Materials: Journal, online journal, or notes app
While the process of documenting your dreams is a personal preference, an online journal like Penzu.com can be very useful. In this way, you can “search” for patterns, repeating symbols, characters, etc.
Here’s how to begin:
- Stay in your dream. When you first awaken after a dream, stay with it. Do your best to not move from your bed until you have documented your dream as fully as you can.
- In the present tense, dictate or journal your dream before getting out of bed: Using a notes app, dictate your dream into your phone with as much detail as possible.
- Begin with the feeling you have upon awakening; then move into other details. Include symbols, numbers, metaphors, locations, your personal cast of characters, any challenges, action taken, or anything at all, however bizarre it may seem. Follow the same guidelines if you are journaling your dream.
- Spontaneously name your dream. Without conscious thought, give your dream a title. This immediate association can offer insight into what your psyche would like you to explore.
- Transfer the content sooner than later: If you have dictated the dream, copy and paste it into your online journal, being sure to save it, while it is fresh in your mind. Take the added step of putting it into a word document, printing it, and putting it into a binder.
- Be diligent: Even dreams that seem inconsequential can often offer “more than meets the I.”
May your dreams bear many gifts this holiday season.
Namaste,
Elizabeth Bryan-Jacobs is a nationally known artist, creativity facilitator and bestselling author, currently pursuing a master’s degree in art therapy. Through her own recipe of art-making, mindfulness and nature, she supports individuals in awakening their inborn creativity. Her combination of practices opens a path inward to inner wisdom and insight that helps transform challenge to change. The result is a greater sense of presence, connection and empowerment, as well as the abiding joy that is the core of the creative process.
Elizabeth is also the author of bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your Blessings and Soul Models: Transformative Stories of Courage and Compassion.
Elizabeth’s passion to share the benefits of creativity, mindfulness and nature inspired her to pioneer Creative Awakenings: Where Spirit Meets Science, a series of innovative, transformational seminars. She has shared Creative Awakenings for nearly two decades, privately and at exclusive venues like Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA, The Golden Door Spa in San Marcos, CA, the Ojai Valley Spa and Resort as well as with numerous corporations.
To support wellness during challenging times, Elizabeth now offers Awakenings Circles. These online, mindfulness-based creativity programs and practices help guests dig deeply on their journey in connecting with what matters most.
Elizabeth is a renowned sculptor and artist with works in numerous private and corporate collections, including Dell Children’s Hospital and Healthline Media.
Along with her husband, artist Bobby Jacobs, she is also the co-founder of The Spread Your Wings Project, a non-profit devoted to sharing the benefits of community art-making in response to the challenges faced by our nation today. The couple builds massive pairs of angel wings in community with vulnerable populations for fundraising purposes. For more information, visit TheSpreadYourWingsProject.org.
Leave A Comment