Dreams Change as We Change
I had a conversation with a friend the other day where we talked about changes to the repeating themes in our dreams. We’ve both come to notice our dreams change after a concerted effort to release old emotional patterns.
What Dream Themes Have Followed You Through the Years?
See if you recognize this one: you’re in a school, you're running late, and you’re lost. You can’t find the right door or remember your locker combination or something similar is holding you back. Sound familiar? Many people have some version of this dream. Only, I’ve managed to change mine.
Confirmation of Self-growth
After doing some powerful forgiveness and self-acceptance processes, my powerless dreams have become full of power. No more am I chasing after (or occasionally running from) a predicament. At first, I still had those same dreams but I did something to help myself. It might be as simple as asking someone for directions. The emotional template was completely different. I didn’t feel scared or frustrated. I felt calm and neutral.
Eventually, I stopped having those kinds of dreams altogether and began a new pattern of dream themes (usually where someone is teaching me something).
Dreams as Guides
Dreams are a great way to dip into the deep work we need to do. Those repeating themes point to where to start.
What Is Your Dream Telling You?
Many people go to dream dictionaries to analyze their dreams. I always advise against this because those are based on cultural archetypes. They are a guidepost for the collective unconscious but they are not personal enough. An image of a snake may be frightening to one person, but a person who had beloved pet snakes as a child would have a different emotional connection to that image. Find out what the dream images mean to you.
Figuring out your dreams
Start with the emotions - How did you feel in the dream? In my earlier dream themes I felt lost and frustrated. Ask yourself where you feel that way in your current life. Where have you felt that way much of your life?
Explain it like I’m an alien - Imagine you're explaining your dream to a person from Mars. They know nothing about Earthly life. In my early dreams, I would start with “I was in high school. A high school is a place where kids have to change from class to class on their own. I was lost. Lost is when you want to be somewhere, but you can’t find your way. I was frustrated. Frustration is a feeling of not getting what you want or expect.” This practice of oversimplifying the dream helps you get at the heart of the meaning.
Journaling - Keep a journal to see what dreams come up and when. Certain dreams would come up when I was feeling wrongfully accused. Others, when fear was holding me back or I was procrastinating. Seeing what types of dreams come up when certain events are happening helps me narrow down what to work on.
Dreams are a doorway to our subconscious mind. Each night we get hints on what we’re still processing. There is really nothing that can point us to our growth potential like our dreams.
What are your dreams telling you about yourself?
Dreams are a gateway to Spirit. They are a simulator where you can get answers, practice anything, and manifest. Learn more about lucid dreaming, connecting dreams to waking life, and understanding what your dreams are telling you.