ABSTRACT

The Reality of The Dream

David Jenkins, Ph.D. 
Berkeley, CA
dj@practicaldreamwork.com

David Jenkins teaches classes on dreams and offers dream groups in Berkeley, California. He graduated in 2001 from the Center for Psychological Studies in Albany, California with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. He maintains an active web site at http://www.practicaldreamwork.com. His thesis: "The vicissitudes of the theme in dream series" was a study of Emanuel Swedenborg's 1743-44 dream journal. He can be reached at dj@practicaldreamwork.com

Summary of Presentation

This paper will discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of treating the dream experience as a "real" experience equal to waking experience.

It is proposed that three crucial consequences occur when we treat the dream as a real experience: the focus is upon the dream-ego, the experience of the dream and the continuity with the next dream.

This paper is delivered in conjunction with the workshop "Working and playing with the reality of the dream". A video interview with the author can be seen at http://www.practicaldreamwork.com/asd-2003.htm.

Learning Objectives.

1. To understand the concept of the dream ego
2. To understand the difference between the meaning in the dream and the meaning of the dream.
3. To understand how the dynamics of dream series can be used in self-exploration

Evaluation questions:

1. List four possible dynamics of a dream series
2. Describe three techniques for working with the dream as a real experience.
3. List three ways in which a dream theme can change

Abstract 

What happens when we start from the perspective that the dream is a real experience? This paper will argue that both dream-life and awake-life then make a different kind of sense than when we privilege waking life and treat the dream as a derivative, less-then-real, underprivileged experience.

There are strengths and weaknesses to both these points of view. It is suggested that good dreamwork requires that the dream worker has both perspectives available to him or her.

This paper will discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of treating the dream experience as equal to the waking experience.

It is proposed that three crucial differences occur when we treat the dream as a real experience:

1. The dream-ego rather than the awake-ego becomes the subject of dream work.
2. The experience of the dream itself is more relevant than the interpretation of the dream.
3. The continuity of dream life assumes a greater importance and the emphasis on each dream as an isolated event diminishes.

This paper is delivered in conjunction with the workshop "Working and playing with the dream as a real experience". A video interview with the author can be seen at http://www.practicaldreamwork.com/asd-2003.htm

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