Don’t Remember your Dreams? Breaking a Dream Drought
Those who lose the Dreaming are Lost. - Australian Aboriginal Saying
Do You Remember Your Dreams?
Have you ever said “I don’t dream” or “I never remember my dreams”? Many of us have lost touch with our dreams. Our society is suffering a severe dream drought. Many indigenous traditions view the loss of dream recall as a serious issue. The Navajo tribe says that when humans dream, they stay in touch with the spirit realm. The Iroquois believe that when you have lost your dreams you have lost a part of your soul. Psychologist, C.G. Jung declared “it is an age-old fact, that God speaks chiefly through dreams and visions.”
What Causes a Dream Drought?
There are three main reasons for experiencing a dream drought in our modern lives:
1. Bad Habits: The rhythms and routines of typical urban life simply do not support dream recall. Alarm clocks, kids needing to get to school, deadlines and obligations take away from moments to recall our dreams. Most of us do not make a habit of taking time for dream recall or attempt to write down our dreams. The safe and supported space to share our dream experiences has been lost. If we do nothing with our dreams, we will not dream well.
2. Fear and Regret: We may run away from our dreams to avoid troublesome dreams and nightmares. We choose to avoid what the dreams might be telling us as we don’t want to hear about the dark side of ourselves or an illness that may lie ahead. If a dream is of something wonderful, often we dismiss the dismiss the dream as unattainable, telling ourselves it was only a dream.
3. Sleep Deprivation: It is estimated that one third of all American adults suffer from sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is when you don’t get the sleep you need. The amount of sleep needed for adults ranges from 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Multiple factors cause or contribute to sleep deprivation including poor sleep hygiene, lifestyle choices, alcohol consumption, caffeine, social media, screen time, work obligations and stress levels.
Are you curious about how to remember your dreams, recover from a dream drought and learn how to gain valuable insight from your dreams? Then join us for our urban retreat The Art of Activating Your Dreams: Talking and Walking your Dream Life on Sunday, June 5, 2022. We are meeting at Katz, Korin, Cunningham, 334 North Senate Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46204 from noon – 5 p.m.
Dare to dream,
Jenny