Anon,
You don't have to apologize for the long response. One thing I know the Forum does is let people speak what is on their mind. When they do that they give thought to things they seldom think about and by doing that indulge in self therapy. Of course you are different in you have given much thought to this. But we all need a n outlet and by speaking the words I believe is good therapy.

Plus I tend to say a lot in my posts also. I can never give a simple interpretation, no matter how short the dream.

I sensed there was a conflict with your mother. In a way she was an outer sorceress in she possessed negative qualities of the sorceress. Vampiric blood is poisonous to all members of the Sorcery Lines and your mother was a vampire in her own right. Able to change forms at will.

Of course your recent encounter with the sorceress was Ann. I dare say you were drawn to her not only because of the attractive qualities she possessed {physical and mental} but possibly an unconscious attractiveness because of an intuitive sense. She in actuality possessed similar qualities of your mother, able to change forms at will. Plus there is the similar experience of expressing your love {naturally as a child to a mother} and being rejected by both your mother and Ann. Deep wounds early in life as well as later in life. Thankfully you had already discovered Jung and the later life experience did not destroy you. In many such cases it would have with 'lesser' men.

I want to take a minute to share a little of my personal history on a couple of topics since you have been so brave to share yours. On the subject of the intuitive mind. I an a very strong believer in the innate senses with intuitiveness being one we can actually enhance. I am an extrovert and have always trusted those things I 'sensed' as concrete. Whether this is purely inherent quality or was partly a product of distrust because of how my father treated me {abandonment} I am sure. But looking back at early life and the introverted way I lived {feelings less than other children because I was poor} I know this quality is a part of who I am if no other reason because of my early life experiences.

But there was a change later in life after I came out from forced introverted life {it was a black school teacher at Hume Fogg who changed that-who was incidentally murdered by his son in the 80s}. After 'coming out' I was able to be my true self, at least personality wise. I carried with me that sensing attitude and still possess it {show me the facts}. But after working as an environmentalist with the Metro Health Department for 13 years {a job the school teacher helped me to get} for 13 years {after my military service} I gained valuable people skills. Along with the many 'relationships' I had both romantically and otherwise I 'learned' people. Later in my 30s I realized I had this ability to 'sense' people from the inside [whereas before it was purely outward}. When I discovered Campbell in '92 I discovered what I possessed was intuitive abilities. When I began studying Jung and dreams {I consider myself an 'intuitive Jungian'} I realized I had a 'knack' at understanding dreams, long before I actually acquired the skills I now possess in analyzing and interpreting dreams. I thought for a long time I needed to guard against believing I had 'extra-ordinary' skills in interpreting dreams but now I know it is true. One only need to look at the track record at the Dream Forum to verify this. And I credit this ability because I possess both intuitive skills as well as personal experience/people skills. If I am not mistaken when you are able to acquire the opposite senses of your natural type you have fulfilled one aspect of Individuation.

But there is more history to my intuitive abilities I feel relevant. All of your siblings were brothers whereas I grew up with three sisters. From the age of 6 until 18 I lived with my mother and three sisters. Such a strong feminine influence for 18 years surely had an affect/effect {it both was a result as well as an influence}.

And then there were the 'romantic' relationships. I know now what was occurring was 'looking for love in all the wrong places'. But during those experiences it was never a demeaning experience toward women, just the opposite. I felt I needed to share my positive self {perhaps feeling it so strongly after my coming out}, I wanted so much to please women. Of course the pleasing aspect was part of wanting to fulfill what I 'felt I never did' with my father {the child blaming oneself} but I think there was more to it. I was connecting to the inner feminine, perhaps the influence of natural law, balancing what was needed to find wholeness {Jung: we are all meant to be whole}. And of course the sex was a fixation, that being the Freudian contribution to understanding the great forces this 'animal' quality had on life. By the age of 30 I had grown out of the sexual fixations but not the need for to fulfill the father I never had. That only happened after I discovered Campbell and Jung and began my inward journey. It took nearly 12 years to come to full grips with that, although there are still moments when I can still see and feel for that 'little boy' I was.

Back to the present. And your dream.
I like the expression 'back to the dream'. I understand that is what Jung insisted on when analyzing a patient. When I get a response to my interpretation i like to go back to the dream and see how every thing plays out with any new information I may gain from the response. This helps me with discovering patterns, not only in the dreams but in the dreamers' personal lives. Both should coincide, the dream pattern to the waking life pattern of behavior. Often I see personality traits in a dream and I try to verify this as well. When I do write my book I want to express what I have learned independent of Jung {of course using his concepts and expanding on what I believe is beyond that, or beyond what I know of his 'voluminous' works}.

