Working with Dreams

Why?

Because you are asking.

You know that something is requiring your attention. It’s speaking to you in images, symbols, gut feelings or “coincidences”. You might have had a dream about a deceased family member or a friend that you haven’t seen in decades. You might have had a dream about your childhood you haven’t thought about in a long time. You might have had a crazy dream “that means nothing”, but you know that there is more to it. Maybe you had a nightmare – once, twice or again and again and doesn’t seem to go away. These situations are asking for your attention. You can listen.

How?

You begin simply by making space in your life for the dream to find you. Just spending enough time to remember the dream can make a difference. Better yet, take a moment to find a way to be able to go back to it – write it down, draw a picture, find something that reminds you of the dream and put it at your bedside. Tell others about your dream(s). Ask for more dreams. Try not to “know” what the dream is telling you right away. Use it as a steppingstone for more information. Remain curious. Assume that there is always more.

Next steps

A good beginner’s guide to dreams is Machiel Klerk’s book, Dream Guidance.  In just the first 50 pages of this short book, he expertly explains, in very simple and easy to understand language, some of the history, uses, approaches and examples of life changing dreams. In the second half he helps you begin to engage in a dream life.

“Dream emergency”

I had such a dream. I never had really paid attention to dreams until this one came along. I felt I needed expert help right away. I had no idea where to go or what to do. I needed someone who really understood the language of dreams. I learned that trained dream counselors, Jungian analysts or Jungian trained therapists can help in these situations.

Besides giving me extraordinary information, the dream provided insight that influenced the way I continue to live my life. Dreams like this might just be as important to take care of as a case of appendicitis. Please don’t say “it’s just a dream”. It might transform you.