Maybe you are less weird than you think. I’ll take you through this whistle-stop tour on how to interpret your dreams, covering views of Freud and Jung, Gestalt dream work (my favourite), dream emotions, nightmares, night paralysis, sex dreams and not dreaming.
What are your thoughts on this? Will you have a go at interpreting one of your dreams, perhaps using my favourite Gestalt method? Let me know your experiences!
Thank you for this article. I remember talking to my therapists about dreams and being amazed what she told me. It takes practice and courage to analyze your dreams yourself. But is worth it.
This is such an interesting post 🤩 I always note down any dreams that I remember and it certainly makes for an an interesting read! Are there are books that you'd recommend reading on this subject?
That’s great! Maybe you could try the gestalt method when you write them and see what comes up? I’m sorry I have not read a particular book on dreams as it came out of my training materials. You could try Freud’s interpretation of dreams perhaps though maybe it’s a little out of date now!
My dad always had elaborate dreams, often flying dreams. And he and my sister would talk about their dreams over breakfast. And as a teen it drove me crazy because other people's dreams are boring to hear about. But then I started doing my own "dream interpretation" for them when they shared and it became much more fun. Of course, my interpretation likely said more about me than about their dream. :)
Haha I’m sure you interpretations were bang on! It is so interesting to consider their meaning. Other peoples dreams are boring on the whole, I resisted the urge to write mine in here! 🤣
I noticed that and appreciated it. On the rare occasion I share a dream with someone, I preface it with - "I know dreams are boring, I'm not going to try to tell you the whole thing, just this part ..." :-p :-p
Aha! My partly shaven legs is an existential concern 😂 in all seriousness, this has flagged to me some of my trauma dreams are clearly due to underlying worries I’m currently facing.
I must say, collective unconscious - I love the idea of this. I find this a comforting thought.
Haha Heather you are not weird! I love your legs dream, I’m sure there’s lots in there if you go through each part and the feelings involved. And maybe you’re psyche has a sense of humour!
When I’m stressed or worried I tend to have some very odd frightening dreams I could possibly share 🤭
I love geeking out about this kind of thing. Thanks for sharing, Kate! I often chat with a friend who is equally as excited about interpreting dreams as I am, and it's been really fun to compare notes and talk about what our dreams might mean.
Love this post, as I have recurring dreams about being lost in the hospital, the operating room, or labor and delivery. I am always searching for some way to get out. This after having “gotten out” (retirement) eight years now. So very interesting.
Do you think a part of you hasn’t quite gotten out? Focus on the overarching feeling you have. It sounds vulnerable to me from the outside (just remembering how I felt at a hospital appointment last week!)
This is amazing! To find someone who openly acknowledges the fact that dreams contain a valuable message for us to improve in life. So funny about the night paralysis one, the first time I experienced this as a boy/teenager, I was sure the aliens were taking me!!! Oh my god!
Haha I know we must all think it’s something like that but of course it isn’t! I should have said that dreams are sometimes incomprehensible but most have lots of useful meaning in them! Thanks Luis! 💫
I think the existential approach you described most resonates with my experience of dreaming. For me, dreaming is a wonderful escape from reality, but my recall is very poor. It amazes me what our minds independently create at night 🌙
Yes those existential concepts underpin everything really. Our minds are so creative and it’s amazing how real dreams seem at the time. If you don’t remember much you may still remember the emotional quality which may have useful food for thought. ✨
What are your thoughts on this? Will you have a go at interpreting one of your dreams, perhaps using my favourite Gestalt method? Let me know your experiences!
Thank you for this article. I remember talking to my therapists about dreams and being amazed what she told me. It takes practice and courage to analyze your dreams yourself. But is worth it.
I think they are worth pondering for sure! Thanks Barbora! ☺️✨
This is such an interesting post 🤩 I always note down any dreams that I remember and it certainly makes for an an interesting read! Are there are books that you'd recommend reading on this subject?
That’s great! Maybe you could try the gestalt method when you write them and see what comes up? I’m sorry I have not read a particular book on dreams as it came out of my training materials. You could try Freud’s interpretation of dreams perhaps though maybe it’s a little out of date now!
Great I'll read up on this method as I dont know anything about it 👍thank you
I write about it in the post 👍🏼
My dad always had elaborate dreams, often flying dreams. And he and my sister would talk about their dreams over breakfast. And as a teen it drove me crazy because other people's dreams are boring to hear about. But then I started doing my own "dream interpretation" for them when they shared and it became much more fun. Of course, my interpretation likely said more about me than about their dream. :)
Haha I’m sure you interpretations were bang on! It is so interesting to consider their meaning. Other peoples dreams are boring on the whole, I resisted the urge to write mine in here! 🤣
I noticed that and appreciated it. On the rare occasion I share a dream with someone, I preface it with - "I know dreams are boring, I'm not going to try to tell you the whole thing, just this part ..." :-p :-p
Well now you can ask them to role play it with you, that can’t be boring! 🤣
Aha! My partly shaven legs is an existential concern 😂 in all seriousness, this has flagged to me some of my trauma dreams are clearly due to underlying worries I’m currently facing.
I must say, collective unconscious - I love the idea of this. I find this a comforting thought.
Also confirming, I am weird.
Haha Heather you are not weird! I love your legs dream, I’m sure there’s lots in there if you go through each part and the feelings involved. And maybe you’re psyche has a sense of humour!
When I’m stressed or worried I tend to have some very odd frightening dreams I could possibly share 🤭
I love geeking out about this kind of thing. Thanks for sharing, Kate! I often chat with a friend who is equally as excited about interpreting dreams as I am, and it's been really fun to compare notes and talk about what our dreams might mean.
Thanks Kaitlyn, I like it too though I think most people find it boring! 😆
I love that we are not those people 🥰🤭
Exactly!😄
Love this post, as I have recurring dreams about being lost in the hospital, the operating room, or labor and delivery. I am always searching for some way to get out. This after having “gotten out” (retirement) eight years now. So very interesting.
Do you think a part of you hasn’t quite gotten out? Focus on the overarching feeling you have. It sounds vulnerable to me from the outside (just remembering how I felt at a hospital appointment last week!)
I definitely have not “gotten out” all the way, since I miss medical practice so much. It was so much easier for me than this writing is.
Writing is so hard! It takes a lot of energy and is exposing (which can feel vulnerable too) but it’s also rewarding ☺️✨
This is amazing! To find someone who openly acknowledges the fact that dreams contain a valuable message for us to improve in life. So funny about the night paralysis one, the first time I experienced this as a boy/teenager, I was sure the aliens were taking me!!! Oh my god!
Haha I know we must all think it’s something like that but of course it isn’t! I should have said that dreams are sometimes incomprehensible but most have lots of useful meaning in them! Thanks Luis! 💫
I think the existential approach you described most resonates with my experience of dreaming. For me, dreaming is a wonderful escape from reality, but my recall is very poor. It amazes me what our minds independently create at night 🌙
Yes those existential concepts underpin everything really. Our minds are so creative and it’s amazing how real dreams seem at the time. If you don’t remember much you may still remember the emotional quality which may have useful food for thought. ✨