I can’t imagine there is one of us who hasn’t awakened from a dream, at one time or another, feeling confused, bewildered, anxious or positively elated. We may actually go through the day wondering, over and again, what the dream really meant. Wondering what it was trying to tell us. Even in the most ancient of times, in Greece and in Rome, it was a commonly held belief that dreams could be used to supply information about past, present and future events. Today, we still understand that dreams can be used to facilitate change and self-growth.

"Dreams are the touchstones of our characters." - Henry David Thoreau

Kelly Sullivan Walden is a Dream Doctor who had devoted an impressive amount of her life energy to helping us find meaning in our dreams. Kelly states that we spend 30% of our lives asleep, and therefore, there is much to learned about live and ourselves through the examination, and understanding, of our dreams. Kelly is the author of the delightful best selling book, I Had The Strangest Dream…The Dreamer’s Dictionary for the 21st Century. This book belongs on everyone’s nightstand for it contains over 3,000 dream symbol interpretations – from the most classic dreams to the most high tech! As a certified clinical hypnotherapist, for the last fifteen years, Kelly has been assisting clients to access their core beliefs, drives and desires, via their unconscious mind, in order to heal the past, and define future goals.

“Dreams are the language of the unconscious mind where you find your wisdom, your higher intuition, and the part of you that sees the bigger picture. - Kelly Sullivan Walden

And although there has been extensive research done to uncover exactly why we dream, to date science has not arrived at a definitive conclusion; part of that challenge remains because dreams have different meanings for different people. Yet the most commonly accepted explanation for dreams is attributed to Sigmund Freud. He suggested that dreams were a representation of unconscious desires, thoughts and motivations. In his grounbreadking work The Interpretation of Dreams , Freud wrote that dreams are keys to the unconscious. Later, C. G. Jung expanded that thought to include that dreams often function to reveal the unconscious mind, anticipate future events, and act to give expression to often neglected areas of the dreamer's personality.

Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.” - Carl Gustav Jung

With all this information to build upon, Kelly Sullivan Walden has used these potent images of the unconscious mind to empower people to love and live the life of their dreams. She is also the creator of The Dream Project, a CTAUN award nominated program for global change that inspires school children to create solutions for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (goals for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women). To learn more about this tremendous work Kelly has created, please visit: http://www.kellysullivanwalden.com/dream-project.html

Kathryn: Kelly thank you so very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with me today.

Kelly: It is my pleasure, Kathryn

Kathryn: Well, I’ve always known that dreams were important, Kelly. Not just for our physical health, but also for our spiritual evolution. Yet, I’ve met many people who say they just don’t dream at night. Is this possible?

Kelly: Actually, we all dream several times a night. The average person has anywhere from four to nine dreams per night. REM sleep produces our most intense dreams, and nightmares are also very important messages from the subconscious.

Kathryn: Wow, I had no idea. With that in mind, Kelly, how can we program ourselves to remember our dreams?

Kelly: You know, I compare our dreams to a muscle – we have to work the muscle if we want to develop it, right? So, then same is true for recalling our dreams. Here are the steps I recommend to do just that:

• Intend It: Make a conscious intent to remember your dreams before you go to sleep. Write your intent on a piece of paper, or in your dream journal. If you have a specific question you’d like your dreams to offer you clarity about, write that question down prior to going to sleep.

• Replay It: Before getting out of bed, replay as many details of your dream in your mind. This is the most important aspect of dream recall.

• Journal It: While it’s still fresh, write down as many details ofyour dream in your journal as you can possibly remember….even if it doesn’t make sense. • Share It: Retell your dream (or snippet of your dreams) with someone who won’t think you are crazy…ideally someone who eill help you to solve its mystery.

• Contemplate It: Throughout your day, contemplate the images, feelings, people, or activities that took place during your dreamtime…look for clues in your waking like that mirror your dreamtime experiences.

Kathryn: You know, Kelly, I think a lot of people feel their lives are already brimming with too many activities already. So, the idea of adding dream journaling to their to-do list is just unthinkable. Would you agree this is true?

Kelly: Oh, absolutely…I know a lot of people feel that way but the truth is it’s very pragmatic to pay attention to your dreams, especially in this day and age when so many changes are taking place. The good new is our subconscious mind can connect us with some of the best ideas ever! People have dreamt multi-million dollar ideas like Monster.com and Stephanie Myers received the Twilight series from a dream about a compassionate vampire. So, just think about that – you are sleeping on a gold mine every night!

Kathryn: That is a most fascinating way to look at our dreams. And it certainly behooves us all to think twice about the potential insight we can gain from them.

