Episodes

Raise your hand (or, better yet, leave a comment on the show notes, so I can see it too) if you’ve ever dreamt of a political figure you strongly dislike. When they showed up in dream-form, how did you engage with them? When dreamers have shared dreams of political figures who were the object of anger or disgust, I've seen transformative shifts in perspective unfold. In this episode, my guest Cythera Wilkerson (another acupuncturist and dreamworker! yes!) talks about, for example, dreaming of T...

“Bee shamanism” is ancient, but its existence was recent news to me. Ancient Greek priestesses who dreamt with the bees? A European folk tradition tied to women's spirituality and beekeeping? Tell me more! In this episode, Ariella Daly tells me so much more. I was enchanted. Click Play to hear us talk about dreamwork in connection with bee shamanism, plus: dreaming with the Earth (or the bees) vs. dreaming of the Earth or bees the honeybee and the snake: beings who regenerate themselves, impor...

“Bee shamanism” is ancient, but its existence was recent news to me. Ancient Greek priestesses who dreamt with the bees? A European folk tradition tied to women's spirituality and beekeeping? Tell me more! In this episode, Ariella Daly tells me so much more. I was enchanted. Click Play to hear us talk about dreamwork in connection with bee shamanism, plus: dreaming with the Earth (or the bees) vs. dreaming of the Earth or bees the honeybee and the snake: beings who regenerate themselves, impor...

Have you dreamt of a loved one, after they passed away? Has that dream stuck with you ever since? Dr. Joshua Black has had that kind of dream -- and heard thousands of those dreams from others. He's devoted his academic research to these "grief dreams" and to continuing bonds after many types of loss (including prenatal loss and pet loss). I thought it might be heavy or tearful, talking for an hour about dreams of deceased loved ones, but instead I found this conversation to be full of life. I ...

Have you dreamt of a loved one, after they passed away? Has that dream stuck with you ever since? Dr. Joshua Black has had that kind of dream -- and heard thousands of those dreams from others. He's devoted his academic research to these "grief dreams" and to continuing bonds after many types of loss (including prenatal loss and pet loss). I thought it might be heavy or tearful, talking for an hour about dreams of deceased loved ones, but instead I found this conversation to be full of life. I ...

If you've ever heard me or another dreamworker say, "Pretend I'm an alien," and then ask you to define the object you dreamt about, that's because we want to know about your "personal symbology." Laura Suzanne and I have very different relationships with cats. If you were to ask each of us to explain what a cat is, you'd get totally different answers. So, the insights a cat dream carries in my dream could be vastly different from those in hers. Click "Play" to hear us explore that, and the pers...

If you've ever heard me or another dreamworker say, "Pretend I'm an alien," and then ask you to define the object you dreamt about, that's because we want to know about your "personal symbology." Laura Suzanne and I have very different relationships with cats. If you were to ask each of us to explain what a cat is, you'd get totally different answers. So, the insights a cat dream carries in my dream could be vastly different from those in hers. Click "Play" to hear us explore that, and the pers...

The pizza dreams. The grocery store dreams. The Thanksgiving dinners and wilting vegetable gardens. The empty fridge. Of all the “food” dreams I’ve heard, the steak dream I share in this episode is one of my favorites. When the dreamer and I explored this dream, plenty happened, not all of it related to food. But the ah-ha moment that reached her right where she needed it most -- that had to do directly with the steak. We wouldn’t have gotten there without listening to her unique answer to the ...

The pizza dreams. The grocery store dreams. The Thanksgiving dinners and wilting vegetable gardens. The empty fridge. Of all the “food” dreams I’ve heard, the steak dream I share in this episode is one of my favorites. When the dreamer and I explored this dream, plenty happened, not all of it related to food. But the ah-ha moment that reached her right where she needed it most -- that had to do directly with the steak. We wouldn’t have gotten there without listening to her unique answer to the ...

My fellow acupuncturist, dreamworker, and NUNM grad Joseph Fiala joins me to talk about dreamwork in his clinical practice, in his personal life, and in nurturing the thoughts we choose to grow in the gardens of our minds. I loved hearing his enthusiasm and wise insights, and I'm guessing you will too. Click Play to listen now. I met Joseph when we were both students at the National University of Natural Medicine. I remember his wife Emaline Gray telling me about a dream she'd had of an ear ov...

My fellow acupuncturist, dreamworker, and NUNM grad Joseph Fiala joins me to talk about dreamwork in his clinical practice, in his personal life, and in nurturing the thoughts we choose to grow in the gardens of our minds. I loved hearing his enthusiasm and wise insights, and I'm guessing you will too. Click Play to listen now. I met Joseph when we were both students at the National University of Natural Medicine. I remember his wife Emaline Gray telling me about a dream she'd had of an ear ov...

Do you track the details in your dreams? Bambi Corso-Steinmeyer talks with me about why to track the recurring details in our dreams. Those themes are like footprints left behind by the qualities moving through our dreamscape - and we’re well-served by following their trails. Bambi and I cover a lot of dreamscape ground in this episode. I realized after we spoke that I talked more than I usually do, caught up in shared enthusiasm with a kindred spirit. Click Play to hear us explore: what it m...

