By JR Valrey, The Minister of Information
Online courses have blown up and become wildly popular ever since the beginning of the pandemic. Meres Sia Gabriel has taken the bull by the horns, and created an online class on tarot and dream interpretation called, Dream Like a P.R.O.. When I was growing up, the in-person student-teacher model was all that there was. Now Meres Sia Gabriel can teach an international class with an infinite number of students from her living room, and get paid for doing it. I am not an advocate for substituting computer learning for school age children for in-person learning, but for adults in this busy world we need access to information in a variety of ways, online classes are one of those new innovative ways. Check out Meres Sia Gabriel as she talks about her online course, Dream Like a P.R.O..
JR Valrey: Can talk about how you got into tarot cards/dream reading?
Meres Sia Gabriel: Actually my oldest daughter pointed me in the direction of tarot. I’ve had a lot of readings of different kinds in my life, including tarot, and I’ve never been satisfied with those readings, so I brushed it off initially. But then we had a series of family experiences that pushed me further in that direction. I needed to find a way to change my perspective and get grounded; and tarot helped with that. I learned by watching a lot of YouTube videos, doing activity books, and ultimately from giving readings. But I don’t like to give readings anymore. I focus solely on using tarot to tap into my subconscious and dream world.
I don’t read other people’s dreams, but I’ve always been fascinated by dreams, as I share in my course and on my sales page. Dream-telling was a tradition in our household growing up and continues to be with me and my children.
JR Valrey: When did you decide that you had enough knowledge to turn it into a business?
Meres Sia Gabriel: It wasn’t a question of having enough knowledge because I’ve been dreaming and recounting my dreams my whole life, and I’ve been journaling since I was 10 years old. Also, I’m a veteran educator. But I decided this could be a course when I realized that doing dream journaling with tarot didn’t require previous experience. I was doing it with a deck of Oracle cards that I wanted to learn better. Then I incorporated tarot. Realizing that the process was helping me learn the cards better, I realized anyone could do this. So I started paying attention to what I was doing and I systematized it, calling it The P.R.O. Method.
Whenever I shared this idea with close friends they’d get really excited about it. That was also an indication that I needed to create this course.
JR Valrey: What is the name of your class? What do people learn in it?
Meres Sia Gabriel: The course is called Dream Like a P.R.O. People learn how to use dream journaling and cards to understand their dreams’ hidden messages, in order to increase their intuition, creativity, and self-guidance. Ultimately this practice can help you feel more fulfilled in life.
I have a section for writers and creatives, and I also have strategies for those who can’t remember their dreams but still want to tap in.
JR Valrey: Was it difficult for you to learn how to create your online class? How did you learn how to do it?
Meres Sia Gabriel: I wouldn’t say it was difficult, but it was challenging and time consuming because it was my first online course. But thankfully I’ve taken some well-organized online courses and also because I was a classroom teacher for so long, I had a general concept of what to do. And I also had someone proofread the course for design and content feedback.
I think the most difficult part of doing something you’ve never done before is accepting that you will make mistakes, you will have to redo things as you learn to make them better, you will have to put in time. Trust the process, embrace mistakes, and find good models to replicate.
JR Valrey: What kind of format is the class in? Is it mostly lectures, activities, guest speakers, readings, or what?
Meres Sia Gabriel: My course consists of videos, music, interviews, meditations, stories, puzzles, articles, etc My intention is that the presentation of information appeals to our different learning styles. I also make it as interactive and kinesthetic as possible.
I read a bedtime story to you, share a meditative poem and original music with you.
You get to learn exactly how to organize your journal in a way that maximizes dream retention and revelation. And also what to do when you’ve forgotten your dream. There’s a whole lot more you can find out here:
Dream Like a P.R.O. course info
https://lifechanging.samcart.com/products/dream-like-a-pro
JR Valrey: Now that we are in a pandemic, online classes are becoming more popular, but I know that you also have a background in education, what are the pluses and minuses of online classes versus in person classes for the teacher and the student?
Meres Sia Gabriel: Initially I felt a little guilty as I was creating this course because it was so self or teacher-centered. As a classroom teacher, I enjoyed student-centered experiences. We would have conversations and students would teach the class. You can check for understanding in different ways in person, not to mention the spontaneous feedback and jokes from students. These are all things that add to the learning experience for both the student and teacher. Learning was always reciprocal in my classrooms, and I learned so much. But online you can’t do that, so you have to figure out alternatives. One way to do that is to create an interactive space like a private FB group and create quizzes.
An advantage to online courses is that they can be self-paced. That’s also a disadvantage as people can buy a course and never even start it. But in the case of my course, it is something that you’ll definitely appreciate as an act of self- care; both doing the coursework and also doing the dream journaling practice.
JR Valrey: Will you be offering other online classes? If so, what are they? And when will they be available?
Meres Sia Gabriel: I’m definitely interested in creating sequels to Dream Like a P.R.O. and I’d like to create courses that utilize my other talents such as teaching an Afro Diaspora French culture and language course for beginners, and something related to Panther Cubs since I am one.
JR Valrey: Do you offer in-person services?
Meres Sia Gabriel: My book course Life-Changing Writing in 8 Weeks: Write Your Book, Inspire Others, and Leave Your Mark on the World is a live coaching program.
I do meet private clients in person sometimes and I’m looking forward to facilitating some writing workshops in person soon, but right now those are also via zoom.
JR Valrey: How can people get more information about the course? How can people keep up with you online?
Meres Sia Gabriel: Dream Like a P.R.O. course info
https://lifechanging.samcart.com/products/dream-like-a-pro
My website (info on both courses)
Connect with me on Instagram
@lifechangingwriting
I do a live every Monday at 9 AM PST
FB Meres-Sia Gabriel
Join my newsletter
https://lifechangingwriting.ck.page/
I hope to see you soon at my Instagram live or in the Dream Room when you get the course!