The Rocket

Issue date: 9/8/06 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Nathan Collins Greg Hoeflicker had the audience laughing and sharing dreams in the MPR Wednesday night.

Playing ping-pong with Hitler to soaring high in the sky were just some of the dreams shared by students who attended the "What Happened to My Teeth" lecture on Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the University Union.

Greg Hoeflicker, the author of "What Happened to My Teeth," explained the reasons for many common dreams people experience. Being chased in a dream could mean there is something about one's self they are trying to escape from. Dreaming of death could signify a change in one's self, while flying could mean one's mind has been freed of a burden.

Hoeflicker has been working in dream analysis for 15 years. His interest in dreams began at the age of 19 when he experienced a reoccurring dream about being executed. A strange twist to the dream was that all of his family and friends were happy about it. Puzzled by this dream, he called a radio talk show to have it interpreted, and has been fascinated with dreams ever since.

Hoeflicker said there were three rules about dreams.

"Every dream you have is about you," he said. "Part of learning about life is learning about yourself."

The second rule is that everything in your dreams symbolizes you. Even if your dream is about another person, it represents some quality in you. The third rule is that everything in your dreams symbolizes something that happened the previous day. Students found this concept interesting.

"I didn't know what you dreamt about was really about yourself," said Nicole Bastide, one of the students waiting in line after the lecture to talk with Hoeflicker. "This raised a lot of questions."

Hoeflicker further discussed that dreams can help solve problems and help you answer questions you may have about yourself.

"Think about your sub-conscious mind as a wiser part of you," Hoeflicker said.

If there is a problem that has been on your mind, the solution will most likely come to you in a dream if you learn to clear your mind.

For those students who claimed they could never remember their dreams, Hoeflicker suggested keeping a "dream journal," and before you go to bed each night, write "I will remember my dream," and the next morning, immediately after you wake up, record your dream.

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