self portrait challenge ~ environment
self portrait in my home, canon digital rebel xti
For the last few weeks I have begun dream journaling. My morning ritual is to pour myself a mug of hot green tea, sit on my couch and listen to the morning birds as I write down my dreams from the previous night.
I've never done this before. I've wanted to but never put aside the time. I have a dear friend who does this almost every day. She has learned to interpret her dreams and others and uses it in her counseling practice. My sister got into this for awhile and I remember calling her when I would remember an odd dream and she would get out her large juicy dream book and walk me through all the symbolism.
The author in the current book I am reading suggested to buy a gorgeous journal and before you drift off into dream land, say to yourself..."I remember my dreams and I write them down when I wake."
She believes that we can gain much insight into ourselves through our dreams. That revelations will gradually unfold and that when we are caught up in a conflict or difficulty, every dream comes to offer additional clues.
I've done this for a few weeks now and I must say she has something here. I've had a lot of reoccurring concepts in each dream. It could be a completely different environment or with totally different people but many of my feelings and ideas are similar.
Some are beautiful...and some, not so much. To me it has been very self healing. Another form of listening to my heart and what it needs or is longing to move through.
With each dream, I am encouraged to ask the following questions to help me find clues. If you'd like to try this along with me, I am curious of your thoughts and feelings within your own discoveries:
What is the strongest feeling I have after waking up?
How is this dream or any part of it similar to my waking reality?
Is the dream validating or rejecting a choice I've made in my waking life?
What direction is the dream moving in? Who am I at the beginning and who am I at the end?
If someone I know appears, why is he/she showing up right now?
posted by boho girl at 12.6.07
27 Comments:
You have me intrigued. I think I will have to try this, my dreams are very vivid and I would love to chronicle them for awhile. I am so thankful to you for showing new things all the time. Thanks!
Teresa :)
I have GOT to do this! I've always been a very vivid dreamer.... always had the intention of getting into journaling my dreams, but never take the time to do it. My therapist has been encouraging me to do this as well for like the past year. You're inspiring me to finally make this a priority.... then I get to go find a new, special journal too. I think it's important too.... so often my dreams are VERY bizarre, but also so symbolic of deeper issues in my life.... for example, though they're carried out in very odd ways, the dreams usually reflect feelings about myself or situations that scare me or issues from my childhood/old messages I used to receive... it's crazy how the deeper meaning is often consistent though the details are SO WEIRD. Thanks for reminding me about this.
And also, I send a hug to you today, boho girl, in case you need one.
I once kept a Dream Diary for a year, and I still have it.
It's so interesting to look back on!
You know, I've always wanted to give this a try. I'm gonna join you! Those questions are going to be a great help I think. Are they from the book? And do you have a book about dreams also?
Anyway, i'll keep you posted!
Love to you, xoxo silvia
p.s. i will send a photo of me & the boho necklace as soon as my allergies are over. Every child at work has asked me why i look so sad...that's how red and watery my eyes are now :)
...and i just have to say that i love love love the boho style of your home!
your home is almost as beautiful as you are...almost. this is such an odd synchronicity -- i am reading 'the not so big life' by sarah susanka and just finished the chapter where she suggests dream journaling as a means of gaining personal insight into one's life and then i come here and you are writing about the same thing! perhaps i should start a dream journal of my own and begin exploring....
i have done this in the past ~ such a wonderful experience which also led me to lucid dreaming ... i also still have my dream journal and every so often i still add to it ~ such a fantastic, healing, opening thing to do that i'm sure you will enjoy :)
i wanna snuggle up beside you on the couch and just chat...
several years ago i attended weekly dream interpretation sessions with a local preist who specializes in jungian dream analysis...very, very powerful stuff and i always left his office both amazed and humbled by the power and potential of our souls...and i always felt a great sense of self love...
I love dream interpretation and being able to see themes in your dreams I imagine will be invaluable. I wake up every morning and journal morning pages and the experience has been quite cathartic. Lovely photo here.
I just read a great book called the complete book of dreams and dreaming by Pamela Ball. When I was a kid I used to write down my dreams and then create stories from them. I hope you enjoy your experiences with this morning ritual.
