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| Dreamworking |
| A Guide To Dreams And Their Meanings |
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| Your Dream Journal | Common Symbols |
| A dream journal is an integral part of dreamworking. Dreams are notoriously evasive and even the most vivid adventure can rapidly recede into the depths of the subconscious. Memory can also play tricks over time, embellishing or subtracting details or confusing the order of events. Writing down your dreams has a twofold purpose. Firstly to accurately record details of dreams and secondly to bring the dream into conscious awareness. Even the act of writing down a dream may trigger immediate connections and understanding.  THINGS YOU WILL NEED Buy a notepad and pen to use only for your dreams. Going out especially for these is like telling yourself that you mean business. You have the intention that you are serious about working with your dreams. There are many beautiful dream journals to be found both online and in the highstreet However - if you are anything like me, writing neatly when you have just woken up may be quite difficult! It is nice to keep your dream in an attractive dedicated dream journal, but I would recommend a cheap notepad and pen for initial recording. This can then be copied into your dream journal. You could use a loose-leaf A4 pad and a ring binder to keep everything together. The advantage of this is that you can add in pages wherever you need to. Having access to a computer means that you can choose to type all your dreams - keeping them neat and accessible. Don't forget to back up by making copies to CD, floppy or using private storage space on the Internet like Yahoo Briefcase for example. Hard drives do fail (as I have learned to my cost!) so don't take the chance of losing all your dreams. Some may never be remembered.. If you live with others, password protect your work to keep it private. Another idea is to use dream journal software which can be found at the Dream Temple There is a shareware versions available which I have downloaded and I think it looks good. You could use a general online journal such as can be found at Oprah. com. Once registered at the site, your journal can be private or public and can be broken up into different areas (such as dream journal/waking journal). I would recommend that you keep a journal of your daily waking life as well as a dream journal. Your waking journal needs to include an account of the day and your feelings and responses to those events. This can be very useful for when you start working with your dreams as you will be able to clearly see where some of your dream images or situations came from. You may wish to share with others what you have written in your journals but do this through choice. Don't leave journals where curious eyes can find them. Also - if you know they might be read, you may end up writing more for your audience than for yourself. Some people choose a tape recorder rather than a notepad which can be very effective. Personally I find the power of speech beyond me when I first awaken but for some it is the best form of recording. WHAT DO I NEED TO RECORD? Once you have a decided on a way to record your dreams, the next stage is to look at exactly what you need to record. Make sure that you note the day, date (including the year), and the time you awoke. I also include the phase of the Moon. Women may also wish to include their menstrual cycle as many women have noticed changes in their dream patterns which correspond to menstruation cycles. Try to remain as relaxed and quiet as possible as you record and do it as soon as you possibly can after waking. For more tips on recall click here. Don't worry about the order of events in dreams at first. Just get down as many details as you can. It doesn't have to be a logical process - just make a note of what you remember as you remember it. Sketch illustrations if you need to. Everything in a dream is there for a reason. The subconscious has millions of objects, scenarios, settings and dialogues to choose from. Why this image or that person? If you recall it - record it. As well as noting what happened in the dream, make sure you include how you felt. This gives the dream context and depth. If you were just an observer witnessing a scene say so. Did you feel like you were playing a part in the story? "I was floating towards a small island..." is very different from :- "I was floating towards a small island and I felt really scared" If you have any immediate associations or understanding as you recall your dream make a note of these too. For example did the person you argued with in your dream remind you of your brother/wife/mother? Did the house you found yourself in remind you of somewhere you used to live? These immediate associations are likely to be valuable when you begin working with your dreams. It is best if you can read this meditation onto a tape or perhaps have a friend read it for you as you meditate. Read in a slow, calm voice and leave enough space for observation. Alternatively you could read through the meditation several times and do it from memory. It is handy to have a notebook and pen beside you so that afterwards you can immediately note down any thoughts or impressions you had during your meditation. If you have not done this kind of meditation before, think of it as a guided daydream. Follow the words and try to imagine the scene. Sometimes you will clearly see places or figures in your mind and sometimes your attention might wander. Don't worry about this - just bring your attention back to the meditation. If you must