What is Dream Interpretation?
What is the difference between Traditional Dream Interpretation and Jungian? Here is an in-depth introduction to the art and science of Dream Interpretation. An interview with Your Dream Team...
"There is a psychological technique which makes it possible to interpret dreams, and that...every dream reveals itself as a psychical structure which has meaning..."
-Sigmund Freud
THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS
Q: "DREAM INTERPRETATION. WHAT IS IT?"
A: Dream interpretation is an ancient art. The Egyptians prized the Israelites as dream interpreters. Throughout the Near East, the Greek world, all of Asia...dream interpretation was a highly respected profession. Dreams with Divine content -- visions -- were the Source of Religious insight. The same is true of today: dream interpretation is the Key to the New Spirituality. Dream Analysis is its Heart. It all begins with our dreams and their interpretation...
Q: "WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL DREAM INTERPRETATION AND JUNGIAN DREAM INTERPRETATION?"
A: Traditional Dream Interpretation is very ancient. It goes back to Ancient Civilizations -- perhaps 15,000 years ago, if new discoveries are to be credited. From the professional dream interpreters of the Ancient Near East onward, the Art has unfolded and deepened.
THE ONEIROCRITICON OF ASTRAMPSYCHUS ("To weep in dreams is a sign of utmost joy.") is one of the earliest to survive. A hundred Traditions have added their Wisdom. Chinese and Native American dream interpretation -- Germanic and Celtic dream interpretation -- Traditional Dream Interpretation has grown into a vast library.
When Freud gave the world his INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS in 1899, modern dream psychology was born. Carl Jung followed. His studies in psychology, mythology, religions and literature took Dream Interpretation into the 20th Century. His insights into the techniques of dream analysis guided many others -- Northrop Frye's literary studies have had a profound influence on one of our Team members...
Today's Dream Interpretation is a synthesis of these two explorations... Dream Interpretation is the Key to the New Spirituality. Our excitement in the High Art of Dream Interpretation is palpable...
Q: "DO YOU USE FREUDIAN DREAM INTERPRETATION? ARE DREAMS ALL ABOUT SEX?"
A: By the time Freud's book, THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS appeared, he had already revealed his belief that sexuality was the prime component in his analysis of the Unconscious. THE INTERPRETATION OF DREAMS had the central theme that dreams were disguised sexual wishes. That book, and his theories, hit the public like a bombshell. Others disagreed. Jung believed that dreams have many meanings, and could be spiritual as much as sexual.
Are dreams all about sex? "Is a sleazy dream always a sleazy dream or can it be spiritual?" If the emotional content is sexual, then it's about sex. "Sleazy" means sleazy. If not, then it's about something else. Sometimes, Freud is right. Sometimes not. It depends on the individual dream. And Dreamer.
**For more, see SEXUAL DREAMS -- A Study of Sexuality in Dreams
Q: "WHAT IS DEPTH-CHARGED DREAM INTERPRETATION?"
A: When we first start on a dream interpretation, we subject the written account of the dream to content analysis. This breaks it down into its recorded components. Dream Interpretation then recombines the meanings of those components into an in-depth STORY FORM. That's how we interpret your dreams -- through depth-analysis, we establish the Personal Story that is being told in that dream, or series of dreams.
Q: "WHAT OTHER FORMS OF DREAM INTERPRETATION DO YOU USE?"
A: A number of theorists, from Adler to Van de Castle, have added to dream theory and the techniques of dream analysis. Two that have influenced us in dream interpretation are Samuel Lowy, whose 1942 book PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF DREAM INTERPRETATION, and Eugene Gendlin's LET YOUR BODY INTERPRET YOUR DREAMS, have influenced us in many ways, including putting together our popular, "user-friendly" DREAM QUESTIONNAIRE
Q: "HOW HAVE THE DISCOVERIES OF MODERN SLEEP LABS EFFECTED DREAM INTERPRETATION?"
A: We've all heard of REM sleep, of course. The discovery of the configuration of physiological events that occur as we sleep has been a fascinating one. We know more about what happens with our bodies and brains as we dream. But the expected increase in understanding dream interpretation hasn't been as expected. Except for an understanding of external conditions on some dream content, real interpretation analysis still draws on the central disciplines, especially Traditional and Jungian Dream Interpretation.
Q: "DOES DREAM INTERPRETATION HAVE A HIGHER PURPOSE OTHER THAN JUST EXPLAING A DREAM'S MEANING?"
A: Dream Interpretation should explain our lives: who we are, and where we are going. The American Dream come true. Jung stressed that a dream's interpretation should "ring true," giving the dreamer insight into her or himself, whether the insight is pleasant or unpleasant. The interpretation should act as a catalyst, setting the dreamer's "life in motion again." Not only is the dream interpretation proved true by later dreams, but by later events in the dreamer's Life. As a satisfied dreamer of a very difficult dream interpretation said: "This wasn't just an interpretation of my dream, it's turned out to be an interpretation of my life!"
In seeking the American dream, dream analysis has proven invaluable. We see the phrases everywhere: dream theater, dream weaver, dream catcher, dream home, sleazy dreams...sweet dreams... we a going deeper than ever before in our search for Dream Truth!
Conclusion to DREAM INTERPRETATION -- Q&A...
Dream Interpretation is as old as human language, when one person asked another, "What does my dream mean?" The Language of Dreams is much, much older. Which is why we often refer to it as Dream Exploration more than Interpretation. For us, it isn't Space that is the Last Frontier. There is something much more profound going on, and our dreams are our Connection to it. And Dream Interpretation -- Exploration -- Analysis -- Discovery -- is truly the Key...
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MODERN DREAM INTERPRETATION and "Your Dream Team" -- Go to MODERN DREAM INTERPRETATIONS by YOUR DREAM TEAM --
See more Articles by Brian Alan Burhoe at PUPPY DOGS INFO: http://www.puppy-dogs.info
