The Three "Only" Things: Tapping the Power of Dreams, Coincidence, and Imagination [Paperback]

Robert Moss (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2009

Have you ever said something was only a dream, only a coincidence, or only your imagination?

In this book you’ll discover that these “only” things can be keys to finding and living your bigger story. You’ll learn to tap into the nine powers of dreaming, the nine rules of coincidence, and the seven uses of imagination. You’ll be inspired by stories of how innovators and world changers have used these gifts, and you’ll learn wonderful games to help you access your intuition, heal yourself, and bring juice to your everyday life. When we claim the power of the Three Only Things, we reclaim tools that are profoundly simple yet have the power to remake our lives and the world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Readers will be pleased and inspired by Moss’s reinterpretation of the world.”
— Library Journal

“What Robert Moss does — again and again and with such clarity and greatness of heart — is remind us that magic is a breath away and that everyone has the capacity to tap into the heritage that is truly ours.”
— Manda Scott, bestselling author of the Boudica novels

“Robert Moss, a great storyteller and master of the practical, shows us how to reclaim a wider dimension of life. In our demanding, challenging world, we ignore this book’s vital message at our peril.”
— Barbara Montgomery Dossey, author of Holistic Nursing

“A brilliant interweaving of life truths into a unified trinity . . . Intensely engaging, a source of clarity on the deeper truth that guides us all, and truly inspiring — a must-read.”
— Robert J. Hoss, former corporate vice president of IBM and author of Dream Language

“A golden guidebook for waking up the sleeping powers within each person. An essential and energizing read.”
— Patricia Garfield, PhD, author of Creative Dreaming

“Dream food, coincidence compass, imaginal awakener — Robert Moss has written an erudite exploration that tickles your intellect and at the same time speaks directly to your heart. Read this, and immediately a richer world opens before you.”
— Jennifer Louden, author of The Life Organizer and The Woman's Comfort Book

About the Author

Robert Moss, the pioneer of Active Dreaming, is the author of many books, including Conscious Dreaming, The Secret History of Dreaming, and the novel The Firekeeper. He offers workshops and lectures all over the world, hosts the Way of the Dreamer radio show, and leads a lively online dream school. He lives in upstate New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; First Trade Paper Edition edition (June 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577316630
• ISBN-13: 978-1577316633
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.7 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #23,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Mental Health > Dreams

More About the Author

Robert Moss is the pioneer of Active Dreaming, an original synthesis of shamanism and modern dreamwork. Born in Australia, he survived three near-death experiences in childhood. He leads popular seminars all over the world, including a three-year training for teachers of Active Dreaming and a lively online dream school. A former lecturer in ancient history at the Australian National University, he is a best-selling novelist, journalist and independent scholar. His eight books on dreaming, shamanism and imagination include Conscious Dreaming, Dreamways of the Iroquois, The Three "Only" Things: Tapping the Power of Dreams, Coincidence and Imagination, The Secret History of Dreaming, Dreamgates and Active Dreaming: Journeying beyond Self-Limitation to a Life of Wild Freedom.

Moss describes himself as "a dream teacher, on a path for which there has been no career track in our culture." He identifies the great watershed in his adult life as a sequence of visionary events that unfolded in 1987-1988, after he decided to leave the world of big cities and the fast-track life of a popular novelist (already the author of four New York Times bestsellers, including Moscow Rules) and put down roots on a farm in the upper Hudson Valley of New York. Moss started dreaming in a language he did not know that proved to be an archaic form of the Mohawk language. Helped by native speakers to interpret his dreams, Moss came to believe that they had put him in touch with an ancient healer - a woman of power - and that they were calling him to a different life.

Out of these experiences he wrote a series of historical novels (The Firekeeper, Fire Along the Sky, The Interpreter) and developed the practice he calls Active Dreaming, an original synthesis of contemporary dreamwork and shamanic methods of journeying and healing. A central premise of Moss's approach is that dreaming isn't just what happens during sleep; dreaming is waking up to sources of guidance, healing and creativity beyond the reach of the everyday mind.He introduced his method to an international audience as an invited presenter at the conference of the Association for the Study of Dreams at the University of Leiden in 1994.