Well first, what a gorgeous serene photograph in your delicious living room. :-)
I can really appreciate this recording of your dreams, and I look forward to hearing how this works for you moving forward. I have had so many dreams lately; however, I can never remember them in the morning. Depending on the tone of them, I can wake up in quite some moods though. This sounds like a wonderful exercise.
Thank you honey. Love you.xoxo
My dreams are crazy right now, not that they're ever any kind of normal, but they seem to be more forceful lately. You've asked some good questions here. I forget to let myself sink into the dream in the morning. Thanks for the reminder.
I used to do this but I've somehow forgotten about it. I'll have to try it too. I had a very strange dream last night but it's just a vague impression now.
The photos I've seen of your home I just love. Very YOU. It's funny because I've never even met you, but somehow when I see you in your home I miss you.
LC
I could do this. It would be easy. At the end of the year I'd have a blank journal! I never remember my dreams. What does that mean?? ;)
I started keeping a dream journal after reading "Concious Dreaming" by Robert Moss. The more I did it the more magical my dreams became. I also noticed that my dreams changed depending on where I was sleeping as if the land itself had an impact.
Hi love-
I went to the book store an hour after our last talk to look for the book-and they didn't have it at B&N. I just have to get it.
When I was in woodstock a few days ago I drove by her house and felt this strong connection to you.
I love this photo-your pictures just shine your beautifulness all over the place.
I would love to hear about what you are learning.
I am going to jot down this phrase and say it tonight before bed.
Sometimes I remember my dreams sometimes I don't.
Anyway-off to dreamland for me.
Love you
toe to toe
XOXOXOXO
you have inspired me to try this out
thanks for all your great ideas
I so love reading your blog
it is a very comfortable feeling.
I love this picture. The lighting and color are beautiful!
Good to have you back at SPC...great shot. Looks very early 70's..with the lights and shadows and colors.....
I've followed your blog for a while and find it very heartwarming. This topic is very close to my heart because dreams were/are my most personal connections to my dad who passed away when I was 16.
When I was 6 months pregnant, I dreamed that my dad was with me in the delivery room, and although I could not see my baby being born, my dad beamed with joy and said "She's beautiful."
There was never a doubt in my mind that he saw her, that I was having a girl.
The only disheartening association with my dreams was that no one (family) believed I was in touch with the only friend I had while growing up - my dad.
It warms my heart, that you have no doubts about your own dreams.
MMMMMmmmmmm
surrounded by necie...
now that's a dream :)
xOx d
beautiful boho,
what a gorgeous photo...your home looks so warm and inviting...not that that comes as any surprise.
i love all the new and beautiful ways you are listening to your heart. i love how you continue to welcome those of us interested to come along...inspire us towards our own healing...encourage us to make our own discoveries.
i'm wondering if when you started you had any fears at all that you might not be ready to hear what your heart had to say?
love and blessings,
k
first, i adore, adore, adore this picture of you, and that corner of your lovely house :)
and
second, this idea of writng down our dreams is just wonderful. i think i might try.... will let you know ;)
{ ♥ }
I will most definitely do this I recalled one of my dreams a few days ago although it was quite odd it supplied me with some interesting insight.
two things:
1) this is such a great shot, it makes me want to be sitting with you having a cup of tea - inviting and delicious colors.
2)I was questioning my ability to move forward with my photography and last night I dreamt over and over and over about photos, processing, negatives, loupes and I was in heaven during this lopping dream. First thought this morning was "hell, yes - thank you dream state"! Rambling, I know, but what I really mean by telling you this story is "I agree with the whole powerful dream stuff". Ha. I'll go now but thanks for this post :)
What a lovely photo. Your home looks so cozy and comfortable. I can only imagine how nice sitting down with cup of tea must be. I used to write down my dreams every morning for a while, too. I gained so much insight.. thinking about it, I can't remember why I stopped.
I have a dream journal - well - I have just
started my third.
It is true and amazing the insight I have gained
in following my dreams - as I truly a dreamer -
metaphorically as well:) -
but i have not asked myself these questions -
specifically - in my journals - i reflect on the
emotions surrounding my dreams -
I love these questions (love the questions
themselves:) and will add them into my
morning reflections....thankyou!
:)
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