break your meditation, just take a moment to imagine you are back at the garden gate and close it firmly behind you. Sit or lie down and make yourself comfortable. Make sure that you feel warm enough and that you will not be disturbed for the next 15 minutes Become aware of your breathing… Focus on your breath… You feel calm and relaxed... As you focus on your breathing allow your mind to become still. As you become more aware of your breath, allow yourself to breathe deeper. Take a long slow deep breathe and let it out gently…You are calm and relaxed and safe…Your breathing is relaxed and calm. Your mind is calm. Calm and relaxed. I want you to become aware of your feet. Be aware of your feet and the ground beneath. Imagine that you are a tree and the roots of the tree grow through the soles of your feet…deep…deep…into the Earth. Feel the Earth energy rising through the roots…through the bottom of your feet…through your calves…through your thighs…through your pelvis…through your stomach…through your chest…up to your shoulders. From each shoulder imagine branches growing. There are green leaves and new shoots on the branches. All is given energy from the Earth beneath your feet. You feel perfectly balanced and energised. *Pause for 2 minutes* I want you to imagine you are walking around a walled garden. The wall is taller than you so that you cannot see over it. Eventually you come across a gate leading into the garden. There is a number on the gate, which you will remember. You push open the gate and walk into the garden…You feel safe and relaxed in this place. The garden is a beautiful place full of colour and scent. You can hear birds singing in the trees and feel the crunch of the pebbled path beneath your feet. This garden is waiting to be explored but today you need to find you're way to the well. You're feet seem to know their way along to paths and soon you find yourself approaching the well. Beside the well stand a Guardian. This Guardian may appear as an animal, human or otherworldly being. You feel safe with this Guardian and know that it is there to help and protect you. You peer over to look into the well and see that there is a spiral staircase leading downwards. Knowing that you are protected and safe you begin to climb down the stairway. From below you can hear the trickling of water and light is coming from somewhere. The staircase leads you down to an underground cave and stream. Follow the stream until you reach the opening of the cave. As you look out from the cave you are awed by the sight of the most beautiful beach and blue sea you have ever seen. This is the Sea of Dreams. This is the source of every dream you have ever had or will have. Notice how you feel as you stand in this place. Now slowly walk down to the edge of the water. Stop wherever you feel comfortable and gaze at the sea. Know that you will never forget this place exists. This is the source of all your inspiration and the answer to every question you have lies here. Visualise yourself saying to the sea of Dreams I remember my dreams I remember my dreams I remember my dreams Stay with this thought for a few moments then release it to the sea. *Pause* The tide is now coming in and the Sea offers you a gift at you feet in return for your promise. Pick up the gift and examine in closely. What does it look like? How does it feel? Thank the Sea for your gift. *Pause* Now it is time to return home. You come back to the cave and follow the stream to the spiral staircase. Make your way up the staircase to the top of the well. The Guardian will be waiting for you. Thank the Guardian then bid them farewell. Turn and make you way back to the garden gate. Once you have passed through the gate, close it firmly behind you. Now bring your awareness back to your body and the room you are in. Wiggle your fingers and toes. Let yourself come gently back to this reality. When you are ready, open your eyes. Afterwards: note down the number that was on the gate. Think about what this number means. Describe the garden. What did you see, hear, feel, touch or taste? What did the Guardian of the Well look like? How did you feel as you looked into the well? What gift did the Sea of Dreams give you? What do you think this means? Write down any thoughts and impressions in your notebook. |
Below I have made some general suggestions concerning common symbols in dreams. We use many of these symbols and metaphors in everyday speech so if a certain phrase comes to mind as you ponder a dream image - maybe your mind intended that phrase to be communicate. Water Sea, rain, lake, tap etc. Water is often an indication of our emotional state. As a child in the womb, our world is warm and liquid and we can see our natural affinity by watching young babies swim effortlessly underwater. We shed tears (salt water) when we are unhappy and sometimes too when we are joyful. We describe humour with little emotional depth as dry and loss of one kind of another is often likened to the concept of dryness "the work just dried up", "dried up old prune!". Water is one of the basic components of life. We are 80% water physically. The tides of life Sank like a stone Waves of emotion Tossed around like a boat at sea Drowning your sorrows Drowning under a pile of paperwork A thirst for knowledge Floods of tears Are you drowning, floating, diving or swimming? Is the water clear or murky, deep or shallow? Do you see your reflection? Water has become a strong personal symbol for me. I have a tendency to not talk about things that bother me until it just all gets too much. Consequently I have a very simple symbol that has evolved over the course of