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Author's Sessions On Work In Prisons Were Dreamy

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune Correspondent

Published: September 29, 2007

SUN CITY CENTER - Sun City Center resident Carol Oschmann presented two prison dream-work forums this summer.

The first was at the 24th annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, which was June 29-July 3 at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif. The other was at the Second International Conference of the Nordic and North European Network for the Study of Dreams Sept. 7-9 at 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 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.

Her talk was 'about statistics, how group work in prison differs from outside groups, how and where to approach a prison, how scary it might be,' she said. 'I had handouts ... and asked all interested in doing prison dream work to help themselves to one. They all did.'

Some of the 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 reinfused about doing it again.'

A coalition of about a dozen dream authors - some from Mexico, Turkey, the United Kingdom and South Korea - 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 seminar, contains 'a castle, complete with prison and courthouse 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. 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 some 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.'

Help With Homework, Hispanic Heritage

The Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative is sponsoring live homework help for fourth- through 12th-graders and first-year college students and is holding the fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Contest for school children from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Free online homework help for students with library cards is available from 2 p.m. to midnight Monday through Sunday at www.hcplc.org.

When students click on the Ask a Librarian & Live Homework Help icon, they are connected to a math, science, English or social studies tutor who is a certified teacher, college professor, professional tutor, graduate school student or university undergraduate. From 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, Spanish-speaking tutors of math and science are available.

Hispanic Heritage Contest entry forms are available at all library branches. Children are to design a bookmark celebrating 'Our Hispanic Heritage' and return it to any branch no later than Oct. 15. The winner will receive a $100 U.S. savings bond and 100 copies of their bookmark. Second place will earn a $50 U.S. savings bond and 100 copies of their bookmark. Winners will be announced during Children's Book Week, Nov. 12-18.

For information about the contest, call (813) 273-3652 or visit www.hcplc.org.

Snippets

The kick-off event for the Keenagers will be a spaghetti dinner at 5:30 p.m. Friday at United Community Church, 1501 La Jolla Ave., Sun City Center. 'Everyone is invited,' said Hazel Martin, church spokeswoman. Entertainment will be provided by Kathy Kackovic. Reservations may be made at 11 a.m. Sunday, at the church or by calling Dick Timm, Keenager president, at (813) 633-5333. ... Master gardener Jim Hawk will discuss Dooryard Fruit for Central Florida at the Bloomingdale Library Plant clinic at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The library is at 1906 Bloomingdale Ave., Valrico.

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

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