Training people in interpreting dreams & visions

[Firewater]

I noticed it mentioned in a thread that someone was running a training course on interpreting dreams & visions.

I have also heard of people running training like this for adult education organisations for the general public. It's a great tool for outreach to connect with people who otherwise might be drawn into new age classes & beliefs.

If you were training somone or a group of people about this subject, what would your "Table of Contents" or key points be?

If your class included non-Christians, how would you midify the content?

 

[razeontherock]

I wouldn't midify nuttin - Learn to be sensitive to the Holy Ghost. Label as many chapters as you want that same way! Start w/ justification by faith just to be sure, no matter how christian everybody claims to be, and use it as an opportunity to preach the Gospel.

I mean really, how else are you going to know what a dream means? Hey, I'm just givin' what I got ...

 

[Hiroyuki]

If you were training somone or a group of people about this subject, what would your "Table of Contents" or key points be?

If your class included non-Christians, how would you midify the content?

Hard to say... I don't disagree with RoR, but there are times where one person has experience and has to share that experience with another, though "why" may be a good question here. God does give us reasons to interact.

With non-Christians: I have had an unique experience in having to deal with this situation. A lot of what I personally believe is from God and not from myself I have had to say otherwise to unbelievers because of work constraints or because they simply could not understand anything else and I needed to get a point across.


I don't know, just wanted to say that. I would have to really think on what a table of contents would look like. It does seem to be one of those things that just may need to be trained on in a "more then book" sort of manner, though. Also, a lot I find is that really no one knows, until things come to pass or it is time to know. Then, they get educated about a particular dream and so often each dream brings about that kind of education process which usually revolves around some sort of big surprise no one could have guessed before.

 

[BobW188]

Here is what I did back in '86.

1. Get a pad - steno pads are good - and a reliable writing instrument and keep them in or by your bed where you can reach them. (Make sure the pen/pencil will clip firmly to the pad. You can "lose" the dream fumbling around for it.)

2. When you wake from a dream, make notes. Write large, block printing helps. At that, when you wake up in daylight you're sometimes going to find just illegible squiggles; but one legible key word will usually be enough to trigger recall.

3. When you wake in darkness, don't turn on a light. That alone can be enough to blow recall away. Accept the squiggles and illegibilities as part of the process.

4. As soon as possible after waking, transcribe your notes into a more legible, beginning-to-end account.

5. For the first two or three weeks, don't interpret; just record! (This doesn't mean forcing yourself not to speculate; it's just that right now you're basically gathering data.)

6. After that initial period, start doing two things.

a. Research different schools of dream interpretation. There are many: Freud, Jung, Gestalt, specifically Christian, etc, etc, ad. inf. You'll probably find one that "clicks" with you. (Different people have different psyches. Jung himself - no freind of Freud's - said he sometimes referred patients to Freudians because his method didn't work for them, Freud's did. Freudians [without telling Sigmund] sometimes referred theirs to him for the same reason..)

b. Go back over your notes. You'll see themes emerging, people, settings. Now is the time, using both your pet theory and your own associations and imagination, to start searching for meanings. Look for sight gags, puns and metaphors. Dreams are primarily visual. (It would be so much simpler if Psyche could just type the stuff up in plain English and shove it out our ear.)

7. Avoid this-means-that dream dictionaries and the like. They tell you more about the author's psyche than they ever will about yours. You'll find as time goes on that the most universal symbols are still tailored to you.

8. (A personal opinion, with which a person I respect would differ.) Go back to the Bible. The dreams we read about there are either unambiguous on their face, or are given to someone to guide him to a particular interpreter. Pharoah finds Joseph in short order; Nebuchadnezzer already knows Daniel. Those straight-from-the-Throne dreams will be pretty obvious. It's the ones where God uses your psyche as a mediator that need your work.

9. Don't expect to fully interpret many dreams. It is arduous work and, besides, any one dream can contain several layers of meaning. That you're experiencing your dreams and taking them seriously guarantees you'll learn a lot about yourself; and that New World you've been carrying between your ears all these decades.

