IASN PsiberDreaming Online Conference

Most people dream—or daydream—about the future. September 21-October 5 the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD) goes further with an Internet conference on Dreaming the Future of Dreaming.

IASD’s seventh annual PsiberDreaming Online Conference, which also celebrates the organization 25^th anniversary, will take a look at dream work over the past two-and-one-half decades and also look forward to what our dreams suggest the future might bring.

Speakers to share research

Former IASD President, Kelly Bulkeley, Ph.D., will share his research on dreams about the upcoming election. Dr. Bulkeley has been analyzing political dreams for many years and this year published American Dreamers: What Dreams Tell Us about the Political Psychology of Conservatives, Liberals, and Everyone Else.

PMH Atwater explores the realm of the near death experience and shares how this life changing event changes people’s dreams. Atwater is the author of more than a dozen books on this and related subjects.

Author and dream expert Robert Moss believes that dreaming is an experiential art which can provide natural access to deeper knowledge and greater awareness of waking life. He will share material from his upcoming book, The Future History of Dreaming.

Stephan A. Schwartz is one of the world’s experts on the practical applications of remote viewing and other aspects of extraordinary human functioning. Presenting on “Opening to the Infinite” he will draw on his almost twenty years as research director and chairman of the Mobius Society, which carried out research into remote viewing, creativity, therapeutic intent, and other areas of human performance.

Online conference offers discussions, art and contests

The conference will feature more than 20 presenters representing a variety of countries and disciplines. In addition to the presentation and online discussions, there will be a PsiberDreaming art gallery and competitions such as the precognitive and telepathic dreaming contests.

IASD has invited dreamers from all over the world to contribute to a document called Dreaming the Future of Dreams. The lead article was written by Robert Van de Castle, retired director of the Sleep and Dream Laboratory of the University of Virginia Medical School. The document will be available to the public at www.ASDreams.org during the conference.

Rates for the annual PsiberDreaming Conference are: $40 for non-IASD member, $35 for members and $25 for students with valid ID. New members who join IASD for the first time before October 1 will receive a free pass to the online conference, and a firsthand look at the popular dream organization. Registration is on the IASD website .

Opportunities for Students at the KPU and PA

Dr. Caroline Watt of the University of Edinburgh has published more details about her online Introduction to Parapsychology Course at the Koestler Parapsychology Unit's website. The course is open to the public and accessible worldwide. Course participants will learn about the methods of parapsychologists, what parapsychologists have found, about people's paranormal experiences, what critics say about parapsychology, and how to think critically about paranormal claims and experiences. The course is kicking off this month, and will repeat quarterly. Bookings are available for January 2009.

The big news is that Dr. Watt has arranged a 50% discount off of her course fees for student affiliates of the Parapsychological Assocation. There has never been a better time to join the PA as a student. Membership fees have been reduced to $25 per year, and the PA has provided added benefits for its student affiliates, such as access to their members-only site, an online discussion forum for students only, discounts on the Journal of Parapsychology and the Library of Exploratory Science, and now a substantial savings on Dr. Watt's course.

To become a student affiliate of the PA, all you need is to be attending an accredited college or university and have an interest in the scientific and scholarly advancement of parapsychology, so why not apply now?

Accounts of Sleep Paralysis Experiences Wanted

Dr. Chris French of the Anomalistic Psychology Unit at Goldsmiths College is currently writing a piece on sleep paralysis and would like to illustrate it with a few vivid personal accounts from sufferers. Sleep paralysis, in its most basic form, refers to the common experience that many people have of being half-awake and half-asleep, and realizing that one cannot move. That in itself can be quite scary. But it's sometimes accompanied by visual and/or auditory hallucinations, a strong sense of presence, pressure on the chest and difficulty breathing, and intense fear. Sleep paralysis can be extremely upsetting but is essentially harmless. However, it is often misinterpreted as a visitation by spirits or aliens.

If you have had such an experience, Dr. French would love to hear from you - preferably with a nice description of your experience about 200-300 words long. Email him at c.french@gold.ac.uk

IANDS Fall Conference Announcement

IANDS 2008 FALL CONFERENCE

October 3-4, 2008

Millenium Hotel

2800 Campus Walk Avenue, Durham, North Carolina

Near-Death Experiences: What Do They Mean?

The conference begins at 9 a.m. on October 3 and concludes at 6 p.m. October 4.
Space is limited, so register soon!

Program

Featured Guest Speaker: Maggie Callanan, RN, one of IANDS' most popular presenters, hospice nurse, best-selling author of Final Gifts, originator of the term "nearing-death awareness." Maggie will present on her new book, Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life, which will be available for sale and signing.

Groundbreaking Armchair Discussion: Harold Koenig, RN, MD, NHSc, Co-director of the Center for the Study of Spirituality, Theology and Health at Duke University Medical Center and Bruce Greyson, MD, Carlson Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences and Director, Division of Perceptual Studies, at the University of Virginia Health System, and editor of the Journal of Near-Death Studies, talk about meaning and near-death experiences.

Two panels of near-death experiencers

Presenters include

Four IANDS presidents speaking on their areas of expertise: John B. Alexander, PhD, "Shamanism and Near-Death Experience"; Nancy Evans Bush, MA, "Deciphering, Framing, and Integrating the Difficult Near-Death Experience"; Colonel Diane Corcoran, RN, PhD, U.S. Army Nurse Corps (retired), "Implications of Near-Death Experiences from the Combat Zones of Iraq and Afghanistan"; Yolaine Stout, "Six Challenges Facing Near-Death Experiencers."

plus other presentations, a bookshop, space and time for IANDS group leaders and experiencers to gather, and more

Registration

To register online (fast! easy!), go directly to http://iands2008conference.worldispnetwork.com/ or to http://www.iands.org and look for the link to the conference page.

To register by phone, call the IANDS office, 919-383-7940.

Cost

IANDS members, $150; non-members, $175. A $20 late fee will be charged for payment received after September 26.

Lodging

Millenium Hotel: 2800 Campus Walk Avenue, Durham, NC USA 27705-4479
telephone: 1 (919) 383-8575 ; fax: 1 (919) 383-8495. Ask for the special IANDS rate.

For alternative hotel information, please contact the Durham Convention and Visitors Bureau, telephone (800) 446-8604 (toll free) and local, (919) 687-0288.

CEUs have been applied for from Duke University Health System and are interdisciplinary.

Conference Coordinator: Julie Lapham, PhD, JLapham@juno.com

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