Lesson 6 - Word play and the language of dreams. Much can be learned from the language we use to describe a dream. Often our description of a dream resembles a figure of speech. Here are some common figures of speech that could be the description of a dream:                    " I was running out of gas."                     "My hands are tied."                     "He was skating on thin ice."                     "We're all in the same boat."                     "Don't throw out the baby with the bath water." People learning the English language have to be taught the meanings of these familiar phrases, though once understood, their meanings seem obvious.     When you write down a dream describe it as accurately as possible, then examine the language you've chosen. If you don't like what you're wearing in a dream and you have to change, the dream might be about having to change. If you're trying to get somewhere in a dream, but you can hardly move because something is holding you back, the dream is probably about something that's holding you back. We often overlook the obvious interpretation of a dream because our waking mind wishes to deny and ignore the feelings that produced the dream. By objectively looking at the language we've used to describe the dream we're presented with clues to the hidden meanings.     Another technique is to focus our attention on the verbs, adjectives and adverbs in our description and disregard the nouns. Wanting in a dream creates an object of wanting. Fearing in a dream creates an object of fear. Being angry creates an object of anger. The verbs we use in our description frequently communicate the essential meaning of the dream. Only the nouns have been changed to protect our ego.     People usually look at their dreams and wonder what the nouns mean. Exactly what is symbolized by this dream object? Precisely who in my waking life does this person in the dream represent? This noun-centered approach tends to be frustrating and fruitless. The meaning of the dream is revealed by the verbs, by our actions and feelings in the dream. Consider what's happening in your waking life, then look at your actions and feelings in the dream. If you're running away from something in your dream, it doesn't really matter if it's a bear, a mugger, or the Frankenstein monster. Figure out what you're running away from in your waking life - that's what the dream is about.   Next: What was your role in the dream? previous - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - next home - teachings - history - archives - FAQs