Dear Maddisen:
Is there an easy way to interpret dreams? I often have very vivid and detailed dreams, and always wonder if there is a useful message or meaning I might derive from them. Thanks, KC
Dear KC,
Thanks for your question. My favorite, most simple method for interpreting dreams is a series of questions that are included in the book, The Celestine Prophecy: An Experiential Guide, by James Redfield and Carol Adrienne, published in 1995. This experiential guide was written as a companion workbook for The Celestine Prophecy. In the workbook, it's suggested that our dreams come to us to help us understand our way and tell us something about our lives that we may not be consciously aware of. I've been using these questions for years for quick evaluation of dreams, and have found them to be very useful and enlightening.
Please note that there are many resources on dreams and dream interpretation, including the works of notable experts Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud among others. Try the following approach, and then you can always perform an internet search for additional information.
UNDERSTANING YOUR DREAMS
Begin by keeping paper and a pen near your bed so you can write down dreams during the night or first thing when you wake up.
THE QUESTIONS
What are the main points of the dream?
What details seem significant? Why?
What is a one sentence title for this dream?
What is a one word title for this dream?
What happens in the beginning?
What actions are taken?
Who is in the dream?
If the people in the dream were parts of yourself, what would they be telling you?
What is the overall tone of the dream?
How does this dream compare to your life right now?
What is the dream telling you about your life that you might be overlooking?
What is the outcome of the dream?
If you were to live the dream differently in real life, what would you do differently?
LET'S LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE:
One of my clients offered to share a dream, along with his answers to the above questions, as follows. The dream: I and a few other people were in a store and we were helping ourselves to containers of liquids on the shelves without paying for them. We seemed to know we could get away with taking them because the liquids all were moldy. We were helping ourselves to cardboard boxes too. Suddenly, I had a realization that this did not feel "right" and said, "Stop! This is not us! We are about quality. Let's give ourselves new and fresh high quality, and pay for it." We all put the moldy liquids and boxes back on the shelves, and that was the end of the dream.
This is how he answered the questions:
What are the main points of the dream?
-Taking moldy liquids because they're free
-Didn't feel right
-This is not us
-We are about quality
-Let's give ourselves high quality and pay for it
What details seem significant? Why?
The moldy liquids and how initially it felt greedily gratifying to get the them for free, but then how my inner sense of integrity kicked in strongly and said "stop" this is not right, this is not who we are, and how we put the moldy liquids and boxes back and did what felt right, which was to go for quality and pay its value.
What is a one sentence title for this dream?
Integrity and quality are the way.
What is a one word title for this dream?
Quality.
What happens in the beginning?
In the beginning, we're all greedily grabbing at the free liquids even though they're moldy, almost unconsciously.
What actions are taken?
We grab the liquid and the boxes, and in the end we put them back.
Who is in the dream?
Myself and a few others I don't recognize.
If the people in the dream were parts of yourself, what would they be telling you?
All people, whether I know them or not, really care about quality and integrity.
What is the overall tone of the dream?
Relief
How does this dream compare to your life right now?
I've recently made a few choices more out of greed than conscious choice, feeling like a kid in a candy store with mountains of sweet inventory, taking whatever old or leftover candy that's free. But it hasn't felt right. I have felt controlled by it.
What is the dream telling you about your life that you might be overlooking?
That I am a person of high integrity and that I greatly prefer quality and exchanging money for it. That I stand for and am a living example of Integrity and High Quality.
What is the outcome of the dream?
I stop myself and the others and remind everyone of our true nature, of who we truly are -- good people with integrity who care for and are willing to pay for quality. The outcome is relief!
If you were to live the dream differently in real life, what would you do differently?
I would not be charmed by greed and bring poor quality into my life because it's free or easier. I would stand in and be a daily living example of my true nature, which is Integrity and High Quality.
In answering these questions, my client was able to bring an unconscious pattern to his conscious awareness. As a result, he experienced a great sense of relief and liberation. He felt very inspired, and going forward, gallantly took on his reclaimed Integrity and stand for High Quality.
Try this exercise with one of your dreams and record your answers. Feel free to drop me an email at askmaddisen@krown.us, and let me know your results.
And so, dear KC, I hope this gets you started on interpreting your dreams. I close with this lighthearted quote from an unknown source: "Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny." May the questions above give us all a better understanding of ourselves and our destinies, and shed light on important issues in service to our heightened awareness, growth, and well being.
Your Coach, Maddisen
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Copyright 2009 Maddisen K. Krown