~ Dream 101 ~ Types of Dreams

Daydreams

Daydreaming is classified as a level of consciousness between sleep and wakefulness. Studies show that you have the tendency to daydream an average of 70-120 minutes a day. It occurs during waking hours when you let your imagination carry you away. As your mind begins to wander and your level of awareness decreases, you lose yourself in your imagined scenario and fantasy.

False Awakening Dreams
Have you ever thought you have waken up and gone about your daily morning routine: getting up, brushing your teeth, eating breakfast and going to work, only to wake up "again" and realize that what just happened is just a dream. That sensation is referred to as a false awakening.



Image :http://pinterest.com/pin/554013191630842510/ 



Lucid Dreams
Lucid dreams occur when you realize you are dreaming. "Wait a second. This is only a dream!" Most dreamers wake themselves up once they realize that they are dreaming. Other dreamers have cultivated the skill to remain in the lucid state of dreaming. They become an active participant in their own dreams, making decisions in their dreams and influencing the dream's outcome without awakening.

Nightmares
A nightmare is a disturbing dream that causes you to wake up feeling anxious and frightened. Nightmares may be a response to real life trauma and situations. These type of nightmares fall under a special category called Post-traumatic Stress Nightmare (PSN). Nightmares may also occur because you have ignored or refused to accept a particular life situation. Research shows that most people who have regular nightmares have a family history of psychiatric problems, are involved in a rocky relationship or have had bad drug experiences. These people may have also contemplated suicide. Nightmares are an indication of a fear that needs to be acknowledged and confronted. It is a way for the subconscious to wake up and take notice. "Pay attention!"

Recurring Dreams
Recurring dreams repeat themselves with little variation in story or theme. These dreams may be positive, but most often they are nightmarish in content. Dreams may recur because a conflict depicted in the dream remains unresolved or ignored. Once you find a resolution to the problem, your recurring dreams will cease.  

 



Sebastian Luczywo

Healing Dreams
Healing dreams serve as messages for the dreamer in regards to their health. The Ancient Greeks called these dreams "prodromic". Many dream experts believe that dreams can help in avoiding potential health problems and healing when you are ill or when you are grieving. Research shows that asthma and migraine sufferers have certain types of dreams before an attack. Your bodies are able to communicate to your mind through dreams. The dreams can "tell" you that something is not quite right with your bodies even before any physical symptoms show up. Dreams of this nature may be telling the dreamer that he or she needs to go to the dentist or doctor. If you can understand the language of dreams, your dreams will serve as an invaluable early warning system. They can help inform, advise and heal.  

 

 

Prophetic Dreams
Prophetic dreams, also referred to as precognitive or psychic dreams, are dreams that seemingly foretell the future. One rational theory to explain this phenomenon is that your dreaming mind is able to piece together bits of information and observation that you may normally overlook or that you do not seriously consider. In other words, your unconscious mind knows what is coming before you consciously piece together the same information.

Signal Dreams
Signal dreams help you how to solve problems or make decisions in your waking life.  

 Epic Dreams
Epic dreams (also referred to as Great Dreams, Cosmic Dreams or Numinous Dreams) are so huge, so compelling, and so vivid that you cannot ignore them. The details of such dreams remain with you for years, as if you just dreamt it last night. These dreams possess much beauty and contain many archetypal symbology. When you wake up from such a dream, you feel that you have discovered something profound or amazing about yourself or about the world. It feels like a life-changing experience.   

 

Dominique Appia "Entre les Trous de la Memoire"

Progressive Dreams
Progressive dreams occur when you have a sequence of dreams that continue over a period of nights. The dream continues where you left off the previous night. Such dreams are problem-solving dreams and help to explore different options and various approaches to a problem, situation or relationship.

Mutual Dreams
Mutual dreams are described as such when two people have the same dream. Mutual dreams may be planned, meaning that two people actively work toward achieving one dream scenario or goal. It is a way to improve communication and build trust. Mutual dreams can also be spontaneous. You find out that a friend, a significant other, faraway relative, or someone has had the same dream on the same night as you. Not much study has gone into the phenomenon of mutual dreams, but there is a very strong bond that exists between these two people. 

