Dreamssssssss

All of us dream, several times a night. It is believed by some that we sleep in order that we may dream. It is during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep that we do most of our dreaming. If we are deprived of sleep, REM sleep increases on sebsequent nights. Sleep deprivation prevents us from completing our dreams and we sebsequently enagage in dream-like thinking during our waking states of consciousness. Such is the power of the dream. The act of dream is physiological (physical), whereas the content of the dream is psychological. The images, emotions and activities of the dream are a product of the individual's unconscious mind, having to do with the total make-up of one's human condition (conscious and unconscious). Most images (symbols) in dreams are personal representations of the individual (dealing with events and emotions in our waking lives), but also found within the dream are representations (symbols) that have nothing to do with the individual's personal knowledge. These are what Carl Jung called the archetypal images, images that are from the collective knowledge of all mankind (actually predate mankind itself), and their images are tendencies of the human mind that form representations of mythological motifs - representations that can vary a great deal without losing their basic patterns. An archetype is not a specific image or motif but variations of the images and motifs that are found in mythology. The archetype is a predisposition (previous inclinations) to an image, a common psychic structure that parallels the common human structure (patterns in life). The archetype itself cannot be experienced; all we can know of it is its effect on dreams, emotions, actions and other mental contents. Perhaps the best word for the archetype is emotions, or more acturately emotional complexes. Dreams are stating the present condition (psychological, physical and metaphysical) of the dreamer, at the time of a particular dream. The total condition of the dreamer is being played out within the dream and the images and motifs are a reference to those particular conditions. What is lacking in the unconscious state of mind (the dream) is the bias and prejudgices found in the waking state of consciousness. It is like another person, one without preconceived ideas or prejudgices about the dreamer, watching the dreamer and then giving a true account of what is happening in the dreamer's conscious life. This can be a physical event (with the emotional influences), a psychological condition, a metaphysical reference or, perhaps a combination of two or more of the dreamer's conditions. The dream is about the total human experience and most of the images and themes (motifs)are taken from the vast vault of experiences from the dreamer's life, but also has a reference to the archetypal motifs (universal themes). It is the emotions at play, seeking to inform the dreamer of what is really taking place in the dreamer's life. And even though it is the emotions that carry the greatest weight within the dream, it is also referencing to the physical and metaphysical (spiritual, creative) condition of the dreamer's life. The metaphysical aspect within the dream is describing the subjects of creativity and/or the spiritual condition (not religious, which is a waking preceived bias). All humans possess a degree of creativity - whether it be in the arts, problem solving, writing, etc. The seat of creativity lies within the metaphysical condition, that which is beyond the normal known physical realm of being, and is seen in all the forms of creativity within our society. It is thought that the creative self is a condition of the collective unconscious (the whole knowldege of mankind), where the knowledge of the universal exceeds the personal knowledge and taps into the inner resources of nature. These resources, seen as images and motifs within the dream, are also found within the differing mythologies of the world and are expressed in the creativity of individuals. The characteristics of the human species is expressed from the unconscious nature of our being, which maps experience into grammar, art or other creative skills. The other metaphysical aspect of dream is the relationship of the individual to the spiritual condition. Jung once said that those patients who had found a spiritual ground were cured of their psychological aliments. They were able to find a spiritual ground with the help of their dreams. Within the dream, perhaps all dreams, is found a reference to the spiritual self. The symbols of one's father in a dream can represent the actual father in waking life, but also can have a reference to the higher spiritual condition, what is thought of as God. The same holds true for the feminine images found in dream, a reference to the real mother or to the Goddess or Great Mother. An image of the earth is a good analogy that fits this motif. We all have a spiritual condition, whether we acknowledge it or not. Carl Jung, being a scientist, often was critized for this belief but found within the dreams of his patients a reference that was undeniably metaphysical. And when fully explored the images gave a definite conclusion of healing within the dreamer's unbalanced condition. Thus, we find in all dreams at least two interpretations of the images and motifs, even though one aspect may be given more emphasis than another. The dream is trying to inform the dreamer through the dream their total condition. Once that condition is understood then a healing process begins and balance is restored to the dreamer's waking life. The dream world is a microcosm of the whole of society, indeed the whole human race. When one aspect of the individual is out of balance, then it is a reflection of the society as a whole. The ills of the society, or the world, is dependent upon the individuals that inhabit the planet (the universal), and the conditions that plague our societies are found within the individual dream, having personal conotations as well as universal. One can change the world by changing themselves but the changes needed must be known. That is a purpose for the dream.