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A Semantic Ethnography. The Dreamseekers Group of Calgary By Dan McKinnon. The Dreamseekers. Since 1991, 10 members, 35 - 55 years old, monthly meetings, 3 women & 7 men 1-PhD, 4-Masters, 3 Undergrads members from psychology, business, information technology, healing arts
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A Semantic Ethnography The Dreamseekers Group of Calgary By Dan McKinnon
The Dreamseekers • Since 1991, 10 members, 35 - 55 years old, monthly meetings, 3 women & 7 men • 1-PhD, 4-Masters, 3 Undergrads • members from psychology, business, information technology, healing arts • the study and practise of lucid dreaming for entertainment, self-development & learning.
Lucid dreaming is… • Being able to consciously recognize that you are dreaming while you are dreaming • Once aware you are dreaming, acting to consciously control and change the context & characters of the dream in real time • And why? Its an exhilarating experience, travel to exotic locations, meet interesting people, do things you couldn’t when awake
Yes, you are asleep when you are lucid dreaming! • LaBerge’s PhD dissertation (1977) at Stanford empirically verifies a dreamer can be lucid while asleep(“In his own words”) • Brain Waves and You • Your 90 minute sleep cycle
Brain waves and you • Beta 12+ Hz, normally Cs zone • Alpha 8-12 Hz, the meditative zone • Theta 4-7 Hz, the hypnagogic zone • Delta < 4Hz, Ucs zone, asleep
Informed consent by email Reviewed/confirmed - keywords/phrases and cultural categories Discussed revisions, additions and categorizations Special Observations Took notes on…. How the meeting flowed? Any tensions? Any surprises? Any feedback? The Participant Observation Meeting & Process
EEG, REM sleep (paradoxical sleep) Oneironaut Reflexivity in dreams Sleep paralysis & hynagogia Dream sign Reality check “Five-alive” technique OBE NDE Freud, Winson & Hobson Keywords/Phrases
Categories • Neurophysiology of Sleep • Dreaming & related phenomena • Required Lucidity Skills • The Classic Experiences • Theories of Dreaming • and more….
A dreamseeker is: • An informed practitioner who is committed to searching and expanding the boundaries of personal growth. • Someone who is willing to take the objective risks and do the subjective work that will lead to their creating an intricate cartography of human consciousness. • A master of “mind-state’ management.
Insights on dreamseeker culture... • A community of psycho-spiritual seekers. • An intellectual salon where each participant can safely participate in a question and discussion format which ultimately leads to personal insight and discovery. • An emotionally supportive environment of kindred spirits.
Context & Categorizations • Semantic ethnography-meaning making by unpacking a language • categories are interpretive filters (IF’s) • the ultimate category is…UCasUR
Bigger Picture • Social constructivism & hermenuetics • Narrative structures, we are our stories • Dreaming to create a self
Interested? Here’s two great books on lucid dreaming!