Window into the unconscious

 Represent our unconscious in its purest, rawest form (least affected by our conscious)  Useful as therapeutic tools  Some psychologists such as Carl Jung, theorize that dreams are a biologically wired way to gain awareness.

 Dreams are personal; meaning can change from person to person

 “ one would do well to treat every dream as though it was a completely unknown project, look at it from all sides, take it in one’s hand, carry it around, and let one’s imagination play around with it ”. QUESTIONS FOR YOU ALL  What does Jung mean by “ treat it as an unknown and look at it from all sides ”?  What does he mean by the 2 nd part “ carry it around”, etc.

 Manifestations of unprocessed mental/emotional issues  Day  Further in past  Natural way to bring resolution and closure to unfinished problems.

 The part of our brain responsible for “Episodic” (compartmentalized, linear) memory is disconnected during sleep, so we can’t recall details or context for a specific event so much as how we felt (emotional context).  Also disconnected from space and time, potentially integrating elements of our past, present and anticipation of our future.

 The emotional memory will surface in some form  Total or partial symbol, metaphor or allegory as they are more primitive versions of language  This suggests a shutdown of our frontal lobe as well, where we have our language center.  Dreams may be sensed primarily as auditory, kinesthetic or even olfactory (not visual at all).

 HOW dreams display depends on our personal triggers for threat  Link to our personal underlying fears, desires, and misconceptions that are part of our internal model of reality/beliefs.

 Events we experience daily that don’t fit our model can become threats or at least take extra (dream) time to process, and make it “fit” with our perception of reality/belief system.  Important for making spiritual meaning of experiences and for healing (even nightmares).  They manifest our NEED for meaning, sense and continuity.  New experiences  New people  Stressful relationships  Stressful experiences  New/challenging situations  Trauma  Other?

 Universal vs. Individual symbolism must be carefully analyzed by therapist without viewing it through his/her own personal lens of meaning.

Should not be avoided, ignored, suppressed or viewed as unhealthy. May be some of the most important dream analysis we can do.