Where to Now?

Using the sleep state for creative insights is one of the most powerful techniques that exists. We use it anyway, mostly unconsciously. For those of us who are too busy to stop and be creative, this a "must-learn" skill. It's also easy and free. The challenge is Picasso's statement. (Refer to earlier blogs.) This will be a series on how to-do-it, from the basic stuff to advanced sleep state creativity. Let's begin!


Use of the Sleep State for Creativity, Problem-Solving,
and Learning

1. The first step is to learn to recall our dreams by programming our subconscious to remember what was dreamed. We dream, on the average, 4-5 dreams per night, whether we acknowledge and remember them or not.

2. In the initial stages of dream recall, fill in the gaps with “creative hallucinations” in your dream logs or notebooks (since they closely parallel your actual dream).

3. Solutions from dreams will come in the form of metaphors, symbols, or explicit courses of action. You must ultimately be the interpreter of your dreams. This is most effectively done by generating a personal dream symbol glossary.

Assistance from a close friend (or friends) in dream interpretation can also be extremely valuable. However, they cannot interpret your dream accurately!!!

4. Practice is the essential key along with intentionality. You will eventually develop the talent of following your hunches in terms of what your dreams mean. (Practice tonight as a homework assignment.)

All techniques simply require practice (like skiing) and they soon become an integral part of your conscious daily operation--a natural behavioral pattern.

5. a) Give yourself specific instructions to wake up or to remember your dream the next morning.

b) Keep a note pad or tape recorder near your bed.

c) Ask for specific solutions to problems. The more specific the request, the more specific the answer from your creative
consciousness.

d) Program your creative consciousness for solutions to a specifically stated problem in the simplest possible terms.

For example, imagine yourself making a presentation to a group of people where you have the greatest fear of not doing it right and discovering the source of your fear.

Or, imagine yourself observing a scene between you and someone else where you can objectively discover the underlying source of a difficulty that you experience with that person.

6. As you become proficient in the use of the sleep state, you can gain greater control and literally use your dreams for whatever you desire to know; every time you sleep.

7. Manipulation and control of the sleep state can become a powerful tool in consciousness exploration, creativity, and more effectively tuning into your intuition in the wake state, e.g., lucid dreaming.

8. Basic steps in sleep state creativity include:
• Programming or “input mode”
• Incubation or “process mode”
• Illumination or “output mode”


These are the basic steps in Sleep State Creativity 101. If you have questions, please use comments. To the last Commenter, I will have Kayla write a blog this weekend.

Check out the new podcast with Phil Davis.