Product Description

Explores the ancient Iroquois tradition of dreams, healing, and the recovery of the soul.

• Explains Native American shamanic dream practices and their applications and purpose in modern life.

• Shows how dreams call us to remember and honor our soul's true purpose.

• Offers powerful Active Dreaming methods for regaining lost soul energy to restore our vitality and identity.

The ancient teaching of the Iroquois people is that dreams are experiences of the soul in which we may travel outside the body, across time and space, and into other dimensions--or receive visitations from ancestors or spiritual guides. Dreams also reveal the wishes of the soul, calling us to move beyond our ego agendas and the web of other people's projections into a deeper, more spirited life. They call us to remember our sacred contracts and reclaim the knowledge that belonged to us, on the levels of soul and spirit, before we entered our present life experience. In dreams we also discover where our vital soul energy may have gone missing--through pain or trauma or heartbreak--and how to get it back.

Robert Moss was called to these ways when he started dreaming in a language he did not know, which proved to be an early form of the Mohawk Iroquois language. From his personal experiences, he developed a spirited approach to dreaming and living that he calls Active Dreaming.

Dreamways of the Iroquois is at once a spiritual odyssey, a tribute to the deep wisdom of the First Peoples, a guide to healing our lives through dreamwork, and an invitation to soul recovery.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117291 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Review
“One of the more active players in the modern field of dreams is Robert Moss. He has been an exemplary explorer of dreamworlds and a prolific sharer of his discoveries. He dives into his dreams and accepts the invitations into other realities which they provide him. He is not so much an interpreter of dreams as an explorer; he talks less about what dreams mean and more about the dimensions of consciousness they reveal. In Dreamways of the Iroquois: Honoring the Secret Wishes of the Soul (Destiny Books), he tells us the story of his spiritual initiation by the spirits of Native Americans that occurred in his dreams, and his synchronistic daytime interaction with indigenous dreamkeepers. He shares what he has learned from these dream encounters about the soul’s journey in consciousness, a story similar to Edgar Cayce’s “mythistory” (to use one of Moss’s terms) of the soul’s creation by, separation from, and reunion with the Creator. It would be fair to say that to Moss, the important thing about dreamwork is for us to use it to remember our true spiritual nature as soul. I’ve adopted a similar idea in an attempt to summarize Cayce’s view: the purpose of dreaming is for us to empathize with our soul, the treasure within. Ideally, dreamwork would make soul awareness, which is usually dormant except while we sleep, more a part of our waking consciousness. Moss repeatedly admonishes us that a dream is a call to action. We need to act upon the dream to honor the soul that brought it to our awareness. One of the actions he values most is to sing the dream! Imagine doing that. Attempting to sing a dream, as I can attest, does put one in touch with the dream’s mood, the shadow of soul. Singing creates a spell in which the enchantment of soul expressed in that dream can be experienced. It is more an experience of energy than insight. Being in touch with soul energy may seem impractical, but with experience, one comes to realize how important it is to be able to approach the world with a non-material consciousness. Dreams are essential to bring a sense of intuitive, timeless being into a co-creative relationship with the unfolding experiences of one’s lifetime. The alternative, as in Moss’s horrific dream, of a modern man amnesic for soul leading a lifeless, mechanical existence, is completely impractical. Creating from the impulses of soul--whether it be an artistic or inventive work, an attempt to refashion a relationship, or a new way of honoring the awareness of Spirit--is the evolving style of today’s active dreamwork.”
(Henry Reed, “A Dream is a Call to Action” in Venture Inward, March 2006 )

"Dreamways of the Iroquois is at once a spiritual odyssey, ...a guide to healing our lives through dreamwork,...and an invitation to soul recovery."
(Branches of Light, Spring-Summer-Fall 2005 )

"...reveals the connections between dreams, spirit, wishes, and healing."
(The Midwest Book Review, June 2005 )

