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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Mouth Deliver Baby

Mouth Deliver Baby

2019 dream. Lady gives birth through mouth. Birth is usually potential. What comes out of a mouth is usually words. I observed in this dream. Felt shock, awe, surprise. I feel this dream is partly about finding words. Something I am attempting to do with the modality of dreamwork in my medical practice and on this website. It is a modality of self discovery that can help people thrive in daily life and I believe is underutilized. I aim to change that.

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.)

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 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 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.

Workshops

Smithers Dreamwork Retreat

Seventh Annual Retreat April 24 to 26, 2020

Location: Logpile Lodge, Smithers B.C. Canada

7th Annual Retreat will be a 3 day intensive retreat with myself facilitating with help from Beth Jakubec and experienced facilitators Bill St. Cyr and Susan Marie Scavo. With each individuals permission, we share each others dreams in such a way that we don’t interpret per se. We try to mirror back the dream to the dreamer and role play if desired. No pressure to do so for those who don’t want to. The type of dreamwork we practice we often focus on feelings and relationships, but we let the dream guide us. It has neen called "experiential" or "Natural" and is in line with these principles.

The three days look like: Friday 9am to 6pm with a 1.5 to 2 hour lunch depending on participant numbers. Saturday 9am to 6 pm with same type lunch break. Sunday 9am to between 1 and 3 pm with breaks we agree on and ending time depending on numbers. Often we finish sooner.

Price $450 early bird until March 15, then $500 after that. Retreat includes most meals provided by the Lodge chefs. That means lunches and Saturday night supper. We often make an alternative Friday supper plan to save costs. Saturday night at the Lodge you can bring guests if you wish with advance notice at a set cost for the meal. Those that stay at the Lodge have breakfast included with their stay. Accommodation is not included, but arranged through us, not the Logpile Lodge. We have reserved a bank of rooms there. Shared rooms are available at reduced rates. And we can help connect those that want to save costs by sharing. Rooms are often in the $110 to $140 range. Bed and breakfast nearby is certainly an option. Or staying in the town of Smithers is an option which is only 10 minutes away.

For those coming from out of town we can likely pick you up at the airport since it’s close and a small town. No need to rent a car.

Registration is limited to 14 at this point. Registration will be possible via this website in 2019 and updates will be in the News Section on this website

Saturday night activity: We leave the options open for the individual, but a social event after supper is usually planned for those that wish to be social (some like dancing and singing, but appreciate that's not for everyone, and quiet space is available.)

Thursday April 23, 2019 info night in Smithers between 7 and 8:30 pm. Location: TBA

Art and Dream Nights

Over two consecutive nights 7-9 pm every second month over the winter. Tentative winter 2019 dates TBA

Location: Smithers Art Gallery

Cost is $25 for both nights, proceeds generally donated to the Art Gallery for the use of their space and supplies.

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 »