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DREAM INTERPRETATION TUTORIAL
Phase 3:
Dream Analysis
Dream analysis requires both unorthodox and creative thought. This tutorial covers some basic dream analysis techniques to help you milk your dream for all it's worth. During this Phase, you will be analyzing your dream rather than interpreting it. This effectively means breaking it down into smaller, more focused units and noting your personal association with each dream symbol rather than looking at the dream as a whole. Once you've completed your dream analysis, you will once again bring the symbols together during Phase 4: Dream Interpretation.
STEP 1
Assessing emotional response
All feelings experienced within the dream are important, but before exploring each one individually, it will help you at the outset to state the overriding mood of the dream in a single word. Examples would be inspiring, discouraging, frightening, enlightening, mystifying. An easy way to establish this, is to imagine you're relating your dream to a friend. Without giving it thought, quickly make a statement such as "I had such a ..................... dream last night." Try to avoid non-descript terms like "weird" or "bizarre", or any other terms that would apply to most dreams. If you're really at a loss in terms of describing the dream in one word, write something like "reminded me of the feeling I used to have before school exams".
STEP 2
Analyzing direction
There are always moving objects within a dream. Make notes of the general direction of symbols. For example, you may ascend a flight of stairs, fall down into water, climb up a rope etc. In this case, if your incubated question was about a forthcoming situation, the dream may be indicating that it will be somewhat of a rollercoaster ride and may not be an optimum choice. Common directions worth observing are: up, down, left, right, backwards, forwards, north, south, east, west, horizontal, vertical etc.
STEP 3
Establishing pace
Was the overall pace of the dream slow moving, upbeat or a combination of both. This may provide clues when interpreting the dream. For example, if part of the dream constantly alternates between fast and slow, it may be drawing your attention to an inconsistent approach. Alternatively, if the entire dream involves fast moving activity, it may be indicating to you that you need to slow down.STEP 4
Quick analysis of individual symbols
At this point, don't try to interpret individual symbols. Rather gloss over your symbols quickly and storm your mind for associations. The quicker the better. Try to avoid logical deductions and note gut responses instead. Also, try to limit your associations to a maximum of 3 words. For example: water = heavy, dark, deep. Individual interpretation of your dream symbols will follow in the dream interpretation phase.
STEP 5
Look for common threads
Look at the individual symbols and see if they have anything in common. Examples are: all scenes in the dream took place indoors; all objects were in some way linked with water; all the characters were female; everybody was facing north; everything was upside down or inside out etc. You may also find common threads within the associations established in step 4.STEP 5
Note the day's events
Look back over the last 24 hours and briefly note the highlights. There is no need to elaborate on the details, simple phrases or words will do. For example: "angry with Joe", "speeding fine", "good night out."By now, your dream analysis page will look something like this:
Your dream analysis will give you a good idea of the general theme of the dream and should have served to hone your focus sufficiently to eliminate unnecessary detours when interpreting individual symbols. Once this phase is complete, move on to Phase 4: Dream Interpretation.
Copyright © Carine Rudman 2002. All Rights Reserved. http://www.soulfuture.com