Things You'll Need:
- Journal or Tape Recorder
- Paper and Crayons
- An Open Mind
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Step 1
One of the easiest ways to begin is to draw the most vivid images from your dream. Artistic talent is not important here. Just draw the image and see what emotions the drawing evokes. Sometimes the very act of honoring the images this way will change the way you view them. Hang the drawing on your bathroom mirror for a few days and see what happens when you view it.
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Step 2
Recording your dreams (through journaling or dictating immediately upon awakening) and studying them in a series of three is also an effective way to get more information. Once you begin working with imagery, the unconscious is free to move on to Part Two of its story. It is particularly effective to pay attention to your dreams in a series when you experience a significant life event: the birth of a new child, the start of a new job, reinventing yourself after a divorce, etc. There is often guidepost information in dreams at these junctures.
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Step 3
When attempting to interpret your dream images, see what gives you the “Aha! factor.” Even the most experienced dream therapist is not as good a guide to your dreams as your gut is. When you are trying to figure out what a specific image represents, see if your hunches ring true to you. While a guide can certainly help you, they cannot decide what the dream means in your own life. But with practice, you can.
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Step 4
Some like to utilize dream books to look up the common meanings of images or symbols. While this can be helpful, you must ensure the “Aha! factor” is there. A bear may be listed as a universal symbol for awakening instinct, but how do you relate to bears? Are you enchanted by them? Afraid of them? Have a particular history with them?
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Step 5
You can also “ask” for a dream solution for a problem you are encountering in your waking life. This can be as simple as a silent request for a dream on X subject before you drift off to sleep
