www.powerofdreams.net
Dream Forum
[Since 2005]
Alexandra,
My sense from the dream is you are in a stage or phase involving strong emotional 'currents'. There could also be a transition taking place, one you wish to make but have yet to achieve. There seems to be aspects that are preventing you from achieving a higher level of 'experience' and may be related to 'complexes' you possess. These could be unconscious motivators to do with foundations in life, early life experiences/influences. There seems to be a desire to reach a higher level of 'being' in your life but something is preventing it. I sense these are unconscious aspects. There may be a conflict of conscious awareness and unconscious motivations {you are not consciously aware of exactly why you can not reach this higher level of being}. You are being held back by unconscious forces, perhaps those being normal patterns of behavior in your life that need to be transcended. You have yet to be able to do this. There is a 'house' you wish to be in but are unable to make that move {the house is you}.
Below I have broken down the dream by paragraphs and provided an analysis of each. Perhaps these will provide better insights to what the emotional issues are that you are currently experiencing {experiencing at the time of the dream}. If you will provide a follow-up response perhaps we can learn more about what the unconscious energies are that are holding you back.
Dream I have a house, that i don't live in yet, between bath and Bristol (20ish miles from my home) I am going to live there soon. the house is made of stone and has a curved wall, it is by a river. At fist i worry that this house will flood or get washed away then i see my part of the house is slightly set back and i feel ok.
Analysis A question I would ask right off is, are you actually planning on moving into a new residence? If so that would be a part of the emotional issue the dream is attempting to resolve. If not then the move is purely symbolic {it could be both}. Also, and this is always important to understand about dream analysis, any personal experiences related to the dream is beyond my capability to know personally. Only you can know what those may be. What I can do is provide an outline of any emotional issues that you may be experiencing. Because all dreams have at least two meanings/applications there may be personal experiences as well as a purely symbolic references to whatever emotional issues you are currently experiencing {at the time you have the dream}. Usually symbolic references would go to the 'deeper' issues of why there is an emotional conflict to do with your life {personality traits, underlying issues to do with foundations of your life, ie. childhood are memorable life experiences/influences}.
Analysis The house is you. Although no symbol should be taken as a 'concrete' definition houses are pretty much 'universally' symbolic of the dreamer, or in association or relationship to the dreamer {your mother's house would have something to do with her relationship with YOU}.
Analysis The house you have yet not lived in but already possess suggests it is an unrealized experience or/and an unconscious aspect that has not yet been realized or understood. Being in-between two cities could suggest an emotional conflict or/and perhaps indecision. But it soon will be something you will have to deal with {going to live there soon}. A house made of stone may suggest something about you that is a 'steadfast' and not negotiable {which may be a cause for any conflict}. Being curved is something that deviates from the norm {also possibly a cause for any conflict} and being by the river would suggest the current flow of emotions related to the issue of this 'new house' {aspect of yourself}. There is an unrealized fear but something has a buffer to this fear. Being 'set back' slightly could suggest it is pushed back from conscious thought 'slightly' but not entirely {it is not something you are thinking about all the time}.
Dream I see the river flowing away from the house. When i turn to face the current the river is gone. There is vast river bed made from yellow sand/stone, and hundreds of men line it working to forge this bed, some of them are naked and some are peeing into the river bed. I talk to some of them. The river bed winds off into the distance for eternity like a serpent, it is beautifully shaped.
Analysis There are emotional currents are flowing from this particular issue in your life. When you consciously confront the issue you remove any conscious conflict that may exist {although unconsciously they remain}. A river bed {with no water current} may suggest a complex exists which could point to underlying uncnscious issues related to personality/early life experiencesand influences. The hundreds of men would suggest overwhelming animus aspects at work, some that are conscious {naked/exposed} and others that need to be released so to exposed what is not consciously known {to do with any complex you may possess}. You are aware of some of the issues {talking to some of the men} and unconsciously your psyche is working to inform you of what other aspects that are not unknown {which would bring about a needed transformation/snake and perhaps reshape important aspects of who you are}.
Dream The river has a name and i am given its spelling, though i may have lost the correct one - it is something like - Xyntzy -said "tinksy" or something similar and i am told the river is the source of the spirit, it will flow through Bristol and around my new house.
