Dream Interpretation class: Questions & Comments & etc.

[cydira]

Hey there, folks, it's li'l ol' me and I just thought that it may be easier for everyone if we posted our dream interpretation questions or comments in one thread. This way we don't need to worry about if it matches the class theme.

You're more then welcome to post questions in the class threads and I'm hoping that some of what I say will spark some discussion soon. :D That's always the best part of it all in my opinion. ;)

But please, feel free to post comments, concerns, questions and suggestions on how I may present things in here. If you think that I can help interpret a dream of yours or that the rest of the class can help with that, go right a head and post it in here. :D I know that everyone will be happy to take a look and give it a try.

Blessings. :)

[Silver Venus]

Good idea :thumbsup: but opps :rolleyes: Ive just posted mine under lesson 1...

[cydira]

This is the thread that I started for the random questions and such that may come up. Also, it's for the questions that may go with a particular thread, but it's so long that you just don't think it will fit in there.

I'll be posting the little assignments and exercizes in here soon. But I just wanted to bump this back up for any of the newer readers/ members to the class. This way you don't need to worry about getting lost in a long list of messages looking for my replies to your questions. :)

[Silver Venus]

Cool! More dream excercises coming soon!! Cydria's Back :boing:
Great to see you around here darl, hows the studying going? Hope everything is great!

Ive been having some great dreams recently and getting quite good at remembering and interperating them now (well i think so ;)). My bf is even remembering his too which is amazing as he said he never used to remember any at all.

:)

[Mnemosyne]

Ok, I have two questions. Wow! I have actually been remembering my dreams quite well during the last few weeks. Is it normal for people to remember their dreams a lot in a given period of time, but during another time period forget their dreams once they wake up? Also, the dreams that I have been having take place in the same room. For example, I have been dreaming about having a room with minimal furniture, a big bed with a fluffy white comforter, and tulips in the room. I have dreamt of this room about four times in the last few weeks. What does a recurring dream mean?

[cydira]

Assignment one

Keep a dream journal. In your journal, write down the date of the dream and what you recall of the events that occured in your dreams. If you can't remember your dreams yet, that's alright. We'll be going over dream recall very soon. And it will be great to be ready for when you do start remembering your dreams.

This is what I had posted orginally for Assignment one. Below, I've added a few more things to this and I think it may help you in your journaling efforts.

In keeping your dream journal, note the following:
1. Date - The dates of your dreams can indicate trends. You may notice that you tend to have more nightmares when you're in a period of stress. Or perhaps more plesant dreams when the weather is generally warmer.

2. An overview of the dream, starting with initial impressions and working into more intense detail. This can be in outline format or even just random notes jotted down on the page. When you get as much from the dream down in this overview, take time to build the more detailed and organized description of the dream.

3. Your emotional reactions to what is in the dream. An explination for this is given in the second part of Class Four, when we discuss the three major questions in dream interpretation.

Building good dream journaling habits helps in recalling your dreams and eventually in analysing them.

[cydira]

Assignment : Two

Ok folks, it's time for your second assignment... if you choose to accept it.

I want y'all to come up with another list of questions for me.

What do YOU want to know about the psychology of dreams?

Again, this is what was orginally posted for assignment two. I've augmented it with the points given below. Here, it is a bit more of a reaserch assignment, but it will be just as satisfying, if not more so.

I want you to generate a list of 10 questions on the following topics:

1. Dream interpretation (These would be general questions about dreams and such.)

2. The science of dreams and dream interpretation

3. Dream symbols

This list of ten questions is not for each topic. You can focus more on the topic that interests you, but try to include at least two questions from each topic. I am sure that you'll find more then six questions to ask. After you finish this, look through the previous lessons and find the answers to your questions. If the answer isn't present in the previous lessons, then post your questions here.

I'll be happy to answer them or point you in the direction of those answers.

[cydira]

Assignment Three

Here's another assignment coming at ya. This one, however, involves less writing and actuall technique for remembering your dreams. I think I hear a cheer in the distance, but I'm not sure right now.

Part one:

This is the first of two aids for your dream recall. As many of you may have discovered, dream recall is somewhat difficult and many of you may feel fustraited because it seems like you just don't dream. Have no fear, you are dreaming you just need a few tools to help you remember.

