Dream Interpretation - Meds can interfere with sleep, dreams

Dear Carolyn,

I recently went on a strong medication to bring my high blood pressure back into the normal range.  Almost immediately, I began having a recurring, scary nightmare.  

Every night, I dream that I am being chased.  In the dream I am in a familiar area that is well-lit – it’s daytime – and does not seem threatening at all.  The path is well-maintained and the area around it is green and lined with flowers.  So it seems like it should be pleasant and non-threatening.  But I am being chased by something or someone I cannot see.  I know that I must escape or I will be killed.  That’s all there is to it.  It is life and death!  I never can see who or what is behind me.  All I ever see are my feet and legs as I run for my life! 

When I wake up from this terrifying dream, my heart is pounding and I am drenched in sweat.  Maybe I’ll get a drink of water or go to the bathroom, but when I fall back to sleep, the dream begins again and I am terrified.  It’s exhausting!

Afraid to Fall Asleep! 

Dear Afraid,

Your change in medication may be the culprit in this situation.  First of all, you find yourself in a familiar area that is attractive and well-maintained.  The path through this area may be analogous to the path of taking medication to treat high blood pressure:  It is a commonly traveled path that is familiar to most of us who are aware of well-known methods of treating this condition.  It is an attractive option for resolving the condition, just as the path in your dream seems to be an appealing choice.

But, to the contrary, you find yourself with your heart racing and sweat pouring off your body.  This is not the way it is supposed to work!  You should be safe and relaxed on this path.  Instead, you find the reverse.

You mentioned that the new meds are strong.  In conversation with your doctor, consider the possibility that they are too strong, or inappropriate for you in some other way.  The side effects may be altering your dream state/sleep cycle and contributing to the images of pursuit by an unknown but fearful threat.

That is a literal understanding of your dream’s material.  Given your medical condition, your first and mandatory step is to consult your doctor and adjust or change your medication if that is warranted.  Then we can talk about the possible metaphorical meanings of such dreams as yours, Dear Dreamer. 

Sweet Dreams to You!

Dream interpretation - Start your own committee

Our dreams come to us in service of our health and well-being.  That doesn’t always mean they tell us what we want to hear.  But they always tell us what we need to hear.  Today’s dreamer offers a perfect example, though she may not like it very much.

Dear Carolyn,

I have a friend whom I have questions about.  I’ll call her “Margaret,”   She is chairperson of a committee I have been a member of for over a year now.  Generally we work well together, or so I thought.  Margaret called me recently and asked me not to be so much of a leader in the committee!  She said she doesn’t feel competitive with me, but why would she even bring it up otherwise?  She said I should step back my style and just ask questions or the other members will start to resent me! 

I have always been a conscientious member of this group.  I pull my weight and do my best to help others.  No one else has ever complained to me, or given me so much as a sideways glance.  I think Margaret is jealous of me and feels I am a better leader than she is.  I enjoy the work we do and the other committee members, but I often wonder if I should leave this group.

Now, my dream:  Margaret and I are in a meeting.  It looks like the United Nations.  We are seated at opposite ends of a long table.  Every time I try to say something, she interrupts me.  I get angry and frustrated.  And then I learn that she represents Sweden.  She is a neutral country and has immunity from my complaints.

Signed,

Frustrated Diplomat

Dear Diplomat,

Our dreams tell us the truth.  What we do with that truth is another matter.  Many times, when faced with a truth that we find unpleasant, or counter to our prevailing beliefs, we just don’t want to hear it.

Such is the case with your dream today, Dear Dreamer.  It provides insights into your current situation and your relationship with Margaret that you may find hard to accept. 

First, your dream is set in the UN, a place designed for peacekeeping.  But it has you seated opposite Margaret signifying your oppositional relationship with her.  Noteworthy is that both of you have power positions at the ends of the table.  In these positions, you might have a balance of power if your competitive natures could be softened. 

When your dream casts Margaret in the role of Sweden, the message is clear even to you within the dream:  She is not biased; she is neutral.  You must consider her opinion.  Even if you are well-intentioned, you may be overstepping your bounds.

On the pragmatic side, she is immune to your accusations.  Consider this carefully:  It seems Margaret has the power in this situation.  Take a deep breath and measure your response.  You may choose to leave the group; or, if you stay, you must accept her leadership and a lesser role for yourself.

Sweet Dreams to You!

sendmeyourdreams@yahoo.com

Dream Interpretation - Clean up your own mess!

Our second session in the series of three dream work workshops is coming up Sunday, June 14^th.  We will turn our focus to two powerful techniques for putting our dreams to work for us.  These are lucid dreaming and dream incubation.  While lucid dreams and incubation are naturally occurring phenomena, participants will learn step-by-step methods for inducing them and working ‘hands on’ with the dreams that follow.  Join us if you can!  Details at http://www.meetup.com/Send-Me-Your-Dreams/

Dear Carolyn,

I hope you can help me with a recurring dream that is embarrassing to talk about, but it bothers me a little bit more every time I have it.  Each time, the dream is a little bit different, but the main thing is that I come upon a pile of feces.  Sometimes it’s in the corner; other times it’s out in the open.  In the most recent version, the feces was expanding!  Each time I come upon the mess, I shake my head in dismay and say to myself, “There it is again.”  I know I will clean it up.  I do not feel happy about it, but it must be done.

