FREE ESSAY ON CREATIVITY IN DREAMS

CREATIVITY IN DREAMS

Creativity in Dreams
The mind at its Creative Peak
"That which the dream shows is the shadow of such
wisdom as exists in man, even if during his waking
state he may know nothing about it..... We do not 
know it because we are fooling away our time with
outward and perishing things, and are sleep in regard
to that which is real within ourselves."-Paracles
The quote on dreams, taken out of the novel by Ann Faraday entitled The Dream Game, sums
up the necessity for the dream and the importance of our creativity in the dream state.
Not only is it imperative to understand this importance of creativity, but to ask and
find out how this process we call dreaming takes place. One can accomplish this task by
using a step by step approach to dreams. First looking at the mind from a psychological
standpoint and then moving on to the creative process and how it is involved in dreaming.
Ultimately, one will move to see that in a dream, the mind is at its creative peak
because the mind is unconsciously opening doors to information processed during the day
that has been unknowingly passed over.
The mind is probably one of the most complex systems in the body and is constantly being
studied. Though much is still to be understood, scientists have been able to watch
carefully and see how the dream images are produced. Many experts say that more
information is processed in a dreaming brain that in the awake state (Faraday 17). The
brainstem generates signals (PGO Waves) with sensory information, the brainstem responds
to the signals, but is not activated. These images are the sources of dream images.
Although a brainstem is not activated, the signals do trigger a system called the Central
Motor Pattern Generator, during REM sleep, which causes the sensation of movement during
ones dreams (Hobson 162). REM sleep occurs every 90 minutes of the sleeping state,
beginning first, with short activity and increasing with each passing period. REM periods
are when the eyes move back and forth underneath the eyelids according to the brain
activity in dreaming (Faraday 20).
Not only is there a complicated process in the production of the dream image, but also as
the brainstem is producing signals it causes a reaction called A.S.H. which creates the
contents of ones dreams. A.S.H. or Activation-synthesis Hypothesis is the loss of a
neurotransmitter that chemically charges the mind to process information differently
(Hobson 164-5). These neurotransmitter's help creativity in dreams, but are not always
used to their full potential. 95%-99% of dreams are forgotten because the aminergic
neurotransmitters are blocked in REM sleep. However, when awaked in the REM state the
transmitters are opened and information is recorded and remembered; creativity during the
dream period is utilized (Hobson 166).
The creative process is looked at from two main views. The first is that the creative
process is not enhanced by dreaming, but when one is asleep, stress is not invading the
mind and therefore it is free to think; that is the illusion of the mind being more
creative. Stress is something that affects everyone almost every day. When applied to the
creative thought process, it is easy to see how it can become a wall that is difficult to
push through. The dream content can be traced to the current ongoing of the individuals
life, before sleep, and to the emotional level of the dreamer on the subsequent morning.
In a dream, events, thoughts and feelings are reflected, that are passed by because we
are not aware to catch them; we are to stressed (Faraday 4). Stress comes from many
sources in life such as home, work, and one of the most common among young adults and
kids is school. When in deeper, longer period of REM sleep, stress is less and less a
factor. This relief, during REM awakening dreams, leads to more bizarre dreams that
include more physical and emotional activity. Each sense, in a dream state, is enhanced
when awakened during REM cluster (Hobson 155-6). When this view of creativity in dreams
is opened, stress is simply shown to be the cause of suppressing the mind and blocking
the creative/problem solving ability in the awake state. The second approach to the
subject of creativity in dreams, is that the mind is unconsciously opening doors to the
information that we pass over each day, but unknowingly process. Brain-wave records show,
that the dreaming brain is more active than the one that is awake. Therefore, these
records prove that when dreaming, the brain has more capacity for greater work in a given
time. (Faraday 17-19). The records are recorded during the REM phase of sleep, when the
brain seems to be the most active (the creative peaks of sleep). These Rapid Eye
Movements, caused by the brain activity, occur three or four times a night (Faraday 19).
Many experts have studied the psychological activity that causes the brain to be more
creative in sleep. Another point that is used to support this view, is that in dreams,
the mind is not limited by physical laws and this allows impossible solutions and new
ideas to arise. Dreams are a private space that allows the mind to become creative and
not worry about the possibility of receiving criticism from others. The possibility of
the brain understanding knowledge the has been unknowingly processed during the day, in
sleep, is the most probable view for creativity in sleep. Creative dreaming is not just
the release of stress, but it is a way in which our body works to help us see things we
pass over freely explore all of the impossible possibilities.
Each person who has a major success in creative dreaming has devoted much of their time
to solve the issue, and by being prepared and working hard, they become emotionally
involved in the problem (Stone 150). Throughout history, there have been a number of
famous people, who have attributed some of their success to creativity in their dreams.
It was because of their dedication to their work that the dream process was so vivid.
Friedrich Kekule was an organic chemist who had been studying the atomic structure of the
benzene molecule. He had almost given up, but in a dream, one night, he saw two snakes
from a ring-like structure. Upon his awakening, he realized that the rings were the
structure of benzene molecule and he had solved the missing link. Elias Howe is another
example of dedication and emotional work to solve an impossible possibility. He was
looking for the final solution to his automated sewing machine and found it when he fell
asleep. His bizarre dream was of savages throwing spears at him and chasing him due to
his failure to finish this machine. He realized that the spearheads contained holes in
them and therefore the answer to his sewing machine, a hole in the sharp end of the
needle (Stone 149-150).
Sleep has specific functions and shows our perceptions and views, feelings and thoughts
that are stored and coded in the juices created by 100 billion nerve cells around the
clock (Hobson 1-2). The creative process is a difficult thing to work out but when
studied one can see that it is truly enhanced and brought out in the dream state. Not
only by looking at the Physiological records of brain study, but at the many examples of
those who allow their creativity to be expressed.
Creativity is enhanced whether one chooses to pay attention to it, or not. Each person
has the capacity to learn much from their creative dreaming, if they would only think
more creatively and openly when awake. The lesson to learn is, the most miniscule thing
you must pass by each day, can often be the key to solving the impossible possibilities.
Creatively dream, do not let them pass you twice.
I myself have never had a dream that solved a great problem but I have had dreams that
show me the way I feel towards others. I think it is true that the mind is most creative
and open when dreaming because in a dream it shows me my feelings in the most creative
ways. I also notice I dream about many things which I do not really take notice of
throughout the day.