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Post by Michael Hawkins on Jan 2, 2010 18:18:12 GMT -5
Having worked with dreams since 1991, and having opened a dream-interpretation sub-forum at my Astro-Jhana Discussion Board, I am very familiar with one particular assertion: The only interpretation that counts is that of the dreamer. I get that a lot. While I understand this sentiment – and even agree with it to a certain extent – I am also convinced that dream imagery has a direct correspondence with the symbols contained in the collective unconscious. These symbols have been recast over and over and over again in the world's many mythological systems, and are well-represented in oracular traditions such as Astrology, Tarot, Gematria and the Kabbalah. In a sense, our global mythological systems (which contain symbols that end up in oracular traditions) constitute a “dream language” that is shared below the surface of individual existence. So, while profound healing and self-discovery are available through dreamwork that concentrates solely on the contents of the dreamer's dream (or dream-series), I maintain that an entirely new level of connectedness awaits the dreamer who avails herself of collective symbology -- and that this new level of connectedness represents an opportunity to amplify the benefits of dreamwork in immeasurable ways. Here's an example: A 36-year-old person dreams that she is on top of a mountain, far above tree-line, looking down over a cloud-shrouded valley. There are rocks and snowfields nearby, as well as a pagoda-like shrine building. She walks toward the shrine building and notices that each step is more belabored than the last, and that the shrine building is growing in size. It seems to take hours for her to reach the steps of the shrine building, and when she finally lifts a foot onto the bottom stair, she sees that the building is now several stories high. Once both feet are on the bottom stair, she notices that the heaviness has disappeared and she nearly FLIES up to a deck and through a doorway into the building. The interior of the building opens into infinite space; she sees blackness and stars, and is now floating freely. She expects to be met by a spiritual master, but nothing happens for what seems like hours. Finally, she sees an infant swaddled in a white blanket floating toward her. She pulls it to her breast. The baby then transforms into the dreamer at another age – say, 25. The dreamer stares into the eyes of the younger version of herself.... then emerges crying into waking life.
Now, the dreamer will reflect on this dream and give rise to any number of personal associations. She may feel a familiarity with the geographical location of the dream. She may connect with an unfulfilled longing having to do with the lack of a spiritual teacher – or she may derive pleasure and joy over the fact that her dream is addressing the issue of higher spiritual principles, and she may feel a certain anticipation of progress in these realms. In confronting younger versions of herself, she may give rise to nostalgic associations that may lead to regrets or to thanksgiving – who knows? The point is, the dreamer will have all sorts of thoughts and insights from a dream like this, and she will sense deep meaning behind the symbols that have been presented. If she remembers, records and reflects on this dream, healing will take place somewhere inside of her. As an archetypalist who practices astrology and Tarot, the symbols and images in this dream connect with a different level of association, and several insights pop into my mind. My assertion is that these more generalized associations have just as much to offer the dreamer as her own interpretation. Connecting one's dreams to the collective experience of common symbols is a way of putting oneself in touch with the Divine in a direct and non-dogmatic way – so long as everyone understands that there is no “right” answer. One insight that comes to mind regarding this dream is that, at age 36, the dreamer has begun her mid-life adjustment period, which involves powerful connections with the outer three planets -- Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. In particular, she is going through a Pluto-square-Pluto aspect (Pluto corresponding with the archetype of the Dark Mother), which has the effect of “killing-off” parts of her life that no longer serve her karmic purpose for taking birth. Divorce is common during this aspect. Geographical relocation, career change and other such transformation is also common. Despite this dream showing the dreamer on top of a mountain (symbol of an alchemical ascent, which is a place of union and healing), the Pluto-square-Pluto aspect typically brings a sense of things falling apart, either internally or externally, such that familiar hand-holds on existence are yanked away, leaving one free-floating without guarantee of ever finding safety and security again. There may be a tendency to overcompensate as this person seeks to re-establish a comfort zone that no longer exists – or is in the midst of disintegrating. The Dark Mother challenges us to embrace the seeming difficulties as reliable guidance, even as the dream itself challenges the dreamer to embrace and nourish herself. Knowing this, I see