Five Step Dream Interpretation Strategy
Strategies for Remembering Your Dreams
Free Dream Interpretation
Dream Interpretation
Obviously dream interpretation is not an exact science. The person best able to interpret a dream is the person whose dream it is. Others may be able to make suggestions, but only the person who dreamt the dream is able to confirm that the dream interpretation feels right.
Shortly after my suspension as a college director, as outlined in my book, I went to see a psychologist. This was part of the employee assistance program to ensure I was coping with the stress of the situation. As part of this process, the psychologist asked that I take note of any dreams so that we could discuss the dream interpretations at our sessions. I have utilised aspects of his dream interpretation process in my five step interpretation strategy.
The key process he applied was to ask how each aspect of the dream made me feel. In one instance I’d dreamt about a tortoise. He didn’t rush off to a dream dictionary and look for the meaning of tortoise. He simply asked how I felt when I thought about a tortoise. Once I’d identified this he went on to the next aspect of the dream to see how this made me feel, continuing until each aspect of the dream had been explored for feeling. He then pieced together these feelings into a coherent whole to get an overall meaning. He then checked that meaning with me to ensure it felt right.
A dream interpretation course I did followed a similar strategy, with the emphasis on the dreamer being the best person to know whether the dream interpretation seemed accurate. They referred to it as the aha factor. If the dream interpretation triggered an aha in the dreamer, then the interpretation was on the mark.
While I’m not an advocate of dream interpretation dictionaries, there are some excellent dream interpretation books available. The thing to look for when choosing a dream interpretation book is that it isn’t too specific or definitive. It may have a section on animals but should give possible meanings not one specific meaning. The explanation about a birth or baby should indicate that this is usually symbolic of rebirth or new beginnings. It should indicate that the death of someone is usually an indication of a major change in our relationship with this person, possibly a severance of a previously close relationship.
The language I’ve used is important. There are no black and white answers when interpreting dreams. For example, if there is a man in our dream but we don’t know who he is it usually represents an aspect of ourselves or our personality. If it is a female dreaming of an unknown man, it usually indicates the masculine or male aspect of her personality. Similarly, men dreaming of unknown women may be dreaming about their feminine aspect. I need to stress that none of this is definitive – only the dreamer is able to confirm or deny the suggested meaning.
Early in my spiritual journey, dreams became an important source of messages. Previously, I didn’t dream or, more accurately, I didn’t remember my dreams. We all dream but because our culture places little or no emphasis on dreams, we make no effort to recall a dream. For many of us, this then leads to a point where there is no recollection of any dreams. This was the place I was at before I started looking for meaning in everyday occurrences, including dreams.
The problem is that dreams can be very obscure with the message hidden within this obscurity. My first experience with dream interpretation was shortly before my suspension from my position as a director of a technical college. The dream was actually a nightmare. I soon discovered, however, that nightmares are only the higher self wanting to make sure that we hear the message. We usually remember nightmares because they are so graphic and they’re so graphic because the higher self is shouting the message at us. This usually happens when we’ve been given other messages but we haven’t been listening. So the Universe resorts to a nightmare.
Five Step Dream Interpretation Strategy
The following simple steps can assist in the interpretation process. Where possible, have someone work with you on the dream interpretation. They can then ask you the questions needed to assist you in interpreting the dream.
Step 1
Identify any significant events happening in your life at present.
There is a woman harassing me whenever I meet her in public. This has been happening for some time now and I’ve been ignoring it. I know I need to do something about it.
Step 2
Write the dream out.
I was with Nicole Kidman and her partner Keith. I felt excited to be with them. My sister wasn’t there but she whispered in my ear “Don’t forget to tell her she’s having a baby”.
Step 3
Underline or circle the significant people, animals and/or events in the dream.
I was with Nicole Kidman and her partner. I felt excited to be with them. My sister wasn’t there but she whispered in my ear, “Don’t forget to tell her she’s having a baby”.
Step 4
Have someone ask you a series of questions about the dream with you taking on various aspects of the dream. If you don’t have someone to ask you the questions write out a few generic questions you can ask yourself and then go through the process.
What do you think of Nicole Kidman?
I think she’s great. I really enjoy her movies.
How do you feel about her having a baby?
It’s very exciting because she really wants one.
I want you to be Nicole and answer the next questions.
What positive thing has happened in your life?
I’ve been very successful in my career.
What problem/s have you encountered in your life?
I’ve been hounded by the paparazzi.
