Dream Journaling & Interpretation with Certificate

This is an important question to ask.  If you know the different reasons we dream, you may be able to identify the broad general type of dream you are having.  There are several theories as to why we dream.  

1.  Our dreams are simply repeating/rehearsing what we have done during the day.  Have you ever watched a horror movie right before bed and later dreamed of monsters?  Or maybe you go to bed exhausted from a long, hard days work only to do the same work the rest of the night?  

2.  Our brain is reviewing, sorting, saving and trashing what's not needed.  It is reviewing what we have done during the day.  Although similar to number 1, it is a more detailed theory.  For example, say I went to the library, it was raining, I found a whole new series of books to read, check out and the librarian's perfume was so strong it took my breath away and went home.  My brain may review the information, sort the information into useful and not useful, store the name of the book series into my memory and trash the fact (not put into memory) that the librarian was wearing extremely strong perfume (because it was not important in the scheme of things.).

3. Dreams are caused by the brain testing neurons.  This theory states that we are dreaming due to random firing of neurons, thus creating different scenarios while we sleep.

4.  Dreams connect us to the collective unconscious.  Carl Jung believed that dreams connect us to the collective unconscious.  The collective unconscious is a psychic link that humanity has to all human knowledge.  If you are a Star Trek: Next Generation fan, the Borg is a good analogy.  The Borg (single because they are connected as one) is a species that is part human, part machine.  They are connected so that what one individual experiences is "downloaded" so that all the individuals will have the same experience.  

Carl Jung had several archetypes that are found in all cultures past and present.  They can also be found in films, books and plays.  If you record you dreams, you may find them in your dreams.  We will review them again in later sections, but here are the main ones:  the wise old woman, the wise old man, the divine child, the trickster, the hero, the anima/animus and the hero. 

5, Another theory is that dreams are a form of communication between us and God (prophetic/precog dreams), Angels, other dimensions, animals, etc.  Every person who can remember their dreams has had a dream that came true.

NOTE:  Since we dream in all five stages of sleep and go through all
five stages  - five times or cycles, a lot of what we dream is different
renditions of what we have done throughout the day.  There is a theory
that this is the basis for De ja vu.  De ja vu is the feeling that we
have "been here, done that" before.

This lesson provides tips to help you better recall your dreams.  Recalling dreams takes practice and patience.

This section shows you how to use your journal for self-improvement.