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Tree Carr 6 min

Dreamer’s Guide to Self-Awareness-Growth Through Stress and Sleep by Tree Carr

Growing up, my nights were as vibrant as my days, if not more so. Dreaming was never just a background activity for me, it was an adventure, a journey into realms where the rules of waking life no longer applied. I contribute this to the fact that my formative years were spent in the 1970’s, on a commune, far from the strobe effects of television and pop culture. I was left to my own imagination to forge out my own form of entertainment. I often found myself gliding through the liminal spaces between waking and sleep, envisioning fantastical journeys where I was either soaring on a magic carpet or, more fittingly, lounging on a floating bed. These dreamscapes carried me effortlessly across galaxies, and I'd wake up brimming with vivid stories of my cosmic adventures. Those early experiences shaped my view of dreams not as meaningless reveries, but as gateways into something much deeper: a powerful part of our consciousness waiting to be explored. Dreams, you see, aren't just ‘junk data’ that your brain dumps at night. They are far more than random neural firings or meaningless images strung together. They are experiences, real, raw, and charged with emotions, that take place in an altered state of consciousness. What is putting you in an altered state? Simply put, your sleep cycle. I like to think of dreams as opportunities for your consciousness to explore, process, and engage with the larger questions of your waking life. They are as significant as the thoughts you consciously entertain during your day.   The Realms of Dreams: Consciousness in the Unconscious Swiss Psychoanalyst, Carl Jung believed that dreams were not just random stories but expressions of the unconscious mind. He introduced the concept of the 'collective unconscious', the idea that beneath our individual awareness lies a reservoir of shared experiences, emotions, and archetypes that all of humanity taps into. In other words, when you dream, you’re not just pulling from your own personal life: sometimes, you’re dipping into something far bigger. The realm of dreams is where the conscious and unconscious mind mingle, where the conscious mind takes a back seat, allowing the unconscious to come forward and share its wisdom. This is why dreams can often seem so mysterious, symbolic, and sometimes even unsettling. The symbols, characters, and places in your dreams may seem strange or random at first, but they often represent something deeper, tapping into Jung’s idea of archetypes that live within us all. And dreams go beyond mere psychological or physiological functions. Sure, they serve to help the brain process the day’s experiences and consolidate memories, but they are also a playground for the soul. When you dream, you enter a space where your consciousness is free to explore your inner landscape in ways you might never consider in your waking life. This exploration can lead to profound self-awareness and personal growth.   Dreams and Stress: Navigating the Shadows Dreams can also be your emotional barometer, especially when it comes to stress. Have you ever had one of those anxiety dreams where you’re running late for something important, but every time you try to leave, something goes wrong? Your keys are missing, your shoelaces are tied together, or suddenly, you’re nude in front of a crowded room. Classic stress dream. There are many common stress dreams that we all equally share: losing teeth, being chased, or showing up unprepared for an exam. These aren’t just random, either. Carl Jung called them 'compensatory dreams'. They serve as a way for your unconscious mind to balance out what’s happening in your waking life. If you’ve been feeling out of control, your dreams might present you with situations where you’re grasping for stability or where things are spinning beyond your control. I’ve had my fair share of stress dreams, particularly during pivotal moments in life where the pressure was high. I have a recurring stress dream where I’m back in my old film shop in Shoreditch, London (I used to own it in the noughties). In the dream, it’s absolute chaos: customers everywhere, fires to put out (literally), and me trying to manage a bunch of random people all at once. It wasn’t until I sat down and journaled about it that I realised the dream was reflecting my current work-related stress. My old shop had transformed into a symbol for overwhelm. Once I made that connection, I became more aware of how to manage my stress levels whenever these shop dreams reappear. It’s as if my unconscious mind is waving a flag, saying, 'You’re juggling too much right now! Time to prioritise and find some balance between work and life'!   