This is a form of classical behavior modification and it's simple and painless. This is called operant conditioning and if you'd like me to explain it, I'll be happy to in the questions thread that I started because it doesn't related quite directly to this. As you fall asleep, you are going to train yourself to remember your dreams by telling reciting untill you fall asleep "I will remember my dreams."

After a point, you will stop reciting, don't force yourself to keep reciting it, this is your body's way of letting you know that you're falling asleep. Just keep the thought in your mind as you fall asleep after that point. I have found that it takes roughly a week for this process to take noticiable effect, but when it does, it is highly effective.

Part two:

This is the second method of dream recall and it does involve a little writing. This is highly effective when you can remember only parts of a dream, like a single image. When writing down your dream, try to write down as much of your dream as soon as you wake. if you're unable to, it just makes this process take a little longer. Write down as many details to the dream and stop when the dream recall becomes difficult. Set the journal aside and return to it after a few minutes. Re-read the dream and fill in the details that you recall as you're reading. You'll find this works a lot better then just forcing the issue. Just remember to leave at least one blank page between your dreams and don't forget to date them.

[cydira]

Assignment number four

This is a little reaserch assignment. You are going to be helping me with my next little post. Go to your search engine of choice or any other reaserch source that you find suits your tastes best. When there, look up the following terms:

Carl Gustave Jung
Archetypes
Dream Analysis

What I would like for you to do is find at least 1 Jungian archetype and post a short description of it's meaning.

Good hunting and have fun with it all. I think you're going to enjoy this little project.

I'll be reposting the list of Archetypes separately if enough people choose to complete this assignment. Then we'll have an interactive resource for the whole community to assist in dream interpretation. Otherwise, please, send me the archetype that you find and your source. Information sent with out a source will not be accepted due to copyright liabilities. With any internet sources, please include the date you accessed the page with the link. Thanks!

[cydira]

Assignment number five

Part one: Journaling

For those of you who are keeping dream journals, this assignment is particularly aimed at you. Those who are just starting to keep a dream journal, please look at assignments one and three before starting this one.

In your dream journal, you should have the following information:

1. Date of the dream
2. Details of the dream
3. Blank page for interpretation

I now want you to add two additional things to your dream journal:
1. Dream recall technique used
2. Recurring images/themes/emotions

The purpose of recording the recall technique used is to find the one that works best for you and eventually improve on it. If one technique works better then another, keep using it. Right now, though, experiment some and try playing with the techniques that I've given you.

The objective of recording the recurring images/themes/emotions is to beging building the basis of your personal symbols list. This list is *always* growing and can become an exceedingly useful tool in not only dream interpreatation but many other forms of divination and psycho-spiritual work.

Part two: Experimentation

As I said earlier, I want you to play with the techniques that I have given you. This means, I want you to develop your own "tools" for dream recall and share them with us. What I have given you is a basic framework that you can either use, alter, or reject.

In the end, however, I'd like for you to share at least one technique that you have improved on with the rest of the class.

[cydira]

Is it normal for people to remember their dreams a lot in a given period of time, but during another time period forget their dreams once they wake up?

It is perfectly normal to remember your dreams alot during one period of time and forget them during another. Part of the objective of this class is to help make dream recall a more predictable event. Some times, our stress levels or our sleeping habits will make it more difficult for us to remember our dreams. Class one, section three gives a better explination then I can just this moment because of a few time constraints that I have right now.

Also, the dreams that I have been having take place in the same room. For example, I have been dreaming about having a room with minimal furniture, a big bed with a fluffy white comforter, and tulips in the room. I have dreamt of this room about four times in the last few weeks. What does a recurring dream mean?

Recurring dreams tend to indicate that there is an underlying issue at play here. In the case of your example, it could be possible that you're looking for a bit of simplicity in your life and to bring nature more into play in your life as well. The major thing to remember with recurring dreams is the environment that they occur in. If you are experiencing a stressful period, a recurring dream of somethign simple may be your unconscious mind's way of suggesting something to resolve this stress. It can also indicate deep issues that need to be resolved or even unfulfilled desires.