10. Do you find yourself "inner dialogueing" with dream characters? Fine. In time, you'll find you've been doing it for years. Now you have the pleasure of knowing who's been replying. If you have an artistic bent, you might draw a picture of them. They'd like that.

11 Dreams can serve any purpose. Some are dead serious, others are strictly for laughs and need no more interpretation than Laurel and Hardy. (I've had "commercials.") You may find yourself in "alternate pasts." Enjoy them.

12. One thing I learned early on: If a dream scares you while it's going on, it means to. If it doesn't bother you then but you find it frightening in recall, you're misunderstanding it. Go with the feeling you had in the dream.

13. Be very careful about what's "good" and what's "bad." Remember, there are two hells: the one the Bible talks about; and the one we create within ourselves (with a lot of help from the larger society). That latter contains a great deal of good, and of profound and life-sustaining wisdom. Your personal "Princess of Darkness" may have a lot more you need to hear than your "Angel of Light."

That's it for now.

 

[Firewater]

Replies sofar are jam-packed full of wisdom - thanks. Looking forward to seeing more.

 

[heron]

Firewater, thank you for thinking of this -- very practical. (When we're done, we can take it to Lulu!)

9. Don't expect to fully interpret many dreams.

I like that one.

each dream brings about that kind of education process which usually revolves around some sort of big surprise

This is good reminder that the dream is not the end product.

* A prophetic dream is a springboard to finding additional information and revelation. It does not claim to be more, or try to be more.

* Scriptures do not contain rules on dreams. That leaves much open related to policy, and it is dangerous to add to God's Word. Approach interpretation with discussion, meditation, and prayer... as with other things in life.

* Scriptures show agnostics getting dreams, and believers interpreting them. God does speak to non-believers through dreams. But those particular people had not practiced hearing from God (some through unwillingness), so they asked for assistance. It was a gesture of being willing to hear from God.

* Scriptures do not show believers needing interpreters, so there can be an assumption that if God speaks to us, He will continue to speak and reveal the meaning through various methods. There are no rules about how we should find the meaning, other than general faith principles.

* In biblical times, there were billions of unrecorded dreams that did not have an official interpreter. That implies that some people could figure out what their dreams meant, or talk with peers to gain understanding. God can speak to anyone. It is not an area for legalism.

* In scriptures, those known for interpreting dreams did not make a career out of it. Not even a ministry. They just allowed themselves to be used.

* As Bob said above, a dream can have layers of meaning. We have seen that here through experience. It can (ooh, I need a sub-list here)

• help the mind deal with stress
• sort and organize at the end of the day
• bring spiritual insight
• bring practical insight over a real life situation
• alert us to risky strategies going on
• prod us to pray for people and situations we don't know about
• prepare us to deal with loved ones' illness and death
• prepare us to deal with our own deaths
• reassure us of His love and grace
• show us the extent of His majesty
• reveal facets of His nature
• reveal things in the supernatural realm we are not aware of
• tell us of future events
• warn us to prepare, as Joseph with Egypt's famines
• (please add to my mini-list, call it Types of Dreams)

 

[BobW188]

.The language lesson. If you start keeping a log, you may have these. Alas,
they aren't always easy to decipher. They are dreams intended to give you
"the lay of the land," and a basic intro to dreamtalk. (Which is almost always
visual.)

.The Relationship Builder. You find yourself having pleasant dreams where you're
with the same person, probably someone you know in waking life and, more
likely than not, an attractive person of the opposite sex. As time goes on, the
waking person "morphs" into a dream character. Almost certainly a very
important one.

.The Practical Joke. With you as the butt. If you think your subconcious doesn't
have a sense of humor, brace yourself. The most artfully contrived practical
joke that's been played on me in all my life was very carefully set up in one
dream on one night, then pulled off in another dream the next night.

.Bookends. In one dream, you meet an interesting character. In another weeks
or months later, you part. Absolutely no dreams about what you did in between.
(When the person you've met is an attractive blonde, and the closing dream
makes it clear you've lived together for several weeks, this is absolutely
infuriating!)

