Solitude in the Vedauwoos
I want to speak plainly and directly to an entity that I can’t quite perceive.
FREE Dreamwork Guide
The Wisdom of Our Dreams
“Dreams are impartial products of the unconscious psyche, outside the control of the will. They are pure nature . . . and show us the unvarnished truth.”
– Carl Jung
Dreams . . . the “magic mirror that never lies.”
Dreams reveal to us deep truths about our purpose and offer meaning in a world where so many feel adrift.
Our dreams are loyal and trusted guides, in service to our health and wholeness (even our nightmares).
And yet, how many of us pay attention to our dreams or take them seriously? Unlike our indigenous sisters and brothers, most Westerners were never taught to consider our dreamlife as a source of unerring, profound wisdom.
For much of my life, I paid little attention to my dreams. If I remembered them at all, I paid scant attention and any interpretation was superficial and usually literal.
On occasion however, a dream would catch my attention. I would discover that the dream was portentous and even accurately foreshadowed an upcoming event.
Mostly though, I brushed these dreams aside as purely coincidental or the product of magical thinking.
Thankfully, dreaming happens whether we pay attention to it or not. Research shows that we dream up to 5 or 6 times per night (every REM sleep cycle). So when people say “I don’t dream” – it’s actually “I don’t remember my dreams.”
I discovered the power of dreams in my 40s when I was going through very difficult personal challenges. My typical pattern was to “power through” my problems and overcome them by sheer force of will.
And this approach used to work. However, perhaps because of my age, the nature of the problems, or plain exhaustion, I realized that I couldn’t rely on my intellect to find peace and resolution.
With no where else to turn (and a few powerful recurring dreams), I sought training in how to use my dreams for guidance. I started paying attention to my dreams and discovered that my nighttime dreams held a treasure trove of information, inspiration, guidance, and connection to a deeper part of myself.
Dreamwork asks us to suspend our disbelief and be willing to look into “the mirror that doesn’t lie.”
It’s terrain that befuddles the ego and rational mind. Dreams speak in symbol, allegory, myth, and archetype – as well as quite literally.
The study and practice of dreamwork as a tool for expanding intuition is a deeply rich and numinous practice that, when enough people undertake the work, can quite literally save the planet.
Why are dreams so important?
Dreams hold personal information and guidance, even at a literal level. It is quite well documented that some people’s dreams have foreshadowed events – also known as “precognitive dreams.” Examples are plane flights that crash, undiscovered cancer or other serious health problems, career opportunities, etc.
However, as remarkable as these examples are, even the most mundane of dreams can hold guidance in our everyday lives. You might be considering a job change and a dream may literally show you the website of the new company you will be working for.
Dreams don’t tell you things that you already know. When you work a dream, there is always an “a-ha” moment when you know that you’ve touched the core message of the dream, information that moves you forward in your spiritual evolution and growth.
Dreams are multilayered.
By this I mean that dreams can hold a more literal/personal interpretation, but every dream has multiple layers of meaning that includes our shadow self/projection, myth, and archetype.
A dream can be worked numerous times, focusing on different elements of dream and thereby touching ever deepening layers of meaning.
Our dreams contain fragmented, projected aspects of ourselves that we have not acknowledged.
These hidden “shadow” aspects of ourselves typically show up as other characters in our dreams. When we work with characters in our dreams, it is always helpful to ask: “how is this character an aspect of me?”
And finally, the sharing of dreams in a group (a “dream circle”) is incredibly powerful, and not only helps the dreamer but also the others in the group.
The archetypal aspects of a dream apply to everyone, and dream circles offer us the opportunity to not only support the dreamer through offering insights, but also help ourselves.
UPCOMING COURSE ON DREAMWORK (starting in April):
If you are interested in exploring the world of dreams . . .
The Dreamwork Intensive is a live 8-week course that focuses on the psychospiritual aspects of dreamwork. The course is designed to give you the tools to understand the multiples layers of your own dreams, and illuminate the aspects of your subconscious that are longing to be recognized and integrated.
Each week we learn principles of dreamwork as well as experience the power of working dreams in a group setting. Classes are intentionally small (maximum of six participants) so that everyone receives individualized support and guidance.
Join us for a journey that will forever change how you see your dreamworld
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