Kelly: There is no doubt that dreams are the keys to living our most amazing life. As a dream therapist I help people access those keys. Dreams are really the best kept secret because they have the ability to make our deepest desires come true if we know how to work with them.

Kathryn: So, besides offering us insight into the inner workings of our live, you believe that dreams can assist us in manifesting our destiny?

Kelly: Yes! Dreams can help us to access the 88% of our mind that most people don’t even know is there. When you understand the language of your dreams, it opens the door to a whole new world of insight and wisdom that can show you what you need to let go of and what is to come. Much like hypnotherapy, dreams help us to understand what the subconscious mind is trying to tell us. It’s like the hard drive to your computer.

Kathryn: Okay, then let’s look at the meaning of some of the most common dreams people have. What is a dream about being naked trying to tell us?

Kelly: Dreams of being naked are about exposure, a fear of having your private thoughts, feelings and fears being revealed for everyone to see. Naked dreams might also denote a desire for honesty, intimacy and freedom. If you are uncomfortable, ashamed or embarrassed, then this dream is telling you to release your judgments and criticisms about your vulnerability and authenticity.

Kathryn: That makes perfect sense. What about a dream where we’re flying?

Kelly: Flying dreams also represent freedom, along with independence, joy and a sense that you are aware of a higher perspective. When you are flying in a dream you’re exploring freedom from physical constraints and limitations as you connect with your true spiritual essence. A flying dream helps you in accessing your true potential.

Kathryn: I know how much I love those dreams where I’m soaring high above the earth and I experience that supreme sense of liberation! Those dreams are simply exhilarating! The dreams I don’t like are the ones where I lose a tooth! What is that all about?

Kelly: Well, when you have one of those dreams you’re usually venting feelings of powerlessness, financial stress, emotional insecurity or the loss of a loved one. Teeth are located in the mouth, and therefore, any dream about them has to do with issues surrounding communication and your ability to process or “chew on” data. After a dream of losing teeth someone might consider cleaning up any communication that might have gone awry.

Kathryn: Okay, I have to ask you about dreams that depict us having sex with someone other than our current partner. Does that mean we are unhappy in our relationship?

Kelly: Not necessarily…sexual dreams are a very natural and safe way of releasing pent-up sexual energy that may not be appropriate to express in your waking reality.

Sex dreams afford you the opportunity to go a little wild, so you can awaken in the morning as the balanced, civilized person you are. Sex can also be considered as a metaphor for “joining”, “connecting” or “embracing” the qualities that you ascribe to the person you are being intimate with in your dream.

Kathryn: And how about that awful falling dream? I have them a lot, and I wake up with a jolt before I hit bottom. What do falling dreams symbolize?

Kelly: Here again, dreams of falling signify a loss of control, lack of confidence, or not having your feet planted firmly on the ground. Falling dreams can also indicate that you are feeling overwhelmed with the events in your life. On the other hand, this dream could mean that you are falling into a deeper, more profound aspect of yourself. Either way, I suggest that after such a dream, you explore the depth of your true nature.

Kathryn: Kelly, I am really impressed with the information you’ve shared.You have been a magical wellspring of wisdom on the importance of paying attention to our dreams. Thank you so very much for gifting us with your knowledge on this profound subject.

Kelly: Thank you! In closing, I want your readers to consider placing a greater value on the gifts their dreams are trying to give them. With very little effort on our part, we can open ourselves to a world of joy and creativity beyond imagining. Understanding your dreams can give you:

• Awareness about how to more powerfully maximize your relationships.

• The answers to problems you are grappling with in your waking hours.

• Preparation for opportunities that are forthcoming.

• Heightened intuition and a sense of confidence in knowing that you have a direct line to your soul’s guidance.

• A larger “story” by which to frame your life and understand your place in the cosmos.

Kathryn: Kelly, this is all fabulous advice. After reading your words, I don’t think any of us will ever look at our dreams in quite the same way. Is there anything else you’d like to impart before we go?

Kelly: I’m so happy to have the chance to share what I’ve learned about the wonderful world of dreams. And I just want to encourage everyone to take time each morning to recall and journal their dreams. If they rush out of bed too quickly, before reviewing their dreams, then the drawbridge connecting the dreams with the “real world” closes, and their dream memory will recede into the fog of forgetfulness. Our dreams are designed to help us achieve our best lives, if only we take the time to remember them!

A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read.  ~The Talmud

To learn more about Kelly Sullivan Walden, Dream Doctor, please visit her at: www.KellySullivanWalden.com