Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-03T02:00:47.221Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Dream Sharing as a Healing Method: Tropical Roots and Contemporary Community Potential

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 December 2014

Angel K. Morgan*
Affiliation:
The Dreambridge, Ashland, Oregon
*
address for correspondence: Angel K. Morgan, www.thedreambridge.com. Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

Abstract

Comparing the healing experiences reported by members of indigenous dream groups such as the Senoi of Malaysia and others to those reported by members of American grassroots dream appreciation groups, and considering the views of previous researchers who have studied these groups, it is seen that there are many aspects of dream sharing in the community that have potential healing capacities. There are critics who claim that the lack of a professional group leader will put group members at risk. But problems can be avoided with proper communication, education, and appropriate dream group leadership. The experience of healing by dream sharing in community is qualitatively unique depending on the cultural context and worldview. There are many forms of dream sharing and healing that have been reported by those who have shared dreams in various world communities. In Western societies lack of interest, fear, and safety concerns have influenced the paucity of dream sharing. Many forms of dreamwork in groups have included both healing and education as potential goals. There is room for new ideas to be implemented and built upon that could creatively help nourish those parts of the world that are suffering from social and cultural dream-impoverishment.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barasch, M. I. (2000). Healing dreams: Exploring the dreams that can transform your life. New York: Riverhead Books.Google Scholar
Bourke, J. (2005). Fear: A cultural history. Great Britain: Virago Press.Google Scholar
Degarrod, L. N. (1990). Coping with stress: Dream interpretation in the Mapuche family. Psychiatric Journal of the University of Ottawa. 15, 111116.Google ScholarPubMed
Discovery Channel (Producer). (1994). The power of dreams, Part III: Sacred sleep. [Television series].Google Scholar
Duran, E., & Duran, B. (1995). Native American postcolonial psychology. Albany: State University of New York Press.Google Scholar
Duran, E. (2000). Buddha in redface. New York: Writers Club Press.Google Scholar
Duran, E. (2006). Healing the soul wound: Counseling with American Indians and other Native peoples. New York: Teachers college Press.Google Scholar
Feinstein, D., & Krippner, S. (2006). The mythic path, 3rd ed., Santa Rosa: Energy Psychology Press/Elite Books.Google Scholar
Freud, S. (1999). The interpretation of dreams (Crick, J., Trans.). New York: Oxford University Press. (Original work published November 1899, postdated to 1900).Google Scholar
Garfield, P. (1974). Creative dreaming. New York: Simon & Schuster.Google Scholar
Gendlin, E. T. (1986). Let your body interpret your dreams. Wilmette, IL: Chiron Publications.Google Scholar
Giorgi, A. (1985). Phenomenology and psychological research. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press.Google Scholar
Giorgi, A. P., & Giorgi, B. M. (2003). The descriptive phenomenological psychological method. In Camic, P. M., Rhodes, J. E. & Yardley, L. (Eds.), Qualitative research in psychology (pp. 243273). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Giorgi, A. (2009). The descriptive phenomenological method in psychology: A modified Husserlian approach. Pittsburgh, PA: Duquesne University Press.Google Scholar
Hartmann, E. (1998). Dreams and nightmares: The new theory on the origin and meaning of dreams. New York: Plenum.Google Scholar
Healing, . (n.d.). In The Oxford English dictionary, 2nd ed.Google Scholar
Hillman, D. J. (1990). The emergence of the grassroots dreamwork movement. In Krippner, S. (Ed.) Dreamtime and dreamwork. New York: Tarcher/Perigee.1320.Google Scholar
International Association for the Study of Dreams (1997). IASD dreamwork ethics Statement. Retrieved from http://asdreams.org/ethics.htm#dreamwork_ethicsGoogle Scholar
Jilek, W. G. (1982). Indian healing: Shamanic ceremonialism in the Pacific Northwest today. Surrey, British Columbia: Hancock House.Google Scholar
Jung, C. G., & Jaffe, A. (1989). Memories, dreams, reflections (Winston, R., & Winston, C., Trans.). New York: Vintage Books. (Original work published 1961).Google Scholar
Kaplan-Williams, S. (1985). The Jungian-Senoi dreamwork manual: A step-by-step introduction to working with dreams. Berkeley: Journey Press.Google Scholar
Kaplan-Williams, S. (1992). Dreamworking: A comprehensive guide to working with dreams. San Francisco: Journey Press.Google Scholar
Kaplan-Williams, S. (2001 March). Jung the great dreamer but where are his little dreams? Electric Dreams 8 (3). Retrieved from http://www.improverse.com/ed-articles/strephon_kaplan-wiliams_2001_mar_jung.htmGoogle Scholar
Krippner, S., & Dillard, J. (1987). Dreamworking: How to use your dreams for creative problem-solving. New York: Bearly Limited.Google Scholar
Krippner, S. (Ed.) (1990). Dreamtime and dreamwork. New York: Tarcher.Google Scholar
Krippner, S., Bogzaran, F., & de Carvalho, A. P. (2002). Extraordinary dreams and how to work with them. New York: State University of New York Press.Google Scholar
Krippner, S. (2009). Anyone who dreams partakes in shamanism. Journal of Shamanic Practice. 2 (2), 3340.Google Scholar
