Send all subscription and unsubscribe requests to
Richard at rcwilk@aol.com
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E L E C T R I C D R E A M S
Volume 3 Issue #7
21 AUGUST 1996
ISSN# 1089 4284
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Electric Dreams - on the World Wide Web
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mettw/edreams/home.html
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-- Send Dreams and Comments on Dreams to:
Bob Krumhansl <bobk829887@aol.com>
-- Send Dream Questions and Concerns to
Victoria Quinton <mermaid@alphalink.com.au>
--Send Dreaming News and Calendar Events to:
Peggy Coats <pcoats@cruzio.com>
-- Send Requests for Dream Groups to:
Chris Hicks <shadow45@netonecom.net>
--Send Articles and Subscription concerns to:
Richard Wilkerson: <rcwilk@aol.com>
--For back issues, editors addresses
and other access see
ELECTRIC DREAMS ACCESS INFORMATION AT End of file
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Download a GREAT COVER for Electric Dreams 3(7)! Jesse
Reklaw
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mettw/edreams/home.html
(cover may be delayed a day or two)
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CONTENTS:
Editors Notes
Question Airing Forum
+ Dangerous but Accessable Dream Groups - VQ
Bobk s Website Pick of the Month
Reminder on Nutcracker s Website
Poem: lucrative sublimation in your dreams
- by Daniel Carter
Interview : John Suler on Children's Dreams
by Victoria Quinton
Article: Theories of Dreams - By Scott Hughes
Poem: A Rose for Martina at the '96 ASD Conference
by Charles N. Eudy, MFCT, Ph. D.
Article: Safety in Dreamwork- Dennis Schmidt
Article: Dangerous Liassions - Sky Turell
Article: DREAM WHEEL UPDATE: Safe and Dangerous Dream
Sharing by Christopher Hicks
Article: Conducting Dream Research on the Net:
A Quick Start for Beginners - by Richard Wilkerson
=================================================
GLOBAL DREAMING NEWS - See GD Index - Peggy Coats
+ Special section on Research
DREAM EVENTS CALENDAR - FALL 1996 - Peggy Coats
===================
DREAM SECTION INDEX
===================
Editor's Notes - Bob K
Dream Index to Issue 3(7)
Previous Issue Dreams
1st Dreams
New Dreams
Commentaries
============
DISCLAIMER
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Editor's Notes - RCW
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RCW: Due to the wonderful response to "First Dreams" from
the Net and the ED community, we have an early harvest this
issue! The dream index is separated and put this right in
with the dreams & comments section. Tell us what you
prefer.
BOBK: As a theme for the dreams section *next issue* of
Electric Dreams: how about SIGNIFICANT DREAMS from the
dreamers perspective? Also, commentaries have dwindled in
recent issues. How about sending in your thoughts on one of
the ED dreams?
RCW: OK, let's go with the significant dreams for next
month. For those of you who are writing articles & doing
interviews, maybe this can be a focus theme as well?
We are continuing to reap the benefits of Chris Hicks
moderating the Dream groups. The ED DreamWheels, as we call
them, continue to be popular and are a real delight. Be
sure to sign up for the next group with Chris. Starts in
about a week! shadow45@netonecom.net
Also, our connections with Linton & Becky Hutchison at
DreamLink continue and you can find out how to participate
in this dreamsharing adventure by reading Chris' DreamWheel
Update.
Speaking of growing and expanding, the Electric Dreams
community is now at about 560 members. We don't advertise
much so as to keep the community - well, community like.
But the word gets out and we welcome all the new dreamers.
If you feel lost or would like some guidance on dreaming
online, look at the beginning or end of this issue for the
staff e-mail addresses in the area of your interest. They
are waiting for you to contact them.
Are you a dream researcher or interested in dream research?
Besides the updates on conferences, classes, web sites and
other dream events, Peggy Coats offers a *new* section in
the Global Dreaming News that will be just for research
projects!
And get you researchers off on the right foot, I've
included an article on conducting Dream research online.
Dream Sharing online - Safe or Dangerous? The time seems
ripe to lay it all out. The ASD Board has tabled the issue
of whether or not to link to the Electric Dreams community
and will be considering the issue again this fall. We
continue at Electric Dreams to try and educate those not
familiar with the Net & include as many diverse opinions
and viewpoints as possible. You will get the full spectrum
this issue. Send in your own thoughts on this as we
continue to explore dream sharing ethics and the Net.
Victoria Quinton opens the dream airing column to a variety
of topics, including a request concerning Dreams and CFIDS
and comments on the issues of dreamsharing in cyberspace
and other topics. She also has an interview with one of
Cyberspace's most interesting psychologists, John Suler.
Also, author Scott Hughes offers us some thoughts on dream
theory while Eudy and Carter offer us some very different
takes on dream inspired poetry.
Thanks again to all who sent in 1st dreams - let's dig into
the past this month and find those significant dreams.
- Dreamin' up a Storm,
Richard Wilkerson
***********************************************************
Question Airing Forum no 4
***********************************************************
Victoria Quinton
changing e-mail address- Please Note:
<mermaid@alphalink.com.au>
Hello all
First dreams are coming in to the Bulletin Board and to
other places, some will be in this issue.
Keep them coming!
Dangerous but Accessable Dream Groups - VQ
Well, without the Internet, I would not be able to
participate in Electric dreams, all the way from
Australia.
I would not be able to exchange wonderful ideas with such
interesting and varied people, nor have the foundation for
ongoing e-mail "interviews".
I have found these interviews take on a "life of their own"
Sure, I start off with a few basic questions, based on the
interviewee's main interest in the dreaming domain, but
then the replies generate further questions, and so it
goes.
And to think that a year ago "The Internet" was something
that seemed to crop up on occasional news stories, and was
not yet such an integral part of my daily life.
To my knowledge, there are no local dream sharing groups
and , especially while I have primary care of a toddler,
and am financially dependent on my husband, I would be
unlikely to find alternative outlets for dream-sharing.
There are apparently concerns about approaches to dreams
on line, not only the "interpretation" of them, but also
the sharing of them in any form.
For the moment, I shall assume that those criticising the
Dream Wheels have at least tried them out.
I personally found participating in them stimulating and
invigorating. What may be missed in terms of seeing body
language, facial expression or other non-verbal reactions,
is, in my view, compensated by a reduction in prejudices
based on these factors.
There is a healthy egalitarianism in this approach,
combined with compassion within the group, that would chip
in were "inappropriate" remarks to be sent.
Ironically, since taking on the Electric Dreams role, my
participation in the dream wheels has dropped off; but not
my support for them.
Victoria Quinton
=======================================================
A Response to our Ad on alt.dreams..
"Interpret your own dreams and it would be easier.......
Others may take out meanings that don't exists...."
POL POT.
======================================================
Jerry Garcia Gone - 1 year later....
"The White Room" dreamed by Karolen
I had a dream about Jerry Garcia on the night that he died.
The dream occurred within an hour of his death. I walked
into a room, and saw Jerry sitting at a table. The room
was all white and misty-like. The table was white. Jerry
looked very happy, healthy and young. He was wearing all
white. There were robed, white, indistinct figures sitting
at the table as well, about four of them. I walked in and
sat down across the table from
Jerry. We started a conversation. We talked for a minute
or two, but I don't remember what we said, only that I
enjoyed talking to him. Then I got up and left the room.
In the morning a friend came to the house and told me Jerry
had died. I was not surprised. I felt a definite sense of
peace and closure, as though everything was complete and
Jerry was in a good place.
email: deupree@concentric.net
Thanks for putting this together.
Sweet dreams!
Karolen
(Last Year when Garcia died we asked fans about their
dreams. The collection is still available at the
Electric Dreams Web site) RCW
======================================================
Dreams and CFIDS by NV
My interest in dreams and dream research goes back some
years, but it hasn't been serious until this last year when
I developed ME, or CFIDS as it's termed in the US. As you
may know one of the only pleasant (occasionally unpleasant)
effects of this chronic illness are vivid dreams. I've had
very diverse and very strange dreams for the last 9 months
and I've been recording them for most of the last 5 months.
I can now usually remember a couple each night. When I'm
having a relapse it's one of the few things that makes
things bearable - at least I can escape at night to another
realm where the laws of ME don't apply.
By training I am a biologist and, as a scientist, I've
always been curious about how things work and why - hence
my current interest in dream research. I've come across
some old texts and am keen to learn more. I wonder could
you or someone else in the group recommend a couple of
texts or papers on the latest findings.
I'd also be interested to know if there has been much
research into ME dreams, whether the nature of these dreams
are different (for me they are). Why do ME suffers tend to
have so many vivid dreams? An area to look at perhaps.
Might be interesting to compare the dreams of ME and non-ME
suffers. Incidentally disrupted sleep is common problem in
ME - you tend to sleep 10-14 hours or hardly at all, and
you wake up the next morning feeling awful, no matter how
long you've slept. I wonder if the wetchedness next
morning is because the pattern of REM and non-REM sleep is
altered in some way by the disease (although why would this
produce such vivid and unusual dreams?). If dreams and
sleep patterns are being distrupted then maybe some kind of
dream therapy (teaching people not to dream?) might help
suffers.
NV - (send replies via NV@dreamgate.com)
========================================================
From Sarah: When I was a kid I used to dream in cartoon,
now that I'm older I don't anymore. My friends give me
weird looks when I tell them and they say it sounds so
strange. Has this ever happened to anyone else?
==== end dream airing column ======
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BOBK S WEB SITE PICK OF THE MONTH:
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Check out John Suler s pages on WORKING (AND PLAYING) WITH
DREAMS at:
http://www1.rider.edu/~suler/dreams.html
====================
NUTCRACKER S SITE
For Nutcracker fans - don t forget to check out
Nutcracker s Web Page at:
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/nutcracker
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lucrative sublimation in your dreams (luck-rate if...)
by Daniel Carter
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(Origninally published on the Fiction of Philosophy List
96-08-22)
I.
looking at you what is this stuff anyway what makes one ask
onesewlf a question that cut that accent wrinkle in the
fabric that reminds me of your dress under stress of your
body in it this I could not but how shall I resist it's
that composite thing I heard about when it ain't nobody in
particular it kind o' cools itself out as it swerve into
Holly would if you'd just let her
II.
looking at you what is this stuff anyway what makes one ask
onesewlf a question that cut that accent wrinkle in the
fabric of your dress under stress of your body in it this I
could not but how shall I resist it's that composite thing
I heard about when it ain't nobody in particular it kind o'
cools itself out as it swerve into Holly would if you'd
just let her
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Interview : John Suler on Children's Dreams
by Victoria Quinton
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Victoria Quinton [V]: Would you say you have been
interested in dreams most of your life?
Do you deal with children's dreams at all? I am keen on
creating a "dream
friendly" environment for my daughter who is almost 2 1/2
now.
John Suler [JS]: I think that's a wonderful goal on your
part. I hope you succeed. Unfortunately, there will always
be some people who are hostile towards the whole concept of
dream interpretation (probably people who are anxious about
their own intrapsychic life) - but we can still build a
community with(out) having to convince everyone.
[JS]: I don't work specifically with children's dreams.
But my students do on occasion tell me about their
childhood dreams. From time to time, I also ask my own
children (Asia-9, Kira-5) about their dreams. Funny you
should ask this question, because just yesterday Kira had a
dream about "Coonie" - her beloved stuffed animal (a
racoon) which has been with her since she was
born. Unfortunately, she lost him a few days ago in the
Bahamas where we were taking our family vacation. My wife
and I made desperate attempts to find Coonie, but to no
avail. Of course, Kira was quite upset about this loss and
went into a grieving process. The dream, no doubt, was part
of that mourning.
