A special opportunity to understand and explore dreams can be found at the Spirit of the Dream Conference at Sonoma State University from June 29-July 3.
This five day conference offers more than 200 diverse presentations by the world's foremost dream researchers, authors, clinicians, and scholars. Included are presentations that focus on psychological, biological, cross-cultural, spiritual, educational, and artistic perspectives on dreaming. and is open to the public.
Sponsored by the SSU Psychology Department and the International Association for the Study of Dreams, special programs include many sessions of interest to the general public.
Throughout human history, dreams and nightmares have intrigued, confused, inspired and even terrified people. In the 21st Century, new avenues for using dreams for emotional healing are being developed but exploring dreams is no longer limited to the psychoanalyst’s couch.
Artists use dreams for creative inspiration, researchers are unraveling the biological functions of sleep and dreams, dreams are being embraced by religious traditions to find meaning and solace, dreams are being utilized to heal trauma survivors, educators use dreams in science and humanities courses, and millions are keeping dream journals and joining dream discussion groups in their communities and online.
The answers to many questions will be featured in a series of presentations by distinguished dream and nightmare researchers, Ernest Hartmann, M.D., Stanley Krippner, Ph.D. and 150 other North American and European scientists, scholars, and clinicians.
A variety of presentations will explore contemporary trends in using dreams for spiritual exploration. Topics include lucid dreams, precognitive dreams, near-death dreams, and how dreams are used in various religious traditions including how dreams are used in the contemporary Islamic Jihadist movement. Researchers from the fields of anthropology, religious studies, and psychologist will present and debate their views.
A juried exhibit of dream-inspired art will be open during the conference at the Sonoma State University Library Art Gallery. A reception takes place July 2 from 4-5 p.m. featuring some of the 37 artists and the exhibit curator, Richard Russo, M.A. who is a past-President of IASD.
The Nancy Richter Brzeski Dream Art Award will be presented to recognize exemplary art related to dreams. During the conference, a wide variety of workshops will be presented, on using the expressive arts to explore the creative dimensions of dreams in the humanities and the healing arts.
Past-President of IASD, Alan Siegel, Ph.D., will coordinate a series of clinical and research seminars on the meaning of dreams with up to 32 CE credits offered for mental health and health practitioners.
Special seminars on working with survivors of trauma such as disasters and abuse will be presented along with many presentations on the meaning of dreams and their use in psychotherapy with children, adults, and special populations.
The conference is open to the public and 400 people are expected to attend. There are 151 presenters scheduled to speak with 6 different breakout sessions to choose from at all times.
The program schedule can be found at http://www.asdreams.org/2007/idx_program_schedule.htm
Prices for attending the full five day conference is $505 (less if attendees become an IASD member), and $385 for students. One-day registration is $160/day. For more information on conference prices, see http://www.asdreams.org/2007/idx_sub_registration.htm
For more information about the conference, contact the conference host, Laurel McCabe, at (707) 664-2130 or visit onlinelaurel.mccabe@sonoma.edu.
MEDIA: Reporters are welcome to cover presentations. Media access to workshops is strictly limited; reporters must receive approval to attend from workshop leaders.