Do you track the details in your dreams? Bambi Corso-Steinmeyer talks with me about why to track the recurring details in our dreams. Those themes are like footprints left behind by the qualities moving through our dreamscape - and we’re well-served by following their trails. Bambi and I cover a lot of dreamscape ground in this episode. I realized after we spoke that I talked more than I usually do, caught up in shared enthusiasm with a kindred spirit. Click Play to hear us explore: what it m...

Kelly Lydick first caught my attention with her work on “dream incubation,” which is the practice of setting an intention or asking a question before going to sleep at night. I love dream incubation and turn to it frequently in my ongoing conversation with my own dreams. When Kelly and I planned this interview, though, we were drawn to talk about two other subjects dear to us both: colors in dreams, and how dreams relate to our creativity. Kelly holds an M.A. in Writing and Consciousness and pr...

Kelly Lydick first caught my attention with her work on “dream incubation,” which is the practice of setting an intention or asking a question before going to sleep at night. I love dream incubation and turn to it frequently in my ongoing conversation with my own dreams. When Kelly and I planned this interview, though, we were drawn to talk about two other subjects dear to us both: colors in dreams, and how dreams relate to our creativity. Kelly holds an M.A. in Writing and Consciousness and pr...

This one touched me extra deeply. Mary Jo Heyen, practitioner of Natural Dreamwork and author of Dreaming into the Mystery: Explorations into Being with the Dreams and Visions of the Dying, companions dreamers and their families in hospice care. Each one of her stories touched me, as did her way of speaking, and her way of listening. Click Play to hear about: Her childhood relationship to dreams, including a dream of her own at age 4 that touched something profound, and her father’s PTSD dreams...

This one touched me extra deeply. Mary Jo Heyen, practitioner of Natural Dreamwork and author of Dreaming into the Mystery: Explorations into Being with the Dreams and Visions of the Dying, companions dreamers and their families in hospice care. Each one of her stories touched me, as did her way of speaking, and her way of listening. Click Play to hear about: Her childhood relationship to dreams, including a dream of her own at age 4 that touched something profound, and her father’s PTSD dreams...

I’ve packed this Full Moon episode full of gems that I hope will bring you a few “ah-ha moments” about your own dreams. Listen in to hear highlights from three of the Members’ Episodes from the past 6 months. Each month, The Dreamers’ Den Membership Community gets a bonus podcast episode. These are generally a little more casual, and also a little more focused, diving in deep on one particular theme. If you’d like to hear more like this and join our forum and live dream group calls, consider jo...

I’ve packed this Full Moon episode full of gems that I hope will bring you a few “ah-ha moments” about your own dreams. Listen in to hear highlights from three of the Members’ Episodes from the past 6 months. Each month, The Dreamers’ Den Membership Community gets a bonus podcast episode. These are generally a little more casual, and also a little more focused, diving in deep on one particular theme. If you’d like to hear more like this and join our forum and live dream group calls, consider jo...

Ready to hear about dreaming with a "pack," the language of wild nature, initiation into manhood, and why dreams are a trustworthy source of navigation and wisdom? Yes? That's what I said, too. Click Play now to listen to my conversation with Matt Cochran, a dreamworker and a dear friend of mine. He has been engaging with dreams for decades and currently offers dreamwork, one-on-one and in groups, focusing on working with men. Matt has an MA in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate School and ...

Ready to hear about dreaming with a "pack," the language of wild nature, initiation into manhood, and why dreams are a trustworthy source of navigation and wisdom? Yes? That's what I said, too. Click Play now to listen to my conversation with Matt Cochran, a dreamworker and a dear friend of mine. He has been engaging with dreams for decades and currently offers dreamwork, one-on-one and in groups, focusing on working with men. Matt has an MA in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate School and ...

When you meet a menacing dream character, do you shudder, and skip writing that dream in your journal? Or do you get excited and dive in, because there's such dreamwork juiciness there? Either way, have you ever looked closely at the moment right BEFORE the threatening figure appears? My guest Alyssa Polizzi loves that practice. It even brings out an "ah-ha moment" for her in our conversation. Listen in to hear my "ah-ha moment," too, when Alyssa reflects on the purifying force of fire in one o...

When you meet a menacing dream character, do you shudder, and skip writing that dream in your journal? Or do you get excited and dive in, because there's such dreamwork juiciness there? Either way, have you ever looked closely at the moment right BEFORE the threatening figure appears? My guest Alyssa Polizzi loves that practice. It even brings out an "ah-ha moment" for her in our conversation. Listen in to hear my "ah-ha moment," too, when Alyssa reflects on the purifying force of fire in one o...

What happens when adults get out their colored pencils and freely draw their dreams? “Ah-ha moments,” all over the place. Life-shifting, and even life-saving, ah-ha moments. Click Play now to listen to me talk with Walter Berry about his dream groups, where participants draw their dreams and share the drawings. I loved every one of his stories. Walter has been called “The Wizard of Awes.” His upcoming book, Drawn into the Dream, will explore the awe that comes with drawing our dreams, and with...