The Lost Art Of Dream Incubation

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Dreams can provide us with a direct link to the unconscious, allowing a much larger perspective than our physical senses. They provide an ideal means for honing intuition, for bringing about profound feelings and states of being, for self-exploration, and ultimately, for discovering our own true nature. We can even follow in the footsteps of Tibetan monks who master dream skills as a stepping stone on the path to enlightenment, as the following experience suggests:

“Falling asleep, I remember wondering what truly ‘knowing myself’ would be like. Dreaming, I become aware of this incredible, indescribably powerful ‘Love Light.’ The thought comes that there is no power in the universe like it — it’s absolutely non-judgmental, and dwarfs every worry or desire I’ve ever had. It is peace and simplicity and well-being. It includes sexuality but encompasses far more. Basking in what feels like ‘an ocean of grace’, I begin to realize that I’m not looking at it, but rather that I AM it, recognizing myself.” (C.W., Palo Alto, CA)

1. Choose Your Goal

You can incubate a dream on any topic you choose, but you will have the greatest success with those goals in which you have some emotional investment. Pick a problem or question that concerns you, one which you would be willing to explore. Or, choose an interesting or intriguing goal, one that excites you and with which you can have some fun.

2. Immerse Yourself in the Goal

Engage in activities relevant to the goal. Read books or notes on your chosen subject. Utilize photos, movies, or objects to form associations. Rehearse the situation in the waking state, using role-playing or discussion. Pray or meditate to the goal; fantasize about it. Visualize writing the dream in your journal.

3. Feather Your Nest

Create an atmosphere that will most encourage the dream. Provide a peaceful place to sleep. Choose a time when you are not fatigued, in which you have not indulged in stimulants or heavy food. Have your notebook, pen and light available for recording the dream, or use a tape recorder. Do not give yourself a short length of tape or piece of scrap paper to record–this defeats your confidence in the dreaming process. Retire at a reasonable time if night sleeping, or awake yourself in the early morning hours to return to lighter sleep. You might also try day sleeping.

4. Narrow Your Focus

Write down your request. Outline all aspects of the topic on paper. Get in touch with how you feel about the situation, especially all those reasons for not wanting to resolve or experience the goal. Give yourself permission to discover and explore. The point is to be specific about your goal, but open-ended about the results. Finally, write down the phrase that most clearly speaks to your deepest desires. Use the first person–after all, this is your dream! Date the dream and write “Dream I” if you wish, to indicate to your dreaming mind that you are ready to record.

5. Open Your Expectations

Relax and put yourself in the mood or emotion of your goal. Concentrate on the energy and feeling of the topic. Repeat your goal phrase to yourself. You may, depending upon the topic, choose to adopt one of the following approaches: mantra, affirmation, prayer, or command. If your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the topic. Avoid thinking of alternatives. Think about the topic firmly, but don’t force it. Then let yourself drift into sleep.

6. Sleep and Dream

Trust your dream maker to respond to your request.

7. Recall Your Dream

Try to awake before your usual time to rise: use a music alarm, a partner, or give yourself the suggestion prior to sleep. You might try drinking several glasses of water before sleeping. Don’t move; remain prone and try to recall the images of the dream. Hold on to the feeling tones: these can sometimes conjure up the related dream visuals. When you have the first fragment, turn over in bed to another position–this may stimulate additional dream portions. Try still other positions until you have the fullest recall. Reexperience the dream several times, noting a key word from each segment to help reconstruct the whole dream.

8. Record Your Dream

Record all dreams as soon as possible upon waking. Include the feelings associated with the dream. Title and date the dream, and use the present tense. If, while recording, you have any immediate associations with waking life, note them. If you have no dream recall, simply record the feelings upon waking, or the first thoughts that pop into mind.

9. Reinforce Your Dream

Record each dream! The seemingly trivial can often contain a profound message. Treat all “failures” kindly; encourage yourself to try again. Sometimes the incubated dream will appear on a succeeding night. Share your dream with a partner or group. By yourself, you can try various methods of interpretation. But do something with the dream; actualize it!

First published as Magallón, Linda Lane. “Dream Trek: Incubation Techniques: How To Dream To The Target,” Dream Network Bulletin, 5/3 (1986), 15.