Dreamwork Face Bear/Wall of Flesh

Face Bear/Wall of Flesh

In this dream I was terrified. It was just a bear and a wall of flesh that went up to the sky. Like raw steaks stacked. Blood dripping. Working with this dream... I had to acknowledge there's rawness & trauma in me. I need to be the bear with a presence in the world: have boundaries and stand my ground not worrying about what others think.. like a bear

Dreamwork Bullets turn Rainbow

Bullets turn Rainbow

I sketched this after a girl in my dream told me to BE CREATIVE! It was a compilation of dreams: I was shooting and the bullets swirled like bees into galaxy shape (recurrent war dreams), I felt like I was being shot and dying and this womans face appeared while I felt this. (Reminded me of the Valkyrie myth) And Dream where I'm drilling into my own legs (Reminds me of how hard on myself I can be.) Somehow connecting these dreams in art helps me.

Dreamwork Grey man with ripped face

Grey man with ripped face

In this dream it felt like being whipped with Cat-o-nine tails. What?!! Why was I sent this dream? It's dreams like this that capture a familiar feeling that I know with a terrifying image that make me wonder about the source of dreams, and why should I open this door? But I have found to acknowledge what is somehow living within you opens you up to truly be alive in the outer world. Somehow it was a relief to "release" this dream.

Dreamwork 2 flowers

2 flowers

In this dream I am drawing. That there was two seemed symbolic somehow. Did I need to acknowledge some split in my world? (I can think of many). But I could definitely acknowledge that I had been ignoring that I like to create art. Often dreams inspire in a way that's beyond words. I sketched in this dream. I started sketching more in my life. That provided most of the art for this website. It felt good to start doing art again. Something I had stopped doing. I restarted.

Dreamwork Playing in the Wrong Game

Playing in the Wrong Game

In this dream from a few years back, I score and celebrate (I play ice hockey) as I play against this demon/darkness. Then I face off again and my heart sinks. I realize..."wait... he's going to let me score!" This game is hollow. Like winning a battle but losing the war. Like the arguments in my life that are pointless. In this dream realized I'm in the wrong game... in my inner and outer life. I needed to seriously reevaluate what I was doing and why. (Reminded me of Neitzche quotes of the allure of darkness.)

Dreamwork In the Fire

In the Fire

In this dream I watched a man in the flames. As I felt into being him, this fire did not consume or burn him. He was just in the flames. It brought many questions, including: What does that feel like? Can I be with my own fire or passion? Fire can be transformative. I'm still learning what this means. Writing helps. There was a black and white checkered floor next to this image. The part of me that viewed the world in simple black and white was being destroyed on some level.

Dreamwork Dream collage sword

Dream collage sword

This image was inspired after working with many dreams and the images that seem to recur so often for so many people. Water, mountains, jail, cups (often not full...) animals, swords... I have been gifted 3 swords in different dreams. It felt like a priveledge each time. I realize its a powerful image and has a double edge. Getting what one wants or needs could be helped metaphorically with a sword. But it can also cut or wound and demands respect and humility.

Dreamwork Watch Bear Fall

Watch Bear Fall

In this dream I saw a white bear fall, or be pushed, off a cliff from a great distance. I didn't feel much. But the metaphor is not a happy one. My distance from it may be significant and I often take notice of distances and proximities in dreams. Am I distant from something painful like the fall of a white bear? I likely was. Many bear dreams followed this one until they were everywhere. I had little choice but to face the fear of the bear and what it represented for me.

Dreamwork Mask

Mask

I have never seen this mask before that came in my dream. I have seen similar in Neil Gaiman literature. It's terrifying and dehumanizing and made me feel like I was in a war. I have had numerous recurrent war dreams. But have never been to war in my outer world. Releasing this image helped me deal with all that I don't understand in this world and that's there's a lot of terrifying things going on constantly. I think it made me more compassionate somehow. I don't really know. Still processing this...

Dreamwork Bring together the pieces

Bring together the pieces

This dream seemed sacred and profound. After dreams with shattering glass and stained glass and I saw in my outer world my perceptions were being altered and shattered. (My own shattering). This good presence came and seemed to be collecting the pieces for me and presenting them back to me. Like all the broken pieces. Breaking and remodelling are common themes in dreams. I had to acknowledge I had been broken first. This dream gave me hope.

Dreamwork Feather

Feather

This feather came as an image in a dream. Floating. Peaceful. It felt peaceful. I often ask people, "is there a reason you might need to feel this feeling in your life at this time?". Could I use more peace? It seems like always. Choosing a job that is based in am emergency room or operating room gives an idea of the life choices I have made that are not always peaceful. Still looking for more of this...

