Dreaming the Feeling

[emmanuelvdm]

It seems that dreaming is a topic with many theories as to why we dream and what the dreams mean. This discussion is about my own experiences, and how it works for me, a simplistic overview of my dreaming. Yet I'd be very surprised if dreaming doesn't work this same way for you.

I have two types of dreams. One is a dream related to something I encountered during the day that upset me, such as a scary scene in a true-life dramatic movie. That upsetting feeling plays out in a later dream. In fact, when watching or experiencing such an event, I sometimes know this will likely come out in a dream of sorts. Those dreams usually aren't the ones of value. It is the other type of dream I find more valuable.

Let me start with these questions. When waking up from a dream, we usually have some sensation, a feeling of sorts. We might ask ourselves, Is the feeling I have when waking up from a dream the result of the dream? In other words, did the dream create the feeling? Or: Is the feeling the reason why I had the dream? In other words, did the dream portray an underlying feeling I've been walking around with for some time: maybe for an hour, a day, a week or even weeks? For me, the latter scenario is where I gain most from my dreams, in that they portray underlying feelings I've been walking around with, either aware of or unaware of my feelings. When I don't clearly see the underlying feelings, my dream will come along and make a "movie" as a visual aid so I can more clearly see what it is I've been walking around with.

When I wake up from a dream, I sense the feeling and I recall the dream-movie. I attempt to put words to the feeling, without fighting it, and merely acknowledge and accept the feeling. Once I have the words for the feeling--not elaborate, but short and simple, or even one powerful word to describe the feeling--I then relate that description to the dream-movie: without forcing the words to fit. If the words don't fit, I revisit the feeling to find accurate words. The combined description of the feeling and the movie depicted by the dream portrays to me what I'm not sensing in my day-to-day life.

Then there are recurring dreams; they are valuable aids. The scripts underlying these dreams are set from a pattern. Some underlying feeling is continuously not being addressed. The dream will likely reoccur until one of two things happens: the underlying feeling is incidentally altered due to changing circumstances, or the underlying feeling is intentionally addressed.

Here is an example of a dream and its related words. From time to time, I have a dream that seemingly reoccurs even though I address the underlying cause each time. It is obvious to me that I have the same dream for different reasons, and it depicts a similar feeling at different times. In the dream, I am looking for something I don't find, an elusive something. In each dream, I look for something different. But each time, when I get close to finding it, what I'm supposed to be looking for changes, and then I need to find something else. Each time, I awaken feeling lost. Thus, different things at different times while on my life's journey create a feeling in me that I'm lost. When I awaken from this dream, then find the words and relate them to the dream, I recognize that the thing I'm attending to at the time creates in me a feeling of being lost. I use this as an opportunity to look at what I'm attending to, and acknowledge that I'm lost and don't know which way to turn or which option to take. Recognizing and acknowledging that I'm feeling lost assists me in finding direction.

Dreaming the feeling is an invaluable self-uncovering aid.

Copyright © 2007 Emmanuel van der Meulen

[NfoJunkie]

Interesting points & you described it all very well. These are some of the things I've recently been wondering and trying to figure out (how to distinguish which dreams are meaningful in which ways), so thanks for posting. Most of my dreams haven't seemed as meaningful or been as memorable lately, and I've had a few of these "lost" & confusing ones, spending most of the night trying to find the answer to an unknown question, or trying to find some item at work. Since before joining this site I've been acknowledging and contemplating that imminent change is necessary for my life but as far as what to do & which option & direction in life is wisest to take, I've been lost. Every option seems to involve sacrificing something good & taking a big chance on some person or thing that may or may not be there when it really counts. In light of what you said, perhaps these dreams aren't as irrelevant as I initially thought. I'll have to pay more attention & try to pull back more of the details in the future..

Other things from my own experience that seem to help : When I wake up, I'll have remnants of what sometimes even seems like 2 or 3 different dreams for how dramatically different the involved people, places, and things can be. When I put the scenes in the proper order & focus on the ever-shifting/changing people, places and things, I usually find that what I forget about or don't pay attention to in the dream is what changes, and that whatever it is I'm focused on is what continues on (to the next scene or circumstance) & I often find as I remember & make the connections, that it's all one long dream or movie. For me at least, it's often the things that bridge the gap between the scenes that I learn the most from. I don't know if it's the same for others or not, just posting in case it helps anyone.

[emmanuelvdm]

Firstly, thank you for your acknowledgement.

What works is to put words to the feeling. The movie scene is created by us from our current frame of reference. And usually has little to do with what it depicts.

Please see this piece about how I misinterpreted a daydream--and it works the same for dreams and any other feelings. Due to not looking at the underlying feeling, we do not usually get what the feeling the dream or daydream portrays. Daydreams: Misinterpretation and Undercurrent.