The study of dreams crosses many disciplines: psychology, neurology, sleep science, symbology. Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams brought the study of dreams into the world of mainstream scientific examination. Carl Jung followed with another perspective on dreams and symbols, reinforcing the acceptance of the concept that our dream state is a meaningful reflection of our waking psyche. While scientists and psychologists have somewhat recently come to this understanding of the dream connection between the conscious and the unconscious mind, psychics have always considered dreams to be a means of communication between metaphysical worlds, linking the past to the future, the known to the unknown, or the real to the unreal.

The soul in sleep gives proof of its divine nature; for when free and disengaged from the body, it has a foresight of things to come.
- Cicero

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Sleep is as essential to our health as food and water. Lack of sleep can cause serious physical and mental problems, and severe sleep deprivation can even lead to death. The scientific study of sleep has made great advances with the use of new technologies that can record and measure brain activity. Brain waves change dramatically while we sleep, revealing much about the physical nature of this state.

The body at rest restores its energy and prepares for the next day’s activities. This rest and rejuvenation is also working on the brain, providing the mental strength we need to cope with stress, handle emotions, and use our mental capacities fully.

Normal sleep cycles through five distinct stages several times through the night. These stages are marked by the levels of sleep from drowsiness to light sleep to deep sleep. Sleep stages fall into two main categories of Rapid Eye Movement, REM, and Non Rapid Eye Movement, or NREM. Scientists distinguish these stages by the presence of muscle activity beneath the eyelid, like looking quickly back and forth.

Dreaming occurs during stages of REM sleep in cycles that may last from ten minutes to more than an hour, coming several times through the night and lasting longer at each successive occurrence. Polysomnograms, used to measure brain activity while sleeping, will produce wave patterns during intense dreaming that are at levels similar to those produced when the subject is awake. While we dream, our bodies may be at rest, but our minds are active in another state of consiousness.

We will only dream during certain REM stages of our sleep cycle, which is also a deep sleep. We usually awaken when the cycle has been completed according to our normal pattern, which is why we sleep best when we follow a bedtime routine and get a full night’s rest. As we wake, our mental awareness of the dream has diminished, or, as is most common, the dreams of our REM state have been completely forgotten.

All I Have to Do is Dream

Our dreams are meaningful in many ways. Dreams reveal our most secret fears and desires. In the freedom of our dream world, we can explore solutions to problems, release our creativity, let ideas and sensations run unfettered by social restraint or the laws of the physical world. Dreams can allow us to be open to the metaphysical world, communicating beyond the boundaries of space and time.

Everyone remembers some dreams, but we experience far more dreams in sleep than we remember. It is difficult to fully understand the power and presence of this phenomenon when we have such a limited view through the few dreams we occasionally recall. To know the real meanings that our dreams convey, we must find ways to remember more.

The easiest way to remember dreams is to keep a journal by your bed. Anytime you waken from a dream, capture as much as you can immediately. Practice writing what you can remember in quick notes, just words or impressions. Don’t worry about spelling or making full sentences. Try to keep your lighting low, don’t force yourself to become fully awake so you’ll be able to return to sleep.

Make it a nighttime ritual to remind yourself to remember your dreams. As you lie in your bed, close your eyes and prepare yourself to fall asleep, think calmly to yourself, “I will remember my dreams tonight.” Don’t worry or build anxiety over it, just make it a part of your sleep routine. You subconscious mind will hear the message.

In the morning, develop a habit of lying still and quietly as you waken. Relax and think about your night. Let the dreams softly return to your conscious mind. Again, use your journal to capture your dreams as completely as you can.

It may take some time to become accustomed to remembering your dreams, so be patient with yourself. Your journal will eventually fill with dream stories. Take some time each week to review your notes. Try to express your experience more fully, reflecting on how the dream make s you feel. Capture the sense of what the dream means to you.

Dreams can evoke an immediate, emotional response, such as happiness, uneasiness or anxiety. Recognize these feelings and record them. Think about the dream in the context of your life. What are your life circumstances at the time? How are you feeling about your personal relationships, your work, and your family?

