Dream Journal
Have you done a dream journal? I have dabbled in dream journaling in the past to help me recall my dreams and see how my subconscious was playing things out in my mind. It’s very simple really.
How to dream journal
You take a journal and create a dividing line down the center. On the left you put down a description of words or short sentences that sum up your day and what has occurred in your thoughts and feelings. On the right you write down the next morning, words or short sentences about what you remember from your dreams. Then you can compare the two and see how your dreams might be relating to life situations.
Well, several weeks ago I woke from sleep and remembered it had been a restless night of dreams. I specifically tried to recall the dreams because there had been animals in them. Predators particularly in one dream. They weren’t chasing me, just wandering past me and each took turns looking at me and and going on their merry way. I wasn’t scared, but aware of their presence and strength and beauty. A bobcat I remember very vividly.
In a separate dream, I remember an octopus of small to midsize range that was bright in color and moving out the dark shadows of a cave and out into crystal clear water. It darted away and I followed it awhile moving through the water with grace.
The following day was going fine until I got an email that was disturbing, unexpected, and very hurtful. If I wasn’t careful I was going to go into a full blown anxiety attack as I felt my chest tighten and my throat close and tears begin to form. The mama bear in me wanted to spring out of me like a predator and attack the person who wrote the email. After talking to my husband, I knelt down in prayer, tears streaming down my face and focused on my beautiful breath. In. Out. In. Out. Until I was more calm, less angry, but still very hurt. I remembered my dreams from the previous night as I sat in silence and recalled the octopus and bobcat, so I googled what they meant.
My dream symbols
Bobcat: can symbolize betrayal of someone. Or can bring us bad news, it can represent problems. It can also represent the need for you to be patient, skillful and wise concerning a victory over a situation or enemy. A bobcat standing in front of you can mean you have an enemy in life that is preying on you. This person can be acting as a friend but their intentions could be dangerous.
Octopus in clear water: This is a way the subconscious shows you lies you recently discovered. Clear water allows you to see situations more clearly and know the real personality of someone around you. I see these dreams as a premonition of what was to come. I very much had a clearer perspective of this person, that they were not as they appeared. Feeling betrayed, lied to. I felt that their intentions were not good. Now while the situation has been resolved in its own right, and while I didn’t resort to attacking with anger, I find paying closer attention to my dreams may provide me with clarity and resolve to what is happening in my waking life.
A tip on keeping a dream journal
Have the journal right next to your bed and write what you can remember in short script if you awaken in the middle of the night. If you are a deep sleeper before you open your eyes in the morning, do a dream recall and try to pull up the details of your dreams. It is best to lie in the position you might have had the dream in to help you recall. Write down what you remember. I tend to sleep in all positions so I recall best by moving into each position and see what I can remember. Good luck!