Signed,

Stuck with the Mess

Dear Stuck,

Your experience with this recurring dream is indicative of how recurring dreams work and why.  Recognize that recurring dreams come to us in conjunction with recurring waking events in our lives.  So the best and quickest way to get a handle on what this dream is telling you is to make some notes about the most recent iteration.

Start with a detailed description of the dream.  Include the setting, any other characters, how you come upon the mess, and of course, your feelings when you realize you will be cleaning up again.

Next, make at least some bullet point notes about the events or circumstances that are at the forefront in your waking life right now.  Include anything that is coming up shortly.

If this activity doesn’t make it clear immediately what it is in waking life that puts you in the position of mopping up an unpleasant mess, just set your notes aside.  It won’t be too long before you have the dream again (sorry!).  When you do, repeat the steps above.  Soon you will see that the dream comes up when you have to follow up behind a friend or family member who starts things, messes them up, walks away, for example.

You will recognize the feeling of dismay instantly.  But our dreams do not come to tell us what we already know.  Rather, they bring to consciousness what we may act upon to improve our lives and those of others.  What’s important is what you do next, Dear Dreamer.

Maybe you are content to be in the janitorial role in your dreams and in your waking life.  If so, do nothing.  If not, you now have the information you need, and hopefully the wherewithal, to make some changes so that those making messes take on the responsibility for cleaning them up!

Sweet Dreams to You!

sendmeyourdreams@yahoo.com        

Pragmatic dream questions

Our first dreamwork session is fast approaching!  June 7, 2015 ~ Session 1: Dream work standards ~ the tried-and-true methods of approaching dreams that will get you started immediately in understanding the language of your dreams.  Sign up via Meetup.com/ or just email me.  Bring a dream to share with the group.  I’d love to see you there!

Dear Carolyn,

I'm mostly interested in WHY I dream so much and why I usually remember them in the morning.  I've talked to several people about their dreams and I find a lot of people don't dream as much as I do, or they don't remember them.

I have a couple dream books and over the years I've looked them up.  I know from the past in my working career a lot of my dreams were due to stress.  But I am no longer working and still have a very active dream state.  It seems I always pick up something from the day that I saw or remembered and dream about it.

Signed,

Active Dreamer

Dear Active Dreamer,

Some hold the a view that dismisses dreams as random nocturnal electronic charges that release equally random images in no particular order accompanied by arbitrary emotions having no import or bearing on the dreamer’s waking life.

On the other hand, we have ample evidence that our brains are active during the dream state in much the same way they are in waking state, not firing haphazardly.  Segments of the brain associated with sight and sound, for example, are active during REM state when the images of dreaming and waking are parallel.  Additionally, the metaphorical narratives generated denote more than accidental or unintentional sparks. 

It is common to remember a dream from the last REM cycle of the night.  This is at the shallower section of a dreamer’s brainwave as s/he prepares to wake.  So perhaps all of us are more likely to remember the dreams we have just before we wake up. 

Research shows that everyone dreams every night (with exceptions for illness, medication and so forth).  It seems probable that those who areinterested in their dreams are more likely to remember them.  If a person accepts that dream images are an indiscriminate release of surplus energy, why bother remembering them?  Others remember their dreams perhaps because they are at a place where they can accept and explore on multiple levels the possibilities for growth, development and progress in their waking lives.

Picking up an image or setting from the day makes sense.  More interesting is why a particular image or object was chosen by your Dreaming Self from the hundreds of thousands your eyes light on in any given day.

Many books on dreams provide springboards for understanding and application of the rich material brought forth in the dream state.  Use caution, Dear Dreamer, when you find a source that claims to know what a given image always means.  The meaning of your dream lies within you.   

Sweet Dreams to You!

sendmeyourdreams@yahoo.com        

Learn Dream Interpretation!

Carolyn Plath is holding a series of workshops in which participants can Learn Dream Interpretation

Attend one, two or three sessions with Carolyn to learn dream interpretation as you work with your own dreams and those of other attendees.

June 7, 2015 ~ Session 1: Dream work standards ~ the tried-and-true methods of approaching dreams that will get you started immediately in understanding the language of dreams

June 14, 2015 ~ Session 2: Dream themes and projective dream interpretation technique ~ two approaches to dream work that will expand your ability to get at the meaning of your own dreams and help others with theirs

June 28, 2015 ~ Session 3: Dream incubation and lucid dreaming ~ two advanced techniques for working with your dreams toward specific goals or to resolve persistent problems

All sessions are from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM at

Carter's Biz Cafes@Commanding Officer's Quarters`

1 Commandant's Lane, Benicia, CA

Price: $30.00/per session/$75 for all three

OR

$20 each session or $50 for the series of three for Seniors (65+) and previous 1-to-1 clients

Carolyn Plath, M.Ed., is a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams and has studied dreams for more than 35 years.

