Dreaming

I'm not going to lie, I love dreaming. It's the way you can live a totally unrealistic and often amazing life inside your head. In an RE lesson recently, we were discussing 'Are dreams real?' and it got us all thinking about dreams and what was real and what was not and it was very very deep! I can't always remember my dreams when I wake up, but I can sort of remember an idea of what they were, or who they had in them. I do however, have some dreams that I can remember from years ago. There are also loads of songs about dreams such as 'Beautiful nightmare' (above) and I was just wondering what everyone's opinion actually is about dreams.

Here are some of the questions we got asked in RE and some more which I have come up with on my own:

Are dreams real?

How do they link to life?

Are they just memories (or memories of thoughts)?

Are the people in your dreams in the world somewhere?

Is it true that if you dream you fall and you haven't woken up before you hit the floor then you die?

Can you dream the future?

Do you dream in black or white or colour?


Here is my theory on dreams and what I think to those questions.

I think that when you are asleep your mind is still awake and your body is resting. Your mind dreams to allow your body to rest but sometimes when your dream is really powerful, your mind tricks your body into believing that it is places that it isn't. Sometimes the connection between mind and body is stronger and you will move your body as you dream (for example sleepwalking). Your mind is always stronger than your body as it never rests.


Are dreams real?
Yes they are real, but they are just your mind finding things and making something of it.

How do they link to life?
They are all memories, but not necessarily things you have done, they can be things you have imagined by reading books, or just thoughts you have had, or an idea.

Are they just memories (or memories of thoughts)?
That is answered in the question above.

Are the people in your dreams in the world somewhere?
It depends. If they are all memories then almost certainly yes. However, the people could be parts of people you either know or have read about. If they are storybook characters then they would probably not be real but are often based on people and would be linked to the author.

Is it true that if you dream you fall and you haven't woken up before you hit the floor then you die?
I think this is true but obviously it is impossible to tell because you would be dead (unless you have dreamt it, pleasepleaseplease say so if you have).

Can you dream the future?
Yes, if it is memories then probably because people never learn from mistakes so it will continue to happen for a while.

Do you dream in black and white or colour?
I think I dream in colour but I might occasionally dream in black and white.

This is link to do with the science of dreams:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/life/inside-the-mind/dream.htm

There are also ways to interpret dreams and here are some of them:

Worry Dreams

You're being chased, but not sure who is chasing you = You're way too busy and you need to slow down

You keep looking for something but you can't find it = There is something in your life you need to sort out

You make a phone call but the buttons don't work and the person can't hear you = You need to get something off your chest

You're about to take a test but realise you have missed all the work and you cannot pass = You have too many things on your plate

You're out when you realise you are naked but no-one else notices = A new experience is making you anxious but nobody else knows

Your teeth fall out = you are self concious about the way you look


WOW that is sooooo long. I hope you found it interesting (I did! finding out about it) and please leave your answers to those questions so we can see how everyone else dreams.

Deadra xxxx