Night Moods

Night & Sleep (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

       This post has nothing to do with the Bob Seger song "Night Moves" but the title came to mind as I was pondering the topic of today's post.   In the comments you can tell me if your experience has been anything like my experience in dreaming.

        Typically as I go through the cycles of waking and sleeping throughout the night, the dreams that I will have seem to generally have a certain mood to them.  If my dreams start out dark or frightening,  they will continue like this throughout the night.  Likewise if the dream mood is positive or happy then all the dreams will be of a similar vein.

         These dreams may not always be part of the same dream story or having a sense of continuing the narrative from one dream to the next though sometimes they will.  In other words if I am awakened by something about the dream or some external stimulus, when I return to sleep the next dream phase will usually be very similar to the previous one.

          For example, a few nights ago I had a rather frightening dream that caused me to wake up and continue to lie awake for a number of minutes.  I don't recall precisely the nature of the dream but it had something to do with gory images and the sense that someone was in my house.  When I finally went back to sleep my next dream was not exactly the same though it had some elements of the previous segment.  This continued throughout the night and up to my morning awakening.  Each dream was essentially a scary dream though successively in each problems seemed to get resolved until my final dream on awakening was relatively tame.

          On examining the possible influences of my dreams I can immediately cite a similar dream topic by fellow blogger Stephen T McCarthy that I had read prior to going to sleep that night.  He had a dream about intruders and since this has been something I have dreamed of in the past his story registered in my mind to the point where I obviously subconsciously carried it into my sleep.  Also I had seen something on television that day that likewise influenced my dreams.  These dream prompts along with whatever might have been troubling me that day contributed to a fitful night of dreaming.  Most of the fitful nature of the night was due to something that had been troubling me while the prompts merely provided the dream story to accompany my mood.   That mood remained consistent throughout the night.

          Most nights my dreams are not frightening but either disorienting or relatively pleasant.  On those nights I also notice that the night mood remains consistent until I awaken in the morning.  After each awakening throughout the night when I return to the dream, the mood as well as the general idea of the dream setting will be approximately the same from one dream to the next.

          These separate dreams are not necessarily continuations of any dream story lines, but only a consistency in the general feel of the dream.  The characters and settings of each dream might be different, but the night mood seems to remain the same.

           Does your mood of the day or the time immediately prior to sleep seem to affect how you will feel throughout your entire night of dreaming?    Do you often dream in chapters or in a sort of continuation serial type story throughout the night?    Have you ever had a dream where the story continued from one night to the next?

Related articles

• Wake Up.
• The most Common Types of Sleep Disorders [Infographic]
• Sleep
• A Guide for Poor Sleepers with Overactive Minds (and a Giveaway!)
• It's Homelessness Me

How Does Television Affect Our Dreams?

Family watching television, c. 1958 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

         The arrival of television has undoubtedly played a role in affecting dreamers.   From a personal standpoint, television has certainly influenced my dreams as an external stimulus to dreaming as well as a motif that inherently recurs in my subconscious stories of sleep.  Since dreams reflect our waking life it only seems to make sense that television would often appear in dreams or be a part of them in some way.  Likewise, television being an environmental factor that could stimulate our minds, its very presence might affect what we are dreaming.

Dreams that are like television shows

        Dreams often have some semblance of a story line if not an intricacy of plot, characters, and setting.  We might observe some dream action in the same way that we would watch a movie, stage production, or television show.  Some of us might even understand our dream to be a television show for which in our dream life we have a comprehension of a history of watching or awareness of the show.

          In other cases dreamers might be a part of the dream television show action.  These dreamers might accept that they are actors in a dream television series or event, thinking in some cases of a life outside of the dream television role and perhaps knowing their fellow "actors" in real dream life roles such as their friends, family members, or people with whom they might have some familiarity.  The latter group will sometimes include real waking life television actors or celebrities.   In dream television shows the dreamer might take breaks from the show or even have a quitting time when they go home or engage in other activities either with members of the dream show cast or with other figures not associated with the dream television show.
       
