The Gift of Dreams
At age 13, I received a gift from my grandfather: several books including a paperback copy of Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams. He gave it to me because he knew how much I loved dreams, but it was too difficult for me to understand—or maybe it just wasn’t saying what I wanted to hear about dreams.
I danced around my interest in dreams for decades. Sometimes I’d pay attention to mine and write every one down. Then I’d go through periods of trying to ignore them. After all, no one else I knew was talking about their dreams, and besides, some of my dreams were scary or disturbing. But they were still present, even in their absence. Whereas some people claim they don’t dream in color, I feel I don’t live in color when my dreams are muted.
So, eventually I decided I wanted to know more about them. About a decade ago, I gave myself another gift: I ordered Robert Van De Castle’s Our Dreaming Mind from a new age book-of-the-month club. But my life got busy, and the book remained on a shelf for a good five years, maybe more, until my daughter grew up and moved on to college, and I had time to work my way through the encyclopedic tome, chapter by chapter. I then moved on to the works of Moss, Johnson, Jung, and everything else about dreams I could get my hands on.
I have since made a bold a commitment to not just learn about dreams but to dive into them. From 2009-2011 I was enrolled in a dream studies certification program, and now I help other people understand the gifts of their dreams. This commitment to dreams, and the time I’ve carved out in my life for studying dreams, working with them, and helping others get in touch with theirs, has been a great gift, for which I am most grateful.
Thank you Grandpa, for the gift of your love, and for encouraging me to follow my dreams.
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In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Bedtime Stories.”
What was your favorite book as a child? Did it influence the person you are now?
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To unwrap the nightly gift of your own dreams, consider giving yourself the gift of an individual dream consultation. Click here to learn more.
Copyright 2014, 2018 Tzivia Gover
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Speaking of books to read about dreams:
My book The Mindful Approach to a Good Night’s Sleep is chock full of information and exercises to support you in sleeping and dreaming better. Order yours now and give yourself the gift of a good night of sleep & dreams!
Finding Celia Green, a Female Forebear in the World of Lucid Dreams
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it’s a dream come true then, and your grandpa knew it.
Dreams are wonderful gifts… you proved that. Il like the idea you dive into them. And, like Freud wrote, I’m sure you can help the one who talks to you about dreams, to understand life and make more wonderful dreams.
Touching post – your grandfather was a very wise man.
Wow, I didn`t know Grandpa gave you those books! Amazing, at age 13 to even receive them, and even more amazing to see how the thread of your life brought you back to that place, or I don`t know if `back` is the right word, more like a continuum. I love seeing the actual letter, amazing too that you chronicled/kept it from then, as though you knew too that it was important. Your handwriting hardly changed since *then* too, and now I am sensing a dreamlike sense of time, as though its really all emerging and dissolving into `one` dream, alas *reality* and dream as one?! Great gift post!
Hi Joanne,
I actually found that letter in mom’s apartment recently. It was a revelation to me! I always knew that I’d read Freud very early in life, but I didn’t know Grandpa had been the one to give me the book. Finding that letter helped me reconnect with the young dreamer within! I feel so grateful to have found the letter at this time in my life. “Ben’s Dreams” keep coming true!
<3
♡
Oh, to have had such a wise grandfather, and to have received such lovely gifts!
You’re blessed. (You and Joanne both, I guess.)
Nicki
Reblogged this on All the Snooze That's Fit to Print and commented:
In response to #The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Bedtime Stories,” I’m sharing (again) a post about the book I received as a pre-teen, and which had a profound influence on my life as a dreamer! I hope you’ll share your dreamy #BedtimeStory too!
He gave you a gift for the future, perhaps knowing he wouldn’t be around to do it then. So glad you held on to the book until you could appreciate it and that you proceeded on to Jung–who had an incredible effect on my life, although I didn’t discover him until my 30’s! Guess that is when I was ready for him. http://judydykstrabrown.com/2015/08/08/night-fantasies-and-other-reading-pleasures/
This reminds me that, as a grown-up (more or less) who loves dreams, I can be sharing the seeds of this enthusiasm with young people in ways that might shape how the next generation relates to dreaming and dreamwork… Who knows how these seeds might grow? Thank you!