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Dear Valerie
By Valerie Markva
Valerie:
I noticed that you mentioned discussing theories of dreamwork; this
topic interests me and I was wondering what kind of books you would
recommend on the subject?
Jim M.
Dear Jim;
Barnes & Noble carry a wide selection on dreamwork analysis. These
books are located near the psychology and self-help section. The Secret
Language of Dreams by David Fontana and The Hidden Door by Peter &
Elizabeth Fenwick are good books to start with. Syliva Browne gives a
unique perspective on dreams in her book The Other Side and Back.
DreamingS
What are dreams and why do we have them? Webster's dictionary says
that dreams are a "sequence of images passing through a sleeping person's
mind." But what does this mean? For those of us who have had extraordinary
dreams, it is a question worth pursuing.
The analysis of dreams was founded when The Interpretation of
Dreams by Sigmund Freud was published in 1899. Adamant in his pursuit to
find a psychological technique to understand and interpret dreams, Freud
opened the door to modern daydream psychology.
Although much of what Freud concluded about dreams is contestable,
his insight into the realm of the unconscious mind illuminates our
understanding of the dreaming mind.
Freud's view of the unconscious mind included that this part of the
mind is similar to a chaotic void, dreams being part of this void,
represent conscious impulses, fears and desires.
According to the Gestalt Theory (developed in Germany), "all the
elements of your dreams are parts of you, separated into symbolic pieces
for you to examine and work on". (The Other Side and Back)
In conjunction with this theory, Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1861)
concentrated on patterns and themes of individual dreams. Dreamwork, in
Jung's belief, was an essential element in the progress of human
development.
Lucid Dreams
Saint Denys, one of the first to record lucid dreams, realized at a young
age that when he was dreaming he knew that he was in a dream. He discovered
that he could change the events that occurred within his dream cycle.
Dream experts believe that when the dreamer begins to have an awareness of
being in an unreal environment, he then becomes aware that he is dreaming.
Once this is attained, it is then possible to direct the dream.
In a recent interview, Creed's lead singer Scott Stapp discusses the
phenomenon of lucid dreaming, explaining that a lucid dream inspired him to
write the hit song Higher.
"It's about the power of lucid-dreaming. You're physically asleep, but
you're awake in your mind." He read a book about Hindu monks who have
perfected the technique and thought it might help him squelch a recurring
nightmare: He's running down a highway, closely pursued by a man with a
gun. He turns left and hides behind a pillar beneath an overpass but he
gets shot anyway. Stapp says that once he learned how to lucid-dream, he
was able to alter the nightmare so that he turned right and escaped. After
he wrote Higher about the experience, he never had the nightmare again.
How to Work with Your Dreams
According to dream analysts, the best way to begin dreamwork is to write
them down upon waking. It is best to write about your feelings as well as
the dream, because feelings that dream images represent are an important
factor in dreamwork analysis. Keep a notebook and a pen beside your bed and
before going to sleep, relax and allow yourself to reflect upon the issues
that are most important to you.
A dream log is a good way to track patterns, recurrences and frequent dream
symbols.
Next issue: Dream symbols & their meanings.
The Ancient Rhyme of Myth
Anima and Animus are mythological guides through the unexplored
realm of the unconscious mind. While Anima represents the feminine traits
of motherhood, beauty and emotion, Animus depicts masculine energy,
strength and restriction. They are figures of opposite yet equal human
qualities. Jung believed that this myth reminds us that there are different
sides to human consciousness. If balanced, they create a union of
self-wholeness.
If you have an everyday 'bother' or 'trouble' you would like to share with
Valerie, whatever your age or problem, write or e-mail her at:
Tavia7@webtv.net or care of Review Magazine, 318 S. Hamilton St., Saginaw,
MI 48602
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