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Dream Forum
[Since 2005]
Melissa,
I had two sensations about the first part of the dream where the 'fish' is out of its tank and you are trying to put it back. One is some aspect of your life is out of its 'element' and you want to put it back in place. This may have associations to recent waking experience{s}.
The second would be something within your unconscious that has 'gotten out' and because of its emotional energy you want to put it back so not to confront/endure it. You are unwilling or unable to confront/endure this deeper emotional issue because of the conflict it causes/caused {the deeper issues would come from earlier life experiences}.
One or both may fit. Look at these possibilities as the central theme of the dream and determine if one or both fit.
As for the other symbols and their possibilities. The size of the fish may be a description of your physical body. Are you very 'big'? The size may also be addressing the size of the emotional conflict involved, consciously minimizing it because you do not want to address the issue.
I see the number 6 as representing the physical life wanting/trying to find balance/wholeness in life. This may be a personal issue that has now been brought out of the unconscious due to some recent experience that is related to an emotional conflict from your past. And it ma be directed toward recent waking experiences that have associations to the deeper issues.
The colour of the fish, blue, would represent a positive aspect{s} of your life/personality. Letting this emotional out would threaten this positive aspect{s}. It may also be describing your general outlook on life, a positive one. Underlying emotional issues from your past, if let out, would threaten this positive 'you' {fish}.
Getting it back into the tank again seems to be saying you are wanting to 'keep' something in. The dream is a way these emotional issues are brought out so to inform/remind the dreamer of the unresolved conflict involved. Minimizing the problem, or holding it in, only leads to larger problems. It will only get larger, develop into something larger {frog}. The larger problem may be addressing underlying unconscious issues that are at the foundations of the emotional issue, the 'bigger issues' from earlier life experiences that underlie your life and personality {those experiences/influences that determining factors to who you are today}. The problem is one that would threaten to 'devour' the positive aspects of your life {and the reason you wish to keep it held in, repressed}.
Look at the fish out of its tank as something in your life that is out of its element. That would most likely be a recent waking experience that causes conflict. And also deeper issues that could cause great emotional strain if you were to 'let it out'. These do seem to be the prime issues the dream is addressing {dreams tend to address more than one issue in the dreamer's life using the same symbols and metaphors, the language of dreams, to define both issues}. The recent waking experience may have brought to mind past experienecs you wish to forget.
Jerry 
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 60 Murfreesboro, Tn
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Male
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Melissa,
It seems to me the color blue associated with white construed as ego contamination would have to have other defining symbols to properly fit. Dark blue could represent 'depression' or have negative connotations, especially if compared to white {purity, happiness, joy, innocence}. But most often in Jungian psyche it is associated with the unconscious, especially the collective unconscious or aspects of the deep unconscious {deep blue ocean}. It is most often a positive. White is a common symbol for purity, happiness. Both colors are feminine in nature and would represent the inner qualities {intuition}. If you could elaborate on how the association to ego contamination came about perhaps we can learn something new about the possibilities of these colors as they appear in dreams.
The 'blockages' associated with childhood is what I was focusing on with the 'deeper' issues. I am a proponent that dreams often address those deeper foundations that make up the personality in later life. Childhood experiences/influences are the primary building blocks for such foundations. The fish out of the tank could be unconscious aspects that need to be brought out. Trying to put the fish back into the tank would suggest repression of childhood experiences. I believe this is the primary focus of this dream. Those aspects within the deep unconscious, the tank, need to be let so you can understand them and confront the unresolved issues. The ego will fight against letting them out since it would disrupt the perceived tranquility of the waking life. This is not the true self, it is what the ego has built. Those underlying influences that have unconscious control of your life is what the dream wants to focus on. The fish in the tank is your true self.
The different colored fish could be aspects of yourself. The color Gold, as something valuable, could symbolize your true self, as distinct from your conscious ego. The black spots would be the negatives, or even the shadow aspects. And it is also a symbol for the unconscious, the depths.
Not having seen fish as a positive aspect is something I don't quite understand. Other than the possibility as a representation of libido or greed all symbolic representations I have know are positive or point to the true self which when realized and resolved is a positive. From the %%htmlItem_3%%:
1} A fish is a common symbol of fertility, which in psychological terms means (a promise of) personal growth.
2} If the fish is in the sea, the sea may symbolize the unconscious, the fish unconscious urges (over-eating, etc.)
3} According to Jung, fish, being cold blooded and primitive creatures, may symbolize a deep level of unconsciousness.
4} Fishes and snakes are favourite symbols for describing psychic happenings or experiences that suddenly dart out of the unconscious and have a frightening or redeeming effect' (Jung).
5} They may also, says Jung, represent libido or greed.
6} A fish is a symbol of Christ and may therefore function psychologically as a symbol of your true self. This is an 'archetypal' image.
