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Local Author Shares Prison Experience At Dream Workshops

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune correspondent

Published: September 29, 2007

BRANDON - Sun City Center resident Carol Oschmann presented Prison Dream Work workshops at two dream conferences this summer: the Spirit of the Dream, the 24th annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Dreams from June 29 through July 3 at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif., and at Dreams and Culture, the second international conference of the Nordic and North European Network for the Study of Dreams from Sept. 7 through 9 at the Bishop Grosseteste University College in Lincoln, England.

Oschmann, author of 'God Speaks in Dreams: Connect with Him and Each Other,' was one of hundreds of the world's leading dream clinicians, scholars, researchers and authors featured at the conferences.

Oschmann got started in dream work 'in 1985 when following my dreams led to a physical healing of rheumatoid arthritis from my blood stream,' she said. 'It changed the way I saw myself and put talents to work I didn't know I had. It changed my profession from a bookkeeper to a magazine writer/photographer and playwright.'

The Sonoma conference involved 'people with varied backgrounds - psychology, psychiatry, clinical practice, academic and laboratory research, education, religious studies, anthropology, social work, literature, expressive and performing arts, philosophy, the humanities and business from 18 countries,' Oschmann said. 'Many interesting subjects and old and much new research.'

Her talk was about statistics, how group work in prison differs from outside groups, how and where to approach a prison and how scary it might be.

'I had handouts,' she said, 'and asked all interested in doing prison dream work to help themselves to one. They all did.'

Some attendees at her workshop had worked with traumatized people. They 'had specific questions about how I handled, say, nightmares or other people in their dreams. This gave me a chance to tell stories about my prison experience,' she said.

Oschmann gleaned ideas from other presenters, too.

'There were a few hours devoted to using art and writing books out of individual dreams, and I will add that to my curriculum,' she said. 'Also we did some dream theater, which I've done with them before and have gotten re-infused about doing it again.'

A coalition of about a dozen dream authors (from Mexico, Turkey, the United Kingdom, South Korea and elsewhere), including Oschmann, have agreed to advertise their books together. They plan to donate 20 percent of the sales to help Iraqi children through the Aid for Traumatized Children Project of the World Dreams Peace Bridge, a dreamers group desiring to dream the world toward peace.

The small, historical town of Lincoln, England, where Oschmann presented her September Prison Dream Work seminar, contains 'a castle, complete with prison and court house in use for 900 years beginning in 1068,' Oschmann said.

'I enjoyed the train ride, seeing the rolling green hills, pastures of cows, horses and sheep and hedge rows,' she said. 'The switching was a challenge, but someone was always there to help this gray-haired old lady. I told the women in prison about there always being someone to pick up my bags and carry them up or down steps. Their first question: 'Did they give them back?''

People from several countries participated in the conference. Oschmann attended several talks about 'making dreams a topic of value in the various countries' school systems, as stories during a language course, a writing course, drama, wherever they needed something to write about,' Oschmann said. 'In England, all religions is a required subject, so dreams will be included in the near future, they expect.'

Lion Of The Year Is Chosen

BRANDON - The Brandon Lions Club named Vice President Michael Kirk Lion of the Year at their club meeting Aug. 16.

'Mike received this award in part due to his efforts representing the Brandon Lions Club during the process of working with the Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Board,' said Arthur Schmidt, club historian and publicity chair.

The clubhouse, at 610 Limona Road, is on the list of Hillsborough County landmarks.

'I don't know why they chose me,' said Kirk said. 'I just get in and work with the rest of them.'

Send news and photos of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511. Barbara Routen can be reached at neighbors@tampabay.rr.com or call (813) 657-4531.

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