In the dream its starts out 'you are in a large house, definitely not my own'. Two points to this opening statement. One is this wording before the mention of the sorceress {which is the primary 'villein/negative emotional conflict in the dream}. A house definitely not your own. That suggest 'being possessed' by something other than natural aspects. When I look at a dream the first thing that is stated is what I believe to be the primary message of the dream. Even without the mention of the sorceress this statement alone would require me to look for a 'possession' aspect within your life. Just with a dream where there is a unnamed/unknown child being the dreamer at the age or time frame stated {or inferred} in the dream, this is what I believe to be a 'truism' in dreams. And as it turns out this is true with your dream and your life {these are the type things I want to focus on in my book}.

But your opening statement goes further. The first two paragraphs are actually the opening statement but the very first gets to the central negative theme that is the 'emotional conflict'. The pill would be the 'spell' this inner/outer sorceress has over you. Your statement not only describes the central conflict but also aspects of the battle you have waged with this 'sorceress'. "I’d already defeated two of her subordinates" is a phrase I take to mean you have already confronted two of these feminine sources, having encountered and taking on the task of reconciling both the relationship with your mother {inner} and Ann {outer} sorceresses. This is not common {such a statement describing the battle} in many dreams. But few people have discovered what you have discovered in your study of Jungian psyche. You were at first 'hiding' from this but possess the courage and discipline of the 'hero' to take on this task of confronting and reconciling your demons.

Then the scene changes {fitting with Jung's second stage of the dream structure, the plot or development of the 'story'. You are on the floor which I believe points to 'foundations' of the personal psyche. You are confronting the inner sorceress, your mother. The clue to this inner aspect would be the dream language "which is completely unchanged by having been inside me." These early life influences are still 'intact'.

But you have confronted this inner sorceress and have begun to remove the importance to her influence at 'all levels'. Here we see a distinct reference of confronting to both aspects of the inner and other sorceresses {all levels}. The freedom to leave {which could also easily be interpreted as 'the freedom to live', as in the 'monomythic journey'} is a statement to both aspects. But fears remain {normal for the ego self to feel}.

The plot is developing. The dream starts out with what is the primary emotional conflict and the people/things involved with that. And now the story develops to what is happening with that conflict.

Then the dream turns to the third stage, the culmination or new actions in the dream. The outer sorceress becomes a focus of the dream, but with the influence of the inner {carrying a very small red car “around my body”}. Your mother is out of your life as a 'conscious' controlling agent. But you continue to carry the unconscious influences and this is where the outer sorceress comes into play {arms wrapped the outside of the car's body}. The central battle is still an inner battle {left it inside her house}, the influences still having an unconscious attachment to the outer world. Anything on the right is of the ego world {the left is the hero path}.

This outer sorceress has put you in an 'inferior' position {car to bicycle}. This is what love can do to you, as well as what a strong feminine power has done to you {childhood}. Home is your inner home and no shoes not being grounded to proper principles {at least temporarily when it comes to be influenced later in life}. But you have the 'helping hands' of Jung and Campbell to guide and support you}. The basket contains developed principles 'put' together by the inner work you have done. The left side of the basket {things you hold on to} is the hero journey, the path you have chosen to take, the principles you live by and hold on to.

Now the final stage of the dream, Jung's lysis. This can be a resolution or result of the dream actions {reflecting the true condition of the dreamer}. There seems to be things left unresolved although things are under control {remember, this is your condition at the time of the dream}. The affects/effects of the relationship with Ann {she remained in the house while I fled} are still present. The inner feminine, your anima, is OK despite the emotional conflicts {both inner and outer}. But until you understand the full force of the 'sorceresses' there is an impending urgency to know and understand. Plus, and this is important, there is another aspect now in play {the real urgency}. At the age of 54 you are in the autumn of life and although there have been conflicts with the sorceress there is a desire for the feminine in your life. The strong winds of love perhaps, once touched twice affected. There are probably still unresolved issues with your mother and definite issues remaining about Ann. But having gained the knowledge of combating these issues, and the archetypal influences of the natural life, autumn is upon us {literally, its almost October} and time is short [as is life}.

There are always other aspects to a dream that have meaning. I've touched on {on a single long examination} on what seems to stick out. I could look at it again and see something else {mostly in association to what I have already provided}. As Jung stated, a dream can have new meaning years later.

A full range of emotions for sure. Getting back to the dream with the added information you provided gives new insights to the dream. And of course what ever the dream is saying is reflective of the true condition. The great news comes toward the end of the dream. You have placed your confidence in the hero journey {as have I, and live by those specific principles}. With that the helping hands of fate on your side {Karma is a great ally} and what ever remains unresolved will be resolved. No one can reach perfection but we can be as whole as we let ourselves be. The hero journey is as good a path in achieving that wholeness as any I have come across. And like you I have read much of what is offered. With our belief system we merely need to 'let go and use the force'. The hardest work has already been done, we have discovered that inner SELF and its is now in control.

And you were worried about being long winded.

Jerry

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Anon,
Sorry not to respond sooner. I've been consumed by putting this workshop together, I'll have it done by this weekend and will take a good look at your post.

Jerry

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 63 Space Coast, Fla.

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