Interview with a Dreamer

Yesterday, I introduced you to The Sorcerer's Dream and promised you an interview with author, Alysa Braceau (Dreamshield).  I hope you enjoy this as much as I did!

What three words do you think describe you as a human being?

Self- conscious, dreamy, witchy, adventurous.


How do you think others would describe you?

I just asked one of my friends:


She’s exciting, funny and valuable to listen to, and nice to look at also (but the last, you can’t say about yourself ;-).

Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of your work.

Being with my 6 year old daughter, we can talk, play and laugh together quite a bit.

Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.

In the winter when it’s cold and wet outside we have a mouse running through the living. Shriek.

What is your most precious memory?

I have many but if I have to choose I really come up with this one: the day I gave birth to my daughter and to finally meet her for real!

What is your most embarrassing memory?

This one is tough, which one to choose but this one pops into my mind now: When I had diner for the first time with (what I thought was) the love of my life in a nice restaurant in Amsterdam you can imagine I was very very exited. I never, ever felt more beautiful in my life and after diner, when we went from our table, I walked ahead to the exit with my head in the clouds, didn’t notice the threshold and you’ll guess, I stumbled and (almost) fell. I was very embarrassed and felt more clumsy than beautiful.

If you weren’t doing this work, what would you be doing with your life?

I would travel to the Amazon or to Africa or elsewhere to learn more from indigenous people and about the healing spirit and the power of (medicine) herbs and plants. I dreamt a lot about this, so that must be a good choice.

In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.

That’s a good one), I cite this one from my book after I took magic mushrooms in a special ceremony which is presented to those who are following the teachings of Totality.


One of the features of this ceremony is experiencing an intellectual death and to let go of your fears and to be able to travel into the unknown and to reach the totality of the self and then you will discover you are the creator of your own reality:


‘My life has been scattered in a hundred thousand pieces. My life, I have complained and nagged about it so many times, but I would die to return to it. From a distance I see myself lying motionless on my right side and finally realize I am dead. I have always been curious about how it would be and now I have come this far. Now I know your spirit just continues living. From a distance I watch my past life. I had a wonderful life, but I just did not see it and what was I worrying about? The worst thing is the fact that my daughter has a future without a mother. I feel guilty. What a way to say goodbye.


I have lost my physical body, but some way or other I have the sense that my torso has been turned and my legs are somewhere behind my head and I wonder how to get it back in shape. Slowly it dawns on me that I have left the world and ended up in the second reality.


My life passes by like a circus, only now I count my blessings. Now there is nothing left but me and the extremely dull everlasting present. Only now I understand the meaning of the often heard expression ‘it doesn’t matter who you are or what you do as long as you are happy and you mean something to others.’ No matter how small. It seemed a sort of platitude and a cliché, but it is true. I look back on a life in which I was very busy, fretted about the tiniest details and lashed out at everything.’

Can you describe the time you realized you were doing the work you were meant to do?

That time was about ten years ago. I started writing as a freelancer for magazines about spiritual new age workshops and courses I followed and I felt more and more energetic doing the things I really liked (writing and developing my spiritual side).

What is going on with your work at this time?

I’m doing different things at the moment: I have a healing practice and besides that I work at a publishing company in Amsterdam (The Netherlands, Europe). And of course I write, so you can call that variety.

What are your future goals for your work?

I love to do both but finally I hope to be a more of a writer and journalist with a healing practice than working at a publishing company and combine that with writing and healing.

Why do you do this sort of work?

I try to follow my heart and my passion. And that feels good!

What other person who does this sort of work inspires you the most? Why?

People who dare to follow their heart and their gifts inspire me, despite the fact knowing that it might not always turn out the way you hope or expect.

How do you define your work?

Never a dull moment!

In one sentence—what do you want people to say about you in fifty years?

Whoa, she was good dreamer!

Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?

My website: www.dreamshield.nl


And I just started a blog: http://dreamshield.wordpress.com

Is there a place where people can reach you?

You can send me an e-mail and my future blog will be a nice way to keep in contact.

Can you list all your titles so people can look for them?

I’ve written one book: The Sorcerers Dream and I want to write a few more books in the future because I love to write and to share my experiences.

For new people —what can they expect when they read your work?

What I hear often is that people start dreaming while reading my book and they enjoy that a lot. People find it a challenging, confrontational and exciting trip. But I have to warn you; it’s not very mainstream:)

Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a “real” writer?

I don’t know if I am a real writer, maybe I will feel like a real writer after writing another book (and another one and another one). But the feeling of being a real writer came more close when I discovered I loved to write this book and also that I want to continue it day and night (impossible of course) and that it gave me so much energy.

What are your future goals for your writing?

That my second book will be as exciting as my first book! That’s a challenge…

Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

When I once start a ‘writing project’, I really want to continue but I need to build in some stops. So I start the day (after breakfast) taking a walk in the dunes where the fresh air and the beautiful nature gives me new inspiration. When I come home I make a pot of coffee for myself and writing starts at about 10 o’clock. I take a short lunch after about three hours and continue to let’s say five o’ clock. Like I said, I prefer non-stop writing but that’s impossible and of course after dinner and after bringing my daughter to bed I usually start writing a few more hours. I just love it!.

What writer most inspires you? Why?

It’s a Dutch writer, Heleen van Royen. She is a very good and tends to bring taboo topics up just as easy and she is so very open and honest about her thoughts and feelings that it can even be confronting and therefore embarrassing to the reader.

How do you define your writing?

Accessible without the tendency of making poetry.

In one sentence—what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?

It opened my heart and I became more aware.

Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers—what would you like them to know about you and your work?

My book is about my initiation into the sorcerer's world and mastering conscious dreaming. It is an exciting spiritual adventure that takes you into the magic realms of the unknown and you can read and learn more about:


Mastering conscious dreaming, dreaming practices, traveling to the unknown, dreaming and the meaning of sexual energy, the healing of your inner child and the way to reach the totality of the Self by facing and releasing your emotional, physical and spiritual blocks.


That is to say an adventure!

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We invite you to join s on the virtual tour for The Sorcerer’s Dream by Alysa Braceau (Dreamshield). The full schedule can be seen at http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/05/03/sorcerers-dream . You can learn much more about Dreamshield and her work on her website – http://www.dreamshield.nl/ . The book can be ordered on Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Dream-Dreamshield-Alysa-Braceau/dp/1609101561 .

 SPECIAL OFFER - Every time you post a comment on any tour post - you will be entered into a drawing for a $35 Amazon gift card -- so, share your thoughts with us.