When the Mind Sleeps.....

I am often asked by people who are unaware of the mechanism and importance of dreaming what these images could possibly mean. It seems that when the mind sleeps our bodies are resting yet the mind is more active then ever. What could possibly be happening during this time? Scientific studies have shown us that during sleep time, the mind is in fact very active and that while certain parts of the brain are shut down, other parts become very activated. When the mind enters this essential state of sleep, the dreaming mind is then activated.

During dreaming, events of the past, present and future come to life and play out in the dream images. It is here that the life of the dreamer is revealed; uncensored and accurate. If dreams are left to their own devices (without lucidity) then the dreamer's life, emotions, ego-driven circumstances, personality, relationships etc. all become part of the dream scenes.

Research has shown that the personality of the dreamer shapes and forms the images while generating dream stories. The dreamer's personality traits and dimensions drive and sculpt the images. This in itself is very important since most people are unaware or unconscious to much of their own personality. We are all somewhat blind to our true personality and getting to know and understand one's true self is the great journey of life. As we learn about ourselves, befriending all the parts that make us who we are, we then move to a more mature personality. We know what we are good at and we do it. We know what we are not good at, and we find other solutions around them. We find our true purpose in life by acknowledging our strengths and weaknesses and then doing what we were meant to do. That may be raising a healthy, functional family, contributing to a business, painting or sculpting. No matter the medium, it's the message that matters. Dreams carry the messages that tell us who we really are, what we are meant to do, and how to it. We simply have to pay attention.

The International Association for The Study of Dreams-Chicago 2009

As a newly elected memeber of the IASD board I want to thank everyone who voted for me. This position is promising to be very interesting and challenging but most importantly, it is a position where I can give back to a community that has helped me in my work. The International Association for the Study of Dreams is an organization that allows researchers and clinical practitioners from all over the world, a forum to share their work.
IASD is foremost, a platform which allows the scientific investigation of dream consciousness. It is through this process that we as researchers will then share our knowledge with the non-scientific community in the world. Without scientific vigour, we are simply espousing our opinions and as intersting as those may be, they will not bring the realm of dreaming consciousness into global acceptance. Researchers from Germany, Italy, the UK, The United Arab Emerits, and other corners of the globe recently discussed and collaborated this frontier of science in Chicago (June/July 2009).
IASD has a second important factor and that is a place for therapists and applied practitioners to take the knowledge of dream therapy to help others. The value of dream therapy is known to those who work in the field but this work has yet to be incorporated in a fully intergrated manner. The applied work that occurs at IASD is the education element that is so important for application. Of course scientifically testing dream therapy methods makes them even more valuable. Just as new drugs are tested with control designs are new dream therapies tested with similar rigours methods. IASD is a place for professionals and dream-enthusiasts to learn, share, and collaborate on a vital part of the human experience; the dreaming mind.