         What is the purpose of seeing or participating in a dream television show?    There are most likely varying explanations that depend upon who is doing the dreaming and what the dream is trying to tell them.   The scenario of a dream television show is likely a matter of familiarity and importance in the same way that dreams about work or school might be.  If we watch a lot of television or the medium is playing an important role in our current life then it stands to reason that we could dream about television.   The meaning is something that each dreamer must determine for themselves.

 Dreams that have characters or other features that we have seen in TV shows

List of science fiction television programs by genre (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

        Let's say for example we are deeply involved in a television series to the point that the show is something that we think, talk, and read about a great deal.  If we are deeply invested in a specific television show to where it engages a great deal of our lives and mental processes, our mind can continue to dwell upon that television show within our dreams.   We will continue stories or try to resolve the conflicts of those stories in our dreams.  Or in some cases there can be a transference of the television show into certain aspects of our waking life that is analyzed by the dreaming mind as a form of interpretation of events or situations.  In other words a dreamer can use the television show as a tool in attempting to understand their own life.

When Television Acts As An External Stimulus to Affect Dreaming

       We've all probably fallen asleep with the television on or slept while someone is watching TV in another room where we can still hear it.  Just as other external stimuli can affect our dreams we might have dreams that are influenced while the television is on while we are sleeping.   This might happen with people who leave the TV on while sleeping or fall asleep with the TV on.   Or in the morning when others turn on the TV as we sleep and we are awakened by it, we might have been having television influenced dreams prior to waking.

       I can recall when I was in high school and college, sometimes during the summer vacation when I would attempt to sleep in late my younger brother would turn on the television with the volume a bit high so that the sound of the television would wake me up.  The awakening would usually be gradual as my mind tried to stay in dream stage and yet the dreams incorporated what my mind was hearing from the television.   This would result in some interesting dream experiences.

More Research?

        I haven't read any detailed studies concerning television and dreaming, but I know that this field has been researched and there are a number of articles available regarding the outcome and interpretation of these studies.   Comparisons between pre-television era dreams and dreams that came after the advent of prevalent TV watching may or may not be out there, though truly conclusive evidence might be difficult to ascertain if no specific attention had been given to this field prior to the time when television became an accepted part of everyday life.

        If you know of any research about the effect of television on dreaming, please let us know in the comment section.

        How has television affected your dreams?    Have you experienced any of the things I've described in this post?   Do you think that frequent television watching makes the mind think and perceive differently than without the influence of television?

Related articles

• Learning in your sleep - The Sleep Matters Club
• Long Sleep Time, Higher Stroke Risk?
• Your Ancestors Didn't Sleep Like You | Slumberwise
• Tips for Creating the Perfect Sleep Environment

Does Dream Story Plot Enhance Dream Memory?

 "The man with the burden", illustration from John Bunyan's dream story (based on Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress) (p. 18) abridged by James Baldwin (1841-1925)
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

           To continue with the line of thought of my previous post, I might further ask "Is a dream with a relatively clear and engaging plot easier to remember than a sleep experience filled with random settings, people, and ideas and a very confusing or unclear storyline or total lack of a story?"

          Let me start with the comment left by Eva:

 Eva Prokop said...

        A few years back I was in the habit of recording any dreams I had in my journal, and that of course helped me to remember them. These days that habit has become sporadic, and so I find I don't remember my dreams like I used to. 
It's so interesting I think, the whole dream thing...and different types of memory. I think that dream life does have these various shades of intensity of memory, just like waking life...like, sometimes I'll remember the big, flashy part of a dream immediately, and then an hour or so later, I'll remember some little detail that was in the dream.
       And sometimes, like you say, the dream never makes itself known to my conscious mind. I'll wake up with the sense that something was going on in my mind while I slept....but what?!
       Lately I've been tempted to post a few of my more ridiculous dreams...I've rediscovered them as I'm going through my old journals.
October 2, 2014 at 4:29 PM

        This comment prompted me to reflect on the times when I got into the habit of recording my dreams.  This was primarily during my high school years when I was able to waken at a more leisurely pace and reflect on the dream I had been having prior to waking.   On many mornings I would write down the dream as I remembered it including as much detail as I could recall.

