DreamWork: Active Dreaming Practices, Goals, Insights, Healing, Empowerment
- Debbie Irvine
- Aug 10
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 9
Workshop Article by Debbie Irvine
with Reference to Teachings and books by Robert Moss
Dreams have fascinated humanity for thousands of years in all cultures around the world. In fact the first written dream was "The Dream of Demuzi" recorded 5,000 years ago in the epic Gilgamesh in Mesopotamia, and was a result from the practice of Dreaming with the Goddess, Inanna. It also included an interpretation of the dream, highlighting the significance of dreaming in the earliest piece of literature known.
Dream Temples were sacred places for healing, divination, magic, guidance, and preparations for death and travel to the Afterlife in many cultures, particularly the Egyptian, Mayan, Greek, Roman, Celtic, and all indigenous cultures.
Dreams are windows into our subconscious, revealing our deepest fears, desires, and emotions. Many people believe that dreams hold the key to understanding ourselves better. In this blog post, we will explore various dreamwork techniques that can help you embark on a journey of deep self-discovery.
Dreamwork is not just about interpreting dreams. It is about engaging with them, understanding their messages, and using them as tools for personal growth. Whether you are a seasoned dreamer or just starting to pay attention to your dreams, these techniques can help you unlock the wisdom hidden within your nighttime visions.
About Debbie Irvine
Debbie Irvine is a Master Teacher of Robert Moss’s Active Dreaming School.
Debbie trained with Robert Moss in the USA from 2017–2022 and online.
Debbie has also studied Jungian Dream approaches and learned from other leading dream teachers.
Debbie presented at the International Conference for the International Association for the Study of Dreams (2021), sharing how her different types of dreams guided her through all 12 Stages of The Hero’s Journey, leading to healing from serious illnesses and permanent disability, and transforming her life.
Debbie has had powerful dreams as long as she can remember. Starting in childhood, Debbie would dream exam marks that were accurate (and warnings often!) Debbie also dreamed other events in her life that were about to happen in the future that provided guidance. Debbie recorderd her dreams so that she had evidence to trust her dreams and visions.
Read Debbie's Presentation to the International Association for the Study of Dreams that cover her dreams, viisions, Out of Body Experiences (OBE's) thatguided her to healing over 20 years from 2005-2020 on this Website. It is called "The Healing Power of Dreams."
Debbie has given Dream Workshops in Brisbane, USA, Canada, Ireland, England, and wherever she travels to individuals and Groups, combining her multiple trainings, skills, and Gifts.
Debbie’s Approach
Debbie uses drumming and teaches Robert Moss’s easy 4-step process for relating to your dreams, synchronicities, and life challenges. This process is accessible to everyone—no extensive knowledge required!
Debbie has also trained in Jungian Dreamwork and other forms and styles of Dreamwork.
Debbie synthesises her Shamanic and Drumming, Energy Work, and Counselling skills into a unique approach.
What is Active Dreaming?
Active Dreaming is a dynamic approach that combines dreaming, daydreams, synchronicity, imagination, and intuition.
The name "Active Dreaming" was coined by Robert Moss who has developed specialised techniques that synthesise Shamanism and Dreaming into a fresh and successful approach to working with your dreams - ALL dreams, whether asleep, or awake as in daydreams, lucid dreams, out of body dreams, precognitive dreams etc. Everything is Dreaming as Robert tells us!
Dreaming helps people
Unlock untapped potentials
Connect deeply with themselves and Inner Guidance
Solve problems creatively
Connect with Guides – animal totems, or Higher Beings
Heal and brings information for healing
Find meaning and happiness
Deepen relationships with Ancestors, The Departed, Nature, and Expanded Consciousness
Deepen relationships with the Sacred and The Divine
Your Big Story is Hunting YOU!
Active Dreaming is Waking UP!
To all your senses in the world around you; to images, thoughts, feelings, sensations, smells, sounds all around you both in SLEEP and while AWAKE!
Multiple types of DREAM STATES: daydreams, lucid dreams, hypnogogic states, intuitions, synchronicities or coincidences, deja vu, signs, symbols, omens and oracles
Dreams are simply variations of images and imagination fed to us by our mind, consciousness, Higher Self, Soul or Oversoul and our Guides and Spirit Helpers.
The energy of these images creates magic, and WE create magic in our lives when we decide to choose the images that match our heart’s desires and then choose to give them our attention, energy and trust.
Dreaming offers 9 Potential Powers and Forms of Information to help us with Creativity, Guidance, Healing and Empowerment
Understanding the 9 key ingredients of Images and Symbols that create Magic
Learning the 7 Tools of Activation of the Magical Powers within dreams - both Asleep and Awake!