 

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From http://www.dreammoods.com/dreaminformation/dreamtypes/ (its a cut n paste job!)

 

~ Dreaming with Crystals ~

 

If you want to have clearer dreams, messages from the your higher source or dream guides, or work with a particular crystal to become more in tune with its energies, place a crystal under your pillow while you are sleeping.

 

 

Before you go to bed, hold the crystal in your left hand (which connects to your subconscious) and ask it to bring you dreams that will help you discover your higher path in life or that clarify whatever issue is most at hand in your life. If you are confused about a work situation, ask  your spirit guides to bring you a dream that will clarify the path of highest good. If you are worried about disagreements with a loved one, ask for a dream that will clarify the best direction to take for harmony with your loved one. 

Image from: http://favim.com/image/489705/

For guidance on really pressing emotional, spiritual and material situations, ask for clarity and insight from your spirit, angel or animal guides; the stone will act as a conduit to bring their higher wisdoms to you. Good crystals to use are clear quartz, amethyst, azurite, sodalite, moldavite, and zincite.




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Information taken from http://www.energy-healing-info.com/crystal-healing-dreams.html - though I've added and re-worked the text a bit...

~ Dreaming 102 ~ Remembering and Recording your dreams



http://www.luciddreamtonighthowto.com/

In the beginning you may not remember anything, only fragments or an impression. Write it down anyway, even if all you write was that the dream was good or bad. It can be frustrating, or disheartening. Don’t be disillusioned…. the more you try to remember you dreams in the morning, the easier it will start to flow.

Start each day by writing what happened, or any words, images, people or feelings that come to mind. Sometimes during the day the dreams will come back to you in fragments, because something happens to remind you of something in your dream.

The following are some tips to ‘Catch your dreams’ – these are from Conscious Dreaming by Robert Moss. (Publisher Three Rivers Press, New York: 1996).
 

(c) h.koppdelaney

1. Clearly State Your Intention to yourself before going to bed.

For the more experienced, you can ask a question too. “I want to remember my dreams tonight”or“I ask for the guidance of the dream source” You can write your intention or question on a piece of paper and put it beside your bed or under your pillow. 

 

2.  Have your tools ready. Have your notepad, pen, paper, or even a tape recorder if you decide to use one next to your bed, ready for when you wake up in the morning.

3. Give yourself time to bring your dreams back.

If you are lucky, you can laze around in bed for 5 minutes, letting your dreams come back to you. You may not remember them at first. Write down whatever images are coming to mind. Try and wake naturally, if you have to use an alarm, it’s better not to use a radio – because then you are swamped with the outside world straight away. If you are new to dream work, you might want to try starting on the weekend.

Image: Dream Mirror, Dreams can come true by Hannah2Cyrus

4. Give yourself space

Try and record your dreams before you get out of bed. You may need to creep to the bathroom so you don’t disturb anyone! This is important when you wake up during the night from a dream… quickly write some words down before you fall back asleep.

5. Write your dreams down straight away

 

They really are fleeting, so you are better off writing them down before you think of anything else. More often than not if you go back to sleep thinking you will remember in the morning, you won’t! If you are pressed for time, or it is the middle of the night, even a few trigger words will help.

      

6. Start with trigger words

Places, names, numbers, objects, anything you remember. Often these will trigger memories of other dream sequences or help you remember more of your dream later.                                                                                   



http://irenelatham.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/writing-goals-vs-writing-dreams.html

7. Don’t censor your dreams.

 



Capture your dream as you remember it. Don’t edit, don’t leave anything out. Everything is relevant – even if it seems mundane, weird or trivial. It might not mean something now, but probably will later. Your dream source can be frank and confronting – but don’t stifle it!

 

 

 

8. Don’t interpret

 

It is sending you messages in ways you can understand. Your dream journal is a private book, meaningful to you and no one else’s business. Keep it away from prying eyes. Others may not like or understand its’ contents, but you shouldn’t censor it out of fear. Embrace it out of love!

9. Pay attention to your feelings.

When writing your dream, write it in the present tense, and write how you feel. This will give you a clue to how to interpret your dreams. Strong feelings indicate a sense of urgency. Pay attention to physical sensations too. Your guides could be trying to tell you something.

