The Stuff of Dreams

Dreams from this episode: Boyfriend pees in the living room of girlfriend's parents Trying to find a clean bathroom Toilets clogged with diapers or objects Knowing where the safe bathroom is Dreams of doing pull-ups Dreams of finding new rooms or spaces in houses Themes from this episode: * Bathroom dreams generally symbolize us needing to get rid of symbolic waste, wanting to eliminate embarrassing or worthless parts of us in private so that no one else can see. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * An engagement ring needs repair, but a new ring appears * A bright white light offers advice * I'm unable to find backstage access in a round theater on the 31st floor Themes from this episode: * According to Jung, the Self is "both the center and the circumference of the psyche." It's the deepest center, but also the whole of us, conscious plus unconscious psyche. "Our attitude must be like that of the mountain pine...It does not get annoyed when its growth is obstructed by a stone, nor does it make plans about how to overcome the obstacles. It merely tries to feel whether it should grow more toward the left of the right, toward the slope or away from it. Like the tree, we should give in to this almost imperceptible, yet powerfully dominating impulse—an impulse that comes from the urge toward unique, creative self-realization. And this is a process in which one must repeatedly seek out and find something that is not yet known to anyone. The guiding hints or impulses come, not from the ego, but from the totality of the psyche: the Self." –C.G. Jung Images of the Self often show up when the ego is feeling depleted, as a form of encouragement and a message that there is an overall plan. The Self can be symbolized in dreams by: Circle or mandala Square or diamond The number 4 A couple (male + female, king + queen, yin + yang) A flower Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Bald eagles threatening children whose parents tell them to stop screaming about it * House and world being consumed by a lake of fire * A child expected to give herself chemotherapy treatments Themes from this episode: * Physical violence in dreams usually symbolizes damage being done to the psyche. * Look for places where people's actions or emotions in dreams are different than what you would expect in real life. The discrepancy points to something important, usually an imbalance or suppression of emotions. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Bloody children outside my house, ready to kill me * My father abusing and possibly killing my mother * Murdering a girl in my backyard * Meeting and befriending the figure of Death Themes from this episode: * Violent images carry a lot of energy and emotional weight, so the unconscious can use them to get our attention. * Death or physical harm in dreams usually symbolizes emotional harm or the death of certain parts of our psyche. * The unconscious simply wants balance. It wants us to individuate, to move toward wholeness by integrating as many parts of ourselves into consciousness as possible. So if we become too one-sided in some way (whether it's too masculine, too flighty and ungrounded, too passive, or some other extreme), our dream images will nudge us in the other direction so that we can move toward balance. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Although dreams can be intensely personal, they can also be powerful when shared. In this minisode I'll describe the dream group I attend, as well as some other styles of group dream work, and I'll tell you about insights I've gained from the group that I didn't see on my own. Important Links: Ideas for safely running a dream group by Montague Ullman (https://icpla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Ullman-M.-1984.-Group-Dream-Work-and-Healing.-Contemp.-Psychoanal.-20.120-130.pdf) Stephen Aizenstat's dreamtending webpage (https://dreamtending.com/stephen-aizenstat-ph-d/) Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * A plane crash, a helicopter crash, and a toy helicopter * Crashing her boyfriend's car after the road is blocked by hazmat suits * Multiple dreams of attempting to get to China * A blocked tunnel means I have to go deeper, then a woman helps me back out so I can get home Themes from this episode: * Modes of transportation in dreams can be important details. * Airplanes can mean flying high, feeling inflated, or taking a broad bird's-eye view of what's going on. * Cars often represent our egos, showing how we usually get around in the world. * If a path is blocked for the vehicle you're in, it probably means you're feeling stuck in your real life in some way. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

