Tag: Dreaming + Consciousness

1. Dreams are personal and universal. By sharing them in a group we are bringing the gifts of the dreamworld into this world, creating opportunity for deeper insight and growth.
2. Safety, privacy, and respect are paramount. What happens in the group, stays in the group. We agree to anonymity outside of the group within our own personal circles, and no sharing of another’s dream material on Canvas discussion boards or at school gatherings.
3. We agree to non-judgement and unconditional positive regard. Sharing our dreams can feel vulnerable, especially since their contents may highlight our shadow aspects. We are always in control of how much we share and when. As we grow and share together, so will the trust within the group.
4. The group is here to listen, to offer insight, and to provide a safe container for communal sharing. The group is not meant to be a therapy session.
5. The dreamer decides what level of interaction they want from the group. They state their preference before sharing their dream, and they are also free to change their mind at any point while it is still their turn.
6. Telling your dream in the present tense is encouraged. It puts you the dreamer–and the listeners–squarely back inside the dream, in the thick of the action.
7. When writing down your dream, consider giving it a title! I have found that in many instances, a title can synthesize the essence of the dream’s message.
8. Interrupting the dreamer while they’re sharing their dream should be avoided.
9. We will strive to meet every other week for 2 hours, enough time for roughly two people to share their dreams and have discussion.
10. When/if every other week becomes challenging (likely once we are further along in the semester), then we will move to once a month.

While conducting research for my case study, Dreaming with Purpose, I came across a lot of literature, books, and articles. My study highlighted why having a dreaming practice is important. Now that some of my EXA cohorts and I are hoping to begin a dream share group, I am revisiting my bookmarks and resources with a fresh eye towards the group sharing process. Here’s what I’ve got so far…

• A super helpful list of pointers for starting your own dream group from dream educator, Ryan Hurd, who advocates for using the phrase ‘If it were my dream’ when responding with your thoughts. This works to “…help the dreamer and the speaker remember that the comment is not a fact, but a projection”.
• Robert Moss has many visualization activities that are great for one person, but I think could be really fun to do in a group. Growing Big Dreams and Dreaming the Soul Back Home are the two books I own from him, and I just downloaded a sample of Dreamgates.
• When sharing your dream, tell it in thePRESENT TENSE and tell it TWICE. Kelly Bulkeley says why this matters: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dreaming-in-the-digital-age/202104/the-best-way-begin-dream-sharing-process
• The Art of Dreaming by Jill Mellick, EXA Jungian therapist, has a chapter on group dream work. Good foundational book for all dreamers, expressive arts based or not.

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“The most important thing is that you collect a small group of people who trust each other, and feel safe enough to tell their dream and listen to feedback about what others think”. ✨

Ryan Hurd