Dreamwork creature around car

creature around car

This dream had me scared of this large lizard like creature around a car. I felt much fear. I often tell people dreams may have 100 meanings and keep an open mind. I have to with this one since I'm still processing this. But I felt compelled to "release it" through a sketch and somehow it it less scary that way. I often encourage others to sketch or paint their dreams.

Dreamwork Weighted to bottom

Weighted to bottom

In this dream I am given lead weights to hold while on a boat. I rapidly descend to the depths of the ocean. In my outer world, I knew there was stuff I needed to deal with... and quick. I needed a push, and my dream gave it to me. Going down in dreams is often emotional and literally brings up things that are often painful and sad but live inside of you. I needed to go deeper. I'm glad I did. Going deep is often what seems necessary.

Dreamwork 3 dudes visit

3 dudes visit

In this dream I feel small. I am cowering on a bunk bed with what feels like my sister. (Somewhat familiar from childhood with fighting in the house). These guys felt like good energy dudes and support. I love music. I thought one was Bob Seger in the dream. Often the feeling of being supported or "not alone" seems the main message of some dreams. It's one thing to say I don't feel alone. It's another thing to feel it. Dreams open feelings. This was a great dream.

Dreamwork Letting Go... To find our focus

Letting Go... To find our focus

This dream was hard to put to words. The words in the dream came to me,"Letting go to find our focus". People were hanging onto the edges and the spinning force would seem to cause them to not hang on and just let go. I tried to draw this. It seems very Buddhist, like "non-attachment" is talked about in Buddhism. Did I need to hear this? Yes. Still do. (I have many dreams with seeming Buddhist or biblical references despite not following or being raised in either tradition.)

Testimonials

- Hugo (colleague, age 82)

"One amazing thing about exploring my dreams is that every dream, with all the wisdom and awareness, comes from within me, the dreamer. My dreams reveal what I hold deep in my memory and am totally clueless about, until a dream decides it is time to reveal that nugget of my past or my potential. Exploring my dreams, which I started ten years ago at age 72, has changed me and my life - totally for the better..." (Hugo's testimonial continues in Testimonials, read on section)

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- Joanna

"This healing work has gone beyond any counselling or medication for me. When working a dream, Darren asks questions, holds space, and makes mind blowing connections to my outer life and past struggles. Then with loving wisdom cracks them open and I am able to FEEL the message they bring. The gift is in finding the spiritual/God presence in the dream. This gift gives guidance to my outer world where I am more at ease with who I am. I have worked through a lot of guilt and judgement that was weighing heavy on my soul. There are more layers to work through but I feel supported because while I sleep an individual invitation is presented to me to change and be true to who I am."

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- Laura

"Learning how to work with my dreams broke down walls that have been up for years. Walls that have been stopping me from fully participating in life, that have kept me sheltered and cut off from being part of a community. I am learning to feel again, to have true feelings that come from my core and I'm learning how to express those feelings in a healthy way. Dreamwork has opened up healthy and proactive ways for dealing with past issues that seemed too daunting to tackle any other time. Through my dream practice I have learned to trust others, but more importantly I have learned to trust myself. I learned how the answers to my lifes biggest questions come from inside of me. Through my dreamwork I have come alive."

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- Sonja

"In the past 3 1/2 years; with the help of God, Darren, Bill (St.Cyr) and dreamwork... I have found my voice, realized that I am worthy, that I am loved, that I matter. Dreamwork has taught me how to separate my feelings from situations. I used to be in it, now I can recognize that I don't need to carry or own what's not mine to carry. I have done a lot of self work, and I recognize when others have inserted themselves into other peoples lives, because it's far easier than looking into the terrifying, vulnerable mirror."(Continues in "view more" then "read on" section.)

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- Leslie

"Doing dream work with Darren has had a profound impact on my spiritual and emotional recovery. By exploring the presence of loved ones that have passed that are in my dreams as if they never left, I was able to get in touch with repressed emotions and process my grief. I was given the opportunity to hold and say goodbye to my mother Marinas beautiful loving energy who died unexpectedly while in my care. I learned that my brother Thomas who died tragically from a drug overdose was safe from speaking to a couple of my Dutch ancestors."(Continues in "view more" and "read on" sections.)

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Testimonials

"This healing work has gone beyond any counselling or medication for me. When working a dream, Darren asks questions, holds space, and makes mind blowing connections to my outer life and past struggles. Then with loving wisdom cracks them open and I am able to FEEL the message they bring. The gift is in finding the spiritual/God presence in the dream. This gift gives guidance to my outer world where I am more at ease with who I am. I have worked through a lot of guilt and judgement that was weighing heavy on my soul. There are more layers to work through but I feel supported because while I sleep an individual invitation is presented to me to change and be true to who I am."

- Joanna | view more »