How Dreams Help Us Learn More About Ourselves

There are many theories as to why people dream but the fact is: dreaming and the reason for dreams is still a big mystery. A huge amount of research has now been put into this subject and it is strongly accepted in the psychological world that dreams are a reflection of the subconscious. Within dreams are images and symbols that can be interpreted by the conscious mind to reveal a person's innermost feelings for what they truly are.

Dream work or working with dreams can help people understand the different kinds of dreams and recognise those dreams that might hold important messages. Many dreams are a reflection of what may have been seen, heard and experienced during the previous day or recent days. These can be looked on almost as the subconscious mind cataloguing everyday events and experiences. Other dreams might seem to come from nowhere with curious images and bizarre happenings. These are the ones that may register as being important in some way.

Not everyone finds it easy to remember their dreams despite the fact that everyone does dream. Dream work helps people learn ways to recall their dreams on waking and to interpret the messages within their dreams.

How can this be of psychological benefit? There are a number of ways dreams can provide the dreamer with insight into their inner self. Once a person is in touch with their dreams and starts to recognise the symbols of their dreams, dream work can help make them more aware of their emotional, mental, spiritual and physical needs.

Working with dreams is to work with the symbolism within dreams. This means looking deeper beneath the surface of the pictures and images that appear. Signs and symbols in dreams can mean different things to different people. Common dream symbols can be found in books and on web sites and this can be a good start to helping people understand the nature of symbols. What must be remembered is the pictures in individual dreams can hold a complexity of meanings and the longer a person works with their dreams, the more in tune they will be to what each symbol mean to them.

Carl Jung believed that in everyone there is another person. This person communicates to their 'other half' as it were, through dreams and shows how differently this person inside views the world and personality often in very different ways to the waking mind. Working with dreams can open the door to a remarkable world within and puts a person in touch with who they are, deep inside.

References

Dee, N "Understanding dreams, what they are and how to interpret them," Thorsons Press (2000)

Raphael, E "The complete book of dreams" Foulshom & Co. Ltd (1992)