Sleep and Its Mysterious Byproduct
If Dreams are Insights to the Spiritual Realm, Insomnia is the result of being too concerned with Reality.
Why do we dream if we forget most of the content of our dreams?
Is this some form of interacting with higher beings or another realm that only our subconscious can comprehend?
I often wonder what my dreams mean, if anything. Writing about them seems to be an effective way to explore different theories (despite the fact that dreams are often difficult to describe or remember.)
Many cultures believe that dreams are visions or messages from a higher power. This is an idea that goes back to 3100 BC when Babylonians recorded and interpreted their dreams. Ancient Egyptians believed that dreams were messages from the gods.
Today, we have information from extensive research about REM sleep, sleep disorders, insomnia, common recurring dreams, etc. We know we need sleep to survive. But what purpose do dreams serve, if any?
“Formerly it was esteemed as a harbinger of fate, a portent and comforter, a messenger of the gods. Now we see it as the emissary of the unconscious, whose task it is to reveal the secrets that are hidden from the conscious mind, and this it does with astounding completeness.” -Carl Yung
The truth is, there is no scientific explanation.
Psychologists reference the subconscious and its role in what we experience while we’re sleeping, but ultimately there are only theories about why we dream.
Some experts believe it can contribute to emotional processing or memory formation; others believe dreams mean nothing at all.
I find it incredibly fascinating that even people who are born blind can experience visual dreams. This, along with my own experience leads me to believe that dreams are directly connected to our imaginations.
The “imagination” is not a physical part of the brain, but it is something most of us remember engaging with during childhood. This is also when our dreams are the most vivid.
People who are considered more creative tend to be more in touch with their imagination and therefore continue to have vivid dreams throughout their life.
I have also heard that what we see in dreams can only come from memory. For example, you wouldn’t see people or places that you don’t recognize from your life.
This is not true for me at all. In my dreams, more often than not, I am in unfamiliar places and surrounded by strangers.
Can the subconscious mind create dream sequences that have nothing to do with reality?
(Semi-related, I found this interesting:)
There’s a recurring dream that I remember first having as a child; I wake up in the back seat of a moving car with no one in the driver’s seat. For some reason it’s always a struggle to get to the front of the car and I am never able to gain control of the vehicle before crashing.
Lack of control seems to be the obvious theme, but I often wonder if this is a projection of a future event in my life.
I have vivid, colorful dreams, as well as lucid dreams often.
If you’ve ever been aware of the fact that you’re dreaming before waking up, you know it’s a very unique experience. I often see myself from outside my body. I’m not sure if that’s self aware, narcissistic, or something else, but it’s not like in the movies.
I have been able to manipulate my dreams after realizing I’m asleep, sometimes I can even fly, but it also tends to get ominous.
I had a dream recently that I was in a large (unfamiliar) house in bed. I went to check on my niece who was sleeping in a different room. I remember walking around turning off lights and turning down music that was playing loudly. My niece woke up and told me that there were monsters in her room, I told her I would stay with her until she fell asleep. At some point I realized this was a dream, then I remember being lost in the house and encountering multiple demons, some in the form of children.
The voices I heard were more threatening than anything I’ve heard in life or horror movies. Everything was very dark after I turned off numerous lights. I was able to wake myself up eventually.
I have no theories about what this means.
I often have dreams that involve confusing houses with endless mazes of hallways and doors. Maybe this represents feeling trapped? Trying to get somewhere?
It almost feels like a time lapse or coming back from Narnia to realize no time has passed at all while you’ve had an entire spiritual journey.
Sharing dreams feels more vulnerable than I expected. More on that later?
I think that learning to interpret your own dreams can connect you with your spiritual self.
If you allow your consciousness to expand beyond this realm of reality, it can provide extensive insight.
We may never be able to fully understand dreams, but maybe considering the fact that they mean something would change the way we remember them.
There is something to be said about the fact that we’ve also chosen the word “dream” to describe our future desires. Are dreams an insight into the future? What about nightmares?
When we’re young we ‘dream’ of becoming like our heroes, fully believing that dreams come true.
I searched “dreams” on Medium and almost all of the content was about chasing and/or achieving metaphorical dreams as opposed to sharing experiences with where we go when we fall asleep.
If you’ve read this far, thank you! I’d love for you to share the last dream you remember having!