"...an insightful discussion of how dreams can be used to reclaim the vital energy of the soul itself."
(The Midwest Book Review, June 2005 )

“Robert Moss opens ancient and modern pathways into the realms of the soul, giving us insights into our deep humanity and into our American heritage. As a spiritual teacher he is world class.”
(David Spangler, author of Everyday Miracles: The Inner Art of Manifestation )

“Reveals the sacred art of dreaming that belongs to all of us, showing us how to navigate the web of dreams for the good of the world soul.”
(Caitlín Matthews, coauthor of Walkers Between the Worlds
)

“Robert Moss offers us powerful and much needed medicine for our time, combining well-researched and fascinating Iroquois legends and history, the wisdom of his ancient and contemporary guides, and his own truths and teachings to inspire us to once again walk the path of soul and spirit, remembering and honoring our dreams. Highly recommended!”
(Rita Dwyer, past president of the International Association for the Study of Dreams
)

“Moss’s book reminds us of the spiritual magic awaiting each of us tonight when we cross the dreamgate to personal discovery. On the wings of his shamanic adventure, we follow Red-tailed Hawk, Dancing Bear, Silver Wolf, Wounded Stag, and his other guides to encounter the Ancient Mother who teaches him, and us, the ‘way of the heart.’ His practical tools help today’s readers reclaim these ancient Dreamways for our own paths to healing and soul remembering.”
(Patricia Garfield, Ph.D., author of Creative Dreaming and co-founder of The Association for the Study of Dreams )

“In this remarkable book Robert Moss participates in Native American cultural knowledge directly--via his own dreams. His experiences delving into the Iroquois spiritual world along with his use of fascinating historical materials combine to make a rich literary feast. Dreamways of the Iroquois suggests that we profoundly coexist with those who live, or have lived, in our landscapes. It also offers valuable dreamwork techniques for understanding ourselves.”
(Charles Stewart, Ph.D., Department of Anthropology, University College of London )

"Dreamways of the Iroquois is filled with wonderful stories of dreamers who are time travelers and shapeshifters in their sleeping dreams and waking visions."
(Susan LosCalzo, Lofty Nations, New Age Retailer, Holiday 2005 )

"This is a wonderfully written, intensely engaging and spiritually important work. . . . Not only is this a great book about dreaming, it's a fascinating exploration of the Iroquois peoples and an illuminating adventure into the world of shamanism."
(Dawn Brunke, Alaska Wellness, Jan 2006 )

“Before the European invasion of North America, advanced systems of knowledge had been amassed over the centuries by indigenous people. One of the most remarkable aspects of the Iroquois tradition was the process by which they worked with dreams. In this entertaining and informative book, Robert Moss has made these 'dreamways' available to contemporary readers, who will be inspired by the spiritual insight and practical advice that is still applicable today.”
(Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., co-author of Extraordinary Dreams )

"Timely and significant, this is a powerful and richly satisfying combination of myth, history, dream-tellings, stories, poems, and practical tools for 'reaching for the sky.' It provides answers for improving the everyday discipline of dreaming in a culture that has all but lost its soul by forgetting to dream."
(Bobbye Middendorf, ForeWord, Mar-Apr 2005

From the Back Cover
NATIVE AMERICAN SHAMANISM / MYTHOLOGY

“Robert Moss opens ancient and modern pathways into the realms of the soul, giving us insights into our deep humanity and into our American heritage. As a spiritual teacher he is world class.”
--David Spangler, author of Everyday Miracles: The Inner Art of Manifestation

“Reveals the sacred art of dreaming that belongs to all of us, showing us how to navigate the web of dreams for the good of the world soul.”
--Caitlín Matthews, coauthor of Walkers Between the Worlds

“Robert Moss offers us powerful and much needed medicine for our time, combining well-researched and fascinating Iroquois legends and history, the wisdom of his ancient and contemporary guides, and his own truths and teachings to inspire us to once again walk the path of soul and spirit, remembering and honoring our dreams. Highly recommended!”
--Rita Dwyer, past president of the International Association for the Study of Dreams