Your dream journal can be a powerful tool to learn the message of your dreams. Once you have developed the routine of remembering your dreams, you can begin the exciting journey towards understanding the rich life that exists beyond your sleeping self.

All that we see or seem, Is but a dream within a dream.
- Edgar Allen Poe

The study of dreams crosses many disciplines: psychology, neurology, sleep science, symbology. Sigmund Freud’s The Interpretation of Dreams brought the study of dreams into the world of mainstream scientific examination. Carl Jung followed with another perspective on dreams and symbols, reinforcing the acceptance of the concept that our dream state is a meaningful reflection of our waking psyche. While scientists and psychologists have somewhat recently come to this understanding of the dream connection between the conscious and the unconscious mind, psychics have always considered dreams to be a means of communication between metaphysical worlds, linking the past to the future, the known to the unknown, or the real to the unreal.

The soul in sleep gives proof of its divine nature; for when free and disengaged from the body, it has a foresight of things to come.
- Cicero

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Sleep is as essential to our health as food and water. Lack of sleep can cause serious physical and mental problems, and severe sleep deprivation can even lead to death. The scientific study of sleep has made great advances with the use of new technologies that can record and measure brain activity. Brain waves change dramatically while we sleep, revealing much about the physical nature of this state.

The body at rest restores its energy and prepares for the next day’s activities. This rest and rejuvenation is also working on the brain, providing the mental strength we need to cope with stress, handle emotions, and use our mental capacities fully.

Normal sleep cycles through five distinct stages several times through the night. These stages are marked by the levels of sleep from drowsiness to light sleep to deep sleep. Sleep stages fall into two main categories of Rapid Eye Movement, REM, and Non Rapid Eye Movement, or NREM. Scientists distinguish these stages by the presence of muscle activity beneath the eyelid, like looking quickly back and forth.

Dreaming occurs during stages of REM sleep in cycles that may last from ten minutes to more than an hour, coming several times through the night and lasting longer at each successive occurrence. Polysomnograms, used to measure brain activity while sleeping, will produce wave patterns during intense dreaming that are at levels similar to those produced when the subject is awake. While we dream, our bodies may be at rest, but our minds are active in another state of consiousness.

We will only dream during certain REM stages of our sleep cycle, which is also a deep sleep. We usually awaken when the cycle has been completed according to our normal pattern, which is why we sleep best when we follow a bedtime routine and get a full night’s rest. As we wake, our mental awareness of the dream has diminished, or, as is most common, the dreams of our REM state have been completely forgotten.

All I Have to Do is Dream

Our dreams are meaningful in many ways. Dreams reveal our most secret fears and desires. In the freedom of our dream world, we can explore solutions to problems, release our creativity, let ideas and sensations run unfettered by social restraint or the laws of the physical world. Dreams can allow us to be open to the metaphysical world, communicating beyond the boundaries of space and time.

Everyone remembers some dreams, but we experience far more dreams in sleep than we remember. It is difficult to fully understand the power and presence of this phenomenon when we have such a limited view through the few dreams we occasionally recall. To know the real meanings that our dreams convey, we must find ways to remember more.

The easiest way to remember dreams is to keep a journal by your bed. Anytime you waken from a dream, capture as much as you can immediately. Practice writing what you can remember in quick notes, just words or impressions. Don’t worry about spelling or making full sentences. Try to keep your lighting low, don’t force yourself to become fully awake so you’ll be able to return to sleep.

Make it a nighttime ritual to remind yourself to remember your dreams. As you lie in your bed, close your eyes and prepare yourself to fall asleep, think calmly to yourself, “I will remember my dreams tonight.” Don’t worry or build anxiety over it, just make it a part of your sleep routine. You subconscious mind will hear the message.

In the morning, develop a habit of lying still and quietly as you waken. Relax and think about your night. Let the dreams softly return to your conscious mind. Again, use your journal to capture your dreams as completely as you can.

It may take some time to become accustomed to remembering your dreams, so be patient with yourself. Your journal will eventually fill with dream stories. Take some time each week to review your notes. Try to express your experience more fully, reflecting on how the dream make s you feel. Capture the sense of what the dream means to you.

