Working With Dreams
Hannah Green
Dear Community,
Wishing you all a happy spring as we journey into longer days. I hope you get to enjoy some of the luscious wild flowers surrounding us. All along the coast a stunning array of color awaits.
This month I am focussed on dreams and dreaming. Jung said that dreams are perhaps the quickest route into the unconscious. Marion Woodman says that if we cultivated a true and deep relationship with our dreams we wouldn't need therapy. Dreams speak to us in the language of the unconscious. This language is our native tongue and the language of the soul. This language requires curiosity, tolerance, creativity, intuition and feeling into. It asks these things of us in return for its rich rewards. If we can tolerate feeling unsure and remain curious ~ a dream can nourish us with a soul message.
Dreams help us process feelings and learn the language of symbolism. Dreams increase our tolerance for the unknown and help us to cultivate curiosity. Dreams help us look at our lives from different perspectives
and reveal hidden strengths and opportunities. Dreams cultivate wholeness by bringing unconscious parts of ourselves into conscious awareness. Dreams create a dialogue between the conscious mind and the unconscious mind and between the different parts of ourselves. Dreams invite connection with our soul and our inner guidance.
My current favorite book about dreams and dreaming is Inner Work: Using Dreams and Active Imagination for Personal Growth by Robert Johnson. This book contains an easy to understand overview of Jungian concepts that are extremely useful to any dreamer. Robert outlines a four step process for working with dreams that synthesizes a vast amount of wisdom and technique.
From Inner Work pg. 51
Step one ~ Making associations: here we write down all of our associations with a dream image. For instance if I dream about a willow tree I might write ~ willow tree ~ England - rivers edge - fairies - sadness- safe place - childhood home - solitude - magic - grandmothers. We make associations directly with that image which is different from "free associating" where we follow a chain of associations away from our original image.
Step two ~ Connecting dream images to inner dynamics: This is where we connect the dream image to internal experiences. These internal phenomenon are specific feelings and reactions we have to life situations and they are also more broadly representative of specific parts of ourselves. To use the example of the willow tree again: where in my life have I been craving solitude and a safe place? What situations are bringing up sadness? Who is the part of me that connects with magic and my ancestry? Does this part of me have something important to say right now?
Step three ~ Interpreting: this is where we make a coherent statement about what the dream means to me as a whole (Johnson 87). Here I articulate the central message of the dream in a way that clicks and feels alive. It is essential I take the time to do the first two steps because the interpretation is the fruit and synthesis of this initial time and effort. I might interpret the willow tree dream like this: It is important I take time for solitude and deep connection with myself and my feelings.
Step four ~ Doing rituals to make the dream concrete: this is where I do something physical to actually integrate the dream into waking conscious life. There are endless ways to do this. We can make a drawing, painting, collage or other creation that depicts the images, feelings or message of the dream. We can dance the dream. We can make literal changes in our life that reflect the wisdom gained through the dream work. We can simply light a candle or do whatever we feel moved to do as long as it has a physical, tangible element. The ritual I might choose for the willow tree dream is go and find a willow tree and spend time with her or to go and sit by the waters edge and embody my own willow woman, feeling feelings and enjoying peaceful solitude.
I chose one dream image to illustrate the process which is nice and simple and a good way to start. Once we get the feel for working with dreams we can do steps one and two with all elements in the dream and weave a more contextual and specific interpretation. The best way to start working with dreams is to get a dream journal and put it and a pen right next to your bedside. It takes about 30 seconds to forget a dream so it must be quick and easy to put pen to paper. Just start writing and record what you can. Be patient. Sustainability and consistency are key when it comes to developing a relationship with dreams. I keep a nightly dream journal and then take some time on Sundays to work with a particular dream that really stands out. At that time I can also notice other images from the week and do a little research into mythical or archetypal associations with those images.
I love the four step approach to working with dreams but remember you can work with dreams in any way that feels right to you. Some people enjoy creating artwork or imagery that connects to their dream life. You can collage your dream or write a dialogue between yourself and a character in a dream. You can bring a dream into therapy and work collaboratively to interpret the dream.
Remember that each part of the dream is a part of you that is asking to be acknowledged and that wants to heal and inspire. The most potent tool for dream work is pen and paper. When we record our dreams through writing or art making we activate the dialogue between the unconscious and conscious mind and this dialogue has the power to heal.
The above painting depicts the Greek Goddess Nyx, goddess of night and sleep. I love the image of this feminine form sweeping the cloak of night across the sky with the ocean beneath her. Can you see the magical colors dancing on the water's surface? The owl, her companion reminds us that we have the skill to see in the dark if we only make ourselves receptive and pay close attention.
I highly recommend the audio interview Dreams with the great Marion Woodman as a way to learn about the important role of dreams and dreaming.
Casey Zabala is a wonderful resource next door at The Scarlet Sage. She is a gifted Tarot reader and also works with dream interpretation. Learn about her beautiful Tarot deck the Wanderer's Tarot and book a reading with her here.
Wishing you all the very best and happy dreaming!
