Dream Incubation Can Resolve Issues

Dear Readers: Last year a friend shared a dream she had “incubated.” She had been in a relationship with a man for five years, and now he wanted to marry her. They had broken up at one time, and she met another man she was also interested in. She asked for a dream to show her whom she should be with, which relationship was best. The first night she asked, she dreamed her best friend walked up to her holding a big sign with the word “Variety!” This was not the answer she expected but it served her well in providing a different option. By the way, she’s still single.

Dream incubation is a valuable tool to obtain insights, solve problems and increase creativity. Important days, such as birthdays, Christmas and New Year’s, are great times to ask your inner-being, your guardian angel, God … for a dream regarding a specific issue, person or direction in your life. These important days seem to add strength and significance to our requests.

Take time to form a question. Think about what you’re asking for. Do you really want to know the answer? Write down the question and set it by your bedside. If you need privacy, slip the question into your pillowcase.

Spend time during the day thinking of your question and asking your inner-self to provide an answer. Absorb yourself in the question. Have faith the inspiration or answer will come. The more energy you put into your request while you are awake, the more likely you are to receive new perceptions and insights during sleep. Just before going to sleep, look at your written question and repeat it over and over in your mind. This will strengthen your request and signal your inner-being that you are ready to listen.

Here are some suggestions:

Having trouble at work? Try asking for a solution to resolve the conflict.

Relationship issues are fertile ground for learning through dreams: Should I marry? Would he/she be true? Should I end this relationship or put more commitment into it? How can I create more romance, honesty, compassion or love in this relationship?

What can I do to enhance my own personal and spiritual growth?

Artists and musicians ask for a song, a poem, a story or a picture. The list is endless, and the dream world is full of potential works of art. Ask for the art form that would bring you the most pleasure, creativity and mastery.

Are you a golfer, skier or involved in other sports? Ask for tips to perfect your technique or improve your game.

What will this year bring? What should I focus on? How can I best take care of myself this year? What can I do for my family? What is my true vocation?

The questions are limitless, and you only need the desire and intention to receive the answer. Be patient; it may take a day, a week or longer. Look at every dream you remember in light of your question. Welcome to the world of conscious dreaming!

This column is intended as entertainment. But psychologists who work with clients’ dreams say that dreams can hold a tremendous amount of significance; a particularly disturbing or repetitive dream may indicate the need to see a therapist.

, DataTimes MEMO: Nancy Huseby Bloom has studied dreams for 18 years. Dreams may be sent to her c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax, (509) 459-5098. Please send a short summary of the circumstances in your life and include your name, address and phone number. Nancy conducts dream groups on a regular basis. For information, call 455-3450.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Nancy Huseby Bloom The Spokesman-Review