Analysis This part of your dream definitely seems to be touching on archetypal aspects. Could the name of the river be 'syzygy'? The syzygy The combination of the anima and animus is known as the syzygy, or the divine couple. The syzygy represents completion, unification and wholeness, a combination of the anima and animus, masculine and feminine aspects of the psyche.
Jung used the term to denote "an archetypal pairing of contrasexual opposites, which symbolized the communication of the conscious and unconscious minds, the conjunction of two organisms without the loss of identity."
Analysis This would be the source of completion that brings about your true self and identity and would remove any conflict to realizing this 'spirit' aspect {any complexes}. Between Bristol and your new house may suggest a conflict of conscious and unconscious aspects. This new house would be an important aspect in your life.
Dream My friend who lives in Bristol - who i have very strong bond and connection with picks me up in her car. We drive along the riverside and i ask her how come the river is still there as i thought it had been stopped to build the bed. It has been dammed and the water on the other side of the flow is rising up across the city.
Analysis There may be aspects about your friend {a positive influence to do with her as well as your own psyche} you identify with. She could be a true friend in your waking life as well as a part of you {positive aspects you identify with}. The bond within you is strong not only to the friend but also to the qualities she possesses that you identify with. It is this aspect that may hold the answer to why the emotional flow that is a conflict in your life is 'dammed up' and not able to be released consciously so you can realize the wholeness you seek. But because it is rising the unconscious flow is about to become conscious which can bring about realizations that lead to wholeness.
Dream We drive past a large black sprawling hotel with endless windows in a uniform pattern. I think i dont like this hotel and feel glad that i will never have to be in there. We drive over bridges and the water is reaching the top, through roads that are flooded.
Analysis There is a phase you are currently experiencing {that can/will lead to a 'transcendence' to another higher level of experience}. The endless windows in a uniform pattern would be the continuing existence of the emotional patterns that hold you back from transcending the barriers that lead to wholeness. You are probably are in a very emotional stage when you had this dream, to the flood there are a 'flood' of emotions.
Dream My friend asks me what i want to do, i say something like " not much, i have some pot" she tells me "your no good on that stuff" i fell that she is saying i cant operate at a high enough level and she doesn't want to be with me.
Analysis This stage involves deciding whether to be forceful in the attempt to get to a higher level or staying in this same pattern of emotional experiences {your friend is you, you unconsciously do not want to be with 'that' person who refuses to seek higher aspirations}.
Dream We get to her place and she looks different, she has a very different short haircut and a very old fashioned dress on, like a wartime dress and plain shoes. I notice the detail on the dress, plain with pretty flowers appliquéd beautifully and then beneath it some very badly embroidered flowers. She takes off the dress and says she would never wear that dress to make love (she recently gained a lover after being single for a long time).
Analysis You are on the verge of being at a place of higher consciousness but the inner conflicts prevent you from being your true self. The true self is ready to blossom but the outlines of your foundations prevent this. You have to remove the emotional aspects if you are to embrace your true self and reach higher consciousness/aspirations.
Dream We sit at the window in her flat and watch the river flow in the street beneath and cars driving through.
Analysis You are stagnated by your emotions. The underlying foundations of your life are preventing you from realizing a higher level of being/consciousness. You are aware of the path you wish to go but have yet to gain the 'drive' to do so. There are unconscious motivators holding you back.
Jerry
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 64 Male Cocoa, Fl
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Yes
How Did You Find the Dream Forum? Yes
Thankyou so much Jerry for taking the time to work on my dream, it was somewhat epic for me and has stayed with me for the few weeks since having it. Infact i just went on a trip where without my prior knowledge my friend lived almost next to a very wide and fast flowing river in the middle of a city, which we walked along each day.
I will try to reply to the parts that resonate the most with me along side your words.
My sense from the dream is you are in a stage or phase involving strong emotional 'currents'. There could also be a transition taking place, one you wish to make but have yet to achieve.
I am changing. Earlier in the year my dear friend died and this set me off on a new path. He was a very spiritual person and we connected deeply but i had not really been practicing much for many years. SInce then i have been returning to meditaion and looking within myself more than i have done for a long time. I often feel i waste time, when i should be practicing, i feel this slows me down.