Dreams can evoke an immediate, emotional response, such as happiness, uneasiness or anxiety. Recognize these feelings and record them. Think about the dream in the context of your life. What are your life circumstances at the time? How are you feeling about your personal relationships, your work, and your family?

Your dream journal can be a powerful tool to learn the message of your dreams. Once you have developed the routine of remembering your dreams, you can begin the exciting journey towards understanding the rich life that exists beyond your sleeping self.

All that we see or seem, Is but a dream within a dream.
- Edgar Allen Poe

What are the voices inside of you saying? As you turn the volume up on the voice of your dreamer and down on the voice of your doubter, you can practice discernment allowing for greater clarity. To assist you in hearing these voices, let’s set up a simple scenario. Picture something you want, something that
matters to you. Choose a personal or professional dream and consider how these various parts of you might respond.

Dreamer – The dreamer inside says, “What if…” and is open to a creative process without over-analyzing it. This is the
part of you that imagines, believes in possibilities, has hope, and seeks kindred spirits. Dreamers talk about their ideas with
intention, clarity, and passion. Great dreamers get others excited about their vision. And most importantly, successful dreamers take action to make their dreams a reality.

Doubter – This voice is often heard saying such things as, “I don’t think this is a good idea.” The doubter provides
concern touting, “But what if…” and imagines the worst. If you crank the volume up it can even become annihilating with accusations shouting things like, “Are you out of your mind?”
William Shakespeare said, “Our doubts are traitors.” Carlos Castaneda said, “In order to experience the magic of life, you must banish the doubt.” My favorite quote on this subject is in The Prophet where Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Doubt is a feeling too lonely to know that Faith is its twin brother.”

Realist – “Be realistic…” Modulate the doubter down a notch or two and it becomes the essential voice of the realist.
This part wants to know, “What’s the plan?” including where is the time and money coming from. However, in the early phase of dreaming, you may not know. The challenge is not to allow the realist to immediately turn into a doubter who might judge or obliterate your idea. Honor this voice by (to the best of your
ability) giving it the information it needs. If you ignore or reject it, it will cleverly agitate or distract you. Being realistic offers prudence and makes you do your homework but if
you are overly realistic or go to strategy too soon, you will most likely compromise the dream and kill your passion.

Visionary – This voice says, “Anything is possible so let’s dream big!” These are the leaders and people we look up to
and admire. They have learned the process of realizing their dreams and embody what it means to be a big dreamer. Setbacks or
failures do not stop them. Simply put, a visionary has a vision and invites others to join them. They are found in all walks of
life and we are often so inspired when they are in the presence of a true visionary that we sign up just to be near them or part of what they’re doing.

A visionary is not defined by the size of the dream since dreams are precious and come in all sizes, shapes and areas of life. If
you were living your dream life, how would it be different? What do you see yourself doing? How many lives would you touch? What would you change? Who would you help if you were truly living as a visionary?

Avoid Sabotaging Your Dream

When these different voices merge they can become muddled and result in confusion and poor decisions. For example, you might
poison your dream by projecting doubt into it. Then with each step you take toward what you want, you also move toward your
doubt. Doubt and fear, which most of us may have at some time or another (especially when embarking on a new or big dream) do not
belong in your dream. These feelings are simply part of your reality. This is a subtle and essential point.

Here’s a simple technique for avoiding this sabotaging pattern. On a piece of paper draw a line across the middle. On the top half write out your dream with as much detail as possible. On the bottom write out your reality in relationship to your dream, where you are now. Reality usually includes good news and (so
called) bad, as well as any fear or doubt you may have. Just state the facts and your feelings about them.

Now, which one are you more committed to; your dream or your reality? We tend to choose “reality” when we don’t have a
clearly defined dream or when we saturate our dream with doubt. If your dream is loaded with your worst imagined nightmares, reality will always seem safer and saner. But doubt placed
appropriately as part of your reality, allows two things to happen. First, no longer blown out of proportion, it’s an obstacle that basically requires a strategy to manage it. But
more importantly, with doubt where it rightfully belongs, you are free to move forward.

