Daydreams. Journey to yourself

Editor Елизавета Швецова

© Elena Tiranova, 2023

ISBN 978-5-0062-0651-9

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

«Daydreams»
From the author

My dear reader, I welcome you to the new fascinating world of the book! The author, a certified psychologist-psychotherapist, appeals to you. My passion is helping people, and that’s what led me to write this book.

In this work I would like to share my knowledge and experience in the field of fairy-tale therapy and symbol-drama. I firmly believe that each of us has a huge inner potential and value, but sometimes we need support and understanding to realize this.

Immerse yourself in an exciting journey through your own inner world with the help of fairy-tales and symbolic theater. I want to show you that all the answers and resources are already inside us, you just need to give yourself the opportunity to experience your fears and insecurities.

Through stories, exercises and practical tips, I will help you gain self-confidence, increase self-worth and self-esteem. You will learn how to use fairy-tales and symbols for self-exploration, development and for overcoming difficulties.

My main goal is to inspire you on your own inner journey so that you can unlock your potential and gain self-confidence. I believe that every reader will find in this book not only valuable knowledge, but also a source of inspiration and support.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge with you. Let this book become your reliable companion on the journey to the best version of yourself.

With love and hope, Elena Taranova.

Introduction

«Daydreams» is a fascinating story about a girl named Alice and her cousin Ella. Through their dreams, they find the strength to overcome fears, complexes and internal conflicts. In this story, Alice and Ella enter the world of their deepest thoughts and emotions, during dreams.

Each dream becomes an opportunity for Alice and Ella to explore their inner barriers. Young girls meet symbolic characters and go through various trials that reflect their own fears and conflicts. Through these dreams, girls become aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and also find ways to overcome their conscious and unconscious attitudes.

During the journey, new insights come to Alice and Ella, the girls discover hidden potentials in themselves and overcome fears and complexes. Dreams become a real source of strength and insight in real life.

«Daydreams» is a story about self—discovery, the story of both growth and overcoming. Through dreams Alice and Ella overcome internal barriers and find harmony in the soul and heart.

Chapter 1

Dream in the Garden of Eden

Once upon a time there was a girl named Alice. She was a beautiful and dreamy girl with golden curly hair. Alice lived in a cozy city with the letter «N», where every day was filled with new adventures.

However, the most special event for Alice was the arrival of her beloved cousin Ella.

Ella was a little younger than Alice, with thick dark hair, big blue eyes and a wide smile. It seemed that this smile never left her face. The girls were inseparable friends and always looked forward to meeting each other. Each visit of Ella brought Alice real happiness…

One cozy autumn evening, when the leaves on the trees were taking on bright colors, Alice’s doorbell rang. The girl immediately realized that it was Ella, and happily ran to open it. Her heart beat faster, and a sincere smile graced her face.

When the door opened, Alice couldn’t contain her joy and started jumping and screaming with happiness. She threw herself into her cousin’s arms, filled with warmth and love.

The evening flowed smoothly into the night, and the girls decided that it was time to go to bed. They drank a cup of hot cocoa, creating an atmosphere of coziness and comfort. Lying in their beds, Alice and Ella began to chat and share different stories from their lives.

And so Alice remembered one amazing dream that had visited her earlier. Her story was filled with excitement and admiration at the same time. In the dream, Alice found herself in the Garden of Eden, where the trees were singing and there was a magic mirror talking to her in a special language. She began her story like this…

«In a dream I got into the Garden of Eden. Everything in it was a soft pink color. Beautiful flowers bloomed around me, the fragrance of which filled the air. Trees with golden fruits twinkled in the sun, which gave the garden a magical look.

I felt like the whole garden was filled with bright colors and joy. Moving freely and easily, I admired its beauty and grace, inhaled wonderful flavors. In this dream world, one felt the serenity and fullness of every moment.

On the way I met a mirror. I looked into it and saw my reflection. The mirror spoke to me in a soft voice:

«Dear Alice, look inside yourself and explore your true strength. You have beauty, wisdom and incredible potential. Believe in yourself and your abilities, and you will be able to achieve everything you want».

I was standing in front of the mirror and staring intently at my reflection. All parts of my body were accessible to my gaze, including even the one that caused dissatisfaction. I felt a strong desire to change this part of myself, imagining how differently I would look.

The mirror, being a wise and attentive listener, reflected my inner struggle and discontent. It reminded me that the more I reject this part of myself, the more it will demand attention. The mirror pointed out that rejection and discontent only increase the negative perception and feeling of ugliness.

I decided to change my perception and started telling myself positive statements. The method of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones was used:

«I am beautiful and unique the way I am».

«My appearance reflects my personality».

«I appreciate and love my body with all its unique features and peculiarities».

«My virtues and personal qualities make me attractive and confident».

«I accept and value myself in all aspects of my personality».

