Formal Bio:

My name is Alaya A. Dannu. Depending on the space I am in, I also go by Diya. I am completing my doctoral degree in Education at Fielding University. My topic of inquiry explores the transmission of ancestral memory across generations experienced through dreams, focusing on the re-emergent Matriarchal wisdom tradition of her foremothers and its potential value in addressing contemporary societal and environmental issues. I am a spiritual midwife, artist, and sacred dancer. I am also a volunteer member of the Diversity Advisory Committee of the International Association for the Study of Dreams, advocating for more awareness and inclusivity of BIPOC dreams and dreaming traditions within dream research and studies.

My current journey: My dissertation consists of a written text and an autoethnographic documentary to be filmed in Hawaii. I will use my transmitted dream knowledge and dream revelation as a primary guide to honor the requests of three ancestral Mothers who connect me to the Pacific Island region. I seek the guidance, support, and assistance of those who understand the importance of listening to the voices of our ancestors, especially those of our ancient ancestral Mothers whose voices at this time are critical yet generally unheard.

I intend to be in Hawaii for four weeks (May 19th to June 19th) to connect with the ocean and the lands of three islands I was instructed to visit for this first trip: Oahu, Maui, and Molokai. I have done some of the pre-trip preparations (researching locations revealed in dreams). In order to understand the value of these locations and their relevance to my research question and the Mother’s requests, I need to be physically present on the land and sea to connect with their subtle, energetic imprints within these spaces.

Research Question:
What wisdom can I offer from the ancestral dream knowledge revealed by my Hawaiian ‘aumakua (ancestral spirits) that might help bring harmony back into Indigenous ways of being across the Pacific Islands in a manner that draws upon ancient connections predating colonialism, potentially benefitting global contemporary societal and environmental challenges?

To forget our dreams is to forget our connection to the subtle realms of the greater Spirit beyond ourselves and our immediate environment. Humanity has forgotten. This dissertation project aims to inspire humanity to remember.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I once joined as a way of creating connections from NYC to California.

I'm back to create connections while sharing the experience of my dissertation project.

I would love to be able to connect with people who would know some of the beautiful places to hike, sit in nature, or go snorkeling or a boat ride onto the water so that I can connect to these ancestors and be guided by them for my thesis.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

San Luis Obispo - June - August 2010; September 2012; Italy 2016.

Interests

Connecting my dreams to scholarly research to corroborate information and provide more insight into ancient matriarchal traditions; and ways ancestral dreams can solve our contemporary environmental and societal challenges.

Learning Neo-Classical Odissi while noting and documenting the differences between what I am taught in my dreams and what I learn from my gurus.

How closely related mythology is to the realm of dreams....

• arts
• writing
• performing arts
• dancing
• reading
• psychology
• tourism

Music, Movies, and Books

BOOKS: If You Want to Write by Brenda Ueland; Charles de Lint; Paulo Coelho's books, Matriarchal Societies-Studies on Indigenous Cultures Across the Globe; Indigenous Methodologies; Myth and Reality; The Cult of Divine Birth in Ancient Greece; Neo-Classical Odissi Dance; The Architects of Existence;

MOVIES: Queen of the Damned, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Ponyo: On a Cliff by the Sea, Howl's Moving Castle, Avatar, Aquaman, Frozen II, Moana, The Fifth Element

MUSIC: Brand X Music, Azam Ali, Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer, Rok Nardin, Jesper Kyd, Audiomachine, Gareth Coker...and more.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Gave up a conventional lifestyle to follow the wisdom of my lucid dreams. Been living my dreams ever since...

Teach, Learn, Share

Teach: sacred dance; one-on-one coaching; Dance technique in the sacred dance I was taught in my dreams, how to cultivate authentic expression without censorship or judgment, expressive arts as a guide for cultivating creativity.

Share: a sacred dance offering/performance for blessings; dream interpretation;

Learn: Do you dive? Snorkel? Compose music? Play an instrument? What is your life story? Tell me about you.

Share: All that I know about dreams and alternative projects within a rigid academic system...

What I Can Share with Hosts

The value of dreams, what my research is, how it is tied to the Pacific Islands, why Hawaii, and how I managed to get through a doctoral program with a research proposal that is dependent on dream guidance and intution.

Countries I’ve Visited

Belgium, China, Egypt, England, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Scotland, South Korea, Turkey

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, South Korea, United States