Like any good scientist, having the facts about the results of the experiment is the first place to start. This, of course, always leads to deeper and more probing questions. Gathering data about dreams and their meaning is an area that the School of Metaphysics has excelled in for over 30 years. Through hosting the annual National Dream Hotline® for the last 17 years, conducting numerous radio interviews and television shows, interpreting tens of thousands of dreams (www.dreamschool.org), and teaching dream interpretation to people all over the world, the School of Metaphysics has learned much about the meaning of dreams and how people can use these messages from their soul to aid in fulfilling their desires.
During National Dream Hotline® in April 2005, the School of Metaphysics focused research on who is interested in the meaning of dreams. Through interpreting nearly 1,500 dreams nationwide over a continuous 54 hour period, the following outstanding indications are worth reporting.
79% of the callers were women. In an interview with Dr. Barbara Condron, author of the newly released book Every Dream is about the Dreamer, she had this to say about the gender bias. "It’s not surprising. Typically people call it ‘women’s intuition’. Women tend to give more attention to their thoughts and their feelings, and the thoughts and feelings of other people, including their children. They tend to be in tune with the inner Self." Dr. Condron explained that research conducted by the School of Metaphysics points to a difference in the sexes arising during the childbearing years and relating to the chemical composition of the body. During these years this chemical change does effect the way the mind uses the brain and the body. For women, this expresses itself as receptivity, being aggressively receptive. In a survey like a larger number of female callers than male callers has occurred each of the 17 years the Hotline has been available. There’s another simple answer to why. "Women are conversationalists so they will talk about their dreams," Dr. Condron notes. "They are also willing to ask questions on behalf of the men in their lives or the children."
Nearly 60% were between the ages of 31 and 50. This percentage supports Dr. Condron’s conclusion on the effect of childbearing years on male and female consciousness. Referring to the media sources that were used during Hotline® she says, "I think it reflects more upon how we reach people during the National Dream Hotline® rather than who is really interested in their dreams." When factoring in seminars, classes, and global research conducted on the School’s www.dreamschool.org website, Dr. Condron says that part of this may be due to the fact that people in this age group have lived long enough to remember recurring dreams and begin to connect life experiences with the reappearance of certain dream characters and themes. "They now want more insight as to why. They are often looking for answers to childhood dreams, remembered for thirty or forty years," she added.
Over 50% heard about the hotline from print media. According to Dr. Teresa Martin, Media Coordinator for the National Dream Hotline®, "people read about the hotline in their favorite newspaper or magazine and keep the article as a reminder to call. Radio and television is in the moment. If you happen to have a pen or pencil when an interview is going on, you’re in luck. Otherwise, you miss the opportunity." Martin goes on to say that 6% of this year’s callers from the United States, Canada and Ireland were the result of one magazine alone - Women’s World Weekly. Condron adds, "the act of reading requires a greater degree of attention. Memory recall is enhanced with the individual’s command of undivided attention. This is the best remedy for ADD."
One-third regularly record their dreams. Roughly one-third regularly record and interpret their dreams. "I think this is a very high percentage," says Dr. Condron. "To me it’s filled with hope and a certain amount of insight that people are willing to have. On one level I think its a manifestation of a lot of attention in the last five years on journaling." She explained how journaling has been very popular recently in seminars and magazines as a technique to aid people to new levels of self-reflection. She adds that because of this it is not a big jump for people to begin writing down their dreams. It is a logical next step. Dr. Martin says that Hotline® obviously attracts people who are interested in their dreams to begin with so it would make sense that a large portion of the callers do regularly record and interpret their dreams. She explains that, "Thirty years ago hardly anybody was writing down dreams. Nowadays that is changing, in fact some people have notebooks filed with dreams needing interpreting."
72.2% experience lucid dreaming. Lucid dreaming is a phenomenon in which the dreamer actually has conscious awareness that they are dreaming. In this state, the dreamer is able to change parts of the dream at will but often feels thwarted or restricted. "Many people say they are awake but unable to move or talk. This is horrifying to many because they are out of control of their body." Dr. Condron says. She cites evidence that the reason for such a high number of lucid dreamers may be tied to our medicated society. She states, "To pop an aspirin or over-the-counter remedy is thoughtless for most people. They don’t even realize it is a drug and that it has multiple effects on the physical body and, therefore, on the mind." Condron asserts that drugs break down your ability to know where your attention is, and to control your attention. "Undivided attention is one of the essential life skills taught at the School of Metaphysics and is the cornerstone for every ability of the mind, including remembering the details of your dreams."
Dr. Barbara Condron has spent over 30 years studying and teaching metaphysics. Dr. Teresa Martin is a contributing author of Lucid Dreaming and a columnist for Sandman. Both are currently faculty members at the College of Metaphysics in Missouri. For more info email dreams@dreamschool.org
Shawn Smith is a freelance writer, and a great guy.
Reproduction of this article is encouraged when including the internet link where it is found. For more info call 417-345-8411 or email som@som.org
