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until  the  story was told,  but then instantly  realized that
the slogan revealed the meaning of the dream. I had been
in a process of trying  to learn the meaning of alcohol in
my life. In the dream I seem to be purging myself of any
superficial   or  literal  understanding,   learning  that  by
mistaking   the   image   for   the  meaning,  I   would   be
incorporating something too concrete. I needed to purge
myself  of  the  bottle  so that  I  could  learn  that  it was
really  the  water  that   I  was  seeking.   Here  is  a  good
example of  a story told  in innocence  that really  hit the
mark and had a healing effect.
     Perhaps  these two examples show something  of  the
special  value the dream  drawing  story  game  can  have.
What  I  like  about  it  is  that  by  telling a story about  a
drawing,  most  anyone  can  be  helpful  to  the  dreamer
The   game   bypasses   the  intellect   and  relies  on   the
intuitive  processes   in   the  story   teller.  In   this  way,
theoretical interpretations, which often result in  making
judgments  about  the dreamer, are avoided. Besides, any
interpretation of a  dream  is  really another dream about
a  dream.  In  the  dream  drawing story game  this fact is
"up  front,"  for  it   is  obvious   that   the   story  teller is
making  self-revelations in  making  up the story. Rather
than  by  making  diagnostic judgments, when  people try
to  help  one   another   by  making  self-revelations,  the
result is usually a more mutually  supportive and healing
atmosphere.

DREAMING TOGETHER
Alan Siegel, M.A.

     For  the  pas t two years  I have worked as a counselor
and  group   leader   at   Berkeley   Place,   a   psychiatric
halfway    house    for   young   adults   returning   to   the
community    after    hospitalization    and    for   persons
in    a   current   crisis    who   might   otherwise   require
hospitalization.   We   have   a   supportive  and  emphatic
communal family atmosphere  where both  residents and
staff help each other meet their needs and grow together.

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