Dreamwork Ethics Statement - The Art & Science of Dreams

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Jan 4, 2001

The Art & Science of Dreams seeks to both honor and celebrate the many benefits of dreamwork, on all levels of the self evolutionary spectrum, yet recognizes that there are potential hazards and risks associated with this discipline. The Art & Science of Dreams supports an approach to dreamwork and dream sharing that respects the dreamer's dignity and integrity, and which recognizes the individual dreamer as the decision-maker. In short, this means that you as the dreamer, are the only one who can truly assess, and in essence, create the significance of the dream in your personal mythos. As such, The Art & Science of Dreams recognizes and advises you that systems of dreamwork that assign authority or knowledge of the dream's meanings to someone other than the dreamer can be misleading, incorrect, and harmful. This means that the writer of a dream dictionary is not any more authoritative on what your dream of beetles means than I am. You are the authority, and the only authority.

Ethical dreamwork helps the dreamer work with his/her own dream images, feelings, and associations, and seeks to guide or inspire the dreamer to more fully experience, appreciate, and understand the dream. As with every person who is an individual, every dream may be unique. Each dream may have multiple meanings, and different techniques may be reasonably employed to touch and unpeel these multiple layers of the dream onion in seeking its significance to the dreamer. A dreamer's decision to share or discontinue sharing a dream should always be respected and honored. This is especially true in an online medium such as The Art & Science of dreams where published dreams may be the topic of discussion forums. The dreamer should be forewarned that unexpected issues or emotions may arise in the course of their dreamwork, or in posting their dreams and responses in such a forum. Information and mutual agreement about the degree of privacy and confidentiality are essential ingredients in creating a safe atmosphere for dream sharing. The Art & Science of dreams seeks to be a safe haven for the dreamer, and also for the community of dreamers who choose to share their insights, experiences and opinions with regard to the study of the dream.

Dreamwork outside a clinical setting is not a substitute for psychotherapy, or other professional or medical treatment, and should not be used as such. Any information shared on The Art and Science of Dreams by the Contributing Editor, other authors, or participants in the dream community should not be viewed as such.

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The copyright of the article Dreamwork Ethics Statement - The Art & Science of Dreams in Dream Interpretation is owned by Lauri Jean Crowe. Permission to republish Dreamwork Ethics Statement - The Art & Science of Dreams in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.