Dream Work

To begin a dream practice, it is helpful to record the dreams you have. Expecting yourself to remember your dreams after you go about your day… even when it’s been a particularly vivid dream that you are sure you’ll remember… is a tall order.

Getting Started~

To get started on your practice, here are some basic ideas regarding beginning a practice in dream exploration.

Setting the stage:

1. Your desire to learn more about your dreams is a good place to begin. It is a“call” to explore more about yourself and ignites your dream world.

2. Set a goal (intention).Your goal can be simple, such as, “I want to remember my dreams upon waking”.  By forming your intention it stimulates your psyche (the place where dreams come from).  In essence, you communicate with that part of you that dreams, that you are receptive to more information about your dreams and how they can help. This simple attention to your dreams aids with your ability to remember more dreams.

3. Record your dreams as soon as possible upon waking.

A simple spiral notebook @ your bedside is an essential tool. Upon waking you will want to write down as many details of a dream as possible. It usually works best if you record the details before you move from your bed. Most dreamers find that as soon as they get out of bed the dream pieces begin to fade. Even dreams that we are sure we will remember because they are so vivid have a tendency to slip away as we move about. It isn’t unusual to go back to sleep and vow to remember the dream upon waking, “because it’s so clear”. Our efforts often meet disastrous results. Think of the information that surfaces in your dreams as a gift … once it surfaces, it’s best to harvest, lest it slip back into the recesses of your unconscious. It may resurface again in the future but why wait for it to return; it’s available now, enjoy it!

4. Review your dreams upon waking or soon after. This helps to keep the dream fresh and aids in remembering more of the details.  If you don’t get to them right away… review them as soon as you can. Your recall will improve the more you practice.

Drop everything! I found as I continued to explore my dreams that insights often came to me unexpectedly @ all times of the day and night. I needed to get into the habit of going directly from my bed, or shower, or meditation, to a sheet of paper or the computer to put my “aha’s” down or I would forget the insights I had. Get into the mindset that you will drop everything to write down your aha moments. Attending to your nighttime dreams provides you with a larger understanding of yourself and can be used as a guide to living your life!

• 

  By Sharon, March 30, 2010 @ 7:32 AM

  “Attending to your nighttime dreams provides you with a larger understanding of yourself and can be used as a guide to living your life!” I beginning to see it work in my life. Thanks for an awesome blog entry!

• 

  By Mary Brill, LCSW, September 7, 2010 @ 7:57 PM

  Sorry, I don’t have one.

Other Links to this Post