Types of nightmare include night terrors, sleep paralysis and recurring nightmares, which are related to intense stress and emotional conflict caused by certain circumstances and events in the waking life of the dreamer. These may include the death of a loved one, a severe accident or illness, post traumatic stress, depression, insecurity, financial difficulties and repressed feelings of anger, self-doubt, worry, and/or guilt. Drugs, alcohol and medication have also been recognised as a common cause for nightmares.
Yet, it is important to note that nightmares and/or recurring nightmares offer the same opportunity for self-exploration and understanding as normal dreams, no matter how terrifying they may seem.
Nightmares and/or reoccurring dreams have increased in vividness and intensity as a way to attract your attention. There may be something deeply wrong or unresolved in your life. Your hidden fears may be preventing you from moving forward and you may have missed specific messages and vital clues that you need to know - a wake up call!
Face your fears! The dreaming world provides a safe place to enact and work through fears and challenges.
This month's dream focus aims to help you conquer your nightmares and, in turn, conquer your life.
Below are a list of exercises to help kick those inner demons.
Record and Recall
Nightmares are typically the easiest dreams to recall due to their vividness and frightening nature. Record each dream segment and every detail. Simply putting pen to paper can be very therapeutic and diminish the level of fear associated with the dream.
Use dream analysis to help interpret your nightmare as with any other dream. Study the dream and find out exactly what disturbed you the most. See if you can discover the message your nightmare was trying to convey and know that you do not need the negative feelings associated with the nightmare, be it fear, anger or guilt.
It is important to remember that dreams are a direct reflection of our waking lives.
Is there something you need to change, confront, accept or resolve in your waking life?
Nightmares and reoccurring dreams will continue and may increase in intensity and vividness until the dream message has been received and ACTED upon.
The Power of Change
This exercise is especially effective for reoccurring nightmares.
Either record or visualise your nightmare in a relaxed state. In which part of the dream did you feel you had the most control? Return to this part of the dream and change the story and outcome in any way you wish. This process will help you to regain power and control over your dream.
If your nightmare is occurring on a regular basis, it may be helpful to apply this technique before drifting off to sleep. The more you focus on the desired change and outcome, the more likely your dream will take on this new course.
Always remember that it is your dream and you always have control.
Confront your Inner Demons
Gain understanding of your nightmare by talking to and confronting elements of your dream.
Either visualise or record a conversation with one or more of your dream characters or dream symbols. Find out why they have appeared in your dream and what message they bring. Follow your intuition and be open to any answers and/or messages that pop into your mind – even if you think you are imagining them.
Examples of questions you may like to use:
Why are you in my dream?
Who are you?
What message do you have for me?
What part of me and/or my life do you represent?
How can you help me?
How can I help you?
What do I need to know?
What do I need to do?
If you're familiar with lucid dreaming techniques, or you suddenly realise that you are dreaming while in the dream state, turn and face your dream character and ask any questions that are relevant for you at that point in your dream.
Remember that you are safe to confront any fears and challenges.
You may even want to befriend your dream character, knowing that it is a part of yourself.
Take note of any messages or conversations that took place for interpretation on awakening.
Protection Meditation
A meditation to protect and clear yourself from nightmares or unpleasant dreams.
Step One:
Place yourself gently into bed, finding the position most comfortable for you. Feel the safety, warmth and snugness encompass you.
Step Two:
Close your eyes and become aware of your breathing, allowing any thoughts and concerns to melt away. Relax and feel yourself sinking deeper into your bed with each breath.
Step Three:
Starting from your toes, imagine a wave of white light pouring over you until you reach the top of your head. Imagine the white light as a protective shield or bubble around your body. Expand and contact this protective shield until you are happy with its size and shape.
Step Four:
Feel the strength and safety of your shield as you drift into your dream world, knowing that you are now fully protected and nothing can harm you.
Step Five:
For extra protection, you may wish to invite a dream guide with you on your dream journey. Be it an angel, God/Goddess, a totem animal, your higher self, a symbol or someone close to you.
Feel their presence as you welcome your guide into your protective shield, knowing you are not alone on your dream journey.
Step Six:
Sweet dreams!
Related links:
Meeting your dream guide
How to record your dreams
How to analyse your dreams
References:
Ball, Pamela (2006). The Power of Creative Dreaming. Arcturus Publishing, UK
Cheung, Theresa (2006). The Element Encyclopedia of 20,000 Dreams: The ultimate A-Z to interpret the secrets of your dreams. Harper Collins, UK.
