Behind Closed Eyes: Dreams and Identity Intertwined

The Essence of Dreams

In the tapestry of our lives, where every thread tells a story of struggle, acceptance, and identity, dreams hold a special place. They are not just the mind's nocturnal wanderings but reflections of our deepest selves, carrying the weight and wisdom of our unique experiences. For us, dreams can be both a sanctuary and a battlefield, where the complexities of our lives are replayed in the safety of sleep.

Dreams have power and significance - they are where we can confront our fears, celebrate our victories, and perhaps most importantly, be unapologetically ourselves. In the world of dreams, we find not just escapism but exploration, not just fantasy but introspection.

Are Dreams Meaningless and Random?

Dreams are far from random. They're our subconscious speaking in riddles and stories, often reflecting the inner conflicts and triumphs we've navigated. For many of us, they've been the backdrop where we first faced our truths, long before we could in the waking world.

Dreams can be a wellspring of insight, helping us decode the complexities of our lives, loves, and identities. Many dreamers are fascinated with the symbolism of dreams and Dream Interpretation is a popular pseudo-science.

Rooted in various cultural, psychological, and spiritual traditions, dream interpretation involves analyzing the symbolism and themes of dreams to glean insights into an individual's inner world. The fascination with understanding dreams stems from the belief that they are more than mere random thoughts or neurological byproducts; they are perceived as meaningful narratives reflecting our deepest fears, desires, and experiences.

In psychological terms, notably through the work of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, dreams are seen as manifestations of repressed desires or unresolved conflicts. Freud's psychoanalytic approach considered dreams as expressions of repressed wishes, often linked to childhood experiences and innate drives. Jung, on the other hand, viewed them as a means to achieve wholeness, with dream symbols representing parts of the self that need to be integrated. He introduced the concept of the collective unconscious, suggesting that dreams tap into universal archetypes shared across cultures and societies.

In various cultures, dream interpretation has a more mystical or spiritual dimension. Many indigenous cultures view dreams as messages from ancestors or the divine, providing guidance, warnings, or insights. In some traditions, dreams are seen as journeys of the soul or as a means to communicate with spiritual realms.

Modern dream interpretation often blends these approaches, recognizing dreams as personalized narratives that can offer insights into one's emotional and psychological state. Professional dream interpreters, or even individuals themselves, analyze recurring patterns, symbols, and emotions in dreams to better understand their waking life challenges and aspirations.

Some common dream themes are often interpreted in ways that reflect deeper psychological or emotional states. Here are five significant dream interpretations:

Falling Falling in a dream is often interpreted as a symbol of fear, loss of control, insecurity, or failure. It may reflect feelings of inadequacy or a situation in waking life that feels overwhelming and uncontrollable. This dream is common in people who are facing a significant challenge or change in their lives, such as a new job, relationship issues, or, well, coming out!
Being Chased Dreams of being chased typically symbolize avoidance. The dreamer might be running from an issue, emotion, or responsibility in their waking life that they find intimidating or difficult to confront. The nature of the pursuer can also be significant – it might represent a specific person, a situation, or an aspect of oneself that the dreamer is trying to evade.
Teeth Falling Out This is a common dream theme with various interpretations. It can symbolize anxiety about appearance and how others perceive you, fear of embarrassment or feeling powerless in a situation. In some cultures, dreaming of teeth falling out is also associated with the fear of aging or the loss of vitality and youth.
Flying In a dream, flying often represents a sense of freedom, liberation, or ambition. It can indicate that the dreamer feels in control of their life and is aiming high. Conversely, if the experience of flying in the dream is fearful or difficult, it could suggest that the dreamer is facing obstacles in their pursuit of their goals.
Test or Exam Dreaming about taking a test or exam, often in a stressful or failing situation, is typically linked to performance anxiety or a fear of judgment. It may reflect a waking life situation where the dreamer feels evaluated or scrutinized. This type of dream is common among people who hold high standards for themselves or who fear not living up to their own or others' expectations.

I’ve had many of these dreams although I’ve never had a dream about my teeth falling out! It would be so disturbing - maybe this is why so many horror movies have scenes where someone’s teeth are falling out - always gross!

There are many books on Dream Interpretation and many of us keep dream journals to help sort our dreaming. In Tree Carr’s article Dreamland, she notes that, “If the average night’s sleep is eight hours (ie: one-third of a day), one sleeps for one-third of one’s life. If you live, say, 75 years, that’s 25 years asleep!”

Can I Control My Dreams?

While it's true that dreams often have a mind of their own, the concept of lucid dreaming shows us that we can have a say. It's like finding agency in our sleep – a concept not too distant from our waking lives where we've learned to steer our narrative amidst often uncontrollable circumstances.

Lucid dreaming is a state where the dreamer becomes aware that they are dreaming while still in the dream. This awareness can sometimes allow the dreamer to exert some level of control over their dream environment, characters, narrative, and even themselves. Lucid dreaming blurs the line between conscious and subconscious states, offering unique opportunities for creativity, problem-solving, and exploration of the self. It's often experienced spontaneously, but can also be cultivated through various techniques. For many, lucid dreaming is not just a fascinating sleep phenomenon but a powerful tool for personal insight and growth.

The Dream Journal

Keeping a dream journal is a valuable practice for exploring your subconscious mind and understanding your inner self. Immediately upon waking, write down everything you can recall about your dreams, focusing on details like settings, characters, emotions, and even colors. This act of recording helps in retaining and interpreting the often fleeting and elusive dream content. Over time, you may begin to notice patterns or recurring themes, offering insights into your waking life concerns, desires, and emotional states. A dream journal can also aid in developing lucid dreaming skills by increasing dream awareness and recall. It's a simple yet profound tool for self-discovery and personal growth.

Banyen Books on West 4th Ave in Vancouver has many lovely Dream Journals, as well as so much more. They are worth a visit but they also have an online store.

Dreams: A Reflection of Our Queer Journeys

In our dreams, we often find reflections of our battles and breakthroughs. They can echo the loneliness of the closet, the exhilaration of coming out, the warmth of acceptance, the pain of rejection, or the fear of stepping out for our first drag performance. They are not just idle fantasies but critical pieces of our narrative, offering insights and often, a sense of closure.

So, here's to our dreams – may they continue to be a source of strength, understanding, and healing on our journey.

Jude Goodwin is a queer artist and writer living in Vancouver, BC.