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Timmi
IP: 202.0.108.227
Jul 8, 08 - 1:22 AM |
Identifying Dream Symbols - The Important of the Dictionary
I have found that symbols in dreams have a large number of meanings, and are very complex in terms of how they are composed.
I feel (this is not backed up by research or experience) they are composed of a primal component, ie a source from the collective unconscious that defines basically what the symbols represents. Let us use a room for example. As a collective symbol it represents some aspect of the self. Colours and what type of room it is may also have some form of collective meaning that gives further definition as to the representation of the symbol.
Additionally to this I hypothesise that there is also a personal component, that relates to that person's personal experiences that futher increases the accuracy of the symbol, and helps give more shape to what the symbol is a representation of. In our example the furniture or people in the room may be examples of such a component.
To identify the symbol both of these components would have to be understood and combined to get the complete picture.
That is why I feel dream dictionaries are important. The collective dictionary such as that provided here by Girard, or the one by Eric Ackroyd provides important information regarding to what aspect of the self each symbol represents.
But exactly what meaning the particular symbol has and its connotations can only be completely defined in the 'personal' dictionary. Creating the personal dictionary isn't an easy task, but is rewarding. The danger I percieve in self analysis and filling in symbols inside a single dream scenario is that the dreamer may already have some meaning to the dream in mind that can influence ideas as to what the symbol represents.
From this bias, when they are defining the symbol, they may see the aspects of that symbol that they want brought out to make the symbol fit their desired meaning, as opposed to taking the meaning of that symbol and placing it in the context of the dream.
For this reason I feel a conscious effort must be made to contemplate all possible meanings of such a symbol outside of the context of the dream, and ideas and associations should be considered and recorded. This symbol could then be brought back into the dream scenario and considered in relation to the dream. There is still room for bias, but I feel it is minimised by this approach.
The recordings of the symbol can then also be added to the personal dream dictionary as an added bonus of this way of analysing symbols.
What do you think about this hypothesis?
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gerard {Dream Forum Host & Web Master}
IP: 68.52.53.179
Jul 10th, 2008 - 2:15 PM |
Re: Identifying Dream Symbols - The Important of the Dictionary
Timmi,
A comment about dream symbols being composed of a primal component. Here is some insights to the Jungian approach to archetypal symbols from my page Jung's Archetypes that may clarify how they function in dreams.
Archetypes are self-portraits of the instincts. The instinctive forces and instinctive strategies or ways of behaving. 'Archetypal images' are the symbols through which these instinctive things show themselves in dreams.
Archetypal images include symbols that occur in mythology, fairytales and religions. They are older than mankind and belong to the collective unconscious. Archetypal images are symbols that represent contents within the psyche that were never conscious experiences.
They are the 'universal' symbols that are available to us all even though we have no knowledge of them in our waking lives.
Archetypes are common psychic structures that parallel the common human physical structure.
Dream Dictionaries
Dream dictionaries can be of great help. But it depends on the dictionaries being used and how they are used. The 3 I use at the Dream Forum are excellent resources for dream symbols. But many are pure trash. If the dictionary predicts something concrete is to happen {such as a symbol meaning you will have good luck in the stock market} then it belongs in the trash.
As for using dream dictionaries. I suggest they be used as a starting point and not necessarily as the answer to a particular symbol. Often I use the MDS dictionaries to provide suggestions and then compare those suggestions to see if they fit with the dream play. Sometimes Soul Future's dictionaries offer a better choice of possibilities, other times I find it lacking. Hyperdictionary.com has some good suggestions but again I find none to fit the dream drama. Often if I fail to find any of the dictionaries to offer a good resourceful suggestion I will look at the basic dictionary {Hyperdictionary.com} to get a feel for the definition of the word. That sometimes provides clues to the possibilities. Since the word itself has evolved from a basic meaning, that meaning may be related to the archetypal associations.
All in all a good dream dictionary can be helpful. But don't take any meaning as fact. Look at the flow of the dream, the focus of the dream play and if a suggested meaning fits then there is a good chance it applies.
gerard  
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