Dreams: The Night School of the Soul
This other world we live in.
I had mentioned several posts earlier about writing a piece about dreams. I finally have one here. One can really dig deep on this subject, but that is possibly for another time. For now, here is a good primer on dreams and how you can learn more about yourself from them. I am spreading the text out a bit for more time to reflect on the words.
Each night, without effort or invitation, we enter another world.
Our body lies still, but something within us continues moving. Images
arise. Conversations unfold. We walk through places that do not exist
and revisit ones long gone. We meet people we love, people we fear, and
sometimes people we have never seen before.
We call them dreams.
Most of us dismiss them quickly. We wake, shake our heads, and move into
the day. Yet for as long as humanity has kept records, dreams have been
treated as something more than random mental noise.
Whether one sees them spiritually, psychologically, or neurologically,
one thing is consistent: dreams matter because they come from within us.
And anything that arises from within deserves our attention.
What Are Dreams, Really?
Science tells us dreams occur primarily during REM sleep, when brain
activity resembles wakefulness. The rational mind quiets, and deeper
emotional and memory centers become active.
But beyond the mechanics, something fascinating happens: The thinking
mind loosens its grip.
During the day, our ego organizes reality. It labels, filters, judges,
and protects. At night, that structure softens. Symbols speak instead of
logic. Emotion replaces analysis. The inner world becomes visible.
Dreams are rarely literal. They are symbolic.
A house may represent your inner life. Water may reflect emotion. A road
may symbolize direction or choice. Being chased may signal avoidance.
Flying may reflect freedom—or escape.
The language of dreams is the language of imagery.
Basic Principles of Dream Interpretation
1. The Dream Is Personal
No universal dictionary can perfectly define your symbols. A snake may
represent danger to one person and healing to another. The meaning
depends on your associations.
Ask: - What does this symbol mean to me? - How did I feel during the
dream? - What in my current life carries a similar feeling?
Emotion is often more important than imagery.
2. Dreams Reflect the Present, Even When They Use the Past
You may dream of childhood homes or former relationships, but the dream
is usually commenting on something happening now.
The mind uses familiar images to communicate present concerns.
3. Repeated Dreams Signal Unresolved Issues
If a dream returns in a similar form, something is asking for attention.
The psyche is persistent. It does not shout; it repeats.
Recurring themes—being unprepared, losing something, falling, missing an
appointment—often reflect underlying anxiety or growth edges.
4. Not All Dreams Are Profound
Some dreams are simply the brain processing the day. They may feel
fragmented or chaotic. That’s normal. Not every dream is symbolic in depth.
But even ordinary processing tells you what your mind is working on and
through.
Spiritual Perspective on Dreams
There are moments—rare but unmistakable—when a dream feels different.
Clear. Bright. Deeply peaceful or deeply instructive.
Across cultures, people have described guidance dreams, warning dreams,
or dreams that seem to carry wisdom beyond ordinary thought. Whether one
attributes this to divine communication, the deeper Self, or heightened
intuition, such dreams often leave a lingering clarity.
They feel less like imagination and more like an encounter.
These are not everyday occurrences. But when they happen, they tend to
humble us.
How to Work With Dreams Practically
1. Keep a small notebook beside your bed. Write even fragments
immediately upon waking. Dreams fade quickly.
2. Record the feeling first. Was it fear? Relief? Joy? Confusion?
3. Look for current life parallels. Where in your waking life does this
emotional tone exist?
4. Avoid over-analysis. Sometimes the message unfolds slowly.
5. Sit with it quietly. Instead of dissecting the dream, ask inwardly:
What are you showing me?
Then let it be.
A Personal Reflection on Dreams
I have had many memorable dreams over the years. There are probably a
few hundred recorded in my dream journal. Lately, I have not been writing
them down as faithfully, and I notice how quickly they fade. When I go
back and review my journal, the dream memory returns almost instantly. It makes
me realize how much is stored within us, waiting to be remembered.
Sometimes, I admit, I simply roll over and fall back asleep rather than
getting up to write them down. And just like that, they are gone.
One dream in particular eventually led me to begin this blog. Without
that dream, this would never have happened.
I have had flying dreams—which, by the way, are really quite fun. I have
had recurring farming dreams where I was far behind the neighbors in
getting crops planted or fields tilled. Anyone who has farmed knows that
feeling. I once dreamed I was being followed by a black bear. I climbed
onto a feed bunk, slipped off the other side, and ran toward the house.
I crawled over a gate that had been there in my childhood and ran
inside. Looking out the window, I saw the bear walk past with two cubs
and quietly wander away. When I later reflected on that dream, I
uncovered a very interesting and personal meaning behind it.
Some individuals become conscious within their dreams, which some
call lucid dreaming. They can ask dream characters, “What am I to learn
from this?” and receive an answer. I have not reached that point yet,
though I hope to someday.
Everyone dreams, but not everyone remembers. If you awaken immediately
after a dream and remain still—without rolling over or moving—the dream
can linger long enough to replay it in your mind. If you then get up
right away and write it down, you may begin to notice patterns over
time.
There are free dream dictionaries online that can help you explore
possible symbolic meanings. They can be useful, but they require
dedication and a genuine desire to understand what your subconscious may
be revealing.
I would challenge you to try this for a season. You may be surprised at
what you learn about yourself?
Dreams and the Ego
Interestingly, dreams often reveal where the ego is holding too tightly.
You may dream of losing control, being exposed, or being humbled. These can
be uncomfortable, but they soften rigid self-images. They invite growth.
In this way, dreams may serve as quiet teachers. They show us parts of
ourselves that we overlook during the day.
Final Reflection
Each night we surrender control. Each night, the conscious mind steps
aside. And something deeper speaks.
Perhaps dreams are not meant to be decoded as much as listened to.
Perhaps they are reminders that beneath the busy surface of life,
something within us is always watching, always integrating, always
moving toward wholeness.
The same Presence that questions “Who am I?” during quiet moments may be
The one painting images in the dark.
And maybe, just maybe, the night is not an escape from life—
but another classroom.
If you want more information, click the following link: Dream documentary. This really explains a lot of who we deeply are. My next post delves into our shadow self, of which dreams help us to discover.