I hold dreams in high regard and try to treat them ethically, which continues to surprise some people, even those on reddit whose dreams I'm interpreting. In this minisode I'll tell you more about my attitude toward dreams. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Rats in the basement and in the shower * A large white owl wants attention, then attacks * A huge bird and a knight in a birdcage Themes from this episode: * Rats are earthy, instinctual, can squeeze into nooks and crannies where others can't go, and can survive on scraps and things that others can't eat. They often represent that instinctual, survivor part of your psyche. * White owls can represent spiritual wisdom and intelligence, and because they are nighttime creatures, they are more closely related to the unconscious. They are also predators, so can represent a part of you with wisdom and fierce energy. * When you work with a dream over time, you may see it start to change. For example, in Stephanie's dream, eventually the birdcage disappeared, the bird came back to life, and the cave became a tunnel showing the way out. Stephanie's website: https://stephaniezphd.com Mythology conference website: https://myth2021.com Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Fire, air, earth, and water: the four elements that make up the universe, according to the ancients. Fire is profoundly archetypal, speaking to us from deep, ancient layers of the psyche. In this minisode I'll tell you about several different meanings for the symbols of fire and smoke. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Finding dead deer parts while urbexing * Green dye in the ocean reveals sandy caves and a snake * Fire and water gods shape people into a crystal wishbone * A car and bus journey in drag Themes from this episode: * The unconscious uses masculine and feminine characters and imagery to communicate with us about different parts of our personality. * Everyone, regardless of gender, has masculine and feminine aspects of their psyche that they can use at different times when needed. * The unconscious constantly uses the masculine/feminine dichotomy to symbolize opposite forces inside us, because it's such a well-known pair of opposites that we see in external relationships where people balance and complete each other. Feminine/yin/lunar characteristics: Feeling, sensing Appreciating beauty Connection and relatedness Soul, imagination, interiority Slower pace, time for reflection, being (rather than doing) Masculine/yang/solar characteristics: Thinking and organizing, order and reason Action and doing Analyzing Differentiating, classifying, making boundaries Competing Aggression and power Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Carl Jung used the word “synchronicity” to describe meaningful coincidences, events that are connected by meaning but not by cause-and-effect. In this minisode, I'll use events from my life to show how synchronicities and archetypes have shaped my path, so that you can begin to look for where synchronicity is active in your life. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

The mythical story of Psyche and Eros, read as a bedtime story for grownups. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

The mythical story of Psyche and Eros, read as a bedtime story for grownups. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

The mythical story of Psyche and Eros, read as a bedtime story for grownups. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

The mythical story of Psyche and Eros, read as a bedtime story for grownups. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

