How to prepare for your dream analysis with your intentional dreaming? Whether you are part of our Dream Yourself Together Dreamwork challenge group or you do it yourself with the Dream Zones massage and Oil Relax for dreamwork application (or with your therapist in your 1:1 therapy session), good preparation gives you the best chance to make the most out of your dream analysis sessions.
Usually we tend to write down (or voice record) the dream we saw – in full; a snippet of the dream; a single scene or just one character or even one detail which we remember – so we are using words. However, while this is probably the easiest and natural first step, this way we really just describe some linear and very ‘left brain’ (analysis; structure; evaluation) themed picture of our dream. When we draw our dream and especially when we later return to it and look at the picture creatively (so we are using images), we engage our right brain powers (creativity; recognising the bigger picture; forming associations between seemingly unrelated aspects/details).
So when we both describe our dream in words and record it on paper in images, this all together provides for a more well rounded representation and so eventually better perception and finally more correct analysis of the dream. When you draw the dream, don’t worry about any ‘arty’ aspects of it – or even at accurate depicting of the characters on your picture and their relative positioning; just start. Make your first go at the picture, pause and then come back (maybe even on a different day). The trails of thoughts, feelings and associations will be unravelling in time and every time you look at the picture you will see some other aspects of it – with the all being closely related and holding the keys to your present life’s situation, no matter how unrelated the dream topic may seem on the surface.
Dreams speak to us in a very symbolic language and learning this language takes time, detached observation, freedom of creative imagination and letting go of any desired/obvious/forced interpretation. This type of dream analysis takes practice, trust and letting your creative imagination run free. And while the process seems somewhat lengthy, complex and time consuming it actually isn’t. With some practice, it takes no more than 5 min to describe in words even the most eventful dream full of various characters. It will take another 5 min at most to draw your dream. At this point you are halfway there – even before any typical dream analysis session (anything from 10 to 40 min maximum for very busy dreams), your inner association-forming and pattern-recognition processes will be fully at work thanks to powers of your unconscious mind with no conscious work needed on your part.
See your dream, write it down, draw it and go about your day. You may either choose to take this particular dream into dream analysis (yourself; with a friends as a dream exchange partner; to our Dream Yourself Together group) or this initial recording of your dream in words and images – just by its existence on paper and so now separate from you – with time will naturally lead to important insights and realisations. From my experience with my patients, students and Dreamwork Challenge groups, I would say learn and practice several times your simple dream analysis in a guided and supportive setting; then most of the time, by having naturally internalised the dream analysis process you will get plenty of insights into your inner workings through (and beyond) your dreams.
I feel that at least twice a year (I found that Winter and Summer Solstices to be ideal times as these are major Yin-Yang energy transitions and our dreams tend to be deeper, richer and symbolically important – and so valuable for dream analysis interpretation) we need to give ourselves the gift of connection and consulting our Inner Self through a deeper dream work. Another important point is your Birthday and the point of year opposite to it; these are another big energy changes wise points in your year. The latter tend to be more personal in relations to your dreams; with Solstices it’s more about us moving, changing and transforming with the seasons, light levels and general alignment to the universal energies dynamics.
Good luck with your dreams and please contact me using the form below if you are considering intentional reading and dream analysis within our Dream Yourself Together challenges; in between mid-winter and mid-summer there is a waiting list for dream groups: these are very small groups by design to make sure that everybody’s dream is analysed at least once during the 9 day challenge; so get your name on a waiting list if you are interested.
If you would like to explore your dreams with creative dreamwork, join us for the next ‘Dream Yourself Together’ Dreamwork challenge to learn simple and effective self-care tools which you can use for years to come 
Happy Dreaming!
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