:"Doctor, every night I dream I run ten miles to get away from something. What can I do?" "Nothing.You get more exercise asleep than I do awake" (Photo by Vincepal) Our 21st-century understanding of medicine and psychology is pretty advanced, yet dreams continue to baffle us. More than a century after the publication of Sigmund Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams," his theories still influence our understanding of dreams -- though we no longer interpret every symbol as either sexual or wish-fulfillment. While there's no definitive answer as to the purpose, meaning -- or even the cause of dreams -- their study continues in earnest. Although we might not concern ourselves with the ongoing battles over dreams in the halls of academia, most of us do dream. Some remember few dreams, if any. Others make a study of their own dreams, keeping journals, and attempting to control them through lucid dreaming. You don't need to be a hardcore dream analyst to occasionally wonder whether your dreams hold some sort of meaning or message, especially since there are so many common dream themes. Ever have the one about your teeth falling out? Or being back in school taking a test? Being naked or being chased? Ever dream about this guy? There may not even be a cookie-cutter explanation for each dream symbol. Therapists sometimes use dreams in the context of an individual's life as a tool for exploring emotions and identifying and working through issues. "Dreamwork" has carved out its own niche in the self-help industry, with tons of books and even a popular radio dream coach. If you aren't quite ready to sign up for psychoanalysis, but you'd still like some insights into that dream you keep having about dogs, this weekend is your chance to talk to a teacher from the School of Metaphysics. Each year they open the National Dream Hotline for a weekend in April and offer free dream interpretations (the phone call itself will cost whatever long-distance charge applies to your phone service). If you’d like to give it a whirl, call (417) 345-8411, starting today at 6:00 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) and running through Sunday at midnight. Sweet dreams! Suggested Sites... School of Metaphysics - classes, seminars, and media for developing the whole Self. Dreamschool - explorers of dreams since 1973, and hosts of the Dream Hotline. Journal of the Association for the Study of Dreams - the only professional journal devoted specifically to dreaming. dream moods - site features a dream dictionary and discussion forums. Dreamstop - social networking centered around dream journals.

Directory categories: Sleep and Dreams, Dream Interpretation, Lucid Dreaming, Dream Interpretation Services, Psychoanalysis

Archived under: Dreams, Events, Mental Health, Psychology, Science, Sigmund Freud, Sleep

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