Dreaming as a tool for creativity

“A dream is a theatre in which the dreamer himself is the scene, the player, the prompter, the producer, the author, the public and the critic.”

Carl Jung

Throughout history, dreaming has been a fascinating dimension for many people and has raised a lot of curiosity for scientists and analysts on how much “reality” is in them and how they can be interpreted. Dreams are a bridge between our unconscious and conscious mind, helping to understand us better and achieve an inner harmony that all the spiritual leaders are talking about.

But why shall we teach ourselves to dream? Why should we give any importance to a bunch of non-sense images that are randomly put together by our brain?

In ancient times, it was widely believed that dreams had the power to solve problems, enhance fertility, make warriors bold and skilful. Dreams could also predict the future, heal sickness and bring spiritual revelation.

The ancient Greeks’ knowledge of the potential of dreams, like their knowledge in so many fields, was especially sophisticated. Plato (c.428 – c.347bc) anticipated Freud by more than two thousand years when he explained that dreams were a place where a person’s bestial desires run riot, unless the “well-governed soul” is able to replace baser instincts with reason, in which case dreams equip us to come “nearer to grasping the truth than at any other time”.

Aristotle (384-322bc) said that the insights available from dreams were like objects reflected in water: when the water is calm, the forms are easy to see; when the water is agitated (when the mind is emotionally disturbed), the reflections become distorted and meaningless. The more the mind can be stilled before sleep, said Aristotle, the more the dreamer can learn.

The idea that dreams could supply missing links, helping us to solve problems and make decisions, has not been confined to ancient cultures. Even Rene Descartes (1596 -1650), the French philosopher who is considered one of the founders of modern science, believed in “priming” the mind to incubate meaningful dreams. Descartes said that several of his major theories came to him in dreams and in his philosophy he struggled to find a clear distinction between dreaming and waking experience, concluding that “even if I were asleep, everything that appears evident to my mind is absolutely true”.

In many cultures, dreams are seen as ways to channel power from the spirit world, harmonising inner conflicts and renewing hope, confidence and vitality. Anyone who does not dream regularly is considered to be cut off from the power of the sacred.

I strongly believe that dreams are a creative process that can change the way in which we view ourselves, our relationships and the material world, answering the question “Who I am?” which is at the heart of our search for meaning. Dreams offer us a chance to see beyond the prosaic confines of everyday life, while at the same time giving us valuable insights into our inner world. I have used multiple images and ideas that I have dreamt, in my art process, both consciously and unconsciously, this giving me a boost of confidence and understanding of my hidden world, that I couldn’t grasp freely in the waking life.

The surreal touch and the fantastical places I traveled in my dreams, lifted my spirit and I started to look for people who can help me develop my dreaming skills. The best teachers for me are the books, as it gives me access to a lifetime experience and studies. Amongst the people who guided me on my path of dreaming were Lewis Carol (in my childhood) and many other fairytale writers; as an adult - Carl Gustav Jung, Sigmund Freud, Allan Hobson, David Fontana etc.

In the modern world, we are often tempted to rationalise dreams as mere physiological events or psychological aberrations, but we can learn a great deal from old traditions and cultures. This does not mean that we should deny the findings of science, I believe that if we are to learn from our dreams, we need to combine elements of old wisdom and new understanding.

In order to enter the inner kingdom of the mind, we need only to follow the path of dreams, keeping our eyes and minds open, ready and willing to do our utmost to understand the images and symbols revealed on the way.

Open the door and let your dreams inspire you!

With love,

Adriana