Session 3 Deciphering The Wisdom of your Dreams

Dr. Marcia Emery, Instructor
Session 3

INTUITIVE DREAM INTERPRETATION

Since you are the producer and creator of your dreams, you just play a key role in the interpretation. Perhaps the strongest advice I can give is, don't run to see what a dream book has to say about your dream symbols. your dreaming mind has sent information that is custom designed for you. So, you will be the best interpreter of your dreams!

The benefit of recording your dreams is developing an understanding of your unique symbols. The meaning of symbols will be revealed to you as patterns begin to emerge. I many people who have overlooked the vital warning messages sent through their dreams because their head is tucked away in a dream book searching for answers that d not apply. Whenever I am asked to offer interpretive help, I preface my words by saying, "If this were my dream, this is what the symbol would mean to me."

Many of the following steps are used in traditional dream practice. I have added the intuitive touch to help you retrieve insights effortlessly.

Seven Steps Toward Understanding the Dream Message

  1. Give the dream a title. Use up to eight words for a title that describes the dream theme.
  2. Extract the theme. In a sentence, tell who is doing what to or with whom.
  3. Underline the major symbols or concepts presented in the dream.
  4. Determine the emotional content of the dream. How do you feel? This will be an important clue.
  5. Draw any part of the dream to capture your feelings and recollections. This step is optional but often gives clarity in trying to decipher the symbol.
  6. Use amplification and/or word association to analyze the most important symbols.
  7. Integrate the logical and intuitive minds. When you finish, ask: "How does the intuitive resolution related to my initial question?" The logical mind's task is to integrate the intuitive information and do a reality check on the feasibility of incorporating this intuitive input. After analyzing the dream content, you want the logical mind to tell you how to implement the interpreted information. For example, if your dream shows you losing a front tooth, your intuitive mind is symbolically highlighting your concern with public speaking. The logical mind then discovers that you have an upcoming speaking engagement and prompts you to develop more confidence in your speaking skills.

Periodically review your dream interpretations to see if any insights have emerged. Leave room in your journal after the dream entry to record your interpretation and make additional entries.

EXERCISE

Practice Dream Interpretation

Record and then interpret a dream. Do this for both a spontaneous dream and a programmed dream.

Spontaneous Dream: (record in your journal)

 

Programmed Dream: (record in your journal)

 

New insights will continually emerge. Now I will show you how I intuitively analyzed a dream. Try to make your intuitive interpretation before looking at mine. Go with your first impressions, which are intuitive and definitely accurate.

Sample Dream Analysis. This dream was presented by a student in class. Initially, she had no idea about the true or underlying meaning of the dream symbolism. Step into the dreamer's shoes and see if you can get any clues about the dream's meaning. After reading the dream, make an analysis by applying the dream analysis steps found earlier in this section. Then you can write in your journal your own interpretation.

Dream: I dreamed that I woke up in the middle of the night. I awakened my husband and we went down the stairs. The bedroom was ours, but the downstairs was the house I grew up in. As we looked over the banister into the living room below, we saw that someone had robbed us --the room was a wreck. Everything of value was taken. As I looked, I saw the silverware chest empty. I thought, "Wouldn't it have been easier to carry the silver in the chest?" Then I said, "Why didn't the dogs bark?" Both dogs were sleeping. We didn't hear anything, and they didn't either. My husband didn't say a word in the dream.

 
EXERCISE

Make An Intuitive Dream Interpretation

What does this dream intuitively suggest? Write your interpretation in your journal including any associations form amplification and word association. Then you can compare your analysis to mine further down. Write your amplification or word association --

My interpretation is: (write in your journal)

 
EXERCISE

Marcia Emery's Interpretation of This Dream

  1. Title: Something of Value is Gone
  2. Theme: A couple has been robbed of their valuables.
  3. Major symbols (bold italics): I woke up in the middle of the night. I awakened my husband and we went down the stairs. The bedroom was ours, but the downstairs was the house I grew up in. As we looked over the banister into the livingroom below, we saw that someone had robbed us -- the room was a wreck. Everything of value was taken. As I looked, I saw the silverware chest empty. I thought, "Wouldn't it have been easier to carry the silver in the chest?" Then I said, "Why didn't the dogs bark?" Both dogs were sleeping. We didn't hear anything, and they didn't either. My husband didn't say a word in the dream.
  4. Emotional Content: The woman was puzzled but not concerned about anything being stolen.
  5. Drawing: Not necessary.
  6. Amplification: The symbol that jumped out for amplification was the empty silverware chest. This is how I guided the student in the amplification. Remember, this is her dream and eliciting her associations was paramount.
.

 

How did your amplification compare with this? Make notes in your journal.

7. Integrating the logical and intuitive minds. The strongest association reached through the amplification process was "past eradicated." I asked the woman if she owned a silver chest and she said "no." This type of chest often represents a dowry or a family possession passed on to heirs. Her husband said nothing in the dream, indicating that all responsibility for words or action depended on her. The intuitive dream interpretation substantiated that she was wrestling with letting go of past family ties.

Can you see the intuitive connection between empty chest and letting go of past ties? The logical mind stepped in to substantiate when I questioned the dreamer. When I initially asked the woman if she had any idea what the dream was telling her, she said "no," she was quite puzzled. I, took, had no immediate connection upon hearing her tell the dream. How could I, then, be in a position to help her interpret her dream?

As we worked with the dream her mouth suddenly dropped open as she realized the importance of the intuitive connection. She talked about the difficulty she was having with her dysfunctional mother and had been thinking of severing all communication. The dream with the symbol showing "heritage gone" made her evaluate the finality of this decision.

The people with whom you share the dream become intuitively attuned to the dream content and can help with the interpretation. For example, the symbol in need of amplification intuitively is presented to me by "coming forward" or being highlighted in some way. This process is duplicated if another symbol from the same dream is in need of amplification. It is very important to remember that when I offer this information to the dreamer, I also use the disclaimer I mentioned previously, "If this were my dream, this is what it would mean to me."

Last but not least, don't forget that you are the best interpreter of your dreams.

 

EXERCISE

Encourage Spontaneous Dream Recall

Following the spontaneous dream recall steps, record your dream in you journal or on a sheet of paper.

EXERCISE

Engage in Dream Programming

Program a dream by following the direction for recording the day residue, incubation discussion, and incubation phrase in your journal or your paper.

 
Suggested Reading Materials

  • Man and His Symbols by Carl Gustav Jung
  • Memories, Dreams and Reflections by Carl Gustav Jung
  • The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious , by Carl Gustav Jung

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Sessions
Session 1 Introduction  
Session 2 The Language of Dreams  
Session 3 Intuitive Dream Interpretation  
Session 4 Interpreting Your Dreams: Understanding the Symbols  
Session 5 Final Exam  
   
Contributors

Credits
Copyright 2001 by Dr. Marcia Emery and Akashic University, in the City of Atlanta. (http://www.psychicvista.com).