Dream interpretation: Class 3

[cydira]

Class 3
**Freud & Jung**

Sigmund Freud's method of analysis maintained that dreams and their content revealed the unconscious motivations and thoughts of the dreamer. Freud's work was a signifigant influence on the work of Carl Jung as well as on the entire field of psychoanalysis. To fully discuss his work would move us beyond the scope of dream analysis, but his focus on sexually related unconscious desires and symbolic meanings of dreams was the source of the split between Jung and Freud.

Jung was a student of Freud's work and he adopted many of Freud's ideas. To understand Jung's methods of dream analysis, it is necessisary to identify the major parts of the mind, as viewed by Jung and Freud. The waking mind was called the conscious mind by both. The sleeping mind was called the subconscious mind by Freud and the personall unconscious by Jung. The "racial" memories and archetypes was called the unconscious by Freud and the collective unconscious by Jung. For an excellent discussion of the Jungian mind, please see Janet and Stewart Farr's book The Healing Craft. They give a very good visual diagram and a practical set of explinations of Jungian psychology, but I digress.

The major benefit of Jung's work was the identification of the symbolic language of the sleeping mind. Archetypes are a collection of semi-universal symbols for abstract thoughtforms and concepts that are common through out the human species. An excellent example of this is a pregnant woman indicating the concept of motherhood. According to Jung's theories, the archetypes existed because humanity is linked on a unconscious (or as others term it psychic) level. The archetypes are the basic building blocks of communication.

As an assignment, I would like you to look up Jung's archetypes and present 1 symbol. I would also like you to post a description of it's meaning. Next week, I will be posting an abbreviated list of archetypes and their basic meanings.

[mythril]

I had the most peculiar dream the other night,
believe it or not , i dreamt that i was pregnant!

And i am a male and not a homosexual.

Totaly wierd, what on earth could it symbolise?

[cydira]

That has alot of possible meanings.

Generally, pregnancy tends to represent beginnings and nurturing. When the concept of pregnancy comes to mind, what are the first few thoughts that accompany it? Much of dream interpretation is based in knowing what your dreaming self is telling you through the feelings and intuitions that you have when you concentrated on the dream.

Aside from that... tell me when the blessed event happens. ;)

[mythril]

lol :)

thanks

[Fawn]

To dream of being pregnant means that you are about to or have just given new life to a new idea, or concept. Anything like this happen lately with you?


Sorry Cydira--just wanted him to know his dream meant. I did not mean to trespass.

[mythril]

actually now that u mention it , yes.
i bought my first tarot deck two days ago, guess that could be the new beginning or change.

thanks :)

[Erithan]

I have been keeping a dream journal for over 6 years now, and though at times it is difficut to recall my dreams, I find that it has helped me greatly when it comes to remembering them - and it is thoroughly amusing to read years later!

One thing that I have noticed though is that whenever I go to look up a symbol in a dream dictionary, etc. I find myself unsatisfied with the explanation given, or that the symbol is not present (I mean, how many dream dictionaries do you know with 'underground parkinglot' listed in it ;)). What I am getting at is this: Are these dream dictionaries which are available in books, on the net, etc. really all that effective, or are they just too general?

I have often felt that dreams and the symbols within them are normally unique to the individual (That is not to say we don't have common dreams, just that our experiences which lead to and influence them are different), and thus, when I, say, see a raven in my dreams, it probably means a totally different thing than what the dream interpretation book says a raven means.

Just some thoughts, please pardon the ramblings :)

cheers :)

Erithan

[cydira]

Most of the dream dictionaries that are available are usually ineffective and over priced. The best that a dream dictionary can do is help you to develop your own method of interpreting your dream images. They act as a spring board for your own ideas and thoughts on the issue.

The raven is a fine example. There are many different mythological and cultural associations, but only a few of these will resonate with you. After this, you build off of these concepts to develop your own meaning for the image. Part of the benefit of your dream journal is to build up a resource for discussing the meaning behind an image. :)

[mythril]

Ive noticed that some dreams have verry straight forward interpretations ,for eg dreamign of a person u havent seen for a while and that person visits u the next day, and then some dreams seem to be totaly wierd and seeming not to fit ones life or situation at the current moment.

What i want to know is why does one have nightmares?
Ive had two this last week, don't know what they mean.

[Flar's Freyja]

Bump

[cydira]

My earlier research into Jungian analysis was based on secondary sources. I've finally had an opportunity to read what's effectively a primary source as to Jung's work.

I retract what I said about the separation between Jung and Freud, it's not as much as I presented it to be. Jung rephrases many of Freud's concepts, but they're essentially the same concepts repackaged in a prettier carton.

Jung's archetypes, however, are very usefull. But the method presented by Jung is ackward and difficult to handle. If you'd like more information on Jung, here's the book that I read:

Title: The Psychology of C.G. Jung
Author: Jolande Jacobi
Pub. : Yale University Press Date: 1971

This is the fifth printing of the text. The orginal publication date is 1942 and the orginal publisher is Routledge & Kegan Paul, Ltd.

The prefaces from teh past editions gives an idea of the evolution of the text to its' current state. Orginally, this appears to have been published in German, listed on the page with the publication information is a translator; Ralph Manheim.

If you're interested in my comments on this text, I'll be happy to send you a copy of them from my reading journal. :)

[KaliGiri5]

Originally posted by Erithan

I have been keeping a dream journal for over 6 years now..

One thing that I have noticed though is that whenever I go to look up a symbol in a dream dictionary, etc. I find myself unsatisfied with the explanation given, or that the symbol is not present (I mean, how many dream dictionaries do you know with 'underground parkinglot' listed in it ;)). What I am getting at is this: Are these dream dictionaries which are available in books, on the net, etc. really all that effective, or are they just too general?
Erithan

I do the same
I write the time I awake..I write the dream down
then look up the planets and list where everything is at that time.

my dreams are rare..
but when they come..it's pretty upfront
very little symbols needed.
I just had one..Saturday 8:00 pm
I heard a baby crying and at the same time a bird singing..
my daughter tried to look it up in her book of dreams & symbols
she said it means good news..
I said NO
when I get that..
a baby dies
my sister in Germany is/was Pregnant..
I ask if all is alright..on sunday
she said sure it is she has an appointment..
on tuesday afternoon
she was 10 weeks along..
sunday she started bleeding
when she get to the hospital...they check her
they found no heartbeat and keep
her for 24 hours..
they tell her...her baby is dead
I felt bad..
because I never say anything to her..

at times i'm not sure to say anything..I might be wrong
in the same dream I see a car run into another one
nothing bad..nobody died
the same day my sister-in-law was hit from the side
it freaked my husband out..
because I told him..I "think" his sister will get into an accident
before he talked to her.

[~*Ginger*~]

I think that 'our' dreams are given to us, and sometimes it's meant to be shared and sometimes not...
either way it's alright.

In my experience, the times I 'dreampt' or 'knew' something, even if i tried to keep it from happening, there's nothing that i can really do to keep it from happening, or they do not listen, much less believe...until the time has come and it's past.

So basically, in my opinion...
Either way, do not make yourself ill over it.

[Flar's Freyja]

:)