Dreams can be viewed as messengers from our subconscious mind. They can often illuminate repressed parts of our psyche that are in need of processing in order for us to progress on our purpose & soul’s journey. Blind spots can be unmasked by paying attention to the messages from our dreams. In ancient times, dreams were taken very seriously and often took up space as part of inner work and consultation with a local elder or wisdomkeeper. Nowadays people commonly have trouble remembering dreams and when they do, often just see them as kooky and bizarre. The classic Freudian view is that a person’s forbidden and repressed desires are distorted in dreams, so they appear in disguised forms. Dreams have also been described as the mind’s most universal means of creating and experiencing important higher states of consciousness daily (or nightly). This has parallels with the use of psychedelics in a way since people often access higher states of consciousness with their use.
By seeing the underlying patterns that generate and govern our negative behaviours, we can evolve and realize our higher potential. Lucid dreams, dreamwork, or psychedelics can all be used to recognize and release our fears and negativity and to modify our psychological foundations so that we can choose new and more positive behaviours. The key is to be able to integrate and embody the lessons that come from these experiences. First we need to be able to remember our dreams.
Dream Journaling & Remembering
The main tool for remembering dreams is a dream journal. Having a pen and paper ready by your bed is often the difference that actually allows people to remember their dreams. The other main tool is the simple intention of expecting to remember your dreams along with voicing it to yourself right before bed. This can be repeated as well. Also have a flashlight (ideally red light in case you need to fall back asleep) so that you can write down your dreams immediately upon waking.
A certain regular practice of physical & spiritual clearing will help greatly in the course of this whole journey. It’s said that vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) will greatly increase the frequency and intensity of dreams. Note that if you had a alcohol habit you could be deficient in B vitamins. B6 is involved in the production of serotonin and GABA. Causes of deficiency could also include smoking, obesity, pregnancy, autoimmune diseases, or liver kidney diseases. Skin rashes, mood changes, weakened immune function, and impaired digestion could all be symptoms with a lack of B6. A healthy diet is a critical foundation for reaching deeper levels of healing and evolution.
Although psychedelics have been widely used for millennia in spiritual contexts, as have lucid dreams, it is only recently that the two areas have come to public attention and public availability on a wide scale. Research into the overlap of these two powerful transformational modalities is in its infancy, and an endlessly fascinating exploration lies ahead