this dream as a calling toward higher purpose in life – a calling for the dreamer to align with deeper meaning. The dream also suggests that she will not find ultimate spiritual satisfaction through external teachers or teachings, but through an honest and powerful – even confrontational – meeting with herself. SHE is her ultimate guru – the guru being a mythological image of spiritual wisdom and knowledge, a guide to ultimate Truth. Her higher self, in the form of a younger and more vibrant version of herself, is waiting and available to lead her to a more universal spiritual understanding. Approaching the shrine building, each step is heavier and heavier – this validates and honors the difficulty one encounters at the onset of the mid-life adjustment, when we “pay the piper” for choices made earlier in life, and are challenged to orient in a new direction that is aligned with our true essence. Emotional heaviness is a natural response to this challenge – and yet, when we finally surrender to a higher perspective, the drama of our life gives way to a lighter presence, and we are transported into a timeless dimension that offers something true and essential to our journey. From this perspective, then, dreams are a medium of communication from the soul – and, in establishing a connection between individual dream images and their corresponding symbols in the collective unconscious, we allow the soul to expand our awareness beyond the drama of our individual existence. It is this connection between micro and macro that mysteriously brings healing and transformation to our life. For healing and transformation to occur, is it necessary to bring in the symbols of mythology and oracular systems? No. Profound healing emerges from the simple act of remembering and recording the slightest dream fragment, let alone entire dream series. The Dreambody responds to the attention we give to Her communications, rewarding us with a sense of alignment with our higher selves. Do the symbols of mythology and oracular systems bring a deeper and wider dimension to the process of dreamworking? Indeed they do. Anything we can do to connect ourselves with a more universal “take” on our individual experience is bound to lead to wisdom, which leads to healing, which leads to a renewed capacity to fulfill our essential purpose in life – which is to help others according to our own spiritual gifts, in whatever way we can.
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Post by roamer on Jan 2, 2010 19:23:48 GMT -5
Your practical knowledge on archetypal symbols is very inspring, and good encouragement to pay more attention to dreams. I know that the dream body is capable of deep teaching, but I must admit that I go through periods of not listening to it, particularly when what it is saying seems to be not to pleasant or coherent.
What seems to perplex me most often in the dream body is when my dreams seem not to have much relation to my life. Sometimes it feels like I'm observing the interactions of others dreams, sometimes just dark places and dark things with seemingly no connection to myself. I often have a very vague sense of knowing that I am just observing during these dreams too. I've even had it where I was just vaguely aware that I was in a deep sleep and nothing else. That vague sense of knowing I was dreaming wasn't real peaceful, I tend to wake up feeling like my sleep was an effort to gain lucidity and conciousness. Does this sort of thing have an archetypal symbol?
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Post by jhananda on Jan 2, 2010 23:04:37 GMT -5
I enjoyed reading another of your very insightful articles. I agree, Michael, having myself worked with dreams since 1974, I have come to one particular assertion: The only interpretation that counts is that of the dreamer, but I also agree that dream imagery has a direct correspondence with the symbols contained in the collective unconscious. In fact I believe when we dream we are in the collective unconscious; and as we become lucid dreamers the collective unconscious ceases to be unconscious.
I also agree that systems of the global mythologies contain symbols that are in the oracular traditions and constitute a “dream language” that is shared below the surface of individual existence, which is what the collective unconscious is all about. I have found, therefore that profound healing and self-discovery are available through dreamwork, but that dreamwork is especially enhanced with the skilled guidance of a counselor, such as yourself, who is well versed in the global mythic systems. Thus we should always be mindful of both the dreamer’s interpretation as well as be guided by someone well versed in the mythic systems of the collective unconscious.
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Post by Michael Hawkins on Jan 3, 2010 1:48:18 GMT -5
Excellent comment Jeffrey, as always.
The lucidity piece is an interesting one to me. It’s good to know that you “believe when we dream we are in the collective unconscious,” and that “as we become lucid dreamers the collective unconscious ceases to be unconscious.” My psychotherapy mentor discouraged lucid dreaming, but I have always been happy to “wake up” during the dream state, so your explanation really resonates with me.
