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FEATURES & ESSAYS
 

By Robyn Johnson

 Women want to succeed in the working world without sacrificing their souls. For help, many turn to executive coaches, mentoring programs, leadership training, and how-to books. But too many overlook their best guidance—their own dreams!

 Following are examples of how dreams have helped five women, all active dreamers and accomplished professionals.

Ocelot on the Bridge

Teacher Kayleen Pritchard had a special student in her fifth grade class. She recalls, “He was a little boy who I loved very much. He had lost his mother last year to suicide, and was not growing normally, being half the size of his classmates. His father was very concerned about little Tim, and we communicated daily. I had dreams that told me what to say to the father. This gave me confidence even when I didn’t consciously remember the words. When I spoke from this place, the father really connected with me.”
   
When Kayleen made a career transition from classroom teacher to independent consultant, she asked herself for a helpful image. “My vision was of an ocelot traversing a rainbow bridge. The ocelot was precisely two-thirds of the way across. This told me how far along I was in my transition, and gave me confidence to walk my new work path. I acted on that vision of quiet power by shedding my administrative job, walking the bridge, and making new contacts out in the world. I felt connected to both earth and spirit realms.”

Later that day, an encounter in nature gave Kayleen the sense of guidance from the world. “I was greeted head on by a hummingbird. This made me stop in the middle of my transitioning, in order to be in the moment.”

“Take a Class in Hieroglyphics”

Carol Elde, now a family therapist, received dream guidance from Garrison Keillor that helped her transition to her present career path.

 “I was a junior high art teacher. It was time for a career change, but I felt frustrated about what direction I should choose. Then I dreamed that Garrison Keillor sat down in a chair next to my bed.  In his quiet, serious voice, he said ‘Take a class in hieroglyphics.’ I took this to mean that whatever path I took, it should require me to make sense of things. I chose to become a family therapist. Now every day I decipher the mystery and situation of each of my clients.”

Healing Hands

Marjon Floris is a massage therapist and Reiki practitioner. She asked herself “If I can’t be a mother, who am I and what is my role in this life?”

She received a dream that brought direct healing and a sense of  higher purpose.

“I sink down into the ground, covered with darkness and a sense of death. Inside, I scream out for help. I feel warm hands on my back, lifting me high into a bright light sky. I hear people speaking an unfamiliar language. I reach behind me to feel the hands holding me up, and panic when I feel nothing under me. Will I crash onto the ground and die? Instead, I float down to the earth like a feather on a breeze. This dream told me that hands-on healing would save me from depression and give purpose to my life.”

Lawyer Takes Counsel from Her Dreams

Vickie Norris is a litigation attorney who takes counsel from her dreams. They help her when she’s immersed in a trial.

“I go to sleep obsessing about my defense strategy, and sometimes a dream will come, showing a unique spin on a piece of evidence and how to use it. I wake up thinking ‘what a great way to think about that piece of evidence!’ If the idea holds up to scrutiny, I apply it.

“Whether the dreamed idea is directly useful or not, there’s a sense of unshackling myself from ordinary thought, taking my mind off my pre-planned script. This frees up my creativity and helps me improvise during the trial.”

 
Annie Oakley Advises on the Fund-Raiser

Like the women above, I have found practical help and healing in my dreams. They bring fresh ideas and encourage me in challenging situations.  

As the executive director of nonprofit organizations, I was responsible for fundraising. To my surprise, Annie Oakley arrived one night to help out!

I was feeling stuck trying to come up a fun, creative event to raise money for the renovation of a city park.

Then I dreamed Annie Oakley came galloping into the park on her horse, brandishing a Little Golden Book about the park. She told me to make the book and give one to each guest at the event, which she said should be a community breakfast at the park.

I woke up feeling as charged as Annie’s horse. That day I told the dream to a talented artist. Her eyes lit up. “This is my dream project!” she exclaimed. She donated 25 original watercolor paintings for the book, others joined in with more donations, and  The Story of Wiggums Hollow Park was published with all costs underwritten. It is hugely successful at the fundraising breakfast, attracting donations far exceeding the goal.

