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Dreams are the "Embodiment of Your Thoughts"
If you're in the habit of ignoring your dreams, you discount your most valuable resource for understanding yourself, according to Dr. Knudson of Miami University of Ohio.

Dreams can be viewed as the "embodiment of thoughts" from our waking lives, giving us feedback on our emotional state.

In the case of grieving after the loss of a loved one, dreams of them can provide a window into the relationship that was once there--and is now missing.

"Our dreams have to do with how we internalize the people we love," says Pamela McCarthy, director of counseling services at Smith College. "You learn to look within for the loved one and the particular function that person played in your life, such as caretaking or guidance in the case of a parent. This becomes part of a function that you can provide for yourself."

Considering the fact that you spend about a third of your life sleeping, and dreaming, keeping track of your dreams can provide valuable insights into the state of your life and the changes you're going through. Keeping a dream journal can be a helpful tool as you work through emotional dry-patches in your life, for example.

Dreaming is a natural thing, and disturbed sleep patterns can wreak havoc with this internal guidance. Making sure you get a healthy amount of sound sleep each night is vital for your overall mental, emotional and physical health.

The New York Times July 3, 2007




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Article's Comment     ( 14 Comments )
 
 
 -1 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Phantom O' Banjo   
  
[ Joined on 09/06 ]
[ Posted on July 05, 2007 ]
Post Reply
I would say music is the mathematical expression of a little dream dreamt.
 

 -4 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Reesacat   
  
[ Joined on 01/07 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on July 05, 2007 ]
 
Phantom, what a lyrical thought!

 
 -1 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Zambini   
  
[ Joined on 05/07 ]
[ Posted on July 03, 2007 ]
Post Reply
Wow, the dream in the beginning is very reminiscent of my own recurring dream in childhood about my grandfather who died.  He actually had a spoon and bowl and was clanking them.  I missed him much. 

I've always felt dreams were drawn from our lives, wants, desires, etc. But, this article seems to leave me wondering why it was written other than to state the obvious.  I don't know, maybe someone can enlighten me as to the purpose. 

 
 -2 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY goldeneagle   
  
[ Joined on 04/07 ]
[ Posted on July 05, 2007 ]
Post Reply
The most productive part of my day in the first 3 hours of it.  I do administrative law.  I have my best defenses and strategies come alive during my sleep and when I wake up, I just put them on paper, and they are powerful.

 
 -2 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY shiva   
  
[ Joined on 10/06 ]
[ Posted on July 05, 2007 ]
Post Reply
My life experience has revealed that the most vital guidance available to us,.. comes to us through our dreams. The vast expanse of the unconscious mind is that aspect of consciousness that holds our disowned awareness and knowingness. 

If one consciously makes the effort to daily work with and listen to ones dreams, one will eventually discover the most vital source of guidance available. It has been my experience that there are basically two types of dreams that we recieve. One is the common every day dream that we each experience each night that is not particularly compelling or strong in it's affect. In my experience, these are not particularly important dreams, yet they are important in that if we are working with them each day, we will eventually learn to understand the language of the unconscious. 

By "working" with them, I mean to say, either writing them down each time we awaken from a dream, and recording as much detail about the dream as we can recall, or keeping a voice recording. This includes physical descriptions, feeling states and general themes etc. One has to be disciplined with this by keeping a note pad etc. beside ones bed and recording the dream details as soon as one awakens from the dream. If you put it off till later, you will forget most if not all of the dream.

Once you have developed an understanding of the language of the unconscious, then you will be more prepared to understand the meaning of the really important guidance that will come to you through what has been referred to as "Big Dreams". .. These are those dreams that are compelling to the dreamer, and most often have a strong impact when they are experienced. These are dreams that are very important messages from the unconscious regarding very serious challenges, changes or choices that we face in our waking lives. They offer the insight needed.