[JS]: She dreamt she was swimming in a pool with Coonie
nearby, but then realized that she was not swimming in
water, but in a large pool filled with many Coonies.
[JS]: A very simple dream, but so poetic and beautiful,
and packed with meaning despite its simplicity. In
psychoanalytic terms, Coonie is a "transitional object"
that sustains her sense of self, sooths her, and helps move
her along the developmental path. The dream clearly depicts
this. She is surrounded by Coonie, immersed in him, made
buoyant by him. It just so happens that on this Bahamas
vacation she learned to swim, for the first time, in the
deep end of the pool. It was a major developmental
accomplishment for her. And she associates that with
Coonie. There is also
a very spiritual/mystical aspect to the dream. Coonie
(God?) is not a single entity, but a all-surrounding
presence. In the dream, she is immersed in the "oceanic
oneness" that many mystics associate with God.
[V]: Would you say that book learning or "experience" has
had more influence on the way you approach dreams?
[JS]: Like all things, people, including me, learn best
when they combine "book" (intellectual) learning with
experiential learning. If you want to improve your skills
at dream work, read about it, work on your own dreams, and
talk to others about their dreams. If you do one or the
other, you can walk into a dead end. Books provide new
ideas and perspectives you may not have
considered before, but if you don't apply those ideas and
test them out "in the field", those ideas become stale.
______________________
John Suler, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
suler@aol.com / suler@voicencet.com / suler@rider.edu
TEACHING CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY:
http://www1.rider.edu/~suler/tcp.html
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CYBERSPACE:
http://www1.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/psycyber.html
__________________________________________________
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Theories of Dreams - By Scott Hughes
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In the literature of dreams exist countless theories
regarding their meaning. Which theory are you to believe?
Each dreamer must eventually face this question. You cant
believe in every theory as such a view would only lead to
madness. You must personally decide the meaning of dreams,
and their relationship to waking life. Some believe dreams
lack meaning. Others believe they express omens from the
gods. Still others believe they contain messages of
repressed desires. What do you believe?
Each viewpoint on dreams arises from a bed of beliefs.
Beliefs making up a theory, a theory of dreams. Your
beliefs act like a lens focusing all that you see, both
physically and while you experience dream sleep. So decide
on those theories, those ideas you will use when looking
inward. Your dream beliefs reveal which brand of lens you
use when looking inward. They will reveal what kind of tint
you put on your dream time experiences.
I have never found an ultimate theory, an ultimate
explanation for the experience of dreams. I have found a
multiplicity of explanations that seem to work for
different people. Perhaps, we are each meant to have a
different theory of dreams. A unique perspective where we
have taken ideas from different theories to create a lens
that can look inward.
Scott Hughes
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/scoty
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A Rose for Martina at the '96 ASD Conference
by Charles N. Eudy, MFCT, Ph. D.
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(She had come determined to be enlihgtened, and dreamed of
being sucked up through the top of her head. Frightened,
she woke: "I don't die!" I had cmoe wanting to make peace
between my rational mind and spirit. I dreamed of a lovely
rose and bu8ilt this poem narrative around it.)
Whne I was a child
I found a rose and loved it,
So I took it to a scientist
who gave parts of it to ohter scientists
and said, "Cme back later, kid"
I came back later, and
the scientist said, "here's your rose, kid."
and gave me a box. Then with pride,
"And this is our report."
handing me a thisck stack of papers.
Later, alone, I looked in the box
and did not understand.
I raced through the repost
looking for answers
and maybe some comfort
but found only dead Greek workds
and dead latin words
and what was now
in the box
my one dead rose.
I peeked again its scalpeled, drying petals,
their bruised and blackened spots-
and wished I were blind.
I hear again the distand, santiezed Greek and Latin
replacements for my rose-
and wished I were deaf.
I started to cry, but stopped,
as I caught the scent of the box-
My rose was not dead.
but expanding, leaving its sweek mark
all that is touched in its new journey.
Now, though I am much, much older,
My rose is still with me,
and these new tears are not of sorrow!
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Safety in Dreamwork - Dennis Schmidt
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(Originally a note to me, some cut- RCW)
I don't like the dream interpretation that goes on in
Electric Dreams. I want to tell
you briefly how I feel about it, and I would like to know
how you feel about it.
I feel that people working with each other's dreams in
groups and partnerships have learned, and some have
articulated, certain requirements for safety in sharing
dreams. Several of us feel that it is not possible to meet
these requirements in group dream work over the Internet.
Sharing dreams person-to-person is dialogue. It is
emotionally engaging. It requires sensitivity to the
dreamer's reactions. Dream workers such as Monte Ullman,
Will Phillips, and Dick McLeester agree that all must agree
that the dreamer has authority over the sharing.
Such sensitivity and such authority are not possible over
the Net. A person commenting on someone else's dream can
not see the reaction, can not know when to stop or change
tracks.
Interpreting without giving the dreamer the opportunity to
interrupt -- and on the Web the dreamer has no opportunity
to cut short an interpretation -- can expose the dreamer
to serious dangers. I like Will Phillips's descriptions of
them, so I will quote him.
"The first is what I call 'Trojan-Horsing.' This is when
someone uses a dream as the vehicle by which to gain
access to another's psyche, and then assaults
them while their defenses are down. Trojan-Horsing is
often unintentional, and so must be even more closely
guarded against. It may even be motivated by good
intentions, as in misguided attempts to subtly slip in
'good advice' in the guise of dreamwork....
"The second, more serious, hazard might be called 'dream
rape.' This refers to the forced and insistent projection
of meaning onto someone else's dream. ..."
Simply the dreamer's inability to interrupt an
interpretation allows the interpreter to be "insistent,"
beyond the point at which the dreamer would interrupt.
I feel that the optional use of the prefatory clause, "If
it were my dream," and recasting each reference to the
dreamer as "I" instead of "you", offer almost no
protection, introduce some additional risk, and manifest a
dangerous misreading of the intention behind those
practices in work such as Ullman's.
The lack of protection and the additional risk stem from
the same cause: The commentator, feeling that he or she
has offered sufficient protection to the dreamer, may then
feel freer to project onto the dream than they would if
they would keep in mind that they are speaking to someone
else about their dream.
It is possible, and it can be injurious, to project
recklessly.
So are Ullman and Jeremy Taylor wrong in counseling lifting
your commentary from identification with the dreamer by
thinking and saying, "If it were my dream, ..."? No
(although I prefer a phrasing like, "When I imagine myself
in a situation like that, I feel ..." or "When I associate
on your dream, ..."). But it is not a magic incantation
that neutralizes the danger in all following suggestions
given to the dreamer. The intention is to increase
sensitivity in the commentator, to curb the impulse to
project onto the dreamer. I feel it is a dangerous error
to take it as license to analyze and interpret.
Finally, I feel that interpreting someone else's dream
(even when thinking about it as interpreting one's own) is
almost always a bad idea. This is true even if they ask
you to do it, and even if they thank you for it afterward.
I quote Will Phillips again:
"I cannot overemphasize the need to resist the urge to tell
a dreamer what you think their dream means. From
experience, I can say that such projected interpretations
are almost always either partially or completely
inaccurate.
Even if your interpretation should happen to be one hundred
percent correct, the dreamer still tends to feel invaded
and 'ripped off'. It is always best to remain in the role
of a guide or helper ... and draw the dream's meaning out
through sensitive questioning. Every human being deserves
to be granted the space for self-discovery."
I believe that opportunity for self-discovery, protected
from suggestions that are usually misleading, is far more
valuable than a harvest of ideas developed in an
environment that can not guide and be guided through
sensitive questions and responses.
I think you know that I am not opposed to technology. I
think, and have thought for years, that we have something
to gain by figuring out appropriate ways to use computers
in support of our dream work. But, as you see, I think
that dream interpretation is not one of them.
I am speaking for myself, and would like to understand how
you see these issues. I know that I am representing, in
general although not in detail, thoughts and concerns
shared by many others. I know that this will become a
public debate soon. I hope you understand that I respect
you as a coworker who sees these issues differently than I
do, and I hope we will both gain by discussing our views.
Sincerely,
Dennis Schmidt
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Dangerous Liaissons - Skye Turell
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(A response to "Dangerous Dreaming" ED 3(6) which I am
printing here as well as the extended re-quotes as it is
related to the above article "Safety in Dreamwork".) RCW
This issue of the appropriateness of online dream sharing
so beautifully focuses what is a head-on clash of old vs.
new paradigms. In fact, the paradigms involved are so
foundational that the much overused term *paradigm* doesn't
even begin to capture the magnitude. At the core, this is
about our fundamental belief systems regarding fear vs.
comfort, safety vs. danger and power vs. disempowerment.
These are **the** issues of the 1990's. We've barely begun
to tentatively approach them. **How** we approach them
will have everything to do with what the 2000's look like.
Whether we allow ourselves to believe that it's *safe* to
approach them (which is what this issue is really all
about), is obviously critical.
Cuts taken from:
>Dangerous Dreams - The risks of online dream sharing
>By Richard Wilkerson (Electric Dreams vol 3 # 6)
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>I was confronted at the ASD XIII conference with the
notion
>that dreams are too dangerous to be shared on the net.
The
>general idea was that there is something about dreams
which
>makes us so vulnerable, so helpless, that in the wrong
hands
>serious psychological damage may occur.
We are vulnerable when approaching the unknown, the
*other.* We've been taught by the world's major religions
that just beyond the veil lies the realm of Satan, demons,
negativity. If we stay in our narrow little track, we'll
be safe. Oh sure, sometimes Satanic forces impinge on our
safe little track and we can't always be sure whether our
sense of things is our own, or whether it's that negative
"authority" which has led us astray -- therefore we can't
trust our own impulses, our own sense of things. We have
little trust in our own capabilities of discernment.
If you believe yourself to be too 20th century for a belief
in the above, check again. These beliefs are **so**
engrained in our Western society that they influence all
of us.
For the scientifically minded, the ideas are the same, but
they are expressed differently. The *other* is the realm
of the irrational, chaotic random firings of the brain.
We can't even comprehend a theory that grants validity to
dreams, mystical or paranormal experiences. That's for
psychotics. We give them drugs so they no longer are
capable of having any experiences.
For the psychologists in the crowd, it becomes a firmly
engrained belief that dreams are representive of negative
unresolved issues, of neurotic conditions, or worse.
Framing them in the positive doesn't negate the fact that
the key idea here is that dreams, especially ones involving
fear and other *negative* emotional states, are something
to be gotten over. The idea of resolving them becomes
another way of saying to get rid of them, perhaps leaving
some positive residual learning in the wake. Dreams are
still considered to be fictional, manufactured artifacts of
consciousness. They are not granted validity,
experientially. The levels of consciousness and aspects of
dimensional existence involved in dreaming are not granted
equal footing with this *real reality* and the purpose of
dream analysis becomes to shift the dream learning into our
full waking state. (I'd suggest that the real goal here is
to blend the levels of consciousness so that it becomes
more a matter of us taking our waking consciousness
*there,* but that's definitely another conversation.)
