Transforming a Dream- by Gillian Holloway

[Lin Neiswender]

Transformational Dream Work
http://www.nhne.com/features/dreamwork.html#transform


From Wind & Wings 5
Friday, January 17, 1997

Many people find recurring dreams annoying and perplexing, particularly those involving actions and settings that make no rational sense. Crashing elevators, endless high school exams or forgetting to wear clothes to work are not events most of us encounter. Why then does the mind fix on a melodrama, or absurd situation and present it with compelling intensity again and again?

Generally recurring dreams reflect the psyche's attempt to create closure with an emotional dilemma, or to digest and assimilate insight from life experiences. Long feared to be a sign of hidden trauma or mental illness, recurring dreams are actually often a sign of healthy struggle toward balance and understanding. Conscious recognition of the metaphor in a dream often brings its hidden gifts to light and eliminates the "need" for the dream to return. High achievers recognize themselves in the tested teenager and learn to balance their drive for perfection. Reticent souls who always lose their teeth in dreams find the time and place to speak their truth, and delight in discovering they have "outgrown" their dental nightmares.

But sometimes it isn't possible to recognize the real life counterpart of your evening drama. The dream is clear enough, but the subject matter is not, though the sense of urgency behind the dream is undeniable. In such cases you can still become an active partner with your dream and help create the balance it seeks. Transformation Dreamwork is a technique for rewriting scary or frustrating dreams, and healing the pain they represent. While it appears simple and even fun, for many been it has been a potent source of resolution and joy.

Using the dream as a starting point, begin to create a new version of the same drama, but this time add whatever will resolve the problem or heal the crisis (wisdom, courage, forgiveness, rescue, or perfect love). Most people write their new drama, although some prefer to paint, draw, sculpt or work with a sand tray. Any medium of representation will work, but it is important to create an external production of the resolved dream story.

Don't think of the artistic medium involved. It is an inner art you're creating, and its alchemy is not impacted merely by visual qualities, but by your own connection with the meaning you give the work. Do anything necessary to insure you find satisfaction in the story line. Permit yourself any degree of corny heroism and whatever superhuman powers you require. Draw upon miraculous support: a passing genius, talking animals, or a host of angels. Just make sure you are involved in a hearty resolution of the dreams' drama. Once you have revamped the story, and created an emotionally satisfying resolution, set your dream production aside for awhile.

At three or four different times throughout the day, return to the transformed dream and re-imagine it. Some day-dream in a meditative state, some find it important to speak aloud the new story, while still others re-enact the drama with puppet-like symbols of various kinds. A non-critical focus, and the willingness to embrace heroic possibilities are all you need. Do as many repetitions as you like, for as many days as you like. Most people find that doing three sessions per day leaves them feeling "complete" in one to three days. Using this technique, you will likely notice the original dream either disappears or is quite altered and improved if it arises again.

This is not a way to eliminate dreams you "don't like" for trivial reasons, but a powerful method to rework the constructs that gave rise to the recurring dream. We have all had a turn at being haunted by something that would not show its face, yet refused to go away. This is one approach to heal, forgive, and release that specter, which can work effectively whether or not you ever know its name.