There seems to be aspects that are preventing you from achieving a higher level of 'experience' and may be related to 'complexes' you possess.
My life is complicated, i have a young family, a very disabled son who i adore but of course adds many extra worries, sresses and tiredness into life.
These could be unconscious motivators to do with foundations in life, early life experiences/influences. There seems to be a desire to reach a higher level of 'being' in your life but something is preventing it.
I dont know what is preventing it, maybe its me, not being commited enough or tired. I have spent many years turning to drink and smoking not to an exsessive level but i often feel guilty about it. I had problems with my relationship with my mother when i was a child, we are much closer now but there are hangovers still there that i wish i could let go of, but somehow i seem too proud to do so, wich is silly , she does so much for me and has more than made up for things.
I sense these are unconscious aspects. There may be a conflict of conscious awareness and unconscious motivations {you are not consciously aware of exactly why you can not reach this higher level of being}. You are being held back by unconscious forces, perhaps those being normal patterns of behavior in your life that need to be transcended. You have yet to be able to do this. There is a 'house' you wish to be in but are unable to make that move {the house is you}.
I have been reading Man and his symbols, this is my first experience with jung. FOr many years his name has been all over my life, i chose resently to go with signs and follow these pointers. Start recording my dreams and try to listen to them. When i read i seem to have more dreams, when i was away, after reading your analysis i had 2 more very powerful dreams. One that my husband got very drunk and out of control at a party (unlike him), I was embaressed in front of my friends, i was hurt and he said he was having an affair (he isnt)there was nothing i could do to calm him down. ANd another that my mother turned up at my meditation class saying she just wanted to see what it was all about, i was very angry that she couldnt let me have this thing for myself and had spoiled it.
Dream I have a house, that i don't live in yet, between bath and Bristol (20ish miles from my home) I am going to live there soon. the house is made of stone and has a curved wall, it is by a river. At fist i worry that this house will flood or get washed away then i see my part of the house is slightly set back and i feel ok.
Analysis A question I would ask right off is, are you actually planning on moving into a new residence?
No i am not, i am very happy in my home, it is perfect for my family and has been adapted to my sons needs.
Analysis The house you have yet not lived in but already possess suggests it is an unrealized experience or/and an unconscious aspect that has not yet been realized or understood. Being in-between two cities could suggest an emotional conflict or/and perhaps indecision.
I find it hard to balance my spiritual life with my home life. The river to me definatley represents the spirit - as i was told! Some while ago i was very much under the controll of my emotions, fears, sadness and paranoias, that has become much less so. I suppose i would like to feel like i am in control and can achieve a more peaceful state.
But it soon will be something you will have to deal with {going to live there soon}. A house made of stone may suggest something about you that is a 'steadfast' and not negotiable {which may be a cause for any conflict}. Being curved is something that deviates from the norm {also possibly a cause for any conflict} and being by the river would suggest the current flow of emotions related to the issue of this 'new house' {aspect of yourself}.
I do feel that i am different to my family, but they all accept me, and i have a lot of friends who share my visions and a few who are on a similar path,
There is an unrealized fear but something has a buffer to this fear. Being 'set back' slightly could suggest it is pushed back from conscious thought 'slightly' but not entirely {it is not something you are thinking about all the time}.
Perhaps i am afraid that if i change will i be so different? my husband does not share this path with me, though he listens to me and understands, he is happy for me.
Dream I see the river flowing away from the house. When i turn to face the current the river is gone. There is vast river bed made from yellow sand/stone, and hundreds of men line it working to forge this bed, some of them are naked and some are peeing into the river bed. I talk to some of them. The river bed winds off into the distance for eternity like a serpent, it is beautifully shaped.
Analysis There are emotional currents are flowing from this particular issue in your life. When you consciously confront the issue you remove any conscious conflict that may exist {although unconsciously they remain}. A river bed {with no water current} may suggest a complex exists which could point to underlying uncnscious issues related to personality/early life experiencesand influences. The hundreds of men would suggest overwhelming animus aspects at work, some that are conscious {naked/exposed} and others that need to be released so to exposed what is not consciously known {to do with any complex you may possess}. You are aware of some of the issues {talking to some of the men} and unconsciously your psyche is working to inform you of what other aspects that are not unknown {which would bring about a needed transformation/snake and perhaps reshape important aspects of who you are}.