Lucid Dreaming and Conscious Exploration One of the most fascinating aspects of dreaming is the potential for lucid dreaming: those rare, magical moments when you become fully aware that you’re dreaming and can actually take control of the dream. It’s like stepping into a mind blowing virtual reality where you can interact with your dream environment, shift scenarios, and even influence the characters. This opens up an exciting opportunity for managing stress dreams. When you realise you're in a stressful dream, like being chased, feeling overwhelmed, or facing chaos, you can use lucidity to shift the narrative. Instead of running, you can turn and confront the source of stress or dissolve the stressful situation entirely. This ability to control and reshape your dreams empowers you to face fears and anxieties in a safe, creative space. Over time, lucid dreaming becomes a tool for self-care. By working through stress in the dream world, you can bring a sense of peace and resolution into your waking life. The more you practise lucid dreaming, the more adept you become at navigating your inner world and transforming stress into empowerment, both while you sleep and when you're awake.   Stress Dreams: What Are They Trying to Tell You? When it comes to stress dreams, it’s helpful to look at them as messengers rather than nuisances. They are your mind’s way of processing the overwhelm, anxiety, or tension you’re experiencing during the day. Whether it’s being chased, falling, or failing an exam, each dream is a clue to what’s going on beneath the surface. When you listen to these dreams, they can guide you toward healing and self-care. Some common stress dreams include: ● Falling: This often reflects feelings of loss of control or insecurity in waking life. ● Being chased: A sign that you might be avoiding a confrontation or an issue that’s been lingering in your mind. ● Teeth falling out: This one often points to anxiety around change, transitions, ageing or feeling a lack of power in a situation. ● Being late: An indicator of feeling unprepared or overwhelmed by responsibilities.     How to Manage and Work with Stress Dreams So how do you deal with these stress dreams? Here are a few tips to help you not only manage them but also use them as tools for self-awareness: 1. Dream Journal: Start keeping a dream journal by your bed. Write down your dreams as soon as you wake up, even if they seem disjointed or unclear. Over time, patterns will emerge, and you’ll gain insights into what’s going on in the realms of your unconscious. 2. Mindfulness Practice: Incorporating mindfulness and relaxation techniques like meditation can help reduce the stress that triggers these dreams in the first place. When you’re grounded during the day, your dream world often follows suit. 3. Lucid Dreaming Techniques: Learn the art of lucid dreaming in order to recognise when you’re dreaming. With practice, you can enter a lucid state during your dreams and actively transform stressful scenarios into more empowering ones. 4. Reflect and Take Action: Ask yourself what the dream is trying to tell you. If you’re having recurring stress dreams, it might be time to evaluate areas of your life that are causing anxiety. Sometimes, the dream itself can provide the solution. 5. Create a Calming Nighttime Routine: Get into the mode of winding down with calming activities before bed: whether that’s journaling, meditation or soothing music. Your dreams are like magical portals to self-awareness, reflection, and growth. They aren’t just random, fleeting thoughts; they’re profound messages straight from your inner world, waiting to be unravelled. When you close your eyes and drift off into dreamland, remember you’re entering an inner universe brimming with insight, healing, and endless possibilities. Each dream is a unique adventure, offering you a chance to explore your unconscious zones, face fears, and even unlock hidden creativity. Whether you find yourself soaring through the sky, diving deep into the ocean, or having a heart-to- heart with a talking cat (who doesn't love that?), every experience is rich with meaning. Embrace this nighttime journey as an opportunity to discover more about yourself and your desires. As you venture into the realm of dreams, keep an open heart and a curious mind. You never know what wonders await you in the cosmic tapestry of your inner galaxy. In the meantime, have sweet dreams and maybe I’ll see you in them!  

Tree Carr

Tree Carr is a published author and TEDx speaker who works in the field of Transpersonal Psychology with a focus on dreams, death, altered states of consciousness and psychedelic assisted therapy. She holds a professional certificate in Psychedelics, Altered States & Transpersonal Psychology with the Alef Trust and is a CPD Crossfields Institute Certified Death Doula. A high priestess witch and master of Wicca she has studied at the world-renowned Arthur Findlay College of Psychic Science, is a faculty member at The Magickal Path School of Witchcraft and a teacher at the acclaimed College of Psychic Studies in London, UK. Her latest book Dreamwork Journal: Unlock the Secrets of Your Dreams (£12.99, Inner Work Project) can be purchased here.

 

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