Dream Interpretation Part 5

Dream researchers have discovered several distinct categories of dreams, and these dream categories can be very useful both to people attempting to interpret their own dreams and to professional psychologist and therapists striving to interpret the dreams of others.  This article will discuss these categories of dreams.

Daydreams

While not technically a dream, since it takes place while we are awake, researchers are looking into just where the daydream fits on the spectrum of dreaming, and what it can teach us about more traditional dreams.

It is estimated that most people spend between 70 and 120 minutes each day daydreaming.  Daydreaming is thought to be a level of consciousness below that of a normal waking state but above that of sleep.  It falls about midway between them.

During a daydream, we allow our imagination to take us away from the mundane tasks of the day.  As the mind is allowed to wander and conscious awareness is reduced, we can become lost in the fantasy or imaginary scenario.  What we have done is let go of our usualy control on our conscious.  I personally doubt that daydreams have much to do with dreams at all as mine at any rate, never seem to have the "otherworliness" of  dreams in sleep.

Lucid Dreams

Lucid dreams are among the most fascinating subjects in all of dream research.  Lucid dreaming takes place when the dreamer realizes that he or she is dreaming while still immersed in the dream.  Lucid dreaming occurs in that moment when you tell yourself – “This is only a dream”.  The occurrence of lucid dreams varies widely from person to person, with some people reporting never having lucid dreams and others reporting almost 100% lucid dreams.

While most dreamers wake up when they realize that they are in a dream, other people are able to develop the ability to remain in the dream and take control of it. It is possible to learn to be an active participant in dreams and this is a powerful way to work though things, or could even be used for entertainment! I personally found doing deliberate lucid dreaming somewhat tiring.  It was like I was working all the time I was asleep.  However some early cultures learnt to do this and produced excellent . psychological benefits.

Nightmares

Many people are troubled by frightening and disturbing dreams, commonly known as nightmares.  Young children in particular often suffer from nightmares brought on by fears of monsters in their closets and under the bed, as well as other types of fear.  

Of course nightmares are not confined to childhood, and many adults, particularly those who have suffered real life trauma, are particularly susceptible to nightmares. People suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), such as soldiers returning from war, rescue workers and others who have been through traumatic experiences, report a higher incidence of nightmares than the public at large.

Many people who suffer from frequent nightmares report a history of real life problems, including psychiatric problems, pdifficulty with drugs or alcohol, or problems with family relationships. Because of this dealing with frequent nightmares needs to address initial traumas that created the situation in the first place.

Recurring Dreams

Many people have had a recurring dream at some point in their life, a dream that repeats itself, with minor variations or even none at all.  Recurring dreams can be about any subject, and they focus on that subject night after night.  

Some recurring dreams are positive and uplifting, but studies show the majority of recurring dreams to be negative in nature. Dreams can recur in this manner because the real life event that triggered it has remained unresolved.  Dealing with the real life trauma responsible for recurring nightmares is often the best way to banish the bad dream.

Some dreamers report experiencing narrative dreams, in which the dream picks up where it left off night after night.  These dreams are somewhat rare, but the people who experience them report them to be very vivid and memorable.  Keeping a dream journal particularly helpful in remembering and working through these kinds of dreams. (For any type of dream work a dream journal is a must!)

Healing Dreams

Healing dreams can involve sending a message to the dreamer regarding his or her physical, mental or spiritual health. In this way they can be connected to phrophetic dreams below except that if you listen to the warning and go and visit your doctor or whatever, you can manage to stop the problem or limit the damage.This  can be about health but also about anu other situation where you find solutions and insight through dreams.  Healing dreams can come in other ways, such as dreams that nourish you and where you get in touch with inner resources.

Prophetic Dreams

Prophetic dreams are also known as precognitive dreams, and people experiencing them often report the ability to use them to foretell the future. Independent studies of these types of dreams are rare, and some people question whether this ability to see the future exists. You yourself can be the judge on that one.  If you have a dream and it cimes to pass then it is true for you!  I have had some phrophetic dreams which have come to pass but not in exactly the way they did in the dream.  However once the thing passed I was aware that that had been what the drream was about.  I would say that one dream at least was possibly a warning.

I believe we still know very little about our own abilities, so I think an open mind is the best way to go.  Do not imagine a dream to be phrophetic, simply work on your dreams by whatever method you choose and see what happens.

Epic Dreams

Epic dreams are somewhat rare, but they are unforgettable to those who experience them.  Epic dreams are so vivid, and so compelling that they simply cannot be ignored.  The tiniest details of these dreams are often remembered for many years. These epic dreams can possess lots of symbols and meaning for the dreamer.

These first 5 essays have been an introduction to dreams.  In the next part we will go on to look at some Theories on dream Interpretation, beginning with Freud.