For the politically minded, these ideas have expressed
themselves as cold or hot wars. *Enemies* outside the
boundaries. They must be fought in order to keep us safe,
in terms of physical safety, or perhaps more to the point,
in terms of financial security.
Yes, the *other* is dangerous. We've believed that since
The Garden of Eden, since Sodom & Gomorrah, since the Tower
of Babel debacle. If we venture into the other realms,
*get above ourselves,* then God or The Gods get majorly
pissed off. The result is famine, plagues, bolts from
heaven...all sorts of dangerous stuff.
>But wait a minute. One of the self assigned tasks in my
life
>is to bring our culture into a relationship with dreaming
that
>moves in a different direction than, for example, telling
our
>children upon awakening, "Oh forget it, it was just a
dream".
>Simply dismissing the arguments about the potency of
dreams
>would be counter-productive.
Sure, first we go into total denial -- *it's just a dream*
translates as, it's meaningless, nonexistent really. For
those with a more insight therapy orientation, then it's
still more denial. Sure dreams have meaning, they are
symbolic reflections of the unresolved conflicts of our
lives. But it's messy business learning what all these
symbols mean -- that's best left to those with the
education (social status), definitely not for the average
person on the street. Certainly not something to be
granted the ultimate status -- calling them, or the levels
of consciousness or dimensional locations **real.** Let's
make sure they remain safely in the realm of the
theoretical and intellectual -- something that can be
safely discussed around even the most refined dinner table.
(Explain to me, people, why we all seem to be having
essentially the same dreams, why we meet strangers in
dreams only to meet them again in reality, why people can
*meet* in the dreamstate and both recall the identical
experience? I could go on and on. New belief: We live in
a multidimensional universe, with a multileved
consciousness, we humans are quite capable of penetrating
the veil and having contact with events and individuals we
are told can not be.)
Further, since all this material is reflective of
unresolving issues, it by definition borders on abberant
states of being -- it is **dangerous business**. There's a
fine line between mental health and mental illness, we are
taught. Only those in positions of authority have the
education or the right to make judgements about which is
which. And we have often granted them the legal authority
in such matters. Certainly the average citizen is not
capable of making such determinations, we've been taught,
which is just another way of saying that these things
aren't really real. They are not accessible, or their
meaning is not accessible to just anyone. They are of
another realm altogether.
This leaves us, as a society, in a strange catch-22. Those
who might help us venture outside our safe little track,
who might show us more expansive ways of being, are
automatically negated, debunked, deemed a threat.
Instead, reality will be determined by those with enough
social clout to be granted that authority, those who most
often have the most to gain from maintaining the status
quo. It becomes a very undynamic system and, need I point
out, life doesn't appear to thrive in undynamic systems.
> Now to be fair, the main arguments made were about the
>assumption of authority, the potential damage of telling
>other people what their dreams mean rather than letting
them
>come to find this meaning with their own inner resources.
Are we so warped that we would automatically assume that
any ol' person who happens to respond to our dream is some
kind of *authority*? Are we so conditioned to accepting
anyone as having more authority than we do, that we will
grant that position to someone who isn't even using their
real name, for pete's sake?
If the answer is yes, then we are in very serious trouble,
my friends. I mean this quite seriously. My personal
opinion is that we grant authority **much** too readily
and, at the same time, the average citizen is quite capable
of absorbing an idea and determining it to be either
useful or pure unmitigated bull. If the answer to this is
*no,* then we'd better come up with a quick alternative to
the democratic system. Since this is actually a readily
accepted statement, we *have* dispensed with the democratic
system. Instead, we allow those in positions of authority
to withhold information that's deemed **too much for us**
or contrary to our **national security** (another wway of
saying the same thing) and many actually support these
attitudes and actions as valid!!! Amazing!
The fact that we are even having this discussion, though,
is cause for a lot of concern. Am I to understand that
some of our key dreamwork people, many of whom are mental
health professionals, have really accepted some status of
authority for themselves? I mean, late at night, all alone
with their thoughts, do they really believe they understand
very much at all about human consciousness? I **know**
that we understand very little (and, for the record, I'm a
reasonably well educated person), I know that *they*
understand very little. That's not a put-down, but simply
a realistic assessment. We all, individually and
collectively, and with total equality, need to go back to
the drawing board. We can not continue to dismiss
extraordinary experiences and that means that we must
develop some understanding and explanation for them. For
our purposes here, I include dreams in the category
*extraordinary experiences* because I believe many of them
to be just that -- completely real experiences which don't
appear to happen every day. This process, by definition,
is one that is not welcomed by those embracing the status
quo.
>Its been my feeling for sometime that dream texts are
somewhat
>similar. Certainly the technique of taking the dream "as
if it
>were your own" moves in this direction. In this technique
we
>approach a dream as if it were our story, not the
dreamers,
>and then talk about the ways it is relevant to us, how the
>imagery moves us, how we give it meaning and how it
returns to
>us its significance. The author of the dream is
decentered.
Richard, here I have to disagree. Some may have noticed
that during dream wheels and online message board postings
I do not stick to the Ullman technique. That's because,
while I understand the sentiment behind it's development --
to establish a structure so that group members can't lay
*trips* on each other -- it simply doesn't work. And
worse, I think it adds to the potential problems.
I got my feet wet in the human potential movement back in
the late 60's-early 70's.This was the era of encounter
groups and group therapy in general. There were many
ground rules to prevent people from laying trips. However,
it didn't work. It didn't work in spades, in fact. Those
who wanted to tell someone what they really thought, did
so, simply altering the wording so that it fit the ground
rules technically. No one was fooled, we understood
perfectly what they were trying to communicate. In fact,
the ground rules added insult to injury in the sense that
these communications were dishonest. People could pretend
to agree, approve, or be *helpful* while something else
entirely was going on. I much prefer a straight-ahead
communication. It's honest and I can decide how I wish to
respond and how I want to deal with the information within
myself.
This issue really becomes one of form vs. substance. We
have been taught that if the form is acceptable, then
that's all we need be concerned with. It doesn't matter
what our government does, as long as they stick to the
agreed upon structures, then any action undertaken is
"democratic." We have learned the hard way that this is
not always the case. None of that democratic form has
protected us from anything, if anything it has helped to
camoflage some significant wrong-doing.
You can't control what other people do and say. That's the
hard truth, but that's it folks. What we need to learn is
how to use what other people do and say in a positive way.
Even the most difficult interaction can be used in a
positive way. Everyone in this society, by virtue of being
human, has an unalienable right to real truth. They will
know, or can learn, what to do with it. That is not an
easy process necessarily, but it's time that we gave up the
illusion of being able to protect anyone from anything.
Life doesn't happen that way and online dreamwork doesn't
either. Further, if we continually tell people that they
are incapable of hearing the truth, they may believe us!
This is a very *disempowering* social dynamic that is
everywhere around us.
>And so dreams became aligned with the irrational and, this
is
>my point, aligned with psychology. (There is also a hidden
>ethic in Christianity about the natural and the irrational
>being the same, but that's another topic).
It's not another topic, Richard, it's the psychological
crux of this discussion. But it's more like the
natural/irrational/paranormal/not Church sanctioned equals
Satan. Or, framed a little more in urban culture
terminology: it's ideas from outside the system as we have
understood and defined it which might upset our theoretical
apple cart big time, which might force us to realize, in no
uncertain terms, the ineffectiveness of our current
theoretical understandings of practically everything.
Psychology is part of the mainstream, the status quo, and
absolutely certainly its practitioners are solidly in the
cultural elite (well, especially psychiatrists -- that M.D.
still garners a lot of respect.). That mainstream has
everything to lose.
> None of this is meant as evidence that the dream is or
isn't
>dangerous. It is a statement saying that the dream is not
>owned by psychology and psychologists, nor by clinicians
or
>the board of behavioral sciences.
No, the dream isn't owned by psychology...see my above
statements about the state of the mental health profession.
But the very idea that a dream *might* be dangerous --
that this is even a valid conversation to be having, is
absurd in the extreme. Do we discuss whether having five
fingers is dangerous? Whether breathing is dangerous?
Obviously the human being has the capacity for dreaming.
More than that, without the dream experience there is
significant psychological and physical stress and distress.
We are **supposed** to dream. It's absurd to have the idea
that something that is an inherent facet of our nature can
also be detrimental to our existence. (It's reductionist
Western Civilization that's detrimental to our existence,
but that's definitely another story.)
>I haven't yet been able to understand the arguments that
>dreams in and of themselves are simply too psychologically
>toxic, too revealing, to apt to cause major psychological
>damage in and of themselves. The damage theory seems to
come
>more from how we approach dreams, what people think and
feel
>they are doing when they share them with a qualified or
>unqualified individual or group.
I will expand a bit here on some of my earlier statements
about the narrow track vs. extraordinary experiences. The
*damage* is potentially real, but it involves the
disintegration of our current scientific and social
understandings and structures. The danger isn't what we
might experience out there in those other realms -- people
have been having extraordinary experiences since recorded
history was first recorded -- the danger is that once we
understand what's *out there* we might come to understand
that our entire framework for what *here* is, what life is,
what the human race is, all of that will come to complete
disintegration and reintegration.
What we fear is that we won't be able to integrate those
new under- standings and we will protect ourselves from
that eventuality at all costs, including our own
self-destruction. Those who have a lot to lose politically
and financially don't believe that they can have real
power, rather than the trappings and illusions of power
they now enjoy. They are grasping at the trappings and
illusions with all their might as they feel them slipping
away. In a sense this means **all** of us. The old
structures and ideas are falling away and we are finding
it very difficult to let go and realize that in the
process we might find real power, rather than the illusion.
>I will guess that those who are concerned about the danger
of
>the dream are more concerned about people coming to share
>dreams and expecting some kind of psychotherapeutic effect
or
>environment. The explanation of the danger here will
vary
>according to the psychological perspective. From the
>perspective of the innocent dreamer, the problem is that
they
>have *already* given over the function of the creation of
>meaning and value to a supposed authority. In a sense, we
are
>all kind of in this position with dreams as we feel any
need
>to interpret them at all. I don't feel the need to
interpret
>my going to work in the morning (well, most mornings) but
>there is a call I have imposed upon myself with dreams.
>Is this more dangerous than simply going along with the
rest
>of my culture and society and saying, "Well, it was just
>dream" and forgetting it? I suppose it is - in that my
path
>now includes the dream text and my explorations of it.
Going
>through it, with it, are then more dangerous than if I
had
>just left well enough alone
I think there is a validity to this idea of
*interpretation.* Yes, dreams are a natural language, a
universal language even, maybe. But it's a language that we
were forced to stop speaking and it has faded with time.
In that sense, we do need to re-learn, to compile new
*dictionaries* and help each other puzzle it out.
The irony will be that once we re-learn how to speak the
dream language I'm certain we'll realize that we were
speaking it all along. That our daily *real* reality is
comprised of the same symbols, that the same sort of
*reality creation* is taking place in both realms. **That**
is not something that we are keen on exploring at all
because that will require acceptance of self-responsibility
at entirely new levels.
>There are a few life practices I am not yet willing to
hand
>over to the *exclusive* use of the psychotherapeutic
>encounter.
Don't hand 'em any, Richard. Don't give your power away to
anyone, anytime. Besides, only when we are each secure in
our ability to determine what's appropriate for ourselves
as individuals and actively create our own lives, only then
can we truly listen to each other. Until that time, we
*must* to some extent be afraid to listen to each other --
so insecure are we in our ability to confront aspects of
ourselves we feel might be too threatening.
