toward empathizing with the metaphorical, symbolic
world view of the higher Self. Also, the focus was placed
on the dreamer, rather than on the dream itself. Another
aspect of this approach was to discover the values
operative in the dreamer's life, and to compare those
values with the implied values portrayed in the dreams.
Finally, the most important aspect of the dream
interpretation work was the requirement to test and
apply any hypothesis gained from a dream. Such
application was believed to be crucial in developing a
reality-based, as opposed to purely speculative, relation-
ship with the dreams, and encouraging even more
responsive dreams.
      The four meditations for inspirational writing were
designed to apply these abstract theoretical notions into
concrete practices. The use of journal writing seemed to
provide an appropriate means for dream study on a
personal basis, as it is a convenient and powerful means
of fostering self-understanding and creative insight.
Working with me on designing the meditations was
Thomas Verner, a graduate student with the Humanistic
Psychology Institute. Tom had studied the Intensive
Journal with Ira Progoff, and had become quite
proficient in the creative use of a personal journal. Our
task in collaboration was to combine the methods of
inspirational writing with the theoretical orientation
concerning dreams.
      The meditations were structured around the theme of
problem solving and followed the familiar sequence of:
information gathering, analysis, incubation, creative
insight, and evaluation. Each meditation used the
dreams from the previous week, and directed attention
during the subsequent week on applying whatever was
learned, in the hopes that additional dreams might occur
to carry the activity further. In order to provide
continuity and to direct attention between meditations, a
"pillow/pocket letter" was used. It was something that
could be slept with at night, and carried in the pocket
during the day. If a person was unable to recall dreams
during the project, the four meditations were designed

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