A dream that is not interpreted is like a letter that has not been opened.
—from The Talmud.
We are living in a dream-deficient society, to borrow a term from Nancy Grace, a teacher of the dream phenomenon since 1989. Ours is a society that talks about dreams only when they are interesting, that is when they are nightmares or movie-ish. Otherwise, we have become content with just waking up for the day, easing back into our routine work life, and not minding interpreting our dreams and what they are trying to tell us, just letting them accumulate-- a treasure box of letters forever unopened.
Dream Interpretation Unlocks Metaphors
Not remembering our dreams is also like having a conversation but remembering only the nice grand parts of it, while missing the subtle details and nuances that make dreams more meaningful.
Here are five ways to make the most of your dream and dream interpretation then:
1. Keep a dream journal or diary. Make it a habit to write down your dreams of night before. Do this right away upon waking up; don't trust yourself that you can remember your dream later in the day. As an exercise, this may sound tedious, but it'll grow on you. You'll be amazed to read about your dreams after a month, two months, a year.
2. Discuss your dream with your family, friends, or loved ones. There is an irreplaceable feeling of relief and liberation in being able to share your dreams with people who know you. They might offer their own versions of dream interpretation, helpfully adding to the rich layer of meanings in it.
2. Write a poem, or a song, or even make a film out of your dream.
Musicians like Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, Sting, and Shawn Colvin all write songs inspired by their dreams. Painter Joan Miró would deliberately deprive himself of sleep, sometimes for several days, just to inspire himself to paint wondrous characters and sceneries that have percolated in his head. As a matter of fact, the Surrealist movement utilised the fantasies of their dreams for inspiration. (Think of Dali's melting watches and clock.)
4. Don't be afraid or shy to consult a dream interpreter or even a psychic. If you don't feel comfortable discussing your dream with your loved ones, especially when they are included in the dream, then a total stranger may be the better person to interpret it. Oftentimes, the best dream interpretation come from people who don't know you, and, thus, are able to take an objective point of view from your dream.
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