>I guess the Orthodoxy would say that since there
>can be no authority on dreams, no one should be allowed to
>make meaning of them. The Christian church has
historically
>make exceptions for saints.
Wrong. Any orthodoxy will want to claim that right for
themselves, and only themselves. That's the nature of
power-seeking. Knowledge is power and no one wants to
share their power.
>The Ecology of Cyberspace.
>As John Herbert has noted in an unpublished study on the
>difference between online and offline groups, one of the
main
>differences is the reflective quality of the Online groups
and
>the emotionally pitched quality of the face-to-face
groups.
>This emotional pitch picks up a bit in real time chat, but
>never quite reaches the face-to-face pressure.
>This is not a judgement of one being superior over the
other,
>just a note that it is much more likely for emotional
>instability to play a factor in face-to-face encounters.
>(However, Herbert did note that online groups were rated
>higher in self rating scores of insight gained). The point
>here is that in cyberspace there is a time factor, a
infusion
>of reflective imagination over reactions. There is time to
>consider other people's reactions as well.
Modern psychiatry/psychology, as well as every other human
institution, is **terrified** of emotions. We believe them
to be the means by which we can be manipulated, or even
destroyed. We're afraid we'll be confronted with knowledge
of ourselves that we won't be able to handle. (Doesn't the
devil entice and seduce? Don't mentally ill people
express unusually high levels of emotional expression?
Don't emotions herald all those personal issues that we'd
really rather not confront?)
>This means that to participate in our society, the adult
has
> to been able to handle free speech. To begin saying that
there
>are adult citizens who can't, is a serious theoretical
and political
>statement.
Racist, elitist, supremicist...and afraid. I find it
ironic that the *human potential movement* is probably the
last bunch, in my experience, to really embrace the
reality of our actualization.
>I talked to other dreamworkers at the ASD XIII conference
who have
>been exploring dreamworking online, including John
Herbert, Jeremey
>Taylor, Jayne Gackenbach and Electric Dreams community
dreamworkers
>and have yet to find *one* single case of an unhappy
camper.
>Again, there are many who find the process useless, and
don't
>like the _idea_ of dreamsharing - but not one bad
experience
>has been reported in now what is about the 3rd public year
and
>several pre-public years of online dream sharing. If other
>adult activities that are deemed dangerous can boast these
>statistics, I think they would be hardly be called
dangerous.
Gee, Richard, y'now that's exactly what's happened in the
UFO field. Insiders at the government have said that the
reason they instigated their debunking, discrediting,
coverup procedures during the late 1940's and even more
vigilantly in the 1960's is because they were afraid that
the presence of Ets would set off wholesale panic. In
particular they were afraid that it would lead to the
disintegration of society -- most particularly that people
would stop paying their taxes.
In the years since then there have been repeated broad
daylight sightings by millions of people over Tokyo, Mexico
City and other locations. Y'know what? *No one* seems to
be particularly upset. These are the subject of serious
news programs and newspaper coverage in many parts of the
world (that it isn't covered in the U.S. is an interesting
sociological/political oddity that warrants some serious
study), and the atmosphere seems to be more that of
excitement and curiosity. Mexico City, like most modern
large cities, is probably not highly educated by and
large, and certainly Mexicans are typically very
conservative in their religious beliefs...still, there's no
panic.
One wonders if it's the governments of the world that are
on verge of panic and that the *protection* is really more
an attempt to protect their best interests. I don't trust
anyone who tries to *protect* me. They almost certainly
are on an ego-trip or have agendas. I'll protect myself,
thank you very much.
>Let's say that dreams are potentially wonderful, and save
the
>dangerous warnings for a culture that hides away and
represses
>dream discussions.
Amen.
Skye Turell (turel33@west.net)
dwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdw
DREAM WHEEL UPDATE: Safe and Dangerous Dream Sharing
by Christopher Hicks
dwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdwdw
The Dream Wheel groups are going well this month. Our
eleventh email Dream Wheel, running with three dreams, will
be complete, or near completion by the time of this issue
of Electric Dreams. The new venue of the World Wide Web
continues to be an adventure. The Dream Wheels on the
Dream Link Web site http://www.iag.net/~hutchib/.dream/
now have their very own section. With much thanks to Linton
Hutchinson the Dream Wheel groups and instructions can now
be found by clicking on the "Wheel" button from the main
Dream Link page. I would ask patience from everyone when
finding technical problems or instructions that seem to
have been written for a different group. Everything has
not yet caught up with everything! It is all very
exciting. New territory is being covered here. The trail
is so very fresh, in an ancient sort of way.
We are all on a tremendous journey. As with any such
journey fear and danger are present. The importance comes
in how one handles them. Recently the staff of Electric
Dreams was made aware of a letter from someone concerning
the potential dangers of dream groups such as ours. This
letter is not, I believe, written out of malice or spite.
However, it seems to be a sincere expression of very real
perceptions of danger to the dreamer in the environment of
our dream groups.
I believe that our groups provide for the safety of the
dreamer, but I am only one person. As moderator of both
the email and WWW Dream Wheels some might say I am less
than objective. I, therefore, throw this out to the
readers of Electric Dreams.
Do you believe dreamwork is dangerous? Are the Dream
Wheels dangerous? If you haven't participated in one of
our groups yet I invite you to do so. Afterwards let me
know what you think. Let Richard, our chief editor, know.
Post you opinions to the Electric Dreams bulletin board,
the ASD bulletin board, the dream newsgroups, and email
your dream-interested friends. If we don't communicate
openly as a community then what sort of community are we?
Dreamwork is like anything else--not all of us will agree.
Let us work together to further dreamwork and not let
disagreements block us!
As always, if anyone is interested in more information on
any of our Dream Wheel groups simply email me. I will note
here that all are welcome. If you think the Dream Wheels
are dangerous I encourage you to join one and observe
without actively participating. After which I am always
welcome to discussion of the group and/or process.
--Christopher Hicks
shadow45@netonecom.net
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
Conducting Dream Research on the Net:
A Quick Start for Beginners
August 1996 Notes - Richard Wilkerson
=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
As an editor for Electric Dreams I often receive requests
for research assistance on dream and the Net. This article
is a summary for researchers new to the Net.
In July of 1996 DreamGate (in cooperation with the
Electric Dreams community) built an educational web site
for 13th annual Association for the Study of Dreams
conference in Berkeley and included the available research
that was being conducted online as well as links to venues
for future research.
Though no longer fully supported by ASD, a mirror of this
site at http://www.dreamgate.com/asd-13
is still available to researchers and educators seeking to
use the Net and needing a quick place to start. Included at
the site are not only other dream research online, but
other research supports as well, such a the collection of
dream bibliographies by long time researchers, such as
Ernest Hartmann, Milton Kramer, Henry Reed and Harry Fiss,
to mention a few.
Included below is an update and general report on the
venues and networks available to dream researchers online
who may be unfamiliar with these different tools and cyber-
ecologies.
I would like to request that researchers using the research
link site or this article get back to me on new
developments and venues for dream research either by
posting the information to the Electric Dreams Bulletin
Board or e-mailing me
rcwilk@dreamgate.com
New research requests may be sent to Peggy Coats
pcoats@cruzio.com
Checklist:
- E-MAIL DREAM E-ZINES
-USENET NEWSGROUPS
-WEB BULLETIN BOARD POSTS
-MAIL LISTS LISTSERV & MAJORDOMO
- COMMERCIAL SIGS AND BOARDS
- USING A WEB SITE TO COLLECT DATA.
-Final notes
DREAM E-ZINES AND MAGAZINES
At this time, the only online dream magazine that is
distributed via e-mail is _Electric Dreams_. Controversial
among researchers due to its policies of free speech and
encouraging dream interpretation, this E-zine is your best
bet for contacting the largest amount of dream concerned
netizines in the world. Besides the wonderful articles,
poems, dreams and comments, the e-zine also offers the
Global Dreaming News which has a special section for
researchers and is often posted in a variety of Online
sites around the Net and Web. The editors suggest that
researchers establish a relationship with the community
rather than just leaving requests for experimental
subjects. This can be easily done by running a continuing
column about the research, keeping the community up to date
and offering simple educational essays. Contact the
community via the web site
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mettw/edreams/home.html
or sending a letter to Richard Wilkerson rcwilk@aol.com
USENET NEWSGROUPS
Newsgroups are done in bulletin board style posts and
allow for conversations and dialogue to take place in a
somewhat public venue over time. You may post a note today
and a couple days later someone may respond. And yet, the
feeling when reading is of a real written dialogue.
Responses are generally one or two every 48 to 72 hours. If
you don't get a response within this time frame, probably
this is not the place to ask the questions you are asking.
For examples of dream research done on these boards,
see
http://www.dreamgate.com/asd-13/4r00.htm
for a history of Usenet itself:
http://www.vrx.net/usenet/history/
Some Dream Friendly Newsgroups
alt.dreams - discussions about dreams and dreaming.
alt.dreams.lucid - about lucid dreaming, issues.
alt.dreams.castaneda Carlos Castaneda & friends
alt.psychology.jung. - Jung and related topics,
alt.consciousness - Has had low participation in 1996
alt.consciousness.mysticism - focus mostly on mediative
alt.consciousness.4th-way - Gurdjieff leftovers
alt.mythology - remind them that Cambell liked dreams
alt.pagan - a really wild bunch
alt.psychology.adlerian -- lately its been dead
alt.psychology.jung - generally open to research,
alt.psychology.help - wide range of interests -
alt.psychology.personality - generally about psych types,
alt.psychology.transpersonal - has been dipping lately
alt.surrealism - sometimes outrageous - always unexpected
talk.religion.newage - a very busy group - wide range
alt.health.cfids-action Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Moderated)
alt.med.cfs Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Information.
alt.med.fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia information.
alt.support.sleep-disorder Sleep disorders support group.
WEB BULLETIN BOARD STYLE POSTING.
Quickly taking the place of Usenet Newsgroups are more
privately run bulletin boards. These boards may be even
more specific and focused than the Usenet groups. Electric
Dreams, The Association for the Study of Dreams and the
Sleep disorder related boards. There is no collected links
page I've found at this time for Web Boards, but most can
be found from the ASD-13 Research Page
http://www.dreamgate.com/asd-13/4r00.htm
Electric Dreams BB:
http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/~mettw/edreams/home.html
Association for the Study of Dreams (ASD) BB:
http://www.outreach.org/gmcc/asd
MAIL LISTS. LISTSERV AND MAJORDOMO
Unlike offline mail lists, online mail lists are useful
and center around thousands of topics. Each one requires
that you send an e-mail with instructions on joining, and
the instructions for joining are a little different for
each. But if you send a polite request, you will get back
some kind of helpful info on joining. They also require a
little lurking or just waiting to see what is and isn't
appropriate to ask. Some are intimate discussions of inner
personal life between people who have know one another for
years, while others are wide open to anyone and full of
continual heated debates on everything from bob dole's age
to whether or not Nietzsche was a Nazi.
For more on the use of mail lists, you can drop by a mirror
site I created out of an article on mail lists for the ASD
newsletter, which include Yahoo directories for Mail Lists
as well as special search machines devoted to them.
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/cyberphile/rcwasd02.htm
Here is an example of a mail list used in dream research
and how to join.