time to warn me that things are building up - a burst pipe, a flood, a tidal wave, a constant dripping tap, overflowing sewage - all water images. Depending on where the water occurs I can identify which area of life needs attention. A House/building A building in a dream may be one you know or an imaginary place. What kind of building is it - what purpose does it serve? Here are some examples A Church - Beliefs, religion, spirituality, soul Post Office - Communication Bank - Money, values Grocery store - What is feeding you? What are you lacking? Factory - Mass production, work, monotony, repetition, Railway Station - Where are you going? What track are you on? Rooms This may vary depending on your own personal living arrangements but here are some general ideas Bedroom - Often the most private room, the hidden/private self, sexuality, sleep, the subconscious Living Room - Day-to-day life, work Bathroom - Cleanliness, needing to be cleansed Toilet - Relief, letting go, privacy v. exposure, getting rid of things that are unwanted, Kitchen - Nourishment - emotional, psychological, and physiological Celler - What is just beneath the surface of the subconscious Attic - What we are aware of but don't use/want. Also can be what we are trying to achieve or work up to. Study - Work, knowledge Transport Forms and manner of transport can give you a clue to how you are proceeding along your life path Cars - Are you driving or is someone else in the driving seat? Are you careering out of control (notice this word contains the word career). What state is the car in. Did the brakes fail? Maybe you need to slow down. Did you crash - maybe you need to look at where you are heading. Are you on a crash-course (which could be read as a crash course of study? Weather The weather in your dream may reflect how you are actually feeling or how you want to feel. The calm before the storm A sunny personality Whirlwind - chaos/energy Rain - sadness, cleansing, renewal Clouds - Things being obscured. Alternatively - Every cloud has a silver lining Parts of the Body Hair Like clothes, our hair often makes a statement out who we are to the world. Long, short, dyed, natural; however it is worn gives the outside world a clue to our personality. If you feel happy with your new hairstyle in a dream it may signify that you are developing a new aspect to yourself and are happy for others to see it. Losing hair may suggest that you are growing in maturity or losing your strength (the story of Samson and Delilah). Again - much depends upon your own feelings in the dream Head Ask people where in the body they are, most will point to their head. Keep your head! - keep calm Head off - the chase/ beat/outwit Don't lose your head - stay rational Ahead - in front of... Eyes Wearing glasses in a dream when you don't normally do so may suggest that something in your life needs clarification. Glasses that you cannot see out of or are too dark/coloured may show that an emotion is colouring your perspective of the world "rose-coloured spectacles" An eye for an eye Beauty is in the eye of the beholder The eyes are the windows to the soul, Teeth One of the most common dreams I hear is dreaming of teeth falling out or decaying. There are several associations I make with this :- On the most basic level - have you had toothache? Are you due for a visit to the dentist? The body is very aware of it's state of health and the subconscious can pass this information on in a dream Teeth falling out - Are you going through a period of change in your life? When we are children, we lose our milk teeth as we begin to mature. The ritualising of this is seen in the story of the tooth fairy. Losing milk teeth is a sure sign of growing into our own personality. Anxiety. Teeth are the strongest visible part of the body and therefore if they crumble, decay or come loose, it can imply that our very foundations seem to be crumbling. It can also be seen as losing your smile. Emphasis on decay may show that you feel something important in your life is "dying". Gaining Teeth - Gaining Wisdom. Growing Vampire Teeth - Needing to be sustained, feeding off something or someone else, anemia, Feet Another common dream is to be walking across glass/splinters etc. "Walking on egg-shells" is a phrase that is often used to imply that you are having to be very careful about what you do and say and this is taking a toll on your health. Injury to the feet may show that you need to be careful of the next step. Shot in the foot - betrayal Neck This part of the body is concerned with how you express yourself - by shaking your head or nodding or by using your voice. A Pain in the neck! (what or who is irritating you?) Breasts and Genitalia Sexuality, fertility and creativity Stomach Nourishment - emotional and physical Kidneys/Liver Elimination, cleansing, relief. Hands We use our hands to perform tasks and to communicate with others. Damage to the hands in a dream may show that we are feeling "handicapped" in some way - either not being able to do what we won't to do or express ourselves in the way we would like. Back The back and spine are often used in association with courage. Spineless - weak or cowardly He/she gets my back up! - to be irritated or annoyed by someone Put your back into it! Watch the play on the word "back" as it could be asking you to back up or go back or back down Shoulders The shoulders are often connected to strength - both emotional and physical All the world on his shoulders - depressed, too much responsibility A shoulder to cry on RED Red is passion, lust, love, passionate romance, sexuality, heat, energy, vitality, drive, brute