It’s like a play. All the characters have wisdom and insight, but you can’t clearly understand them when they’re speaking at
once. Take time to tune in, to listen, and on a regular basis, have the courage to give your dreamer its directorial debut or
even the leading role.

What are the voices inside of you saying? As you turn the volume up on the voice of your dreamer and down on the voice of your doubter, you can practice discernment allowing for greater clarity. To assist you in hearing these voices, let’s set up a simple scenario. Picture something you want, something that
matters to you. Choose a personal or professional dream and consider how these various parts of you might respond.

Dreamer – The dreamer inside says, “What if…” and is open to a creative process without over-analyzing it. This is the
part of you that imagines, believes in possibilities, has hope, and seeks kindred spirits. Dreamers talk about their ideas with
intention, clarity, and passion. Great dreamers get others excited about their vision. And most importantly, successful dreamers take action to make their dreams a reality.

Doubter – This voice is often heard saying such things as, “I don’t think this is a good idea.” The doubter provides
concern touting, “But what if…” and imagines the worst. If you crank the volume up it can even become annihilating with accusations shouting things like, “Are you out of your mind?”
William Shakespeare said, “Our doubts are traitors.” Carlos Castaneda said, “In order to experience the magic of life, you must banish the doubt.” My favorite quote on this subject is in The Prophet where Kahlil Gibran wrote, “Doubt is a feeling too lonely to know that Faith is its twin brother.”

Realist – “Be realistic…” Modulate the doubter down a notch or two and it becomes the essential voice of the realist.
This part wants to know, “What’s the plan?” including where is the time and money coming from. However, in the early phase of dreaming, you may not know. The challenge is not to allow the realist to immediately turn into a doubter who might judge or obliterate your idea. Honor this voice by (to the best of your
ability) giving it the information it needs. If you ignore or reject it, it will cleverly agitate or distract you. Being realistic offers prudence and makes you do your homework but if
you are overly realistic or go to strategy too soon, you will most likely compromise the dream and kill your passion.

Visionary – This voice says, “Anything is possible so let’s dream big!” These are the leaders and people we look up to
and admire. They have learned the process of realizing their dreams and embody what it means to be a big dreamer. Setbacks or
failures do not stop them. Simply put, a visionary has a vision and invites others to join them. They are found in all walks of
life and we are often so inspired when they are in the presence of a true visionary that we sign up just to be near them or part of what they’re doing.

A visionary is not defined by the size of the dream since dreams are precious and come in all sizes, shapes and areas of life. If
you were living your dream life, how would it be different? What do you see yourself doing? How many lives would you touch? What would you change? Who would you help if you were truly living as a visionary?

Avoid Sabotaging Your Dream

When these different voices merge they can become muddled and result in confusion and poor decisions. For example, you might
poison your dream by projecting doubt into it. Then with each step you take toward what you want, you also move toward your
doubt. Doubt and fear, which most of us may have at some time or another (especially when embarking on a new or big dream) do not
belong in your dream. These feelings are simply part of your reality. This is a subtle and essential point.

Here’s a simple technique for avoiding this sabotaging pattern. On a piece of paper draw a line across the middle. On the top half write out your dream with as much detail as possible. On the bottom write out your reality in relationship to your dream, where you are now. Reality usually includes good news and (so
called) bad, as well as any fear or doubt you may have. Just state the facts and your feelings about them.

Now, which one are you more committed to; your dream or your reality? We tend to choose “reality” when we don’t have a
clearly defined dream or when we saturate our dream with doubt. If your dream is loaded with your worst imagined nightmares, reality will always seem safer and saner. But doubt placed
appropriately as part of your reality, allows two things to happen. First, no longer blown out of proportion, it’s an obstacle that basically requires a strategy to manage it. But
more importantly, with doubt where it rightfully belongs, you are free to move forward.

It’s like a play. All the characters have wisdom and insight, but you can’t clearly understand them when they’re speaking at
once. Take time to tune in, to listen, and on a regular basis, have the courage to give your dreamer its directorial debut or
even the leading role.