Dreams are metaphors

[vaneramos]

A few nights ago I dreamt about finding an unfamiliar deck of cards in my apartment.

I've always admired ghostsandrobots facility at remembering and actively participating in her dreams. When I was younger I had fascinating dreams, but nowadays I seldom remember them. This is another side effect of mirtazapine, which causes me to sleep deeply and wake slowly. It might even interfere with REM sleep somehow; who knows? On the other hand it facilitates lucid dreaming as I fall asleep. So I can't blame the drug entirely.

I have one ability on my side: usually I can tell what my dreams mean. They rely heavily on symbolism, but we shouldn't refer too much to social archetypes. We each carry our own set of symbols. All we need to do is consider and apply them. For instance when I dream about school it indicates a lack of confidence about something (in school I feel I'm still learning and haven't arrived yet).

I associate playing cards with the Tarot and divination. The recent dream indicated I need to make more effort to remember my dreams. They offer a valuable source of insight and guidance from my own sub-conscious. Perhaps I have a greater message trying to get through to me. The cards also reminded me of Brenna and suggested some wisdom, but I won't delve into that here.

You can make it easier to recall your dreams:

1. Keep a notebook and pen by your bed where you will find it when you wake up.
2. When you go to sleep, tell yourself, "I am going to dream, and I am going to remember my dreams." (Practically everybody dreams; many people just don't remember. It helps to form this intention.)
3. When you wake up, open the notebook even if you don't remember anything and write down whatever comes to mind.
4. Don't hesitate to use your imagination. If you only remember a fragment, try filling in the blanks around it. There is no right or wrong. You are only trying to get the whole message from your own brain, after all, so it doesn't matter whether you actually dreamt something or you just think you dreamt it. Calling upon your imagination to flesh out the dream will make it easier to remember more details now and in the future.
5. If you have trouble putting it all into words (this often happens to me), try drawing. Some of our dreams may come from the pre-language part of our consciousness. Sometimes psychologists ask people to use drawings to recall events that occurred when they were small children, before they learned to talk, because such memories were stored in their brains without the use of language.
6. Stick with the process. It may take a few days or weeks before you start to remember anything.
7. As you start to remember your dreams, add as much detail as possible. After you have finished recording a dream, ask yourself whether you have missed anything. Little things can be full of meaning. The effort to express the inexpressible will pay off.

This has worked well for me in the past. I would like to practice it again. As one candidate for my 6 changes this year, I considered keeping a dream journal again.

Ironically, last night I dreamt of seeing myself with a glistening upper body muscle definition, a clear message my sub-conscious wants me to start lifting weights again, another change I considered. The dream also means I'm vain, but it wouldn't hurt to feel better about myself, and be healthier.

Apparently my sub-conscious is dissatisfied with the list already chosen, but I can't do everything. Working out and keeping a dream journal both consume valuable time. A dream journal might fit into my existing morning writing routine. Working out would have to substitute for one of the other items on the list, but I don't need to write it in stone yet.