10. If you wake with no dream memories, relax.
You could try rolling around in bed for a bit. Some dreams come back when you are lying in the same position! Fancy That!

11. Put out the welcome mat
If you still can’t remember your dreams, try writing down what you are thinking and feeling- your thoughts and sensations are part of a dream hangover. If you write something down, you’re essentially putting out a welcome mat for your dream source to respond to your willingness to listen. Some women dream in cycles attuned with their menstrual cycle – with heightened dream recall or blacks during “that time of the month”.

12. Always do something with your dreams.
Keeping a dream journal is the first step. Sharing dream experiences with a partner, friend or group can be very enlightening and entertaining – especially when you do dream work or lucid dreaming together! ( I have never done this, but it sounds awesome)

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~ The Dream Dictionary ~

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You can also start creating your very own dream dictionary.... it's simple! I started mine with one of those old fashioned index style books - you know, the ones with the tabs for each letter. You may need to get a larger one though - an A4 sized book would be good.

You can buy them anywhere (I think! Its been a while since I bought one!) .. and cover it yourself, make it more personal. Another idea is an A4 binder, with tab inserts for each letter... then you could make an A4 page for each dream symbol - which would be easier to add to as you go along... this is a good idea. Think I will do that again!

Dream interpretation books are great - really handy -  but we all have different dream experiences, and symbols will mean different things to each of us, depending on how lives, environment and how we perceive and understand the conscious and unconscious world around us :)

Check out this Dream Dictionary to get ideas on what particular dream symbols could mean to you.

So get yourself ANOTHER book! Or folder :) And keep it near your dream journal - and explore those symbols that keep coming up :)

http://alomfejto-jovendomondo.network.hu/kepek/alomkepek_festmenyek/alomkep-010

~ Paganesque Dream Series ~ Dreaming 101 ~

In your dreams...  The Dream Journal

You don't need to be a dream expert to start analysing your dreams, delving into your own inner mysteries... all you need is paper and a pen :)

Start tomorrow. The next day.. as soon as you wake up (easier for some than others!). Write down anything you remember from your dreams the night before. Even if they are only fragments... you will find that the more you do it, the easier it will be to remember.

http://palnk.deviantart.com/art/Dreams-Dreams-145627115

As you write, use the present tense. Use the date from the day before and give your dream a title. This can be very interesting when you read through the index you write at the back of the book! Also try writing on every second page, so that you can scribble notes that you find relevant to your dream, on the same 'page'.

You can use any type of book you want to write your dream journal. I use one that is lined on one side and blank on the other. The blank page is good for drawing pictures, dream maps, dreamscapes and random scribble as you read, re read and read your dreams again. You are also better off writing in your journal - its more personal than a computer program.

In the back of the book, you should start an index, with the date (of the night you had the dream), the Dream Title, and the pages it is on - which means you will need to number your pages!

Frankie Lynn Emporium

The benefits of a dream journal:
 * It helps you to recall and remember your dreams
 * You can find patterns in your dreams - and will start to notice particular dreamscapes
 * It will help you make your own dream dictionary
 * Can be used for inspiration - for creative writing - stories, poetry.. even spells!
 * You might find answers to those peculiar Deja Vu situations
 * Could also provide examples or clues to dream divination (Now when/where did I dream that before?)


Tips on using your Dream Journal

1. Choose the right book – write your dreams on the right page (or even pages) of the book and keep the other side (odd pages) for drawing maps, notes and associations.

2. Keep your journal private – in a safe place under lock and key! You need to feel free to write whatever you want in there

3. Make a date with your journal – closest to first thing in the morning is the best, while your dream is still fresh.

4. Date your reports – the exact time you wake up could be significant to world events, friends dreams or situations inspired by synchronicity.

5. Give your dreams titles – use the first thing that comes to mind – can provide interesting perspectives on the dream, and allows you to watch for running themes.

6. Note your feelings and immediate sensations or associations – if you think a dream is about someone in particular, but they do not appear in the dream, write that down! It may make more sense later. Also take note of significant events or what occupied your mind the day before – your dream might have been a clue of what was to come or an answer to a problem

7. Index your dreams – this helps you find that dream quickly and also helps to track running themes, or when certain dreams are likely to occur.