        One of the vital things that enhanced my dream memory was the presence of a distinct story that I was following in the dream.    As though I had watched a movie, it was much easier to recall lengthy portions of the dream that I had experienced if a story seemed present   Due to my greater level of interest in the story I was able to remember more details about almost every aspect of the dream.  These are the sorts of dreams that are relatively easy to write down or relate to someone else.  There is logical progression of events and connections between story details that make more sense.

Here are four aspects of dream stories that can enhance the dream memory:       

Details-- Verbal exchanges, props, sensations, and a myriad of other "little" things can become vital components of the dream story.

      
Cast--Whether the players are people we know in waking life or fabricated chimera folk who appear for known or unknown reasons, the cast of characters is more easy to place within the context of the story.

Setting--We are more likely to identify real or imaginary places within the context of a story.  A progression from place to place helps to recreate the continuity of the dream story timeline.

Desired outcome--When a dream story has a desired conclusion then there is a facilitation regarding a sense of purpose that allows us to more clearly see a beginning, middle, and an end to a dream story.  These connections pointing to a conclusion we expect or arriving at a surprise conclusion helps us to arrange the dream story into a traditional narrative sequence.

Using a Dream Story for Writing Fiction or Essays

        If the dream seems to have had a story or if the various components of the dream inspires one to turn the collection of dream images into story form, then a dream might be ideal for creating a written work that could be suitable for publication or other sharing.  

        Often writers will have used a dream as the story or the inspiration for a written work.   Dreams can be where stories, poems, songs, and other works of art have their origins.  Indeed many great works have been attributed to a dream source.

          Dreams are the art of the creative mind on the canvas of the subconscious.   Many dreams are useful to be translated into some medium that others can enjoy or even learn from.  Those who can better remember their dreams have a well of creative inspiration that can be drawn from to use in many aspects of their lives.

           Have you ever used a dream inspiration to create something?    Do you ever turn your dreams into stories?    Can you remember a dream better if you have experienced it in traditional story form?

Related articles

• Where do dreams go when we waken?
• Dreamblog
• 8 tips on how to remember dreams
• Key To Remembering Dreams Found In Two Brain Regions: 3 Ways To Stop Forgetting
• The Profits of Dreaming: On Fiction and Sleep

Dream Fabricated Problem Stories

BMW X 5 stuck in the mud (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

     
         In the previous post we looked at dreams that were related to conflicts with other people.  These could be conflicts within dreams that are not recognized in real life or actual waking life conflicts transported to the dreaming situation.   Either way these dreams are probably indicative that an actual conflict or fear of a potential conflict exists.

          But what about dreams where we are trying to solve a problem of circumstance not necessarily involving relationships with other people?   The problems could be actual problems that we have been facing in our daily lives, difficult situations that we may be anticipating in the future, problematic events from our past, or dream story problems that seem to have no relationship to anything in our waking life.  In this current post we'll look at the latter of these types of dreams that have to do with problems or dilemmas.

          The dream story might involve some sort of problem that occurs during the story or it may even be a series of problems.  The situational difficulties might be what the dream is all about or they may be obstacles that hinder the progress of the dream story .

           An example in my own dream life comes from a recent dream that I had.

          ... In the dream I have been contacted to work at a trade show or some similar event.   As I begin planning for the event, gathering equipment together, and doing research about what I am going to be presenting, I learn that I am also going to be playing in an orchestra that will be performing as a part of the display I am to be working in.
            The more I prepare, the more confused I become.  I can't find things that I need.  I have many self doubts about my skills as a musician and whether my instrument is still playable.  I'm not even totally sure where I am supposed to go.  After leaving for the venue, I encounter bad weather and other obstacles that threaten my schedule.   I am flustered and insecure about everything I am doing.
        Things are even worse when I arrive.   Everything is in German--signs, contracts, show literature--and I can't understand anything.  The music that I am expected to play is difficult for me to read and I have doubts about my abilities to easily sight read what I am expected to play.  The thought crosses my mind that I could play by ear, but then I have doubts that I could even adequately play my instrument at all.  I am nervous and dismayed...