 

[hadasseh]

Good info. I've been coming up with ground rules as to how to handle the class. Our class will go over them before we even start. One, understanding the symbolism of dreams and to not take what you dreamed about so literal. I made a mistake early on of telling someone (that i had dreamed of) this particular dream, when I didn't have full understanding myself -- and I was WRONG. Sharing dreams, to me this is highly confidential info, which is why I love this forum. I share with my husband and out here -- that's about it, unless I have a reason to do so -- and I must be assured by God to do so.

The class we are doing will NOT be a place for people to come in and tell all their dreams. It will be important to protect all participants from potentially harmful situations, especially if some stuff should be confidential. Also, there's only so much time. We may have one or two classes we share, just not sure, yet. I more than likely will pull some dreams off of forums and let them have a look -- let them interpret -- and then let them see what others said AFTER they have had a turn.

Journaling will be taught. We will discuss making themselves available to God before they go to sleep at night and even expect Him to speak.

The objective is for each person to understand that God loves them and desires to speak to them. They must each do some studying and preparation of how He is speaking to them -- and we all have our own specific dream language, even though some aspects of how we dream have similarities.

BTW, Firewater, I am making up a course schedule, will try to remember to post. We are using a book as we go through the class -- but it will be more reference than specifically taught, per se.

 

[BobW188]

Exactly. There are similarities. How could we study and work with them if there weren't? But the language is personal.

I think it's important to realize that, short of the Voice from the Burning Bush or along the Road to Damascus, our dreams are the most personal messages we receive, whether intrapsychic, prophetic or from the Throne. Whether revelation or sheer practical joke, for that matter.

 

[Firewater]

I more than likely will pull some dreams off of forums and let them have a look -- let them interpret -- and then let them see what others said AFTER they have had a turn.

Great idea.

Yes. I'd be interested to see your course schedule. Thanks.

 

[GaryP]

If you study a course, you will take away part of the teacher, If the teacher is schooled
in the dark side, so will you. Take warning. When you plaly with dreams you will get burned.
I remember some time ago someone in the forum recommended a webiste for christian dreams
and one of the terms, '' Father " pointed to satan.
Creation that looks toward dream,s do not look at the Father in Heaven, When you look at Him,
You need to look no further, your seeking stops.

 

[Firewater]

GaryP, you & I are from 2 different planets.

 

[BobW188]

Having settled the question of extraterrestrial life, and noting the many dreams in the Bible, I join you in disagreeing with Gary's conclusion. But on the way to it he makes a good point. Too secular an instructor is going to lead you to be too secular an interpreter. A flat-out satanist can give meanings that, in strict logic, are as good as the most Christian. Remember, one of those guys in your head is Lewis's Wormwood.

As I look back on those years of keeping logs, it occurs to me that many of those dream people who taught me so much also, in some degree, needed me (Ego-me) to tell them who they were and what they meant. In dreams as well as waking life, it's all too easy to find what we want to find rather than what we need to find.

 

[heron]

The class we are doing will NOT be a place for people to come in and tell all their dreams. It will be important to protect all participants from potentially harmful situations, especially if some stuff should be confidential. Also, there's only so much time. We may have one or two classes we share, just not sure, yet. I more than likely will pull some dreams off of forums and let them have a look -- let them interpret -- and then let them see what others said AFTER they have had a turn.

Great idea. Since I know you're not from the Dark Side, I think your class will go swimmingly.

People who like classes also like to share their experiences -- they have sought out a public setting for learning. You might designate a time at the end where people mill around and talk with each other informally. A lot of conclusions and ideas will have come to their minds, and they will be itching to share it, let it sink in. Then if they choose to share their dreams, it will be with someone they have chosen to trust.

Just a tendency that happens; people can share their strengths and knowledge, and gain from each other.

 

[hadasseh]

As I look back on those years of keeping logs, it occurs to me that many of those dream people who taught me so much also, in some degree, needed me (Ego-me) to tell them who they were and what they meant. In dreams as well as waking life, it's all too easy to find what we want to find rather than what we need to find.

So true, and so dangerous. I can relate . . . I think we all can. Self-examination is not always fun, most of the time it isn't.

 

[BobW188]

Thank you.

