DREAM HEALS

05/29/2025

Dreams contain psychological and creative insights. Learn to work with your dreams to navigate life toward healing, problem-solving, and personal growth. Register for virtual classes at dreamheals.org.

04/22/2025

The octopus symbol teaches an essential skill for humanity’s evolution journey today.

The Keeper of What Cannot Be Held

They say the Octopus was born from the breath between tides—a spirit shaped not by strength, but by surrender.

He has no bones, no armor, yet he survives where others break. The elders tell us this is his gift: the wisdom to bend, to flow, to vanish without fear. In every storm, he finds stillness. In every trap, a way out.

Each arm moves with its own knowing. He thinks not just with his mind, but with his body, with his sensing, with his being. He doesn’t fight the ocean—he becomes it.

The Octopus teaches us that it’s okay not to hold everything. That sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is let go. To change shape. To heal quietly. To feel deeply, and still keep moving.

We call him Yama’tsa — The Keeper of What Cannot Be Held.

🙏🙏Please message me with the image you’re referring to, and I’ll gladly send you the poster link!

04/21/2025

In this new blog published on “Mad in America”, Bei Linda Tang rejects the Western dismissal of dreams as meaningless neural noise and advocates for their recognition as a vital 'mental GPS'—guiding personal healing, creative breakthroughs, and societal resilience through dreamwork practices.

Tang critiques psychiatry’s pathologization of waking dreams (e.g., labeling them as hallucinations or symptoms of disorders like schizophrenia) and highlights Indigenous traditions and scientific evidence that dreams—both sleeping and waking—serve as tools for emotional processing, trauma resolution, and innovation. She argues that modern society’s prioritization of productivity over introspection suppresses this innate resource, exacerbating mental health crises.

Her alternative, *Guided Dreaming*, combines breathwork and visualization to facilitate personalized underwater waking dreams, with research showing 91% of participants report reduced stress and enhanced problem-solving, as well as 36% average improvement in mental outlook after just one session.

Tang envisions a future where dream literacy is taught in schools and workplaces, bridging divides by fostering empathy through shared symbolic narratives.

https://www.madinamerica.com/2025/04/dreaming-with-purpose/

By honouring dreams, we honour our innate creativity, our shared humanity, our capacity to reimagine reality.

03/26/2025

Neuroscience and psychology recognize that dreams reflect waking concerns and often contain problem-solving insights. Understanding and working with your dreams can help you improve mental clarity, boost productivity, and foster resilience.

Dreams play a significant role in mental health, as they reveal timely and unadulterated psychological insights, including unconscious thoughts, desires, and...

03/26/2025

03/08/2025

In my sleep, I dreamt of women sitting together with their eyes closed. When I awake, I wonder what they dream about.

Science tells us that when we dream, our brains pulse with activity, weaving memories into narratives, transforming fears into resilience, and building bridges between what is and what could be.

Women’s dreams often contain more emotional depth, vivid imagery, and social interactions. This may be because women tend to process emotions more deeply, even in sleep.

The women in my underwater dream embody that truth. Their dreams aren’t just personal—they’re communal, layered with empathy and connection.

Beneath the surface of the water, where light dances and silence hums, their hair fans like seaweed, and their laughter bubbles. Each woman is different, yet they are bound by something deeper than the ocean itself: a shared vision of a world where every woman’s voice becomes a current of change.

What does it mean to dream together? Water, in its endless fluidity, reminds us that progress isn’t linear. It ebbs and flows, storms and calms, but always carries us forward.

One dreams of bright classrooms where her children learn and grow safely. Another envisions boardrooms where women lead without apology. A third imagines borders dissolving like salt in water, making space for families escaping danger. The fourth sees her body, her choices, unquestioned.

Together, their dreams merge into a symphony of visions for the future, rising from the deep. But let’s surface for a moment. International Women’s Day isn’t just about celebration—it’s about reckoning.

For centuries, women have fought to breathe in a world that often shoved them under. The suffrage movements, the factory strikes, the silent protests clenched behind smiles. We’ve risen higher because of them.

Yet the ocean floor still holds anchors: 1 in 3 women worldwide experience gender-based violence, 130 million girls are denied education, and the stifling weight of unpaid/underpaid labour. Progress, like water, requires constant motion.

Water doesn’t discriminate. It cradles and ifts without asking for passports or pay stubs. The future is built not by swimming alone but by letting the tides of our collective courage lift us.

Imagine if we all channelled their audacity—to close our eyes and dream in the face of a world on fire. To believe, fiercely, that another reality is possible.

This International Women’s Day, don’t just stand at the shore. Wade in. Let the water shock you awake. Then, when you’re ready, dive deeper. Because the most healing dreams are born where the light barely reaches—and the women there are already making room for you.



"Dreaming Sisterhood" - AI Art by Bei Linda Tang

03/06/2025

After experiencing unexpected waking dreams during the pandemic, I researched these unusual phenomena and discovered that they exist in cultures around the world. Various practices—such as meditation, hypnosis, vision quests, yoga nidra, shamanic journeying, active imagination, and psychedelic experiences—can generate waking dreams that promote healing, creative problem-solving, and transcendence.

I was curious whether waking dreams are experienced only by a select few or if they are more accessible to everyone. To explore this, I developed Guided Dreaming, a technique that facilitates personalized waking dreams in an underwater setting aimed at reducing stress and enhancing problem-solving. I then conducted an online survey that collected both quantitative and qualitative data from eleven adult volunteers who participated in a single Guided Dreaming group session.

