Mid-Winter Dream Festival
with Jungian Analyst
Randall Mishoe

The Phyllis Moore Lecture

Dreams and the Mythopoeic
Narrative of a Life: Four Dreams
Friday Lecture, January 18, 7:30 p.m.

Our psyches reveal an innate tendency to organize experiences into narrative patterns. These stories orient us, give meaning to our existence, and bring dignity to living. This universal tendency has been called the psyche’s mythopoeic function. It makes possible our fascination with stories on many levels and in many areas of life: legends, fairy tales, myths and dreams that teach us about the inner world of the psyche, as well as our personal narrative in the outer world.

From these sources come wisdom, learning and the possibility of real joy. They may entertain us, educate us, and heal us. Long before psychotherapy existed as a profession, it existed in the fairy tales, myths, and sacred enactments of our ancestors. Consider the power of ancient Greek dramas to provide a kind of therapy, as members of the audience participated vicariously in the mythopoeic story unfolding on stage – and by association, within the individual psyches of the audience.

These dramas live on in each of us and appear nightly within our dreams. They provide glimpses of our personal tragedies and losses, our victories, and our heroic journey to fulfill our destinies. Dreams can potentially warn us, confront us with difficult truths, comfort us, and provide guidance and healing – but only if we respect their mythic world and symbolic language.

The lecture will be preceded by acknowledgement of the CFJ board members and friends, past and present, who have brought to Charlotte a deeper understanding of dreams and their place in our lives, through the pioneering work of the Swiss psychiatrist, Dr. C.G.Jung. A reception honoring these people will follow the lecture. (People who are participating in the Saturday Workshop are invited to stay an additional thirty minutes for an exercise in “dream-incubation.”)

Working with Dreams: Alone,
in Analysis and in Groups
Saturday Workshop, January 19, 9:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

This workshop will provide an informal, experiential format for deepening your work with dreams. Wear comfortable clothing that will permit you to sit comfortably and move about freely. The workshop will also include meditation, poems, and music. If you wish, you may bring your psychological journal and a dream to share.

Evening Celebration Gathering
Saturday Evening, January 19, 7:30 p.m. until ...
Location: TBA

We will wind up the Dream Festival weekend with an evening of Mirth (laughter and gaiety), Muse (song and poetry), Movement (dance), Masquerade (dress in the costume of your favorite dream character), and Myth (enacting the Dionysian celebration of mythic life together as we share food and non-alcoholic drink with friends).

Come prepared to conclude our Mid-Winter Festival in a dreamy atmosphere where archetypes may be about and your imagination is indeed encouraged to be active… Bring your gifts, artistic expressions and/or tricks to share with friends and others alike!

Our weekend gathering will provide opportunities to learn from our dreams and each other as we study, play, and celebrate together Charlotte’s Mid-Winter Dream Festival.