About The Real Meaning of Dreams
The Journey from Dream Enthusiast to Dream Educator
Welcome to The Real Meaning of Dreams, a journey that began with a spark of curiosity in 1996 and evolved into a mission to empower people to become their own dream experts.
It Started With a Radio Show
It all started back in 1996, when I found myself tuning in religiously to Quentin Watts’ dream interpretation segment on Triple J radio. Every Tuesday at 11 a.m., callers would share their dreams, and Quentin would weave fascinating interpretations. I was hooked from the start, feeling a growing passion for understanding the sleeping mind.
Even before that, I had always been intrigued by dreams and had kept dream journals for years. But listening to those radio shows truly ignited my interest in going deeper. I dove headfirst into every dream dictionary and book I could find, including works by Quentin Watts herself.
And a Degree in Psychology
Studying Psychology at university in 1993, gave me the academic foundation to understand the science behind human behaviour, cognitive psychology and neuroscience. But it was my personal curiosity about the mind that really drove me, and dreams had always fascinated me. I had kept dream journals for years before I ever set foot in a lecture theatre.
The Research That Changed Everything
The turning point came when I discovered the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD), the world’s only organization dedicated exclusively to dream research. Through IASD, I encountered the work of leading researchers like Dr. Deirdre Barrett from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Gayle Delaney (IASD’s Founding President), and Robert J. Hoss, whose emphasis on personal associations and deeper layers of meaning challenged everything I thought I knew about dream interpretation.
This was revolutionary: the dreamer is the expert of their own dreams.
I Built a Website
By 2007, I channeled all of this passion and knowledge into creating The Real Meaning of Dreams. Initially, I offered dream interpretations to visitors who would submit their dreams for analysis. Over the years, I interpreted thousands of dreams, helping people find personal meaning and insight. The site became a vibrant, interactive community of dream explorers, with contributions from people eager to share their dreams and learn from each other.
And Then Something Shifted
But something profound happened through this process. After interpreting thousands of dreams, I noticed a consistent pattern: the most powerful insights came not from my interpretations, but from the questions I asked that helped dreamers discover their own meanings.
When I would ask, “What does a dog mean to you?” or “What was happening in your life when you had this dream?” the responses I got back were extraordinary. Dreamers would have their own “aha!” moment, far more powerful than anything I could tell them. They already knew. They just needed the right questions.
I realised I was doing it backwards. Instead of giving people interpretations (which kept them dependent on external “experts”), I should be teaching them the systematic process I was using to help them interpret their own dreams.
This insight aligned perfectly with the research I had been studying:
- Dr. Gayle Delaney’s 30+ years of clinical work proving that personal associations are more meaningful than generic dream dictionary definitions
- Robert J. Hoss’s questioning technique that guides dreamers to their own insights
- Dr. Deirdre Barrett’s research showing that dreams use your personal experiences and knowledge to solve problems
- Jean Campbell’s discovery that “dreams pay as much attention to you as you pay to them”
The research was clear: dream interpretation is a skill anyone can learn, not a mystical gift reserved for experts.
Which Led Me to Build the D.R.E.A.M.S. Method™
This realisation led me to spend years synthesising the research from 8 past presidents of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, Harvard neuroscientists, and clinical psychologists into a systematic, teachable framework.
The result is the D.R.E.A.M.S. Method™, a step-by-step process that anyone can use to interpret their own dreams with confidence. It’s not based on my personal opinions or mystical insights. It’s grounded in decades of peer-reviewed research and clinical practice from the world’s leading dream scientists.
Each step of the D.R.E.A.M.S. Method™ is backed by specific research:
- Document Your Dreams → Jean Campbell’s memory research
- Record Complete Details → Dr. Alan Siegel’s life context findings
- Extract Dream Symbols → Dr. Patricia Garfield’s universal themes research
- Analyse Symbol Meanings → Dr. Gayle Delaney’s “dreamer as expert” principle
- Map Themes and Feelings → Dr. David Kahn’s neuroscience and Robert Hoss’s color psychology
- Solve Waking Life Connections → Dr. Deirdre Barrett’s problem-solving research
What This Site Is Really About
Today, The Real Meaning of Dreams is dedicated to teaching everyone the art and science of dream interpretation. Whether you’re a curious newcomer or a seasoned dream explorer, you’re invited to join a community that believes:
- You are the expert on your own dreams, not a dream dictionary
- Dream interpretation is a learnable skill, not a mystical gift
- Personal associations matter more than universal symbols, your dog means something different than mine
- Research-backed methods produce reliable insights, not guesswork
What You Can Expect
The D.R.E.A.M.S. Method™: A complete, step-by-step framework for interpreting any dream.
Research Foundation: The science behind dreaming from 8 IASD presidents and Harvard neuroscientists.
Common Dream Themes: Guidance on universal dream patterns and how to interpret them personally.
Educational Resources: Everything you need to become confident in understanding your own dreams.
Here’s What I Promise You
You will be amazed at the clarity and self-awareness that understanding your dreams can add to your waking life. And unlike consulting a dream dictionary or asking an “expert,” the insights you discover through your own interpretation will resonate deeply because they come from within.
As dream researcher Jean Campbell said: “Dreams are paying as much attention to you as you pay to them.”
Let’s explore the world of dreams together, with you in the driver’s seat.
As prominent dream researcher Jean Campbell said:
“Dreams are paying as much attention to you as you pay to them.”
Alexandra Woolcott
Founder, The Real Meaning of Dreams
& the D.R.E.A.M.S. Method™
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (1993-1998)
25+ years studying dream interpretation
Join the Community
Whether you’re just beginning to explore your dreams or you’ve been keeping a dream journal for years, you’re welcome here. Start with our Learn page to discover the D.R.E.A.M.S. Method™, explore our Research to understand the science, or dive into Common Dream Themes to see the method in action.
Learn the D.R.E.A.M.S.
Method™
My foundational method for analyzing any dream.
The Psychology of
Dreaming: A Beginner’s
Guide
Understand the science behind why we dream.
Common Dreams
Build Your Personal
Symbol Dictionary
Universal symbols are a starting point. Learn how to map these onto your unique life experiences.