I woke up this morning with a vivid dream lingering in my mind: I was driving through a dense wilderness, someone close beside me, and someone else close to them in the backseat. The night pressed in, and as my vision began to fade, I needed their guidance to navigate. Strange things happened—our ears seemed blocked, the sound of the music muffled, and suddenly, we were weaving through wildlife: a leopard crouched in the road, an elephant towering in the shadows, lions and hyenas just out of sight.
What does it all mean? I had no idea. But the timing couldn’t have been more perfect—I had met Marieke McKenna just the day before.
Marieke is a dream researcher, speaker, and teacher whose work delves into the vast, uncharted terrain of our dreamworlds. Her expertise lies at the fascinating intersection of dream tech, lucid dreaming, and dream incubation, blending ancient practices with cutting-edge science to help people unlock the power of their subconscious.
If I were to share my dream with her, Marieke wouldn't rush to interpret it— Instead, she’d ask questions that illuminate how dreams might be less about answers and more about inquiry. “Dreams are an invitation”, “a doorway into the depths of our mind, our emotions, and even our creative potential.”
Marieke’s work spans many disciplines, from Tibetan Dream Yoga and Jungian psychoanalysis to neuroscience and modern dream technologies. She spoke passionately about how dreams are often undervalued in Western society, reduced to little more than “random neuron firings.” But through her research, she’s uncovering how dreams can be intentionally cultivated and harnessed for personal growth and even collective transformation.
"Dreams are more than random neuron firings." - Marieke McKenna
One of the most exciting aspects of Marieke’s work is her focus on dream tech: tools like wearable devices designed to stimulate lucid dreaming or enhance dream recall. “These technologies,” she said, “offer an incredible bridge between ancient wisdom and modern science, making dream practices more accessible to everyone.”
She’s also a guide for those curious about lucid dreaming—the practice of becoming aware that you’re dreaming while still in the dream. Lucid dreaming opens up a world of possibility: you can explore your subconscious, practice skills, or simply experience a sense of freedom and creativity that feels boundless.
And then there’s dream incubation, an ancient art Marieke is helping to revive. This practice involves setting intentions before sleep to influence your dreams, whether for insight, problem-solving, or spiritual exploration.
As she described these approaches, I realised how much potential lies in the 6.5 years of our lives we spend dreaming.
For Marieke, dreams are not just personal—they are deeply relational. They connect us to our inner worlds, to others, and even to the planet itself.
Her upcoming Advaya course, Cultivating a Dream Practice, offers an accessible introduction to this vast field. From practical tools like dream journaling and lucid dreaming techniques to the rich traditions of dreamwork across cultures, Marieke invites us to deepen our relationship with the dreamworld and, in doing so, enrich our waking lives. Driving through that dream wilderness last night, I initially felt lost—but because I met Marieke, I can see dreams as more than just mysterious terrain. They are maps, invitations, and companions for the journey.
