Abstract Index Conference Index

ABSTRACT

Patricia Garfield, Ph.D.
e-mail: Dreamsign7@aol.com
website: http://www.patriciagarfield.com

1. Type of Presentation: Founders Workshop

2. Title of Presentation: What the Universal Dream Themes and Motifs Mean to You

3. Author: Patricia Garfield, Ph.D., Tiburon, California.

Patricia Garfield, Ph.D., one of the six founders of the Association for the Study of Dreams, is a worldwide dream expert. She has written six books on dreams, including bestseller Creative Dreaming. Her latest, The Universal Dream Key: The 12 Most Common Dream Themes Around the World, was just published.

4. Summary of Presentation:

A brief description of the findings in the author's website survey on Universal Dreams, drawing on the responses from 500 participants around the world. Workshop participants will practice "unlocking" key motifs from the 12 universal dream themes, as well as personal motifs from their dreams.

5. Learning Objectives:

A. Three learning objectives of the presentation:

1. Participants will learn which of 12 Universal Dreams were reported most often.
2. Participants will understand why the least often reported dream them is important to identify.
3. Participants will gain facility in identifying and "unlocking" motifs that appear in any dream.

B. Three Evaluation Questions:

1. Can you name the three most frequently reported dream themes cited by 500 dreamers around the world?
2. Can you name the least most often reported Universal Dream theme and tell why it is important?
3. Can you cite the three steps to "unlock" a key motif in any dream theme?

8. Abstract:

This workshop briefly explores the most commonly cited Universal Dreams as found in a survey on the author's website. We will look at:

(a) what these universal dream themes are likely to mean in your dreams, based on the findings;

(b) show you how to identify key motifs in any of your dreams, not only those with universal themes;

(c) practice using a method of "unlocking" the idiosyncratic images that are found in any of your dreams.

500 people from more than 36 countries around the globe participated in the website survey on Universal Dreams. The majority of respondents were from the United States (325); the remainder were from outside the USA (175). Nonetheless, there was:

(1) a similar male to female ratio (3 females to 1 male);
(2) a similar age distribution (a bell-shaped curve, with most respondents in the 20 to 34 year age group);
(3) a similar frequency of dream themes reported in both groups (the 12 universal dream themes had an almost identical distribution).

Despite differences in country of origin and native language, certain dream themes transcend culture. Cultural variations were found in the diversity of motifs rather than in the basic themes.

These findings suggest that your dreams are likely to contain similar dreams with similar motifs, along with your own highly individual additions. Learn an intriguing approach to exploring these images and elements.