JUNG-PSYC
Subscribing, Unsubscribing, and Posting
It's easy to subscribe to JUNG-PSYC. The subscription
address to which you should send a message is :
To: majordomo@creighton.edu
Subject: Sub me (or anything, it is automatic)
The text of your subscription message should read:
subscribe jung-psyc
(Please note that there's no 'h' at the end of jung-psyc.)
For example, someone with the address of
1234567@place.com should send the following
message
to: majordomo@creighton.edu
Subject: Sub me
in body of text put:
subscribe jung-psyc 1234567@place.com
For a list of mail lists and how to subscribe, here is a
web address
http://www.earn.net:80/lug/notice.html
This includes thorough instructions for subscribing
to, participating in, and unsubscribing from mailing lists.
Email by sending
To: LISTSERV@EARNCC.EARN.NET (or LISTSERV@EARNCC.BITNET)
Subject : Get file guide
In Body : GET LSVGUIDE MEMO (plain text).
Here are a few more sleep research related lists:
SLEEP-L Moderated. A sleep bulletin board for healthcare
workers particularly sleep specialists and researchers.
Available through
subscription. Contact: Southmay@qucdn.queensu.ca
PEDSLEEP Moderated. Pediatric sleep list which covers
developmental and clinical sleep-related issues from birth
to adolescence. The list is
open to all medical and education professionals
involved in child-care. Available through subscription.
Contact: Sadeh@ccsg.tau.ac.il
DENTAL-SLEEP Moderated. Dental sleep list that
provides information for dentists who are working with oral
appliance therapy for snoring
and sleep apnea. Available through subscription. Send
SUBSCRIBE DENTAL-SLEEP Firstname lastname Degree to
listserv@dental.stat.com
===========================================================
COMMERCIAL SIGS AND BOARDS
Every commercial carrier, AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, ect
has sig's or special interest groups, each with their own
focus. In addition they pull together different tools -
chat rooms, boards, graphics and more to bring you whole
areas devoted to special topics.
Examples:
-AOL now has a Bulletin Board, chat room, a weird but cool
dreamworld news and Jermey Talyor online each morning. Use
Keyword and Select HUB. Electric Dreams is available in
the Writers Club Electronic Magazines Library. Research
requests should be directed to Jeremy Taylor at
Ktaylor597@aol.com
-Compuserve has Donna Campos each Monday night in New Age B
forum and they now have lots of material online and these
boards are available for posting research. Contact Donna at
imaginer@aol.com
-On the MSN network, contact DoctorStrange@msn.com
===========================================================
USING A WEB SITE TO COLLECT DATA.
One of the newest ways to collect data online and conduct
research is to use a Web page that explains your research
and offers visitors a way to immediately engage the
project, fill out forms and gain a preliminary
understanding of the project. The World Wide Web, (WWW or
most often, simple the Web) is the newest and most
explosive aspect of the Internet. The Web allows
individuals and groups to put up graphical, visually
pleasing pages of information, pictures, sounds, response
forms and someday soon, movies and live action
telecommunications.
Again, I would like to refer you to the ASD XIII
Conference Index and Education site:
http://www.dreamgate.com/asd-13/4r00.htm
For an example of how this may be accomplished, I would
like to offer two samples.
The first is the
The Quantitative Study of Dreams site by Adam Schneider &
G. William Domhoff
http://zzyx.ucsc.edu/~dreams/
which uses forms and pages to teach the complex system to
participants and students.
The Second is not directly set up for research, but Dr.
Jayne Gackenbach does conduct surveys at the end of each
dream class. See her Introductory Dreamwork Course
http://www.outreach.org/dreams
If you are interested in putting up a Web site for your
Dream research and are willing to do the coding for the Web
page yourself, Electric Dreams offers space to put your
page up.
You can contact Matthew Parry - mettw@newt.phys.unsw.edu.au
If you need the page coded and designed, DreamGate offers
introductory web pages and for about $300.00 will design
and put up to six pages online for 6 months. For more
information contact Richard Wilkerson rcwilk@dreamgate.com
or visit DreamGate at
http://www.dreamgate.com
Final Notes:
Conducting research online is very new and each foray an
experiment in itself. Often simple sending out e-mail to
friends and colleagues will be enough,
but other times even the posting to all the above mentioned
sites may not produce enough data for your project design.
We are all just learning how to best contact one another in
this soup of interconnectivity. However, your research will
be greatly improved if you use the new search engines that
are available. There are several different styles. Some,
like Yahoo, build large data bases and allow you to search
as if wandering around in the stacks at a library. Others
go out and look for keywords and phrases and build reports,
like metacrawler. A useful web site to start with is
Search.com
http://www.search.com
as they allow searches from various machines. However,
don't forget that your best contacts will still be people,
and the use of the various networks that mix online and
offline will be more productive than just searching online
or offline alone. For a summary of dream networks, go to
the Novato Center for Dreams
http://members.aol.com/jilgregory/ncd/jillhome.htm
And don't forget that both the DreamNetwork Journal and
the ASD Newsletter have online contact addresses and will
publish your research requests for free in their hard copy
magazines.
DreamNetwork Bulletin, contact Roberta Ossana
dreamskey@sisna.com
And ASD newsletter, contact Alan Siegel
dreamsdr@aol.com
And finally, again I want to remind researchers who use and
read this article to network back with the online dream
community, telling us new and useful places for posting
research in dreams, statistical considerations in
cyberspace and the final publishing reference for your
research.
-RCW 8-21-96
===========================================================
==========================================================
G L O B A L D R E A M I N G N E W S
==========================================================
Hi Everyone,
This month I'm adding a new section to GLOBAL DREAMING NEWS
entitled "Research Requests", which I am hoping can grow to
become a forum for connecting researchers with interested
dreamers to participate in dream-related studies and
projects. If you are conducting research, engaging in a new
project, or just have news you'd like to share with our
online community, I invite you to send me the particulars
at any time via email and/or to post a thread in our
Bulletin Board on the Electric Dreams web site. Don't know
what would be of interest to ED's readers? Well, think of
what interests you -- book reviews, classes, workshops,
dream groups, art exhibits, movies, music -- the ways in
which our dreams can integrate with our life experience is
endlessly exciting!
Peggy Coats, News Director (pcoats@cruzio.com)
THE HARROWERS, A DREAM SITE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES
DREAM CLASS via YOUR E-MAIL - DreamGate Class #11
JUNGIAN PUBLIC PROGRAM IN BOSTON
DREAM PRACTICUM
"FACE TO FACE WITH C. G. JUNG"
ARCHETYPAL DIMENSIONS OF SELF-ORGANIZATION
THE AFRICAN UNCONSCIOUS: THE PRIMORDIAL ROOTS OF HUMAN
CONSCIOUSNESS
LANGUAGE AS IMAGE: WORKING IN THE DARK
JUNG'S TYPOLOGY AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER
AMONG ALL THESE DREAMERS
GACKENBACH OFFERS INTERNET DREAM CLASS
ALCHEMICAL DREAMWORK
NEW DREAM GROUP TO OPEN IN MONTEREY BAY
SEEING DREAMS IN A NEW LIGHT
CONSCIOUS DREAMING, THE PATH OF THE SHAMAN IN EVERYDAY LIFE
HILLMAN TO VISIT MONTANA
DREAM CHAT GROUP ON MICROSOFT NETWORK
R E S E A R C H R E Q U E S T S
RESEARCH PROJECT ON DREAMS AND THE 1996 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION BY KELLY BULKELEY
DREAM INCUBATION STUDY BY CHARMAINE SUNGY
B O O K S - N E W R E L E A S E S
D R E A M W E B S I T E S
G L O B A L D R E A M I N G C A L E N D A R
==== THE HARROWERS, A DREAM SITE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES ====
Ready to have a playful adventure with your dreams? Or
perhaps you'd like to share a new online dream exploration
site with your favorite youngster(s) between the ages of
7-12? If so, then the HARROWERS is for you. A unique,
participatory site designed to introduce kids to dreamwork
in a way that is fun and easy to relate to, the Harrowers
is a serialized children's story about kids who visit their
dreamscapes and bring back 'artifacts' (e.g., symbols,
images, feelings) from their dreams.
Rick Smith, creator of the website, when asked how he came
to develop The Harrowers, said: "Chris Goldberg and I sat
down in October one night and tried to figure out how far
we could go with dreams. By the morning, we had come up
with a dozen ideas: machines that filmed dreams as they
were occurring, tape machines that stuck with velcro to the
side of the bed so you wouldn't have to turn on the lamp
and look for a pen to document your dreams, and many
others...all unfeasible. So we started small; we made a
dream journal and a guide to active dreaming. We figured
the best part of dreams is recalling the strange events and
characters and objects from the dreamscape and talking
about them in everyday reality. Then it hit us. There were
no words to solidify these concepts in people's heads. What
were those stories full of things that dreamed about? Where
did we go when we dreamed? And what were we doing when we
engaged in the exercise of actively remembering our dreams
(and maybe even playing an active role in them)? So we
started using the terms harrowing, harrowers, to harrow,
Aldebaran and artifacts to concretize the subjects and
allow us to get down to business. What came out of these
forays into language was an almost tangible world of
dreams. All of the sudden, people were bringing back
artifacts from beyond the wall of sleep. Back from
Aldebaran. What was once simply considered a dream journal
entry was now an artifact.
We've got a lot coming up. The first thing we introduced
after the initial concepts was "The Harrowers".. Because of
the lack of dream material available to children, we
figured a fictionalized account of one harrower named Paige
would inspire kids to start getting involved in Aldebaran.
"The Harrowers" is currently a serialized novel. A little
bit goes up on the web each day. So kids can check back and
see what Paige and all the characters she's meeting are up
to. And they might even see some imagery from their own
dreams. That's because we're encouraging children to submit
dreams to the harrowing page. We're going to weave the
imagery from the dreams into the storyline somehow. So "The
Harrowers" is actually interactive in the end. One of the
neatest things about "The Harrowers" is that readers are
encouraged to submit dream reports. I intend on
incorporating them into the storyline. So not only do kids
get an adventure to read on a daily basis, they also get to
see their own dream imagery woven into the story. "
If you're interested in experiencing The Harrowers, check
out the website at
<http://faraday.clas.virginia.edu/~rls3z>
============ DREAM CLASS via YOUR E-MAIL ===========
DreamGate presents its 11th class on dreams beginning
September 1st. What to people say about this class?
ML: I am really enjoying them. As a research base with a
chatty style but an obvious respect for the material-not to
mention huge amount of ground covered, they can't be beat!
Thank you so much for putting them together.
20 Classes range from ancient dream techniques, move
through classical and modern approaches and end with the
new venues in Cyberspace. $10.00 What a Deal!
For syllabus and registration info, e-mail Richard
Wilkerson rcwilk@dreamgate.com
============ JUNGIAN PUBLIC PROGRAM IN BOSTON ============
The New England Society of Jungian Analysts is pleased to
announce its Public Program for Fall 1996. All events are
open to the general public and will be held at the C.G.
Jung Institute-Boston.
THE COLLECTED WORKS OF C.G. JUNG:
MYSTERIUM CONIUNCTIONIS (VOL. 14)
Seminar by John Haule, Ph.D., IAAP
8 Tuesdays, Oct. 15 - Dec. 3, 8:00 - 10:00PM.
The thirteenth semester of a comprehensive introduction to
the Collected Works of C.G.Jung, considered in rough
chronological order with attention to their place in Jung's
personal development. This semester we will begin
_Mysterium Conjunctionis_ (Vol. 14), Jung's last major book
and the culmination of his work on alchemy. No prior
attendance in this series is required.
