Entering the Mirror World: Jungian Dream Analysis
One way Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung established himself as a person of repute in the psychological world was with his work aimed at understanding the psyche through the lens of dreams. Jung saw his work with dreams as critical to the therapeutic process. Dreams, to Jung, were not simply a tool to peer into the unconscious mind, but a medium that must be explored within the process which he termed “analytical psychology”.
Rooted in Jung’s fascination with the broad concept of the unconscious, he saw dreams as a way to unlock and therapeutically explore both the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious. To Jung, our dreams are communications direct from our unconscious that guide us to insights surrounding both the personal and collective facets of our psyche. Jung’s ideas on the subject split from that of his former mentor, Sigmund Freud, who believed that our dreams represent our repressed sexual desires. Jung’s view was much larger. He posited that dreams had the power to reveal deep truths about the self and the self’s relationship to the world around them, often using archetypes or universal symbols present across many cultures and times.
To engage in Jungian therapy is not simply to look for hidden meanings, but it is important to the healing process. Jung’s therapeutic goals were for his clients to find ‘individuality’ or a sense of understanding the whole of one’s self. Dreams, in this context, show where we may feel conflicted, and what we need for personal growth, and expose unconscious elements that need to be integrated.
Jung’s patients were often asked to begin a dream journal, the content of which would be brought into weekly sessions. Patients would then work to understand certain symbolism in their dreams, often based on Jung’s archetypes. This required the the dreamer to explore personal connections with the imagery, while also considering how they may have further reaching cultural and historical context.
Several techniques were developed for working with Jungian dream analysis, the most well-known of which is called “amplification”. The method creates a web of sorts, connecting the symbols in our dreams, to global myths, religious themes, or cultural concepts which the therapist and client can begin to explore. In this way, one can begin to understand the dreams on a far greater scale than is allowed only by the personal unconscious, giving the client a more robust context for interpretation.
“Active Imagination” work is another major technique used to understand our dreamscapes. In this method, while conscious, the client is reengaged with the dream as if were happening now using imaginative dialogue. This creative and experiential exploration technique often leads to emotional breakthroughs and provides profound insights due to the freedom and sense of play that are facilitated by this method.
Outside of exploring the symbolism of the personal and collective unconscious, Jung was interested too in understanding the “shadow” elements found within our dreams. Like his concept of the Shadow Self, the shadows in our dreams represent parts of ourselves that are being denied or repressed in some way. Jung said that if we were able to confront these shadows and positively integrate them into our lives we can greatly improve our psychological health. Unsurprisingly, distressing images or nightmares are seen as there work of the shadow to draw attention to the hidden aspects of the dreamer; it is an invitation from the shadow to engage.
By exploring our dreams via Jungian therapy we can gain access to deeper aspects of ourselves, and understand our fears, internal conflicts, and desires, in a way that provides new understandings that might not have already been considered by the conscious mind. Dreamwork also serves as a guide during times of growth and change. Jung knew the unconscious mind held a wisdom of its own, and it will lead the conscious mind whether we are aware of it or not. This is while Jung thought it crucial to study dreams and when possible harness them to lead us toward the path of personal development. Further, Jung saw dreams as a way of connecting with the “transcendent” or spiritual dimensions of life which he felt was a source of healing and transformation. It is this aspect of his work that is the reason you will find Jung’s name associated with both psychological and metaphysical and spiritual circles.
Carl Jung’s legacy is based in part on his tremendous work around the dream world. Today, Jungian therapists use his work as a primary therapeutic tool to explore the inner world of clients. Whether it is in a counseling office or simply for personal enrichment, exploring our dreams can help us build a framework to better understand ourselves and the deeper truths within our lives.
Our world is more and more focused on instant gratification and external stimuli, exploring Jung’s work with dreams offers us an opportunity to slow down and go inside to explore our unconscious. By engaging with our dreams we allow ourselves the opportunity to explore deeper levels our of psyche, understand the mysterious within us, and find a connection to universal themes that connect all humanity.