Areas of your Life where dreams may assist you
Different types and forms of DreamWork
Journalling / The Art of Honouring Your Dreams
The 4-Step Lightning DreamWork Process & Questions
Dream Re-Entry Questions you may want to ask of your dream
How to work with Dream Droughts
· Invocations to Open and Close your DreamWork and keep you protected and in connection with “Good Spirits”
Benefits of Active Dreaming
Guidance & Healing: Work with dreams, daydreams, and your Wise Self for insights and empowerment beyond everyday awareness. This can help solve problems, enhance your creativity, and bring information through from other states of consciousness for healing.
Creativity & Empowerment: Recover lost dream memories, connect with departed loved ones, totem animals, and guides from higher realms to reclaim lost power, soul loss, and heal trauma.
Understanding & Growth: Learn to interpret signs, symbols, synchronicities, and nightmares for insight and personal growth.
Exploration: Discover other worlds, dimensions, and elements of Soul for greater awareness and healing.
Become a Time Traveler: Discover Past Life memories, talents, and skills. Travel into the Future and bring back new information, skills, wisdom, and change or avert future crises. Learn how to change the Present through these journeys to the Past and Future.
Become a “Kairomancer”: Learn how to work time and connections into synchronicities that bring you what or who you need NOW! Kairomancy is the Magical Art of bringing into this world what you need from other worlds.
Communicate with the Departed: Learn how to get messages to or from the departed, and help others prepare for their transition by finding ancestors and Guides from other Spirit Worlds to guide them – Psychopomp Work.
Communicate with the Ancestors: Heal past family and ancestral afflictions, addictions, fears, illnesses and gain wisdom and guidance.
Give thanks to your Ancestors and Guides: This is very important and throughout all your Dream and Shamanic work.
Connection: Connect with yourself, others, nature, The Elements, Spirit, the World, and the Universe.
Other Forms of DreamWork
Explore the many ways to engage with your dreams for healing, creativity, and insight:
Dream Re-entry: Travel back through the gateway or portal of your dream image to gain deeper understanding.
Tracking: Enter another dreamer’s dream to gather information or support healing and resolution.
Dream Transfers: Dream up powerful images, healing, or information for others.
Psychopomp & Mediumship Dreams: Assist the dying in their transition, connect with the departed, and gather guidance from ancestors and spirit helpers.
Lucid Dreaming: Practice hypnagogic (falling asleep) and hypnopompic (awakening) dream states, and become aware within your dreams for conscious exploration.
Conscious Dream Travel & OBEs: Journey into multidimensional realities and experience out-of-body states.
Timefolding: Explore possible future or past life experiences through your dreams.
Dream Healing: Use dreams for diagnosis, healing imagery, and shifting your energy system toward health.
Soul Recovery: Identify and reclaim parts of your energy or identity lost through trauma or injury.
Guide-work & Power Animals: Access information from spirit helpers, guides, and animal totems.
Creative Dreamplay: Tap into creative dream sources to release your inner artist, writer, inventor, or creator.
Active Dream Theatre: Act out your dreams to release joy, energy, and gain visionary objectivity.
Group Dreaming: Share dreams of places, events, or information with others—spontaneously or through planned activities.
DreamWork Activities
The most important thing you can do to learn from your dreams is to record them!
Honor your dreams and their source—yourself, guides, spiritual helpers, and power animals.
Journal, Journal, Journal!
· Practice writing even a title, fragment, feeling, theme, key person, or event immediately upon waking.
· Catch yourself before you look at your phone, watch, or speak to someone—this helps you recall more details and re-enter the dream later.
Why Keep a Dream Journal?
Enhances Recall: Writing down your dreams helps you remember them better. The more you practice, the more vivid your dreams may become.
Identifies Patterns: Over time, you may notice recurring themes or symbols in your dreams. This can provide insight into your subconscious mind.
Facilitates Reflection: A dream journal allows you to reflect on your dreams and their meanings. This reflection can lead to deeper self-awareness.
How to Start a Dream Journal
Choose a Notebook: Select a notebook that feels special to you. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you like.
Write Immediately: As soon as you wake up, jot down everything you remember about your dream. Include details like colours, emotions, and any significant symbols.
Date Your Entries: Always date your entries. This will help you track your dreams over time.
Review Regularly: Set aside time each week to review your dreams. Look for patterns or insights that may emerge.
Creative Ways to Work with Your Dreams
Re-enter and co-create: Daydream about where the story could go, who you might meet, and what adventures await.
Draw, paint, or turn dreams into art: Even simple sketches can reveal deeper meanings.
