Category: Dream Weavers

It’s always interesting what I run across when I’m doing research for a story.  For my Dream Weaver series, which kicks off with Dream Man, I did a lot of research on the subject of dreaming.  It was fascinating to learn about the sleep stages, what happens during REM, and what dreams might mean.  Yet one article I kept regarded daydreams or mind wandering.[1]

According to research results, on average people aren’t thinking about what they’re doing thirty to forty percent of the time.  That’s a lot!  The human brain just seems hard-wired to wander.  Most often, the mind slips to everyday things such as “to do” lists.  Fantasies are the next most common, with worries coming in third.  In this way, the human mind seems to devote time to problem solving or planning for the future.

My wandering thoughts are like everyone else’s…  I go to my “to do” list.  Yet my “to do” list includes my writing.  If I’m stuck on something, the answer often comes to me in these little flashes of random thought.  If I think too hard, though, the answers just won’t come.

So how do your daydreams work?  Do you get more than grocery lists and carpooling schedules?  Do you think the list is in the right order?  I’m curious about what’s more interesting – your daydreams or the ones you have at night?

[1] Science Paying Attention to Not Paying Attention by Malcom Ritter, Associated Press, http://www.msnby.msn.com/id/17690541/

Another fascinating thing about dreaming is not only what we dream, but how our bodies function while dreaming.  You probably know that during REM sleep, a dreamer’s eyes twitch back and forth, but did you know the following happens?

• Heart rate increases
• Breathing becomes more rapid
• Body temperature increases
• Brain wave pattern changes
• Large muscles are paralyzed (so we can’t act out our dreams)
• Small muscles around the mouth and fingers twitch
• Sexual arousal

Yes!  I knew there was a reason I wrote a paranormal erotic romance series about dreaming.  🙂

Dream Man (Dream Weavers, Book 1) – Kindle U.S.│Kindle U.K.│Nook │iBook │Kobo │All Romance Ebooks

My new release, Dream Man, is about an unknowing witch who casts a love spell and meets her Dream Weaver. As I was writing the story, I did a lot of research into sleep and dreams. Everyone dreams over the course of a night, but researchers still argue about why. Some believe it’s just random firing of nerves. Others believe it’s the brain’s way of trying to sort through problems. There are dream themes that are common, but dream analysts debate over their meanings, too.

• Falling – Red flag for major problems at work or relationships
• Showing up to school/work naked – Vulnerability, anxiety, fear of being exposed
• Death – A wish to terminate a job or a relationship, a wish to start something new
• Cheating – Lack of trust in romantic relationship, compromised beliefs or integrity
• Test-taking – Work stress, being scrutinized, anxiety
• Being chased – Avoidance, need to face a problem, drive or ambition (for chaser)
• Showing up late – Being overwhelmed, doing too much
• Flying – Out of control situation, sign to let go, new perspective, freedom
• Snake – Fear of the unknown, hidden threats, sexual temptation, transformation
•  Teeth – Vanity, powerlessness, deception

I don’t remember ever dreaming about teeth, but I’ve had most of the others. My most common dream would be the one where I’m taking a test. I hate that dream, because I always wake up feeling stressed. What dreams do you have most often? What do you think they mean?