Saving...
Do thoughts affect the body?
Can loved ones come to us in dreams?
Can dreams predict the future?
Are dreams meaningful?
Can we change our dreams?
When science filmmaker Amy Hardie dreamed her beloved horse died, and she awoke to find the dream true that was disturbing. When the deceased father of her teenage son came to her in a dream with the message that she would not live past her 48th year, that set her on a path to The Edge of Dreaming.
On Saturday, January 22, 2011, the School of Metaphysics joined forces with PBS-POV to host screenings of Hardie's fearless documentary. Dozens of teachers hosted hundreds in viewing the film then discussing it.
As Director of the Scottish Film Institute at the College of Edinburgh, Amy Hardie sees cinema as the storytelling of our time. She writes, "Powerful images and sound compress time through editing: sequences that could not be shown during the last 60,000 years (except in our dreams) have, for the last 100 years, been increasingly ubiquitous on our television, computer and cinema screens. The rapidity of the change is breath-taking, and it is unlikely that cinema has stopped developing as the pre-eminent ‘storytelling’ of our age.
"However, in one aspect cinematic story telling has lost power. Cinema is not live. It’s stories are no longer created by an individual in front of an audience. Cinema is pixilations projected by light, and when the end credits roll, the audience is left alone. There is no storyteller left in the room. There is no longer a person to engage with the audience’s response to the film, or, perhaps even more importantly, to engage with the audiences’s own experiences that have been brought to mind through the film."
Film-maker Amy Hardie proposes a development of the cinema experience instead of cinema-going as an essentially passive and private experience. In these posts, viewers capture the thoughts The Edge of Dreaming stimulated and share them with you in written form. Even if you have yet to see the film, you will get a sense of it by reading about its impact on others.
This is a film that keeps “coming back;” at least, it does for me. Scenes from the film arise in my consciousness as the days progress since seeing it. It seems that many people wonder about eternity. What happens after we die? Amy’s young daughter thoughtfully wonders about that … do we just cease existing? Is there some kind of secret inner level “video camera” where those who have passed on can see what’s going on with those who are still incarned?I wondered many things like this, too, when I was 15 years old and my father died. Studying metaphysics and learning how to consciously enter dream states has enabled me to experience “the other side” with awareness. This made my experience completely different when, as an adult, my husband died. I was able to connect with him in dreams and when I was awake. Consciously experiencing dreams (sometimes called “lucid dreaming”) is a skill that can be learned. We teach it in a step-by-step manner through the School of Metaphysics course of study. It aids people to transform the fear of death, fear of illness, fear of annihilation, into a kind of security, knowing that there is existence beyond the physical body and physical senses.I appreciate Amy Hardie for being so open with her own experiences, sharing her fears and hopes and desires, and being an example of how to face what troubles us and walk into it with curiosity, producing healing and transformation.
Laurel Clark(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
Dear Flying Ray,You might find some of the “sequel” by attending one of Amy Hardie’s workshops or speaking engagements. Since making the film, she has developed a workshop to help viewers understand their experiences and interpretation of the film. She’ll be in the Chicago area March 4 – 6th talking about “the rest of the story” (since she made the film). I’m sure she would appreciate your questions and comments … and it might inspire her to make a sequel! Best wishes, Laurel Clark, President, School of Metaphysics
Laurel Clark(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
From the experience of hosting the showing of the film The Edge of Dreaming, I am more awake to what the School of Metaphysics has to give to the World. Those of us in service capacity that night worked together as a well visualized and unified group, each with the common desire to aid the 60 or so people present to know themselves through dreams and healing. There was humility, knowledge and growth present. There was also appreciation from those we touched. I am grateful we had the opportunity to work with PBS to show this film. It provided us with a bridge to discuss areas people may have fears and areas where some just seek answers. There is nothing quite like giving knowledge, experience, and tools to aid others to have greater clarity and to take their next step.