How do you feel about the baby?
I feel like it’s a new life inside of me just waiting to come out.
Step 5
Relate the answers to the questions to the significant event occurring in your life.
- Nicole is being harassed in public by the paparazzi and I’m being harassed in public by this woman.
- I see Nicole as being successful and I want to successfully handle this situation.
- The baby represents my new life emerging when I resolve this issue.
- The dream confirms for me that I need to take some action and can’t keep ignoring the situation.
Note: A dream will usually only identify the issue that needs to be resolved but won’t suggest a solution. However, if you are already considering a solution, a dream can confirm that the solution is suitable.
In this instance the dreamer decided she needed to confront the woman and not simply walk away as she had done in the past. In our discussions it became apparent that this woman regularly ran away from difficult situations. She was even considering moving house to get away from this woman.
A Second Case Study of the Five Step Strategy
Step 1
Identify any significant events happening in your life at present.
I’m a naturopath and have been asked to consult with two clients who have both been told by their doctors that there is nothing that medical science can do for their condition.
Step 2
Write the dream out.
I am with the Queen Mother. She tells me that she used alternate therapies when she was alive.
Step 3
Underline or circle the significant people, animals and/or events in the dream.
I am with the Queen Mother. She tells me that she used alternate therapies when she was alive.
Step 4
Have someone ask you a series of questions about the dream with you taking on various aspects of the dream. If you don’t have someone to ask you the questions write out a few generic questions you can ask yourself and then go through the process.
What do you think of the Queen Mother?
She seemed very healthy and lived a long life.
How do you feel about her using natural therapies?
If it’s true I think it’s great.
I want you to be the Queen Mother and answer the next questions.
What positive thing has happened in your life?
I’ve lived a very full life.
What problem/s have you encountered in your life?
Everything I do is scrutinised by the public.
How do you feel about this?
I sometimes worry what they think of me.
Step 5
Relate the answers to the questions to the significant event occurring in your life.
- The Queen Mother uses natural therapies and I am a naturopath.
- I see the Queen Mother as being watched and judged and I feel I’m being watched and judged as a naturopath.
- Even though she was so high profile she still embraced alternative therapies. I feel I am being told to believe in myself and in the alternative therapies I practice.
Strategies for Remembering Your Dreams
As I mentioned earlier, we all dream but many of us don’t recall our dreams. So how can we recall our dreams and access the wonderful messages they provide.
Step 1
Keep a dream journal and pen beside your bed. If you wake and recall some aspects of a dream, write it down immediately. You may think to yourself, “I’ll definitely remember that in the morning”, only to find you recall having a dream but can’t remember what it was about. So it’s vital that you capture the memory of the dream while it is still fresh.
Step 2
If there is a specific issue that you are seeking guidance on, write a question on a slip of paper and place the paper under your pillow. This can act as a trigger for your subconscious mind as you sleep. Alternatively, simply write, “I always recall my (significant) dreams”. Initially you may wish to leave significant out of your message to yourself. However, after a while you will realise how much you dream and understand that many of the dreams are just your mind processing the day’s events. At this point I recommend you include the word significant in your message to your sleeping self.
Step 3
Keep a glass of water beside your bed. Just prior to going to bed say to yourself, “I always remember my dreams”, and drink half the glass of water. Upon waking immediately drink the other half a glass of water. This can act as a trigger for the mind to recall the dreams.
Check out the following sites for more information on remembering dreams.
www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Stewart32.html
www.lucidity.com/NL11.DreamRecall.html
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Free Dream Interpretation
If you’d like your dream interpreted for free simply fill in the information below and I’ll email my interpretation within a few days. To assist with the interpretation also include any information about what’s happening in your life at present. For example, you are applying for a promotion, you are going on holiday soon, etc.
Messages From The Universe
What is the Universe trying to tell you?
Derek takes you on a journey of discovery as you find the messages the Universe is sending to help you understand why things are happening in your life.
You'll explore dream interpretations and past life dreams. You'll find out about ghosts, what they are and why they are still here. You'll investigate reincarnation and find out how it can affect your current life. You'll see how problems with cars, brush-cutters and other mechanical devices can give vital clues to your life direction.
Derek describes, in a brutally honest manner, his journey and the lessons he has learnt from the messages the Universe has sent him. You'll find out about his progression from being an atheist to a spiritual teacher. He'll also tell you what his lesson was when he was sacked as a technical college Director.
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