Focusing with Dreams: Patterns and Symbols

Focusing with Dreams, Patterns and Symbols

CONTACT ‘1’ 604-263-9123 (Canada code ‘1’) [email protected] or  leave a reply with your best times.)
* Meeting by Zoom online
* Pre-requisites: Studio Registration Form and Level Two Focusing (prior to or concurrently with the Dreams series). 

Six Day Residential Retreats in Vancouver, BC Contact [email protected] for schedule or to request a retreat.

” Dreams lead some people to an abject reverence for ancient patterns, symbols and rituals. (Jung called them “archetypes”).  That is not the recommended attitude. A social pattern (current or ancient) deserves careful but rebellious handling. One cannot just wish it gone. It has energy because it is a life-pattern of the body. But,when its function is lived out differently, its power wanes.  And even if we cannot live some of that, the old pattern weakens if our choices and intricate experiencesare reasserted in a continuing interplay with it“. (Gendlin, 1986, emphasis added)

But what about someone who does not have much connection with their inner awareness?  How can they know their intricate experiences?  And how can they reassert their own experiences in a continuing interplay with the ancient archetypes that prevail in daily living?

In both dreaming and waking life we encounter archetypal patterns. For this series we will look at Bardo, in the Thot Tarot – a group of thirteen negative states of consciousness, archetypically portrayed by ancient symbols.  These Bardo states or aspects are imbedded in a matrix of 27 Healing Factors, providing a tool in for navigating cultural, social, or personal situations.  We can actively engage these archetypal Bardo patterns to reassert our own personal experiences or life-pattern of the body.  As we reassert our experiences, the power of archetypes wanes and ceases to overshadow our lives.  With “careful and rebellious handling ” (Gendlin, 1986) the function of Bardo is lived out differently: negative states are transformed into positive Factors of Enlightenment or Healing.

FOR PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS The course will support and compliment your learning in all areas of life. The structure and content will be useful to counselors, therapists and teachers in their professional practice. You will have the opportunity to bring your dream if you wish, or you can participate in the group without bringing a dream of your own. During this series you will develop a unique way of listening to both individual and group process.

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS * CEC’s to be awarded by the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) * PDH’s to be awarded by the Canadian Professional Counselors Association (CCPA) *  or ask for a letter for your organization.

PREREQUISITES * Studio Registration  * Prior or concurrent experience with Focusing/Philosophy of the Implicit * Free Introduction to the series (email [email protected]) or consultation with Katarina (email [email protected])

PRIMARY RESOURCE Chart: 150714 13 Bardo Aspects in their Matrix of Healing Factors with links and imagesPage with article and reply posts: “ Why are dreams special? They process our situations on a primitive level where perceptions of trees, animals, and stones are still being formed. But our individual history and situations also participate in the formation of the images.” Eugene Gendlin, Body Dreamwork  http://www.focusing.org/gendlin/pdf/gendlin_body_dreamwork.pdf

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES * Gendlin, Eugene, PhD. (1992). Three Learnings Since the Dreambook. The Folio, 11, 1, 25-30 * Montague Ullman, M.D. (2006). The Dream – In Search of a New Abode * Montague Ullman, M.D. (Date unknown, between 2001 – 2005). On the Relevance of Quantum Concepts to Dreaming Consciousness

THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL LANGUAGE OF DREAMING CONSCIOUSNESS EACH PERSON’S TRUTH AND FREEDOM GROWS
“tread softly for you tread on my Dreams” – W.B. Yeats

SAFETY & DISCOVERY There is a gentle balance of safety and discovery as we build on the dream appreciation process and include the Bardo studies. The course is primarily experiential. Some participants bring a dream, some attend with a scholarly interest, we share our learnings and inspire the group as a whole. In addition to the Thot Tarot Minor Arcana cards, our resources are Eugene Gendlin’s philosophy and his work with dreams, integrated with Montague Ullman’s Dream Appreciation Group Process as pioneered by Janet Pfunder. As you become experienced with the process, you may choose learn how to lead a  dream appreciation group in your community.

TESTIMONIALS FOR FOCUSING AND DREAMS WITH KATARINA HALM

“I am delighted that Katarina and her Focusing colleagues are supporting the experiential Gendlin/Ullman dream group process.”
–– Janet Pfunder

“Dreams can be an amazing resource in our lives, and are well worth learning about. In addition, Gendlin’s writing on dreams is an excellent bridge into the Philosophy of the Implicit; and Katarina is a excellent teacher, who approaches her subject with wonderful energy, sensitivity, and intelligence.”
–– Rob Parker ,Focusing Oriented Therapist, Author, leader of seminars on Gendlin’s major works including ‘A Process Model’

“Katarina is a compassionate guide, giving space-full listening and interesting feedback connected to relevant articles. Her welcoming attitude embraces all members of the group and enhances working with dreams. Looking at dreams in this attitude enables them to become more and more meaningful, developing an insightful connection to real life.”
–– Barbara Rolsma, Focusing trainer, The Netherlands

” I really have appreciated the class.  It’s opened up a new way to do focusing for me and my focusing partner, Anne.  I have appreciated getting to do dream focusing with so many interesting and capable persons and it has given me a deeper understanding of some of my dreams.  I especially appreciated your guidance in the conference calls.  I loved having pictures of the participants and I felt there was a presence in reflecting back what others had said which really enhanced the communication.”
–– Patrice Jacob, Camas, Washington State Clinical psychology PhD program at Pacifica Graduate Institute.

” Thanks again for putting together this wonderful group, as well as for taking care of us in such an empathic way! I have also enjoyed very much having a companion during the week. All of them have been great.”
––  Vicenç Rul.lan, Focusing Oriented Psychologist,  Palma (Mallorca, Spain)

“We’ve all been given advice to “sleep on it” hoping for clarity and direction the next morning. Now you can learn to “focus on it”. Using Gendlin’s experiential process, Katarina Halm demonstrates how “Focusing and Dreams” can shift our awareness to a more receptive state of intuitive guidance. Dream focusing is a free-flowing, open, gentle and accepting approach to exploring all the possibilities associated with our creative work, problem-solving, decision-making and interpersonal skills.  As a student in Katarina’s class I have enjoyed learning how to cultivate the nuances of my dreams.”
––  Diane Kindree, West Vancouver, BC, Canada