Ivy Norris(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
As I’ve reflected on our experiences in Tulsa of hosting “The Edge of Dreaming” at Circle Cinema, the
thing that sticks out the most is how much people wanted answers. I think people really enjoyed talking with one another, giving the experience an interactive dimension. They wanted to know what we’ve found in our studies of dreams for over 40 years. They wanted to go deeper. I understand that urge to know.
The topics that I’d planned to talk about after the open discussion came up organically through people’s questions. We talked about the universals of dream interpretation, about the significance of different body parts in dreams and in matters of health, and about the Intuitive Health Analyses the School of Metaphysics provides. I was glad to have a multitude of personal experiences with permanent healing to draw upon. For example, I told the story of how learning to be purposeful at the College of Metaphysics aided me to heal the 20+ warts on my hands and strengthen them to the point that I now can rely on them as a massage therapist.
Bryon Parrino(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
I spoke earlier about some of the insights I gained from watching the Edge of Dreaming this past Saturday in Dallas, Texas. I would also like to share some of my experiences interacting with the people who attended.
There was one woman who was concerned because her son tends to have precognitive dreams that come pass. Some of these involve people he knows who die or have unpleasant things happen to them. Our panel of School of Metaphysics teachers offered her some insights, including encouraging him to write his dreams down nightly so he can become familiar with all of the messages of his dreams and develop a rapport with his inner Self. This was offered largely because the woman commented that her son tends to push these experiences away and tries to ignore them altogether instead of receiving the responsibility he has to his own subconscious mind.
There was also a young woman who is a college student at a nearby university. She was concerned with all of the dreams she had for many years about death and dying. She had a loose awareness that death in dreams represents change, however she seemed to be concerned that the dreams were persisting for so long. When we asked her some questions we discovered that she was continuously reaching for deeper levels of Self awareness and tended to often strive for the next stage in her life. With this truth revealed it was easier to show her how the progression of death dreams was reflective of the ongoing resurrection of consciousness she was experiencing.
There were several others who benefited from having a dream interpreted by one of the students or teachers at the School of Metaphysics in Dallas. We look forward to hosting more of these events!
whitewizard(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
In Urbana, we showed The Edge of Dreaming in the fellowship hall of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Urbana. Over 30 people attended. After the welcome and introduction, the lights were dimmed and the film began. When Amy related her dream of not living beyond her 48th year a hush fell over the room — physically. The emotional vibration raised to one of fear. I had not experienced this before in the other two times I had viewed the film and realized those present were facing their own fears of death. This stayed present and then lingered until the visit from the shaman and the assurity that Amy was not going to die.
After the film, the discussion began with fears and fearful dreams. One person commented on the shaman’s teaching that fears take away our power. We also discussed how dreams may sometimes be frightening, but once interpreted and understood, bring insight and relieve the misunderstanding and fear about the dream. I mentioned that the image of the horse in two of Amy’s dreams symbolized the will and how Amy not only had the will to live, she was also using her will to understand her situation. The questions arose — was it her will to live, her facing and admitting her fears or her going back in the dream and into the shaman’s journey or some combination of these that brought about her healing?
Others commented on the neuroscience of what goes on in the brain while we dream that was new information to them. And a neuroscientist in the group was interested to know the symbology of how dreams are interpreted. We invited those who came to a dream discussion called “dreamtalk” the next evening and to a class about how concentration affects health on Monday, Jan. 24.
Pam Blosser(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
While I agree that the documentary told a story–and did it well–I was expecting more of a scientific investigation into dreams. While the production value of the movie is superb, there may need to be an Edge of Dreaming II–the sequel. The sequel may delve into the plethora of research that has been done about dreams, dream states, and dream interpretation.