 
Dream Donor

In another dream, I was mentored by an elderly woman. I climbed a snowy mountain and entered a mansion where a wealthy woman lived. I began my standard presentation, but she interrupted to tell me stories about her life. After our visit, she walked me back to the path, showed me the footholds to descend safely, and invited me back.

This “dream donor” guided me to approach fund-raising in a very human, heart-centered way..

Dreams have also helped me with strategic planning and the timing of organizational changes. I once dreamed a member of my board told me to wait three months to introduce a strategic initiative I was planning, as the board would be more favorable then. I did - and it was.  

When I’m felt close to burn-out, my dream mentors are healers, sending me urgent messages about my need to slow down and rebuild my energy.

Most often, it’s my spirit horse that shows me the nature of my injury, how serious it is, and what healing action is needed.

Consistently, dreams give me a different perspective on everyday reality. In a favorite recurring dream, I’m flying in an expansive sky. Then I wonder what’s holding me up. Before doubt takes over, I realize it’s all about how I perceive reality. I know I can trust what I see from this higher perspective, and I relax, knowing I am supported by invisible forces.

 
The Flight to Bird Island                                                   

I’d like to close with a beautiful story from Ann Duecy Norman, retired social worker. It’s a perfect example of how dreams give us courage for taking the next step when life throws you a curve ball. Ann’s dream came the night her husband told her he was in love with someone else and wanted a divorce. She went to bed, cried for a while, and then, just as she began to doze off, she found herself thinking: “What am I going to do? I haven’t had a salaried job for twenty years.”

 Then Ann dreamed: “I am a small bird perched on a bush, peering wistfully across the sea at a distant island.  I want to be on that island, but it is miles away and I know I can’t fly that far. I flutter my wings, and then –somehow—I am in the air. I fly to a ferry dock, hop on a boat, and when it lands, I flutter off.

“On that island, I meet other birds. Some give me flying tips. Others help me find food. They explain about storms and how to find shelter.  Each day I fly a little further. One day I fly from one end of the island to the other and back again, and I realize I can fly to the mainland. I know I can fly wherever I want.”

Ann recalls, “When I awoke from this dream, I felt exhilarated. By the end of that week, I had gone to my lawyer and filed for divorce. By the end of a year, I had finished my master’s degree, learned to fly-fish, and was driving to Alaska with my new lover. By the end of five years, I had tried out a multitude of jobs, was consulting and teaching, and had enrolled in a doctoral program. By the end of a decade, with the support and mentoring of colleagues and friends, I was living the role I’d always imagined my husband should fill: I was teaching and doing research at a major university. A few years ago, I retired. I live on an island.”

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Robyn adds: I’m collecting women’s stories for a book about how women’s dreams help them in their working life. If you have dreams of this kind to share, I’d love to hear from you. My email address is johnsrobyn@gmail.com

 Contributors:

Carol Elde is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice in Minneapolis MN, and an Employee Assistance Counselor for United Health Care. Among her previous roles are life guard, cucumber field boss, Jr. High art teacher, Hospice worker, and social science researcher.

Marjon Floris is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Reiki practitioner in Seattle WA, at Dreamclinic LLC, and Floris Massage Studio.  She dreams deep and takes great naps.

Ann Duecy Norman, Ph.D,. is a social worker previously on the faculty of the University of Washington School of Social Work. She has a rich history of community organizing. Since her retirement she lives in the San Juan Islands, and is currently at work documenting stories of brave foremothers in Snohomish County.

Vickie K. Norris is an attorney with the Anderson Hunter Law Firm in Everett, WA, specializing in business and municipal employment law and litigation.

Kayleen Prichard is a full time “Nana” and teacher turned part time educational consultant who lives in Indianola, Washington.  Her passion is working with children and adults, especially out in nature. She and her husband Paul enjoy time with their family and three grandchildren.

Robyn Johnson, MPA, lives on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. She has held executive positions in the arts, environment, and community foundation fields.  She now consults on imaginative nonprofit development, writes, and is engaged in dream teacher training with Robert Moss.