We have invited Farrah Zaman from Somnium Cultura to tell us the importance of dreaming for our wellbeing. Farrah Zaman is a Dream Facilitator & Ambassador, having studied under the renowned Dream Teacher Robert Moss, founder of Active Dreaming. Farrah is dedicated to creating a lasting culture of dreamers in today's society and is currently channelling this mission into her dream project Somnium Cultura, which will be launching later this summer. 

Today we asked Farrah about dreams and the habit of sharing our dreams were part of our ancient society and culture.

Why is it important for us remember our dreams and share them with our loved ones?

Some of the earliest known recordings of dreams date as far back as the Bronze Age, coinciding with the invention of writing, indicating that dream sharing is likely to predate even this period, as many indigenous cultures today still exclusively share dreams orally. 

Recorded evidence of dream interpretation itself dates back to the Mesopotamian / Egyptian civilisations. Archaeological evidence shows these dreams were not simply limited to documenting them but that they were also shared with others within the community, whether with individuals (priests, who were considered dream interpreters) or wider groups of participants (family and friends). Dreams played an indispensable role in the wider social fabric of everyday life as is evidenced with archaeological findings, showing how dreams were being communicated in all aspects of these ancient societies.

What connects these cultures is they placed emphasis on dreams in a manner that reinforced the community spirit by facilitating guidance and understanding that could affect their individual as well as collective selves.

With this in mind, remembering our dreams in our age is an important opportunity for self-discovery as well as building a sense of community, which is especially important in today’s digital/technological culture. By talking about our dreams, both sharing and listening, we are opening up an aspect of ourselves that benefits from self-reflection. There are therapeutic benefits to this process too; dream sharing offers us a chance to share our vulnerability, to trust and be trusted, to take the time out to engage in the exercise of articulation and creativity, and to discover more about ourselves and each other. Every dream is also an opportunity for action in our waking lives; there is energy behind the dream that can offer us meaning and purpose, which we can carry into our everyday lives. By making a practice of this, we are also offering ourselves and those we choose to share with the experience for authentic mindfulness and compassion. This in turn can have an impactful and restorative response to our overall wellbeing whilst deepening our relationships with others.

Farrah Zaman, originally from London, currently resides in the Canary Islands with her partner, their cat and wolfdog. She is available for workshops and consultations. Find out more here: https://somniumcultura.com