Today marks the 10th anniversary of my blog, Cosmic Christ, and I find myself filled with gratitude as I reflect on this journey of exploration, discovery, and spiritual growth. What began as a humble attempt to articulate my evolving understanding of spirituality has blossomed into a decade-long conversation about the profound intersection of Christianity, the Ra Contact, and the perennial wisdom traditions that connect them. Today marks the 10th anniversary of my blog, Cosmic Christ, and I find myself filled with gratitude as I reflect on this journey of exploration, discovery, and spiritual growth. What began as a humble attempt to articulate my evolving understanding of spirituality has blossomed into a decade-long conversation about the profound intersection of Christianity, the Ra Contact, and the perennial wisdom traditions that connect them. [more here: https://cosmicchrist.net/2025/04/19/cosmic-christ-celebrating-10-years-of-finding-my-voice/]

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Troy Caldwell, a retired MD psychiatrist and practicing spiritual director, delves into the spiritual theology's spiral path, a model depicting the journey towards spiritual growth and union with God. Discover how this ascending spiral serves as a metaphor for our movement toward divine consciousness and the likeness of Christ.

Dr. Caldwell explains the three fundamental stages of this spiritual journey, known as the 'three ways': the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways. He highlights the trials and triumphs of each stage, drawing from renowned mystical teachings and historical figures in Christianity, such as Evelyn Underhill and St. Teresa of Avila.

Engage in a reflection on personal transformations with guests sharing their profound experiences. Hear diverse perspectives, including the once-born mystics who feel an innate connection to the divine from birth. Finally, the conversation touches on how understanding these spiritual stages can enhance our everyday relationships and lead to a deeper acceptance of self and others.

This episode captures a dream analysis session led by Troy Caldwell, a retired psychiatrist with Jungian training who serves as a spiritual director for the Building 4th Community. The session follows a structured format where participants share their dreams and the group collectively interprets them through spiritual and psychological lenses.

The meeting begins with a brief meditation focusing on gratitude for embodiment and divine presence in the current moment. Three participants share their dreams with rich interpretations:

1. Rudy's Dream: Rudy describes being at the bottom of the ocean wrapped in a pink-red octopus, feeling surprisingly comfortable despite normally being afraid of the ocean. The group offers these interpretations:
   • The ocean represents the unconscious mind, with Rudy finding unexpected comfort in its depths
   • The octopus symbolizes intelligence, balance, and protection - a "still point" amidst chaos
   • Its pink-red color connects to "red ray" energy (related to embodiment and survival challenges Rudy mentioned facing for six years)
   • The dream suggests finding comfort amidst traditionally uncomfortable situations
   • Doug notes the octopus represents "balance and integration, personal power and manifestation, wholeness and unity, and order amidst chaos"
   • The scene reflects Rudy "reworking foundations" at a soul level
2. Duncan's Dream Series: Duncan shares three dreams with a recurring theme of animal-human transformation:
   • A butterfly with color-shifting wings landing on his shoulder transforms into a woman giving spiritual advice
   • A monk turning into a dolphin, with Duncan following suit and swimming through luminous blue waters
   • A monkey that transforms into a Native American woman who communicates through gestures about his "good heart"
   Interpretations include:
   • The butterfly symbolizes "numinosity" from the "upper unconscious"
   • The left shoulder represents embodiment and limitation
   • The progression from verbal communication to gesture-only communication suggests movement toward contemplative spirituality
   • The dreams show integration of instincts with higher spiritual awareness
   • Troy frames the dreams within three stages of spiritual development: purgative (discipline), illuminative (joyful insights), and unitive (walking with God)
   • The dreams function as affirmations rather than lessons - "you're doing a good job"
3. Troy's Dream: Troy shares a dream about societal breakdown, family members filling his house leaving no place to sleep, and adolescent-like competition where he catches a "gooey gray ball." Interpretations include:
   • The character "Shackleford" represents feeling shackled or limited
   • The lack of sleeping space reflects how societal chaos prevents finding rest
   • The competition scene mirrors social media one-upmanship culture
   • The gray gooey ball represents societal messiness, potentially with creative potential (likened to semen/seed)
   • Doug suggests Troy "caught the catalyst" (a Law of One reference) despite challenges
   • The dream reveals Troy's tendency to "make the best of a bad situation" with playfulness

Throughout the discussion, participants reference spiritual concepts and frameworks to understand the dreams' deeper meaning, creating a supportive environment for personal growth through collective dream interpretation