what's the nature of dreams?

**frugalito** · 05-17-2012 01:46 AM

What are dreams made of? What's the nature of dreams? If we are going to make an attempt for exploring the realm of dreams, wouldn’t it be preferable to have an idea of the terrain conditions?

I am starting my own personal exploration of the dream realm. This exploration is on its early stages, where it’s all about gathering relevant data. Why is important to gather the best information available?

Every exploration must start with a route plan. A good route plan requires a map; the best you can find. The map is a portable device (you can’t just say “a piece of paper” nowadays with all those GPS devices available) with fixed references: time, distances coordinates, etc.

Is there a map for the realm of dreams? Maybe there isn’t one – or maybe there is; who knows? -, although the lack of a map never stopped explorers before; in fact, many maps were first made by explorers.

If you don’t have a map, you should plan a rout with the best information available: something about the terrain and the environment you are going to invade. You make a provisional map.

There a three ways to get this data:

- Research based on previous works.
- Interviews with experts on the matter.
- Asking the locals.

Normally, the third way was the most effective tactic I used in the past in my previous explorations. This time, it doesn’t look like a workable idea (although it is said that Carl G. Jung, one of the most recognized dream explorers, used to receive information from somebody called Philemon, an archetype from the realm of dreams).

Here’s a short advance of the work in progress:

- Dreams are highly related with the subconscious.
- Dreams are also highly related with the long term memory in a process called memory consolidation.
- Some theories suggest that dreams are just random images produced by the brain’s reenergizing process.
- Others suggest a process of threat simulation that tunes up our survival abilities.
- Shamans all over the world believe that the realm of dreams is a parallel reality (interesting, from the quantum mechanics point of view)
- Jung followers believe that dreams are not a response from the ill subconscious (as suggested by Freud) but rather a link to archetypal images shared by all of humanity.
- One of my dearest friends suggested that dreams are sometimes inspired by your personal angel (which would explain why some people obtain inspiration –and, other times,

warnings- from their dreams)

Again, every exploration must start with a route plan. A good route plan is the one which foresees the main possible obstacles and dangers that could come upon the route. The perfect plan is the one that foresees all the possible problems. The perfect plan doesn’t exist.

In fact, many explorations failed before starting due to over planning. You can only prevent to some point. Moreover, if the exploring site is so known that all the problems may be predicted, what is there to explore?

The point of exploring is learning something new, and you can’t learn something you already know.

I’ll keep my eyes open and I will question everything.

PS: if anyone of you knows about a map of the dream realm, or is acquainted with a local of that territory, please let me know. It would save me a lot of time for what I would be very grateful.

**Bimpo** · 05-17-2012 05:33 AM

What I'm gonig to say is somewhat relevant, I am not sure if it's the answer you are looking for
I'm just going to spill of what I know and have seen around here on dreamviews, and note that it is not necessarily 100% true.

The terrain, the environment, the map, etc. Is entirely made by your brain, it can be something you've seen in walking life, something entirely new, or a combination of both.
To find that map you are looking for, there's a trick here somewhere in the forum, where you map your dreams. It's basically like a dream journal except you draw a map and you basically connect your dreams (the places the people, etc). The more you do it, the more your dreams would connect to each other. So when you are in a dream, and you decide to go to this certain place
you've been in the last dream, the map you've drawn would basically guide you there, something like that.

Personally, I have not tried to map my own dreams but it seems legit, people have said it works.
I didn't really explain it too well, but if you want, you can start digging the forum, and you might find a thread about it.

Well I hope I helped you somewhat.

**dutchraptor** · 05-18-2012 08:29 PM

On the most simple level dreams are the result of our brain filtering through memories and ideas, checking if they are relevant or not. On a more advanced level dreams are also often believed to be used to practise for real life situation, this is supported by the fact that nearly everything capable of thinking on a high level e.g. mammals can dream. Basically dreams portray your thoughts, ideas and memories, any other reason for the nature of dreams is pure speculation and is up to you decide what you believe.

**frugalito** · 05-18-2012 09:04 PM

Both answers -Bimpo and Dutchraptor’s – are useful and solid. There’s one thing I don’t feel quite comfortable with: “The terrain, the environment, the map, etc. Is entirely made by your brain”.
Think about this: When you are in a dream, who are you? The observer (the person who is experiencing the dream) or the creator of the environment? You can’t be both.
At the end, Dutchrapto is right: “is up to you decide what you believe”.

**dutchraptor** · 05-18-2012 09:17 PM

In a normal dream im only ever an observer or a character, this is probably due to the fact that only the illogical subconscious is active. In a lucid dream I feel like I am the creator, again probably becuase I can make conscious decisions.
For me its usually
Normal dream = observer
Lucid dream = creator
So I am an observer in normal dreams because I happen to be sorting through memories, this raises the question as to "what purpose does lucid dreaming have"