Dream themes might range from writhing snakes to teeth falling out. Who doesn’t want to know what their dreams are about? Keeping a dream journal is one of the finest ways to begin interpreting your dreams.
We asked therapist and dream specialist Marianne Salmans, Ph.D. how to begin one and pore through its entries for clues into your subconscious.
A quick recap on dream interpretation:
There are numerous theories regarding dreams and whether we can actually learn anything from them, but one of the most widely accepted theories is that dreams serve as a means of memory consolidation, where the dream is a reflection of waking life, as previously explained to Sons Of Universe by psychologist and dream expert, Eleanor Marshall, Ph.D.
“”Dream interpretation, from that standpoint,” she continues, “is about decoding the dream.” It enlightens and mentally increases our awareness, providing an enlargement of consciousness.”
According to Marshall, the key to dream interpretation is not to try to interpret the dream literally through symbols and imagery, but rather to dig into the emotions it produces, asking, “What is this bringing up for me emotionally?”
We need to learn dream language; we don’t necessarily have to convert it into waking language,” she says.
The advantages of keeping a dream journal include:
1) It allows you to reflect.
The dream notebook, according to Salmans, serves as a physical means to connect with and reflect on our nightly excursions in the dream world. And the more we pay attention to them, the better. “The more we pay attention to our dreams, the more we remember them—and the more useful they are,” she explains.
2) It permits you to access your subconscious mind.
According to Salmans, once you start keeping a journal, it will be easier to decipher what your dreams are attempting to teach you about your waking life. “Dreams, in particular,” she explains, “may help us obtain a better understanding of our blind spots and put a light on essential topics that we may have been avoiding.”
3) It makes it simple to monitor progress.
When we keep track of our dreams, we might see recurring patterns and themes. “You’ll be able to utilize your dreams to track changes and notice when anything in your dream life begins to transform,” she adds. “This can frequently indicate significant changes and progression in pertinent elements of your waking life.”
How to Begin and Write a Dream Journal
Interested yet? You’re in luck: dream journaling couldn’t be easier. According to Salmans, the dream journaling procedure is as follows:
1) Select a journal (or app).
Find a book or periodical that interests you and put it beside your bedside, recommends Salmans. There are also apps for this, though keeping your phone next to your bed may be detrimental to your sleep quality.
2) Slowly awaken and recall your dream (s).
“It’s critical to write down your dreams as soon as you wake up,” Salmans advises, “since they evaporate from our memory very rapidly.” She recommends lying down and thinking over any dreams you can remember a few times before doing anything else.
3) Make a note of them.
Write down whatever you remember about the dream(s), in as much detail as you can. If you’re in a rush, Salmans suggests taking just enough notes to help you remember later, and then writing the rest when you have time.
“It might also assist to do little sketches of your dream because they are typically quite visual,” she continues, “and visuals can express spatial relationships that are frequently shown in dreams.”
4) Begin interpreting.
Once you’ve jotted down all of your notes and/or drawings, you may begin delving into the meaning. “Associations are the finest place to start,” Salmans explains. “Write down what the major imagery in your dreams remind you of most in your waking life.”
5) Take note of any patterns or themes.
The more you begin to document your dreams, the more likely it is that particular patterns or themes will continue to appear. Salmans claims, “Dreams have been described as picture-metaphors for your most salient emotions, so you may think about your dream imagery in this light and journal about the emotions they reflect.
Over time, your journal might tell the complete tale of your individual dream world.”
Templates to start your dream journal.
When you wake up, use this list of questions and suggestions to help you remember your dreams.
Questions:
- Who was there in the dream?
- How did you feel after having the dream?
- Where do the themes of your dream appear in your daily life?
- In your dream, where were you?
- What do you believe this dream is attempting to teach you?
- How will you apply the lesson from this dream in your daily life?
- Was the dream repeated? If that’s the case, why do you believe you keep having it?
- Was there any significant significance in the dream?
Prompts:
- Draw or sketch one specific detail from your dream
- Draw or sketch one larger scene from your dream
- Draw or sketch something to represent the emotions present in the dream
- Write a different version of the dream with how you’d prefer it to go
- Write what you’d like to happen if the dream continued
A word about nightmares.
Salmans adds that if you have unfinished and/or unpleasant dreams, you can put them down in your journal—with a fresh ending. She describes it as one that “hopefully completes the dream in a way that gives some type of resolution or mastery of what you dread in the dream.” “This is a simplified form of the most highly suggested treatment for nightmares, and it can be really useful.”
Finally, the bottom line on dream journals.
Dreams are extremely personal, and only you can decode them. A dream notebook can assist you not only remember your dreams but also provide you with a timeline of your dream world that you can tie back to your waking life.
Consider the various reasons that could be causing your difficulty remembering your dreams, such as stress and bad food. Once you’ve prepared yourself for a dreamy night’s sleep, grab your journal and you’re ready to go.
Wishing you a pleasant night with colorful dreams! Good Night!
