Table Of Content

Practical Psychology Press – Portland, Oregon Dreaming Insights A 5-Step Plan for Discovering the Meaning in Your Dream © 2002, 2004 by Gillian Holloway. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photo- copying, recording or by an information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, ex- cept where permitted by law. Practical Psychology Press P.O. Box 535 Portland, OR 97207 [email protected] www.practicalpsychologypress.com Cover design: Amie Walter, Amiedesign Book design and prepress: Kristin Pintarich, KP Services 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data (Print version, 2nd edition) Holloway, Gillian. Dreaming insights : a 5-step plan for discovering the meaning in your dream / Gillian Holloway.-- 2nd ed. p. ; cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-944227-27-9 1. Dream interpretation. I. Title. BF1091 .H57 2001 154.6'3--dc21 2001088457 Rev. Electronic Version 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-944227-32-9 (0-944227-32-5) Acknowledgments I wish to thank my friend Diane DiPrete for her excellent help in proofing the manuscript of this book, (any residual imper- fections are the sole responsibility of the author), and for her constant encouragement and interest in the topic. I am grate- ful for the friendship and encouragement of Dr. Al Siebert, who has helped me to develop “computer courage” as well as writer’s survival skills. Thanks to my brother Doug, for giving me a printer (effectively eliminating my final remaining excuse for procrastination). And special thanks to my mother, Pat, who has patiently listened to my enthusiastic explanations of life ever since she taught me how to talk. Dedication This book is dedicated to that aspect of self residing in each of us that continually tries to shed light on the darkness, connect the fragments of our understanding into a meaningful whole, and reintroduce us to our abandoned talents and discarded loves: to the dreamer within. Contents “I wonder what that dream meant…” ...............................1 Adjust Your Lens to See What is There .............................5 Your Dream Journal: A Tool For Remembering ..............17 Dream Language ..............................................................25 The 5-Step Technique .......................................................50 Typical Symbols and Metaphors ......................................63 Keys to Understanding Symbols .....................................77 Extraordinary Dreams .....................................................85 “Dear Dreammaker…” Your Nightly Advice Column .107 Sharing Dreams with Others .........................................111 What to Expect From Here ............................................123 Chapter Notes & References ..........................................127 Index ..............................................................................131 Suggested Reading .........................................................133 viii / Dreaming Insights Chapter 1 “I wonder what that dream meant…” Sometimes the feeling that a dream has meaning will be so strong it will be an almost physical sensation, like having a forgotten name on the tip of your tongue. Whether or not you discuss such a dream, you are left with a haunting feeling of having been touched, of receiving communication from a deep- er part of the mind. If the dream is particularly meaningful, it may float to the surface of your consciousness during the day, triggered by some word or event which seems oddly related to it. The dreams which seem most puzzling are the most critical for us to understand. Those dreams that stir us with the sensation of their impor- tance, yet challenge us to unravel their message are often the most valuable to understand. The subjective experience of relevance combined with the conscious inability to recognize meaning is always a powerful clue that a dream is significant. Any dream that feels important may indeed be vital—even more so because it is difficult to understand. Each of us has areas in life that we tend to deny or avoid understanding. Some of us have been taught that we cannot think and feel at the same time for example, so that any experience which would evoke both feelings and contemplation causes us to draw a blank. If a dream centers upon something that eludes the grasp of your conscious mind during waking life, you may find it tricky to examine the information in dream form as well. Yet the determination and courage required for the exploration of dreams is well worth it. Dreams, if understood, are a powerful resource for better understanding yourself and the complexities of your waking life. Dreams can offer insights about why you feel so strongly