RECORD YOUR DREAMS
Where would music, literature and film be without dreams? Although the idea of keeping a dream diary is a relatively recent phenomenon, the notion of paying attention to our dreams can be traced back to ancient times. It was often thought that dreams could predict the future and warn us of impending doom.
Perhaps the most famous dream from the ancient world can be credited to Calpurnia, wife of Julius Caesar, who, legend has it, dreamed of her husband’s assassination on the Ides of March. Caesar was indeed murdered, but without Calpurnia’s dream diary to verify her precognition, historians can but speculate.
Countless creative works and scientific breakthroughs are said to have started off as dreams. It’s thanks to the recollection of a dream that the first science-fiction novel was created: Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein was said to be dream-inspired, as was Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Had it not been for a conversation with a friend one Saturday afternoon, I might have spent my entire adult life oblivious to my overactive subconscious. The wake-up call occurred when I mentioned the bizarre dreams I’d recently experienced.
I was a young and not very confident adult and had met someone with whom I was quickly falling in love. It certainly wasn’t unrequited love, as there appeared to be attraction on both sides, but I was getting mixed signals and was at a complete loss as to the way ahead.
After a series of dreams relating to my predicament, I consulted a wise old friend to get her advice on the best course of action.
As I finished describing my dreams, I was shushed and told to think about what I’d witnessed. A spider’s web, a vampire … perhaps my subconscious was warning me to be careful, to tread warily? Thinking about it, that scenario made perfect sense: the relationship had been confusing from the start. At the very least, I needed to take stock.
From that moment on, I started taking notice of my dreams. I bought dream-interpretation books and even volunteered for a university research study that called for me to document my dreams over several months. I bought a journal and started recording my dreams as soon as I woke up.
I learned very quickly that most were based on the experiences of the day just gone. That, although dream-interpretation books were interesting and offered ideas, they were too generic to really offer specific insight. I discovered that dreams often play with words and images and can be incredibly subtle one night while blindingly obvious the next.
I don’t believe or suggest that all dreams hold deep subconscious meaning. I do, however, find my dreams often comment on a perplexing situation and sometimes even guide me towards a common-sense answer.
This is where keeping a dream diary comes in extremely handy. Try to capture your dreams in as much detail as possible. The longer you leave it, the more likely the experience will dissipate and remain little more than a vague shadow.
I have also started keeping a list of the people, places and things I dream about most. Over the years I credit my dream diary with helping solve everything from creative writing quandaries to workplace issues. At the very least, my dreams have led me to think more about the problems in my waking life and the manner in which I should solve them.
Keeping a dream diary creates a unique account of how your subconscious works. It promotes insight and the thought process, both of which add value to our waking lives. There’s no right or wrong way to it, and it can be done as often or as infrequently as suits you.
HOW TO KEEP A DREAM DIARY
• You can either keep track of your dreams in a regular diary or purchase a purpose-designed dream diary from your local newsagent.
• Get into the habit of writing down your dreams first thing in the morning.
• If you are interested in dream theory, have a look online or buy a dream-interpretation book. But remember: YOU are the one most capable of recognising the meaning of your own dreams.
• Keep a tally of the recurring people, places and themes in your dreams.