[Mnemosyne]

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with me, Cydira. I can't even begin to tell you how important your answers to my questions have been to me. I have been under a bit of stress lately, so your answers concerning why I have recurring dreams and have been remembering my dreams lately make complete sense. Since I have last written, my dreams have played an even more significant impact in my life. In the past few weeks, I have dreamt of things that ended up coming true. When dreams (or nightmares) come true is that a sign of divination or generally just the unconscious trying to tell us something? I can see that it may be the unconcious trying to tell us something, and we just don't realize it because these ideas are stored in the unconscious after all. However, two of my dreams had to do with a complete stranger, and I eventually found out that what I dreamt about was true about this person. Once again, thanks for everything.

[Dancin Girl]

I am brand new here, and haven't had a chance to search through all of the dream material that you may have already posted and discussed so please be patient with me if I have ask questions that you may have already covered. Then point me to the right threads?? I have one question right now, does anyone know anything about shared dream experiences?? I had one a few years ago with 5 other people. We all had the same recurring dreams, we hadn't discussed it with each other previous to that and the event in the dream was not something any of us had experienced together and were just reviewing in our dreams with our perceptions of it. We only discovered that we were sharing the dream when each of us started getting freaked out and mentioned that we were having some very distressing dreams.

[Dancin Girl]

:wave: :sunny: Ohhhh I forgot to say thanks for any help or info that anyone might have!! And if anyone is interested, I will post more info on the experience here later:)

[maya]

I wanted to add another note about dream recall. I have found that it's much easier to remember my dreams if I wake up during my dream cycle (as opposed to the deep sleep cycle). If you are not waking up during your dream cycle you can try adjusting your sleep schedule by getting up 15-30 minutes earlier or later than you normally do. This of course depends on you going to sleep at roughly the same time each night. It may take a little experimenting to hit the right time but it helps a great deal. Also, not beign exhausted helps because the more tired you are the shorter your dream cycles are and the longer your deep sleep cycles will be.

~Maya

[Emaleth]

Hi there, I've just jumped into the class and I'm trying to catch up with the rest (I keep a journal), though I still have problems with remembering dreams. I've some questions concerning the subject:

Is it possible that you dream about your past lives? If so how can you tell that what you dream is a scene from a past life?

Do animals dream too? I observed my dog and saw that sometimes he barks in his sleep, wags his tail or moves his paws as if he was running.

Is it normal that sometimes you have a dream so real that you're not sure if it was a dream or if it really happened? (I had such situations several times)

And maybe a liitle silly one:
My mum always warned me not to eat a heavy supper, or I'll have nightmares. Is it possible?

Thanks for all that's been written in this class, it is very interesting and useful, I'm looking forward to learning more :)

Blessed Be

[emaleth33]

MM to all I dont know if this would be the right place to post this or not but I have a problem with my dreams I dream all night long from the time i go to sleep to the time i wake up i remember more about the dream that i am having right before i wake up but i remember just bits and pieces of the other ones i had throughout the night. I have tried the dream journal and it just doesnt work except for the last dream i have. Sometimes i wake up more exhausted than I was when i went to bed. Then the night before last i had a very vivid dream that i remember most of which is very unusual.... It was about calling a storm I think lol it was a great dream though any help with this would be appreciated Thanks
Emaleth33

[cydira]

I'm a little embaressed by that, and again I do apologize. I will be posting some possible answers to your questions this evening when I have more then a few minutes to hop on to the computer.

I think that you may find some of the dream recall techniques that we've been working with to be some what helpful in remembering your dreams from earlier in the night. Aside from this, it's usually easiest to remember the dream we had right before we wake up because it's freshest in our minds. As you work through the information that is posted, you'll find an explination of the sleep cycle, I think that will also help to explain some of the mystery surrounding your difficulty in remembering your earlier dreams.

The problem, most likely, is not a problem that will be completely remedied by using different dream recall techniques. The reason why is because there is a fair amout of biological basis for this. To be honest, if you can't remember all of your dreams, don't feel bad. That happens to me often as well. Most mornings, I'll remember about two or three of my many dreams during the night. From what I've been able to find out, that's about average with the use of most dream recall techniques and regular practice.

Aside from that, stress can play a very *big* role in our success or failure in recalling our dreams and how much rest we can get. Our health is very important, in all aspects. So try to reduce the stress in your environment and do what you can to make sure that you're healthy. It could help you in getting more rest and recalling more dreams. It may even work to make them more plesant or informative too.

[emaleth33]

Believe it or not there are two of us lol one Emaleth and one Emaleth33 thank you for the info and i will keep reading
Brightest Blessings
Emaleth33