Core techniques of Active Dreaming include

The "lightning dreamwork" process, designed to facilitate quick dream-sharing that results in helpful action; the use of the "if it were my dream" protocol encourages the understanding that the dreamer is always the final authority on his or her dream
Dream reentry: the practice of making a conscious journey back inside a dream in order to clarify information, dialogue with a dream character, or move beyond nightmare terrors into healing and resolution
Tracking and group dreaming: conscious dream travel on an agreed itinerary by two or more partners, often supported by shamanic drumming
Navigating by synchronicity: reading coincidence and "symbolic pop-ups" in ordinary life as "everyday oracles".

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

63 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Take Back and Revel in Your Authentic Power! September 14, 2007

By Jeni Hogenson

Format:Hardcover

What Robert Moss offers us through his book, "The Three Only Things" are keys to an ancient way of living our power and truth that have been disregarded by our culture for too long. You'll find here that the mostly unknown stories behind great men and women like Joan of Arc, Leonardo DaVinci, Abe Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Harriet Tubman, Albert Einstein, Wolfgang Pauli, Architect Frank Gehry, Carl Jung and many more, point the way to these "Three Only Things" and how they inspired, informed and guided their success. The book's numerous examples through history, ancient and modern, help us to understand that many of the treasures of political and social leadership, science, literature, arts, and technology have been powered by dreams, coincidence and imagination. Best of all, we have access to that same source of information and guidance in our lives, and this is what is demonstrated so simply and beautifully in this book.
There is example upon example of the power of these `Three Only Things' in the daily lives of ordinary people who have taken the time to observe, record and consider their own everyday dreams and oracles. You'll find many simple processes, games and suggestions for how to develop these skills for yourself. The stories are both inspiring and thrilling when you realize the possibilities we have for our own lives in the way of guidance, healing and creativity. I imagine many will also find the section on "Missing the Dream Dimensions Of Islam" to be eye-opening and instructive. For me it points out how much we "Don't Know" about the dreams, motivations and passions of our neighbors around the world and asks the question, "Why haven't we taken the time to find out?" Robert Moss's numerous books on dreams and his signature techniques of "Active Dreaming" offer us powerful ways to cross the bridge of ignorance and confusion to a real gathering place of dreamers and imaginauts where we can understand much more about our world, it's future and how we can ensure it remains a sparkling treasure. I encourage you to begin walking your path to truth, personal power and beauty by dipping your toes into this incredible resource for your life. "The Three Only Things" is a jewel.

76 of 78 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Do You Remember What is Truly Important? August 30, 2007

By Jane Carleton

Format:Hardcover

This is the book to read. If I were to choose which of Robert Moss's books to read first, I would pick this one. After you read this, you will want to read his other books. The Three Only Things reminds us of our Big Story, the one that is hunting us, showing us how to live our best lives. This week I was enmeshed in a personal trauma that caused me to temporarily lose sight of my larger goals. I began reading this book and within a few pages, I was able to see another way of looking at my situation. I decided to take immediate action on the vision I saw of how things could improve, and I was so glad I did. The problem is not resolved, but my way of dealing with it has changed for the better, and I know things will work out. I saw that magic does happen, even where I least expect to find it. This book is full of cool exercises to play with, in the midst of deep insight and amazing stories. You will see magic unfold in your life when you look for it. This book will change your life.

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Do you believe in Magic? August 30, 2007

By Nancy Neff

Format:Hardcover

Robert Moss has written several excellent books on Dreaming. I found this book to be his most staightforward & least "out there" regarding how to work with your dreams on an everyday basis, especially for those who haven't done a lot of this before. The section on Coincidence will teach you to recognize & benefit from these not-so-random occurrences, to guide you to a better path, or just confirm that you're already on the right one. My favorite section by far was the one on Imagination; I liked it so much I'm reading it again. It will inspire you, empower you to reach for what you want in your life, & truly make you believe in Magic. And YOU will be the magician!