This is what I call a 'Dream Exclamation Point'
Do dreams have their own punctuation? Maybe, maybe not. But they do have their own way of adding emphasis to an experience.
During the last week of May I was in Santa Fe, NM, co-leading a dream retreat. Each participant chose one of their nighttime dreams to explore during our five-days together, using art, poetry, dream theater, and more.
The dream I worked on was like an adventure-thriller that took place in the school for teen moms where I taught poetry for more than 16 years.
In the dream I drove by the school at night, and saw that someone (some ones) had broken in! When I entered, I found students stealing the art off the walls. I tried to stop the theft in progress and called the cops.
Through my creative dreamwork, I discovered that those dream students weren’t stealing art at all! They were taking back what was theirs—
Those pictures they were taking off the walls were their own!
As is so often the case, reflecting on the dream helped me turn the pointed finger back on myself. I was able to lovingly explore my emotions related to my career as a teacher, and my own creativity and writing.
And so much more!
Back home a couple of weeks later, I attended a poetry and art event for the current students at the school where I used to teach poetry. (I haven't been on the faculty there for a while, but I still attend their events as a supporter.)
I entered the room late, and was surprised that the woman who was well into her welcoming remarks paused to give me a shout-out. As it turns out she had just been recounting the history of the school’s poetry program, which I had launched 25 years ago.
Although I entered late, I was right on time!
In fact, when I walked in, the room erupted in applause ... for me! (Totally unexpected!)
The event was beautiful, as was the students' poetry and art. And as an extra bonus, I felt honored and recognized as a former faculty member.
In a surprising coincidence, when I returned home that afternoon, a student from my early days teaching messaged me to ask if I could help her understand a recent dream she’d had. I invited her to make an appointment for a 1:1 dream consultation, free of charge, of course.
Now, a young woman in her 30s, my former student apologized in a follow up message. She said she felt badly for what a rough time she had given me back when she was a sassy teen. I reassured her that I always saw her intelligence and creativity, even when she was acting out.
She thanked me and said, "I always knew you only wanted the very best for us. I appreciate you."
Wow! That was a lot to take in. Two amazing incidents that related back to my dream in one day.
Sure, whether I’d done the dreamwork or not, those events would have taken place: I’d have attended the celebratory event for the current crop of students at my old school, and I’d have gotten that email from my former student. But having recently worked on the dream about that time in my life, I was open to receiving the experiences in a way that I might not have been otherwise.
That’s how the exclamation point on the end of the dream works; it’s that little dazzle of punctuation in the form of a synchronicity or an ‘aha moment,’ that emphasizes the message.
Healing and the celebration are taking place all around us. Sometimes we just need a little help to notice them—and dreams are happy to oblige, when we let them.
What about YOU? Have you had insights or synchronicities from a dream recently? Have YOU experienced a dream exclamation point? If so, I'd love to hear about it.
Until next time …
I’m dreaming with you,
PS: I'm presenting at the International Association for the Study of Dreams online conference starting this weekend--both of my presentations will be on dreams and healing. It’s not too late to join us.
Experience the magic of dreamwork and writing in these two upcoming events
The Dreaming in Full Color weekend retreat takes place Sept. 12-14 in Santa Fe, NM, and features Dreams, Collage, Writing, and Book Arts with dream group leader, artist, and author Victoria Rabinowe and me.
Make time to write this summer
