What's the reasoning behind experiencing pleasant and unpleasant dreams?
Dreamin' Away: An Eclectic Examination of Dreams, Their Purposes, and Their Power
You've probably spent countless nights losing yourself in the whimsical, bizarre, or downright terrifying landscapes of your dreams. But have you ever wondered what these nocturnal adventures might really mean? Let's journey together through the various reasons behind dreams—both good and bad—and the spiritual and scientific insights that help us make sense of them.
1. Soar with the Soul
Abdu'l-Baha, a key figure in the Baha'i Faith, believed that dreams offered a gateway to understanding the nature of the human spirit. In life, our senses rely on the physical body to function, but the spirit takes a different tack—it's capable of journeying without the need for eyes, ears, or any other bodily organ. In the dream world, we transcend these limitations and experience a glimpse of the spirit's immortal potential. In his words, "our body is like the cage, and the spirit is like the bird. We see that without the cage, the bird flies in the world of dreams; therefore, if the cage is destroyed, the bird will remain and subsist; its sensitivity will become even more intense, its perception will be greater, and its happiness will increase."
2. Connect beyond the Veil
When we venture into the dream world, we may find ourselves reconnecting with loved ones who have passed. Abdu'l-Baha explained that the physical body may be buried, but the spirit continues to exist and can be seen and communicated with in our dreams.
3. Conquer Challenges
Our dreams may hold the key to solving problems that perplex us in our waking hours. Baha'i teachings encourage us to pray for guidance from our loved ones who have crossed over, and sometimes, the answers come to us in our sleep in the form of dreams.
Take, for instance, chemist Dimitry Mendeleev, who struggled to arrange the elements in a coherent pattern. He eventually found the solution in a dream and went on to devise the periodic table—a significant breakthrough in scientific understanding.
Dreams have played a role in numerous scientific discoveries, from the structure of the atom to the development of insulin and even Einstein's Theory of Relativity. In some cases, the brains of revered scientists were seemingly handed solutions on a platter during their slumber.
4. Emotional Detox
Bad dreams can serve as the mental laxative we didn't know we needed, helping our minds work through emotional pain and stress. Neuroscientist Matthew Walker proposes that dreams function as a "nocturnal tranquillizer bomb," divesting our minds from the heaviness of difficult experiences so that we awaken with a clean psychological slate.
5. Set Your Creativity Free
A good or bad dream can spark the flame of inspiration and ignite the creative process. Mary Shelley, author of the iconic novel Frankenstein, drew much of her story from a nightmare she had. Likewise, Robert Louis Stevenson found the inspiration for his novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde within the depths of a bad dream.
6. Alert the Mind
Bad dreams may serve a more primal purpose: alerting us to potential dangers that lurk in hidden corners. Psychologist Deirdre Barrett posits that nightmares act as evolutionary warning signals, shattering the illusion of safety and spurring us to action.
7. Process and Refine
Our dreams might operate like the hard drive of our mind, storing and organizing memories and information as we sleep. They help us process various experiences, filter irrelevant data, and reinforce our learning.
8. Weariness and Fear, Two Triggers for Bad Dreams
Sleep deprivation, stress, anxiety, medications, and even horror movies can trigger nightmares. In the words of Abdu'l-Baha, such dreams are a manifestation of the body's influence on the mind—in contrast to the influence of the Holy Spirit, which leads to prophetic dreams.
9. Prophecies and Premonitions
On occasion, dreams may offer glimpses into the future. Ward Hill Lamon, a former associate of President Abraham Lincoln, reported having a dream in which Lincoln was assassinated—a vision that tragically came to pass.
As Baha'i writings remind us, "in the state of wakefulness, the eye can see but a short distance; in dreams, he who is in the East sees the West. When awake, one sees only the present; when asleep, one sees the future."
Lest you be consumed by anxiety over dreams of death, even these can be warnings or revelations—not inexorable prophecies. Consider the example of a dream I once had, which seemed to predict my father's stroke. I shared this dream with my mother, and she responded with an assurance that we could prevent it. Amazingly, her words echoed her dream self's response. A year later, my father indeed suffered a stroke, but thanks to a tidal wave of prayers, he survived.
And, of course, there have been many instances of good dreams that have come true. I hope these awe-inspiring, mystifying realms of dreams cast their magical spell upon you and offer healing, inspiration, and spiritual connection. Sweet dreams!
Dreams, whether good or bad, can be seen as a means for emotional processing, memory consolidation, survival simulations, spiritual communication, soul travel, and astral projection. Spiritual beliefs propose that dreams may deliver messages from the subconscious mind, higher self, or even karmic lessons. Dreams can inspire creativity and problem-solving, contribute to emotional balance, and facilitate spiritual growth.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, dreams could serve as a form of mental-health therapy, helping individuals work through emotional pain and stress, acting as a 'nocturnal tranquillizer bomb' (Neuroscientist Matthew Walker).
- Embracing the spiritual side, dreams allow us to connect beyond the veil with loved ones who have passed or even potentially offer glimpses into the future (Abdu'l-Baha and Ward Hill Lamon).
