Although dreams are usually ignored, once we learn to listen to them in a non-literal way they can be extremely helpful. Dreams give us direct access to our unconscious which has a crucial role in our wholeness, deep knowing of ourselves, and living with wisdom.

Wholeness requires a partnership of the conscious and unconscious parts of ourself and dreams help us establish this. They are an unconscious attempt to weave together that which has been fragmented in our being and to reclaim that which has been ignored or lost. They reveal unconscious wisdom that we need to be whole. 

Prior to the eighteenth century, virtually everyone assumed dreams also had spiritual significance. This is reflected in a traditional Jewish prayer: “Sovereign of the Universe, I am thine and my dreams are thine. As thou didst turn the curse of the wicked Balaam into a blessing, so turn all my dreams into something beneficial to me.” 

While the Bible offers many examples of the importance of dreams, one particularly clear expression of a modern psychological view of dreams is found in Daniel’s response to King Nebuchadnezzar’s request to interpret the meaning of his dream. Before doing so, Daniel said, “This mystery has been revealed to me, not that I am wiser than others, but for so the king can learn what it means and understand your innermost thoughts” (Daniel, 2: 30).  

So, how can dreams help us know our innermost thoughts? Let me share five principles of dreamwork followed by five basic dreamwork techniques.

Principles of Dreamwork

1. Rather than trying to interpret your dreams, learn how to listen to them. Think of them as a message from your depth sent by the Spirit for your well being. A Jewish proverb states that an unexamined dream is like an unopened letter. Not all dreams are of equal value so it is not necessary to open each dream-letter, or attend to then all equally. The richest dreams usually emerge late in the night, are longer and have stronger feelings attached to them and often contain bizarre or puzzling elements. These are the communications from your depths that are most worthy of your attention.

2. Don’t try to force meaning out of the dream. Simply receive it and hold it lightly.  Rather than asking questions  about the dream, listen to the questions it asks of you. A dream of a car out of control and without breaks might be inviting you to ask “how is my life out of control?” A dream of war might suggest the value of considering “what inner enemy am I fighting?” Receive these sorts of questions as a gift – something to reflect on or pray about, not a puzzle to be solved.  

3. View the dream as a parable or a Zen koan, and avoid taking it too literally. It is a story that makes one basic point so listen for its overall theme and don’t get lost in the details. Keep your focus on the dream as a whole – the overall invitation that it contains. Pay particular attention to repetitions over a series of dreams or within a dream. 

4. Consider all dream symbols, including the people who appear in the dream, as representing parts of yourself. Focus on the chief characteristic of people or other objects in the dream.

5. Finally, be prepared to face both the dark and light sides of your inner self. Both must be engaged if that which has been lost or eliminated is to be redeemed. To fail to show hospitality to that which is dark or frightening is to increase its power and potential influence. To deny the reality of the unconscious is to not know yourself and to risk being tyrannized by that which you are trying to ignore.

Basic Dreamwork Techniques

1. Immediately upon awakening, write a complete report of any dream that seems important. Note as many details as you can recall, including your feelings. This is not the time to try to work on the dream. It is simply a way to preserve the important details for later then you are ready to return to it.

2. When you have time to return to it, give the dream a title and identify its major themes.  Think of it as a play, or a painting. What is it primarily about? How might that relate to your current life situation? Are there any similar feelings, themes or circumstances? 

3. Identify and note your associations to the most important symbols in the dream. Don’t be distracted by researching the so-called meanings of these symbols. Simply notice your own personal associations and then allow yourself to ponder them in your head and heart and notice what arises as you do so.

4. Identify and pay particular attention to your dream ego (the person or symbol in the dream with which you most identify). Notice particularly the puzzling or surprising ways in which this character differs from how you normally behave and consider whether this offers you the possibility of new ways of being in the world.  

5. Pay attention to any gifts or invitations that may be present in the dream. Consider what changes in your waking life you may want to make in response to these gifts and invitations.  

While many more advanced techniques are available, this is the place to start. Keep watch for an upcoming course that I will be offering on dreams and let us know if this is of interest so we can notify you closer to the time when it will be offered.

2020 © Dr. David G. Benner