The ancient Iroquois people believed that dreams are experiences of the soul. In dreams we may travel outside the body, across time and space, and into other dimensions--or receive visitations from ancestors or spiritual guides. Dreams reveal the wishes of the soul, calling us to move beyond our ego and the web of other people’s projections into a deeper, more spirited life. They call us to remember our sacred contracts and reclaim the knowledge that belonged to us, on the levels of soul and spirit, before we entered our present life experience. In dreams we also discover where our vital soul energy may have gone missing--through pain or trauma or heartbreak--and how to get it back.

Robert Moss was called to these ways when he started dreaming in a language he did not know, which proved to be an early form of the Mohawk Iroquois language. From his personal experiences, he developed a spirited approach to dreaming and living that he calls Active Dreaming.

Dreamways of the Iroquois is at once a spiritual odyssey, a tribute to the deep wisdom of the First Peoples, a guide to healing our lives through dreamwork, and an invitation to soul recovery.

ROBERT MOSS is a lifelong dream explorer and creator of Active Dreaming, an original synthesis of dreamwork and shamanic techniques for empowerment and healing. A former professor of ancient history at the Australian National University, he is a novelist, shamanic counselor, and author of Conscious Dreaming, Dreamgates, and Dreaming True. He teaches courses in Active Dreaming, creativity, and the Mystery traditions throughout the world. He lives in upstate New York.

About the Author
Robert Moss is a former professor of ancient history at the Australian National University, a novelist, shamanic counselor, and author of Conscious Dreaming, Dreamgates, and Dreaming True. He teaches courses in Active Dreaming, creativity, and the Mystery traditions throughout the world. He lives in New York.

Customer Reviews

Robert Moss at his Best
Last night after finishing Robert Moss's new book, Dreamways of the Iroquois: Honoring the Secret Wishes of the Soul, I fell asleep with the intention of finding a dream to prepare me for writing this review. I woke in the wee hours having dreamed of a computer screen of sorts, but with the feeling of a map, dotted with symbols representing various dream locales. The symbols reminded me of hyperlink buttons; I could focus my attention on one and instantly be in that dream locale. My night's task was to travel between two dream situations ensuring that events there were unfolding properly toward completion.

Although my dream takes its structure from today's technology, Robert Moss has reached into history, into the dreamways of the native peoples of North America, to reclaim for modern men and women the techniques and understandings of the ancients. To some, it would appear that he is sticking his white head into things that are none of his business. Nevertheless, he bravely shares his dream journeys so that those who still travel the ancient paths can recognize him as coming with the blessing of the wise ones of the past.

Dreamways is a book in four parts, and in four voices. Part One reads like an autobiography. Moss discloses more of himself than he has in his earlier dream books, with stories that may fascinate, amaze, or even shock or frighten the reader, as he shares his journey toward the day when Island Woman introduced herself in a dream.

In Part Two, he narrates the Iroquois stories of beginnings, in a voice quite distinct from the rest of the book, drawing the reader into tales of how duality entered the world, and how we must not forget that all that is dark holds a little light in it, and all that is light carries some dark. The story of Hiawatha is in itself a healing journey for those who allow themselves to enter into that dream.

Part Three carries the reader forward to the time of Island Woman. Moss has previously written about her under the guise of historical fiction, but in Dreamways of the Iroquois we hear her own voice urging each of us to return to the ways of dreaming, to recover our souls and save our world.

Finally, in Part Four, Moss speaks in the familiar teaching voice of his previous books, such as in Conscious Dreaming, and Dreamgates, outlining a path that any of us can take, to become "shamans of the breakfast table". What is new here is an emphasis on the soul loss, how bits and pieces of ourselves get left behind because of life's hurts. Our dreams carry messages from those lost parts. Moss shows us how to follow the dream clues back to our selves, so we can become whole and healthy again.

