Unlocking Dream Wisdom: Nightmares, Oracle Cards, & Inner Transformation with Greg Mahr, MD, and Heather Taylor-Zimmerman

Mar 16, 2026

Guest

Heather Taylor-Zimmerman

Guest

Greg Mahr

Heather Taylor-Zimmerman, PhD — psychologist and visionary artist who leads transformational art programs. Greg Mahr, MD — psychiatrist running a nightmare clinic and author on dream wisdom. They explore nightmares as meaningful signals, dream rescripting and active agency, using the Dream Wisdom Oracle cards to clarify imagery, visionary art and creative flow, and links between dreams and psychedelic-like brain states.

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ANECDOTE

Falling Elevator As Descent Into Self

Katherine Bell shares a falling-elevator dream where a smiling woman appears as a companion image.
She uses the fall as metaphor for diving inward toward a center where there is no crash, illustrating re-framing of fear in dreams.

ADVICE

Rescript Dreams To Support Recovery

Re-script or become an active agent in your dreams to aid recovery from trauma.
Greg Mahr notes research showing spontaneous re-scripting and increased dream agency predict healing and recovery progress.

ADVICE

Use One Plus One Card To Clarify Dreams

Use an oracle card draw to clarify a morning dream or recurring motif.
Heather Taylor-Zimmerman suggests drawing one card for clarity then a second to amplify and create a conversational deepening of the dream theme.

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In this episode of The Dream Journal, host Katherine Bell talks with psychiatrist Greg Mahr and visionary artist/psychologist Heather Taylor-Zimmerman about how dreams—especially nightmares—can support healing, personal growth, and creativity.

They introduce the Dream Wisdom Oracle Deck, explore “befriending” difficult dream imagery, and share practical ways to re-enter and work with dreams through reflection, art, and intuitive tools.

Chapters: 00:00:23 — Welcome + what the show explores 00:01:26 — Catherine’s falling-elevator dream as an opening metaphor 00:03:12 — Greg on nightmares, trauma, and why meaning matters 00:07:11 — Heather on dream rescripting + “active agency” in dreams and recovery 00:10:04 — Using an oracle deck to clarify a dream (simple draw + follow-up draw) 00:11:33 — What “visionary art” means + Jung’s influence and active imagination 00:21:20 — Creative flow: reverie, atmosphere, and leaning into discomfort 00:23:38 — Dreams + psychedelics: overlapping brain states and how dreams are a “mini trip every night” 00:32:49 — Caller dream: foundation stone “portal,” money envelope, and houses as psyche 00:42:13 — Caller question: recurring “raw chicken” symbol + how to work it with cards

BIOS:

Greg Mahr, M.D., is a psychiatrist actively involved in teaching and research on acute trauma and nightmares. He is on the faculty of the medical schools at both Michigan State University and Wayne State University and has published more than 30 academic research articles. The author of The Wisdom of Dreams: Science, Synchronicity and the Language of the Soul. SoulofCreativity.com

Heather Taylor-Zimmerman, Ph.D., is a psychologist trained at Pacifica, a Jungian program in California. She is the director of an experiential teaching program in personal transformation through visionary art, and her healing artwork has appeared in clinics and hospitals as well as in public and private collections. GregMahr.com

This show, episode number 354, was recorded during a live broadcast on March 14, 2026 at KSQD.org, community radio of Santa Cruz.

Videos available on YouTube at youtube.com/@experientialdreamwork. Popular playlists: “Dream Journal shorts” and “FULL LENGTH VIDEOS”.

Here are links to some other Dream Journal episodes you might be interested in:

Rewilding the Dream with Laura Smith-Riva

Dreaming the Future with Paul Kalas, PhD

Intro and outro music by Mood Science. Ambient music new every week by Rick Kleffel. Archived music can be found at Pandemiad.com. Many thanks to Rick for also engineering the show and to Erik Nelson for answering the phones.

SHARE A DREAM FOR THE SHOW or a question or enquire about being a guest on the podcast by emailing Katherine Bell at katherine@ksqd.org. Follow on LI, IG, YT, FB, & LT @ExperientialDreamwork #thedreamjournal. To learn more or to inquire about exploring your own dreams go to ExperientialDreamwork.com.

The Dream Journal aims to: Increase awareness of and appreciation for nightly dreams. Inspire dream sharing and other kinds of dream exploration as a way of adding depth and meaningfulness to lives and relationships. Improve society by the increased empathy, emotional balance, and sense of wonder which dream exploration invites.

A dream can be meaningful even if you don’t know what it means.

The Dream Journal is produced at and airs on KSQD Santa Cruz, 90.7 FM. Catch it streaming LIVE at KSQD.org 10-11am Pacific Time on Saturdays. Call or text with your dreams or questions at 831-900-5773 or email at onair@ksqd.org. Podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms the Monday following the live show. The complete KSQD Dream Journal podcast page can be found at ksqd.org/the-dream-journal/.

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