Different Flavors of Dreams

let's take a look at some of the different kinds of dreams you may experience.

Precognitive Dreams
Some people are visited by precognitive dreams, which foretell the future. Usually when having such a dream, the dreamer will get consistent recognizable feelings accompanying the dream, as a signal that the future is being laid out in dream form for them. For instance they might be presented with the picture of a very glaring white or gold light at the beginning of their dream.

Nightmares
Nightmares are the subconscious’ way of bringing something to our attention that we are just not acknowledging. If we continually resist or decide we won’t address certain issues in waking life, sooner or later they catch up to us. In dream language, they come out as “nightmares.” These kinds of dreams are something we can’t ignore. We either wake up in a cold sweat or find ourselves trembling. That’s when we no longer can be in denial, but rather start wondering what this all means.

Whichever type of dream you have, remembering them and analyzing them will help lead you to a much richer, inner life. And this, in turn, will lead to a happier, more fulfilling “waking” life.

Lucid Dreams
Lucid dreams occur when we are in a state of consciousness somewhere between sleep and wake. In this state we are aware that we are dreaming, and can control the outcome of our dream. We can turn and face our fears in the guise of that big ugly monster, or travel around the corner to see what is actually waiting there.

It is somewhat difficult, though, to maintain this delicate state. Great teachers have suggested that by concentrating on a stable object, such as your hands, you will be better able to maintain the balance.

These dreams usually occur in the final hours of dreaming and are frequently signaled by a particular symbol. For some the onset of lucid dreaming begins with the feeling that they are watching themselves completing a task. For others it is the appearance of an extraordinary bright light. Some have noticed the sensation of floating in the air, which signals they are having a lucid dream.