I would like to understand this more i am new to jung. My animus is my male counterpart. I am a very male person - i think. i tend to prefer to be with other male women too. Right now my youngest son has just started school and i am starting a new phase of my life. One where i feel i must work. I cannot be employed because of my elder son. But at home i must work. I started off at art college but then fell into work i didnt enjoy, then i had kids, so now is my time to try and start working within arts and crafts again, i need to employ myself. I take a lot of responsibility for my family, i work hard to fight for my disabled sons needs. i often find this hard. My husband is not terribly romantic and dosnt allways nurture my feminine side, and we do not get much respite.
Dream The river has a name and i am given its spelling, though i may have lost the correct one - it is something like - Xyntzy -said "tinksy" or something similar and i am told the river is the source of the spirit, it will flow through Bristol and around my new house.
Analysis This part of your dream definitely seems to be touching on archetypal aspects. Could the name of the river be 'syzygy'? The syzygy The combination of the anima and animus is known as the syzygy, or the divine couple. The syzygy represents completion, unification and wholeness, a combination of the anima and animus, masculine and feminine aspects of the psyche.
I dont know - this could be the name - could it be given to me if i had never heard it before? i cant say, it is similar for sure. Of course it is what i am looking for, i want to be whole, i often feel more male than female, i try to be feminine and i am in many ways, but there are issues there for sure.
Jung used the term to denote "an archetypal pairing of contrasexual opposites, which symbolized the communication of the conscious and unconscious minds, the conjunction of two organisms without the loss of identity."
this is certainly a place i am trying to find, particularly by listening to my dreams. Someone i know recently said that they live in a permanently visionary state - i thought about this, and i thought about those signs and feeling and vvisions in dreams that you pass off, and i thought what if thoise things are important and i should follow up on those. So i am trying to do that - creativly.
Analysis This would be the source of completion that brings about your true self and identity and would remove any conflict to realizing this 'spirit' aspect {any complexes}. Between Bristol and your new house may suggest a conflict of conscious and unconscious aspects. This new house would be an important aspect in your life.
I have always had very vivid dreams and often that stay with me for a long time, could this be my new house? Meditaion, listening to nature, all these things i am learing.
Analysis There may be aspects about your friend {a positive influence to do with her as well as your own psyche} you identify with. She could be a true friend in your waking life as well as a part of you {positive aspects you identify with}. The bond within you is strong not only to the friend but also to the qualities she possesses that you identify with. It is this aspect that may hold the answer to why the emotional flow that is a conflict in your life is 'dammed up' and not able to be released consciously so you can realize the wholeness you seek. But because it is rising the unconscious flow is about to become conscious which can bring about realizations that lead to wholeness.
this is absolultly true. i admire and respect her enormously she has a good heart and wise head and beautiful spirit. I dont know what 'the ' conflict is though? shaking off my old ways? i conect with her very strongly, she is probably the person who thinks about me most in this life.
Analysis There is a phase you are currently experiencing {that can/will lead to a 'transcendence' to another higher level of experience}. The endless windows in a uniform pattern would be the continuing existence of the emotional patterns that hold you back from transcending the barriers that lead to wholeness. You are probably are in a very emotional stage when you had this dream, to the flood there are a 'flood' of emotions.
I am trying to break old patterns , emotional ones, i used to punish myself alot emotionaly. I often have felt that my husbands family judge me harshly and dont feel i am good enough, or show me they love me enough. I am learning that that is a problem that they own and not me.i spend less time having these thoughts. I sused to feel my husband didnt pay me enough attention, but he has his problems too and i am learning to not absorb so much of this and not to let my ego speak so badly!
Analysis This stage involves deciding whether to be forceful in the attempt to get to a higher level or staying in this same pattern of emotional experiences {your friend is you, you unconsciously do not want to be with 'that' person who refuses to seek higher aspirations}.