Gorgeous Dreaming
If you are interested simply in astonishing and vivid storytelling, the originality of Robert Moss's remarkable personal story is given in all its splendour in this new book. Characters he has met in both dreaming and waking life are brought to life with vibrance and dynamism, as are the startling series of occurrences in Moss' life, and the retelling of ancient Iroquois legends.

If you are interested in this particular area of study - of aboriginal or Iroquois dreaming practices - the scholarship is excellent, and the bibliography alone worth the price of admission.

In Moss' work, dreams are a rich world of not only imagery, but communication of knowledge - far far beyond the limited set of Freudian symbols, or the mere scumble of detritus dreams are commonly considered to be.

As a teacher of techniques to encourage dream awareness, Moss is accessible, fun, and thoroughly helpful. While I've kept a dream journal for some 10 or 15 years, it is only from working with Moss' suggestions, developed through years of workshops, that I've begun to really get some sense of more constructive things I could be doing with the riches of insights and communications at my disposal every night.

I know already this will be one of those lifetime companion books.

Fresh Words for Ancient Dreamways - Wanda Burch, author of SHE WHO DREAMS, www.wandaburch.com
"We will bring you our best words," Hazel Dean-John, Seneca linguist, told Robert Moss on his quest for the meaning of the energy and power surging through his personal dreams of the Iroquois - and in particular of Island Woman - who were nightly testing him, bringing him ancient words and a vision for a greater quest of spirit and soul.

In DREAMWAYS OF THE IROQUOIS Robert Moss reaches deep into the dreams that eventually led him to the New York frontier and then into the ancient dreamways of the first people, back again and again to their own story of Sky Woman and the warring twins and to the powerful story of Hiawatha. In re-telling these stories - through his own vision and narrative genius - Robert brings through the poetry and refines it for all audiences. He unravels the real magic of these ancient stories - a path for teaching the connection between dreaming and soul remembering.

Like the Speaker who must put his or her head into the Sky World and look into the mirror with Hiawatha to see the radiant face of the guide in order to understand the story, each reader - each dreamer - must make the ancient stories their own and find their own sacred story in the inner meaning and in their own de-coding of the words. Robert repeats the admonition of a Yaminahua shaman - that if you try to fly in nonordinary reality with only ordinary words, you'll crash; you need fresh words - your own words - to make a story live inside you and reveal its message.

Then - in the manner of the best story-teller with his own fresh words - Robert brings the dreamer tools pulled from the mythic stories and from the teachings of Island Woman, whose wisdom permeates her dreambook/soulbook. These tools - if used properly - bring each of us into a deeper connection between dreaming and healing and recall us to the memory of our own soul's origin and destiny. We, too, can, like the mythic hero, survive our own conflicts and use their lessons to reach out to cleanse and heal those whose minds have become darkened and confused. "The Peacemaker's mission," Robert reminds us, "is for all people" - for now as well as then. The "good word" is that "we all are related, and we must treat everyone and everything as our kin."

Robert gives us some simple tools for working with a lightning dream technique - the Shaman at the Breakfast Table -to get at the guts of a dream. Then he gives us direction for finding our own dream-path for entertaining and honoring the spirits, for navigating waking and sleeping dreams, for bringing dreams to those who need them and for having fun with dreams in order to get at their meaning - turning them into poems, songs, stories, and theater - all devices for exploring, honoring, and requickening the energy and life of a dream.

Ultimately Robert Moss would like to see each of us find our personal myth in his marvelous re-telling of the ancient Iroquois stories of creation, soul loss, and soul remembering and join him in a world-dream where we are all part of a society of dreamers where dreams are valued and celebrated. In this world, we use the real world of dreams as tools for living, for finding soul and spirit in our daily lives, and for finding greater tools for healing ourselves and our planet. Then and only then do we find the origin and purpose of our lives.