BTW, Heron is right that there should be some way for people who want to to voluntarily get together and share. What would be ideal (and, therefore, probably impossible) would be a nearby, affordable cafe' or coffee shop. If you could be there to act as moderator/resource person, so much the better. Sometimes the other guy/gal does see the meaning or the metaphor we're missing.

No, the self-examination wasn't always fun; but neither was it that bad. And when it was fun, it was often hilarious. In fact, the idea that being fast asleep was being "where the action is" still brings a grin.

 

[heron]

Affordable cafe -- good idea. Shifting the event externally gives a message that it's not obligatory. Then it's just reflective and owned by the people. Anyone who is squeamish about group sharing won't feel like it's part of the weekly meeting.

Going along with the personal emphasis in dream interpretation, it is important to remind people that they should not follow mandates of their fellowship that is based on a shared dream. Each person should be responsible for what they feel God is telling them, and what is sensible in their everyday lives and faith.

Since most dreams are symbolic, people should be reminded not to jump into an obligation that literally echoes the dream. If one dreams that they were in outer Siberia, they should not conclude that God wants them to leave their family and minister to the frozen natives. I knew a couple that made decisions about housing based on a dream, and it put them into debt.

Start with the premise that a dream is a dream. We fill in blanks, but the blanks were not mandates from God. Nothing in a dream is a mandate. It is insight revealed, at most.

As Gary pointed out, "When you play with dreams you will get burned." We need to stay focused on our Father. If He communicates, we need to know His voice, and not imagine what we heard.

 

[Chicken Little]

well the only part I can add to this is
Truth is. it was and it will be. and truth changes us.
but so dies lies.. so be careful.
I really agree with dreams having levels..
one Huge dream I had that was very Cecil B DeMills like and it was truth then at the time it was given to me in what instructions it contained to me .... it became true as a picture over time of my life.... and I believe because it became it's own double witness that it will be true in the future and an actual event as pictured .. maybe past me and past my time here I believe He proved the dream was His "Truthing" his truth is, was, and will be.. I call it his "truthing" as a force in the world.
thats all I can add.

 

[hadasseh]

Thank you.

BTW, Heron is right that there should be some way for people who want to to voluntarily get together and share. What would be ideal (and, therefore, probably impossible) would be a nearby, affordable cafe' or coffee shop. If you could be there to act as moderator/resource person, so much the better.

Great idea. We usually encourage all groups to meet outside of church anyway, so this would be a great way to help everyone feel comfortable sharing.

 

[hadasseh]

Going along with the personal emphasis in dream interpretation, it is important to remind people that they should not follow mandates of their fellowship that is based on a shared dream. Each person should be responsible for what they feel God is telling them, and what is sensible in their everyday lives and faith.

Since most dreams are symbolic, people should be reminded not to jump into an obligation that literally echoes the dream. If one dreams that they were in outer Siberia, they should not conclude that God wants them to leave their family and minister to the frozen natives. I knew a couple that made decisions about housing based on a dream, and it put them into debt.

Start with the premise that a dream is a dream. We fill in blanks, but the blanks were not mandates from God. Nothing in a dream is a mandate. It is insight revealed, at most.

As Gary pointed out, "When you play with dreams you will get burned." We need to stay focused on our Father. If He communicates, we need to know His voice, and not imagine what we heard.

Yes, we typically lead discussion through all of our classes -- try to keep the conversation and thoughts to topic. Its an art -- steering dialogue and achieving the objective, LOL, but it is very fulfilling. What is important for me is that they learn to hear from God and not "depend" on me or anyone else to bring the "interpretation." It is also important for everyone to bring their ideas to the table, without a few strong personalities dominating -- this happens -- that's where the art comes in.

Our first day of class we will go over that a "dream is a dream" as you put it . . . and so true. We will talk about an individual's realm of influence . . . so a person doesn't go up to someone, say their boss, and tell them how to do such and such without really understanding the true meaning of the dream. I've made my own mistakes and it was a good lesson. Just want to keep them from going there.

I understand Gary's concerns and from his past experiences I can see where he's coming from. Anything departing from God's Word and His Love is not from the Father. We will lay these ground rules in the beginning.

I'll put up the schedule in the next post box.