Dreams are a powerful tool in
developing deep insight about yourself and your life purpose
How to Remember Your
Dreams
by Asoka Selvarajah, Ph.D.
Dreams
are a powerful tool in developing deep insight about yourself and your
life purpose. They are a priceless source of inspiration and creativity,
as witnessed by geniuses spanning the entire range between Einstein and
Salvador Dali; both of whom worked with dream and fantasy in their work.
In sleep, your spirit
is unbound and you touch the subtle realms beyond waking reality. This is
the place where the highest part of your consciousness, your Higher Self,
can communicate directly to you. The language of this communication is the
language of symbol and metaphor.
Everyone dreams, but
not everyone remembers their dreams. The following simple 3-step process
will enable you to work with your dreams to gain deeper insights into your
psyche:
(1) Make a written
declaration before you sleep.
Say, or better still,
write down a statement such as "I want to remember my dreams in order
to receive valuable guidance". If you are already able to remember
and capture your dreams, modify this question to "Which direction
should I go in life?" or "Should I take that job?" or
whatever.
Put the declaration
under your pillow before you go to sleep.
(2) Perform stretching
exercises before you get into bed.
If you can touch your
toes, then do so. At any rate, gently stretch your body so that it is
relaxed and flexible. Once you are in bed and ready to sleep, you can also
relax your body further. Tense and release each of your muscle groups in
turn, beginning with your legs, and gradually working all the way up your
body to your face. Take several deep breaths, and feel yourself relax more
with each breath.
The fact is that much
of our sleep time is spent de-stressing the body, which is why people
often do not sleep that well. Much of this de-stressing can be done before
you ever drop off.
(3) Write something
down when you awake.
It is necessary to
awaken gently. If you can use an alarm clock that plays GENTLE music, e.g.
chimes, that would be best. Once you are awake, write something down about
your dream, even if it is just a feeling.
Sometimes, if you
cannot remember the dream straight away, simply lying there in your bed
and pondering it will bring a fragment of the dream back. Write that piece
down and often, the rest will return to you. If it does not, be content
with what you have.
If you really cannot
remember anything at all, then still write something down. Often, your
physical, mental or emotional state upon awakening is a direct result, a
hangover if you will, from the dream you have just experienced.
Be
prepared for the need to persist with this process. It DOES work. Like any
muscle that has been unused for years, your dream muscles may have
atrophied through disuse. If you persist, the spiritual rewards and
insights you gain will be very well worth it.
Dr. Asoka Selvarajah is an active
writer/researcher on personal development and esoteric spirituality.
Asoka's work helps people achieve their full potential, deepen their
understanding of mystical truth, and find joy in their true soul's
purpose. Copyright 2001, Asoka Selvarajah. All Rights Reserved.
