I do… and I love them!
We all have strange, vivid and bizarre dreams that seem to make no sense. Everyone dreams but many struggle to remember them upon waking.
People have always been fascinated by dreams. Dream interpretation can be traced back to the ancient cultures from Egypt, Greece and Rome to India, China and Japan. In many Indigenous tribes around the world, the role of dreams holds a deeper spiritual significance.
More recently, scientists and researchers have been studying our nightly visions and investigating brain activity during sleep using advanced brain-imaging techniques. They are coming up with many different theories but there is no consensus on what dreaming really is. The study of dreams has evolved over time but there’s so much more to discover.
There are many different approaches to dreamwork including the well-known Freudian and Jungian models. Many practitioners, depending on their theoretical orientation, have developed their own dreamwork models. There is no single or “correct” way to work with dreams.
For more than two decades, I have been researching and learning more and more about dreams. My approach is based on my own experience, integrating ideas from many different perspectives into my dreamwork. I have gradually developed my own style, blending scientific with psychological and spiritual approaches. I also like to use creative and artistic ways to express dreams. Sometimes drawing dreams and dream images is much more helpful than writing.
Ever since I was a child, I’ve had vivid and meaningful dreams… precognitive (predictive) dreams, recurring dreams, unsettling dreams, spiritual, psychic and visitation dreams. I have worked extensively on my own dreams, reflecting on my night-time experiences upon waking and recording my insights in a dream journal for nearly twenty years. I truly understand the tremendous value of dreams.
There has also been a growing interest in the use of dreams in therapeutic work.
Many studies suggest that dreams and dreaming are linked to many physical and psychological health benefits. As dreams speak in a symbolic language, they are very personal and subjective. While some themes in dreams are universal, it’s important to learn and understand the language of our own dreams.
As a therapist and a wellbeing professional, I have a special interest in working with dreams. I often integrate dreamwork into my professional work. Especially, when a client talks about a recurring dream or nightmare. Nightmares can be triggered by many things including life stressors and traumatic experiences. Often, I encourage my client to share their dream. Instead of interpreting the dream, we explore and discuss different aspects of the dream together. What is the dream representing? What is it trying to teach? What are the potential meanings? My client is actively engaged in exploring the dream. This exploration allows something new and transforming to unfold.
I don’t believe that nightmares are “bad” dreams. They are a way for the subconscious to get our attention and tell us something about ourselves. Something we don’t want to acknowledge or recognise in waking life. While we sleep, our subconscious is processing and releasing uncomfortable or traumatic material. This difficult material is often suppressed, avoided and “hidden” in subconscious. Dreams reflect these uncomfortable themes. Exploring different aspects of our dreams and bringing them into conscious awareness can provide a gateway to healing and personal growth.
Are you having strange, confusing or frightening dreams? Perhaps you are wondering why some dreams keep coming back over and over again.
I invite you to work with your dreams. Keep an open mind and approach your dreams with curiosity. Why not make use of this valuable resource? Our strange dreams are not as weird as we think they are.
For me, dreamwork is a lifelong passion.
If you need guidance or want to start exploring your dreams, schedule a dream consultation from the comfort and privacy of your home via Zoom.
So, what did YOU dream about last night?
Eila Mikkonen
Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor, Coach & Mental Fitness Facilitator