          When I woke up I felt tired and somewhat disheartened.  As I thought back, I realized where the idea for the dream story had come from.   The previous night I had been watching the film "The Glenn Miller Story" on television.  There was a sequence where the band's vehicles broke down in bad weather as they were trying to get to their show in Boston.  My dream reminded me of that sequence in the film.  In fact within the dream I was thinking about this sequence of the film.

           Typically in these dreams with stories where the problems are imagined within the dream, there are things that happen to hinder progress.  This might come in the way of catastrophic events, poor planning or lack of preparation, a series of minor inconveniences that blow up into bigger problems, being thrown unexpectedly into a situation, distractions that get in the way of a mission at hand, confusion from sources unrelated to the original intent of the dream story, or any number of other intruding factors.

          The activities in this sort of dream can be very exasperating to the dreamer causing fatigue and dismay.  These dreams are probably related to some factor in the dreamers waking life--a real life problem or worry that becomes symbolically represented by the dream story.   These types of dreams might be repeated over a period in the guise of different stories incorporating similar thoughts and feelings.

            When you are faced with a dream such as this or especially a series of dreams of this nature, it might not be a bad idea to evaluate your life to see what waking life difficulties may be troubling you.  These difficulties may not even be apparent to you and the dream might be a message that something is potentially wrong.   The dreams might provide insight to your waking life once you've recognized the symbolism involved.  If you're so fortunate, the dreams might also be providing you the possible solutions to the problems you are facing.

            Have you ever experienced dream problems that frustrate and tire you?   Do your dreams ever provide you reasonable solutions to the dream problem or the waking life problem?    Do you ever have dreams that adapt something you've seen, heard, or read into a dream story that involves you?

Related articles

• Train Your Mind to Lucid Dream
• 5 Crazy Things Our Dreams Can Tell Us
• Dream Psychology: Awakening Your Inner Vision
• Your Subconscious Mind and You
• An Interpretation of Your DREAMS - What's Going On In OUR Life?!

Pushing the Dream Story

This is a close up shot of the Carousel at House on the Rock. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 
         There is a phenomena that sometimes occurs for me at the end of an REM sleep cycle (that is the cycle when dreams occur) where I will try to hang on to my dream story and push it further.  I may focus intently upon the dream story while I am awake and then push the story into a continued REM cycle or an on and off dream-like state.  Sometimes I am very successful at continuing the story within the dream, while at other times I suspect the dream story is being forced in a conscious artificial dream state.

         A recent dream is an example of that phenomena to which I refer.  Before my waking, I am dreaming of a tourist attraction  in Spring Green, Wisconsin called "The House on the Rock".  This is a place I haven't visited in waking life for over thirty years.  At the point where my dream memory begins I have arrived at this attraction.....

        My wife and I arrive at the House on the Rock after some period of travel.  We are accompanied by a young man who resembles  my son-in-law Tom, a young woman I do not recognize, our granddaughter Marley, and a young woman tour guide.   We have completed touring the house itself and are about to go to an observation area where we can see the scenic view.  

        In my mind I imagine the view to be a vast panorama that overlooks a river valley where a small town sits along the river and gentle mountains in the distance beyond the town and river.  I know the view is spectacular because I remember having seen it in the past.  I am anxious for all of my traveling companions to see the view.

       However, everyone is tarrying with other preoccupations.  For one they all need to go to the bathroom.  I go to the observation room which is mostly enclosed with only a small square window too high to look through.  There are support railings where viewers can stand and hold onto.  This is all new to me--an addition since I was last in this place.   I am somehow aware that the room is movable and when everyone is in place it will go into viewing position at which time the walls will retract allowing those present in the room to see the panoramic view around us.

