Recently, I started a new job. My dreams focused on the new job, on worldwide events, and on my family. One dream, in particular, noted how all of these things were changing around me and how I was changing too. I could see how my environment and the people around me were shaping me.
It’s been a time of change, more than some other periods that I’ve experienced in my life.
In a given two-week to one-month (or even longer, there’s not necessarily any limit) period, dream themes can coalesce around a season. Each dream you have will explore a different aspect of what experience you’re having.
The typical dream season
Example: You work at a fast-food restaurant that serves hamburgers and fries. Joe has started working there, and you’re put in charge of training him.
Dream #1: You’re teaching Barney the Purple Dinosaur how to work the different stations. When you’re trying to understand this dream, you realize that Joe reminds you of Barney the Purple Dinosaur.
Dream #2: The kitchen is in the middle of a war. You’re all under attack. Joe, you, and the others you work with are dressed in military uniforms. You’re working a .60 calibre, mowing down attackers and run out of ammunition. Joe comes up to you with more ammo, loads it in your .60 cal. You keep mowing them down. You realize that this was about how a tour bus pulled up to your restaurant unannounced (this usually doesn’t happen). While the tourists gaped at the menu slack-jawed, Joe had the good sense to restock everything quickly.
Dream #3: Joe is behind a wall and he can hear some things, not others. You’re wondering why he’s behind the wall and what things he can and can’t hear. This goes back to his naieve nature in Dream #1 where he reminded you of Barney the Purple Dinosaur.
You’ve never met anyone in real life like Joe. You admire the way he operates with foresight, while turning out other things. He’s a bit of a puzzle, and he might be a model for how you’d like to grow as a person, at least in some ways.
You could call this the “Season of Understanding Joe” or “The Personal Impact of Joe.” Can you bring more foresight to your life like Joe? Can you tune out distractions, too?
Mixed season
A mixed dream season is one in which you have multiple concerns, and your nightly dreams shift between all of them. It’s like a plate of different foods (for thought).
Is it good or bad to be in a mixed season? It depends. Is it good to finish all of your salad before starting on your bread and lasagna? Or is it better to take a bite of this and then a bite of that? Overall, you may be fine either way.
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James Cobb, RN, MSN, is an emergency department nurse, sleep and dream expert, and the founder of the Dream Recovery System. His goal is to provide his readers with simple, actionable ways to improve their health and maximize their quality of life.
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