Dream Incubation: Can we ask our dreams a question?

This topic features in Answers In The Dark : Grief, Sleep and How Dreams Can Help You Heal (intention setting, p.198) and I’ve offered additional context of this below. Please note this article is not intended to be prescriptive. Please read these policies for terms and conditions.

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We’ve been exploring the importance of dreams for centuries. But can we really receive wisdom while we sleep?

The short answer is yes! Dreams can offer insights that may provide food for thought on our current challenges, reflect on past events and may even predict the future. 

We also know that some people become lucid in their dreams, which means they are aware of the fact they’re dreaming in the dream. They are then able to use and adapt the content in ways that work for them, like preparing for an important meeting or presentation the next day. (Some people even become lucid during flying dreams!)

There have also been famous people throughout history who reportedly used their dreams as a way to solve problems while they slept. Albert Einstein was said to have dreamt his theory of relativity and Elias Howe apparently invented the key component of the sewing machine on the back of a dream he had.

So what might help?

Dream Questioning

One way to seek wisdom from our dreams (which can also help us remember them) is to try asking a question before bed and see if the wisdom you need reaches you while you sleep. This is sometimes known as Dream Incubation.

Here’s some tips:

1. Be clear about the question you want answering before you go to sleep, that ideally could offer up a yes/no (or a relatively straightforward) answer. It could be something like: “Should I look for a new job?” or “Is it time to move house?”

2. You could then write the question in your dream diary before you go to sleep. I explain in Answers In The Dark that keeping a dream diary is a great way of spotting patterns in your dreaming (see also video below), but you can also use it to set the intention to both remember your dreams and potentially incubate a dream this way. 

Some people then place the piece of paper or dream diary under their pillow to show they mean business, but it’s up to you. 

3. You might then decide to meditate on the question before you go to sleep. If nothing else this could also help you relax.

You might find, when you wake up in the morning, a dream provides some insight into the problem you’re facing. It could take a few nights for the intention to sink in, so you could try playing around with the question if what the dream is offering isn’t clear straight away.

Keep in mind that dreams are inherently cryptic and so how you interpret their meaning is ultimately up to you. If you’re asking a question about a potential date, for example, make sure that your dreams aren’t reflecting your fears and keep an open mind about the answers they provide. 

Dream Incubation is thought to be an ancient practice and in some traditions, people may have used ingredients like valerian to increase their chances of achieving it; however, this is an extremely potent plant, and should be used with caution. Your dreams can be useful without trying to force their content.

Over time, your dreams may well provide the answers you’ve been looking for. Only do this practice if it feels right for you. 

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Delphi is a qualified counsellor, educator and author of the #1 best seller, Answers In The Dark: Grief, Sleep and How Dreams Can Help You Heal, available to purchase from Amazon, Hive and all good bookstores. (#1 Best Seller on Amazon for its category.) For more services to help you find your mojo and get your sparkle back, visit HelpingYouSparkle.com. Content on this website may appear elsewhere to promote Answers In The Dark.

Please note this article is not intended to be prescriptive. Please read these policies for terms and conditions.

© Delphi Ellis 2023, updated 2024