Episode 9: Nature Dreams with Erin Shrader

Jan 12

Welcome back to Psyche Magic! In this enchanting episode, Erin Shrader (The Rebel Herbalist) teaches us about the powerful role the natural world has played in her life, including her dreamscape. She also illustrates a couple of fascinating dream exploration techniques. I do an intro about Ecopsychology and an A-list dream segment about Rosalind Cartwright - Psychologist and author who was known for work in studying the dreams of women navigating divorce in the 70s.

Erin's Dream Method #1

Series of questions to each of the main elements of the dream:

—I am ________

—My purpose is ___________

—I like ________

—I dislike ___________

—My biggest fear is ______________

—My biggest desire is ______________

—I want to tell the dreamer ________________

Erin's Dream Method #2 (adapted from Carolyn Elliot's book Existential Kink)

1. Describe the dream in as much detail as possible

2. Translate - list each noun in the dream and translate it as if describing it to an alien

3. Write the Translated Story - subbing the descriptions for the nouns

4. Rhyme the Themes - Jot down elements in your life that seem to metaphorically rhyme with the themes of the story.

5. Sum it Up - Write at the top of a sheet of paper, “This dream is about…. On another level it’s also about…. The thing I don’t want to let myself know is….. What I’ll take from this dream is……”

Follow Erin's work and various projects here

Instagram: @psyche_magic

Website: www.psychemagicpodcast.com

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Want to share a dream with me? Feel free to leave me a 1:00 voicemail using this link. Your dream may be featured on a future episode!