Dream Advice: How to Get Guidance From Your Dreams in 4 Steps

Quick answer: The best dream advice is to ask before you sleep. Write one short question in a journal, keep it by your pillow and think about it as you drift off. When you wake, stay still with your eyes closed and replay your dream. Then write it down under your question and ask what each part of the dream means to you. With practice, your dreams start answering.

Can anyone get guidance from their dreams?

Yes. Scientists tell us that all of us dream every night, so receiving guidance is mostly a matter of connecting with your dreams through intention.

I used to be one of those people who said, “I don’t really dream. That happens to everybody else, but not me.” Then I began to engage with my dreams, and that changed.

What opened the door for me was a friend who often shared his dreams with me. I found it easy to analyze them. I simply knew that each part of the dream was a symbol that spoke about him and his personality. Because I knew him well, I could relate the elements of each dream to his life and give him its meaning. That experience made me curious about my own dreams, and I started the process below.

What can you ask your dreams?

Almost anything that’s on your mind. I have used my dreams to receive guidance on future work and which direction to take, simple choices such as whether to do one thing or another, decisions about relationships, and how situations will unfold. Dreams can bring assistance, confirmation and even glimpses of what’s ahead. It becomes a constant way of checking in.

Step 1: How do you write down your question?

When you’re ready to fall asleep, sit on your bed with your journal or a notebook and write your question.

Here’s what I do. I write the word “Question” followed by a colon, and then one or two very short, simple sentences about what I need guidance with.

Then I tuck the pen into the notebook and place it by my pillow, right with me in bed. Keeping it that close reinforces my commitment. On the floor or the nightstand, it feels too far away from my intention.

As I fall asleep, I review my question and think about it, and then I naturally drift off.

Step 2: What should you do the moment you wake up?

This is the critical step for becoming more aware of your dreams. Don’t open your eyes.

Don’t look at your partner. Don’t check the time. Don’t move, and don’t get up to go to the bathroom yet.

If you reach for your phone, start talking or begin your day, you disconnect from the dream. Even if your first thought is “I didn’t dream anything,” stay in bed and replay whatever you experienced. Fragments often lead back to the whole dream.

Step 3: Why does writing the dream down matter so much?

Write the dream directly underneath your question.

If you’re in a hurry, a few words are enough. They become anchors that bring the dream back later. If you have time, write the full dream and honor your intention.

In my experience, the act of writing is where analysis begins. As I write, I see the connections, and the meaning of each detail comes to life.

Step 4: How do you interpret what you dreamed?

With the question and the dream on the same page, break the dream into its elements and ask, “What does this mean?”

A dream dictionary or an online search can help when you’re truly out of clues. Still, the symbols in your dreams belong to you. The number 98 might mean one thing to one person and something entirely different to another. Ask yourself:

• What does this mean for me?
• How does it relate to my history?
• What is its significance for me?
• How do I use it?
• How does it make me feel?

Sometimes the meaning won’t be clear right away because the dream relates to the future. That’s fine. Make the effort to explore it, and keep the entry so you can revisit it.

What if you don’t remember your dreams yet?

Keep going with the four steps every night. Recall improves with consistency. For more support, watch my video on how to remember your dreams.

Where does dream guidance come from?

Many people wonder who is speaking to them in their dreams. I explore that question in who is the messenger in my dreams. Sometimes a dream is even shared, as in my family’s story of a vacation we took together in our dreams. Some dreams also carry memories from other lifetimes, which I write about in dreams connecting past and present lives, and one of mine even taught me to channel, as I share in I learn how to channel in a dream.

If you’d like to ask for an especially meaningful dream, read about the ancient image of the gates of horn and ivory and how to request a true dream.

Dream journal prompts for guidance

Try these alongside your nightly question:

1. Question: what is the one thing I most want clarity on tonight?
2. Which three images from this dream stand out the most?
3. Who appeared in my dream, and what part of me might they represent?
4. Where in the dream did I feel resistance, and where did I feel ease?
5. If this dream were a reply to my question, what would it be saying?
6. Which symbol here has a personal history for me?
7. What small step can I take today based on this dream?

Where should you keep your dream questions and answers?

One journal for questions and dreams lets you see patterns over weeks and months. My Dream Medicine Dream Journal is built around the practice on this page: a place to write your question at night, your dream in the morning and the feelings, symbols and images you want to come back to. If past lives show up in your dreams, my Past Life Regression Journal is a good companion for that work.

To settle your mind before you ask your question, listen to my Trust Meditation. For more on lifetimes beyond this one, visit my Past Lives page.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best dream advice for beginners?

Write a short question before bed, keep your journal by your pillow and write your dream down the moment you wake, before you move or check your phone.

How do I ask my dreams a question?

Write the word “Question” and one or two simple sentences in your journal, keep it in bed with you and think about the question as you fall asleep.

Why shouldn’t I open my eyes right away?

Moving, talking or checking the time pulls your attention away and the dream fades. Staying still lets you replay it first.

Should I use a dream dictionary?

It can help when you’re stuck, but your own associations matter most. Ask what each symbol means to you and how it relates to your life.

How long before my dreams start giving guidance?

It varies. Some people receive a clear answer the first night, while others need a few weeks of consistent practice.

Keep your questions and dreams together in my Dream Medicine Dream Journal.