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Dreams - Dream Interpretation With James Harvey Stout
Dreamwork
What is dreamwork? "Dreamwork" is a dynamic approach to
dreams, in contrast to the intellectual technique of interpretation. In
dreamwork, we confront the emotions and psychological energies of a
dream -- and then we can resolve and integrate those psychological
dynamics without needing to know what the dream "means."
Dreamwork is a direct involvement in our dreams. In contrast,
interpretation requires that we translate the dream into intellectual
knowledge and then we search for a way to translate that knowledge into
action -- but dreamwork takes us straight from dream to action. This
action might include an artistic portrayal of the feelings, or a wakeful
deed (such as a career decision) which is suggested by a dream. Even if
the dream doesn't propose a specific action, we come to understand its
message more thoroughly by performing dreamwork -- although this
"understanding" might be on a level which is more intuitive than
intellectual (and therefore more likely to resolve the emotional thrust
of the dream).
The intellect has limitations in working with dreams. When we
use the intellect (in dream interpretation), we might not be using the
best tool for working with dreams.
- The intellect relies on the detailed recall of an entire
story-line in order to make sense of the interactions of characters in
the plot; dreamwork can proceed from a single image or merely a
feeling, so we can process a dream even if we don't remember all of
it.
- The intellect attempts to use left-hemisphere logic to translate
right-hemisphere dream scenarios into words (and we can't ascertain
how much value is "lost in the translation"); dreamwork uses the right
hemisphere, so we are working in the same realm as that of dreams.
- The intellect is frequently satisfied with "understanding" a dream
without acting on it to resolve the emotional discord; dreamwork is
acting on it.
Techniques of dreamwork.
- We can express dream images and feelings through such activities
as visual arts (painting, mandalas, sculpture, photography, collages,
or drawing with pencils, crayons, chalk, or ink), writing (poetry,
music, stories, spontaneous prose), crafts (embroidery, weaving),
drama (alone or with other people to portray additional dream
characters -- as explained below), dancing (or simple body movements),
symbolic rituals and ceremonies (in which we use physical
representations of the dream-symbols to express our feelings toward
them), and "active imagination" (which is described elsewhere in this
book). Test these various media to discover the ones in which you feel
most articulate (not necessarily the most talented or skilled), and be
willing to match a certain dream to a particular medium.
- We can use dream drama. In a wakeful dream drama, other people
play the roles of the characters who appeared in a dream. We start by
reading the entire dream (or just a part which we want to explore),
including the dialogue, setting, and emotional content. The actors
then put on costumes or masks which express the character they are
portraying -- and they play out the dream, repeating the dialogue
emotionally (and perhaps improvising as they develop their character
and its feelings). The original dreamer can change the plot as it
progresses, in accordance with any new feelings or insights which
occur. If the actors seem to be genuinely sensing their roles (and not
merely rendering their characters superficially), the original dreamer
them, "What do you represent?" or "Why are you in my dream?" At the
end of the drama, the actors will describe the emotions which they
felt when they played the role; these explanations might help everyone
to understand the dream (and its characters) more profoundly. The
dreamer, too, can share any new ideas which arose as a result of the
enactment.
- We can use these guidelines for dreamwork.
 | Don't be concerned with the "artistic" quality of your dreamwork.
The purpose is to express and contemplate a dream, not to create a
masterpiece, or to impress other people. However, some prominent
artists (painters, musicians, writers, etc.) have incorporated
elements from dreams directly into their work. For example, William
Burroughs, author of Naked Lunch, said, "A good part of my
material comes from dreams. A lot of it is straight transcription
from dreams with some amplification." |
| Don't be analytical. Because this is a right-hemisphere
exercise, disregard the left hemisphere's appraisals, judgments,
censorings, and system of logic. Instead, indulge your spontaneity,
playfulness, passions, freedom -- and a desire to regenerate the
state of mind which you experienced during the dream. |
| The images don't have to be exact duplications of the dream
images. Start with the general topic and emotion of the dream, and
allow your artwork to evolve, without trying to maintain a specific
focus. As the dreamwork creation develops, it might bring in other
images and feelings (including those which we are feeling during
this wakeful state). As we re-live the dream, new images might
emerge if we remember more of the dream, or if the plot becomes
altered, or if it goes beyond the point at which we woke up. Accept
these revisions and add them to your dreamwork; if they arise
spontaneously, they are as valid as the original dream. If our dream
was a nightmare (or otherwise unfavorable), we might change it
intentionally -- perhaps by drawing the monster, and then putting a
beautiful golden color around it, and then drawing it again to see
whether it has gained a friendlier appearance. |
| Examine another character's viewpoint. Let it tell the story
from that perspective, and use those images and feelings in your
dreamwork. Virtually all elements in a dream are representations of
the dreamer, so we can work from the standpoint of the main
character ("me"), other people, any animals, and important objects
(as opposed to mere "props"). |
| Attend to your creation. Part of dreamwork is the creative
process, but we can gain additional information about the dream by
contemplating the resulting artwork: display the drawing (for
example) and let your imagination and feelings "study" it to gain
more insight. For the purposes of display, we don't have to use our
own drawing, for example; we could exhibit a magazine photograph
which reminds us of the dream. Let the symbols become a part of your
wakeful life until you feel that you are finished with them. Some
kinds of artwork can be kept permanently in our dream journal. |
| Dreamwork can be utilitarian, not creative. If a dream suggests
that our financially irresponsible lifestyle is causing
psychological turmoil, we gain little by indulging an artistic
action such as drawing a picture of money. Instead, we might need to
make a budget and pay our bills. |
| Know your psychological limitations. Because dreamwork invokes
the energies of a dream, it can be disturbing, particularly if we
are recalling a nightmare. If the work upsets you, you might want to
do it with the guidance of a therapist or friend. |
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