FlyingRay(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
The showing of the movie “Edge of Dreaming” in Lebanon, Missouri was held at non-profit art guild. The owner of the art guild Melissa Williams said that they cater to other non-profit and not-for-profit organizations when it involves educational services. The space was very spacious and it was free of charge. The people were friendly and generous. They were so generous that they would extend themselves to help set-up the atmosphere before anyone came. Before we got there we picked up coffee and popcorn. The art guild had a kitchenette and the owner was more than hospitable to accommodate the people by making popcorn and coffee. She allowed us to use whatever was needed to make the event a success. At the end of the movie, we had a dicussion where many of the people were curious about dreams, art, and how it relates to life, the mind, and God. Creativity is everywhere and in everything. I found it quite easy to relate art, dreams, and the essential life skills of the mind that the School of Metaphysics teaches to draw out of the artists their understandings about themselves, life, and creation. The discussion flowed as the artists talked about their paintings and their own life stories. The movie stimulated this in the people that night. Like Amy, these peoples’ stories were in the art they provided for the public. All they needed was someone to share their story with. I’m glad we were there to receive.
Walter(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
The School of Metaphysics in Bolingbrook held a screening of “The Edge of Dreaming” at the Annerino Community Center. It quickly became obvious that all the viewers of this film were very interested in how the mind affects the health of the body and the role that fear plays in anyone’s life. One woman stood up and commented on a change she recently is going through related to her husband. She realized, in her mind she was attracted to her husband because he is so organized and productive with his time. Her self image was that she feared she was not organized or productive. This movie just reinforced her recent efforts to change her image. She is a public speaker and she is seeing remarkable events come into her life because of this adjusted self image. We are utilizing an open house at the School of Metaphysics in Bolingbrook, IL on Wednesday the 25th for people to better understand their responsibility in directing their mind and in understanding their dreams. About 6 people are coming from this screening and several others who could not attend the movie this Saturday night. Thank you Amy Hardie for raising our consciousness through your eyes!
kerry keller(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
We had 30 people at the Central Market community room. It began with Jeff doing an introduction and then we watched the film. We had them do a stream of consciousness writing after the film, like Dr. Barbara Condron had mentioned she had done with her class, and I let them go longer since not one was lifting their head up to look at the clock! We had four people on a panel to answer questions, Damian, Brenton, Mauricio and Corley. We used all our time, up to the last minute when we needed to be out of the room with question and answers and the public talking to students and teachers afterward. We all had a good time and enjoyed meeting and talking with new people!
keraeverett(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
I attended the showing of The Edge of Dreaming in Dallas, Texas this past Saturday. This was the second time I had seen the movie and I had some very profound insights come to me both during the film, and immediately afterward when our leader/facilitator, Kera Everett, had us spend five minutes doing a stream of consciousness writing on what we had learned from the film. I would like to share some of these insights with those of you who read this.
It may be helpful to realize that for almost two years I have been working on a dissertation that is entitled, “The Inner Secrets of Astrology”. I have also been studying, practicing, living, teaching, and leading through the School of Metaphysics for 17 years. I realized that Amy Hardie is a Sagittarian, based on the birthday she gives in the film. This makes so much sense as to why she drew to her this beautiful karmic experience to go very deep with learning that is universal for Sagittarians and had very specific undertones for Amy. I also see how Amy used much of the universal Sagittarian “dharmic” qualities through how she documented her experience and quite literally “gave” those experiences and learning to the world through this film. It is so wonderful!!!
On the karmic side, she experienced something that comes up often for Sagittarians that has to do with a reconing or reconciling between her perception and her imagination. It all started where the movie started, with her first two dreams. In the dream state we “perceive” what our inner Self or soul is trying to tell us about who we are, how and what we think, how we feel or emote, and what this can all mean for us as spiritually evolving and growing individuals. Amy then continued to experience this karma as she began to “imagine” what would happen if the dream message actually meant she was going to die. She describes very clearly in the movie how much of her attention was being consumed with these thoughts and images of her death, what that would do to her family and how much she would lose by not getting to raise her children and grow old with her husband.
