Abstract Index Conference Index

ABSTRACT

1. Type of presentation: ILLUSTRATED PAPER

2. Title of presentation: DREAMING ACROSS THE MASON-DIXON LINE: DISCOVERING DIRECTION IN DREAMS

 Dr. Curtiss Hoffman
 E-mail c1hoffman@bridgew.edu

 I am an archaeologist and consciousness researcher in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. I am particularly interested in cultural systems of thought related to dreaming, myth, ritual, visions, religious iconography, and symbolism. I am the author of The Seven Story Tower: A Mythic Journey through Space and Time.

4. Summary of Presentation: Directions are frequent motifs in dreams. They allow us to "orient" ourselves within a dream geography of inner states as well as cultural constants. Borders are particularly interesting for understanding this. We will explore direction in cross-cultural symbolism,
both in myth and dream.

5. A) Learning Objectives:
a) to explore the symbolism of direction in dreams and cultural myths
b) to discover the "orientation" within dreams
c) to understand how this orientation is a useful tool for understanding dreams
B) Evaluation Questions:
a) How do the directions place a dream or a series of dreams in a structural universe?
b) What is my own dream universe's orientation and how does it relate to others - in my focus group, or in general?
c) How can I use orientation to better understand my dreams and their relationship to my life?

8. Abstract: This workshop will explore the significance of the directions in dreaming, both the traditional compass points (north, south, east, west, above, below) and the directions relative to the dreamer (left, right, up, down, front, back). I will give some examples from my own dreaming over the past 9 years, and also provide numerous visual examples from myths and cultural systems around the world. The main point of the talk is to show that while many cultures have conceptualized the directions in great symbolic detail, assigning to them colors, seasons, times of day, animals, virtues, vices, genders, times of life, elements, etc., each has a different way of assigning qualities to them. This should lead the listener to realize that it is possible for her or him to formulate a valid, idiosyncratic perspective on the directions which can be a useful guide for inner exploration. I will pay particular attention to dreams and myths in which a boundary or border between directions is approached or crossed (e.g. the Mason-Dixon line, the Berlin Wall, the Continental Divide). These hint at a possible new direction, or change of consciousness from one level to another. I gave this presentation as part of a workshop at the 2000 ASD meeting, but due to it being scheduled against several very popular presentations it was not very well attended. The present proposal is for the visual presentation only, not the workshop, but I will certainly provide suggestions as to how the material could be applied to working on one's dreams.