Self-hypnosis to incubate dreams of healing and teaching
The following hypnosis technique is a process to use before bed to incubate or manifest a dream to help you with a problem that is alive in your daily life. This process is for people who regularly recall their dreams and have at least some basic dream work skills. I recommended working with the basic dreamwork tools listed in my previous article “Dreamwork and Hypnosis” to familiarize yourself with the basics of dreamwork before using this advanced dreamwork technique. When using this dream incubation hypnosis, you will need to keep your dream journal by your bedside as you will be writing down your dreams upon waking. With practice, these advanced dreamwork techniques will improve your self-awareness and support your ability to be more self-actualizing in your daily life.
In hypnosis, you will meet with your dream weaver and ask for their help in manifesting a dream that will provide teaching or healing in response to your specific concern. To be your own hypnotist or guide, record the following hypnosis script in your own voice. As you read and record this script, be sure to speak slowly and allow time between each suggestion so that you have time to access your experience and insights. Read the words in a soothing voice, the same way you would read to a sleeping child. Listen to your recorded hypnosis process every night before you go to sleep and it will soften the boundaries between your waking and sleeping consciousness so that you receive information that helps you live your life’s dream of WATCHING with more magic, empowerment and self-awareness.
Introduction to hypnosis to incubate a dream
Use this hypnosis process once you are regularly remembering your dreams. The purpose of this dream hatching hypnosis is to ask your dream weaver to bring you a dream to assist you with a question, decision, relationship, concern, or issue in your life that you wish to bring insight, understanding, and healing to. For example, you can ask for a dream to help you understand and navigate a life transition, a challenge in a relationship, or you can ask Dreamweaver for advice on how to deal with a health problem. Perhaps you can ask for a dream that gives you inspiration and insight to move forward with an art project or feel stuck in some area of your life. Or possibly, you ask for a dream to activate your spiritual growth and awareness. Before proceeding with this hypnosis, have a clear focus and request in mind. Write your focus and request for the dream in your dream journal. Also write down any thoughts you may have about why manifesting this dream will be important and meaningful to you in your life. If you don’t get a dream the first night after doing this hypnosis, then do this process for at least two more nights. The dream may take a while to incubate before it reaches you.
The hypnosis process that follows programs the subconscious to work with your Dreamweaever, or Transcendent Self to bring you insight and transformation. The manifestation of dreams will not necessarily result in a direct answer to a question, as dreams are symbolic and loaded with many possibilities.
You then ask for a gift in a dream and then have the joy of working with the dream to discover the many possibilities and gifts the dream presents. (My next article will have a process for working with your sleep in hypnosis.)
And then, after receiving the wisdom of the dream, you have the opportunity to choose whether to follow any guidance or insight by taking action and living the healing and teaching of the dream. Don’t be too simplistic or too literal and throw caution out the dream door by saying, “this dream told me what to do.” Use the dream job as a touchstone in your decision making process and choices.
Self-hypnosis script to incubate a dream of healing or teaching
This self-hypnosis should be used when you are in bed and ready for sleep. If possible, set your tape, MP3, or CD player to turn off after playing this track so you can go straight to sleep.
While lying in bed and ready to sleep, close your eyes. Look at your body. In which part of your body do you feel most comfortable and relaxed? As you breathe into those comfortable, relaxed areas, imagine the comfort growing and spreading to other areas of your body that want to relax and let go. Imagine that the comfort grows with each inhalation and that any discomfort and tension disappears from the soles of the feet when exhaling. Continue to inhale relaxation and exhale the rest as you become more and more still. You become more and more relaxed. The space of comfort and relaxation continues to grow and expand throughout your body. You long for sleep and the guidance, inspiration and healing of sleep that awaits you.
