Why Do We Dream?
Dream activity is the unconscious mind speaking to our conscious mind through picture metaphors that are comprised of images and symbols. This dream language reflects associations between our emotions, memories and concepts, and is largely guided by the emotion or emotional memories of the dreamer. It is suggested that dreams come to us with the intention of weaving new information into existing memory systems for learning, the creation of new insights and communicating a feeling or perspective that is relevant to our wakeful lives.
We can think of dreams as expressions of our inner feelings and as an opportunity for integration as we bring to our consciousness an issue that we are working with on an unconscious level. In some cases, this may be unresolved emotional conflicts or beliefs that leave us stuck in unhealthy behavior patterns.
EFT, Sleep and Dreaming
Daytime emotional stress can influence dream content, dream patterns and sleep physiology. Using EFT for stress reduction and emotional regulation can improve the quality of one’s sleep. Additionally, we can use EFT to reduce the anxiety and fear connected to specific dreams that evoke strong unpleasant emotional responses. In this way the distress behind the disturbing dreams or recurring dream sequences is addressed without needing to understand it.
For further suggestions, see A Simple Routine to Apply EFT Tapping to your Dreams.
Using Dreams to Connect to Waking Life
In-depth dream exploration can more quickly bring to one's awareness the associations between the dream and waking life, as emotional issues are peeled away and core issues surface. In working with clients and their dreams, I use the Dream to Freedom protocol developed by Robert and Lynne Hoss.
With this method we:
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Explore the dream using a Gestalt-based approach for discovering the unconsious issues the dream is addressing.
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Apply EFT to reduce related emotional barriers.
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Explore cues as to how the unconscious is attempting to resolve the problem to support progress beyond the situation.
This method may be helpful with dreams that are recurring or evoke strong emotional responses, are hard to navigate and understand, or ilicit resistance to exploring the deeper layers of the dream.
Sources: dreamscience.org and eftuniverse.com