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(#17) Lizard Spirit Says: “Dream”
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” —Harriet Tubman
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney
My 16-year-old niece Jordan talked with me about her dream of doing acting and modeling. She had talked with her older cousin, who’d had a successful career as an actor for a period of time, and briefly felt discouraged by his lack of enthusiasm. He told her that really succeeding as an actor was exceedingly difficult, that only one percent of those who attempted ever made it. She hadn’t expected that response, though she respected him and considered his advice.
After some thought she decided that in spite of the feedback, she wanted to give it a go. She spoke with me and we discussed what she’d have to do to explore this dream of hers. Her first step in approaching this seriously was to see an agent. On her own initiative, she found one she felt good about in Los Angeles (we live in Orange County) and invited me to go with her to L.A., to which I happily obliged. I’ve had a more active role with her and her two sisters ever since they’ve been alienated from their father the past few years.
So we met with the agent and Jordan was further inspired to seek out an acting class. She found one locally that had a great reputation and I went with her as she sat in her first class. She has a dream and has taken the necessary actions to allow this 
dream to unfold into manifestation. It is a privilege and an honor to support her vision as her uncle (okay, well, great uncle). The only way she will come to know whether this is a passing experience or a lifelong passion is to take action, which she has willingly and enthusiastically done.
In the Children’s Spirit Animal Cards Lizard is the one that supports dreams. This is his spiritual “medicine.” Here’s the excerpt from the guidebook that accompanies the cards:
What do you want to do with your life, now or when you grow up? Dream on, I say. It’s those that listen to and follow their dreams that are the happiest in their lives. It doesn’t really matter where the dream may lead you; whatever path you’re on is the right one for you. These visions and ideas you get about what to do are called the dream of your life, or sometimes the path of your soul. Dare to dream big and don’t let yourself be intimidated by what others think or say, especially if your dreams feel right and make you feel good. These dreams are the ones where you imagine the kinds of things you want to do with your life, either now or when you become an adult. Often this is where an idea starts that later comes true.
To understand the path that your soul wants you to take, also pay attention to your nighttime dreams, especially those that you clearly remember. They will not only guide you along the way and give you hints of your life purpose, but also teach you about your hopes, your fears, and your fantasies and give you some idea of what is going on inside you that you may not be fully aware of. Even scary ones can give you some clues as to what may be bothering you. Talk with a trusted adult whenever you have an especially vivid, powerful dream so they can help you better understand it.
ACTIVITY
* Keep a dream journal where you write and/or draw about any nighttime dreams you have as well as any dreams about your future life.
* Visualize what you want to be when you grow up and if possible, how you might go about achieving it.
* Tell someone you trust, whether a parent, family member, or good friend, about what you hope and wish for in the future.
* Always talk to someone about any “big dreams” you have, as it will help you to understand them.
The guidebook also includes a section for parents with some suggestions for activities that support the value the spirit animal is encouraging:
* Help your child create a vision board, where you cut pictures and statements from magazines and periodicals that support their dreams, and help them visualize it.
* Encourage your child to tell you their dreams and to keep a dream journal about both their
nighttime dreams and their aspirations.
* Talk to your child about your hopes and dreams that have come true and how you did it.
*Talk to them frequently about what they want to be and do when they grow up. Gently ask questions that can assist them in getting more specific with their vision such as how might you do that, what school might you go to, where might you work, what might you wear, how many people would work with you, etc.
Your dreams, both those you experience when you sleep and those that come to you in a moment of inspiration, are emanations that seep into your conscious awareness from the deeper parts of who you are. Your instincts come alive in sleeping dreams, and vision comes alive in your waking dreams. Both types of dreams are important to pay attention to. Like oracles, they speak to your soul and from your soul in an ongoing dialogue, sometimes just below your conscious awareness. Listen to them and when they speak to your heart, follow them up with action that support the manifestation of those dreams.
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.”
—Colin Powell
“There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why… I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?”
—Robert Kennedy
