Decoding Dreams: How We Recognize Our True Selves Through Dreams

Dream - what comes to mind when you hear that word? Just a word, and yet one with deep significance. “Dream” has two sides: on one hand, it refers to a vision that visits us during sleep, arising from our unconscious and often revealing far more about ourselves than we initially believe. On the other hand, it is the desire or goal we carry within us. We say, “I have a dream,” expressing our deepest wish. But here’s the fascinating part: these two meanings are interconnected. In dreams, we see our unconscious desires, often repressed or unrecognized. Recurring symbols, landscapes, people, or situations in our dreams can reveal more about us than we could ever imagine.

But how can we decode these dreams? How do we understand what our inner self wants to tell us?

The answer lies in creative work with dream journals and coaching cards. This method not only nurtures our imagination but also allows us to gain deeper insights into our inner life. It is especially valuable for individual work with clients to make unconscious impulses visible and for coaching to access deeper blocks and desires. 

Dreams remain largely unexplored, yet they offer valuable insights into ourselves. They can help us uncover hidden wishes and unresolved conflicts. But what happens when certain dreams repeat themselves? Or when they appear to us as nightmares, like in Sebastian’s case? 

Sebastian is a person who radiates courage, embodies discipline, and lives diligence. But once a year, like clockwork, he is haunted by a nightmare - a nightmare that rises from the deepest corners of his unconscious. An inner storm he cannot escape.

Sebastian radiates courage, discipline, and diligence.

Slowly, drop by drop, sweat runs down his forehead. A cold shiver rushes through his body. His eyelids twitch left and right. Every breath is quicker than the last, his heart races wildly, and his throat feels tightly closed by a bitter, unbearable dryness.

He yells, “Attack! Into battle! Alert!”

He runs, crouching behind a wall covered in wet moss. His nostrils take in the damp, heavy, icy air. His heart cramps with inner cold.

Before his eyes: white snowdrifts, piercing cold - and on the pristine whiteness, red, thick, warm drops of blood cling…

“Admiral Sebastian…” he suddenly hears behind him. “Go, catch him!” He runs. Defends himself. Shoots. Runs again…

This battlefield stretches endlessly, limitlessly like the white masses of paralyzing cold. Whistling. Roaring. Explosion. Sky above his head.

“Sebastian! Get up! Go! They’re attacking!”

Warmth spreads in his chest - he knows: He’s been hit.

He lies there, staring at the sky, watching birds flying by in the distance, hearing their cries… and his eyes close.

A deep breath and he wakes up. Soaked in sweat. Screaming. Fists clenched. His shoulder feels as if his rifle is still strapped there.

A dream! That dream again!

About once a year, never less, Sebastian has this vivid, intense dream in which he dies… and wakes up at the exact moment.

Again and again, he asks the same question: Why? And again and again, he fears its return. He exhales deeply. And begins his usual day. 

Sebastian’s dream can be seen as a metaphor for the inner battle that lies dormant in many people. What is fighting inside Sebastian? What is the true conflict he’s facing? The dream suggests that the “warrior” within him may no longer wish to fight but to heal.

A dream journal can be a valuable tool here. It allows us not to suppress the images but to give them space and understand their messages. We can ask ourselves:

“What is fighting within me?”

“What is the message behind my pain?”

“Which part of me is crying out for release?” 

To answer these questions, keeping a dream journal in combination with coaching cards can be especially helpful. The journal helps capture dream imagery, while the coaching cards assist in decoding the symbolism and deeper meaning. The cards offer prompts that often highlight the exact perspective we missed in the dream.

Here are some exercises and questions you can use in your journal to decode your dream and its meaning: 

Journal Prompt:

Which symbol in my dream moved or disturbed me the most? 

Sentence Starter:

Maybe I saw this symbol because I’m ready to realize that… 

Coaching Card Reflection:

What does this symbol mean in your current life? What blocks or desires might it be hiding? 

Journal Prompt:

What journey could I embark on within my dream to learn more about its meaning?

Sentence Starter:

If I had continued my dream journey, I would have… 

Coaching Card Reflection:

Let the card guide you on this imaginary journey. What insights emerge when you view your dream’s theme from another angle? 

Journal Prompt:

Which character or inner voice stood out most in my dream? 

Sentence Starter:

If I could speak with this character, I would ask… 

Coaching Card Reflection:

Have a conversation with this figure or voice. What does it say to you? What message does it bring? 

Journal Prompt:

What steps can I take to integrate my dream’s message into my waking life?

Sentence Starter:

The message of my dream reminds me that I… 

Coaching Card Reflection:

Use the card to discover how you can apply these insights in your everyday 

Through this method, we can decode the unconscious messages in our dreams and use them as tools for transformation. Dreams are not just echoes from the unconscious; they also offer solutions and guidance toward a more fulfilled life.

One example of this transformative practice is the exercise “Ask Your Unconscious.” When you face an important decision or feel unsure how to deal with a situation, you can say before falling asleep:

My dream will open up an unknown path to my situation… 

The next morning, immediately write down everything that comes to mind

Our dreams are far more than mere fantasies or puzzling images - they are messages from within that can guide us to our true path. The combination of a dream journal and coaching cards offers a powerful method to decode and understand these messages. By consciously engaging with our dreams, we can uncover hidden desires, work through unresolved conflicts, and ultimately live a life more aligned with our true selves.

Use the power of your dreams and let them show you the way to a more fulfilled life.