DREAM PRACTICUM
Ann Loftus, M.A., IAAP
6 Wednesdays, Oct. 16 - Nov. 20, 7:00 - 9:00PM
This practicum will focus on theoretical and practical
aspects of dream analysis, including the usefulness of
shadow integration. We will work directly on dream
material and participants may also offer dreams for our
consideration.
"FACE TO FACE WITH C. G. JUNG"
Film/Discussion with Warren Erickson, LCSW, IAAP
Friday, September 20, 7:30 - 9:30PM
The BBC film Face to Face" will be presented with an
introduction by Warren Erikson. In this film, Jung talks
about many issues including his views of the archetypal
structure of the human psyche, his relationship with Freud,
and the spiritual dimension. The film provides an
opportunity to hear directly from one of the most profound
thinkers about psyche in the 20th century. Discussion will
follow.
ARCHETYPAL DIMENSIONS OF SELF-ORGANIZATION
Workshop by Michael Conforti, Ph.D., IAAP
Saturday, October 5, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
One of Jung's greatest discoveries was the presence of
self-organizing tendencies in the psyche. Manifested in
dreams, symptoms, and other symbolic forms, Jung realized
that the psyche continually introduces greater degrees of
meaning and complexity into the life process. He went on
to suggest that much of life represents an unfolding of
these archetypal, ordering processes into matter, where
they then assume a recognizable form in both the internal
and external worlds.
THE AFRICAN UNCONSCIOUS: THE PRIMORDIAL ROOTS
OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS
Lecture by Edward Bruce Bynum, Ph.D.
Friday, October 18, 8:00 - 10:00PM
The rise and unfoldment of human consciousness and the dawn
of civilization are inextricably linked. The source of our
primordial images, dreams, and intimate family dynamics is
also the ground out of which these archetypal images have
arisen. This presentation will trace the genetic,
anthropological and historical evidence of these
developments in order to demonstrate that the universal
archetypes are embedded in the ancestral African memory
that is a living part and dynamic of every human being
today.
LANGUAGE AS IMAGE: WORKING IN THE DARK
Workshop by Jacqueline Schectman, LICSW, IAAP
Saturday, October 26, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
As therapists, we are presented with a wealth of visual
images the moment our patients enter the room. But what
would we see if we sat in the dark (or behind the couch)?
What of the pictures that we and our patients paint with
words? Every hour has its own language, a core image
presented in a dream, a fantasy, a description of the
traffic on the street. If we can tune our ears to the
sound and shape of words, play with and illuminate the
pictures that they paint, we can bring the image alive in
the room to yield up its many-layered nuances,
associations, and meanings.
JUNG'S TYPOLOGY AND HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS
Workshop by Jane Pretat, M.S., IAAP
Saturday, November 16, 10:00AM - 4:00PM
Introversion/Extroversion, Intuition/Sensation,
Feeling/Thinking. Can understanding these concepts help us
interact more consciously both with our significant others
and with our own life in psyche? Using fairy tales and
symbolic material, this one day workshop will attempt to
explore in some depth the symbolism of Jung's typology, its
strengths and weaknesses and how it might be useful in our
human interactions as we approach the new millennium.
EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER
Lecture by Mariann Burke, IAAP
Friday, December 6, 8:00 - 10:00PM
The first of three sessions on the elements, this lecture
will introduce symbolism of the elements drawn from alchemy
and myth and related to our psychic birth and growth.
Later workshops will be offered on The Elements, The Body,
Body Symptoms, and The Self.
Lectures: $15. Seminars and Workshops: $75 - $175
For more information about registration or other Institute
programs, please contact:
C.G. Jung Institute-Boston
283 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-5984
E-mail: cgjungbos1@aol.com
=========== AMONG ALL THESE DREAMERS ================
A new book, "Among All These Dreamers: Essays on Dreaming
and Modern Society" has just been released by SUNY. Dr.
Kelly Bulkeley, author of "The Wilderness of Dreams:
Exploring the Religious Meanings of Dreams in Modern
Western Culture" is the editor of this exciting and thought
provoking multidisciplinary volume which "examines the
cultural and social relevance of dream studies, looking at
various ways that the field can contribute to the
resolution of the modern West's most troubling social
issues. The essays offer novel insights on education,
sexual abuse, ecology, crime, race, gender,religion,
politics, death, and cross-cultural conflict. The
contributors argue that the study of dreams can provide
valuable resources to regain a vibrant, trustworthy sense
of moral and spiritual orientation in life. Contributors
include Jayne Gackenbach, Jeremy Taylor, Carol Schreier
Rupprecht, Wendy Doniger, and Johanna King." SUNY Press
can be contacted for orders at 1-800-666-2211.
====== GACKENBACH OFFERS INTERNET DREAM CLASS ==========
Unlocking the Secrets of Your Dreams is a noncredit
introductory course that is delivered on the World Wide
Web. The course consists of five lessons which teach you
to interpret and work with your own dreams, both alone
and in an electronic group session. Each lesson is
accompanied by an assignment where you will put what you
have learned into practice, and answer a questionnaire
about your dream experiences. You will receive feedback
on the completed assignment the following week.
Throughout the course you will have access to a student
bulletin board where you can share your ideas and
impressions about dreams with others enrolled in the class
as well as an active dialogue with the
author/instructor, Jayne Gackenbach.
Here are some comments from students who have taken the
course: I think this must be an Herculean effort on your
part, and it is appreciated. I am finding it interesting
and challenging. As with the rest of your feedback, I
find it FASCINATING and am already imagining ways to
adjust my clinical work from it's influence. Everthing
looks great! Very nice graphics - touches that part of
dreaming that is marvelous and wonderful. I find your
comments and students' feedback help me to understand
better. Once a path of communication is established, who
knows where it can lead and that's exciting, if a little
scary...
The course start dates are Sept. 9, 1996 and Oct. 28, 1996.
More information about the course and the instructor is
available at:
http://www.outreach.org/dreams
Jayne Gackenbach, Ph.D. e-mail:
jgackenb@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca #5; 4505 - 102 Avenue
phone (403)461-3219 Edmonton, Alberta T6A OM8 Canada
fax: 497-5308 (mark my attention)
Internet Dream Course: http://www.outreach.org/dreams
Association for the Study of Dreams Home Page:
http://www.outreach.org/gmcc/asd
====== ALCHEMICAL DREAMWORK ====================
Dream Studies Program at Twin Lakes College of the Healing
Arts offers an in-depth training in dreamwork for both
personal and professional applications. The 200 hour
program is designed as a progressive multi-level training
that will prepare students to work professionally with
dreams using a dream interview method. This approach
facilitates access to the transformative potential of the
dream state. It respects the many ways in which various
cultures utilize dreamwork as a valuable resource for
physical recovery, emotional and mental balancing, as well
as spiritual exploration and guidance. Our client centered
model of training also respects the unique aspects of each
dream and dreamer. A Dream Studies Certificate will be
awarded upon the successful completion of this program.
The Dream Studies Program is for: personal exploration of
dreams; people who want a professional practice in
dreamwork; professionals who want to integrate dreamwork
into another practice of the healing or educational arts -
such as body work, counseling, acupuncture, hypnosis,
teaching, aromatherapy, chiropractic, nursing, and
traditional western medicine. The course runs from
September 17, 1996 - May 6, 1997. Level 1: Personal
Dreamwork, Tues. 9 am - 12 noon, Sept.17 - Nov.26 Cost is
$280.
For more information, contact: Twin Lakes College of the
Healing Arts, 1210 Brommer St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062.
(408) 476-2152.
====== NEW DREAM GROUP TO OPEN IN MONTEREY BAY =========
Kathleen Sullivan, long-time dreamworker and host of a
weekly radio show, "Dreams, Another Way of Knowing", will
be opening two new dream groups in the Santa Cruz area in
September. These on-going groups will meet every other
week for two hours per session. One group will meet
Thursday evenings, the other Friday mornings. Call
408)372-8534 or email dremwvr@mbay.net if interested.
============ SEEING DREAMS IN A NEW LIGHT =================
Alive & Well, Institute of Conscious BodyWork, is pleased
to present a three day-workshop with Steven R. Vazquez
September 13-14-15 entitled "Seeing Dreams in a New
Light". This workshop will teach students how to use
colored light projected into the eyes to deepen
understanding of shadow elements in dreams; to use strobe
light stimulation to achieve desired brainwave states; to
use colored light stimulation to elicit underlying
emotional issues and to use the transpersonal dimension of
dreams to acquire answers and resolutions to problems.
Steven Vazquez, Ph.D., is a prominent workshop leader and a
licensed professional counselor and marriage and family
therapist. He has pioneered the use of brief strobic phot
stimulation for accelerated in-depth Mind-Body work. His
development of confluent somatic therapy, incorporating
bionergy work with psychology delivers rapid
results-oriented, cost-effective methods of treatment with
compassion and high ethical standards.
For more information, contact ALIVE & WELL, Institute of
Conscious BodyWork, Inc., 100 Shaw Drive, San Anselmo, CA
94960.
=== CONSCIOUS DREAMING, THE PATH OF THE SHAMAN IN EVERYDAY
LIFE ======
Join Robert Moss, author, shamanic counselor, and lifelong
dream explorer, for a week-long intensive workshop in the
skills of conscious dreaming: dream reentry, shared
dreaming, dream enactment and shamanic sould flight to the
sources of insight, creativity and healing September 29 -
October 4, 1996 at Esalen Institute, in Big Sur,
California.
Among Native Americans, the shaman is widely known as 'one
who dreams'. The gifts of dreaming come in many ways:
through the spontaneous wisdom of sleep-dreams, through
creative incubation, through conscious dreaming in a
relaxed state, through shamanic soul-flight to other
worlds and times -- and by paying attention to the
dream-like symbols and synchronicities of waking life.
In this workshop, dreamers are aided by drumming, guided
visualization and partner exercises to experiment with
shape-shifting, shared dreaming, folding ime, scouting
possible futures and other life experiences.
For more information, contact Esalen Institute at 408)
667-3005 or FAX 408) 667.2724.
============= HILLMAN TO VISIT MONTANA ==================
Dr. James Hillman, noted dream pioneer and researcher, will
be visiting Bozeman, Montana for a six hour seminar,
September 29th from 9am until 4pm at Lindley Park Center.
He will be featuring material from his new book "The
Soul's Code: Character, Calling and Fate". Although it is
not entirely specific to dreams,Hillman is so filled with
imagination and dream content that it all blends together.
The seminar is called "The Acorn Theory and the Bad Seed:
Politics and Mysteries in Childhood Disorders". Attendees
can receive up to six hours of professional credit and the
cost is $85.00. Space will be limited to 85 people. Hillman
says the following to describe the day: This workshop has
three aims: to explore childhood disorders as signs of
destiny; to review current thinking about psychopathy and
criminality; to look for a "third" way out of the
Nature/Nurture [genetics vs environment] controversy.We
shall be stretched between politics and religion, and we
shall also question how we imagine our personal biography.
For more information, contact
<ttate@montana.campus.mci.net. >
WORLD OF JESSE REKLAW
Look for an interview with Jesse and Brave New World's 21
Questions On September 2nd.
On Monday, Sept. 23 at 9:00 pm EDT, I'll be a guest
speaker for Donna Campos's Dream Studio show on CompuServ.
