ANNOUNCEMENT OF 2012 DREAM RESEARCH GRANT AWARDS

Each year IASD, in partnership with the DreamScience™ foundation (DSF), provides seed grants for dream research. The objective is to stimulate dream related research with students and professionals who might not otherwise be able to pursue that research project and to enhance the mission of IASD in supporting research.

The focus includes, but is not limited to, the neuroscience of dreaming, psychological studies of dreaming, and quantitative and qualitative dream research in such fields as anthropology and cultural studies. In 2012 we received 8 excellent proposals for the grant cycle which ended October 15, 2012. Awards are limited to the donations we receive so we must narrow the finalists down to a range where we have funds available.

The top three winning proposals and grant awardees were:

Tracey L. Kahan and Stephanie Claudatos, Santa Clara University -"Cognition and emotion in dreaming: Are cognitive skills in dreaming more strongly related to emotional intensity or to emotional valence?"

Wonjin Sim and Clara Hill, Chatham University - "International Students’ Dreams During Cultural Transition."

Nicola Zippel and Francesco Peverini - University of Rome, Italy - "Sleep Apnea, Dream Disorders, and Disruption of the Self: An Integrated Philosophical-Medical Approach."
Two others of note in the top five finalists, which we did not have the funds to award this year, were:

Shayne Dahl - University of Toronto - "Dreaming and the Cultural Revitalization of the Ainu in Hokkaidō, Japan."

Frank Pascoe, Sonia Bartol, Fina Carpena-Mendez, and Michael Levenson, Oregon State University - "Iberian Dreaming."

We wish to thank all eight of those who proposed research studies in the field of dreaming and encourage those that we were unable to fund this year to continue their efforts and consider IASD for future grant cycles.

For more information visit the DreamScience foundation ™ website.

BOARD NOMINEES: TIME TO VOTE

The 2013 IASD Nominating Committee has invited the following seven members to run for the five three-year board positions that will be vacated as of the June board meeting: Susannah Benson (Australia), Laurel Clark (USA), Claude Desloges (Canada), Janet Garrett (Spain), Diane Greig (USA), Ryan Hurd (USA), and Ed Kellogg (USA). Electees (those five with the highest number of votes) will be announced at the General Membership Meeting at the Virginia Beach conference on Sunday, June 23, 2013.

The Nominating Committee members worked long and hard to arrive at a slate of board nominees who were interested and available, and reflected gender and geographical diversity as well as a wide range of skills and knowledge. To cast your vote please visit 2013 Time to Vote

The Committee also arrived at a slate of Executive officer nominees for 2013-2014, which is as follows: Robert Gongloff, Board Chair; Katja Valli, President; Susannah Benson, Vice-President (pending election); Laurel Clark, Secretary (pending election), and David L. Kahn, Treasurer. The slate of officer nominees will be adopted by the Board, and all officers and new board members will assume their positions at the board meeting to be held on Wednesday, June 26, 2013.

LAST CHANCE FOR JUNE ADVERTISING

Highlight your presence at the 2013 IASD Conference by advertising in the annual conference program.

The annual conference program is handed out to every attendee at the IASD Conference and contains key information on events, schedule of sessions, workshops, and much more. Attendees constantly refer to the program onsite and hold onto it for future reference, generating multiple impressions for advertisers. Not all conference attendees are IASD members, so advertising in the conference program increases your exposure.

IASD Member Discount

Do you have a product or business to promote? Do you host a dream group? Are you an artist who would like to reach out to an international audience? Do you offer ongoing workshops? IASD currently boasts more than 90 published authors among its members. Was your ad included? If not, don’t get left out again this year. You can provide us with camera-ready artwork or, for a nominal fee, we will create your ad for you using one of several specially designed templates.

Special Virginia Beach Section

There will be a special section reserved to promote Virginia Beach services, restaurants, and businesses. If you are a business within a 25 mile radius of the conference site, your ad will be placed in this special VA BEACH section.

For rate sheet, ad specs, and payment options, please visit: Buy A Conference Program Ad  

Materials deadline is May 10, 2013.

Discounted prices are available for IASD members.

OTHER IASD CONFERENCE NEWS

What well-known IASD Conference organizer closely resembles this Oceanfront sculpture of the great god Neptune?

Come to IASD's 2013 conference in Virginia Beach and see! The answer will be provided in the June issue of Dream News.

Still looking for accommodations?

Check out the room sharing board on the 2013 web site here.

MEMBERSHIP NEWS

IASD West Coast Dreaming Group, B.C., Canada

This month, and on the heels of the Dream Network Journal ‘s (DNJ) recent publication focused on Group Dreaming, I thought it would be interesting to hear from an IASD dream group. I asked the participants of the West Coast Dreaming Group to tell us about the benefits of their long-term dream group. Four members’ quotes are posted below along with some of their artwork, together with an excerpt of the benefits of long-term dream groups from a DNJ article.

Teresa comments, “The opportunities that have presented themselves through a long-term dream group, held within a sacred container that includes an extraordinary depth of closeness, and supported by a sense of mutual mentorship, continues to amaze me. The canvases of symbols and archetypes painted by the sharing of dream images and stories have provided such great fodder for growth and insights, both individually and collectively. Personally these gifts have altered and augmented greatly the directions and choices in my life. These directions and choices have empowered, strengthened and blessed my journey on this great planet!”