School of Metaphysics intuitive research suggests that when a person thinks, and believes, and feels that he or she is restricted in fulfilling his or her desires, then the result is some manifestation of disease or disorder in the lungs. I have observed this in my Self when I have had a persistent cough that lasted long after other cold symptoms had dissipated. I have also witnessed varying degrees of this limitation in creative mind with students, friends, and family members. whether it is asthma, aspergilis, intense respiratory congestion, or other lung conditions, the overwhelming repeated thought pattern or attitude has correlation with a believe that someone or something is stopping the individual from having what he or she most wants from life. In Amy’s case, her constant thoughts of loss manifested in the hardening of her lungs. To me this is so beautiful in so many ways because it shows just how powerful Amy is and how powerful we all are as creators of our own field of existence and experience.
Amy then embarked upon a kind of “journey for truth” or “journey of consciousness”, which Sagittarians are known for, so she could uncover and discover more about her experiences with the dreams she had, and what they really represented and meant for her. She also explored more about her Self, her family, life and death, and things beyond the world of science that she was comfortable with. This moved her into a realm again of “perception”, which tempered her raging “imagination” with fresh perspectives, facts, and even experiences such as the one she had with the shaman that opened her up to catharthis.
She now perceives her Self and her world in a different way! The film, “The Edge of Dreaming”, is in many ways, Amy’s dharmic gift to the world. Through it she shows that it is possible for an average person to move through an extraordinary internal experience and reach the other side with a new view of life. The fact that she so eagerly recorded all of this happening and so willingly put it together into a movie and put it out to the world shows an openness that is needed by all of humanity.
Thank you, Amy Hardie, for sharing your life with all of us.
whitewizard(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
“The Edge of Dreaming” event was held at Unity Temple on the Plaza which was a hub of activity on a Saturday evening. I had the chance to announce our event to a group meeting in the auditorium which had just concluded. This was a workshop with Linda Star Wolf called Laugh, Grow, Breathe! A few of the attendees of this workshop walked around the corner to join us in “The Edge of Dreaming”.
Once we started everyone in the room was very attentive. I remember thinking how great it was to get a glimpse of how a family in Scotland lived. People really enjoyed the heartfelt interaction of the household. When the energy of the film changed portraying the drama building in Amy’s life as stimulated by her dreams, the audience became very quiet. You could have heard a pin drop. I was personally struck by the artful way in which the documentary expressed the change in the emotional tone throughout.
When the discussion began, one woman asked about acetylcholine and I knew from her question that she had concerns about her own brain function. We spend a short time talking about neurotransmitters and I made sure she knew about the Intuitive Health Analyses. Then thoughts were expressed about the power of thought, about how Amy received the thought of her death that was to take place in one year and almost made it a reality. One woman said that it seemed there was a divine direction that was taken through the process, where Amy came through with a new outlook on life and an expectation of living a long and fruitful life.
Wheels were definitely turning in people’s minds. One woman said, “I think POV has accomplished what they intended. My mind is whirling with new thoughts and I’m going to have to explore them further.”
The thinker within was awakened for many people Saturday evening. Questions were formed about connections in dreams, thought being the cause and how we direct our own destiny through moment by moment choices. Is there a destiny that we are living out or do we have options along the way? Once questions have been formed then answers will be found.
Terry Martin(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
I attended the “Edge of Dreaming” in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the Circle Cinema were there were more than 50 people that attended the movie. Many of the individuals who were in attendance were well educated and looked to attend events that were thought provoking. The energy of the environment had a tone of expectation and wonder.
When the film began all who were in attendance were still and were very focused on what was occurring in the film. The audience, ages ranged from around 7-70 years of age. After the move was complete the stillness remained until Bryon, the Director of the Tulsa Branch of the School of Metaphysics, came to the front of the audience and opened it up for questions. The 1st question was from a woman who wanted to know why Amy Hardie did not die. Bryon very graceful tossed the question to those that were in attendance. This then stimulated another in the audience to say “I think she did die. There was the part of her that lived in fear that had died.”
Others wondered did she make herself sick because of the death sentence that she received in her dream, or would she have gotten sick even if she did not receive the dream. In the School of Metaphysics we teach about the body being a reflection of the mind and so in either case she did create the illness in her life for her learning. A lesson which she achieved through gaining control over her life. “The Edge of Dreaming” is a great journey of connecting Science and Mind together.