To register go to http://www.meetup.com/Benicia-Dreamwork-Meetup/

Or sendmeyourdreams@yahoo.com

Or call 707-297-6175

Dream Interpretation: Pay attention in class

Learn Dream Interpretation by working with your own dreams and the dreams of others!  Join me for one, two or three sessions:  http://www.meetup.com/Benicia-Dreamwork-Meetup/

Location plays a big role in the meaning of dreams.  Not only is it helpful to consider the setting where your dream takes place, but also note the placement of objects and people within the dream.  Today’s dreamer finds herself positioned to block the view of others in her dream.  This is important for getting at the meaning.

Dear Carolyn,

My parents don’t like my new boyfriend, “John” justbecause he’s older than me.  But so what?  My dad is older than my mom!  I am a good girl.  I make good grades and don’t get into a lot of trouble, but sometimes they make me so mad!

I dreamed this dream last night after they yelled at me for coming home late:  John and I are in a classroom.  He’s like the teacher and I am lying across his desk at the front of the room facing him.  We are talking and the rest of the class is behind me.  We’re having fun, but the rest of the class starts acting out because they are excluded from our conversation.  My mom and dad are there and so is my brother.  Even my friends are jumping around trying to interrupt us.  I wish they would just shut up and leave us alone, but John stands up to look at them.  When I look again, he’s back in the class with the others.

Signed,

In Love with John

Dear In Love,

The setting and location of people and objects in your dream give clues to its meaning for you.  First of all, note that you are in a classroom, a place of learning.  This suggests that you need to pay close attention to the lessons coming your way, even if you do not want to hear them. 

John is in the position of teacher.  This indicates the role you have assigned him in your waking life – or perhaps he has assigned himself to the job of teaching you.  This could be what concerns your parents when it comes to their daughter dating an older man.  They must wonder what he will teach you?  Are you mature enough to determine what an appropriate lesson might be from someone with more life experience?

In your dream, you lie seductively in front of your new teacher with your back turned to your family and friends.  This implies that at the moment, you are listening only to John and excluding others who care for you.  They may be yelling, as you mentioned, trying to get your attention away from someone who is not good for you at this time.  At one point, even John himself joins the others, suggesting he knows their point of view may be better for you.

Slow down and consider the advice of all those who love you, Dear Dreamer, not just the older man with whom you are enamored.

Sweet Dreams to You!

Learn to use your dreams

Our dreams offer us value and enjoyment on multiple levels. 

Perhaps the greatest value of the material in our dreams is its pragmatic nature.  Our nightly dreams come to us in service of our daily health and well-being.  Like a loving parent or mentor, our dreams offer insights into our own puzzling and sometimes confounding behavior patterns, the intricacies of our relationships, our physical and mental health, and the world around us.

To these ends, our dreams offer us a unique perspective.  Consider your dream’s apparent ability to view you and your daily life from above, as though from a helicopter.  Our dreams seem to have a 360 degree view of us as well as the capacity to see us from within. 

Maybe on a subconscious level we know what our dreams tell us, but we are often too deep in the forest of daily business to find the pathways our dreams readily see. 

No doubt, the language of dreams can be perplexing, but it can be learned.  Those who take the time are rewarded with the universal “ah ha!” of self-knowledge and an opportunity to progress beyond a snag in their personal growth and development.

Our dreams also bring beauty in images and sensations that simply are not available to us in our waking lives.  Their contributions to the creative accomplishments of some of the most exalted writers, artists, musicians and thinkers of all time are well-documented.  And such dreams are available to us all.

Dreams of flying are among the most pleasurable of all.  Most of us hold memories of such dreams for our lifetimes.  These dreams are valuable for the exhilaration alone, but can also offer the impetus for exploring new horizons in life.

In each weekly column, we attempt to help dreamers make the connections their dreams present while sharing methods and strategies for working with dreams.  Now, we are offering a series of Dreamwork Workshops for our readers’ benefit and enjoyment.

Sunday, June 7^th ~ Session 1 will offer dreamwork basics for understanding your dreams and applying their insights to your daily life and lifelong aspirations.  Recognizing symbols, metaphors, puns and plays on words are the building blocks we will explore.

Sunday, June 14^th ~ Session 2 offers more advanced strategies developed by the leaders in the dreamwork community including Projective dreamwork by Jeremy Taylor, PhD, Co-Founder of the International Association for the Study of Dreams and the Marin Institute for Projective Dreamwork; and Dream Themes by Robert Gongloff, Past President of the IASD.

Sunday, June 28^th ~ Session 3 will explore the power and beauty of dream incubation and lucid dreaming.  We will present methods for ‘hatching’ a dream that responds to a dreamer’s specific problem or question.  In addition, we will offer the processes used to induce lucid dreams and the many possibilities such dreams raise.

For details please visit Benicia Dreamwork Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/Benicia-Dreamwork-Meetup/?scheduleNow=true

You may attend one, two or all three sessions.  Hope to see you there!

Sweet dreams to you, Dear Dreamer!