Meet
The Author
Walter Berry, aka The Wizard of Awes, is a certified dreamworker and graduate of the Marin Institute for Projective Dream Work. He leads weekly dream groups that have been featured in The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. He holds an MFA in Theatre Arts and is a visual artist and lighting designer in the motion picture industry. At the International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD), he has served as a board member, is currently a member of the Conference Committee, heads the arts committee. He conducts workshops internationally, and has appeared on numerous radio shows. His writing has been published in Dreamtime Magazine and Chicken Soup for the Soul. He lives in Southern California.
Mission
Don’t know why my genius web creator asked me to create a Mission Statement, but here goes:
I served a Mission for the Mormon Church in the1970’s.
Believe it or not, my official title was Elder Berry. I used to walk around saying- “Elder Berry is in a jam. Can you help him out?” Pretty silly, no?
During my two years of servitude knocking on doors throughout Southern California, I managed to con 63 souls into joining up to pay ten percent of their income to some make-believe mumbo-jumbo organization.
Can you tell that I am no longer a part of this strange cult?
Now. let’s say that just 10 of those rubes stayed fooled by all this nonsense I conned them into. If those ten made, say, $50,000 a year, that would mean that I am responsible for $250,000 being handed to a cult where women are second-class citizens. Yikes.
But back to the Mission Statement.
In those two years I became a great bicycle rider, a smooth-talking salesman and my gregarious nature really developed. My God, did I have blinders on, but I still appreciate the opportunity to interact with so many people. It taught me so much about myself.
So, there is my Mission Statement. Seems odd to put it here, but just like when I was a practicing Mormon, I am nothing if I am not obedient.
