Abstract Index Conference Index

ABSTRACT

 "The Benefits of Dreams and Dreamwork for both the Dying and the Living around the time of Death."

Craig Sym Webb, Director of the non-profit DREAMS Foundation (http://www.dreams.ca/), has appeared in/on The Discovery Channel, AOL, CTV, The Learning Annex, as well as numerous magazines, newspapers, and other mass media. As well as an author and researcher who's logged roughly 1000 lucid dreams, Craig is also a physicist, performing/recording artist, bio-medical design engineer, canoe guide, and Contributing Editor for Magical Blend magazine. cwebb@dreams.ca

4. Summary of Presentation:
Death touches both the dying and those about him/her on many levels, including physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual. It is no surprise then the personal/transpersonal realm of dreams offers an incredible venue for deep healing and fulfillment for both the dying and the living at such an important time. The author will share a dozen distinct ways, each with actual real life examples, in which dreams can provide tremendous aid around death and the process.

5. Learning Objectives:
Participants at this presentation should learn about:
1) a dozen ways in which dreams and dreamwork can aid both the dying and the living around the time of death.
2) powerful experience shares that offer great insights and new conceptual frameworks for working with dreams and death
3) a collection of resources on the topic of dreams and dying

Participants should be able to answer the following three questions after
attending this presentation:
1) How can dreams aid someone in transition?
2) How might dreams benefit the family and friends of a dying person?
3) Can the deceased contact the living through dreams?

B. ABSTRACT

Dreams have been called death's little brother. There is no question that both transcend our personal daily lives and yet that both also at the same time operate within our physical daily framework. The author was asked to give a presentation about dreams for the 13th International Congress on the Care of the Terminally Ill. In the year of preparation for the presentation, the author came across many events and experience shares around death and dreams which almost seemed to be synchronistically drawn together for the purpose of the presentation. From these and other dream experiences in connection with the process of dying, the author has gathered what seem to be a dozen distinct ways, each with powerful and true life examples, in which dreams and dreamwork can benefit both the dying and those close to her/him at this vitally important time. Such benefits include prevention of premature death, timely guidance or experiences of wish fulfillment and joy, a means of first hand acceptance of death, acceptance of palliative care and treatment, resolution of unresolved emotional issues for both the dying and those close to him/her at the time of death, gifts of insight for the living from the dying, aid in grieving and letting go of the deceased, non-physical aid or communication with the dying, guidance from beyond for the living, non-physical aid for the transition process itself, spiritual illumination for and at the time death.
Nightmares offer vital opportunities at this time for such aid and healing, especially in regard to working out unresolved issues for the dying person and especially for those who will continue to live, both before, during and after the death itself.