The answer is clear: most people CAN experience waking dreams through Guided Dreaming. All participants, even those with little or no experience in mindfulness activities, reported unique waking dreams that reflected their chosen challenges. Ninety-one percent of them indicated a reduction in stress and gained valuable problem-solving insights. Additionally, the participants' average mental outlook improved by 36%.

Visit my blog for more information about ancient and contemporary waking dream practices and my evidence-based research on Guided Dreaming: https://www.dreamheals.org/post/waking-dreams-practices-research

I am excited to lead a morning dream group on Guided Dreaming at this year's virtual IASD conference, which will take place from June 21 to 25. I look forward to engaging with conference attendees and sharing valuable insights and techniques.

The IASD conference website is at https://www.iasdconferences.org/2025. Conference registration is now open!

Waking dreams have been with humanity since the dawn of our time. While dreams occur during sleep, waking dreams are dream-like experiences that take place when a person is awake, encompassing visions and hallucinations (APA Dictionary of Psychology, n.d.) Both dreams and waking dreams can reflect m...

02/05/2025

In a world where the hustle and bustle often pull couples apart, a married Muslim couple from Sudan, now living in Canada with their six children, discovered a unique way to reconnect—through Guided Dreaming, venturing into their subconscious, exploring cherished memories and emotions.

During their underwater waking dreams, the husband envisioned a serene haven by the Arabian Gulf, symbolizing his need for tranquillity and connection. Initially unsure about sharing this journey with his wife, he quickly realized her presence was essential to their exploration, reflecting their deep bond.

As they swam alongside a mystical three-headed octopus—a symbol of their intertwined identities—the couple encountered pure joy and intimacy despite the wife's knee pain. Their dream reminded them of their love and commitment, allowing them to embrace their emotional connection.

This transformative experience didn't just rekindle the flames of romance; it also deepened their understanding of each other. Like the ocean's depths, their relationship holds treasures waiting to be uncovered.

In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, many couples unintentionally drift apart due to the myriad responsibilities of work, family life, and personal commitments. These disconnections, whether subtle or overt, can impede intimacy and affection. This was true for a married Muslim couple original...

01/22/2025

🐍 Happy 2025 year of the snake! Did you know that snake dreams are the most common dreams around the world?

Snakes are rich in symbolism across various cultures and often embody a range of meanings that can be both positive and negative.

In Chinese culture, the snake is one of the 12 zodiac animals. It is associated with wisdom, intuition, and transformation and is also connected to good fortune and prosperity.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, snakes were revered and feared. The goddess Wadjet, depicted as a cobra, was a symbol of protection and was associated with sovereignty. Conversely, the snake also symbolizes chaos and danger, as represented by the enemy of the sun god Ra, Apep, a chaotic serpent.

In Hinduism, snakes or "Nagas" are often seen as powerful and protective beings. They are associated with water and fertility and are worshipped in various rituals. The famous deity Lord Shiva is often depicted with a snake around his neck, symbolizing his mastery over fear and death. However, snakes can also embody danger and temptation, as seen in the story of the Nagas' rivalry with the gods during the churning of the ocean.

In Greek and Roman mythology, snakes symbolize both healing and danger. The rod of Asclepius, featuring a snake coiled around it, is a symbol of medicine and healing. However, snakes were also seen as cautionary figures, representing danger, cunning, and treachery, as in the stories of figures like Medusa, whose gaze could turn men to stone.

In various African cultures, snakes have diverse interpretations. The Akan people view the python as sacred and a symbol of fertility and wealth. Conversely, in some contexts, snakes might represent danger or treachery, reflecting the dual nature of their symbolism.

In Aboriginal mythology, snakes often symbolize the earth and are connected to Dreamtime stories that speak of creation and the land's spirituality. The Rainbow Serpent, a major creator deity, embodies fertility and the life-giving forces of water but can also act as a guardian of sacred sites.

In Christianity, snakes are primarily viewed negatively. The serpent in the Book of Genesis represents temptation and sin, as it deceives Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. This negative connotation extends to the association of snakes with evil and the devil, reinforcing the idea of sin and moral failure.

In Mesoamerican cultures, particularly among the Aztecs and Mayans, snakes were seen as powerful beings. Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent god, represented both the earth and sky, embodying creation and knowledge. Snakes also featured in agricultural rituals, symbolizing regeneration and fertility.

The symbolism of snakes varies greatly around the world, encompassing themes of danger, wisdom, transformation, fertility, and protection. This duality reflects broader human experiences and cultural narratives concerning life, death, and the natural world. Each culture's interpretation sheds light on its values, fears, and understanding of the universe.

Dreams reflect subconscious, memories, and emotions and resolve waking life challenges through symbols and metaphors.

Dreaming of snakes can signify major life changes, personal growth, and hidden knowledge waiting to be uncovered. Have you ever dreamt of snakes, and what do your snake dreams mean to you?

As we approach the Year of the Snake in 2025, it's a perfect time to reflect on the idea of shedding old skins and embracing change. Just like a snake renewing itself, we too can let go of what no longer serves us to grow into our true selves! 🌱

Visit dreamheals.org for Guided and dreamwork services.

01/17/2025

Mad In America just published my latest blog titled "Guided Dreaming Can Transform Psychosocial Issues: 11 Case Studies"! Visit the page for background information and the link to the blog.

Guest blog on Mad in America by Bei Linda Tang, January 16, 2025In my recent blog titled "Guided Dreaming Can Transform Psychosocial Issues: 11 Case Studies," I introduce the mixed-method research I conducted for my master's thesis in health psychology at Adler University. Guided Dreaming allows ind...