Fun & Dreams
Make dreamwork into play
Recently, while teaching my students in the Institute for Dream Studies certification program, I compared the puzzle of finding a meeting time for our geographically diverse students (given our various time zones from, Colorado to New York, London, Afghanistan, India, and Australia) to solving a Rubik’s Cube. I haven’t held a Rubik’s Cube for decades, so I thought it was unusual that that image popped into my head.
The next morning, when I turned on the radio, the first thing I heard was an interview with Ernõ Rubik, the creator of the Rubik’s Cube. He was saying, “Most people take things too seriously. … they should be more serious about play.”
When I encounter synchronicity (a meaningful coincidence) like this, I pay attention. I know I need to add more play to my own life, and I suspect that you might, too. After all, in addition to our personal daily struggles, we are living in a world in crisis, with a pandemic, climate emergency, and political instability all encroaching on our individual and collective well-being.
It’s easy to lose any sense of light-hearted play when the mood around us grows heavy with fear and doubt. As dreamers, we can integrate play into our dreamwork. Here’s how …
Color your dreams
- Bring color and collage into your dream journals. For me, everything is a little more fun when there are colored pencils, scissors, and glue sticks involved 🙂.
- Put on some music and sing or dance the story or energy of your dream. Don’t worry, no one is watching. Have fun!
- Look for puns and wordplay in your dreams. Freud brought our attention to this delightful and insightful aspect of dreams. Enjoy it!
- Play dream games with one another. According to the dream expert, researcher, and author Kelly Bulkeley, members of the Iroquois Nation were known to play a game in which they guessed at what each other dreamed of. Can you get a game like that going amongst members of your dream group, dreamy friends or family members? Or invent a dream game of your own — and be sure to share it with us here.
Play around with some of these ideas, and invite the spirit of fun into your dreams and into your life as a dreamy soul. Then let us know how you integrated dream play into your day.
© 2020 Tzivia Gover
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I just found a Rubik’s Cube buried in a box of toys, tucked away in the “Christmas closet.” It took me back, in a flash, to the hours our son would spend trying to solve it. It was play, for sure, but it was perseverance as well. Originally called the Magic Cube, we saw the magic that transformed our boy. He may not have been able to sit still in a classroom, but puzzles calmed and focused his mind. I believe it contributed to the skill he brings to his teaching today.
I think I’ll place it on my writing table and see what magic it brings my pen.
I love this reflection, Nancy! It deepens the whole experience for me.