Dear Sri Doug,

I have a question about our eight-year-old son. The other night, he came to me crying and said he was afraid to go to bed because the night before he felt he was dying in his sleep.

He often has trouble falling asleep and wakes up with bad dreams. Another time, he said that when he was half asleep and half awake, he felt himself leave his body and saw himself talking in his head. It scared him because he felt like he was dying and didn’t believe he would be able to come back into his body.

He kept asking me, “How do you know I won’t die in my sleep and I’ll be able to come back into my body?”

His dad and I talked to him about Soul and how It wears a body, and how, as Soul, it is natural to leave our body during Soul Travel and dream travel. I also told him there is a silver cord which connects Soul to Its various bodies. I reminded him of the MAHANTA’s presence and protection, then we sang HU and invited the MAHANTA to show him what he needed to see about this situation so he wouldn’t be afraid anymore.

Was something going on that made it difficult for him to return to the body that night? Or was he remembering a previous death experience he had that was scary?

What more can we do? How can we best support him on his spiritual journey?

–Kristin and Wojtek Jurkowski, Poland

Dear Kristin and Wojtek,

Your son is fortunate to have your wise and loving consolations. Although they may not seem to help at first blush, rest assured your love finds a home in his heart.

Trust your insights on what his past might be. Continue to reassure him that the Master is always with every chela on their dream journeys at night, ensuring they safely return to the body.

Is there anything more to be done? Such a wide variety of factors impact sleep and dreams. Take an inventory of his daily experiences and exposures to influences. These can even include diet. What could cause unease in dreams?

A troubling disconnect from the body at night may suggest a need to reconnect in the physical world. How can you support his attunement with natural and uplifting rhythms during the day and before bed? Reading stories is one approach; calming music is another. Sing HU with different tones and melodies; make it a song of many dimensions.

As well, perhaps try the “Reversing a Bad Dream” technique in The Wonder Within You. He can exercise his creative imagination to gain confidence in returning to the body. Feel free to adapt the exercise specifically for him.