DREAMS

Dreaming is defined as the subjective experience of imaginary images, sounds/voices, thoughts or sensations during sleep. Dreams represent a world of imagery in which our darkest fears, deepest secrets, and most passionate fantasies break out from the unconscious mind and only at this time become present to our own consciousness. There are several key questions that need to be addressed; for instance, "Why do we dream? What do dreams mean? And, where do dreams come from?" The answers to these questions are not that simple; however, recent studies and research has come a long way into divulging the human psyche and what dreams really are. Dreaming usually occurs in the R.E.M. stage (rapid-eye movement) of sleep, in which brain activity is high and signaled by rapid horizontal movements of the eyes. Sometimes dreams occur during the other stages of sleep; however, these are much less memorable and less clear. They can sometimes last for a few seconds, or as long as twenty minutes. Dreams are a symbol and link to the inner core of the human subconscious. They can vary from normal and mundane, to surreal and bizarre. Dreams can often times drive creative thought, or provoke a sense of inspiration. Scientists believe everybody dreams, but sometimes we forget. We tend to forget when we naturally pass out of sleep through the traditional cycle. If a person is awoken directly from REM sleep (i.e. by an alarm clock), they are much more likely remember the dream from that REM cycle. Although it's most likely that not all dreams will be remembered because they occur in REM cycles, which are interrupted by periods of “delta sleep” which in turn have a tendency to cause the memory of previous dreams to fade.

Dreams have always intrigued people from all over the world. Some people think that a good dream is something that should be looked upon as a message. Many people from around the world are intrigued by their dreams and they often will tell you that their dreams have to mean something. People are often compelled by the meaning behind dreams. Sigmund Freud even wrote a book about dreams and what they can possibly mean. Biblical characters such as Joseph (step-father of Jesus Christ) stated that an angel visited him in a dream and told him that his fiancée Mary was to bear a son and he shall be called the prince of peace and Lord of Lords. He believed that this dream had great significance to his life.A lot of people around the world want to see a dream as a warning sign or an eye opener. People have often followed their dreams and became something great because of it. William Shakespeare had a dream of becoming a writer. It is said that he used to dream about this and really believe that he was going to become a published author and it happened. People all over the world want to do something with their life and our dreams can often help to guide and to lead us on a proper path. Some people find their dreams to be to unrealistic. A common dream is a person falling off of a cliff. This dream has been shared by millions of people around the world. The dream does not mean that you will literally fall off of a hill. It simply means that there is great potential there for you to fall into a mess of some sort. Your dreams have great meaning; however it may have hidden meanings behind them.