“Whether we realize it or not, we are all dreaming the world into being. What we’re engaging in is not the sleeping act we’re so familiar with, but rather the type of dreaming we do with our eyes open. When we’re unaware that we share the power to co-create with the universe itself, that power slips away from us, causing our dream to become a nightmare. We begin to feel we’re the victims of an unknown and frightening creation that we’re unable to influence, and events seem to control and trap us. The only way to end this dreadful reality is to awaken to the fact that it too is a dream—and then recognize our ability to write a better story, one that the universe will work with us to manifest.”
~ Alberto Villoldo from Courageous Dreaming
Alberto Villoldo is a shaman and medical anthropologist who has studied the spiritual practices of the Amazon and the Andes for over 25 years.
I was introduced to his work via another one of his great books we recently featured: Power Up Your Brain—which is a fantastic and fascinating look at “The Neuroscience of Enlightenment.” Alberto wrote that book with David Perlmutter, a leading neurologist.
In Power Up, Alberto talked about how the ideas for Courageous Dreaming came to him while doing intense hyperbaric oxygen + glutathione treatments. Loved the title and here we are!
The book is a fascinating look at how, as the sub-title suggests, “shamans dream the world into being.” (Get a copy here.) It’s packed with Big Ideas. I’m excited to explore a few of my favorites so let’s jump straight in!
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