Dreams.
I’ve never been a person saying ”I don’t dream” but on the other hand, I’ve never really paid that much attention to them either. But for the past six to eight months, that’s changed.
I now take notice. Jot them down, when in that semi-awake state just after coming out of sleep and dream, only to write them down more properly once out of bed. The step to actually start to interpret them wasn’t far off, and that’s where I am at the moment. Heavily inspired by Clarissa Pinkola Estés Beginners guide to dream interpretation, I’ve been talking about dreams a lot lately which (including in the first episode of the new series of meandering conversations in the pod Tankespjärn with Helena Roth, which is there the little snippet below comes from), the way things seem to work in my world, meant the topic of dreams was the perfect candidate for the April monthly Tankespjarn-community Zoom-call.
Most of the call was spent on dreams, meaning that thing we do (all of us. Yes. Even you. Remembering dreams is something else completely, that is definitely a muscle that can be exercised, but rest assured, you do dream.) when we are sleeping, even though we did touch upon the other kind, the this-is-my-dream-for-life-type of dreaming. Our conclusion was that that latter type of dreaming is closely related to freedom and safety. If you are struggling to survive, dreaming about lavish life-goals is a long ways off.
Clarissa Pinkola Estés says Dreams are a message from home (Isn’t that just about the most striking thing you’ve heard all day? I. Just. Love. That. A message from home.) and speaks about the Dreammaker. Making sense of the day we’ve just had, sorting, cleaning, repairing, managing, handling, processing. Doing all that work, regardless if I pay attention or not.
But what if I do (pay attention)? What if I put myself in the shoes of what shows up in my dream (people, animals, physical objects) and ask What is the message? Or when I list what’s present in my dreams, and ask myself what these objects mean to me? What’s the feeling they evoke?
Dreams are a great jumping off point for wild and thrilling explorations for sure! (Into yourself, your beliefs, relationships, choices in life.)
Sexual dreams can be so intense you actually orgasm, involving your whole body through and through. And now and again, it’s the neighbor’s wife you’re dreaming about, however awkward you might get thinking about that. Rest assured, Pinkola Estés tells us not to put more importance and meaning upon this type of dream than any other type. And doesn’t hold you responsible for who you dream of, or what you do. (This is where you get to exercise your free will. Just because you dream it, you do not have to act on it.)
One of the most fascinating things about dreams for me is the instant transitions. Defying all laws of nature, in dreams, anything is possible, and in a micro-second I go from reading a book on my sofa, to flying with my best friend (sans plane), to standing in front of a market stall discussing some jewelry to buy… Jotting my dreams down, the transitions are dreamlike, but when I then sit down to write it down in my dream journal, I struggle with avoiding making the transitions make sense in the writings, wanting my record to mimic the absurdity of the dream as closely as I can, even though it makes for some interesting rereading.
Besides your garden-type variety ”normal” dream, there are sexual dreams, scary dreams, premonitory dreams; I myself have recurring dreams of being late and/or not able to get to where I need to get, with the universe throwing all sorts of obstacles my way. Falling dreams are also common… Imagine yourself discovering wings in a breath work session, completely shifting the outcome of those falling dreams of yours? Giving you a sense of trust that you carry forth not just while dreaming. Ah!
[…] dreams were also sent from the gods, and there was truth in any dream you had more than once;
everyone knew that.
– Xenocide, Orson Scott Card