force, assertiveness, "I Am", confidence, pioneering, anger, hate, warning, danger, demonic. As red is the colour of blood it is easy to see why this colour is associated with the life force, sex and anger. Sexual associations are still seen today in "the red light areas" and with red roses used to symbolize love. Red is a stimulating colour. It moves us psychologically and physically. It is interesting that the concept of evil and the devil are often depicted through the use of the colour red, perhaps through the Christian demonisation of sexuality. This is echoed in depiction's of women in art having flowing red hair to show loose morality or temptation. The scarlet women! What about The Scarlet Pimpernel? Here we have a mix of danger, excitement and sexuality. Red cars are also associated with masculine prowess and speed. Red is used in a lot of restaurants as it is believed to stimulate the appetite Red as warning. STOP! Blood will be spilled! Traffic warning signs always use the colour red which immediately puts us on guard. ORANGE Orange relates to our creativity. As a mixture of the red and yellow, energy is directed and focused - it combines creativity with intellect. Orange is the gentle warmth of the setting sun or the flames of an open fire. Orange stimulates emotional healing and releases past blocks. YELLOW Yellow is the colour of the Sun and is often associated with happiness and childhood. Go into any toy store and you'll see yellow everywhere. Think of The Yellow Brick road in the Wizard of Oz. Yellow is also the colour of intellect and reason. Negative aspects of yellow Vivid yellow can make people feel very irritated as it over stimulates the solar plexus chakra GREEN Green is the colour of the fertile Earth and makes us think of growth, expansion, birth and balance. Lush green fields invigorate and feed. Green shows is where there is life. Dark green is associated with maturity whereas light green is connected to new growth and youth BLUE Blue is the colour of sea and sky. It signifies expansion, freedom, depth, eternity, tranquility, healing and spirituality. Blue is useful for meditation, peace and rest. It also implies eternity, thought, beauty and wisdom. PURPLE/VIOLET At the far end of the spectrum of light lies Ultra Violet. Psychic, spiritual, devotion, dedication, love, magical, erotica, charm, mystical, inspiration, fantasy, idealism, wishes and dreams, intuitive understanding, higher knowledge, occult, the unseen. WHITE The absence of colour Purity, holiness, virginity, perfection, clarity, enlightenment, light. new beginnings, death, BLACK Black is all colours combined. Everything and nothingness. Black is the colour of the unknown universe stretching into all directions. The unknown, occult, esoteric, fate, mystery, secrecy, mourning, death, shadows, evil, fear, darkness, negativity, sickness, |
| Self Analysis | Dream Recall Frustrations |
| Below you will find some tips and advice on beginning to master the art of analysing your own dreams. It may be useful to try different techniques to see what works best for you. In a way, what you are attempting to do is to learn a new language. The dreaming mind and the spirit uses symbols, metaphor and stories to express itself. Each symbol will have a personal meaning. This is why dream dictionaries are not always helpful when it comes to interpreting your dream. Here is an example I usually give to illustrate this :- Two people dream of a large spider crawling on their bed. One person has arachnaphobia (fear of spiders), the other keeps a tarantula as a pet. In each case the meaning and reaction to the dream is likely to be very different because of their associations with spiders. In both cases however Spider as a power animal may be working for them. In the beginning... You have a history of life experiences. There are dates, people, situations, homes, pets etc. that have meaning for you and all of this information has been stored in your mind. Write a short biography of your life from where you were born until now. Include the following information:- Places you have lived Family information - names and other details Pets Work history Significant dates - such as anniversaries of births, deaths, weddings, first day at work, illness etc. Short notes of significant experiences in your life - such as the birth of your children, moving home, meeting a partner, separating with a partner etc. What and whom do you love and hate? Hobbies and interests - note down things that you did in the past as well as things you enjoy now. Inspiration media - such as favourite books, films, plays, music Childhood - re-read your favourites stories or faery tales. What was your favourite game to play? The purpose of this exercise is to reconnect you with your subconscious and make you aware of the myriad of experiences in your life. What aspects of your life did you find difficult to think about? Which memories make you smile or inspire you? Note down how you felt generally whilst doing this exercise Keep this list with your dream journal. Stages of Interpretation The following does not have to be followed in order. Read over the dream quietly noticing what thoughts and feelings arise The dream may be immediately obvious or seem completely bizarre. A correct analysis of the dream as a whole or in part is accompanied by an unmistakable "knowing". "Aha! Eureka!". All parts of a dream can be analysed by asking yourself simple questions about that object or scenery. Say, for example that there is a car in your dream...Imagine a small child has just asked you "What does a car do?" How would you answer that? They are made of metal and