This is true, I am changing, i used to spend a lot of time smoking, perhaps in some vein hope of acheiving a higher level, and sometimes to avoid my painful feelings - i am no good on that stuff, and i want to be with that version of me less and less, because it does prevent me from seeking higher asperations, though i find it very hard to switch the desire off.
Analysis You are on the verge of being at a place of higher consciousness but the inner conflicts prevent you from being your true self. The true self is ready to blossom but the outlines of your foundations prevent this. You have to remove the emotional aspects if you are to embrace your true self and reach higher consciousness/aspirations.
I know this and i want to, i have thought that perhaps i need some more therapy, there are things i need to talk through probably, things need unpicking because they are there but i dont fully understand it all, i did have a traumatic childhood for a while, there have been other painful things that have happened that i deal with but probably am not completley at peace with. I never feel like i am loved enough by those close to me, i am quite controlling sometimes, and easily spill over with emotion, happy and sad.
Analysis You are stagnated by your emotions. The underlying foundations of your life are preventing you from realizing a higher level of being/consciousness. You are aware of the path you wish to go but have yet to gain the 'drive' to do so. There are unconscious motivators holding you back.
yes , i have baggage and its probably wieghing me down, i am trying to fly but im hovering when i want to soar!
thanks jerry,, hope i made sense, i'd like to continue any dialogue on this if you would like!
Jerry
[/quote]
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: F 38 UK
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} no
How Did You Find the Dream Forum? yes
Alexandra,
I'll provide a response either later today or in the morning. I appreciate your detailed response. A lot to work with which is something I usually don't have when analyzing dreams {usually age and gender only}.
Jerry [pray}
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 64 Male Cocoa, Fl
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Yes
How Did You Find the Dream Forum? Yes
Alexandra,
I think you connected much on the dream and my analysis which is most important. The interpretation must fit to be applicable. I see a good fit and your recognizing the important aspects of the analysis should help you in understanding the unconscious energies and motivators that are causing conflicts in your life. In this post I will focus on a few of the issues that may more clarity. Also I will comment on the two dreams {parts of them you posted} you had. I will also address your question about the animus. This seems to be a central theme in your dream as well as your life.
Your response/comments to my analysis
I dont know what is preventing it, maybe its me, not being commited enough or tired. I have spent many years turning to drink and smoking not to an exsessive level but i often feel guilty about it. I had problems with my relationship with my mother when i was a child, we are much closer now but there are hangovers still there that i wish i could let go of, but somehow i seem too proud to do so, wich is silly , she does so much for me and has more than made up for things.
My response
The early relationship with your mother may be central to the motivators of which I spoke of. Unconsciously any emotional issues from those early years are imprinted on the psyche. Even what might be considered mundane can have a big impact on child development and become issues throughout life. If there is a lack of bonding, love and nourishment, those type of experiences the psyche of a child {and infant} expect to receive then it is 'recorded' on the brain. Examining those early years may help you understand what the motivators are. Drinking and smoking are often substitutes for what was lacking in childhood. It is important to look deeper into these possibilities. Discussions with your mother now {let her know the reasons} could very well help tremendously. Merely talking about the possible issues is therapy.
Your response/comments to my analysis
When i read i seem to have more dreams, when i was away, after reading your analysis i had 2 more very powerful dreams. One that my husband got very drunk and out of control at a party (unlike him), I was embaressed in front of my friends, i was hurt and he said he was having an affair (he isnt)there was nothing i could do to calm him down. ANd another that my mother turned up at my meditation class saying she just wanted to see what it was all about, i was very angry that she couldnt let me have this thing for myself and had spoiled it.
My response
In the dream where you husband got drunk, the symbolization would be he is you {your animus}, your past tendencies toward drinking which left you out of control. If you look at that whole dream and put yourself in his place {he is you} then it make more sense. The afair may represent being 'unfaithful' to yourself, the dream attempting to push you toward becoming whole by helping you realize those issues that prevent it.
In the mother dream the focus would be on 'not having this thing for myself'. That may be a clue to possible childhood issues. The anger would be from the early life relationship with her. What was it that 'spoiled' the relationship?