If you've got CompuServ, drop by and
chat with me!
I'll be at the Underground Press Conference-Independent
Comics Exposition October 12th 10 AM-5PM at the Chicago
Cultural Center. Come have your dream
sketched or lurk near my table, sending me psychic
messages.
======== DREAM CHAT GROUP ON MICROSOFT NETWORK
==============
For those of you who are subscribers, Dr. Strange reports
that Microsoft Network (MSN) has at least two or three
weekly chats on dreams, and a number of bulletin boards
and libraries with information on dreams, OBEs, astral
travel, etc. Once you get into MSN, right click your mouse
on the little icon on the lower right corner of your
screen, then pick Go to ... . Use the Go to word
AlienChat to access the chat, and AlienDream to access the
BBS and Lucid Dreamer's Library. Use AlienPara to check
out the whole paranormal section of the Alien and UFO
Forum. MSN has a much more limited web site that anyone
can access. According to MSN management, they plan to make
all of MSN accessible from the Web in the Fall.
Dr. Strange hosts Paranormal Chat on MSN ) Thursdays from
7-9 PM PDT in the Alien Chat room (Go to word
...AlienChat) where topics often discussed include lucid
dreams, OBEs, and other paranormal subjects. Dr. Strange
has also posted a number of Handouts on lucid dreams and
related subjects in the Lucid Dreamers Library (Go to word
... AlienDreamL) on MSN.
For more information, contact: DoctorStrange@msn.com
==========================================================
R E S E A R C H R E Q U E S T S
==========================================================
========= RESEARCH PROJECT ON DREAMS AND THE 1996
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION ===================================
I'm conducting a research project on dreams that have
contents relating to the 1996 Presidential Election. In
the process, I'm asking for people's help in gathering a
collection of dream samples. Have you had any dreams in
which:
1) Bill Clinton, Bob Dole, or Ross Perot appears?
2) Some other political figure appears (e.g., Newt
Gingrich, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Pat Buchanan)?
3) A major political theme or issue from the campaign
appears (e.g., abortion, taxes, welfare, the
environment)?
If you've had any dreams with these contents, I'd really
enjoy hearing about them. Please include the date of each
dream and any thoughts, feelings, or memories you have in
connection with it. All information you share with me will
be used with total confidentiality. If you like, I'd be
happy to send you a summary of the project's findings after
the election.
Thanks,
Kelly Bulkeley, Ph.D.
76633.1555@compuserve.com
226 Amherst Ave.
Kensington, CA 94708
510-528-0226 (o,fax)
P.S. Although the focus of my research is on the 1996
election, I'd also appreciate hearing any dreams you've had
about past U.S. Presidents (e.g., Ronald Reagan, John F.
Kennedy).
DREAM INCUBATION RESEARCH BY
EXPERIENCED DREAMKEEPERS
You are invited to :BRING THE DREAMTIME INTO CONSENSUS
REALITY AWARENESS
by participating in a study comparing the formal and
symbolic imagery appearing in incubated dreams and shamanic
journeys
Be an historically significant part of this ground-breaking
study to promote a shift in consciousness that may allow us
to tap more easily into those dimensions with which until
now mainly mystics and shamans have reported regular
concourse.
=0= What will participation involve? =0=
1. completing three assessments and a short-answer
questionnaire to be used as participant descriptors in the
study (1 1/2 hrs);
2. incubating the dream; recording it;
3. discussing the dream description later on for 15-20
minutes to ensure full researcher understanding;
4. rating a packet of 4 shamanic journey descriptions
according to how well each one corresponds to the theme,
imagery, and mood of your incubated dream; and possibly
5. a tape-recorded phone interview of approximately one
hour in length should your dream and its corresponding
journey be selected for deeper comparison due to their
degree of congruence.
TIME COMMITMENT
It is estimated that items 1-4 require a total
commitment of 3 hours, and all can be done in your own
home. Participation in #5 will require 1 additional hour,
a 90-minute tape and use of a taperecorder at your end of
the phone conversation.
NOTE: Willingness to participate in all five parts of the
study is necessary.
CONFIDENTIALITY
For the protection of your privacy, all information
received from you will be kept confidential, and your
identity protected.
CHARMAINE SUNGY
625 GILBERT
AVENUE
MENLO PARK, CA 94025
=0= How can I volunteer? =0=
I greatly appreciate your interest in my study and your
willingness to share your precious time, energy, personal
dream experiences and insights with me.
Please detach this panel from the rest of the brochure,
fill in the requested information, and mail it poste haste
to receive further information.
PLEASE PRINT
Name
Address
City zip
phone/fax ( )
* I ve recorded my dreams yr mo.
* I have participated in a dream group
regularly for yr. mo.
*I M INTERESTED IN* (Check)
the late-September research study
___related future research
=0= BIRTH INFORMATION =0=
will be important in the astrological extension to my
transpersonal research methodology. [Exact time is key to
an accurate analysis; so please make every effort to get
this as soon
as possible, if you need to leave it blank.]
Circle
mo. day yr. time am pm
City state
(or country)
=0= As a dream participant you will =0=
* gain personal insights from your incubated dream;
* learn a shamanic journeyer s experiences
concerning your dream question;
* receive a summary of the patterns and conclusions
drawn from combined data from all participants, at the
completion of the study.
=0= Other advantages of participating in this research? =0=
It is hoped that discoveries made through this research
will create greater awareness, within both the scientific
community and our society in general, of the importance and
contribution to our lives of both Dreamwork and Shamanic
Journeywork, and *of Consciousness and Awareness, as key
players in the manifestation, integration, and
transformation of both our Universe and Life World.*
=0= About the Researcher =0=
CHARMAINE SUNGY is a doctoral student in her dissertation
year at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. Her
focus is on *archetypal structures of the Unconscious* as
they manifest through the *imagery* of personality type,
astrology, shamanic work, and dreams in the service of
health and wholeness. HER DISSERTATION will explore the
relationship between the imagery and symbols that dreamers
experience in their incubated dream and those that appear
in an intentionally-related shamanic journey of another
person.
Her study asks, to what degree are features of the dream
landscape and the dreamer s experiences in that landscape
replicable through another altered state way-of-knowing,
such as shamanic journey?
Charmaine Sungy was drawn to doing _shamanic work_ through
a series of shocking and synchronistic initiatory peak
experiences that transformed her life and set her on the
shamanic path of spiritual seeking and healing seven years
ago. It was through her shamanic work that she was led to
study astrology and to enter the Ph.D. program in
Transpersonal Psychology at ITP, where she has done
dreamwork with Jeremy Taylor during the past three years.
Previously, Charmaine taught in inner-city high schools
for 21 years in visual arts, literature, reading and
Spanish. Other personas dancer, poet, gardener,
hypnotherapist, astrologer.
*Like Alice through the looking-glass*
JOIN ME IN AN ADVENTURE
into symbolic dimensions reflections that of who
mirror we are TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY, which embraces
spirituality as a basic characteristic of both humanity and
Universal Order in general, will become more clearly
understood and brought to
greater prominence within the culture through the topic as
well as the approach of this research.
_Holography _--until now only recognized by mystics,
shamans, Jungian depth psychology, and esoteric
transpersonal modes of being--is coming to be seen as the
actual way phenomena are sensed or made known to us.
The symbol or metaphoric experience is the space-moment
within which the archetypal elements emerge across the
threshold between formless and formed realities into their
first perceivable structure as *archetypal pre-thought form
images,*
B O O K S - N E W R E L E A S E S
_Stop Sleeping Through Your Dreams: A Guide to Awakening
consicousness During Sleep_ By Charles McPhee
Assistance in becoming a conscious participant is extended
from the book to the Net, as Charles is encouraging those
who have lucid dreams to write to him. Visit:
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/mcphee
This is to let you know that _Electirc Dreams_ is listed in
a new book, _Surgery Electives: What to Know Before the
Doctor Operates, A Guide for Those Considering Elective
Surgery_, 2nd Edition, by John McCabe.
The 416-page book includes a research section containing
Internet and E-mail access to hundreds of health-related
organizations, associations, support groups, and government
agencies. It also includes references to holistic health
therapies.
Surgery Electives can be ordered through your local
bookstore. It can also be purchased through mail order by
sending $19.95 and $3 postage to Carmania Books, PO Box
1272, Santa Monica, CA 90406-1272.
==========================================================
D R E A M W E B S I T E S
========================================================
New participatory web site for kids: THE HARROWERS at
<http://faraday.clas.virginia.edu/~rls3z>. (see the article
in GLOBAL DREAMING NEWS for more information)
DreamLink Update
If you haven't visited DreamLink in the last few weeks
you're see some changes -
1. Addition of DreamWheel Section - an area where one dream
is looked at with the dreamer responding to questions and
queries sent by people that need more information before
they submit a translation.
2. Key Word Search - the JOURNAL section with all the
dreams and translations can now be searched for specific
topics to respond to or just view
3. Dream Chich - A section has been added to just ask
questions you have about dreams or to respond to questions
posted - a bbs of the Dreamworld.
Linton for DreamLink
http://www.iag.net:80/~hutchib/.dream/
ASD Homepage Update - conversation!
Stop by the ASD bulletin board and join in conversations on
the study of dreams, color and dreams, dream interpretation
issues, references and bibliographies on dreams and many
other topics.
Also, be sure to check out the ASD Art Gallery while you
are there and see a wonderful gallery of dream inspired
art.
http://www.outreach.org/gmcc/asd/
Big Dream Eric W. Fitz
Big Dream is both an experiment in literary criticism and a
fiction. The project begins with an actual dream of mine,
represented in fragments, that move in both a temporally
linear and crossing manner. Small parts of each fragment
are given brief Freudian analyses, and are interpreted
symbolically. These symbols are then abstracted into the
driving forces for the multivocal fiction.
http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/hypertext/landow/SSPClust
er/Dreams.html
==========================================================
G L O B A L D R E A M I N G C A L E N D A R
==========================================================
August 31
-September 2 Shamanism & Healing Conference - Dream
Reentry Santa Sabina Center, Dominican
College, San Rafael, CA Contact:
Ruth-Inge Heinze, Ph.D., 2321 Russell
Street. #3A, Berkeley, CA 94705-1959.
(510) 849-3791.
September 7th "The Practice of Dream Reentry Healing":
9:30AM - 5:00PM Fred Olsen in
Novato, CA & Berkeley see:
http://www.dreamgate.com/dream/reentry
Sept. 9, 1996 and On the Internet
Oct. 28, 1996 Introductory Dreamwork Course
http://www.outreach.org/dreams
Jayne Gackenbach, Ph.D.
Sept 13-15, 1996 USA: San Anselmo, California
Seeing Dreams in a New Light
Alive & Well, 100 Shaw Drive
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Sept. 17, 1996 USA: Santa Cruz, California
Alchemical Dream Work
Twin Lakes College
Contact: Gina Pearlin
<glass@cruzio.com>
20 Sept USA: Concord, MA
"Sacred Dreams in World Religions and
Personal Experience" - Talk and Group
Discussion The Dreamwheel, 191 Sudbury
Road Call (508)369-2634 to register
Sept 23, 1996 NET: Jesse Reklaw on DreamStudio
On Monday, Sept. 23 at 9:00
pm EDT, Jesse will be a guest
speaker for Donna Campos's Dream
Studio show on CompuServ.