This particular approach, as your insights illustrate, represents a “Middle Path” that honors the dreamer’s interpretation, even while admitting that our dreams are never so isolated as to escape our collective heritage. Everything we experience as individuals has a direct connection with the collective experience, and dreams are no different.
With love, Michael
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Post by roamer on Jan 3, 2010 11:15:43 GMT -5
Jeffrey and Micheal, Since your thinking about lucid dreams perhaps you guys could help me with some confusion I seem to have concerning lucidity in dreams. As I mentioned before sometimes when I am sleeping I have dreams that make very litte sense to me, in fact it seems like I am just hearing other peoples voices and thoughts. I am also vaguely aware of knowing I am in a dream state. I have noticed that this happens when I am more saturated in absorption. However when I haven't really been cultivating charisms I fall deep asleep and have very normal symbolic type dreams that make alot of sense to me.
I also have noticed that during mediation I sometimes pass through a layer of conciousness where voices and garbled thoughts seem to enter my mindstream, and it seems very similar to the dream state I mentioned. Is this just my subconcious? If so any recomendations on how to navigate through it?
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Post by jhananda on Jan 3, 2010 11:48:19 GMT -5
Hello roamer, I am not surprised that you are experiencing dreams and images and thoughts during meditation that do not seem to be your own, because you are a rigorous contemplative. Rigorous contemplatives expand their awareness beyond the subconscious, which brings them into contact with the collective unconscious. So, as we become lucid dreamers and deep contemplatives the collective unconscious ceases to be unconscious. This makes our lives a bit complicated because it becomes difficult at time to know when it is our psychic space that we are aware of, verses someone else's psychic space. This, I believe, is one of the primary reasons that most mystics spend most of their time in the wilderness, which is to get away from the psychically dense world of the cities. At some point every mystic just has to go into seclusion to find peace.
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Post by Michael Hawkins on Jan 3, 2010 17:37:08 GMT -5
Hello Jeffrey, Nick and friends,
My wife notices that my intuitive capacity increases with proximity to deep meditation. We were meditating one night a while back -- somewhere in the middle of Autumn, before the cold really set-in here -- and when we came out, I said, "I saw snow flakes." There was no indication from weather reports that it would snow that night... but sure enough, we looked outside and the flakes were flying.
This type of thing, including the auditory "bleed-through" that you mention, happens more and more, and I'm sure that Jeffrey's explanation around expanding awareness beyond the subconscious" is right on the money.
Blessings, Michael
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Post by Fabi on Jan 3, 2010 20:34:11 GMT -5
Hello I had a dream about someone getting shot in the head and killed in my arms. It took place in downtown Newark, New Jersey. I had never had such violence in a dream. I wasn't hurt at all and prior to the shooting i was laughing and joking around. This person was running for their life and i thought it was a joke and when the person actually ran to my arms for safety i embraced him ( a total stranger ) and when i actually realized he was going to be killed i started screaming "No, no, no this can't be happening" and then i woke up, but first i saw a bit of blood, not much, like a little circle. Thank you so much for allowing me to share! Blessings & LOvE
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Post by Michael Hawkins on Jan 3, 2010 21:43:19 GMT -5
Thanks for writing in with your dream, Fabi!
Before I take a shot at your dream... do you have any thoughts or insights that you'd like to share?
Warmly, Michael
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Post by fabi on Jan 4, 2010 18:16:30 GMT -5
Hi Michael Just that i was laughing, thinking it was all a joke because i thought they were setting up to make a movie or something. That's just basically it. Thank you so much for taking the time. Blessings & Love dear friend
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Post by jhananda on Jan 4, 2010 21:06:00 GMT -5
Hello Jeffrey, Nick and friends, My wife notices that my intuitive capacity increases with proximity to deep meditation. We were meditating one night a while back -- somewhere in the middle of Autumn, before the cold really set-in here -- and when we came out, I said, "I saw snow flakes." There was no indication from weather reports that it would snow that night... but sure enough, we looked outside and the flakes were flying. This type of thing, including the auditory "bleed-through" that you mention, happens more and more, and I'm sure that Jeffrey's explanation around expanding awareness beyond the subconscious" is right on the money. Blessings, Michael Hello Michael, I am not surprised that you are experiencing increased intuition around your meditations as you are a rigorous contemplative, and I know rigorous contemplatives tend to become quite intuitive.