Dream and Analysis
Dream I see the river flowing away from the house. When i turn to face the current the river is gone. There is vast river bed made from yellow sand/stone, and hundreds of men line it working to forge this bed, some of them are naked and some are peeing into the river bed. I talk to some of them. The river bed winds off into the distance for eternity like a serpent, it is beautifully shaped.
Analysis There are emotional currents are flowing from this particular issue in your life. When you consciously confront the issue you remove any conscious conflict that may exist {although unconsciously they remain}. A river bed {with no water current} may suggest a complex exists which could point to underlying unconscious issues related to personality/early life experience sand influences. The hundreds of men would suggest overwhelming animus aspects at work, some that are conscious {naked/exposed} and others that need to be released so to exposed what is not consciously known {to do with any complex you may possess}. You are aware of some of the issues {talking to some of the men} and unconsciously your psyche is working to inform you of what other aspects that are not unknown {which would bring about a needed transformation/snake and perhaps reshape important aspects of who you are}.
Your response/comments/questions about your animus
I would like to understand this {animus} more i am new to jung. My animus is my male counterpart. I am a very male person - i think. i tend to prefer to be with other male women too. Right now my youngest son has just started school and i am starting a new phase of my life. One where i feel i must work. I cannot be employed because of my elder son. But at home i must work. I started off at art college but then fell into work i didnt enjoy, then i had kids, so now is my time to try and start working within arts and crafts again, i need to employ myself. I take a lot of responsibility for my family, i work hard to fight for my disabled sons needs. i often find this hard. My husband is not terribly romantic and dosnt allways nurture my feminine side, and we do not get much respite.
My response
A strong animus, a need to work, these sound like compensations and personality traits. How different {or alike} is your current family life to that of your childhood? A need to work may suggest there was a neglected aspect on your parents part to provide adequate parenting. What was your father and mother's personality type? It could be you intuitively {a natural aspect we all possess and as children can utilize as a tool of recognition and survival} picked up on shortcomings from one or both parents and have spent your adult life compensating for those psyche issues. Experiencing a childhood where strength was lacking would be a motivator for masculine traits to personality {this would be the complex I spoke of}. An overpowering masculine traits could be an issue. There may be an imbalance between masculine and feminine aspects and the syzygy image is attempting to bring about balance {these are archetypal energies we all possess and are born with}. The syzygy is the combination of the anima and animus, or the divine couple {when united and in balance}. The syzygy represents completion, unification and wholeness, which not only points to psychological aspects but also metaphysical aspects {meditation/spirituality, creativity/muses}. The latter is a path to balancing the psyche and the former the condition that prevents balance.
You are truly in a transitional phase and as usual for someone who examines their dreams {an aspect of the inward journey} you have begun to focus on the metaphysical aspects. When I discovered Jung {and Campbell} and began to look at my psychological issues I became interested in dreams and web design. Looking back it seems as if it was meant to be that way, my study of dreams leading to building the websites. The later is my creative self, an expression of my true self. Of course Jung was the psychological part of the equation, discovering what my motivators were {an as usual it led back to childhood issues-the motif of the son seeking the father}. They seem to go hand in hand and from what you have stated in your response you are on the same course. At the age of 38 you are at the beginning of the mid-life thing, a time when we naturally begin to look back and try to get an understanding of why things are as they are.
My suggestion is to look back at your childhood and find what it is that causes a need for a strong animus. And definitely follow up with your meditation and any interests you may have to do with art and creativity. What Joseph Campbell provided was his insistence on 'following your bliss', that thing in life you love doing most. That usually involves creativity {web design for me} and metaphysics, natural spirituality {less religion} and any natural inclinations you may possess {my abilities with the dream is greatly due to my strong intuitive instincts}. This is very much the hero/heroine path that must be undertaken if a person is to find true wholeness, balance and harmony in life.
But first things first. Examine your childhood and if at all possible talk with your mother about your early life and the relationship between the two of you. This could be good therapy for both of you. Uncovering the unconscious energies that motivates is always a release from those negative energies. It is a part of the transition.
Jerry
Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 64 Male Cocoa, Fl
Have You Posted Before? Date of Last Post {Use Search and Your Post Name to Help Find Last Post} Yes
How Did You Find the Dream Forum? Yes