I have successfully presented workshops at two of their International Conferences, in Hawaii 1998, and Berkeley, California, 2003.
I continue to collect new examples of different kinds of memorable dreams, to be used in my seminars and publications, for the purpose of educating the public. If you would like to offer me one of your dreams for this purpose, please contact me initially by email.
Awareness, respect and sensitivity are needed when you work with someone else’s dream, whether a client, friend, family member, group member or casual acquaintance.
1. The dreamer owns the dream, like a poem or painting, and is the ultimate interpreter of its meaning. Others may assist her/him towards a fuller understanding, after appropriate contracting to do so.
2. You as assistant can help by asking open questions, noticing connections, offering possibilities, in a collaborative dialogue, but not imposing your view onto the dreamer.
3. Different methods may be valid in exploring a dream, and may yield more than one layer of meaning, eg a figure may symbolize part of the dreamer (subjectively), and/or someone else (objectively). Possible meanings may be “left hanging” for further thought.
4. The dreamer has a right to be forewarned that a dream may open up unexpected feelings or memories; to be treated respectfully; and to discontinue exploration if s/he feels too uncomfortable. This should be part of contracting.
5. The dreamer has a right to confidentiality about her/his dream and its meaning, unless other-wise agreed, eg for purposes of training, supervision, research or education. If you wish to talk or write publicly about someone else’s dream, obtain written permission to do so, and remove or change any details that would identify the dreamer.
RECOMMENDED READING LIST ON DREAMS – Revised 2009. M. Bowater
Website: International Association for the Study of Dreams:
www.asdreams.org . Authoritative, multi-disciplinary, focused on research. Publishes magazine
Dreamtime and academic journal
Dreaming.
Barrett, Deirdre, ed. Trauma and Dreams, 1996, Harvard University Press, USA. (appr. $150).
Excellent selection of research articles on the range of post-trauma dreams.
Bowater, Margaret, Dreams and Visions- Language of the Spirit, 1997, Tandem Press, NZ ($29.95).
Introduction for NZers, using a wide range of NZ dreams. (Out-of-print. Seek second-hand.)
Bulkeley, Kelly, Introduction to the Psychology of Dreaming, 1997, Praeger, USA.
Sound, short historical summary of western approaches to dreaming.
Bulkeley, Kelly, Transforming Dreams – Learning Spiritual Lessons from the Dreams You Never
Forget, 2000. Wiley, NY. Explores the effects of visionary dreams.
Bulkeley. Kelly & Bulkley, Patricia, Dreaming Beyond Death – A Guide to Pre-Death Dreams
and Visions, 2005, Beacon Press, Boston. Authoritative, clear.
Bulkeley, Kelly, Dreaming in the World’s Religions – a Comparative History, 2008, NY University
Press. Scholarly summary of the influence of dreams in all religions.
Chevalier and Gheerbrant, Penguin Dictionary of Symbols, 1996, Penguin, London (appr $36).
Presents multi-cultural range of meanings.
Clift, Jean and Clift,Wallace, Symbols of Transformation in Dreams, 1989, Collins Dove,
Melbourne. Identifies major archetypal symbols, Jungian approach.
Cushway and Sewell, Counselling with Dreams and Nightmares, 1992, Sage, UK (appr $45).
Straightforward summary of main approaches used by counsellors.
Hartmann, Ernest, Dreams and Nightmares – the New Theory on the Origin and Meaning of
Dreams, 1998, Plenum Trade, NY ($80). Good discussion of scientific theory.
Hill, Clara, ed. Dreamwork in Therapy – Facilitating Exploration, Insight and Action. 2004.
American Psychological Assn, Washington DC. ($120). Authoritative textbook on practice.
Jung, Carl, Memories, Dreams, Reflections, 1967, Fontana, London. Autobiography
of the Swiss dream-scholar who developed theory of the Collective Unconscious.
Kelsey, Morton, God, Dreams and Revelation, 1968, Augsburg, USA. Scholarly
research on dreams in the Bible and Church history – background for Christians.
Krippner, Bogzaran & Percia de Carvalho, Extraordinary Dreams and How to Work with Them,
2002, State University of NY (appr $55). Authoritative summary of research, clear.
Morse, Melvin and Perry, Paul, Parting Visions, 1995, Piatkus, London. Presenting clear readable
evidence of pre-death visionary experiences. Also Closer to the Light, 1992, children’s nde’s.
Raffa, Jean Benedict, Dream Theatres of the soul – Empowering the Feminine through Jungian
Dreamwork. 1984. Innisfree Press, Philadelphia. Insightful.
Sanford, John, Dreams – God’s Forgotten Language, 1984, Crossroad, NY. An Episcopalian priest
and Jungian analyst challenges the Church to listen to dreams in the Bible and in life.
Savary, Berne and Williams, Dreams and Spiritual Growth, 1984, Paulist Press, NY.
Christian-Jungian approach, offering 37 practical dreamwork techniques.
Siegel, Alan, Dream Wisdom, 2002, Celestial Arts, Ca. Good introduction, including material from
his own research on trauma dreaming.
Signell, Karen, Wisdom of the Heart- Working with Women’s Dreams, 1990, Bantam, NY. Excellent
readable overview of dreaming from a Jungian psychologist.
Van de Castle, Robert, Our Dreaming Mind – the role of dreams in politics, art, religion and
psychology, 1994, Aquarian, UK (appr $50).Comprehensive survey.
Wray, TJ& Price, AB, Grief Dreams – How they help heal us after the death of a loved one, 2005,
Jossey-Bass, SF. Authoritative, sensitive; theory & process.
Note: Many books can be obtained secondhand through websites like
www.Amazon.com; Trade Me.