The dream is a direct link to the unconscious and the intent is to provide access to unconscious contents. Especially those emotional issues that are in conflict. The therapeutic value of dreams is to help the dreamer resolve such issues. One has to understand the language of dreams to gain a proper interpretation.
Dreams speak in a language of symbol and metaphor and it is imperative to be able to understand this language. This symbolic language is also found in mythology. My suggestion to anyone who wishes to better understand this language, and the reasons for its use in dreams, is to study the works of Joseph Campbell. Besides being a noted expert on mythology, symbols and metaphor his ability to articulate Jungian psychology is unsurpassed. It was from him I began my journey some 18 years ago and to him I give the credit for the Myths-Dreams-Symbols website and the Dream Forum {and my interest and ability to interpret dreams}.
The small fish would be the ego take of the emotional conflicts. The ego doesn't want you to let this issue develop {frog} into what it is truly is; an influence on your waking life that must be confronted and resolved. The larger fish eating the small fish would be the fear of letting the true self out, consuming the ego world you have made for yourself, protecting that world by repressing the true world that is being kept in a 'tank' {unconscious}.
I looked at your dream and saw a simple possibility to its probable meaning. I still see it that way. And I believe anyone with a Jungian influence would also.
The 6 inch length of the fish, something that wasn't very big. That would be the ego assessment of the unconscious contents. But does it also describe your stature? What is your height? Dreams often provide such descriptions in 'cognito', if for no other reason than to describe the dreamer. Dreams also often provide insights to personality traits. I say this with confidence because I have sen such contents in dreams that were verified by the dreamer. See my recent post Interpreting A Dream-Explaining How I Interpret the Symbols
to get an understanding of how I do interpret dreams and the verification from responses to my interpretations that are so valuable in understanding dreams.
Jerry
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 60 Murfreesboro, Tn
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Male
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Melissa,
I'll provide a detailed response to your thorough reply {which I appreciate} later today. I do notice a lot of supposition on your part. Are these yours, knowledge you have gained from your own experience, or are they from someone else? {I ask this because of your statement "I will quote what was told to me about the color blue"}.
Have you studied Jungian psyche and if so for how long and to what degree? I ask these questions so to better understand your psyche with that knowledge providing clues to your dreams. If there is a 'Jungian' understanding of dream theory I am a bit baffled that you have never associate the fish with the positive, the true self. That is pretty much a staple to Jungian psyche {even in reference to mythology, the Christ motif}.
Again, are these suppositions on your part or someone else? I want to gain insights to where your 'statements of fact' come from. If from a Jungian analyst, well he/she has a better position than I since he/she knows you much better and has had the ability to delve deeper into your psyche. If an analyst and not a Jungian, well I am of the position such a person, even with their education, is in a lesser position in the understanding of dreams. Being a 'Jungian' and having the experience in Jungian psyche I am a loyal believer in his theories on dream psyche.
But outside that you have provided much to discuss. If you are willing to open up to my suggestions, based on Jungian philosophy, this could be a learning experience for both of us. I feel I am qualified in dream psych but I am always open to learning more. Every dream is a learning experience and with the Dream Forum I am able to learn so much about the dream. Practice does tend to make a more 'perfect' ability to understand and know.
Jerry
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 60 Murfreesboro, Tn
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Male
How Did You Find the Dream Forum? Yes
Hello Jerry,
I have quoted you to respond to your questions more easily.
The bold remarks in my last post are from an understudy of an analyst that I worked with on my dreams… not my own. I worked with him for over a year on my dreams, although I did not always agree on what he provided, the consensus was to wait to see what the dreams say. I have the dreams from this time saved either in e mail or on my computer which is how I accessed them to show you the details.
He (understudy) wrote a dossier on my dreams and sent it to the Jungian analyst that he worked with for verification and they agreed on what he (the understudy) concluded (complexes, shadow issues etc) in the analysis. I have also spoken with this other person who is a true analyst, he is a real person. …
Sorry if this is complicated. Also in one of my big dreams over the summer it did show that I was truly individuating. But this process has seemingly come to a hault. My big dreams have stopped and as I told you I feel there is a blockage, not because I was told this but because of what my dreams are saying. But I personally have not studied Jung enough to make this decision on my own.
I do know though that I still project/ have not healed old wounds. It is hard for me to emotionally feel what is actually going on and remember what happened and why so that I can modify these things that are the core issues preventing my progress, which tells me that I have not attained what I intend as I mentioned before.
I have not studied in depth but know the general theories and ideas. I have not investigated my own dreams alone until recently. As I said I was mentored in this. He was the one who would let me know what was going on in my own dreams. I have learned to see some of the associations and understand at times (not always) what happens in the dreams in relation to my waking life.
Because of the statement in the first quotation (which was made by the person I was working with on my dreams) I did not investigate dream dictionaries. So this association of the fish was never revealed to me.
