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Psychedelic and dream states are two realms that are fascinating to consider. There are numerous similarities between the two, and reflecting on them can offer profound insight and healing. Both psychedelic and dream states provide individuals with an opportunity to better understand themselves.
First, let us define a dream state and a psychedelic state. A dream state is still widely debated and misunderstood. There are schools of thought that think that dreams are meaningless and just apart of sleep, whereas there are other theories that think that dreams reveal hidden truths and deeper meanings about the dreamer.
A psychedelic state seems to be more agreed upon that it is a state where the divine within is activated, and there is a heightened state of consciousness and brain connection. This is typically achieved through plant medicines but can also happen through breathwork.
The Similarities
Psychedelic states of consciousness, induced by substances like ketamine, psilocybin, or LSD, can bring an individual into an altered reality where it feels like time, space, and identity are suspended. In the dream state, the mind also transcends time, space, and the ego, or how we identify with ourselves. In both states, the subconscious mind takes center stage and communicates through symbols, emotions, metaphors, and archetypes. This allows the individual to explore deeper truths or information hidden in the shadows. Because what is normally hidden becomes known, there is a huge potential for personal growth and self-development.
Working with your dreams can help you navigate a psychedelic experience as the subconscious mind is more engaged and active in both. When you spend more time reflecting on your dreams and inner world you might feel more familiar when you engage with it under medicine.
A nightmare does not need to be feared or considered bad. It is your soul helping you to move forward and take a different action. It is an urgent message asking you to change. This perspective can help you to integrate a bad dream or challenging trip. In the moment, navigating a nightmare or confrontational trip can be distressing, as can the moments after waking up. In these situations, it is important to remember your breath. Anchor yourself to your breath.
Dream interpretation, like psychedelics, has been used and practiced throughout the ages and in various cultures. There are records of dream interpretation being used in Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and even throughout the Bible. Dream interpretation was widespread across Asia, specifically in China, India and the South Pacific. Dream interpretation was attacked when the Roman Catholic Church came into control and was no longer regarded as significant in the 15th Century. This continued until the early 19th century with the Romantic Movement and Raphael’s Royal Book of Dreams (1830). This book laid the groundwork for Freud and Jung to bring back the importance of dreams and dream interpretation into popular culture.
Freud and Jung are now regarded as the fathers of dream theory and interpretation but as mentioned earlier, dream theory and interpretation have been documented across most cultures dating back to Mesopotamia. First Nation cultures who have held onto the practice of dream interpretation have lived by its wisdom for decades. The Senoi tribe every morning gathers around and discusses the dreams they had the night before. If someone had a nightmare or distressing dream the community holds the person and helps them confront their troubles. Then the dreamer is better prepared to face their worries and fears the following night.
How To Practice Dream Interpretation
Every morning when you wake up, write down what you remember from your dreams. Note your feelings, emotions, colors, sounds—anything at all. Then take time to translate and interpret what you wrote down. Each aspect of the dream is a symbol and needs to be interpreted. Freud encouraged “free association” or writing down the first thing that comes to mind when the dreamer thinks of the symbol. The aim is to allow the subconscious mind to interpret the symbol and understand what it is trying to say. That is why the dreamer is the best person to interpret the dream. The dream, and the content of the dream, are all about the dreamer.
Dreams speak the language of the soul or your subconscious. The subconscious is very layered and deep, using metaphors, images, and messages through elaborate storylines. The more practiced you become at navigating the subconscious, the better you’ll get at understanding what your soul is trying to communicate. When you analyze the symbols and narratives in your dreams, you can uncover unresolved conflicts, fears, and desires that influence your daily life.
Dream interpretation is a daily practice of reflecting on what your subconscious mind and soul are telling you and is like a muscle that can strengthen with use. And just like a psychedelic experience, sometimes dreams will not make sense and there is no deeper meaning, but they are just there for our enjoyment or some reason we won’t ever be able to comprehend.
I would argue that the goal of psychedelic states and dream states is the same: to make the subconscious conscious so you can integrate the two and experience a sense of wholeness in your waking life. This is in my experience a lifetime’s work and something that has ever-deepening layers. When you find wholeness in one layer of your life, then you are asked to go a layer deeper, deeper and deeper.
Dream interpretation is individual therapy by you, for you, and can reveal thoughts and behavioral patterns. When integrated with psychedelic experiences, it can amplify the healing process. Both invite us to explore the unknown aspects of ourselves, making them powerful tools for self-development. Whether working through trauma, exploring creativity, or seeking spiritual growth, the insights gained from dreams and psychedelic journeys can lead to profound transformations.
Our dreams and psychedelic journeys remind us that there is much more than what meets the eye and that we are more connected and supported than our Western world would have us believe. By exploring these states, we can access deeper levels of understanding and healing that encompass the conscious mind, the subconscious, and the soul.
In my experience, dream interpretation has been a powerful tool for self-development, offering me a pathway to greater self-awareness and spiritual growth. If you are curious about dream interpretation, check out my webinar to learn more about how to decode the language of your subconscious.
Resources
If you are interested in working more with your dreams I would recommend getting a Dream Encyclopedia to help you decode the symbols of your dreams. Get a dedicated dream journal and start to write down what you remember. Don’t forget to have fun!
The Dream Dictionary from A to Z: Theresa Cheung
Night Vision: A Field Guide To Your Dreams. Theresa Cheung
Podcast White Shores- The Dream Cure
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About the Author: Abigail Morrissey is a Vital Mind Reset Coach, Holistic RN, author, twerk therapy teacher, and postpartum doula. She coaches women to connect to their intuition and heal themselves. She is the author of the Shattered to Shine; You Put Yourself Together Again. For more information visit her website at www.shinewellness.life
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