have 4 wheels It gets me from A - B It means you don't have to walk I can travel faster in one They breakdown They cost money! Listen to yourself as you go through your explanations of the objects and symbols in your dreams. How do the words and phrases you have used relate to your everyday life. Cars, very generally speaking are about journeys and movement and often relate to "where we are going" in life. What was your dream car like - big, small, rusty, shiny? Where you driving? Travelling fast or slow? Stationary? Where is the dream set? The setting gives you an immediate idea of what area of life you are looking at - rather like looking at the scenery on an empty stage before the play. The beach A motorway On board a boat My old school A haunted house Hospital Think about the setting. If for example, if you are in a hotel is it one that you have stayed at in waking life? What is memorable about that holiday? If it is an imaginary hotel does it remind you of anywhere else? What did you notice around you? Which room were you in? Do you remember the furniture and the general atmosphere. Was it very modern or old fashioned? People Dream people fall into the following categories 1) Real people you know personally in waking life - such as your brother/partner/friend/close colleague First of all identify the relationship you have with this person. Do you see them regularly or occasionally. Is there a situation happening in your life right now with this person? What are they saying and doing in the dream? Do they seem different from waking life or the same? Do you call them by a different name? What are your immediate associations with this person? Love, anger, trust, happiness, fun etc.? Perhaps you are examining the relationship you have with that person in a safe environment (i.e. the dreamworlds) Maybe there is an unresolved issue with that person This person may be showing you an aspect of yourself - either an aspect that you would like to bring into being or one you would like to be rid of You may be communicating on a psychic/telepathic level (common with partners and close friends) You may be receiving important information - such as dreaming of someone close who is sick One of the most common questions I have been asked is "I dreamed that my partner is having an affair - does that mean it's true?" Don't immediately assume that this is true and confront your partner! With dreams it is always important to begin with yourself and start on the most practical of levels. This kind of dream is one where you need to be very honest with yourself. Are you feeling insecure? Have you had an argument with your partner? Do you have issues of low self-esteem or lack of confidence? Your dream may be highlighting your personal fears. Next you need to think about your current relationship. Have you been suppressing dissatisfaction? Is there a lack of communication between the two of you? Have they done or said something that reminds you of a previous betrayal? Finally it is possible that you have been subtly picking up cues that suggest something is going wrong in the relationship. Many people who have been betrayed say that at the time they noticed nothing, yet on reflection all the clues were there. The conscious mind doesn't want to take these clues on board so the information is sent down to the subconscious. However, it knows that the issue is very important and sends it back to you - sometimes in an exaggerated form so that you have to listen. In all cases communication is the key - both with yourself and your significant other. The more you work with your dreams and grow in awareness, the easier it will be to identify prophetic/intuitive dreams from those that reflect upon your own nature. 2) Real People you don't know well. Such as neighbours, co-workers etc. Again the dream has picked these people for a reason usually to add depth to your dream and to represent some thought or feeling. Who do they remind you of? What do you like/dislike about them? What do you honestly think of when you think of that person? 3) Imaginary People. These are the actors that take part in your dream story and all of them are created by you. Sometimes they are like an extra in a film - such as a crowd scene for example. As a whole they build up a mood or atmosphere but individually they mean little. However - any imaginary character you interact with suggests they have some kind of importance. Perhaps they represent an aspect of yourself. Ask similar questions to if they were real people you knew. Did you like this character? Were you arguing with them, kissing them, watching them etc. ? Did they have a name? (see names in dreams). 4) Famous People. I have given celebrities a separate category as they often have quite a specific meaning. Many of us have favourite actors, sportsman and women or popstars and sometimes these characters can come into our dreams. If you are a particular fan of one particular star (or program) these characters may naturally appear in your dreams. Famous people are almost like caricatures - we often remember them for one particular outstanding quality or role and this is very useful for the dreaming mind to latch onto. Our reactions to stars are often strong - fueled by love, hate, desire, awe, hero worship etc. If you are drawn to one particular star or character it can be useful to try an identify exactly what it is you like about them as this may show you aspects about yourself. The Search for Picard An example I shall give here is one of my own. Since I was young I have always loved Star Trek. When Star Trek Next Generation came out I thought Jean Luc Picard was a wonderful