Krippner, S., Richards, R., Pritzker, S., & Blum, A. (2010, January). The exceptional language of dreams: What they tell us and how. Seminar conducted in conference at Westin Hotel, Millbrae, CA for Saybrook University, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Merleau-Ponty, M. (1962). The phenomenology of perception. (Smith, C., Trans.) New York: Routledge. (Original work published 1945).Google Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2008). Dreambridge dream-arts community center. (Available from http://www.thedreambridge.com/center.htm)Google Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2008). Dreambridge summer workshops. (Available from http://www.thedreambridge.com/workshops.htmGoogle Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2008). Dreambridge code of ethics. (Available from http://www.thedreambridge.com/ethics.htm)Google Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2008). Influence and inspiration between dreams and art forms in art students living in community. Unpublished manuscript, Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2009). Influence and inspiration between dreams and creativity in members of dream groups. Saybrook University, San Francisco, CA. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/2377867/Influence_and_Inspiration_Between_Dreams_and_Creativity_In_Members_of_Dream_GroupsGoogle Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2009). Effects of the link between dreams and creativity in the work of professional creative artists. Saybrook University, San Francisco, CA. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/2377880/Effects_of_the_Link_Between_Dreams_and_Creativity_In_the_Work_of_Professional_Creative_ArtistsGoogle Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2010). Investigating experienced links between dreams and creativity in the work of professional creative artists. Saybrook University, San Francisco, CA. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/2377890/Investigating_Experienced_Links_Between_Dreams_and_Creativity_In_the_Work_of_Professional_Creative_ArtistsGoogle Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (Director). (2010). Linked: The dream-creativity connection. [Motion Picture]. Ashland, OR: Independent Production.Google Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2011). Investigating experienced links between dreams and creativity in the work of professional creative artists. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/924977/Investigating_experienced_links_between_dreams_and_creativity_in_the_work_of_professional_creative_artistsGoogle Scholar
Morgan, A. K. (2011). People of the dream. In Morgan, R. F. (Ed.), Trauma psychology in context: International vignettes and applications from a lifespan clinical-community psychology perspective. 120124.Google Scholar
Moss, R. (2009). The secret history of dreaming. Novato, CA: New World Library.Google Scholar
Neihardt, J. G. (1988). Black Elk speaks. University of Nebraska Press.Google Scholar
Roseman, M. (1990). Healing sounds: Music and medicine in Temiar ceremonial life. Berkeley: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Rourke, M. (2000, September 11). L. A. at large; Navigating their dreamscapes together; The women in Connie Kaplan's circle find healing and spirituality in their interpretation sessions. Los Angeles Times. p. 1.Google Scholar
Seligman, C. (1923). Type dreams: A request. Folklore 34, 376378.Google Scholar
Scategni, W. (2002) Psychodrama, group processes and dreams: Archetypal images of individuation. New York: Taylor & Francis.Google Scholar
Schwartz, H. (1989). The dream assembly: Tales of Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi. Nevada City, CA: Gateways.Google Scholar
Stewart, K. (1954). Mental hygiene and world peace. Mental Hygiene 38, 387403.Google Scholar
Stewart, K. (1969). Dream theory in Malaya. In Tart, C. T. (Ed.), Altered states of consciousness (pp. 161170). New York: Doubleday.Google Scholar
Spindler, G., & Spindler, L. (1984) Dreamers with power: The Menominee. Prospect Heights, IL: Waveland Press.Google Scholar
Taylor, J. (1992). Where people fly and water runs uphill: Using dreams to tap the wisdom of the unconscious. New York: Warner Books.Google Scholar
Taylor, J. (1993, Fall). Dreams, nonviolence, and social change. ASD Newsletter 10(4). Retrieved from http://www.asdreams.org/magazine/articles/taylor_nonviolence.htmGoogle Scholar
Tedlock, B. (1991). The new anthropology of dreaming. Dreaming: Journal of the Association for the Study of Dreams. 1 (2). Retrieved from http://www.asdreams.org/journal/articles/1-2tedlock1991.htmGoogle Scholar
Tedlock, B. (2003). Ethnography and ethnographic representation. In Denzin, N. Z., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.) Strategies of qualitative inquiry. Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Tedlock, B. (2005). Dreams. In Jones, L. (Ed.) Encyclopedia of religion (2nd ed., Vol. 4, pp. 24822491). Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA.Google Scholar
Ullman, M. (1990). Guidelines for teaching dreamwork. In Krippner, S. (Ed.) Dreamtime and dreamwork. New York: Tarcher.Google Scholar
Ullman, M. (1999). Dreaming consciousness: More than a bit player in the search for answers to the mind/body problem. Journal of Scientific Exploration. 13 (1). 91112. Retrieved from http://www.scientificexploration.org/journal/jse_13_1_ullman.pdfGoogle Scholar
Ullman, M. (2001). A note on the social referents of dreams. Dreaming: Journal of the Association for the Study of Dreams. 11 (1). Retrieved from http://www.asdreams.org/journal/articles/11-1_ullman.htmGoogle Scholar
Ullman, M. (2001). Dream cultures: Explorations in the comparative history of dreaming. The American Journal of Psychiatry. 158 (9), 15461548.Google Scholar
Ullman, M. (2006). Appreciating dreams: A group approach. New York: Cosimo.Google Scholar
Van de Castle, R. L. (1994). Our dreaming mind: A sweeping exploration of the role that dreams have played in politics, art, religion, and psychology, from ancient civilizations to the present day. New York: Ballantine.Google Scholar
Wengyal, T. (1998). Tibetan yogas of dream and sleep. Ithaca, New York: Snow Lion Publications.Google Scholar