Poet Rachel Long presents a guide to turning your dreams into writing, in a poetic workshop for radio.
Listen here.
With the help of poet and psychoanalyst Nuar Alsadir, poet and playwright Caroline Bird and literary editor Kishani Widyaratna, Rachel explores the links between dreams and poetry, including her own. How might we transform our sleep-time wanderings into something more than just a funny story for the morning?
Dreams can be many things – they are narratives constructed and experienced in image; a portal into our unconscious and, more simply, a way to keep our mind occupied while sleeping. But Rachel argues, we can also harness their metaphoric capabilities to deepen our understanding of poetry, and the process of writing poems. Not only that, but poets really can use their unconscious as a guide for their writing.
Eliza Alice Lomas 
Hi there,
I’ve recently been recommended Rachel longs talk by a close friend. We are both very interested in the importance of self analysis and dream work. Is there any way I can still listen to this as its now been taken down the BBC?
I would be so grateful!
All the best,
Tess Wood
Performance artist and activist
Hey Tess, can you email me direct at elizaalomas[@]gmail.com? I can help you out!
Hi Eliza
My name is Matthew Bowes, I’m a psychotherapist in private practice in Brighton http://www.matthewbowespsychotherapy.co.uk
I am currently researching a book on dreams for Rider Books. I caught the tail end of the Rachel Long programme which I thought was excellent. I am wondering if you could also help me out accessing the show now the BBC has taken it down? My email is info@matthewbowes.co.uk
I’d be very grateful if you could let me know either way.
Best wishes
Matthew