Deb writes, “This gathering for dream sharing is a time for honesty, depth of communication, and consciousness of one’s innermost voice through dreams. We witness this process in each other and hold the space for growth with care and heart. This rare experience of consistent intimacy, trust and support in a group is due in a large part to the nature of dream sharing. The deepening of connection over time is remarkable. The commitment is enriching as new doors open to experiences that develop our emotional muscles in everyday relationships with self and others. The dreams are critical as a mirror, an affirmation, an insight or a guide to our process. The sometimes-illusive meanings are found through adept observations amplified through the different lenses of each group member. The mix of assets that each member brings to the group is a multifaceted view that balances understanding. These skills are continually honed with our continued practice together.”

Barbara states, “This journey has taken all of us to new dimensions. With dream workers in the group providing associations and ideas as one’s dream is presented, the dreams are awakened into reality of what’s going on topside. Collectively and individually, we change directions, address problems, let go of old belief systems, create new ones, and restore balance in our psyche.”

Wilma writes, “It seems that the longer the group is together, and the more dream work we do, the more we all use and develop our intuition ... the more in-depth and brilliant the dream work becomes. The fact that we all feel supported by the other dreamers and feel the bond of trust between us plays a huge part in this. We have discussed several exciting future projects and will publish a book with each participant writing a chapter about the dream group and how it has affected her life. Also, we’ve discussed venturing into the community offering workshops or creating more dream groups. It is an exciting journey.”

In summary, when these participants were asked why they continue to stay with the process of long-term dream gatherings, they responded that this group has survived and blossomed because of commitment, trust, compassion, consistency, consistent facilitation, respect, good leadership, willingness to explore, and flexibility within the group container. They commented that they have grown in ways such as increased self-trust, creativity, risk-taking, knowledge of the psyche, and generally they feel more empowered in their lives.

Discovering and recovering shadow material has led to greater wholeness, a broader perspective, and personal transformation, as well as collective wisdom. Long-term dream groups invite depth connections, build trust and non-competitiveness, and provide a place for spirit to be nourished.

There are profound narratives that arise from long-term dream groups, which are beneficial for the individuals, their families, their work, and the greater collective. Although this is not a new premise, how we may help the greater collective, via long-term dream groups, is an under explored and underutilized avenue. (Excerpt from Diane Greig’s article “Call of the Dreamtime Goddess” in the Spring Edition of Dream Network Journal: Group Dreaming.)

Thanks to all contributors! I invite all IASD dream groups to email me. Let’s do a series in the upcoming months on Dream Groups in the IASD network.

Remember to check out the IASD website – the new webpages are easy to navigate and look amazing. Please make sure your Membership Page is up to date prior to our annual conference in June. When you have time, stop by the group and public IASD Facebook and Google+ pages.

From Membership Chair,
Diane E. Greig, Ph.D.

From Susan Benson, Regional Chair

To all our regional representatives, we hope you are looking forward to attending the annual conference at Virginia Beach on June 21-25 and enjoying the great program, greeting old friends and meeting new members. The regional representatives’ luncheon and meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 23. If you are planning to attend, you will need to pre-book your luncheon buffet meal via the IASD website conference link by June 15. More information about the luncheon meeting will be posted to regional representatives via email.

In this month’s column, Claude Desloges shares a brief report on the successful outcome of the Montreal Colloque (and what a success!) as 377 participants attended this one-day regional event. Congratulations to Claude and the Montreal conference team. It was a great effort and a wonderful outcome. More about the event, including additional photos, are available on the website at the IASD Colloque page

The Massachusetts regional conference, The Creative Power of Dreams, is our next scheduled regional event, taking place on May 25 at Regis College. You can still register for the conference including a luncheon buffet until May 15. Best wishes to Curt Hoffman and the conference team for a great event. Keynote speakers are Deirdre Barrett, the author of The Committee of Sleep and Ernest Hartmann, the author of The Nature and Functions of Dreaming.

MONTREAL REGIONAL CONFERENCE IS A SUCCESS

“Une journée de rêve qui m’a donné le goût de m’intéresser davantage à mes rêves et d’en tenir compte.”This comment roughly translated as “A dream day that stirred my interest to care about my dreams and to do something with them” was made by one participant at the end of the one-day “Colloque,” which encapsulates the general feeling and appreciation of the 370 plus participants who attended the 3rd Montréal IASD Regional Conference.

Thanks to all of those who contributed to this event and, by their efforts, made this ‘a dream day.’

The next Colloque is scheduled for the fall of 2014. For more information and photos, click here.

Regional Event Calendar 2013

New England Regional Conference “The Creative Power of Dreams” takes place on May 25, 2013 at Regis College in Weston, Massachusetts.
Host: Curtiss Hoffman

For millennia, creative people in all cultures have relied upon their dreams for inspiration. Come and celebrate the creative power of dreams at this one-day IASD regional conference! Keynote speakers are Deirdre Barrett, the author of The Committee of Sleep, and Ernest Hartmann, the author of The Nature and Functions of Dreaming. In addition, there will be a performance of excerpts from Curtiss Hoffman’s Gilgamesh Cantata, based on dream texts from C.G. Jung’s Red Book and using musical themes derived from dreams. Additional speakers will present papers on various aspects of dreaming and creativity.

Registration will be $68 for IASD members, $78 for non-members, and $48 for students and those with limited incomes. This fee includes registration and a catered lunch.

Contact: Curtiss Hoffman at  or for more information check out New England Regional.