8. Note recurring themes and locales – are you always visiting the same places in your


Image found : http://www.fotolog.com/
chikilin_eaaa/51337407/

dreams (Dreamscapes) or doing the same thing in your dreams.. eg catching a train or flying?

9. Log correspondences between dreams and waking events – go back through your journals every once in a while and see if your dreams are foreshadowing future events. You could add clippings, letters or mementos to your journal.

10. Note overlaps between your dreams and those of other people. Your dream might hold the key to the interpretation of someone else’s. You may even identify interactive dreams you share with someone or a common dreamscape.

11. Have fun! Decorate your journal. Love your Journal. Add drawings, pictures, photos, postcards and sayings or poetry that evoke dreams or reflect your moods. Track your dreams with dream dictionaries of symbols. You could try using your dreams to write stories, or try recasting them as poetry. Don’t let your inner critics stop you while you do this  




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Wild Witch Academy

Hello!

I have been busy this last 6 months, and never here. All my blogs have suffered! I've been trying to be all things.. to myself, but also to all people. Doesn't quite work, but that has never stopped me before.

I wanted to write a quick note about The Wild Witch Academy. If there was anything ever clearly serendipitous in my life, there was this group of wonderful people I fell into a clique with. When I finished Uni in November last year, I was all set to write my epic novel (I have a great idea!) so I was doing some planning on the characters and plot lines and decided that one of them would be a witch. I'm not sure what happened next, but I ended up in an online Witch School - for a year and a day. That is what they call the tradtional period of time it takes to learn and study the Path, and to become an initiate. That's how I understand it anyway.

This Witch School had good intentions. There were a group of teachers who would give us daily lessons, we would complete assignments and learn the beginning of all there is to know. Unfortunately this school had over 800 students and on the first day spectacularly imploded. The drama was fantastic. I left after a couple of weeks cos it was just too much. There was paranoia, controlling people and guilt trips. Secrecy and planning. This was not what I wanted.

The awesome thing that came out of this group was my study group -  where more than 20 people from across the globe fell into a synchronous excitement of learning and finding our own paths to spirituality. It was truely bizarre.

So that is how I found Moonsong Rain. She is the founder of Wild Witch. I cannot describe her adequately on paper. She is a mentor to me, and a friend. A sister. A confidant. No matter what happens, we will always have Wild Witch.

Along with Scarlett Meadow, her 'twinny', Moonsong has created the Wild Witch Academy. It is through this Academy that I have grown spiritually and exponentially on my own path over the last 6 months. I'm still somewhat in the Broom Closet.. hard to believe, I know. But I feel like my soul has remembered a part of itself, my soul has again become connected with the Universe, and even though I have my ups and downs I accept that my soul is here to enjoy them.

I started out thinking, "Oh I'm going to be a Wiccan".. but the ritual stuff is not really for me at this point. I easily feel like a Pagan - an earth loving, nature worshipping and (now) tree hugging spirituality in tune with the Universal Energies that abound. Well that's how I see it. I've read and read and read as much as I can.. I'm ready to share here because I feel confident that I am starting to get the idea.

There are so many online schools teaching the principles of Witchcraft, Wicca and Paganism in general. My first advice would be to read everything on the topic you can get your hands on. There are free schools and paid schools. What is right for one person is not as right for another. Follow your instincts.

Wild Witch Academy is not free, but as far as online courses go, I think it's cheap. I've sampled some of the other free ones, and I believe Wild Witch is better. I'm allowed to! Check it out if you want to :) The link is http://www.wildwitchacademy.com. You can also find out more about the Academy by checking out Wild Witch or The Wild Witch Academy.

I am a new admin on the FB/WildWitch page... a community education site that provides information on Witchcraft, Wicca and Paganism. I will not share what other's have posted there, but I will share the posts I write on here - so you can have a collection of the stuff I have studied. Being an admin has really motivated me to make summaries of stuff and find out stuff and like stuff and stuff ;p I hope you like what you see. Feel free to give us feedback.

Ok, I've rambled enough for now. Happy reading!