character. A couple of years ago I had a very vivid dream which Picard figured prominently in. I classed it as an "adventure dream" as it was very much like being in an episode of the program. However - fun though it was, I knew there was much more to it than met the eye. The main storyline of the dream was finding Picard. I would see him and then he would disappear, then he would be within reach but caught by aliens. Through analysing the dream I realised that Picard represented that part of me that is in control - the voice of wisdom. He showed me the captain of my ship. I see the character as being cool and calm, full of wisdom, often stemming emotion to get a job done but also someone who has great compassion. Everyone will have a different view of this character but this is how I experience him and therefore these are the aspects of myself he represented. My search for Picard showed I was searching for that part of myself that could remain calm in a crisis, delegate tasks, make hard decisions when necessary and stand by my convictions. All things that I needed at that time to clear the path ahead. The article Dreamworlds contains more information on psychic dreams Action! Make a list of every verb that occurs in the dream. Verbs are doing words that describe an action. I was walking He was pointing Put It All Together To Tell Your Story |
But I can't remember my dreams!!! Many people claim that they never dream but in fact there are few people that do not dream at all.There are several factors to think of here and tips on improving recall WHAT IS STOPPING YOU? Alcohol and drugs both suppress natural dream sleep Are you overtired? - Although missed sleep usually results in more REM sleep, it is likely that dream will quickly be forgotten due to the conscious mind being overtired. Certain anti-depressants and/or tranquillizers may also interfere with the dream cycle. Please consult your doctor before you stop taking prescription medicine Do you value your dreams? What are your attitudes to dream. Do you feel that they are merely fantasies that play no part in everyday life? Are you fearful of knowing what is happening in your subconscious? Have you pushed away difficult experiences in your life? Everything you have experienced is in your subconscious - are you afraid of opening the proverbial can of worms? Be truthful with yourself TIPS TO IMPROVE RECALL 1) What does your bedroom say? Look at the room you sleep in. The state of this room will probably give you a good idea of your attitude to your dreams and sleep in general. Often the bedroom is the place few people see - especially if you live alone. It is often the one room that we keep private and it is for this reason that it may become a general dumping ground for aspects of yourself that you do not wish others to see. When you are quiet walk into the room and try and look at it from a strangers point of view. What does this room say to you? What is the first emotion that hits you when you look at the room? Do you really like that colour on the walls/floor/ceiling? Is the room tidy? (I am aware that some people are tidier than others but does it suit you?). Do you really like the bed where it is? In feng shui it is suggested that you should be able to see the door from your bed. The foot of the bed should not face the door directly as the dead are carried out of a room feet first. Sleeping under a beam that crosses your body may induce health problems over that part of the body which is crosses. A television in the room may also disturb sleep. The room should be neither too hot nor too cold to sleep in. Generally this room must appeal to you - make you want to relax, rest, be free and uninhibited. 2) Are you sleepy? The amount of sleep each person needs is variable but the general consensus seems to be around 7 - 8 hours per night. Some people need more or less and this amount can change due to circumstances. However if you are having trouble recalling your dreams and wish to improve this, it can be useful to establish a routine - a nighttime ritual that prepares the mind and body for sleep. If at all possible try to go to sleep at the same time and get up at the same time everyday. Try not to work/play right up until you go to bed. Allow some winding down time - even for 10 minutes. Many of us already have bedtime rituals - a cup of cocoa, stroking the cat/dog, checking on the children, a bath, a favourite tv program, reading etc. If you don't, see if you can work something into the evening that helps you to relax. 3) MORNING!!! If you have an alarm clock/children/dog/partner that screams you awake in the morning it is very likely your dreams will quickly dart back to where they came from! Looking at how you awaken is a very important aspect of recall. Many shamans believe that we should awaken naturally as the soul is out travelling when we are asleep. A jarred awakening can cause soul fragments to be lost. If you must use an alarm clock try to find one that is not too raw on the senses when you awaken. If you establish a sleep routine, the body will eventually awaken at the same time everyday purely from habit. The internal body clock is set. If you do have an alarm clock and you usually awaken at the same time everyday, try setting it to wake you 15 minutes earlier than usual. This will most likely wake you up during a natural dream cycle and give you time to record your dreams. 4) Desperate measures! Another tip I heard of is to drink a pint of water before you sleep. This will inevitably wake you in the middle of the night needing to use the bathroom and you will very likely remember the dreams you were just having. Perhaps one to use on occasion! 