Believe
“We recounted our dreams because one of the best ways to
induce dreams is to give attention to dreams.” –Aldous Huxley
The first step towards remembering your dreams more is to
try to remember your dreams more. I have a little desk next to my bed, with a
lamp, a notebook, and a pencil ready to go whenever I roll over. I suggest you
do the same. Something about using my phone never worked for me. But I
encourage you to experiment with using your phone, a recording app, or an old
school notebook and see which one works for you.
At the beginning, it may be hard to remember your dreams,
but write down anything you can remember. Even if it is only a single word,
record something. You will start to remember more. A good trick is when you
wake up, go over the dream in your head right away. Don’t move. Start from the
last thing you remember and work backwards. Once you get to a point where you
can’t remember anymore, roll over to your journal and start writing.
More Tricks
A few more tricks you can use to help dream recall is to
look at your dream journal as you are falling asleep. This will prime your mind
to think symbolically, which is the language of dreams. Also, you can practice
simply telling yourself, out loud, “I remember my dreams. I have interesting
and meaningful dreams.” If you’d like I can send links to the science behind
this. Try it out if you need the extra little boost.
Naskapi Indians
Here is a beautiful perspective on the meaningfulness of dreams
and how to be more receptive to them by the Naskapi Indians. This quote is from
Man and His Symbols, a book written
by Carl Jung.
“In his
lifelong solitude, the Naskapi hunter has to relay on his own inner voices and
unconscious revelations; he has no religious teachers who tell him what he
should believe, no rituals, festivals, or customs to help him along. In his
basic view of life, the soul of man is an “inner companion,” whom he calls, “my
friend” or Mista’peo, meaning “Great Man.” Mista’peo dwells in the heart and is
immortal; in the moment of death, or shortly before, he leaves the individual
and later reincarnates into another being.
Those
Naskapi who pay attention to their dreams and who try to find their meaning and
test their truth can enter into a deeper connection with the Great Man. He
favors such people and sends them more and better dreams. Thus the major
obligation to the individual Naskapi is to follow the instructions given by his
dreams, then to give permanent form to their contents in art. Lies and
dishonesty drive the Great Man away from one’s inner realms, whereas love and
generosity of one’s neighbors and of animals attract him and gives him life.
Dreams give the Naskapi complete ability to find his way in life, not only in
the inner world but the outer world of nature. They help him foretell the
weather and give him invaluable instructions in his hunting, upon which is life
depends.”
We don’t realize it, but we are like these Indians.
Scientific thinking and mass media has left us disconnected from tradition,
religion, and tribal communities. This passage is important because it
highlights how useful dreams can be to the disconnected. This tribe has none of
Modern Society’s technology or knowledge, yet they have survived. Not with
religion or science but by listening to their dreams. Their instincts have
guided them. Imagine how skilled you could navigate the waters of life if you
learned to use our modern technology, the scientific method, and dream
interpretation.
You, and every individual, has the possibility of connecting
to a much deeper energy. And the way to connect to this force is to attempt to
record and understand your dreams. The Naskapi also believed that being a good
person and turning your dreams into art helped build this connection even more.
I’ll let you experiment with this.
Reconnect
Our body is pulsating with instincts that successfully
guided us through time for millions of years. From the moment we are born into
culture, we are slowly taught to suppress and channel these instincts into
behavior our culture finds acceptable. Listening to your dreams will help you reconnect
with your instincts, your inner Wise Woman.
Summary
To receive more dreams, want to receive more dreams. Record
your dreams using whatever method works for you. Every morning write something,
even if it is only a single word. If you are in need of more help, read about
dreams as you are falling asleep. Tell yourself while you are laying down in
bed that you have interesting dreams and you remember them.
For extra credit, create any kind of art that was inspired
by your dreams. I love you and don’t get discourages. Focus on taking a single
step through the dark forest every day. One step. Good luck.