SEXUAL DREAMS

Another attempt by Delaney (Living Your Dreams, 1979, etc.) to whip our sleeping selves into waking fulfillment through step-by- step home remedies, visits to the author's Dream and Consultation Center, or both. Delaney advises that one keep dream journals, write brief biographies of family members, and ``incubate'' dreams to grow self-esteem and cure creative blocks. It will probably come as no surprise to most readers that personality can be expressed in sexual interactions. But read on if you want to learn to distinguish power struggles in bed from playful dominant/submissive erotic encounters. Delaney's ``interview'' method is endlessly introspective, basically narcissistic: ``How did you feel in bed with your most recent major lover?...Write down in the space below just how you felt.'' Or you might tell your dream to someone else who interviews you about it while pretending to be a visitor from another planet. Whether it's a celebrity or family member one dreams about, one is encouraged to describe the personality traits of that person and how they correspond to you and/or someone you are currently involved with (``You see the bear as a victim, a cuddly being you feel sorry for. Remind you of anyone?''). Incest dreams can signify buried memories of childhood sexual abuse, and the author provides a resources guide for victims. And one can't quarrel with her warning to avoid sex with one's therapist. With regard to the Creativity/Sexuality link: if you're feeling blocked, the titles of case-study dreams alone might be enough to get the juices flowing (``Boyfriend/Brother,'' ``Penis in the Bread Basket,'' ``Mom Interrupts Us,'' ``Sex in a Dorm''). Perhaps encouraging for people who, in the dated lingo of self-help books, want to get in touch with their feelings. But beyond this, its too-literal and disorganized approach leaves the reader—or the client—guessing.