Dreams are something I pay attention to. Although I cannot possibly explore all the wonderfully important information there is out there about dreams, perhaps I can touch on a little of it today, and inspire someone else to pay attention, too.
And why not pay attention? Science has many theories about dreams. Some of the more prominent dream theories contend that the function of dreaming is to consolidate memories, process emotions, express our deepest desires and gain practice confronting potential dangers.
And in the spiritual? In the Bible alone, there are 21 stories about dreams! Most of them are found in the Hebrew Scriptures (or Old Testament.) One of the things I love about so many of the stories is it seems to not require any special education, skill, or rank in life to have them, or interpret them! The important thing seems to be paying attention to them.
There’s Daniel, who paid attention to someone else’s dream and thereby saved his own life. Daniel was in a tough situation. Along with the rest of the Israelites, he was taken to Babylon and put under the yoke of the king. Bright, young, and strong, Daniel had the king’s attention. But this only increased the courtiers’ jealousy.
The only way for Daniel to survive is to interpret the king’s dreams. God tells him what they mean. He discovers a gift—which ends up saving his life—that he never knew he had. But it was a gift. Nothing he aspired to. It is easy to dismiss Daniel’s powers of interpretation as something extraordinary. “I’m not like Daniel,” we might say as we ponder what our own dreams mean. But Daniel didn’t read a pile of books or get a Ph.D. or consult with a visionary. His gift came from his relationship with the Divine.
So, I pay attention to my dreams, when I remember them. Science tells us while everyone dreams, not everyone recalls them. It is possible to set an intention to remember our dreams.
I suggest a practice I have - keeping a notebook and pen by the bedside. Simply include in whatever your bedtime spiritual practices are the intention to recall and jot down your dreams. You may have to take small steps. If you do not recall your dreams, record your mood upon awakening, or your first few thoughts upon rising. Invest in a book about symbols or a dream dictionary once you start remembering your dreams. Investigate the items you see in your dreams by looking them up. You could go to a learned individual like a pastor or counselor for understanding of your dreams, but I personally think the best interpreter of dreams are the dreamer themselves.
Buddhists have understood for centuries that the illusions we encounter in dreams are the same ones we encounter in waking life. Their practice of Dream Yoga entails examining the content of their dreams for clues that might help them navigate real life.
When we have conscious connection with the Divine in prayer or meditation, we are in a transcendent state. To my mind, sleep is also a transcendent state. It’s possible that dreams may enable some sort of communication with the Infinite.
I recently had a dream involving someone I care about. Even though there was nothing going on in my waking life that would make me think anything was amiss. I checked on them anyway, and they had a lot on their mind.
As I said before, I pay attention to dreams, and for good reason! They are powerful and important according to American children’s poet, Annette Wynne. She wrote:
Mighty Things
Iron, steel, and granite rock are mighty things, I deem,
But the strongest thing in all the world is just a dream;
Dreams built a house, and built a bridge, a ship to go afar,
And God's dream made the earth and us and every rolling star.
So, dream on, my friends, and pay attention. Anyone can have a dream, anyone can interpret a dream, and your dreams may contain mighty and powerful things!
I thank you for reading, be blessed this day.
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