I had a dream once where I was with a Jehovas witness in all white and a white snake was trying to bite a white fish (amongst other things going on in the dream)… Even still this association was not brought to my attention. I did feel that a full explanation was lacking in this endeavor. I always wanted to know more but he worked with me for free and as you know this is hard to come by. I could not afford to pay a true Jungian Analyst to do this same work.
As you can see from what was said in the few dreams I showed you it was more about what was going on and not the symbolism or direction on how to maneuver through the issues that were creating the dreams themselves.
But outside that you have provided much to discuss. If you are willing to open up to my suggestions, based on Jungian philosophy, this could be a learning experience for both of us. I feel I am qualified in dream psych but I am always open to learning more. Every dream is a learning experience and with the Dream Forum I am able to learn so much about the dream. Practice does tend to make a more 'perfect' ability to understand and know.[/quote]
I am more than willing to take any assistance I can get which is why I posted the blue fish dream to begin with… (This last person I mentioned that I worked with also used our work together as a learning experience.)
I know to truly individuate one must always monitor waking life and the dreams which is a time consuming intensive process. The only issue I see is that when working continuously dreams can become/are very personal as you know… I know that I wouldn't feel comfortable with ‘all’ of them being revealed to the public in this forum. I would feel more comfortable working privately if it is to be in depth.
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 35
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Female
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Melissa,
Let me respond with caution since I do not have the benefits of an in-depth analysis of your life as does your analyst. That is professional advice you need to consider and what I offer can only supplement that service he provides. I do have a few comments I hope will be helpful in your understanding of Jungian psyche and your 'individuation'.
How long have you been working with your Individuation Process? My experience is that process is a long path to travel. The discovery of the true self {fish} takes time and most importantly discipline. I believe it is a process of understanding and not just a measure of dreaming. What causes us to be who we are comes with the knowledge to the underlying stimuli, experiences and influences from earlier life. Most often that begins, if not solely the roots, in childhood. If there are barriers built by the conscious self to those causes then it is the process of removing those 'walls' that becomes most important. My experience was not barriers as much as it was not consciously knowing the underlying influences. Once I began to understand the process and where to look it was a matter of discipline to stay with it until I realized the full extent of my early life experiences/influences that were controlling who I was as an adult. It was deconstruction of who I was to understand who I am. Then the process turned to 'reconstructing' a new identity based on a formula of the hero journey. The journey is as much psychological as it is physical but the ultimate realization is of the 'metaphysical', the true self combined with a developed sense of meaning that is rooted in a spiritual/creative identity. Moving from the strict zones of time and space to the open areas of the here and now. Not relying on a subjective view of self and the world but also an objective view. Behind the barriers is a mirror and the reflection is of the soul {%%htmlItem_5%%}. I believe true individuation takes place when you reach that plateau.
Where do you think you are on that path?
You state you stop having big dreams. I don't believe that alone suggest you have stopped progressing, The blockage you spoke of may merely be a part of the process. I have had few 'big dreams' in my journey but recognized them when they occurred. And they always corresponded with waking life experiences. I hit those walls several times in my journey and when looking back I realized they too were a part of the process. From the %%htmlItem_3%%:
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You are still relatively young in the stages of life, still building for the future and accumulating the baggage that becomes the focus at mid-life. It is a plus that you have begun that process of individuation so early. If you are or have used an analyst to help you in your journey/process then it may suggest you have realized early there are underlying influences that have deterred you from being that whole self, the true self. You have a long road to travel but at least you have identified a true source that will help you through it. Most never realize the need let alone possesses the courage to achieve wholeness. You are hero in the deepest sense of being.
As much as I am a student of Jung and devoted to the process of wholeness it is Joseph Campbell who has provided the tools that has helped me through that process. And as much as I know the journey is psychological it is mythology that has supplied the universal concepts that helped me identify my 'identity, behind the mask of the ego. What is true on the highest level {collective unconscious} is also true in the individual. Mythology is the collective experiences and they reflect all of the individual experiences. Identifying which fits your life can be illuminating. Illumination is what identifies the true self.
Myth is a collective dream, the dream a personal myth
What is your personal myth? Is Cinderella a good example for your shadow? Or a simpler archetype as in The Beauty and the Beast? There are so many aspects to Jungian psyche that must be explored to gain the greatest insights to the self. Dreams supplement the conscious understanding, a direct link to the unconscious. But they are but one tool to achieving individuation. I'll let your analyst help you with your deeper understanding of dreams since he has the benefit of the knowledge of who you are through therapy. I may be able to assist you in the interpretation of your dreams but I will also provide my understanding of the process in other ways, related to the unconscious dream but not solely dreams themselves.
Jerry
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 60 Murfreesboro, Tn
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Male
How Did You Find the Dream Forum? Yes