Visions for the Earth – Options for the Future
 presentation by artist Clare Caldwell

 

Report on Dreams that Changed Our Lives
 

Jill Griggs introduced the team from the core-group who have formed the Wellington branch of the Dream Network Aotearoa-NZ: Sharman Robinson, Marian Leicester, Patricia Ford and Karen Hansen. The group have been meeting monthly since 2012.
      Jill invited each one to share a life-changing dream, interspersed with reading striking examples from the recent book published by the International Association for the Study of Dreams, “Dreams that Change Our Lives,” edited by Robert Hoss and Robert Gongloff. 
     Chosen images included being a “blob” that started to grow bones; driving on a narrow road and having to clear an elephant out of the way; being guided by a beam of light through a dark forest.
     After this sensitive sharing by the Panel, all the audience were invited to pair off and share their own life-changing dreams. It was a heart-warming session.                                                                                                                         by Margaret Bowater

      Jeni McGarry spoke to us about her experiences at the International Association for the Study of Dreams Conference, in Holland, when she was there recently.  She was particularly inspired by the "Body-Mind-Spirit" presentation of Linda Schiller, author of "Dreaming Our Way Back Home: New Tools for Decoding Your Soul's Wisdom".  Her focus is on how the synchronicity of events might inform us further in interpreting our dreams, and lead us back home to ourselves.  Often dreams have a flow-on effect from the inner world to events in the external world.   

     Jeni referred to the well-known author, Ken Wilbur, and his theory of Autopoesis which he calls the Self Organizing Principle, and represents the "Great Nest of Being".  This is where we are all held in our humanness, and our commitment in being engaged with the planet in a positive way. She also referred to Ilya Prigogine, another author, who wrote how things need to be broken down before something new can come through - chaos before order. She also went on a workshop given by Stephen Klein, author of "What is the Nature of Reality". 
     We spent the latter part of the presentation working in small groups on each others' dreams.  On a workshop that Jeni attended given by Buskha they used a technique of having the dreamer lie on the floor with one person holding the dreamer's head, and the other person holding their feet.  When the dreamer related the dream, she/he felt held and safe and was able to have a deeper and more interior experience of the dream.  This proved very effective in my group.
    It would seem that although Jeni learned some new things and felt inspired by the presenters and their talks, she also felt validated in many of the techniques she has already learned from her own study and time with Margaret Bowater. Jeni says she is looking forward to doing more dream work with her clients.
                                                                              by Caroline Bensinger

Dreams in a Life Transition
 

Marg Toland structured her description of the dreams leading to her leaving Convent life around drawings and art-work done at the time. There were some images showing Childhood, but most of the work was done in the years 1992 to 1995.  Her seminar was held in the Chapel and this was a sacred and spiritual venue for a personal and sensitive narrative of a challenging transition. Listeners were, I think, inspired by her tale. It is relatively common to hear accounts of journaled histories of events in people’s lives, but not so with hand-drawn art images. This was a moving and memorable presentation.        by  Marie Brand
 

   “The best psychodrama group I’ve ever been to,” declared one participant after attending the excellent workshop conducted by Marian Hammond on Saturday afternoon. Marian told us that she was in some distress herself, because of a close friend dying, but still conducted a skilful session. We were a group of 14, including several new to psychodrama. First Marian demonstrated the basic elements of a drama, using a volunteer’s brief dream about re-connecting in a relationship.  She then asked everyone to give a title to a dream they might like to work with.
    After K’s dream was chosen, Marian gently guided her to set up the scenario, using members of the group to portray all the elements, and developed the story towards a sensitive resolution. (I became the Moon!) When the drama was completed, members of the group shared with K what her dream had touched in their own experience. We finished with a warm appreciation of the whole session.                     by Margaret Bowater 