Write a poem, haiku, or slogan inspired by your dream.
Compose a song: Lyrics or music—even if you just sing it to yourself.
Act out your dream: Alone or with friends and family, bring your dream to life!
Engaging with Dream Symbols
Dreams often communicate through symbols. Understanding these symbols can unlock deeper meanings in your dreams.
Common Dream Symbols and Their Meanings
Water: Often represents emotions. Calm water may indicate peace, while turbulent water may signify emotional turmoil.
Flying: This can symbolize freedom or a desire to escape from something in your waking life.
Falling: Falling dreams may reflect feelings of insecurity or loss of control.
How to Interpret Your Dream Symbols
Reflect on Personal Associations: Consider what each symbol means to you personally. For example, a snake may evoke fear for one person but represent transformation for another.
Use a Dream Dictionary: While personal associations are crucial, a dream dictionary can provide additional insights into common symbols.
Auntie Google: She is very helpful! You will feel what resonates with you and is a great source of cross-cultural symbols too.
Create a Symbol List: Keep a list of symbols that frequently appear in your dreams. This can help you recognize their significance over time.
Lucid Dreaming: Taking Control of Your Dreams
Lucid dreaming is the practice of becoming aware that you are dreaming while still in the dream. This awareness allows you to take control of the dream narrative.
Benefits of Lucid Dreaming
Empowerment: You can confront fears or explore desires in a safe environment.
Creativity: Many artists and writers use lucid dreaming to inspire their work.
Problem-Solving: Lucid dreaming can help you work through challenges or dilemmas in your waking life.
How to Achieve Lucid Dreams
Reality Checks: Throughout the day, ask yourself if you are dreaming. This habit can carry over into your dreams.
Keep a Dream Journal: As mentioned earlier, this practice enhances dream recall, making it easier to recognize when you are dreaming.
Set Intentions: Before going to sleep, tell yourself that you will realize you are dreaming. This intention can help trigger lucidity.
Active Imagination: Dialoguing with Dream Characters
Active imagination is a technique developed by Carl Jung. It involves engaging with the characters or symbols in your dreams as if they were real.
How to Practice Active Imagination
Choose a Dream Character: Select a character from a recent dream that stands out to you.
Create a Dialogue: Imagine a conversation with this character. Ask them questions and listen to their responses.
Record the Interaction: Write down the dialogue in your dream journal. This can reveal insights about your inner self.
Act out the Characters and if in a Group, create a Dream Theatre. The Dreamer is the Director!
Dream Incubation: Planting Seeds for Future Dreams
Dream incubation is the practice of focusing on a specific question or issue before sleep. This technique can help you receive guidance through your dreams.
How to Practice Dream Incubation
Identify Your Question: Choose a specific question or issue you want to explore in your dreams.
Visualize Before Sleep: As you fall asleep, visualize your question. Imagine it clearly in your mind.
Record Any Insights: Upon waking, write down any dreams or insights related to your question.
The Role of Meditation in Dreamwork
Meditation can enhance your dreamwork practice by promoting relaxation and mindfulness.
Benefits of Meditation for Dreamwork
Increased Awareness: Meditation helps you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, which can translate into your dreams.
Stress Reduction: Reducing stress through meditation can lead to more peaceful and meaningful dreams.
How to Incorporate Meditation into Your Dreamwork
Meditate Before Sleep: Spend a few minutes meditating before bed. Focus on your breath and let go of any tension.
Use Guided Meditations: There are many guided meditations available that focus on dreamwork and self-discovery.
Reflect After Meditation: After meditating, take a moment to reflect on any insights that may arise.
Who is Active Dreaming For?
Active Dreaming is for everyone—from beginners to experienced dreamers. You can work at your own pace, enjoy a variety of activities, and gain new insights and practices for increasing guidance, healing, and creativity in your life.
Interested in learning more or joining a workshop? Contact Debbie Irvine or explore upcoming events!
Conclusion: Embracing Your Dream Journey
Dreamwork is a powerful tool for self-discovery. By engaging with your dreams through techniques like journaling, active imagination, and lucid dreaming, you can unlock the wisdom of your subconscious.
As you explore your dreams, remember that this journey is unique to you. Embrace the insights and revelations that come your way. Your dreams are not just stories; they are pathways to understanding your soul.
Please readthe next Article on Extra DreamWork Information including The Lightning Dream Process by Robert Moss, Opening and Closing Invocations, Books and Resources.
By incorporating these techniques into your life, you can deepen your
self-awareness and foster personal growth. So, take a moment tonight to reflect on your dreams. Who knows what treasures await you in the realm of sleep?
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