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silje
New Member
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Post by silje on Jan 5, 2010 18:42:34 GMT -5
The dreams that I remember best, involve people and places that I know well, and situations that are related to something that has happened recently, maybe the past days or weeks. Those dreams don`t really seem to have a meaning from the subconscious. I see that my brain is prosessing impressions, both old and new. Sometimes I am surprised to see a scene in a dream (related to something that has happened in real life) that makes me think that this situation is more important to me than I am aware of. But maybe there are images in these dreams that have a meaning in the collective level as well. Most of my dreams I don`t remember the next day, but maybe they contain more interesting symbolic meaning since they are more difficult to remember.
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Post by Michael Hawkins on Jan 6, 2010 8:55:29 GMT -5
Hello Fabi, and thanks for sharing your dream.
Violence in dreams (according to the archetypal dream analysis I learned from Dr. Charles Bebeau in the early 90's) is an indication of an overall emotional descent in the dreamer's life. We all cycle through ups and downs -- ascents and descents -- as part of a natural unfoldment through a particular archetype. The fact that it was an opposite-sex person who was shot suggests that you are in what's called the Yellow Rose phase of the unfoldment -- a "soul descent" as opposed to an "ego descent," which is the Black Rose. Here, you are diving very, very deep into your own pool of shadow material, searching for some elemental learning experience so that you may release from habitual patterns of belief, which then allows you to move on into a Red Rose ascent that features profound union with the opposite sex (although the imagery is sometimes more symbolic than that -- perhaps a golden eagle or a closed mandala, for example). In any case, what I'm trying to say is that your dream appears to suggest that you are working at a soul level -- i.e., at a truly transformative and deep level of healing -- and there is a challenge to "embrace the descent" at this time. For all the horror contained in that brief dream fragment, there is a corresponding recognition within yourself of something you've long avoided, something long repressed, perhaps -- and it is this something that refuses (in your dreams and maybe in your waking life) to go quietly into the night, insisting instead that you face up to it and move through it now.
We would need to see more dreams around this one in order to identify the specific archetype that you are mainly working with in this dream.
This dream may indicate that some part of you is dying, and you are in need of support as you move through the dying process. This does not mean that Fabi is literally dying -- but, rather, that this long-repressed aspect of her being is dying, and through the emotional difficulty of this death, she is giving birth to a new aspect of her being that is more aligned with her pure nature. She needs to embrace herself, nourish herself, and give herself the time/space needed to fully move through what's happening. To the extent that she can let go of all resistance, the quicker she will move into the ascent stage.
Does this make sense, Fabi? Please ask questions if you need to, my friend!
Many blessings, Michael
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Post by Fabi on Jan 6, 2010 17:44:44 GMT -5
Hi MichaeL It makes perfect sense! Thank you for your clear, insightful interpretation! Blessings & love
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Post by Michael Hawkins on Jan 7, 2010 9:10:33 GMT -5
Hello Silje,
My take is that, even in "mundane" dreams filled with familiar images, those images have an archetypal correspondence, and are therefore able to be interpreted both on the micro and the macro levels.
For instance, a telephone corresponds with the Communicator archetype -- as do computers, radios, televisions and so forth. Books may also correspond with the Communicator.
On the other hand, there are varying shades of gray in this process, as well as overlapping archetypes. This is why it's good to analyze dream series (i.e., multiple dreams in a chronological framework), so that archetypal repetitions may be noted. The idea is to isolate a single archetype that is predominant in a person's dreams, figure out where that person is in terms of the alchemical ascent/descent cycle, and work with these insights so that the soul's message to our waking life is recognized and honored. Healing WILL happen then... and usually it is a very, very profound experience for the dreamer.
Dreamwork in conjunction with symbol systems like Astrology and Tarot seems to amplify the whole process, offering deeper ways to tie things together into a coherent whole.
Blessings, Michael
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