For as far back in history we find that dreams have fascinated people. 5000 years BC, the Babylonians had a god of Dreams, Mamu and they had a book to interpret them. The Egyptians 3000 BC had a god of Dreams named Serpis and understood that they can affect our moods and provide self-help.
There are many famous accounts of how dreams have directly influenced great novelists and musicians, and how they have even lead to political or military decisions including Hannibal, Genghis Kahn and Julius Caesar to mention but a few.
What Are Dreams and What Do They Mean?
The best explanation that I have ever heard is that dreams are like a vehicle that the mind can communicate health issues, ideas and warnings and occasionally predict the future. Elaborating on this, dreams reflect our memories and unconscious thoughts regardless how traumatic or joyous they are. Understanding them can therefore help us to understand our deepest desires neglected emotions and even to uncover hidden health issues. It is common that our dreams centre on important aspects of our including ignored or suppressed parts of our personality. Dreaming also affects our ability to think and learn, so a good night’s sleep is essential for everything we do.
Getting A Proper Nights Sleep
With our 24-hour lifestyles, it is not surprising to learn that one person in three has difficulty in getting a good night’s sleep. There are many reasons for this but the main ones are Anxiety, stress, long or irregular working hours. Each of us has a specific daily sleep requirement and this changes from person to person. If we do not obtain sufficient amounts of sleep, we accumulate ‘sleep debt’ and the only way to decrease this debt is to obtain extra sleep over an above our daily requirement. Whilst ‘catching up,’ we sleep so heavily that it is almost impossible to remember our dreams.
In order to interpret our dreams we must learn to get good nights sleep. Sleep inducing drugs reduce the chances of dreaming, and without dreaming people are not refreshed and rejuvenated upon arousal, and defeats the object of trying to interpret dreams.
If you are having trouble getting to sleep or remembering your dreams, try some of the following suggestions:
- Take Regular and Moderate Exercise Regular Exercise during the day can aid sleep at night. Daylight helps our bodies to regulate our body clocks so it is a perfect way to keep fit and get good nights sleep.
- Avoid Over Indulging and Eat Healthily Eating too much or too close to going to bed, your body is busily digesting which will ruin sleep patterns. A good balanced diet is required for everyone. Our bodies require a variety of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and Vitamin B reduces a wide variety of sleep problems. Poor nutrition is a common factor in failure to recall dreams. (Eating healthily also has other positive effects on the body and popping a vitamin pill just isn't’t the same.)
- Keep Regular Sleep Hours Our bodies arc pattern-seeking machines. Going to bed and getting up at roughly, the same times will train your body to getting into a regular rhythm. Avoid alcohol, Tea Coffee and Fizzy Drinks in the Evening a small nightcap before bed may help you wind down, but Alcohol can interrupt your sleep later in the night! Tea, coffee and the majority of fizzy drinks contain caffeine that stimulates the mind. If you arc going to think in the evening, try a cup of herbal tea or a milky drink as an alternative.
- Relax yourself and Wind Down If you have been working on something throughout the day, it is common that the mind does not readily ‘switch off’. Relaxation tapes or peaceful music (preset to turn of) or a spot of light reading can distract these thoughts. Try taking a soak in the bath with some lavender perfumed bubble bath to relax your muscles and quite the mind.
Some Popular Dreams Explained:
