■ Spend a few minutes journaling the experiences and feelings you had during
the day.
■ Review your accomplishments of the day.
■ Dwell for a moment on loving yourself and others with whom you interacted
today.
■ If you had conflict with others, put those thoughts and feelings away for now.
■ Imagine yourself as part of the universe and feel a connection with all living
things.
■ Allow one issue of present concern to surface to your conscious mind.
■ Ask for answers, solutions, or healing as you sleep and dream.
■ On awakening, remember your previous night’s request and let the answers
come to your conscious mind.
Dream Incubation
A similar process is called dream incubation, which is a somewhat more deliberate
format. Examples of the type of requests to make of our dreams are: How can I heal
myself? Which path shall I choose? How can I solve (state problem)? How can I
improve my relationship with (name)? How can I make (state project) a success?
Should I do (state proposed action)? What shall I do now?
CHAPTER 18 DREAMWORK 237
TRY IT YOURSELF: CULTIVATING A DREAM
- Choose an important matter that you wish to explore.
- Write down a short, simple question about which you want to know.
- Meditate on the question for a few minutes. Repeat the question several times, fol-
lowed by, “I give thanks for the answer, which will be in a dream that I remember.”
- Envision yourself awakening, remembering, and receiving an answer.
- Write the question again.
- Place the paper with the question on it beneath your pillow.
- Upon awakening, follow the process in the TRY THIS box on improving dream
recall.
- Watch for extra information that may come later during the day.
- Do not give up if you don’t succeed immediately.