This movie stimulated the memory of a conversation that I had with a Psychiatrist that I worked with. She had been raised in a highly educated family of scientist. What she had learned from her parents was that if you can see it, feel it, touch it, taste it, or smell it, then it is real, everything else is fantasy. When her mother became ill and was dying, she witnessed her mother becoming paralyzed with fear. Death was final; it was the end of the book.
My doctor friend wanted to develop a deeper connection with the spirit world and made the decision to attend church. She stated that she wanted to have something to look forward to beyond this physical plane of existence. This memory was stimulated because Amy is a scientist. Her life before the dreams, before her illness was black and white. The journey that she took opened her world to a whole rainbow of color.
Sheila Benjamin(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
I helped set up and lead The Edge of Dreaming event at the Lebanon Art Guild and Gallery in downtown Lebanon, Missouri. Some people expressed appreciation of the film’s beauty and creative artistic presentation. It was easy to notice how much this film is a work of art, since it was projected on a gallery wall surrounded by paintings.
For those who stayed more than ten or twenty minutes after the film, the discussion became open, personal, and even inspiring. The people in attendance asked many questions about their own dream experiences, partly because they knew that the presenters teach about dreams and the mind. Several people described dreams of the future that came true, dream-visits from loved ones who’ve passed away, and memorable dreams they’ve had. We had a range of dream experience, from rarely remembering dreams to having night after night filled with endless dream activity.Most of the people who attended are visual artists who are members of the art guild, and that definitely influenced the conversation.
Our discussion eventually moved to the similarities between receiving dream messages and receiving intuitive guidance while creating art. For example, in discussing deja vu, one man got out his recent large painting of a cowboy, with very few brush strokes that somehow made a very clear, complete, photo-realistic picture. Before each brush stroke, he knew exactly where and how to apply the paint. He calls it planned spontaneity. That’s how he paints all his pictures, and it’s easy to see by looking at them (they were on the walls). And we related that to how one can ask for or cause a desired dream message (dream incubation).
So, then a woman asked why she can’t choose her dreams, which led to a discussion of the ability to wake from a dream and then re-enter it, something which over half of our group had done before. Another woman described her frequent deja vu experiences with designing interiors of rooms, kind of like the guy who paints intuitively. She proposed that when you make a decision about how to live your life, the events of your life are already set up before they happen. She thought Amy Hardie actually saw her future lung disease in her dream. Those are the sort of things we discussed.
One of the best things to come from the discussion was that people saw a connection between art, dreaming, and intuition. This was a very meaningful and inspiring subject for some people; it even brought some tears. I think Amy Hardie would be glad to know that her film helped bring that level of insight and emotion to people. It was beautiful to see how Amy’s expression through film helped others to express themselves to each other, and gain understanding.
Jonathan(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
I attended “The Edge of Dreaming” event at Unity Church on the North Shore in Evanston, IL. The discussion following the film was very open, with people having very different perspectives on dreams. One man, an avid dreamer and lucid dreamer, spoke of a dream that foreshadowed a health problem of his mother. He was also curious about visitations from deceased loved ones that occur when awake … apart from dreams. Another man said that he doesn’t remember dreams but often experiences awakening with an answer to a problem on his mind (which he immediately writes down) or some kind of universal knowledge.
One question that kept surfacing was, “Did Amy Hardie actually bring on the lung disease by thinking about her upcoming death, or was the dream a precognition of something that was already happening? Can people’s thoughts cause the body to become ill?” Another question was, “Why do some people experience visitations and other people don’t, even when they want to?”
Several people were very interested in the neuroscience and the idea that the brain shows the same response whether someone is experiencing something physically, or in a dream, or in his or her imagination. Quite a few of the people said that they would like to see the film again because there is so much in it … and happily, in the Chicago area, we will be showing it on March 6th at the Theosophical Society in Wheaton, IL followed by a 2-hour workshop led by Amy Hardie herself! Amy (who lives in Scotland) will be coming to the Chicago area to speak, teach, and lead people through a a workshop to aid them understand the transformation and healing that can occur in response to the film. Details for other events will be coming soon. Contact the School of Metaphysics in Chicago to learn more, or to register for the workshop on March 6th.
