Chapter
6
The
CREEI Working Hypothesis
A Dream is a Picture or Personal
Metaphor of the Feelings of the Dreamer
Draft
(Please do not distribute)
1.
Dreams are images from the heart that reflect waking life.
2.
Dreams are personal metaphors, thus the dreamer is the
ultimate interpretive authority.
3.
The CREEI Process may be applied to any event, whether
dreaming or waking.
4.
Dream content need not be disclosed (a safety mechanism).
5.
The CREEI process is non-interpretive.
6.
The CREEI process is non-judgmental.
7.
There is no such thing as a bad or meaningless dream.
8.
All dreams are of equal value, whether fragmentary or lucid.
9.
Dreams always contain new information.
10.
Peace and joy exist (can be found) in any dream or event.
Assumptions amplified
1. Dreams are images from the heart that reflect waking life.
The CREEI working hypothesis is that a dream is a picture of
feelings. A dream comes from the
emotions. As such, the dream is a
personal metaphor for what is going on deep in oneÕs own unconscious. That the
dream reflects outer reality, it is a more reliable indicator of inner issues
and how the dreamer experiences outer reality. It is easier, therefore, to make
inner adjustments to one's behavior by having a more accurate picture of what
is important or of concern to the dreamer.
2. Dreams are personal metaphors, thus the dreamer is the ultimate
interpretive authority.
Since dreams are personal metaphors, the dreamer is the
ultimate interpretive authority. This does not mean the responses of
others about the dream are not valuable. However, you as the dreamer are the
only one who knows, in your deepest recesses, what your personal symbols mean
in the metaphor. No one else can give
you the certainty that your dream self can. So, be confident that it is not the right of anyone else to
judge your dream, tell what you should do, or what you need to. ThatÕs your
right.
The question sometimes arises, ÒIs it possible to get an idea
that makes sense to me when discussing the dream with a trusted, empathetic
person whether a family member, friend, clergyman or psychologist?" Certainly, others may contribute
important feedback, information or ideas that assist one in making sense of
their dream. In fact, sharing a dream with a personal friend, analyst or
community of people where you feel safe and cared about is extremely
important. Because the dreamer may
have difficulty understand his or her dream, another personÕs input can provide
you with what it is you need to come to clarity or to come to an
understanding. ThatÕs fine. A good analyst can help you by asking
good questions or making observations, such as: "This is what comes to me."
A good analyst will never try to interpret a dream for another person. This is
what we can offer each other with dream work in community. ItÕs a lonely place to be with your
dreams in isolation.
But remember, you are the one who knows, in your deep
recesses, what your dream really means.
3. The CREEI Process may be applied to any event, whether dreaming or
waking
This little process can be applied not only to a dream
(inner event), but it can be applied to an outer event. The problem with an outer event is that
your ego can misrepresent the event and its meaning. The great thing about the dream is that it bypasses the ego because it does not come from the ego,
thatÕs its main importance. It
tells you your soul's truth, whereas your ego typically has an agenda different
from your soul's purpose. Our ego is not often our friend.
4. Dream Content Need not be Disclosed (a safety mechanism)
So, the dream will speak an inner truth that you probably
canÕt get in other ways. We donÕt
care at the outset about what the content is, it need not be disclosed. But we can talk about the dream in safe
ways. That is another major advantage of CREEI. For example, in the workshop we
all worked on our individual process at the same time, while also at the same
time working together in community.
We can talk about the dream without having to disclose things that might
not be appropriate or would be embarrassing or whatever.
But we can still interact with each other as a community and
get to a deeper truth by being able to acknowledge and discuss and value a
dream. So the very thing weÕre
doing has brought us in a more meaningful association; connection. Even though our own respective
experiences are quite different.
5. The CREEI process is non-interpretive
The CREEI process does not ask for the interpretation of the dream by the dreamer, a friend or
even an analyst. This is a
hugely important thing. The
first phase of the CREEI process, answering the twelve questions, does not
interpret or even analyze the dream.
The first phase is interested only in objectifying the dream. In the second phase we begin to analyze
the dream, but thatÕs not the
same as interpreting it.
Analyzing and amplifying the dream in the second phase of
the CREEI process is intended to recruit additional aspects from the
unconscious that may have an interest or may be indirectly influenced the
dream. That is, while on first
blush, the dream may seem to have limited meaning or may even seem to oppose
the conscious attitude or the waking ego, in fact the opposite may be
true. Jeremy Taylor, whose
assumptions about dream analysis will be discussed in more detail in the next
chapter tells us, ÒAll dreams come
in the service of health and wholeness.Ó
This means, the dream encompasses all aspects of the unconscious and is
intended to make these aspects conscious in the service of enlarging and
transforming the waking ego, bringing it into alignment with the authentic
ÒSelfÓ, the core aspect of the unconscious.
The importance of not interpreting the dream is critical to
the CREEI dream analysis process.
Interpreting the dream means the imposition of a meaning of the dream by
an outsider. This is really
important, because thereÕs lots of dream work techniques out there, especially
the Freudian and Jungian, but Freudian, where the analyst wants to interpret
the dream. I greatly resist
this. ThereÕs nobody who can tell
me the meaning of my dream with certainty. In fact, suggestions of meaning by well intended individuals
often miss the mark and may convince the conscious ego of something not
intended by the dream itself.
