repeating it over and again to yourself as you fall asleep.
If distracting thoughts come to mind, simply return to
your incubation phrase, repeating it until it can repeat
itself as you fall asleep.
      8) In the morning record in detail all your dream
memories, and include any thoughts, songs, fantasies or
impressions that might be present. If you didn't recall a
dream, make one up. That's right, just begin writing
down a story as it comes to mind. You can decide later if
it has any possibilities for interpretation, and you just
might recall a dream as you allow yourself to make up
one.
      9) With your incubation phrase in mind, start to work
with your dream. Title your dream. Does your title
suggest any answers to your question? Continue with
whatever dream interpretation method you are familiar
with. Follow some of the suggestions for interpretation
given in Faraday's Dream Power or other dream
interpretation books you may know of. (Editor's note:
You may find helpful the use of the "Dream Realization"
meditation presented in this issue.)
      10) Beware of rejecting your dream as irrelevant.
Ideally, the relevance of your dream to your incubation
issue will be immediately obvious— that was the intent of
this procedure. But in many cases it takes some patient
contemplation of the dream before the answer emerges.
By too quickly dismissing your dream, you will plant the
suggestion in your mind that your dreams are not
responsive to your needs. Give them the benefit of the
doubt with your patient attention.
      If you would like to try this incubation method as part
of my research project, then please make one attempt at
incubation weekly for four weeks. You may either pose
more refined follow-up questions to your initial query, or
attempt incubations on four completely different topics.
Please record carefully any changes or variations you
employ in the incubation procedure outlined above. For
each attempt write in your journal your understanding
of the resulting dreams, and how they have or have not
helped you with your incubation questions. Please send

82