Sept 29, 1996 USA: Bozeman, Montanta
James Hillman Workshop, 9am-4pm
Lindley Park Center
Contact:
<ttate@montana.campus.mci.net. >
Oct 12, 1996 USA: Menlo Park, California
Introduction to Dreamwork Seminar
Two Sisters Bookstore, 605
Cambridge 10:00 am - Noon
Contact: <cboyer@wpo.borland.com>
Oct. 12, 1996 US: Chicago Jesse Reklaw: at the
Underground Press Conference-
Independent Comics Exposition
Chicago Cultural Center
Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z
DREAMS SECTION: ED 3.7 by Bob K.
Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z=Z
Welcome to the Dreams section of ELECTRIC DREAMS. We
requested FIRST DREAMS for this issue, and have a full
harvest of dreams willingly shared with our community. I
guess it is not a surprise that these first dreams share
characteristics of conciseness, and vividness of images.
There are many nightmare type experiences described. The
dream had to be strong enough to leave a lasting impression
on the dreamers.
An interesting issue came up as to the definition of a
FIRST DREAM. The original intention and most widely
understood meaning was the earliest dream recalled in ones
life. However, some people could identify a FIRST
SIGNIFICANT DREAM or a SERIES OF DREAMS that made a strong
impression and wondered if that would qualify. Well, we
are still small enough to publish all submissions and so we
are doing.
The meaning of some of those dreams have become clear to
some of the dreamers while many still marvel at what they
could possibly mean. Mystery and wonder await those who
venture into the inner reality of dreams. Netizens of the
Web, for your viewing pleasure, emotional growth,
intellectual stimulation and spiritual nourishment, the
Dreamorama of ED 3.7 follows.
As always thanks to the contributors, both dreamers and
commentators. For the benefit of new readers, I would like
to repeat the information cited elsewhere in our
publication that the views of our commentators are personal
views and not intended as professional advice or
psychotherapy. We believe that only the dreamer can
determine what the dream means for the dreamer. Sharing a
journey of discovery, we can all gain much insight into our
own lives from the dreams and observations of others.
Offered dreams are submitted under code names for the most
part, unless a contributor wants direct feedback and
specifically requests their real name or email addresses be
used. For privacy and security reasons, we recommend using
a code name for your submissions.
C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C
C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C
FROM PREVIOUS ISSUE DREAMS:
Commentary on Alien Taste Test by SkyeT (960803)
N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N
N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N
NEW DREAMS:
F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F
-FIRST DREAMS:
CHALLENGES
1st Dream: Choices by BobK
1st Dream "The Hard Step by Ladystrange
MYSTERIES
1st Dream: Moon Mice by Richard
Commentary: 1st Dream Moon Mice (960804) by Narcissus
Almost 1st Dream: Melting Sally by Dreambat
Commentary on "Melting Sally" (960813) by Narcissus
THREATS
1st Dream: Candi's first dream- Insects! by Candi
1st Dream "Fun House & Not so Fun House" by Renee
1st Dream: "Holy Kidnaping!" by India [Batman s Penguin]
1st Dream: "The Maze" -Anonymous
1st Dream: "The Overstuffed Chair" by Dee Dee
1st Dream "Tumbling Boxes" by Martin
1st Dream: "window" by Melissa [Midieval Europe]
WONDERS
1st Dream: my first dream by mermaid
1st Dream: "Underground Amusements" by Andy
N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N
N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N-N
ANIMALS/ CHASES
Dream: Monkey Business by Nutcracker (960711)
Dream: Snakes by JRA (960816)
COLLECTORS ITEMS
Dream: More Pez Finds by Nutcracker (960709)
CREATIONS
Dream: Sculptor Dream by GSD (960819)
DREAMS OF DREAMING
Dream: Dreamsharing by Nutcracker (960705)
FAMOUS PEOPLE
Dream: At The Kennedy s by Nutcracker (960713)
(The Kennedy Clan)
Dream: Dream#9" by Sprock (960805) (John Lennon)
FRIENDS
Dream: Parallel Universe by Nutcracker ((960709)
JOURNEYS:
Dream: "Bocca de Verita" by India (960809)
Dream: "Get to the Airport!" by Blair (960715)
Dream: King Arthur s Court by Nutcracker (960712)
Dream: Selfish by Nutcracker (960702)
Dream: The Trip by Nutcracker (960706)
JUMBLES
Dream: dreams of sunny last month...this month by LorD
Commentary on Dream questions (96-07-28) by Narcissus
LOSS
Dream: NO SUN by Cathv (960725) revisited
Commentary/ Part 2 by Bob K on No Sun
LOVE, ROMANCE & SEX
Dream: I left my Pablum, In San Fran-cisco"
by Martski(960810)
Dream:" Necrophilia" by Nutcracker(960808)
Commentary on " Necrophilia" (960808) by Narcissus
PLACES
Dream: Electric Dreams by Nutcracker (960704)
Dream: The Unknown Basement by BobK (960720)
PRECOGNITIVE
Dream: Dying Dog & TWA 800" by Michelle K (960716)
Dream: Message From Mom & Uncles Death by Michelle K
(960728)
Dream: Neighbors and Cancer by Michelle K (960728)
SOUNDS
Dream: Dream #9" by Sprock (960805) [John Lennon]
Dream: "Dancing with the Ghost of the Turntable"
by Blair (960514)
Dream: "I d Rather Play my Bass than Get Married"
by Blair (960420)
Dream: Thunder in The Cupboard by Nutcracker (960713)
THREATS
Commentary on "Tornado Dreams" by Narcissus (960730)
TRANSFORMATIONS
Dream: "Chen & I" by Chesko (960819)
Dream: Of Trees Possessed by Nutcracker (960721)
=====
INDEX
=====
BOBK S WEBSITE PICK OF THE MONTH
REMINDER ON NUTCRACKER S WEBSITE
SUGGESTED THEME FOR ED3.8- SIGNIFICANT DREAMS &
COMMENTARIES
C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C
C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C
COMMENTARY ON DREAMS FROM PREVIOUS ISSUES
Commentary on Alien Taste Test (96-08-03) by SkyeT
** "Alien Taste Test" by BR (960627 by JR)
I dreamed that I was walking through a field at daytime,
with a friend. As I kept walking, I noticed there was an
alien craft near me. It was saucer-shaped, but something
was terribly wrong. The top of the spacecraft had been
removed, and only the bottom portion of the craft remained.
Piled throughout the craft there were hundreds of flattened
"greys" alien carcasses. Their skin somehow turned
transparent and yellow. I picked up an alien and bit into
its rubbery arm. IT TASTED LIKE IMITATION LEMON PIE
FILLING!!!
==-FOCUS ON EMOTIONS:
1)FEARS
The flattened Greys...you're not the only one who has seen
them. Whitley Strieber saw them, "stacked like cord wood,"
and I've seen a single one, head still retaining it's
shape, but the body flattened like a large hand puppet. In
other words, they may not have been corpses, but costumes.
imitation lemon pie filling = something artificial,
manufactured, not what it purports to be.
Let's incubate some dreams to discover what they Greys
*really* are! :)
Skye T
"...It has been speculated that of all groups scientists
and engineers might be the most devastated by the discovery
of relatively superior creatures, since these professions
are most clearly associated with the mastery of nature,
rather than with the understanding and expression of man.
Brookings Institute for NASA, 4/18/61
F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F
F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F-F
CHALLENGES
**1st Dream: "The Hard Step by Ladystrange
(from posting on alt.dreams)
The first dream I remember...I was about 2 or 3...I dreamed
I was walking in my house and because I was so young it was
hard I was still learning how. I dreamed I walked into our
den which was a step down den...I remember it was
hard..that step down. all I remember...sorry
**1st Dream: Choices by BobK
My earliest recollection is finding myself in a cave. I
have no idea of my age or physical condition. All I know
is that I am alone. I have reached the end of the cave
and there are several closed doors (five?) from which I
must choose my next path. There is a sense of finality
about the choice. Once I go through the door, I seem to
know that it will not be possible to turn back. I will be
embarked on a path of no return. How will I make my choice?
MYSTERIES
**1st Dream: "Moon Mice" by Richard
I am dreaming that I can't sleep. I get up and find my
mother in the living-room. She is standing in the moonlight
beside the sleigh-bed. She is wearing a diaphanous
nightgown and matching robe. When I tell her I can't sleep
(or did I have to tell her?) she tells me the following
story.
Once upon a time there were these moon mice that came
to earth. The sun was too bright for them and travel in the
sewers during the daytime.
Image: A mouse face like creature with wheels instead
of legs rolling down a sewer tube. From the back they look
like the back of a round wind-up alarm clock.
At night they would come out and gather around in a
circle and wait to see the moon (whom they worshiped).
But one night it was foggy and the when the mice came
out they were sad because they couldn't see the moon. And
so, on that night, with all the moon mice gathered in a
circle, the moon came down to them.
== Commentary on Richards Moon Mice by Narcissus
[** "Moon Mice" by Richard] > >
I am dreaming that I can't sleep. I get up and find my
> mother in the living-room. She is standing in the
moonlight > beside the sleigh-bed. She is wearing a
diaphanous nightgown and > matching robe. When I tell her I
can't sleep (or did I > have to tell her?) she tells me the
following story.
In my dream, the moon is the home of the goddess. To me, a
sleigh-bed is a slay-bed: a place of creation, death, and
transformation. Freud lives in me, so the images space to
my Oedipal desires.
> Once upon a time there were these moon mice that came
to > earth. The sun was too bright for them and travel in
the sewers > during the daytime.
In my dream, the sun god is male. The sun was too bright
for the moon mice because they were not ready for the
world of men. The sewers were the birth canals and my own
mixed feels about bathroom functions and sexuality.
> Image: A mouse face like creature with wheels
instead of legs rolling > down a sewer tube. From the back
they look like the > back of a round wind-up alarm clock.
As a child I loved to play w/ miniature cars. For a long
time, advertising agencies have been getting rich on the
relationship between cars and male sexuality. At this age,
sex seems more mechanical the biological. I don't
understand it, am a bit afraid of it, and use the image to
get some distance from my desires. The clock reminds me
that in time, I will have a better understanding.
> At night they would come out and gather around in a
circle and > wait to see the moon (whom they worshiped).
The mice agree w/ me about mother moon, the goddess.
> But one night it was foggy and the when the mice came
out they > were sad because they couldn't see the moon. And
so, on that > night, with all the moon mice gathered in a
circle, the > moon came down to them.
The fog could be my tears (or my bed wetting) and the moon,
the mother whom I love and worship, comes down to my
level. By gathering in a circle, the sacred shape of the
feminine, I draw the energy of the goddess to me.
I hope these thoughts are of use to you.
Narcissus
** Almost 1st Dream: Melting Sally by Dreambat
That Necrophilia dream stimulated an old, old memory of
mine and I recalled an early dream I had forgotten about.
Childhood dream (4-5yrs old)
Melting Sally. by DreamBat
I'm out playing by the sidewalk when a little girl
about my age comes by. She had been shopping and has a bag
of groceries. I spill some water on her and she melts!
Nothing is left but the groceries. I hear her mother
calling from the doorway a couple of houses away "Sally,
Sallllllll-yyyyyyy" I feel really guilty and wretched and
have no idea how to deal with this.
==Commentary on "Melting Sally" (96-08-13) by Narcissus
I'm fascinated by the connection between "Melting Sally"
and "Necrophilia." Why did one stimulate memory of the
other? Is there another sex/death/food connection here?