As your body continues to soften and relax, your mind becomes calmer and more focused. You carry your dream journal with you as you imagine yourself walking down a gently sloping path down the side of a hill. The path winds easily through a forest. With each step along the way, you take in the beautiful surroundings and go deeper and deeper. Your senses come alive as you walk. Look at the colors and textures of nature. Feel the stability of the earth under your feet. Listen to the sounds of the forest around you. As the afternoon sunlight shines through the trees and ferns, enjoy many shades of cool green and richly colored earth tones. Breathe in the cool, humid air…and when the sun goes down, feel the refreshing warmth on your face and arms. You barely hear your footsteps as you walk down the mossy path. After walking for a while, you see a small structure among the trees. You are intrigued to discover a dwelling so deep in the woods. As you get closer to the structure, you have discovered what feels like a very special and sacred place. As you enter the walkway towards the gate, there is a carved wooden sign that reads: Welcome to Dreamtime. Your dreamy weaver awaits your arrival. Upon entering, you will be between the waking and dream worlds and will be able to communicate with the part of you that orchestrates your dreams.
With a tingle of excitement and anticipation, you approach the tall wooden door. You release the latch, open the door and go inside. What a wonderful place! Hundreds of twinkling candle flames light up the room. In the center of the room is a smiling presence that emanates love and goodwill. You approach the figure and discover someone who looks very familiar to you. You know the part of you that creates your dreams, your dream weaver. In this meeting, your dream weaver and your conscious self learn how to communicate, build trust and ongoing relationship to enhance your dream life and your ability to incubate and remember your dreams. The weaver of your dreams welcomes you and invites you to look around the room. Your eyes have got used to the candlelight and you can see many doors along the walls. Your dream weaver communicates that each door leads to a specific type of dream. Each door has a symbol, word or image that represents the type of dreams the door leads to. For example, one door leads to dreams that are connected to your growing up and childhood events that need healing and resolution, while another door leads to dreams about past lives. The next door leads to dreams that connect you with people and animals who have died and wish to communicate with you, and another door leads to dreams of problem solving and life direction.
There are many, many types of dreams that you will explore in your dreamtime and many wonderful teachings, discoveries and healings await you through these doors into your dreams. After showing him the doors, the weaver of his dreams lovingly takes his hand and guides him to a luxuriously appointed bed. You lie down on a thick and comfortable mattress. Tell the dream weaver about the need behind your current request. Ask for help to manifest a healing or teaching dream that informs, teaches, inspires and brings healing to this concern or situation. Show the dream weaver your dream journal and read your intention and request. How does the dream weaver respond? Listen with your ears, eyes, body and heart. Does the dream weaver have any advice or requests for you? Assure the dream weaver that you will work through any dreams that come along, working toward greater self-awareness and understanding. Take the time now for any further dialogue and sharing. You receive what comes however it comes.
When you’re done with your communications, it’s time to dream. Ask the dreamer for support in remembering their dreams so that the dreams can communicate their messages to their conscious self. In this relaxed state, you have more direct access to focused awareness and are open to these helpful and empowering suggestions:
Your dream weaver is by your bedside as you sleep, supporting and guiding you through the proper doorway and into the dream as you sleep. As soon as you wake up, be quiet for a while and tune in to your feelings, images, and any words or impressions that are still with you from the time of the dream. Next, find your dream journal to record any impressions or details of any dreams that you have brought to consciousness. Record any emotions, bodily sensations, words or phrases, and impressions that arise from the dream with you and any details, stories, characters, events, or surroundings that you remember. Journal anything, even if it’s just a vague memory or impression. Your diary with words and pictures. Your habitual dream journal communicates to your unconscious that you are serious about wanting to remember and work with your dreams, and your commitment to dream journaling opens the door to remembering your dream. You imagine waking up and reaching for the journal of your dreams. See and feel that you are writing on paper, recording and honoring every detail or dream fragment that comes along. You appreciate the help of your dream weaver as you remember and work with the wisdom of your dream. You are guided to get into a beautifully decorated bed. Lying on the comfortable mattress and knowing that the preparations for a healing sleep are in place, you fall asleep easily and effortlessly. And while you sleep, your dream weaver waits for the right moment in your dream time to bring you to the door of the woven dream to fulfill your request. At the right time in the dream, you walk through the open door and meet the characters, setting, symbols, messages, and feelings that are guiding your dream. Sleep, knowing that the development of your dream is guided by the support of your dream weaver, your wise and transcendent Self. You long to journal and then dream of working to discover the gifts and wisdom of the dream. You are grateful for dreaming as a tool to live more fully awake as your complete Self. Sleep well.