The mythical story of Psyche and Eros, read as a bedtime story for grownups. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Removing staples from mouth and feet * Dreams of huge waves * Death of the good guy in a flooded car * Rejecting my invitation to a dream interpretation cult Themes from this episode: * Dreams often give you a snapshot of what's going on for you, internally, right now. They describe your inner dynamics—which parts of you are getting along, which parts are in conflict, which areas are feeling strong or weak, etc. Wave dreams usually symbolize an upsurge of unconscious contents, of “stuff” that you need to do some inner work around. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Themes from this episode: Just like dreams, movies speak in images and symbols. So it's possible to add layers of meaning to a film by interpreting it just like you would a dream, which is something we do commonly in depth psychology. In this minisode, I'll show you how to see a movie as a dream, using The Wizard of Oz as an example. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Unable to get through a keyhole window to explore the lighthouse * 4 leaves sprout from a finger wound * Saving yourself, leaving others to drown, in order to gain a spiritual reward * Delivering a baby, keeping it healthy, and talking to a disapproving boss Themes from this episode: * The unconscious often sends us dreams in order to change our perspective somehow. These shifts in perspective can transform our lives as we allow the dreams to work on us and through us. Lighthouses can represent places at the border of conscious and unconscious (land and sea) where we can gain perspective and do inner work. Plants sprouting from wounds represent times of fertility and growth. Sometimes we must stop saving others in order to save ourselves. Symbols of the Self in dreams include wise old men, divine children, circles, diamonds, cubes, or crystals. Giving birth in a dream likely represents birth of a new project, direction, or part of yourself. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Themes from this episode: When I discovered the connection between ancient Greek physicians and dreams, it tied together the 2 major parts of my life—medicine and depth psychology—in a new way. I didn't learn about this in medical school! In this minisode I'm going to tell you the story of Asclepius, Greek god of healing, and how patients were healed in his name through dreams. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Sex with obese women * Same-gender sex * Dreams of rape and violence * A dream of a vibrator leaking fluid that causes a fish to change * A dream of sex to celebrate the reboot of the world** Themes from this episode: * Ancient fertility goddess statues were often in the shape of women with large breasts and hips, so sex with obese women could symbolize a particularly fertile time in your life. In dreams, rape can be about control or domination. It can also be a symbol that you are injuring the feminine aspects of yourself somehow. Sex in dreams can symbolize many things: Romantic connection Balance between masculine and feminine parts of yourself Power dynamics Ritual or celebratory times Fertility Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Themes from this episode: You've probably heard me say I interpret dreams from a Jungian perspective. But who was Jung? Why isn't he more popular? In this minisode I explain some of the reasons why Jung and depth psychology aren't more mainstream (and why they should be). Some major points: * Jung's way of psychotherapy was intensely personal and individual, which doesn't fit with our Western medical model of one-size-fits-all medicine, wanting to treat mental issues with medications. * He thought that for many patients, the problem behind their "neurosis" was lack of meaning in their lives. That's harder to fix than some imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain (how modern medicine likes to think of anxiety and depression). * The people who are drawn to depth psychology tend to be more introverted and intuitive, as well as more comfortable with gray areas. They aren't the ones who will disseminate it easily and naturally. * There are no “3 easy steps” to dream interpretation. There are general themes and techniques and principles, but personalized interpretation takes time and introspection. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Entering a house in a wealthy neighborhood to find a community of supportive women * Leaving an ex in a treehouse to connect with a girl writing an essay in the grass * A progression of 6 anima dreams from the same dreamer over time * Casting spells with an older woman, then breaking into a mansion with a man to find women chained in the basement** Themes from this episode: * Anima figures are generally female figures in dreams who help us to explore more unconscious material and lead us more deeply into ourselves toward inner work and soul. Showering in a dream can symbolize becoming clean, purification, or connecting with the unconscious. Treehouses in dreams can mean we are too “up in our heads,” not grounded enough, or that we are trying to build structures in an unnatural place. The progression of anima figures in dreams over time can show what kind of progress we are making with our inner work. For example, in the series of 6 dreams, this dreamer's anima figures go from girls whose faces he can't see, to females who are unkind or rejecting, to supportive friends to cry on, to women he is able to have a more equal connection with. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: Throwing basketballs out the front door and seeing them pop Themes from this episode: * Houses often symbolize our entire psyche, with the separate rooms as different aspects of our minds or personalities. Meanings to consider for the rooms in your dreams: Front door/yard: entrance, visible to the public, areas that are easier to see Living room: places where we spend a lot of time, where we greet people and have conversations and interactions, also a more public-facing area of the house Kitchen: a place for cooking, chemical reactions, alchemy (could mean personal changes, growth, transformation), also places for eating, sharing a meal, conversation, gatherings of friends Bedroom: a private place, the most personal area of your house (and your psyche), also a place for romantic connections, sex, and relationships Bathroom: a place to get clean, to purify yourself, to make yourself presentable to the world; also a place for elimination of the “crap” in your life Guest bedroom: a place for potential connection with visitors, a place to try on other less-known aspects of your personality in dreams Study/library: a place for work, for knowledge and wisdom, for heritage and tradition Finding new rooms in a dream signifies finding new parts of your psyche to explore, new aspects of your personality, new potentials or skills or hobbies, areas for growth Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

What unconscious motivation could these people possibly have in their desire to dominate big cats? Why is Joe Exotic so convinced that Carol's second husband Is buried under a septic tank, of all places? How is Carol Baskin's relationship to cats tied to her taking control of her own destiny? And how is that related to the strange photo of her husband on a leash…on their wedding day? Depth or archetypal psychology, a philosophy propagated largely by C.G. Jung in the early 20th century, accepts the reality of the unconscious and studies its effects on our conscious activities and attitudes. Today, we talk with Dr. Amy Lawson, MD, pediatrician, and soon-to-be PhD in Jungian and Archetypal Studies. She schools us on how to look more deeply into anything we watch on TV, read in a book, or witness in everyday life. Originally posted to Look, Just Tell Me What To Do (https://lookjusttellmewhattodo.podbean.com/) , a podcast by Benjamin Russack, LMFT. Special Guest: Ben Russack.

Originally posted to Look, Just Tell Me What To Do (https://lookjusttellmewhattodo.podbean.com/) , a podcast by Benjamin Russack, LMFT. Special Guest: Ben Russack.

