OUR SECOND SESSION IN THE SERIES OF THREE DREAM WORKSHOPS is coming up Sunday. We will turn our focus to two powerful techniques for putting our dreams to work for us. These are lucid dreaming and dream incubation, and while they are naturally occurring phenomena, participants will learn step-by-step methods for inducing them and working “hands on” with the dreams that follow. Join us if you can! Details at www.meetup.com/Send-Me-Your-Dreams/.

Dear Carolyn,

I hope you can help me with a recurring dream that is embarrassing to talk about, but it bothers me a little bit more every time I have it. Each time, the dream is a little bit different, but the main thing is that I come upon a pile of feces. Sometimes it’s in the corner; other times it’s out in the open. In the most recent version, the feces was expanding! Each time I come upon the mess, I shake my head in dismay and say to myself, “There it is again.” I know I will clean it up. I do not feel happy about it, but it must be done.

Signed, Stuck with the Mess

Dear Stuck,

Your experience with this recurring dream is indicative of how recurring dreams work and why. Recognize that recurring dreams come to us in conjunction with recurring waking events in our lives. So the best and quickest way to get a handle on what this dream is telling you is to make some notes about the most recent iteration.

It might be best to start with a detailed description of the dream. Include the setting, any other characters, how you come upon the mess and, of course, your feelings when you realize you will be cleaning up again.

Next, make at least some bullet point notes about the events or circumstances that are at the forefront in your waking life right now. Include anything that is coming up shortly.

If this doesn’t make it immediately clear what it is in waking life that puts you in the position of mopping up an unpleasant mess, set your notes aside. It won’t be long before you have the dream again (sorry!). When you do, repeat the steps above. Soon you will see that the dream comes up when you have to follow up behind a friend or family member who starts things, messes them up, walks away, for example.

You will recognize the feeling of dismay instantly. But our dreams do not come to tell us what we already know. Rather, they bring to consciousness what we may act upon to improve our lives and those of others. What’s important is what you do next, Dear Dreamer.

Maybe you are content to be in the janitorial role in your dreams and in your waking life. If so, do nothing. If not, you now have the information you need, and hopefully the wherewithal, to make some changes so that those making messes take on the responsibility for cleaning them up!

Sweet Dreams to you!

Carolyn Plath, M.Ed., is a Benicia resident and member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Reach her at sendmeyourdreams@yahoo.com.

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