Dear Dreamers,
I am excited to be attending the annual conference
of the International Association for the Study of Dreams this week. One of the most pragmatic features of the
conference comprises the four hour-long sessions wherein attendees can work
directly with leading researchers and practitioners in the ‘field of
dreams.’ I may join Past President of
the IASD, Robert Gongloff, again this year to delve even deeper into the Heart
of the Dream, as he calls his exploration approach to dream material.
In previous columns, I have shared research from
dream interpretation icon Patricia Garfield, Ph.D. She is co-founder of the IASD and her wealth
of knowledge of dreams and dreamers from around the world forms a foundational
base for understanding common dream themes as a part of our shared,
cross-cultural dream experience.
We spoke earlier about four of the 12 most common
dream themes Garfield identifies in her book The Universal Dream Key:
Being chased or attacked, falling or drowning, missing the boat and
being lost or trapped. Here are two more
of the recurring themes you’ll recognize from your own nocturnal travels!
Being injured, ill or dying v. being
healed, born or reborn.
Garfield notes that this relatively common dream sometimes occurs at the
onset of an actual illness. Further, the
usual, less literal meaning of such dreams as they equate to the dreamer’s
waking life could be stated as: I feel hurt emotionally. I feel damaged or wounded. Or, I’m afraid I will be hurt. These dreams may speak as a warning about a
physical risk that the dreamer is contemplating, or about the emotional risks
of pursuing unhealthy relationships.
Conversely, dreams of being healed, born or reborn
reassure the dreamer that s/he has a restored waking ability or emotional
repair. Garfield goes on to say that
being born or reborn, or giving birth in your dreams can signify the awakening
or reawakening of a ‘lost’ part of you.
Being naked or inappropriately dressed
in public v. being well-dressed. Common among dreamers in Garfield’s study,
and familiar to all of us, these dreams typically occur when we feel vulnerable
or exposed in waking life. We feel
awkward or without protection.
Garfield suggests starting with some guiding
questions as you begin to explore the application of such dreams to your waking
life: Where was I in the dream? Home?
School? Work? The answer to this question will offer
insights into what area of your waking life has you feeling unprotected or
weak. Your reactions to your nudity in
the dream can also help pinpoint the crux of the desperate or fearful emotions. In effect, how you handle your exposure in
your dream is key to successful navigation of the waking circumstance!
It follows that dreaming of being well-dressed would
speak to the sensation of confidence in your waking life. Perhaps your dream is urging you to act more
confidently in a waking situation alluded to by the dream.
The IASD Conference is in Berkeley this week,
Wednesday through Sunday. Hope to see
you there!
Sweet Dreams to You!
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