5) Nope - still nothing there... Okay - you've woken up, grabbed pen and paper and then...nothing. Your mind has gone blank. Don't panic. Settle yourself back down with pen and paper and write down literally anything that comes to mind. It doesn't matter what it is, it doesn't even have to make sense. It can be a word, image or name. Try drawing instead of writing as this uses the creative intuitive part of the brain than connects to the dreaming mind. Sometimes - just writing/drawing and relaxing can trigger spontaneous recall. Even if it doesn't, it may still give you something to work with whilst at the same time telling your subconscious your dreams matter to you and you will always give it the time it needs to express itself. DAYDREAMS Take time to notice your daydreams. If you daydream regularly and vividly this may result in night-time dreams not being remembered as the information may be bubbling up through daydreams. Either reduce time spent daydreaming or work on those daydreams like any other dream. Many people have a common fantasy scenario they go into when bored or stressed. Working with these fantasy's can provide great insight into your needs, behavior and hopes. Lucid dreaming is the term used to describe the state of being consciously aware that you are dreaming. In this conscious aware state the dreamer is able to manipulate the dream which can lead to some exciting adventures as well as the ability to work through problems and develop creativity. There seems to be different levels of lucidity, no different perhaps to day to day life. Sometimes you are highly aware of what is happening around you, other times you may be lost in thought. Learning to control dreams does tend to require practice as the dream can draw you into itself. The more you become involved in whatever is happening the dream, the more likely it is that you will lose lucidity and go back into a normal dream. If you are wishing to work with lucid dreams I would advise allowing yourself enough ordinary dream time. This varies from person to person. Lucid dreaming is a wonderful ability but it is all to easy to become so caught up in designing your own dreams that little room is left for spontaneous dreaming. If you are the kind of person who naturally experiences lucid dreaming I would suggest that sometimes it can be helpful to simply explore the environment you find yourself in rather than try and change it in any way. This can lead to amazing insights about yourself and the landscape of your dreams. It leaves room also for the mind and spirit to express itself without conscious intervention. If you have never experienced lucid dreaming or would like to encourage this ability more, the exercise below may help. At the bottom of the page there are also links to other sites about lucid dreaming and helpful books. Tip to achieve lucidity The main point about lucid dreaming is awareness and definition. It is important to learn what it is that tells you that you are awake and how that differs from a dream state and how you feel accordingly. One way to increase the likelihood of waking up in a dream is to form the habit of asking yourself whether you are awake or asleep. One of the easiest ways to do this is that everytime you perform a repetitive task in daily life - such as walking through a doorway or making a cup of tea - ask yourself silently "Am I awake or dreaming?" Continued execution of this hopefully will lead to the answer one day of "I am dreaming!" Through experience I have found that the more I work with my dreams, the more lucid dreams I have. The more my conscious mind is used to the experience of the dream world. What do I do if I wake up in a dream? How does it feel? The strange thing is that I can honestly say that when I become lucid in a dream it feels more real than anything else! My senses seem to be heightened. Colours seem brighter and sometimes I perceive colours that do not seem to exist in the waking world. Consciously I am completely aware of who I am and that I am dreaming but I can take part in whatever is happening around me (or change it). Most often nowadays I simply go to have a look around unless I have set myself a specific task or place to explore. The first thing I do is to say to myself that I am dreaming and keep reminding myself of this fact so not to become caught up in the action of dreaming and lose lucidity. Very often my next step is to start rapidly analysisng what is happening around me. The choice is yours as to what you want to do once lucidity is achieved. Maybe you want to recreate situations that have happened in your life and gain more understanding of them. Perhaps you want to work on your fears but putting yourself in difficult situations. Maybe you want to see the scene of the book you are writing or picture you are painting - or ask a character to help you with some aspect of your life you are having difficulty with. Be aware that "answers" aren't always in words and that to get the right answer you need to be be asking the right question. Be aware also that there may be no right and wrong as far as questions and answers are concerned. In waking life - our culture can influence us into seeing things in black and white, good and bad, right and wrong but within this there is a grey shadowy line that needs to be taken into consideration too. Lucid dreaming can also lead into interaction with spirits of those from other dimensions of time and space. I am aware that some people will perhaps interpret this differently but this is my own experience |
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