It came to me that positive statements will help to change thinking and strengthen a positive attitude towards myself. I confidently repeat these attitudes in order to increase self-esteem.

I realize that I am beautiful and deserve unconditional love and acceptance. Inner strength and beauty contribute to absolute acceptance in all aspects of the personality.

What do I see when I look in the mirror? I see my sweet face, unique in its kind. There are a lot of interesting things in this face – every feature, crease and dimple tells its own story about me.

What do I see when I look closely into the eyes? I see eyes full of kindness, tenderness and love. They are incredibly beautiful and reflect the inner essence of my soul.

My sincere desire is to let love out and admit love to myself. This task can be difficult, because I have rarely been told about the importance of giving love without expecting to receive something in return. However, I clearly understand that I deserve unconditional love and care.

Now, finally, I want to say to myself — «I love you». And I say this because I deserve care, attention and support.

Looking in the mirror, I say, «I love you, Alice. You deserve love, care and attention. Alice, you are beautiful and deserve only the best. Don’t forget about it and I always keep love for myself in my heart».

Thanking the mirror for such a wonderful experience, I went on to walk through this wonderful Garden of Eden with a smile. It seemed that the garden became even more beautiful, bright and welcoming, I even dared to approach one of the trees, choose and pluck the fruit of paradise.

It seems that when I chose the fruit, a real magic happened. All the feelings inside were awakened and sharpened, I enjoyed the taste and texture of the fruit.

With each bite, I felt this fruit filling me with strength and vitality. This process saturated not only physically, but also mentally.

The pleasure of the heavenly fruit drew a smile on my face and filled my heart with gratitude for this unique experience. I suddenly remembered the wealth and abundance that are present in this world, as well as the possibility of choice.

The lived experience brought the realization that pleasure and joy can be found in simple and natural things. I have an unlimited choice in my hands, and I accept it with gratitude and openness».

Alice described her feelings and emotions, as if returning to this dream again. Ella was listening to her cousin’s fairy tale with admiration and interest, imagining herself next to her in this garden of Eden. The girls imagined how they would explore this place together, meet new friends and experience unforgettable sensations.

Chapter 2

Traveling on a magic carpet

The following cozy evening, Alice and Ella continued to share their dreams. Alice talked about her journey on the magic carpet in her dream. The canvas was soft, beautiful and fabulous. Usually sultans, genies and wizards fly on such carpets. Let’s turn to her story:

«Ella, you see, flying on a magic carpet caused me a variety of emotions and feelings, I was captured by excitement. The higher the carpet rose, gaining speed, the more I felt the adrenaline beating inside me. This moment was comparable to diving into a completely new world in which nothing is impossible. Fantasy images were released and turned into reality, allowing you to experience an incredible sense of freedom.

I could see the city transforming beneath me. The roofs of buildings, streets and parks looked completely different from a height. I felt like a bird that had conquered the sky, which added to my sense of greatness and absolute power.

Powerful gusts of wind from each wave of the magic carpet brought a feeling of freshness and energy. I enjoyed this wind, which touched my skin and hair, which gave my flight even more reality and liveliness.

This journey completely absorbed me. It seemed that my whole being became absolutely free, and I felt that this flight would leave a lifelong mark in my memory. At the beginning, when I took off, I felt anxiety and fear from heights. But, as expected, fear has rapidly changed to excitement and surprise at the beauty and magic of what is happening.

Floating above the ground, I felt a sincere lightness. It was like a childhood dream come true. My heart was filled with joy and delight at the beautiful landscape that opened up in front of me from a bird’s-eye view. A look at a familiar city from a new perspective.

Despite of the fear and excitement, I felt strong and brave. It was a challenge to my boundaries and limitations, and I overcame them, discovering new opportunities and resources in myself.

During the flight on the magic carpet, I felt a mixture of emotions: joy, delight, excitement, fear, courage. It was a real adrenaline-fueled adventure. I felt alive, living every moment.

Flying on a magic carpet allowed me to see from a bird’s eye view not only my hometown, but also my life. I flew past all the stages of my life and noted various bright moments. Reliving each stage anew, I got pleasure, joy and satisfaction.

Flying on a magic carpet allowed me to experience the important moments of my life exactly the way I would like. According to my feelings, I added bright moments and enjoyed every subsequent moment. At the end of the flight, the magic carpet landed on a desert island.

The first thing I felt when I found myself on a desert island was the cold penetrating my bones and muscles. I urgently needed to light a fire to keep warm and create light in the darkness of the night.

Having difficulty with navigating in the dark, I began searching for materials for a bonfire. Collecting dry twigs, leaves and mosses, I hoped to find something that would help me light a fire. A sense of insecurity and anxiety mixed with a growing fear of the surrounding darkness.

So, time passed, and night fell. I was still struggling with finding the right materials and ways to light a bonfire. I lacked a spark of hope, but I did not give up, realizing that my survival depends on it.

