Messages from dreams?

[Aeo]

I strongly feel that dreams give you either A) predictions that come true, or B) Insight to any given situation. I could probably say that way better, but what do you guys think? My theory is that our minds know more than we think we know. Our minds have power that we don't know how to tap into. I think that our dreams tell us story's to teach us things. We know that we understand story's, so to see story's played out with us as the main character, and our friends (or enemies) as the supporting characters, we gain insight to our lives. I don't know if that makes sense, but i'm really trying to discover why it is that we dream. There has to be a reason, 'cause it seems like dreaming is just as natural as breathing.

[Abstract Fire]

I don't know why we dream, but I consider them like blessings, and won't touch the subject if it means losing the ability to dream.

[italianmonkey]

why should it mean this???? i don't see the point, abstract fire!

[Distant Clone]

I have always asserted that dreams are actually like stories, something with a moral to take away from it. To me, dreams either highlight a bad habit or behavior, or show you the right thing to do. The purpose to learn from dreams.

[memeticverb]

I agree that dreams are much more powerful than traditionally has been thought. I'm not sure about the prediction part since i've personally never expereinced it, but given that our minds are always actively contructing new possibilites, the prediction of future events seems plausible. the subconscious has many systems of interpretation and emotional and conceptual language (the point of dream signs) and these likely interpret certains things about our lives to ourselves so that we might learn and unlearn for the better

[purple raevyn]

i believe that dream images are of 3 types. i say dream images, because i think its pretty much impossible for a dream as a whole to be entirely of one of these types-as a whole, a dream features elements from all 3 sources. dreams images that are based on or result from something seen or done during waking life-including something seen on TV. i dont know why these figure into our dreams, but maybe its just the brain's way of sorting thru and classifying our memories resulting from such. the 2nd type is images originating from your subconscious, though usually in the form of symbols-many of which are pretty much universal, and some symbols may be from your personal symbolic association with something. these images , i believe, are your mind's way of telling you what's going on in your head, how youre feeling about a certain situation, and may even guide you to figure out something you may be having a conflict with, sorting out your emotions, etc. the 3rd type of imagery comes from outside sources- spirit guides, other outside entities, maybe even loved ones who have passed from this world. these are much like the 2nd type in purpose, but also are meant to help reveal truths about things in your life you may not be aware of, or to guide you as to what may befall you if you decide to make a certain decision, or to warn you of something that may befall you, and various things like that. i also place shared dreams in this category. these are just my beliefs regarding this, and of course others may disagree, and that's fine. i also believe in reincarnation, and thus i believe it is possible for some past life memories to leak out of the subconscious and into your dreams as well- of course you'd be hard put to figure out which dream images are memories and which are otherwise. just cuz you dreamed about being a japanese warrior doesnt mean you were one in a past life lol. but its something to consider.

[think green]

You know what I feel, Aeo. I agree with what you're saying, but think that you are asking something else really. I agree with you so much that I almost don't understand the point of asking the question. Why do animals dream? It seem like it would be a human thing--this learning process. But anyone who has ever had a dog knows that they have such intense dreams probably just like ours--not just chasing down squirrels and rabbits, but of things happening to us--to their people who are essentially their pack. It is kind of wierd. How does it work again? All mammels and birds dream, but nothing with a reptilian brain or anything preceding it? Do you read any books about dreams or dreaming, Aeo?

[Wayward Oneironaut]

I think it is a good question to ask - for a couple reasons. Firstly, I think culture doesn't talk enough about dreams - I mean almost everyone on this planet explores alternate worlds while they sleep and yet most people foo-foo them away as brain leftovers, which anyone who has been really lucid knows is untrue. Another reason to question dreaming is that, just like everything else, the more you question it, the more aware you are of it, and thus, the more you understand it. "Why" is probably the most powerful question in the human language.

[juroara]

Originally posted by think green You know what I feel, Aeo. I agree with what you're saying, but think that you are asking something else really. I agree with you so much that I almost don't understand the point of asking the question. Why do animals dream? It seem like it would be a human thing--this learning process. But anyone who has ever had a dog knows that they have such intense dreams probably just like ours--not just chasing down squirrels and rabbits, but of things happening to us--to their people who are essentially their pack. It is kind of wierd. How does it work again? All mammels and birds dream, but nothing with a reptilian brain or anything preceding it? Do you read any books about dreams or dreaming, Aeo? who says animals dont need to learn? if it can suffer, it can learn, and needs to!