David Legg gave a presentation on healing dreams. I found his talk engaging and enlightening. He began with dreams prior to the 3^rd century, dating back over a thousand years, when healing through dreams occurred in healing temples throughout Greece; and then were lost in the patriarchal Christian Church.  He moved on to talk about how healing dreams in recent times have been documented around profound healing that has occurred for various individuals.  He talked about how dreams can be indicating the true nature of the soul of the dreamer.
     This opened the door to sharing his own experiences of dreams  that showed how his repetitive behaviours associated with his addictive personality, had given him the courage to change, and to live a more fulfilling life that was more in tune with his true nature.
     I enjoyed how David stimulated us into a deeper reflection on what some of our own soul messages from our dreams might be guiding us to change in ourselves.                                                                                                               by Jeni McGarry

Tay-Marie Yorston introduced the workshop, sharing the guidelines around the process of interviewing dream characters using open ended questions with curiosity and the importance of confidentiality about what is shared in the session.  She asked for a volunteer to demonstrate the process so Eric shared a recent dream that was not clear to him.  The group then split into small groups to practice on a dream of their choice.    
Feed back at the end of the session: The AUT Students and those who were new to working with a dream, drawing it, naming the feelings and associations with the context and interviewing a chosen character, found the process in the initial demonstration of Eric's dream and using their own dream, when the whole group split into small groups, very helpful and insightful. There was enthusiasm for learning more and the session flowed with ease.                                                             by Marg Toland 

     Jeni McGarry led the meditation session, gently leading the group to explore their journey through a forest and up a gentle trek up a mountain, where in the bright light of the sun they received a gift which was personal to them. Upon receiving the gift Jeni gently led the group back down the mountain, and for those who wished they were invited to share their experience The process was augmented by gentle concert music and a warm crackling fire, all of which contributed to ambience of the atmosphere, inviting participators to put aside any stress and enter into a peaceful relaxing state.  The feeling was that this session was very much enjoyed and appreciated by the group.          by Louise Belcher  

Playback Theatre Performance - Dream Visioners Extraordinaire
 

This drama troupe is becoming a regular feature of Saturday night live at the Dreamwork Conference.  They use gentle coaching of the audience to share a dream, then apply their own wry and humorous take on the material presented. This leads to a great deal of hilarity. with some poignant moments at times, deepening the process and leading to many connections between the audience, the cast, and the unfiltered material of the dreams!
With the audience already warmed up after a day of focus on symbols and inner work, along with the relaxed  and companionable atmosphere of the setting, it's easy to see why the Playback troupe see us as their favourite audience. With a minimum of props (scarves mainly) fantastic creatures and eccentric characters come to life to share their stories and interact with the audience - a memorable night! Next time though, I'll think ahead and bring several dreams to avoid the brain freeze of trying to remember a dream at short notice! Thank you, Playback Theatre - I think we can often forget how spiritually renewing two hours of sharing and laughter can be.                             by Bev Rosevear-Kaho

Yoga
 

  Artistic display by Caroline Bensinger
 

GROUP POEM FROM 2019 DREAM CONFERENCE

THE GIFT OF THE WOLF

The wolf bites and awakens me to free myself
Awakening in the midst of birdsong as I slumbered suspended in the treetops
Waiting for the Bohemian grandma  I felt the bones growing within me
A leopard jumps and droplets of sweet grace fall from an oak tree
The tall palm frames the bush and sets the peaceful scene
Hand taken gently, unfolding into the sea
Spiralling through the myriads of unwavering dance drops gratefully,
Alone at last.
 
I realised the way to get through the mud was to let it flow through me
The gift of connection flowing from deep grief
Dreaming ourselves back home to our essence - know thyself.
I can do this. It will be ok.
The dreams unlock the dreams, unlock.
Clear light - young soul - warmth.
"I have a dream. . " A conscious vision of a better society or
The vision presented by the wisdom of our internal dream maker?
Walking on the path of light, catching the moonlight
 
Dreams, dreaming, dreamer . .
Does the dream change our life or does life change and our dreams reflect that?
Connections in beauty and art. Soul nurturing and affirming love.
Many dreams shared between strangers now becoming friends                         
Relaxing, connecting. . .
 
The moon's light illuminates my dreams and blesses my life
Rise up and sing; rise up on wings
The hidden child within, finding freedom, play and connection
Arms stretched, free, surrender, naked, open
And they expressed their love to one another all day
Gratitude, love and blessing
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.