Humans spend approximately a third of their lives in slumber, and during that time, they invariably enter a state wherein they begin to dream. But what are dreams? Are they flights of fancy, creative gymnastics of the mind, wishful thinking, or simply meaningless residue left over from waking moments? Are dreams messages from the unconscious mind and, as such, worthy of interpretation?
The Significance of Dreams
Humankind has always been mystified by its dreams. The Holy Bible says that Joseph possessed the ability to interpret dreams and explained the prophecy hidden in the dreams of the Pharaoh. In Native American cultures, if a member of the tribe was sick and the priest had ruled out the possibility of a rule’s being violated, he would ask the one who ailed about his dreams. To have dreamed of fire would explain a fever; of fishes, an internal disorder such as an upset stomach. Dreams could also be omens, both good and bad, of things to come.
It wasn’t until the 1950s, however, that psychologists admitted a possible connection might exist between dreams and events that occurred in life. One of the main contributors to this perspective was Sigmund Freud, who saw dreams as messages, usually of an objectionable nature, that the unconscious mind refused to allow to become conscious, mainly because humans couldn’t handle the truth. His contemporary Carl Jung, however, saw dreams as mere clues to messages the unconscious was attempting to send at the only time it had full control of the mind, which was during sleep.
Symbolism in Dreams
Both supporters of Freudian theory and Jungian theory agree that the symbolism in dreams is highly personal. As a result, Dr. Willis Harman and Howard Rheingold, authors of Higher Creativity: Liberating the Unconscious for Breakthrough Insights, maintain that it isn’t possible “to write a dictionary of dream meanings, because every symbol has a unique meaning for the person who dreams it” (p. 101). People can, however, interpret their own dreams; but the first step is to learn to recall those dreams.
Learning How to Recall Dreams
All people experience prolonged periods of dreaming each night, though most people cannot remember their dreams the next morning or else recall but mere bits and pieces that quickly fade from memory. Yet, it is possible for people to teach themselves to recall their dreams.
In order to learn to recall dreams, follow these steps:
- Form a conscious intention to remember dreams. Before going to bed and immediately after lying down, make a vow to recall any dreams and repeat the vow several times.
- Condition the mind to ask questions during the dream state. For example, ask, “What does this mean?” (An object, a person, an animal, a structure, etc) “What’s going on here?” (A situation, happening, or event) However, if it’s impossible to ask questions while dreaming, try to reconstruct the dream after awakening and ask questions then.
- Keep a notebook or journal near the bed. Upon awaking — even if it’s in the middle of the night — record every recalled image, thought, word, event, or emotion that occurred during the dream state.
- Practice lucid dreaming. Condition the mind to confront threatening or frightening dream figures instead of fleeing. If people face their fears in their dreams, that action alone is enough to transform their lives in reality.
- Think about what the dreams might mean. What problems are occurring in one’s life? What issues are not being faced? What situations are being avoided? How might these problems, issues, and situations be influencing what one dreams?
According to Stephen La Berge of the Sleep Research Center at Stanford University, if people can change dreaming from a passive experience into an active experience, they will uncover the mystery of their dreams, and they don’t need someone else to do it for them. People intuitively know what their own dreams mean. They simply have to admit it.
Source:
- Harman, H. & Rheingold, H. (1984) Higher Creativity: Liberating the Unconscious for Breakthrough Insights. New York: St. Martin Press
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