Dreaming for Others: Transformative
Potential of Dream State Symbolic Narratives
Lynne Engelskirchen, PhD,
Columbia University 1997. USA. Her experience with dreaming for
others is an outgrowth of many years of active dreamwork,
meditation, and study. This approach has proven to be a deeply
meaningful process that facilitates personal growth and the
expansion of awareness for both the client and the dreamer.
Abstract
Dreaming for others is a form of
intentional dreaming that can assist in revealing the underlying
significance and meaning of issues and events in one’s life. By
establishing an energetic link with the prospective client, the
dreamer can discern information relevant to client’s questions and
concerns while in the dream state. This information takes the form
of dream narratives and symbolic imagery that is subsequently
interpreted and compiled for the client’s review. Archetypal and
mythological symbols can provide essential insights into
understanding overarching themes presented in interesting and
often fantastic ways. These often reveal ancient ancestries far
different from cultural experiences in waking life. The resonance
and interpretation of dream narratives and symbols in light of
questions posed confirms the validity of the process for the
client.
Explanations of this
approach to dreaming can be found in different cultures as well as
philosophical approaches to modern physics. Recent work by Erwin
Laszlo extends quantum field theory to the macroscopic domains of
life, mind, and the cosmos creating a unified integral quantum
science that redefines the cosmos as an infinite field of energy
that gives rise to the universal forces and constants of nature.
This conception radically shifts our understanding of the nature
of reality and suggests a fundamental coherence and universal
connectivity within nature that makes possible the flow of
information between individuals beyond the range of sensory
perception.
In
the dream state we access multi-dimensional reality without the
limitations of time and space that define waking life. Through
focused intention the dreamer is able to link to the client
through consultation and then access the relevant fields of
consciousness in the dream state. Narratives in the form of
symbolic imagery are a product of the shared awareness of the
dreamer and client as well as archetypal and mythological symbols
that exist within the domain of human consciousness. Communication
between the dreamer and client necessarily involves a degree of
faith and trust on the part of both individuals and the commitment
of the dreamer to respect the boundaries established by the client
in the dream state. The end result of the process of dreaming for
others is an authentic synthesis of uniquely relevant material
that can assist the client’s search for meaning and facilitate
personal growth and transformation.
This paper is based on my
experience as a practitioner of this form of active dreamwork. The
following references may prove useful in understanding this
approach to active dreamwork and interpreting the often complex
symbolic imagery presented in the dream state.
Selected References:
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