Our guest today has a unique window into the vast creative potential contained in the world of dreams. Della Burford has recorded her dreams as “dream mandalas” for the past 40 years!
Della Burford is an award-winning painter and best selling author of 7 books, she is based on Vancouver Island, Canada. She studied the Mische Technique of painting in Vienna and showed in many of the Society of Art of Imagination shows in Montreal, Ottawa, New York, London, and Peru. She won a prize as the best Graphic Art in an Art Show in Moscow and spoke on Art and Dreams. Her artistic stories have been performed in New York at the Museum of Natural History, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Citycorp, in Washington at the Smithsonian Institute, Korea, Guatemala, and Bali. Her play, Magical Earth Secrets has been performed for seven years in Japan, and Miracle Galaxy is now being performed. Her book “Journey to Dodoland” was turned into an e-zine and a website that was sponsored by Switfshire and has had more than 22 million views worldwide.
Della was mentored by a shaman who studied with Carl Jung and also studied dreams with Robert Moss and Dream Yoga with Tenzin Wagyal Rinpoche. She started painting her dream wheels in 1975, creating one complete wheel for every year. The dream wheels have 3 rings: the center ring is for important everyday events following the seasons; the outer ring is dreams that are creative, inspirational and wise dreams (you can write a title for the dream); and the middle is small drawings which are symbols and like the title reminds you of the dream and is a portal to return.
Her work is for the World, Humanity, and Spirit.
Guest: Della Burford
Websites - dellaburford.com, dellaburfordartist.ca
Dodoland - dodoland.com, on Facebook
Dream Wheels book (Amazon, Canada)
Della Burford on Wikipedia
Social Media: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIN
ArtStarts Eductational workshops (ArtStarts)
Topia (virtual) Worlds:
https://www.topia.io/dodoland
https://www.topia.io/stargalaxyfortheworld
Episode Music
Sagpipa, Double Flute, Kou Xian (with piano by Steven Leavitt), Atabaque and Bansuri by Richard Struppi Pohl (From Star Galaxy For the World).
In This Together, A Quiet Place, and Place courtesy of Descript Library.
Episode References
Della Burford on The Spaceship Earth Mission Log podcast (with Steven Leavitt), (YouTube)
Robert Moss - The Way of the Dreamer
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (Ligmincha Community)
Carl Jung’s book “Man and His Symbols” (Goodreads)
Sergio Magaña
Rights of Nature (Columbia.edu)
Design Science Studio
Buckminster Fuller Institute
The Vision Train (Join the 24/7 Art Jam!)
Amanda Sage
Earnest Fuchs
Mischtechnik (Wikipedia)
Jack Shadbolt (National Gallery of Canada)
Dream Journaling
The Hero's Journey (Wikipedia)
Don Oscar Mira de Quesada (heartofthehealer.org)
Andrew Gonzales
Cynthia Re Robbins
Irene Vincent
Kuba Ambrose
Roland Proulx (Galarie Molinas)
The Spirit of Writing and Art (YouTube)
Dale Bertrand (bio on DodoLand)
Druidical Quest (website | Facebook Page)
John Hugh Roberts (Thrift Books)
Western Canada Wilderness Committee
Della’s Collaborators
Merian Soto – who danced and choreographed for Dodoland in New York.
I Made Sidia – who collaborated on dances of Dodoland and Magical Earth in Bali and wants to do Star Galaxy for the World.
Wayan Karja (Life As Art Asia) – collaborated in art shows of Dream Wheels, Dream Gifts, workshops.
Kazuko Asaba – who created many art projects around Della’s books in Japan and co-produced “Magical Rainbow” and Magical Earth Secrets.
Ruu Ruu (Amazon books) – Costume Designer & Producer of Magical Earth Secrets and Miracle Galaxy.
Julie Lyon Lieberman – Musical Director of Dodoland in New York.
David Walsh – always supported Della's work. He has made major commitments to Community.
Vern Harper (The Canadian Encyclopedia, Article: Indigenous Toronto) – Della did many projects at the Wander Spirit Survival School.
Pauline Shirt (aabaakwad) – co-Founder at Wandering Spirit in Toronto. Cultural Keeper.
Aaron Zerah – collaborated in the Spirit Storybooks in British Columbia.
Paul Vrenken – created a video of Magical Earth Secrets in Holland. Marijke translation.
Julian Ramirez (YouTube channel) – worked in co-designing with Della/Dale Star Galaxy for the World (YouTube), and making a 3-D animation for the immersive environment of New Art City.
Thanks to Tom & Sal Williams family & the Burford family: Murray, Glen and Warren. Sister Norah Burford – for organizing Bali workshops. Thanks Glen Burford for media advice. Russell Coull for being there and giving support.
About the host
Language of Creativity’s host Steven Leavitt enjoys discussing the ins and outs of all aspects of creating, creativity, and life with his fellow creators: artists, inventors, designers, producers and more. Along the way he hopes to gain perspective and multiply our understanding of what we share in common while creating, living, and learning.
Steven is also an accomplished music producer (website) and helps others learn music production and podcasting through his company I Create Sound.
Please review this podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Spotify and Stitcher to help other creatives find their tribe!
Painting Your Dreams – Della Burford (painter)