How did we measure the quality of a dream? After
pondering this question we developed a relatively simple
method of evaluating two basic dimensions of the dream:
1) the dream's objective content or symbols; and 2) the
dreamer's subjective response to (or feelings about) the
dream experience. We realized that we had to go beyond
a strict content-analysis approach; for even though some
dreams reveal profound or "high" symbols, the dreamer
may nevertheless respond to them negatively. We
wanted to be sure that meditation was not simply
"improving" the content of the dreams and, as a result,
leaving the dreamer stranded with a sense of alienation
from them. Therefore we developed a method of scoring
the dream which took into account both the content and
the dreamer's feelings toward the content. (Scoring
method will be sent upon request.)
      We found that the dreams which occurred following
these brief early morning meditations demonstrated a
significantly greater number of religious, integrative and
holistic symbols than dreams following the nonmedita-
tive waking periods. We also reported feeling sig-
nificantly more positive, on the average, toward
these dreams.
      Statistics aside, what really convinced us of the effect
of meditation was the impact of the dreams themselves.
Since then we have continued to practice early morning
meditation for attunement and creative dreaming. In
addition, we have discovered that certain "paranormal"
dream experiences, such as lucid dreaming and
out-of-body experiences, are a natural outcome of this
practice of early morning attunement.

MEDITATION AND DREAM RECALL
Henry Reed

  A preliminary analysis of the dream recall tally sheets
submitted by people who participated in the A.R.E.
Dream Research Project (see page 27) yielded evidence
that there was more dream recall on mornings following

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