CNS 5219
ORIN 502
John F. Kennedy University
Kelly Bulkeley, Instructor






Dreaming as a Spiritual Practice


Throughout history, in cultures all over the world, dreams have served as a key resource for connecting with the sacred.  Certain dreams seem to have a transcendent and even divine power to them.  These are the dreams that strike people with an extraordinary vividness and intensity, the dreams that feel "realer than real,' the dreams people remember with crystal clarity for years and even decades after they first have them.  By carefully reflecting on these dreams people can gain a deeper appreciation for the revitalizing presence of the sacred in their lives.

This course will provide students with the practical skills and theoretical models that can help them draw more deeply on the spiritual wisdom that emerges in dreams.  The course will begin with a discussion of the perennial question, where do dreams come from?  We will discuss the sacred teachings of many of the world's religious traditions as well as the latest findings of experimental dream science in order to gain a better understanding of the profoundly mysterious source of our most spiritually meaningful dreams.  Other topics of discussion during the class include the power of dreams to reassure and heal people in times of crisis and trauma, the symbolic meanings of sexual imagery in dreams, the surprising spiritual gifts to be found in nightmares, and the value of dreams in helping people face the mysteries of dying, death, and that which lies beyond death.  

In practical terms, students will work toward two major learning goals: first, to better understand their own most memorable and extraordinary dreams, and second, to develop the skills to help other people (in one-on-one or group settings) to discern the spiritual meanings and energies of their dreams.


Reading:

Students are asked to read Transforming Dreams: Learning Spiritual Lessons from the Dreams You Never Forget (Wiley, 2000) before the first class meeting.





Schedule:

	Friday, July 14, 7-10 pm

	Introductions
	Overview:
		Where do dreams come from?
		Characteristics of "Big Dreams"
		Basic principles of dream interpretation
	Group Dreamsharing I
	Exercise I: Incubating a response to a Big Dream



	Saturday, July 15, 10 am-5 pm

	Reflections on Exercise I
	Discussion of current research on dreams and spirituality
	Group Dreamsharing II
	Lunch
	Exercise II: One-on-one dreamsharing
	Exercise III: Personal meditation, journaling and artwork
	Class presentations
	Closing discussion and evaluations


Class Presentation Assignment:

Each student will be asked to make a five-minute presentation on a particular dream interpretation method or technique that the student has found especially valuable in exploring the many realms of dream experience.



Kelly Bulkeley
226 Amherst Avenue
Kensington, CA 94708
510-528-0226 (o,fax)
kellybulkeley@earthlink.net
http://www.kellybulkeley.com