Write your dreams down
In this in-between time between Christmas and New Year, I always feel more able to rest. It feels like I have ‘permission’ to ‘indulge’ in sleep as something good - rather than something necessary that I have to try to squeeze in between all the other stuff of life.
This no doubt says a lot about me. This past year, I’ve come to recognise, more and more, that I really do need to make more space for sleep in my life. Also rest. Real rest.
I’ve been in menopause for eighteen months now (with very challenging perimenopausal symptoms for around two years before that). This coupled with working and home-schooling through the pandemic helped me to begin thinking more about the politics of rest. I’ve just spent a Christmas book voucher on this book by the brilliant Trish Hersey, founder of The Nap Ministry.
So perhaps because I’m trying to cocoon in hibernatory mode, I’ve found myself dreaming more vividly. And I’ve started writing my dreams down in my notebook every morning.
I’ve always been fascinated by dreams. My second novel begins with a search for a ‘book of dreams’ and is woven through with ideas about dream alchemy and dream interpretation.
I’ve tried writing down my dreams before, but never for any consistent period of time. I tend to wake up after a restless night with my head full of all the things I need to get done that day. My old thinking went something like: Can I really justify using precious time to grab my notebook right away? (Lately, I’ve begun to notice more and more of these kinds of thoughts.)
In fact, writing down the dreams has taken much less time than I’d anticipated. Having set the intention to do this, I’ve also noticed that it seems to help me to remember those wisps of dreams before they slip away. I begin the day in a different space - perhaps a little more connected with my self, somehow?
I’ve started sharing my dream notebook pages here. If you’d like to join me, I’m using #writeyourdreamsdown
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