A brief look at dreams

Why consider dreams important? This is a question that is asked so many times. Most people consider dreams valueless or just a recap of the day's events with some memories. In fact, dreams are remarkably rich in expression and one of the most valuable human resources.

Without dreams, people eventually hallucinate and are diagnosed with a psychological disorder. That's frightening! We don't, however, have to worry about that extreme, since we all dream, even if we don't remember our dreams.

One of the great values of dreams is the imagery that is presented to us. The imagery reveals our inner psychology (the unconscious); something we are not aware of. By becoming familiar with our dreams, we can understand what's going on inside our psychology and hopefully, make changes to become healthier and more complete people.

Let me provide an example of a dream and review it with respect to the dreamer's inner world. The images indicate changes that are needed.

"I'm in a room with three or four family members. Three or four thieves are trying to break into the room to get a treasure. I know the thieves. I think that we should throw the treasure outside a window and I'll go retrieve it when it lands on the second-floor roof. I decide not to do that and hold on to the treasure, which is in two metal boxes."

The dreamer had some thoughts about the images. First, the metal boxes hold personal treasures, and second, the thieves represent people from the dreamer's past. In addition, we can say that the number three represents a resolution of some tension and four represents a completeness. So, three or four family members represent some form of resolution to tensions and a promise of completeness. The thieves represent the shadow or dark side of the person from the past but in relation to the family due to the same number of thieves as family members. The dreamer must keep the treasure, not lose it to thieves, or the shadow. The fact that there are two metal boxes holding the treasure represents and emphasizes that the treasure is related to a tension of sorts in the past.

The dreamer was unable to express personal values and ideas when young – the dreamer's voice or treasure was stolen. Now, the opportunity to retrieve and hold on to a personal voice is available and the dreamer must find ways to express it.

Dreams indicate what we need for change. Therefore, the value of dreams cannot be over emphasized.