Dreaming and Imagination: Our Wild and Natural Drive Towards Happiness
In the beginning…
We are born into this life with an imagination that is big, bright, and full of creative and playful life.
As children, imagination and creativity drives the way we learn and interact with the world. We communicate and express ourselves through imaginative play that never seems to have an end. A bottom-less wellspring of possibility.
But as we grow up in this modern world, many of us begin to disconnect from the practices of imagination and dreaming in their natural and wild forms. This relationship often replaced by pre-packaged steps, plans, and paradigms that are set up, installed, and enforced by those in power and in positions of authority.
Our imagination and dreams, when not nourished, can be dulled and reduced to what we’ve been told they “should” be, what is “realistic”, or “best” for us.
Unfortunately, these types of “dreams” are often very limiting, and can narrow our vision of ourselves, our lives, and our world. They become expectations determined from outside of ourselves that we can confuse as our own.
They can keep us perpetuating cycles and choices that trap us in experiences of unhappiness, disconnection, exhaustion, grasping, and numbness. They have the capacity to create and sustain divisiveness, separateness, and loneliness.
What is more, they are often illusory and provide only temporary satisfaction, not the deep fulfillment we are searching for.
Instead of imagining what is possible, we imagine (aka worry) what could go wrong. And instead of dreaming up incredible and out-of-this-world solutions we dream up how we might fail or fall short.
In this modern world, we’ve forgotten how to use dreaming and the imagination as powerful tools and practices to solve problems, overcome challenges, and to create joy, health, abundance, harmony, and connection. Often telling ourselves we “don’t have time”. That we aren’t children anymore. That we live in the “real world” now.
But the truth is…
Dreaming and imagination connects us to our very real emotional, physical, and spiritual bodies – enlivening us to what it means to be fully human, and not just a body moving through life on autopilot, checking off boxes as we go.
It opens our minds and hearts to conceive new ideas and technologies that can create a sustainable, united, and abundant planet.
And can be used for deep healing, uncovering unmet needs, emotional wounds (including ancestral), and purpose here on Earth.
I even invite you to consider that our dreams and imagination are sacred visions that arrive to the door of our awareness from the depths of our soul.
…deep, I know.
And I encourage you to give yourself the permission and space to consciously (on purpose, with awareness, and without judgment) spend time with your imagination. What would rise to the surface if you explored, wandered, and played in the realm of imagination?
A few ideas and practices to consider…
Use meditation to tap back into what YOUR imagination and YOUR dreams. What did you dream about as a child when you thought anything was possible? And what you you be doing if anything was possible now? What emotions do you feel as you allow your imagination to come alive? What does it feel like in the body as you dream and imagine? What does it look like from the outside looking in? Meditate on your dreams regularly to continue integrating them into first your subconscious, and then your physical reality.
You could also use a dream/vision board to the same effect.
Keep a dream journal. Reserve a few moments each morning to write down anything you can remember, even if it doesn’t make sense to you. And while I will be the first to admit that I absolutely Google my dreams, remember that symbolism is incredibly subjective. Consider what the elements in your dreams represent to you and where you are in your life.
Write down bursts of inspiration or creative ideas. Nothing is too big or too small. But don’t take them for granted, telling them you’ll “come back later” – ideas are quick, fierce, and elusive.
Spend time in spaces that are already existing in their natural element. It’s no coincidence so many humans find refuge in forests, by lakes and other natural spaces to allow their minds to break free, wander without abandon, engage in play and creative thinking.
Make time to simply play. Light up the creative and imaginative right brain, and give the logical left brain a little break. Take a picture, find a song, dance a dance, or simply sit in silence and listen/watch. Receive the wisdom from your wild and playful imagination.
A word of care…
Please be gentle with yourself, especially if it has been some time since you have connected with your dreams and imagination. This can be a powerful and overwhelming experience, especially if we have been cut off from our imagination for some time by trauma or internalized messages from others about what is accepable.
And if this process is too difficult or triggering, honour exactly where you are and find a support to help – a therapist, teacher, healer, or friend.
If you are ready to re-connect with your dreams, imagination and deep creativity to build and step into a life that is yours and one that you love let’s work together! Contact me for a free consultation.
Let’s remember what it means and feels like to dream; child-like dreaming, dreaming that once again is a wellspring of possibility, and aligned with who we really are and what it means to live a full and meaningful life here on this planet.