        Tom tries to go to another "viewing room" because he doesn't realize how they operate and is concerned he can't see out of the window.  I direct him to the room to which we've been assigned.  The young woman has changed into a white skirt and blouse outfit in the bathroom and while she was there accidentally peed on herself.   We tell her not to worry about it, but I can see that the front of her outfit is soaking wet.  I am trying to get them situated in our viewing room as I am anxious for everyone to see the view.  I mentally reconstruct various ways this viewing room operates...

     Then I wake up.  I try to return to sleep in order to keep dreaming the story.  I try to push my mind back into the dream.  At times I think I may be dreaming, but then again I may only be in a half sleep having some sort of lucid dreams.   We never seem to make it to the point where the walls open and we can see the view, but I visualize various parts of "The House" attraction and imagine how everyone will react when they see them.

       Eventually I am too awake to dream.  My attempts to stay and push the dream story end and I get out of bed for the day.

       This is something that has occurred in a similar way at other times.   I want the dream experience to continue because I anticipate the enjoyment of the dream activity to come.  On other occasions I will be interested in the dream story itself and want to finish it in the same way I might want to finish a movie I am watching in waking life.  In those cases the story is very interesting and these dreams will often cause me to write them down to be turned into a written story.

        Do you ever have dreams that you are so interested in that you will try to push them past waking?   Can you successfully go back to sleep and continue a dream that you are having?  Have you ever written a story based on a dream that you've had or finished a dream story in your mind after you've woken up?

Related articles

• Dream Stages
• How Did REM Sleep Originate?
• Can you CONTROL your DREAM while dreaming ?
• Top Five Ways to Induce Lucid Dreaming

Does a Written Story Work in a Similar Way as a Dream?

Deutsch: Julie liest einen Brief von St. Preux (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

       Julie at Julie Anne Nelson: Young Adult Author brought up a topic about writing that made me wonder if the fiction writing process often works in much the same way as dreaming.  The writer has control of the writing process for the most part, but what about the imagination that puts the stories together?  Are the origins of the story streamed from the subconscious to the conscious mind where the story becomes developed?    How much is the shaping of the stories done somewhere deeper within the mind before being projected onto the page?

       Julie had this to say:

I have been working like a mad writer lately, trying to get through the rough draft of the fourth book in my series before I put the finishing touches on the third.  I like to make sure that I know where this ship is going so that I can add a bit of foreshadowing here and a few hints there.   What I discovered as I blazed through the end yesterday was that I had no idea where this story was going, and I have to say I was shocked at the darkness that is coming for my characters.

      In her post, Julie goes on to describe a difficult real life situation that she has been dealing with and suggests a correlation between that and the direction her story is taking.   She sees her characters plunging into a darkness that is very similar to a struggle a friend of hers has been going through.

       This immediately made me think of the dreaming process.   This post raises some interesting questions about how events happening around us and in our own lives might be reflected in the things we do, say, and write.  This is especially curious in Julie's case of not quite knowing where the story was heading and her life directing the course of the story. I wonder if it is somewhat comparable to dreaming, where the subconscious mind writes the dream story as a symbolic reinterpretation of waking life.  Just a thought.

      Whether writing fiction, telling stories to others, or merely daydreaming, we are creating controlled dream scenarios of a sort.   We build archetypal worlds that represent that which is familiar to us, yet disguised and reimagined for our audience or ourselves.

        The writer is the dreamer and the reader is the reaper of those dreams.

        What do you think about the concept of writing as a form of controlled dreaming?   Have you ever developed a story from a dream that you have had?   Have you ever gotten so lost in a story that you were writing or reading that the experience became dreamlike and essentially a process of the subconscious mind?

Related articles

• What Do We Mean by "Writer"?
• Possession
• 9 Writing Websites to Advance Your Fiction Skills