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II. Dreamwork and the Zen Alarm Clock
1. The Power of Dreams
Dreams have provided a meaningful source of wisdom and guid-
ance for people throughout history. Dreams have played an
important role in all major Western and Eastern religions. The
dream state has been cultivated by mystics and shamans through-
out the ages, and science has proven a link between dreams and
psychic phenomenon such as telepathy. Many renowned artists
and scientists have successfully used dreams to further their
work. Although there is much about dreams which is not under-
stood, there is general agreement that dreams are required for
good health. It has even been shown that dreams can be used to
diagnose oncoming health problems and suggest treatment.
Dream deprivation has even been known to produce psychosis.
One of the most important benefits of the Zen Alarm Clock is
that it can put you more in touch with your dream life.
is essential. The natural desire for a gradual awakening accounts
for the popularity of “snooze buttons” on alarm clocks. But even
the minimal effort required to push a snooze button can disrupt
the experience of waking up gradually. The benefits of a more
natural “progressive awakening” include better dream recall, pro-
longed alpha brain wave activity (in which you can make power-
ful suggestions to your preconscious mind), as well as a general
feeling of being refreshed after a good night’s rest.
The Zen Alarm Clock’s chime becomes more frequent according
to a “golden mean progression.” The significance of the golden
mean and its use in the clock is discussed below in section VI. The
Zen Alarm Clock’s Design Principles, beginning on page 29.
Introduction
Clock Book 6/6/05 2:43 PM Page 8