The question can be asked, ÒWhat if we have an Òah-haÓ
moment, or if certain things seem to stand out, couldnÕt we just start
interpreting it? The short answer
is not necessarily. In the second phase of the CREEI process, the dream is
being amplified to include additional aspects of the unconscious that may have
an interest in the dream or that have contributed to its content. But again this is not
interpreting the dream.
The third phase of the dream comes closest to interpreting
the dream. If during the third
phase, you have an Òah haÓ which suggests a possible interpretation to the
dream, then maybe you are getting close.
But just getting close often automatically brings about changes in the
conscious ego that have tremendous impact on the meaning of oneÕs life and the
joy one experiences in living it.
This is the intention of the CREEI dream analysis process, making life
more meaningful and joyful.
It does not serve the individual to limit the interpretation
of the dream to one meaning or to believe that no other meanings are attached
to the dream. ÒBecomingÓ or as
Jung would say, Òthe individuation processÓ does not have a final moment. Instead it is an ongoing process
enlarging the soul, increasing happiness and satisfaction with oneÕs life. One should consider that future
dreams may add to or modify the meaning of the dream one is currently
considering.
This is an excellent time to introduce what is called the
ÒahaÓ moment.The aha experience is the indicator of the truth of it to
you. Now, other people can respond
to your dreams; thatÕs legitimate. Not necessarily interpreting it, by saying, ÒWell, this is
what IÕm thinking of,Ó or ÒThis is how I respond to it, or this is what comes
up with me.Ó All thatÕs legitimate
stuff, and if it happens to trigger an "aha", thatÕs where its value
is. In sharing another's dream you
can fairly say, ÒBoy, I think youÕre feeling this,Ó or, ÒI think this sort of
happened.Ó All of that can be really valuable to the dreamer's understanding. But itÕs the dreamerÕs experience
thatÕs most important.
6. The CREEI process is non-judgmental.
Letting the dream express itself without judgment is a
biggie. This is often very hard,
especially if ones conscious life involves making assessments of ones
performance or adherence to community standards such as clerics, law enforcement,
the judiciary and the like. I
would plead with the dreamer with such an attitude. Say, ÒWait a minute.
That might be the most valuable of all.Ó DonÕt judge it.
Please. Let it be there and
see what value may come out of it if you can look at it in an objective way,
before casting this or that out or disregarding or ignoring this or that. It has valuable information for
you. Insight, I would dare say, is
generally available by withholding judgment..
7. There is no such thing as a bad
or meaningless dream.
This assumption is related to being non-judgmental. In CREEI, there is no such thing as a
bad dream. So thereÕs no
judgment. I know thatÕs hard to
take for a lot of people. As a matter
of fact, I can think of one ecclesiastical person who thinks this is very bad
process, and that there are dreams that are definitely dreams of the
devil. I donÕt have that view, and
because I donÕt have that view, then this process is threatening to that
person.
No such thing a bad or harmful dream. Also, IÕve already told you about the
working hypothesis: dreams are images from the heart that reflect waking
life. You may be asking yourself,
ÒHow could the dream I consider bad, or frightening, or threatening really be
valuable? Perhaps instead of
saying ÒbadÓ a better word might be discomforting, disturbing or
troubling. This idea begins to
take us away from the idea that a particular dream is ÒbadÓ, meaning not worth
remembering or working with.
DonÕt run away from the dream that is frightening or threatening. Ask yourself, ÒWhat is this dream
trying to tell me?Ó DonÕt run away, thereÕs something valuable there.
Bad dreams may not be welcome, but they may be useful. The CREEI is saying hold your judgment
for the time being. Wait until you
work it through completely, because thereÕs some things weÕll be able to do
– some exercises I want you to consider working with, and especially when
we get to the point of the creative process. Opening the doors of the creative process.
8. All dreams are of equal value, whether fragmentary or lucid.
CREEI assumes all dreams are of equal
value, whether fragmentary or lucid.
In other words thereÕs no hierarchy of dreams. Even the tiniest little piece of information can be hugely
valuable. As opposed to a lucid or
vivid or a great vision; CREEI doesn't make any discrimination about their
value. All dream characters and self-aspects
are welcome. Just because youÕre dream
fragment is not the most gorgeous, the most beautiful, or the most inspired
piece doesnÕt make it less valuable.
9. Dreams always contain new information.
Dreams always--this is unequivocal--contain new
information. Even if itÕs a
repeating dream, there is nevertheless something different about it. And one of the things thatÕs important,
especially if itÕs a repeating theme.
You have a repeating dream, a repeating dream; itÕs like then they think
that the thing that is different about it, you bring those two dreams together
year after year after year; bring those dreams together, there is something
different about it.
And itÕs that difference in them that has the key to its
meaning and as you reflect and meditate, think on those differences. Once you get the meaning of that
repeating dream, once it gets conscious, you wonÕt have it again. ItÕs something trying to get conscious
in you. ThatÕs my understanding of
a repeating dream.
10. Peace and joy exist (can
be found) in any dream or event
This last CREEI assumption may be very difficult, especially
if your dream is a nightmare or very unpleasant. IÕm nevertheless asserting that peace and joy exists or can
be found in your imagination. You
can choose the attitude that you bring to the event.
And I canÕt help think of a couple of books I read recently,
thanks to Saint DimitriÕs Russian Orthodox parish. These books tell the story
of a humble Russian Orthodox priest called Father Arseny. In the Soviet Gulags this priest was
subject to the most vile and horrific circumstances, but because of the nature
of his spirit and his attitude and his decision making, he was able to find
peace and joy and help others in terrible circumstances. ThatÕs a good example for me.
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