Dreams from this episode: * A black widow spider and her babies in the window * Digging up a black cat's grave to find his eyes are changed and he won't enter the house * A dusty black kitten with a big wound * Mom is moving into her mother's house and it feels too small to me * My mother in the backseat of my car with words of appreciation Themes from this episode: * Spiders can symbolize the negative feminine or the devouring mother, negative female energy. They can also be symbols of weaving, as in weaving your own life, or symbols of the Self. Cats can symbolize the feminine or the body, so if you dream of cats, examine those parts of your life and your personality right now. Wounded cats can mean wounding of the feminine or of the actual physical body. When the cat doesn't seem to notice or feel the wound, that likely means the wound has been repressed in your life. Dreaming of childhood places or of older family members such as grandmothers often means that the dream is speaking about the past or about an issue that originated in childhood. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * A dream of a rainbow vortex A black cat, a living room house, and a space heater beside an open window Themes from this episode: * Our inner Self knows us better than we consciously know ourselves, so it can tell us about our potential or need for transformation. Attitudes in dreams are important. For example, the dreamer was willing to sit down at a picnic table with strangers, which means she is open to getting to know new parts of herself. Cats often represent the feminine and/or the body. All cats, but especially black cats, carry the connotation of witch, of ancient feminine wisdom that can be used in positive or negative ways. Pay attention to the strangest details in your dream. For example, in dream #2 the house was only a living room. The absence of bedroom and bathroom means there are few private areas in the house; the dreamer's psyche has been oriented toward public spaces and public opinion. Representations of energy can be important. The fact that the space heater was next to an open window signified energy loss, needing to generate far more energy just to heat the house, metaphorically speaking. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * A dream of being shot by a gunman in the town square * A strangely disturbing dream of a metal ball rolling on a beige carpet * A piano competition where I'm unprepared and haven't “brought my notes” * A child's dream of a coyote that turns out to be a goat * A child's dream of bonding with her favorite YouTuber * A child's dream of a witch turning children into frogs * A child's dream of her family being shot, then saved * A child's dream of sleeping in a different location Themes from this episode: * Even the smallest details in dreams can have significant meanings. If a detail sticks out for you, cast your mind around for possible associations. Google search for ideas and follow the energy. Think about similar images from your everyday life. Any of these may give you a clue to the detail's meaning. If a dream's emotion seems out of proportion or doesn't seem to match the circumstances, like the metal ball on beige carpet dream, pay special attention to that. For example, under what circumstances might a child find the unbridled freedom of a rolling ball to be scary? Answer: when he isn't feeling like he has enough structure or protection in his life. When you remember specific words or phrases from a dream, they are probably important. Ad remember, dreams can speak in puns and jokes, too. For example, in my “bring your notes” dream, “notes” had 2 meanings: written notes on paper, and musical notes. Children's dreams can give you information about their situations. For example, if children take it for granted in their dreams that parents will always be there to rescue them, that shows a stable environment where they feel protected. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Transforming into a black crane and flying * A thief steals and ransacks and must be killed, with interludes of a beluga whale * Caring for 2 snakes at school * Shaking a snake off my hand, then discovering I'm lying on lizards Themes from this episode: * When you're trying to determine what an animal means in a dream, think about the animal's main qualities. What part of you might that represent? What are those details telling you about your situation right now? Cranes live near wetlands (water=unconscious). They fly with necks outstretched (symbol of courage and openness). They can represent goddesses, omens, longevity, or good fortune, among many other things. If a dream repeats itself, pay attention to any changing details. Those likely mark areas of progress or transformation. For example, in the series of thief dreams, first the bodyguard killed the thief, then the dreamer's boyfriend, and finally the dreamer herself was able to kill him and protect herself. Beluga whales can be symbols of support, intelligence, or communication, as well as figures that can move between conscious and unconscious (air and water). Snakes can be symbols of transformation (shedding their skin), healing, or instinct. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * Dreams set back in high school, one of overwhelm, one of choosing a path to spirituality and learning * Childhood dreams of three selves in the attic of a log cabin * Dreams of a black horned creature that is first threatening, then becomes a friend * Dreams of killing a neighbor Themes from this episode: * Recurring dreams are important: * They are sending repeated messages in the hopes that we will pay attention * If we do finally start listening to the dreams, they often begin to change, moving on to new topics * Watching how dreams change over time can give us clues about how our psyche is changing or growing People frequently dream of being back in high school, I think because it was a very formative time in our lives--a time of growing independence, developing more real relationships with other people, and having many new experiences. Because of all that, it provides the unconscious with many options for people and symbols to draw from to describe our inner dynamics to ourselves. If you dream of a specific person from high school, consider what they meant to you, what were their most important qualities. They are probably symbolizing a part of yourself. Because our unconscious exists from birth, along with the archetypes within it, even children's dreams can be interpreted in a symbolic way. The setting is important in the log cabin dream. The cabin is set in the woods, so it feels remote, disconnected, lonely. The dreamer is located in the attic, representing the head, the brain, the conscious self, and there are 3 of her, 2 of which are keeping guard at the window and the stairs. She feels like she needs to be on her guard all the time, but she has the inner resources to do this. Nightmare figures aren't meant to only be frightening. They also give information about what is scary to us and how we might be able to change that. For example, in the dream of the black horned creature, when the dreamer accepts it and allows it to play, it becomes a friend. So accepting its aggression as a useful attribute, rather than something threatening, takes away the nightmare energy. Likely the dreamer needs more aggression and boundary-setting in her life. If a dream figure seems dark or unpleasant or negative in some way, it might represent our shadow. The shadow is made up of unused parts of our personality, qualities that the ego has either failed to assimilate or has repressed. Sometimes these aspects of us seem embarrassing or primitive, but they can also be positive strengths that the ego doesn't want to claim because it would mean too much responsibility or too much of a change to our self-image. “If we have the courage to look with open minds at some of the instincts and energy systems within that we have been so ashamed of, we almost always find that they can also be positive strengths—and that they are merely normal parts of a total human character. As with all our inner contents, they need to be acknowledged, honored, and lived on an appropriate and constructive level. It takes courage to go to the “bad” side of ourselves, to acknowledge it as part of ourselves, to consider that it could have a constructive role to play in our lives.” Robert Johnson, Inner Work Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * A pair of swords can bring protection, but one is stolen * A menacing deer by the river * Stealing back our gold and setting a fire to destroy pursuers * Offering jewelry to a child Themes from this episode: * The unconscious uses masculine and feminine characters and imagery to communicate with us about different parts of our personality. * Everyone, regardless of gender, has masculine and feminine aspects of their psyche that they can use at different times when needed. * The unconscious constantly uses the masculine/feminine dichotomy to symbolize opposite forces inside us, because it's such a well-known pair of opposites that we see in external relationships where people balance and complete each other. Feminine/yin/lunar characteristics: Feeling, sensing Appreciating beauty Connection and relatedness Soul, imagination, interiority Slower pace, time for reflection, being (rather than doing) Masculine/yang/solar characteristics: Thinking and organizing, order and reason Action and doing Analyzing Differentiating, classifying, making boundaries Competing Aggression and power When a dream detail seems particularly strange or unexpected (like a deer in the forest seeming menacing, or expensive family heirloom jewelry that turns out to be superglued together), it is often a really important part of the dream to examine for hidden meanings, since the unconscious has gone out of its way to offer an image that seems wrong somehow in order to draw your attention to it. Gold in dreams can symbolize: Inner treasure or resources The Self, the deeper wholeness in your psyche Perfection or wholeness Elephants in dreams can symbolize the maternal, matriarchy, or feminine wisdom. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * A gold-handled wooden door in an apartment complex * A bodyboarder keeps forgetting his equipment and can't get into the ocean * Coughing up nails and staples without being hurt * Driving to the wrong hospital, in danger on a narrow exit ramp, and a high school friend who talks about the personalized gifts I give Themes from this episode: * The location of the dream is important, since neighborhoods or buildings often represent our psyche. Fences can symbolize barriers. Rooms or separate buildings can represent different parts of our conscious or unconscious mind. * One powerful way to look at dreams is to see each character as a different part of yourself (rather than as real-world people or external events). * Numbers have meaning in dreams. Three is often a number of transformation. * Water often symbolizes the unconscious. The beach is at the border between land (conscious) and sea (unconscious). * Dreams often speak in strong, exaggerated imagery to really capture our attention and make an impact. * We can't judge dreams by the logical rules of everyday life. Even if a dream image (like coughing up nails and staples) seems like it “should” be a terrible thing to our conscious mind, we have to pay attention to context and emotion. We may find the dream is positive after all. * If you go to bed thinking about a question, your unconscious may send you a dream in answer. * Cars or other vehicles in dreams often represent the conscious ego, the part of us that generally transports us and helps us move around and take action. * One of the most important questions you can ask yourself about a dream is, “Where in my life is this (figuratively) happening right now?” Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner

