How to Connect with and Remember Your Dreams
Dreams are not random outbursts of a resting mind—they are sacred messages from the subconscious, the soul, and even the spirit realms. Dreams speak in a language of symbols, emotions, and visions, carrying messages that guide, heal, and reveal the deepest parts of who we are.
In our overstimulated lives, many of us have lost the connection to this inner world. We wake and let these sacred insights slip away from memory. But what if we could learn to hold them, to listen, to weave their wisdom into our waking lives?
As someone who’s walked with plant medicines for over two decades—beginning with the profound shake-up of mushrooms and deepening with Ayahuasca’s call in 2013—I’ve learned that dreams are not just personal musings. They’re a bridge to the divine, much like the plants we hold dear. Just as plant teachers speak in layered, personalized stories, dreams craft narratives that are uniquely ours, pulling from our experiences, our shadows, and the collective wisdom that connects us all.
Inspired by Carl Jung, who saw dreams as the primary gateway to the subconscious, I invite you to see dreamwork as a path to wholeness—a way to integrate the veiled and unveiled parts of yourself, to uncover hidden gifts, and to step closer to your truest, most authentic self.
Why Dreams Matter on the Spiritual Path
Dreams are a sacred dialogue, a conversation between your conscious mind and the vast depths of your psyche. For those of us drawn to spiritual growth—whether through plant medicines, meditation, or inner work—dreams are a compass, guiding us toward integration and wholeness. They are the soul’s mirror, reflecting emotions or memories we are ignoring or forgetting in waking life.
A dream of a tsunami might reveal overwhelming emotions; a vision of a childhood home could point to unresolved wounds and the need to go inside and explore them. They are never random, but deliberate and urging you to notice, feel, and heal. As Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Dreams invite us to listen and bring these hidden truths into awareness.
A Bridge Between Worlds
Across cultures, dreams have been revered as portals to the divine. Indigenous traditions, like those of the Iroquois, see dreams as the soul’s language, carrying messages for both the individual and the community. In the jungle, dreams reveal medicinal plants or guide ceremony. Australian Aboriginal “Dreaming” connects us to the time of creation, where ancestors shaped the world. In my own journey, plants like Ayahuasca and Bobinsana have entered my dreams during dietas, offering guidance and insight. Dreams lift the veil, allowing us to commune with guides, ancestors, and the collective unconscious.
Healing Through Symbolism
Recurring symbols or archetypes in dreams often hold the key to transformation. A snake might represent shadow or renewal, depending on your personal lens; a house could symbolize your heart or psyche. By engaging with these symbols, we process trauma, release grief, and embrace change. Jung’s concept of the “Golden Shadow” reminds us that within our shadow lies not just pain but hidden gifts—like a forgotten love for music buried beneath old wounds. Working with dreams helps us integrate these light and shadow elements, moving us toward what Jung called individuation: becoming our unique, whole selves.
Common Reasons We Forget Our Dreams
The dream world is always speaking, but many of us struggle to hear it. Forgetting dreams isn’t about luck or propensity; it’s about practice and intention. Here’s why we often lose the thread and how to begin reclaiming it.
Disconnection from Stillness
Our modern world is a storm of stimulation—endless notifications, packed schedules, and restless minds. This noise drowns out the subtle language of dreams, which thrives in quiet and presence. When we’re disconnected from stillness, our subconscious struggles to reach us, and dream memories will fade quickly. Creating a practice of stillness and meditation daily will allow our minds to recalibrate towards the subtle beats and rhythms of our soul and nature.
Poor Sleep Habits
Inconsistent sleep, late-night screen time, caffeine, or stress can disrupt the depth of our dreaming. Blue light from devices keeps our brains wired, pulling us away from the restful states where dreams flourish. I’ve noticed that when I’m in unfamiliar places, like a hotel, my dreams often feel faint or fragmented. Good sleep hygiene is essential for clear dream recall.
Lack of Intentional Space
When we leap out of bed and dive into the day’s demands, we send a message to our subconscious: dreams don’t matter. Without a moment to pause, reflect, or record, the delicate threads of dream memory unravel. In my early days of dreamwork, I’d wake with vivid images but lose them because I didn’t create space to hold them. Intentional rituals signal to our inner storyteller that we’re ready to listen.
By understanding these barriers, we can begin to dissolve them, creating space for the dream world to speak clearly.
Rituals and Practices to Remember Your Dreams
Reconnecting with your dreams is a practice, not a gift reserved for a few. With intention and simple rituals, you can invite your subconscious to share its stories. Here are some grounded ways to enhance dream recall, inspired by my own journey and the wisdom of plant medicines.
Set a Clear Intention Before Sleep
Before bed, whisper to your subconscious: “I am open to receiving and remembering my dreams.” This act, much like preparing for a plant medicine ceremony, signals readiness. I often pair this with a cup of blue lotus tea, which feels like an offering to my inner storyteller, inviting vivid dreams to surface.
Keep a Dream Journal by the Bed
Keep a notebook and pen by your bed, dedicated to your dreams. Upon waking, write down anything—fragments, emotions, colors, or single words. Don’t judge or analyze; just let the impressions flow. When I started journaling at 15, I relied on dream dictionaries and felt lost. Now, I know that capturing the raw essence of a dream, even a fleeting feeling, builds a bridge to the subconscious over time.
