journaling tip tuesday: dream journaling

Yet it is in our idleness, in our dreams, that the submerged truth sometimes comes to the top. ~Virginia Woolf

Dreams are mysterious and fascinating. But what do they mean? Do they even have a meaning? Some dreams are just fun illogical romps through our psyches. But other times, our dreams can be a wealth of information about ourselves. You may wake up one morning remembering the most vivid dream, but then a few hours later cannot even remember what happened anymore. Writing your dream down in your journal as soon as you can can help keep those details vivid.

You may find that you have recurrent dreams. Once you start writing your dreams down, you may notice patterns. Find out what these patterns could mean. Is it something relating to your awake life? Or are your dreams tapping into something even deeper?

Dream Journal, amanobooks 2004

Tips:
:: Keep your journal by your bedside. Don’t forget to keep a pen there too! When you wake up, write as much as you can. If you are pressed for time, as most of us are when we get up in the morning, write at least one word or phrase. Pick something relevant that will jolt your memory.

:: Detail- write down as much as you can. The characters in your dream, what you were wearing, what you were doing, were you even yourself? Dreams are so fascinating, especially when you delve into the details.

:: If you are a creative type, pay attention to your dreams. Our dreams can be rich sources for our artwork, our writing, our music. Symbols from our dreams can inform our artwork. Pay attention! After you write your dream down, do sketches about it. You don’t have to sketch out the whole dream. Sketch one part of your dream- a symbol that appeared, a character, an object.

:: Research the symbols that appear in your dreams. Here are some online resources:
dreammoods.com
sleeps.com
But also research folklore, myths, and cultural stories. These stories that are a part of the collective human psyche and may have surprising relevance to your dreams.

Prompts:
:: I often dream about………
:: As a child I often dreamt about…..
:: My most bizarre dream was……….
:: I have nightmares that revolve around…….
:: My funniest dream ever involved….
:: A dream that left a very stong impression on me……
:: Try to remember if a dream you had ever helped solve a personal problem or issue.
:: Have you ever had a dream that inspired you?

Posted in journaling tips

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 3:40 pm.