Dreams from this episode: * A dream of supportive musicians that makes the dreamer cry * A dream of 2 trees: a juniper with hundreds of songbirds and a dead cottonwood with a raven * A dream of a path between a brick wall and a wall of trees, ending on a cliff overlooking a lake * A dream of eating a black kitten on a rooftop at night * A dream of a frozen castle floating above an ocean of molten lava * A dream of a shining, pulsing light above a flat rocky expanse Themes from this episode: One important question to ask yourself about a dream is, “What conscious attitude is this dream compensating or balancing?” If your conscious self is becoming too one-sided in some way, your unconscious may send you a dream meant to counteract that. For example, when we are feeling particularly disconnected or discouraged, we often have dreams that show us unconscious figures who are supporting us. Pay attention to the emotions you feel in a dream, as that is one of our most basic languages. For example, the musician dream made the dreamer cry, but it felt like a good cry releasing pent-up frustrations, so it was a dream of support and release rather than a dream of sadness. Dreams often choose extreme or exaggerated imagery in order to evoke as much emotion as possible from us so we will pay attention. The geography or layout of a dream can tell you a lot. For example, the dream with 1 living and 1 dead tree on opposite sides of the yard suggests contrasting choices. The dream of a path hemmed in by walls and trees suggests being forced along a certain course without much choice until the path ends overlooking a vast lake, which feels like new possibilities and new parts of the unconscious. For another example, in my dream I was on a rooftop, symbolizing being up in my head, or maybe being inflated. Cats in dreams can have many different meanings, depending on context and what's going on in your life. They can represent the feminine side, or the physical/the body, or feminine wisdom (cats were the “familiars” of witches). Wild cats can represent the wild, aggressive aspect of the feminine. Your logical, reasoning, thinking-mind interpretation of a dream may not “click” deep down. Listen to your gut about what resonates and what doesn't in dream interpretations, because that's important input from your unconscious. Important Links: Tiger King podcast mentioned in the episode (https://lookjusttellmewhattodo.podbean.com/e/tiger-king-andcarl-jung/) Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner Special Guest: Ben Russack.

