world.  Women who are more inhibited drape large black cotton scarves over their heads and their swaying creates a mysterious silhouette. The power of the experience overcomes me within moments and I join in, allowing the rhythm to move my body. Mostafa takes a doumbek and joins the small group of men on percussion, whose task is to keep the ayoub rhythm flowing unbroken for the duration of the ceremony.

There are no steps to learn, only to surrender to the hypnotic repetition of drums and chanting. Once inside the experience, I am beyond all thinking or self-consciousness and move in a way that is deeply familiar, instinctual, and primal.  To move from a trance state is as easy as breathing and I lose myself completely in the experience.

Suddenly a large, middle aged woman in a long, flower print dress drops to the floor writhing and shaking, the sheikha loudly calling out incantations to the Jinn that possesses her. Others rush to surround her while continuing their movements around the convulsing woman. They are entirely unperturbed by the situation as they offer support and a circle of safely for whatever she needs to go through.

The Jinn is finally appeased and the frenzied expression subsides. It is obvious that some part of the Zar experience is an outlet for the repressed lives of very poor women, a chance to act out some of the frustrations and anger at conditions that never change through generations. This is a powerful sisterhood of support and I am fortunate to have been allowed entry.  When the first muezzin call goes out over the city, all activity suddenly ceases and we silently file out into the hazy early morning, each going their way without a word. I leave Mostafa at Ramses Station to catch his train back to Upper Egypt. “Let’s go again in two weeks; maybe it will cure these headaches I have had for years,” he says. We agree to talk once we have integrated all that occurred in this long and strange night.

Back in Zemalek, I fall into my bed exhausted and dizzy, the hypnotic sound of the drums still echoing in my head as it leads me into a hallucinatory sleep… Suspended in a place between waking and dreaming, I am unable to move and yet so deeply relaxed that it does not frighten me. I am carried on this journey until the mid-morning muezzin intrudes, calling me to full wakefulness. I feel a lightness and joy in spite of my lack of deep sleep, as if a burden has been lifted.  My deep heartache over my recent life changes has dissolved and in its place is a sense of gratitude and rightness about this new phase of my life. Wherever I am led next in this mosaic of adventures, I feel open and prepared for the journey.

Khadija’s book is scheduled for publication in 2009. Khadija lived in Egypt and leads spiritual tours to Egypt and surrounding countries. Visit the website to learn more about her:

http://transformationscenter.com/

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photo credit: snowflakespice

What Dreamwork Can Do for You

• Learn To Interpret The Language Of Your Higher Self And To Trust Your Own Inner Wisdom.
• Gain Valuable Insight In Making Life Decisions.

• Distinguish Between The Many Types Of Dreams; Precognitive, Past Life, Healing, Spirit Visitation, Higher Conscious Dreams.
• Deepen Your Inner Awareness, Guidance And Dream Journaling Practice.
• Dream Clearly And Remember Your Dreams In Detail.
• Become a Lucid Dreamer and Rewrite your Life Script.
• Recognize important events and people in your life from the dream previews we all have. *See the following article entitled ‘Dream Lover’ for a true account of how I met my soul partner after many higher plane introductions.

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photo credit: snowflakespice

The Inner World of Dreams by Katrina Valenzuela

Dreams are our own private language from our subconscious and higher levels of self. We spend one third of our lives sleeping and yet many are not at all curious as to where this time is spent, or to explore the incredible richness of the dreaming state.

There are many types of dreams, and the most easily recalled are simple ‘processing dreams’ in which we go over the events of the day and replay the emotions and situations in order to resolve conflicts.  ”My dreams are never interesting or helpful, they just repeat what I already know.” Does this sound familiar? 

People often give up on dream work because this frustrating theme is all they recall and to write it down seems to prolong the agony of a trying situation. These ‘processing dreams’ tend to occur in the first two ninety minute dream cycles, and in some cases the processing seems to take up all of the valuable dream time.

The length of actual REM (rapid eye movement) dreaming time extends with successive dream cycles, the most detailed and insightful dreams occurring in the last few hours of sleep. Naturally, if we do not sleep a sufficient number of hours the most valuable dream time is never reached. Studies show that we all need 7-8 hours, even workaholics who seem to think sleep deprivation is a virtue.

Many meticulous scientific studies of sleep and dreaming have been conducted over decades, and this information is readily available through a web search or a good bookstore. Although the scientific data is interesting and well worth exploring, I find the more metaphysical exploration of dreams to be far more fascinating.

