Dreamwork: Ten Basic Questions

One of the most basic tools of dreamwork is asking questions. Why questions? Questions give the dream back to the dreamer and invite them to decide what it means. Questions make it harder for the dream-guide to hijack someone else's dream. Questions open a door to the unknown, to the not yet conscious.

Here are ten basic questions that can be asked of any dream. Not all questions will work equally well with every dream. With time and practice, you may refine these questions or replace them with your own.

Consider this list of questions one place to begin. Let me know which questions prove most and least useful.

1. What aspect of this dreams seems most interesting?
   Fascinating? Scary?

2. For each scene of the dream, what exactly are you (your dream-ego or image of yourself in the dream) doing?
   What feelings are associated with each action? Be specific

3. What actions are complete or incomplete?
   What feelings are expressed or hidden?
   What is won or lost?
   Finishing or unfinished?
   Welcome or unwelcome?

4. What are the major patterns in this dream?
   Note the similarities, contrasts, repetitions, transformations and hybrid images.

5. What are the major symbols in this dream?
   (symbol = an image that generates multiple meanings)

6. Who are the major characters in this dream?

7. What part of the dream is most like you/the waking ego?
   What part of the dream is most unlike you?

8. What would you most like to change in this dream?

9. What would you most like to avoid in this dream?

10. What is the most wounded place in this dream?
    Where are the resources for healing in this dream?

    ©2017 Ted Tollefson