image by NickFitz: Summer Solstice at Stonehenge

In honor of solstice, either the first day of summer or the first day of winter, depending on where you live, we’re inviting you to join us for a week of cyber-group dream incubation.

Here’s the back story:

When the DreamTeam started reflecting on the global appearance of whales – in waking life and in dreams – we pondered the possibility that whales are trying to communicate a message us (not us personally, but the world in general). If they are, we wondered, how might we discern what they are trying to say?

In order to find out, we decided to invite you and the greater DreamTribe community to join us for whale related dream incubation. Our goal: to try and hear the whales’ message, if there is indeed one.

With this in mind, I went to bed Saturday night wondering whether or not we should all try to incubate the same question and if so, what might it be.

The idea of asking “What message do the whales have for us?” came to mind and as soon as I thought it I fell asleep. I woke the next morning from this dream:

My black cat Angus is sitting on a bed with his jaw wide open. I see an odd white, bone structure inside his mouth and I realize it’s a whale rib cage. It’s tiny compared to an actual whale’s rib structure, but it’s slightly bigger than my cat’s mouth and he can’t close his jaw. I feel distress and anxiety because I don’t know how to help him.

That’s only one part of the dream; the rest was equally bizarre!

Anyway, I realized later in the day that I’d unintentionally incubated a dream. Might this imagery have something to do with the whales’ message? Possibly. But how will we know for sure? Group exploration may be the key to finding out.

So, if you’re interested in joining us, here’s what we’re doing:

For the next week we’ll try to incubate whale message dreams.

Why a week? It can take that long for dreams to reflect the questions asked during dream incubation.

But as you may have noticed, I had an immediate response when I asked my question so it doesn’t always take that long.

Regardless, you can do the incubation for one night or every night for a week.

However you do it, though, be sure to record all of your dreams because even those that lack literal whale imagery can be part of the message.

Then over the next week I’ll add an area on the DreamTribe blog where we can post our dreams. You can post one or all, or give a summary. Then we can do some group dream reflection and look for common themes and messages.

How to Incubate a Dream

• Long before going to bed, develop a clear question you want to ask your dreams. For instance, “What is the whales’ message?” or “Why are whales appearing more frequently?” You can ask anything that feels right.

• Make a talisman or object to represent the question. As you make it, keep the incubation question in mind. You can make an art collage or use a stone from the ocean. Make it detailed, make it simple. Have fun and be creative.  (And post a picture of it below if you’d like to show us what you did.) Hint: if you make a charm for a necklace or something small it will be easier to wear or carry with you.

• Keep the talisman or object with you all day and when you go to bed hold it while stating your question. You may want to add the affirmation, “I will remember my dreams and record them in the morning.”

• Keep a journal next to your bed in case you wake in the middle of the night.

• Upon waking, record whatever dreams or fragments or feelings you have. If they seem unrelated to your intention, don’t worry. Your dream imagery may simply hold symbolism you are not seeing (that’s why group dreaming is so useful!)

• Stay tuned for instructions on where to post your incubated dreams.

If you have any dream incubation questions feel free to post them below. Also feel free to post photos of your talisman/objects.

Are you as curious as I am to discover what message(s) awaits us? Can we indeed be the voice of the whales?