Wake Up Slowly and Gently
Resist the urge to jump out of bed or check your phone. Linger in the liminal space between sleep and waking, letting images drift back. I’ve found that waking 90 minutes before my usual time, during the tail end of REM sleep, helps me catch dreams in their full vividness. Stay still, breathe deeply, and let the story unfold before it fades.
Work with Herbs or Crystals
Plants and stones can be gentle allies in dreamwork. Mugwort, a favorite among us plant medicine folks, enhances dream vividness and connects us to spirit realms. Blue lotus, my personal go-to, brings high-definition clarity and calm to the dreamspace. Place a sachet of lavender or a moonstone under your pillow to create a soothing, sacred container for dreaming.
How to Deepen Your Relationship with Dreams Over Time
Dreamwork is a lifelong dialogue, a journey of learning the language of your soul. Like working with plant teachers, it deepens with time and intention. Here’s how to cultivate an ongoing relationship with your dreams.
Create a Sacred Space for Dream Reflection
Set up a dream altar—a small corner with a journal, a candle, or symbols from your dreams. This space honors the messages of the night. I have a little table with a blue lotus flower and an amethyst, where I sit to journal or meditate on my dreams. It’s a reminder that this work is sacred, like sitting in ceremony with Ayahuasca.
Notice Patterns and Symbols
Track recurring themes, archetypes, or emotions in your journal. A house might represent your heart, as it does for me; water might reflect your emotional state. When I worked with recurring tsunami dreams, I realized they weren’t just about overwhelm but an invitation to tend to my feelings daily. Over time, these patterns reveal your personal dream dictionary, unique to your experiences and cultural lens.
Share Dreams in Community
In indigenous traditions, like the Iroquois, dream-sharing was a communal ritual, weaving individual and collective wisdom. Find a trusted friend or dream circle to share your dreams aloud. Speaking them breathes life into their meaning, and others’ reflections can spark new insights. I’ve found that sharing dreams with my plant medicine community deepens my integration work, as the plants often speak through the dreamspace.
Work with a Guide or Therapist
A spiritual guide or therapist trained in dreamwork, like Jung’s approach, can help you unpack complex symbols or navigate intense dreams. My own work with plant medicine coaches and past-life regression has shown me how dreams can unlock layers of the psyche, revealing gifts hidden in the shadow. This support transforms dreamwork into a powerful tool for growth.
By weaving these practices into your life, you create a living conversation with your dreams, one that evolves with every night.
Dreams as Portals of Transformation
Dreams are not just stories—they’re portals to profound change, much like the visions gifted by plant medicines. They illuminate our inner world, spark creativity, and connect us to the divine.
Dreams surface what’s hidden—fears, longings, or truths we’ve buried. A dream of being chased by a shadowy figure, like the Devil in my childhood dreams, might reveal unintegrated fears. Over years of inner work, I learned to speak to that figure, transforming terror into dialogue. Dreams offer a safe space to feel and release, catalyzing emotional healing.
They are also a deep space for creative inspiration. Did you know that Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein came in dream form to start? Dreams are a wellspring of creativity. They bypass the logical mind, offering images and stories that inspire art, music, or new perspectives. In my flying dreams, I feel a deep urge to express myself boldly, a reminder of the creative fire within.
Connection to Spirit
Dreams are a meeting place with the divine. During plant medicine dietas, I’ve met Bobinsana or Ayahuasca in my dreams, offering guidance or prophecies. Indigenous traditions see dreams as a space for communing with ancestors or spirit guides, reminding us we’re part of a larger web of consciousness. These encounters can shift our entire perspective on life.
Dreamwork, like plant medicine, is a path to transformation—unlocking clarity, creativity, and spiritual connection.
The Dream World Is Always Speaking
The dream world is a constant, patient storyteller, weaving messages through symbols, emotions, and archetypes. It’s not separate from us—it is us, speaking in a language as ancient as the plants and as personal as our own hearts. As Jung taught, dreams are the doorway to the subconscious, where our shadows and gifts await integration. By slowing down, setting intentions, and listening with reverence, we can rebuild this sacred dialogue, just as we honor our plant teachers in ceremony.
Are you ready to listen? Tonight, set an intention, sip some blue lotus tea, and place a journal by your bed. Let your dreams guide you toward wholeness. The storyteller within is waiting.
Connect with Plant Medicine People to learn how to walk this path with reverence, safety, and support. This is a safe space to explore the subconscious, receive inspiration, and express your truth!
About the Author
Marwa Mitchell has been working with Plant Medicines for many years, and is well versed in helping people set clear intentions and feel safe and excited about the journey into altered spaces. Her degree in psychology with an emphasis in neuroscience gives her both clinical and spiritual expertise. Marwa is also a certified past life regressionist (PLR) in both Dolores Cannon’s QHHT methodology and the Beyond Quantum Healing (BQH) modality, as well as a Reiki practitioner. A lifelong student of consciousness exploration, Marwa is particularly adept at understanding how the subconscious mind operates in connection with the universal consciousness to reflect our traumas and illuminate our paths to growth.
