I still dream quite a bit but unfortunately I've more or less stopped trying to figure them out. I know (or believe it's true) that they are symbolic and have a relation to something we are going through or perhaps, may be approaching. I got a dream book about 5 years ago that went through almost every symbol you could think of (bought on Amazon or I probably would not have purchased it) and it was quite literal. Then I pondered, well, maybe it is. I wonder if our ancient ancestors dreamed. They must have. They say sleep is the way we 'wipe the board clean' and digest what has occurred during the day. While we're erasing that black board, maybe we're reviewing and deciding what's important, in dream like form.
Apologies for the late response! I’m out of town and away from the computer. According to Jung, dreams are symbols produced by the unconscious. I’m fascinated by this idea and though I don’t track them all the time, I do find them fascinating! Thanks, Jeanine!
Hi Priya, I rarely remember my dreams, but I had one recently that I wrote about in my last post. I have heard that you're supposed to imagine yourself as each element of the dream... perhaps trying to figure out what aspect of your psyche each element represents?
Based on your recommendation, I bought the audio edition of Carl Jung's "Man and His Symbols" and I'm listening to it just a bit at a time as I find it to be quite dense and packed with information.
Although I enjoyed the Introduction by John Freeman very much. I was highly amused when he wrote:
"For it very soon came to my knowledge that Jung's reason for selecting me was essentially that he regarded me as being of reasonable, but not exceptional, intelligence and without the slightest serious knowledge of psychology. Thus I was to Jung the "average reader" of this book; what I could understand would be intelligible to all who would be interested; what I boggled at might possibly be too difficult or obscure for some."
Perhaps I'm of even less "reasonable intelligence" 😂
I remember laughing at what he said too! I’m fascinated by Jungian psychology and have been reading books on it for the last 7-8 years. From what I understand, dreams are symbols produced by the unconscious. We may consider each aspect of the dreams as an aspect of ourself. Perhaps most intriguing is the idea that dreams are compensatory: they show us something we don’t know. Thanks, Camilla!
I’m familiar with those too, Emika. I guess some dreams stand out because a) I remember them when I wake up; 2) they are so vivid and peculiar and fantastical. Ever since I’ve gotten interested in Jungian psychology. I’ve become fascinated by them. Jung says the dream shows us something we don’t know and that has changed how I look at them. Thank you for sharing!
You described your dream really well, Priya. And I love that you shared and dream and then discussed the idea of dreams, it gave us such a solid way in to exploring the idea.
I certainly subscribe to Jung’s interpretation of dreams, as I have had dreams in my life which definitely seemed to be pointing me in a certain direction. I remember before I got sober and went to therapy I would have this recurring dream of running away from people or things — I was in fact running away from the stuff in my life I hadn’t yet faced. Once I got sober and went to therapy I’ve never had the dream since.
That’s such a powerful dream, Michael! I started tracking my dream sometime in the pandemic years and now, I find them much like a conversation with my unconscious. Thank you!
I still dream quite a bit but unfortunately I've more or less stopped trying to figure them out. I know (or believe it's true) that they are symbolic and have a relation to something we are going through or perhaps, may be approaching. I got a dream book about 5 years ago that went through almost every symbol you could think of (bought on Amazon or I probably would not have purchased it) and it was quite literal. Then I pondered, well, maybe it is. I wonder if our ancient ancestors dreamed. They must have. They say sleep is the way we 'wipe the board clean' and digest what has occurred during the day. While we're erasing that black board, maybe we're reviewing and deciding what's important, in dream like form.
Apologies for the late response! I’m out of town and away from the computer. According to Jung, dreams are symbols produced by the unconscious. I’m fascinated by this idea and though I don’t track them all the time, I do find them fascinating! Thanks, Jeanine!
Hi Priya, I rarely remember my dreams, but I had one recently that I wrote about in my last post. I have heard that you're supposed to imagine yourself as each element of the dream... perhaps trying to figure out what aspect of your psyche each element represents?
Based on your recommendation, I bought the audio edition of Carl Jung's "Man and His Symbols" and I'm listening to it just a bit at a time as I find it to be quite dense and packed with information.
Although I enjoyed the Introduction by John Freeman very much. I was highly amused when he wrote:
"For it very soon came to my knowledge that Jung's reason for selecting me was essentially that he regarded me as being of reasonable, but not exceptional, intelligence and without the slightest serious knowledge of psychology. Thus I was to Jung the "average reader" of this book; what I could understand would be intelligible to all who would be interested; what I boggled at might possibly be too difficult or obscure for some."
Perhaps I'm of even less "reasonable intelligence" 😂
I remember laughing at what he said too! I’m fascinated by Jungian psychology and have been reading books on it for the last 7-8 years. From what I understand, dreams are symbols produced by the unconscious. We may consider each aspect of the dreams as an aspect of ourself. Perhaps most intriguing is the idea that dreams are compensatory: they show us something we don’t know. Thanks, Camilla!
"Perhaps most intriguing is the idea that dreams are compensatory: they show us something we don’t know." yes, I find that fascinating too!♥️🙏🕊️
I guess I have more experience with nightmares rather than the helpful type of dream
I’m familiar with those too, Emika. I guess some dreams stand out because a) I remember them when I wake up; 2) they are so vivid and peculiar and fantastical. Ever since I’ve gotten interested in Jungian psychology. I’ve become fascinated by them. Jung says the dream shows us something we don’t know and that has changed how I look at them. Thank you for sharing!
You described your dream really well, Priya. And I love that you shared and dream and then discussed the idea of dreams, it gave us such a solid way in to exploring the idea.
I certainly subscribe to Jung’s interpretation of dreams, as I have had dreams in my life which definitely seemed to be pointing me in a certain direction. I remember before I got sober and went to therapy I would have this recurring dream of running away from people or things — I was in fact running away from the stuff in my life I hadn’t yet faced. Once I got sober and went to therapy I’ve never had the dream since.
Great post :)
That’s such a powerful dream, Michael! I started tracking my dream sometime in the pandemic years and now, I find them much like a conversation with my unconscious. Thank you!
Yes, that’s a great way to put it — like a conversation with your unconscious. I like that.
Thanks Priya :)