Dreaming is a universal experience; everyone dreams although sometimes we don’t remember our dreams. Because dreams reveal a hidden reality within as well as the depths of human experience, Jungian analysis gives tremendous value to the healing potential of dreams.  Dreams are impartial, unadulterated pictures of the state of our unconscious, undistorted by ego defenses, and offering rich opportunities for psychological insight and growth.

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C. G. Jung analyzed over 80,000 dreams and discovered that dreams, mythology, and religious symbolism all come from the same place — the objective psyche, which he also called the collective unconscious.  For this reason, even though we live in the 21st century our dreams can contain images and heroic narratives from ancient times.

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When we experience a dream, it is with every fiber of our being. How many times have you awoken with the words, "Thank goodness, it was only a dream"? Most people have a tendency to explain away a dream on something they ate or on something they watched on television the night before.

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However, dreams are a gift from a deeper part of our mind that desires to help guide us on our journey of personal growth.  Generally, the purpose of a dream is to communicate something that we do not know, or do not fully understand. Like poetry, they are expressed symbolically in a form of imagery and emotion. This can make them feel confused or even unimportant.  However, dreams are an important puzzle to be solved so that we can discover the secret treasure that is within us.

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The dream is like a window into the unconscious, which is addressing your current feelings and life issues. Sometimes, even throughout life, beginning in childhood, dreams have occurred in recurring, disturbing and perplexing ways. This is because dreams reveal what is missing from our conscious perspective and, when understood symbolically, can provide insight that promotes psychological health and well-being.  

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By working with your dreams in therapy, we can often get to the core issues more quickly. Developing a cooperative relationship with this deeper, wiser part of your self promotes the natural healing process. A more balanced attitude inside of us creates more balance in our lives and relationships.

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REMEMBERING YOUR DREAMS

1.         Place paper and pen and your dream journal or a tape recorder next to your bed indicating your intention to remember and record your dream upon awakening.

2.         As you are relaxing yourself to enter sleep, remind yourself that you want to remember your dreams. Visualize waking up and remembering a dream.

3.         Upon awakening, stop...don't move...and remember your dream. Try to recall as much as you can; it may only be a fragment to begin with. As you review that fragment in your mind, other parts of the dream may develop.

4.         If you don't recall a dream, notice your first thoughts or feelings. These thoughts and feelings may give you information about what you were dreaming. After you have gone over the dream in your mind, you are ready to record it. If you do not have time to write it out before you start the day, you may want to use a tape recorder and journal it later. Dreams tend to fade away unless recorded. Be patient with yourself. Remembering your dreams is a skill that you can learn. It is well worth the effort!

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