How
to interpret your dreams
By Jimmy Henderson
Our dreams can also be a means to self-or spiritual
development, as they are an easy way of receiving information on aspects of our
personality that need further work. We also read in sacred scriptures that
angels can appear to us in dreams. They can therefore also be a source of guidance.
Keep a dream journal
Keeping a dream-journal is a valuable tool
in remembering your dreams, as they usually fade very quickly. You will
discover that if you write the details of your dreams down immediately after
you wake, your process of recall will become easier. The journal also helps you
to provide structure to your work of interpreting the dream.
Dreams
are assembled in your subconscious. When you dream, your subconscious is
communicating with you by presenting symbolic images in a dramatised and
metaphorical form. Being able to record your own ‘language’ of dream-images in
a journal will therefore help you interpret your dreams as well as any other visions
you may encounter during your spiritual work.
Some dream-images are quite common, as our
symbolic processes are the same. However, their meaning usually differs as a
result of each person’s unique background and past experiences. I will
therefore be supplying you with basic rules and guidelines to help you explore and
interpret your own exciting and enigmatic world of dreams.
The dimensions of your dream
The way your dream is put together is very
important as it contains elements or clues to its meaning hidden within its
context, structure, form and composition. It also uses your present view of the
world and framework of concepts, beliefs and ideas. There are a number of different
dimensions or levels in your dreams, each having its own set of symbols and
meanings. For instance, the background always suggests the context or
theme of the message. Try to recall if your dream was light or dark and involved
a natural scene or buildings of some sort. What you see as the background is
only a clue to the underlying theme of the dream and should not be taken
literally. For instance, the sea is often considered a metaphor for the ebb and
flow of everyday life, with tides flowing in and out as events unfold. A dream
playing out against the backdrop of the sea would probably suggest a problem or
situation arising in your normal day-to-day life which requires attention. Likewise,
a dream-scene taking place in a desert (which is usually desolate), may suggest
a situation in which you feel isolated and alone and are seeking assistance. A dream playing out in semi-darkness may indicate
that you are in a crisis (having trouble seeing your way forward). The idea is find
a connection between the background of your dream and your present
circumstances, needs or state of mind, by looking at the symbolism involved.
Once you have jotted down the background
details, the next important step is to remember the immediate surroundings
in your dream. This will provide you with more information on your present situation
and state of mind as well as your outlook on the world. For instance, in ‘looking
out’ onto the world, you would normally use the windows of your home or office.
And in your dream, any building in which you find yourself would be a metaphor
for ‘where you are’ at the moment. Try to recall the characteristics of the
structure, as these can usually be related to your current situation or world-view.
For example, a ‘small’ window could suggest your having a limited outlook on
life. A dark and damp building could relate to your being in an unpleasant
situation or having a negative view of the world. And a building or house in
shambles could suggest that your present situation, state of mind or outlook, is
chaotic.
Moving away from the immediate surroundings
in your dream, focus on the activity which took place. The type of drama,
scenario or situation that is being played out, reveals the content of the
message, which as I said, could be related to an unfulfilled need in your life or
to some other issue which requires attention. You now need to ask yourself how the
activity in your dream can be applied (metaphorically) or related (symbolically)
to your present situation. For instance, a scene involving travel could be a
call for change, or the broadening of your boundaries and the opening of your
mind. A battle or conflict in your dream could be referring to a similar
situation within yourself. Any threatening situation may be a warning of a matter
that urgently needs to be resolved, something which is a real threat to your
mental well-being or inner peace.
The next dimension involves the actual
images, characters and objects that were presented. In terms of Gestalt
psychology, every object or person (character) in a dream represents a certain
aspect of yourself and you will need to ask yourself what aspect of your personality
the figure represented. Look at the attributes of the characters involved. Were
they large or small, aggressive or loving, threatening or supportive? For
example, a poor, abused and helpless child could suggest your wounded ‘inner
child’. A richly dressed, opulent figure could symbolically point to abundance
or a desire for riches, depending on the context and what actions are taking place.
For example, a fight with another figure in your dream could be pointing to a conflict
within yourself that needs to be resolved.
Finally, consider each object that appeared
in your dream. Each will have a particular symbolic significance and add detail
to the final meaning of your dream. Objects can often be interpreted in terms
of their practical uses or effects in everyday life and applied (metaphorically)
to your present situation or path in life. For instance, a large boulder on your
path would suggest an obstacle to be overcome and a crossroads, a decision to
be made. Once again, the guideline is to consider what you will need to do in
real life when confronted with such a situation or object and re-phrase the answer
in a metaphorical form.
To
unlock the final meaning and message of the dream, you will need to learn to link
and combine the information obtained from each level or dimension of symbols,
into an integrated whole. And this is a straightforward process which involves simply applying
your knowledge and reasoning.
Durban ,
South Africa
Website
- www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com
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