Dreams from this episode: * Animated, surreal dream of a pigeon, a truck, a pelican/swan singing, “I like milkshakes and diabetes!” * A dream of a husband in therapy and an emotional fight, and then he carves words into his chest and hugs his therapist instead of his wife Themes from this episode: The pandemic seems to be causing: * More dreams (everyone is home and has more time to pay attention) * More anxiety dreams * More dreams about family dynamics * More positive dreams about transformation Why would there be more feel-good dreams of transformation right now? Jung said dreams were compensatory, since the psyche is a self-regulating system that just wants balance. So if we are feeling particularly stuck or stagnant or depressed in quarantine, the unconscious sends us messages about the possibility of transformation to balance our more negative conscious state. So sometimes, dreams are very different from our conscious views because the unconscious thinks we are too one-sided and is trying to provide balance. But sometimes dreams are in sync with our conscious views, which means the unconscious is supporting us. Dreams can build us up or tear us down, depending on whether we are consciously feeling low or feeling inflated. Because dreams aren't logical, can be irrational and weird, some people think they are nonsense and dismiss them as stupid, meaningless, or worthless. But their weirdness is because they speak in symbols and metaphors as their native language. They aren't TRYING to confuse us. They are coherent if we take the time to learn their language The “you” in the dream usually represents your conscious ego, and the characters in the dream are other parts of you, parts that are less conscious or unconscious. Dreams often pick symbols in order to elicit whatever emotion it is that the unconscious thinks we need to acknowledge. Important Links: Recommended dream interpretation books (https://bookshop.org/shop/stuffofdreams) Dream interpretation subreddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/DreamInterpretation/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuffofdreamspodcast/) Send me a dream! stuffofdreamspodcast@gmail.com or use Send a Dream! tab in upper right corner Special Guest: Beth Oller.