Finally, after hard work, I found dry grass, as well as a flint that could help to create a spark. Trembling, I began to light the fire, carefully watching the embers. And finally, I saw a small spark that turned into a flame.

The fire warmed me up and illuminated my surroundings. A feeling of relief and gratitude swept over me, because now I had a source of warmth and light.

Although darkness still reigned around, I felt some relief and confidence in my abilities. I realized that I was able to cope with difficulties and create the necessary comfort on a desert island.

Now, being warmed up by the fire and illuminated by its light, I could finally relax… Suddenly, I felt something in the sand. It turned out to be a bottle with a treasure map rolled up in it. There was still a long dark night ahead, but this could not stop the growing determination to overcome any difficulties and dive into any adventures. So, already fantasizing about how I would go on a treasure hunt at dawn, I fell into a pleasant sleep.

Morning came quickly. Having packed up, I went in search of the unknown. I was accompanied by a slight excitement and some fear of the unknown.

I realized that this was an important journey, and the treasure I was looking for was important to me at the moment.

Walking through the dense jungle, I was enjoying the surrounding nature, birdsong and anticipation. With each step, one felt closer to the goal, and a sense of determination to overcome any obstacles grew.

«What can this treasure mean to me? Maybe it is a symbolic reflection of my values, desires, or hidden potential?»

Various thoughts raced through my mind as I was moving along the planned path. I felt that this was not just a material possession, but something that would help in my personal growth and development.

Strength and determination were building up inside me. It was interesting to feel it. I was ready to face everything that was meant for me with my eyes and heart open. The time and length of the journey didn’t matter, because I was completely focused on the moment and the experience I was living. The mystery of the treasure beckoned to me, and I wanted to get to know it as soon as possible.

And finally, when I got to the designated point marked on the map with the «X» sign, I got up and started digging. I didn’t have a shovel, therefore I had to row with my hands. It was difficult, but I didn’t stop.

After several efforts, I was finally able to find the chest and get it out. Holding my breath with joy and excitement, I opened the lid. There were 10 items inside, each required careful study. It seemed that each of the objects had its own symbolic meaning and could serve special purposes in travel and life.

That’s what was inside the chest:

An ancient book: a symbol of wisdom, knowledge and history. It is a treasure trove of information that can help in understanding and overcoming difficulties.

A small key: a symbol of discovery and possibilities. It represents the potential to unlock new doors and open new paths in life.

Elegant necklace: a symbol of elegance and beauty. It reminds of inner and outer nobility, as well as its own value and uniqueness.

Notebook: a symbol of creativity and self-expression. It is a place where you can capture your thoughts, ideas and goals, and it also serves as a tool for planning and development.

A bottle of aromatic oil: a symbol of inner well-being and spirituality. Aromatic oil can help to create an atmosphere of calm, relaxation and inner harmony.

Map: orientation and navigation symbol. It is a tool for exploring and understanding the world around you, as well as for building the right routes.

Arrow: a symbol of direction and purpose. Carved from wood, it can remind you of striving forward, overcoming obstacles and achieving success.

Magnetic compass: orientation and guidance symbol. It is a tool for determining direction and helping to make decisions on the way to your goals.

Miniature canvas with brushes and paints: a symbol of creativity and self-expression. It can serve as a tool for expressing your emotions, ideas and inner world through art and creativity.

Small castle: a symbol of treasure and mystery. It contains hidden potentials and possibilities that require a key to open.

Of all these items, I definitely decided to take an old book with me, it seemed to me a wise treasure of knowledge. I also chose a small key, feeling its symbolic significance and potential to open up new possibilities.

Some items, such as a necklace and a bottle of aromatic oil, seemed useful to me, but I realized that their true value could go far beyond the material. They could represent emotional and spiritual saturation.

Other items, such as a notebook, a map and a canvas with paints, aroused interest and a desire to learn more about yourself and the world around you. I decided to take them with me to explore and develop further. I chose these items because of their symbolic meaning and their ability to help me in my journey. Each item has acquired a personal value for me.

The ancient book was a source of wisdom and knowledge. It contained unique information that could help me understand myself and the world around me.

The small key symbolized possibilities and discoveries. It represented the potential to unlock new doors and open new horizons.

The notebook was a tool for self-expression and planning. It would allow me to capture my thoughts, ideas and goals and help me to develop and grow.

The map was a tool for orientation and navigation. It would help me to explore and understand the world around me and find my way to success.

A tiny canvas with brushes and paints symbolized creativity and self-expression. It would give me the opportunity to express my emotions and ideas through art and creativity.

The other items that I decided to leave behind could also be valuable, but their significance and role in my journey and overcoming difficulties were less obvious and insignificant in this context. I chose the subjects that suited my needs the best and in the long run would help me to walk the path with wisdom, discovery, self-expression and orientation.