PRACTICAL IDEAS & METHODS FOR CULTIVATING IMAGINATION – AND THE MANY BENEFITS OF DOING SO
About this Event

This free on-line session will be a chance to discuss and try out waking dream practice with the author of ‘Waking Dreams: Imagination in Psychotherapy and Everyday Life’

Waking Dreams is a book on imagination with a difference. The vast majority of such books focus upon explaining what images mean and/or image-based techniques to produce pre-planned effects.

What makes Waking Dreams different is an emphasis upon the rather neglected area of how to live a more imaginative life and the benefits of doing so.

Instead of taking imagination for granted, the principles and skills of an image-based approach to psychotherapy and everyday life are clearly set out – with examples and exercises that address the place of imagining in the consulting room and beyond.

Allan Frater will give an overview of the ideas, strategies and applications of waking dream practice presented in his book, including:

-the healing, transformative and creative benefits of imaginative life

-how to notice, validate and enhance the activity of images in everyday life and work

-the basic principles of waking dream practice

-an image-centric approach to life as an on-going ‘eyes-wide-open’ waking dream

-how fractal geometry helps transform repeating stories of self and world

-the relevance of waking dream practice to art-based and ecotherapy approaches

-an ecological alternative to mind-as-machine metaphors of change

The format will be a mixture of slideshow presentation and discussion, with a live waking dream demonstration and an optional exercise to try out the ideas and practices.

The evening works as a stand-alone event and will also serve as a taster session for those interested in the popular ‘Waking Dreams’ on-line course (10 evenings fortnightly) - next cohort start Feb 2025.