Laurel Clark(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
The Oklahoma City Branch of the School of Metaphysics showed the film THE EDGE OF DREAMING at Coffy’s Cafe this evening, hosting 40 some people.
The film included so many of the things that the School of Metaphysics considers important without the filmmaker’s conscious awareness as she made the film is fascinating. Having seen this film three times I continue to find and marvel at the levels to which our teaching can touch people.
The School of Metaphysics Mastery of Consciousness classes provide tools for more whole living; from the basic idea that thought is cause to the limitations of fear as Amy Hardie tells of in this film and the symbolic, yet valuable guidance offered each person by their dreams. The film clearly shows that by going inward, without fear as the shaman told her, allows one to find answers. We discussed the changes in her strictly physical thinking, including the way she viewed her dreams, her letting go of fear and her changing view on an afterlife. The fire-breathing snake at her birthday party celebration really punctuated her willingness to change.
Thank you, Amy Hardie! At the close of the event at Coffy’s we invited students and the public to come to the school – just blocks away – about twelve people did and the last of them left just before 1:00 AM. They say it’s a good party when the guest don’t want to leave.
Doug Bannister(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
Thirteen people came to watch the Edge of Dreaming at the Lebanon Art Gallery in Lebanon, Missouri. (Pretty good for a town of 2000) The majority of them are artists, and the artistry of the film’s message was appreciated. We asked everyone some questions about their dream experiences. We also discussed questions, experiences and ideas about dreams, creativity, and related topics. I am glad we heard people’s wonderful tories, which showed the universal principles that apply to dreaming, intuition, and artistic creation. We made new friends this evening.
Jonathan(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
We made good friends tonight and opened an avenue for future venues! We also made a lot of connections to many things: art, dreams, health, spirituality, the meaning of life and of course-metaphysics! The participants were eager, open, and totally excited! One thing I appreciated about this movie tonight was that it was a window into someone else’s mind, and I appreciated Amy allowing us to enter. Her experience opened and bloomed within my mind. Since it was a film it wasn’t invasive or overwhelming. It was Atlantis – observing through observation, learning about her life and because there were Universals, I learned more about mine. I saw the Tao- the “ups” and the “downs” of life- one thing is left and that is you.
Emily(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
I felt the film had so much substance and different angles to follow. Many people felt compelled to share their own personal experiences, which I feel is the value of the film. Being part of this brilliant creation, I was able to learn about the different method of teaching that POV offers through their open-style discussion after the movie presentation. I saw that many people had questions that I would have liked to have answered. This was instead a time of sharing for movie-goers, for them to indeed share those experiences that touched their lives. One woman spoke of a precognitive dream that both fascinated her and validated her own growing inner awareness. I see the value in this type of discussion and also look forward to the opportunity to teach and go deeper with those in attendance in the weeks to come. I teach for the School of Metaphysics in Tulsa. We have an open-styled dream discussion group that I lead and what I learned in this experience will definitely be integrated in that class. I guarantee it.
tobelikegod(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]
Just got back to the School of Metaphysics in Columbia, Missouri from the Edge of Dreaming showing and discussion. About 45 people came, including a Jungian dream analyst and a dream hypnotherapist. All our current students came, each giving and serving important parts of the whole experience. Great discussion afterwards, covering the many types of dreams, the power of our thoughts in healing, how to use dreams in daily life, the dream circuit, and much, much more. We’re continuing it all Sunday night with a dream lecture and discussion at the School.Some important observations came up with several people, and that was the nature of the death symbol in Amy’s dream. People could readily see how death represents change, transition or transformation in a person’s life. Yet how to tell the difference in the message of a horse dying, a dead husband, a death ‘sentence’ given, and then Amy’s own death previewed? Did anyone have this discussion or insights about the nuances of the death theme?
paulmadar(Quote) (Reply)
[Reply]