Association for the Study of Dreams

Phone:  (925) 258-1822

E-mail:  ASDreams@aol.com

Website:  ASDreams.org

Overview of dreams and dreaming

Dreams . . . from the beginning of recorded history dreams have been a source of curiosity and inspiration to humankind.  Everyone dreams – whether we remember them or not. 

Dreams are far more than strange experiences we have every night.  Throughout recorded history  – across all cultures and religions – dreams have been used for guidance, healing and creativity. 

Many people dreamed of the events of September 11 before they occurred.  Harriet Tubman dreamed of safe routes for the Underground Railroad – and never lost a traveler.  Einstein and Edison both credited dreams with some of their scientific breakthroughs . . . Bill Joel often dreams of his music . . . writers from Robert Louis Stevenson to Stephen King have dreamed of ideas for their books . . . Bernie Siegal has found that cancer patients often dream of their illness before it is diagnosed – and many have had healing dreams as well . . . 

When we hear their call and listen to their message, dreams can have a positive impact on our lives.  Dreams present us with information about all areas of our lives – from practical things like solutions to homework, potential car problems, and troubles in our relationships to healing, inspiration and creativity.

About the Association for the Study of Dreams

The Association for the Study of Dreams is a non-profit, international, multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the pure and applied investigation of dreams and dreaming.  Its purposes are:

Ø      to promote an awareness and appreciation of dreams in both professional and public arenas

Ø      to encourage research into the nature, function, and significance of dreaming

Ø      to advance the application of the study of dreams

Ø      to provide a forum for the eclectic and interdisciplinary exchange of ideas and information.

Who belongs to ASD?

ASD is open to anyone who studies, explores or works with dreams.  Its international membership has representatives from dozens of countries. 

Members of ASD come from a broad range of backgrounds, including clinical practice, academic research, laboratory experimentation, classroom teaching, community organizing, group dream work, artistic and literary creativity, and personal study.

A variety of academic disciplines and theoretical perspectives are represented among the membership, many of whom work professionally in fields like anthropology, medicine, psychology, history, education, art, sociology, business administration, comparative literature, language studies, religion and spirituality, social work and nursing.

What does ASD do?

Each year ASD hold an annual conference that offers a wide array of presentations, papers, workshops, experiential events, social gatherings, art exhibitions, and training in a variety of dream work techniques.

ASD also sponsors regional meetings with a similar range of events, workshops and presentations.  These regional meetings provide opportunities for networking among people in a particular geographical area who study dreams.

ASD publishes Dreaming, a professional journal that presents articles from a variety of scholarly disciplines.  It also publishes a quarterly magazine, Dream Time, which includes interviews, book excerpts, and articles of interest to people leading dreams groups and working with their own dreams.  A quarterly newsletter, Connections, has brief information the organization's activities and members.

2002 ASD Conference at Tufts University in Medford, MA.

This year ASD's 19th international annual conference – Dreaming and Cultures – is being held June 15-19 just outside Boston at Tufts University in Medford, MA.  There will be more than 100 separate presentations, including symposiums, workshops, lectures, events and poster sessions.  In addition to the star-spangled program, attendees have convenient access to the city from the university location.

Attendees will study with world famous authors, psychotherapists, researchers, artists, educators and renowned experts in the field of Dream Studies.  There will be presentations on dreams related to September 11, universal and cross-cultural dreams, post traumatic nightmares, and dream content research. Comparative clinical approaches include Jungian, psychoanalytic, cognitive and self-psychology.

There will be a dream-inspired art exhibit, dream Internet cafe and simultaneous web events, lunch with dream studies experts and much, much more.

To reach ASD:

Headquarters Phone: 209-724-0889

Conference Phone:  866-DREAM12 (866-373-2612)

www.ASDreams.org – for information about the organization, conferences, etc.

ASDCentralOffice@aol.com  – to send us an e-mail