Dream work can seem an impossible task, for especially for those whose schedules are constantly changing or who are consistently sleep deprived due to ailments or family demands. However, with patience, journaling and a consistent spiritual practice everyone can access higher level dreaming. That is where the real fun begins as we dream into the future, solve problems and create practical solutions effortlessly. Sometimes we really do need to get out of our own way in order to solve a problem.

In my experience over many years of dream journaling and counseling others in listening to their dreams, there is no meeting or event of great importance that we do not first dream about. When we meet someone and get that feeling that we have ‘met before’, it is often a case of having met in the dream state, and the relationship is simply continuing in waking state. Introductions take place long before we meet the person on the physical plane.

Throughout my life, I have dreamed into the future and I continue to gain valuable guidance in all life decisions by asking for a dream to show me the way. Before sleep, I write in my journal and address my question or concern to my higher self. Writing the question and dating the journal page ahead of time is a way of signaling spirit/higher self that we are ready to listen and to look deeply into the issue in order to gain a clearer perspective.

Upon awakening, I give the dream a title as if it is a movie or book. This creates a strand of memory that helps me recapture the dream details when I have time to write it out in detail. I used to keep one journal for dreams and another daily journal, but after a few years I could not find space for all those journals. Now, I condense them into one and I bracket the dreams so that I can find them easily. Periodically, I go back over them to note what has been portended in my dreams, often years ahead of the events.

Begin by keeping a journal of your dreams for a month. Trust that there is a part of you that is indeed in contact with a higher power. You may refer to that power and presence as God/Goddess/The Source/Infinite Creator. In any case, this presence is loving and good and available to all who ask for assistance. Other’s opinions can be helpful, but ultimately no one knows better what is best for you  than you. We tend to forget that we are much more than our collection of fears, emotions, opinions and conditioned responses to life. We are the Self that experiences all of that.

If you have children, begin now to share dreams together at breakfast time or as you drive them to school. You will gain greater insight into how your children are coping with life and what fears and anxieties they may be experiencing; far more than if you directly ask them. Especially as they become teenagers, a non-judgmental parent who is a caring listener can be the key to a teenagers’ well-being.

I will post my list of common dream themes for reference, as they are common themes across all cultures and so have a certain validity. Read all you can about the common dream themes, but remember that every individual has their own inner language. In the meantime, please find a trusted dream partner and begin your journey. You will be amazed at how much inner wisdom awaits you. Enjoy your explorations into your inner world of  dreams!

How to be a good dream partner

We need to share our dreams with supportive others who can help us reflect and gain greater insight into our dreaming world.  This involves creating a safe, confidential space where we can tell our dreams without censoring or interruption and receive non-intrusive feedback.

Dream sharing has a long history among families and communities who honor the spiritual lives of their members.  Dream sharing can bring people closer and resolve interpersonal conflicts when done in a spirit of co-operation.

Following are some guidelines to being a good dream partner:

• Discuss and agree upon the importance of regular dream sharing, whether as a family or as a dream group.
• Everyone agrees to keep a dream journal and bring it every time.
• Begin by sharing dream titles only, what you would call your dream if it were a movie or a book.
• When one person is sharing a dream, the others practice reflective listening, quietly and without reacting in any way.
• When the dream sharer is finished speaking, ask them how they felt in the dream and if it relates to anything that they are consciously aware of or currently working on.
• Always preface your comments with the words “If it were my dream.”

We must never presume to know more about the inner process of another than they do, or to impose our own beliefs and biases upon them.  The same dream may have different meanings depending on many factors such as the stage of life of the dreamer, the feeling tone of the dream, the way in which the dream unfolds or resolves.

Keep the focus on the person who is sharing the dream.  Hold a safe space for them as you listen with loving support.

Ultimately, only the dreamer can interpret their own dream, as it is a creation of their unique individual process.  Your job is to listen and assist them in understanding the messages of their own inner being.

Use the Dream Worksheet below as a guideline for recording and sharing your dreams.

Dream Worksheet

• Today’s Date
• Date of Dream
• Title of Dream

1. Theme or themes in this dream
2. Is this a recurring dream theme for you?
3. Your emotion in dream and upon awakening
4. Details that stand out or stay in your mind about dream
5. What is your higher self  or subconscious mind trying to convey to you through this dream?

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