dream interpretation

Who was Joseph Campbell? What is a myth? What does "Follow Your Bliss" mean? If you are new to the work of Joseph Campbell, this forum is a good place to start.

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CarmelaBear
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Post by CarmelaBear »

Ty wrote: Hello CarmelaBear,

I only just saw the above quoted sentiment and wanted to ask you - could this be seen as a problem of human grace versus supernatural grace? Where the individual is so preoccupied with being 'good,' that he (or she) cuts himself off from life? Examples being declarations of celibacy, passivism, and so forth?
When I was a Catholic child, the word "supernatural" meant the opposite of the material-temporal plane, the Kingdom of God. Later, it represented a metaphor or abstraction, and it lost the status of being a better-higher realm. For me, now, there is nature (everything) and nothing.

Grace was a word that described a gift from God. It seemed to come out of nowhere, and it could be both unconditonal and unearned. It was always something very good, like luck, only better on account of coming from the Most High.

So, do people who are preoccupied with being "good" cut themselves off from life? Except for martyrdom, it's really not possible. As long as one is alive and aware of being alive, and making choices (including choosing to "surrender"). Being alive is like being pregnant. It's the whole enchilada, no matter what choices we make or what options we have.

Those who choose one thing, usually do so in order to find and keep something else, something they regard as way more valuable or useful.

Virtue and innocence can become so valuable to a person that the price to be paid becomes insignificant and painless in light of the benefits to be garnered. The life they leave behind is one that either detracts from or threatens to destroy some part of the life they cherish and depend upon to keep going.

Short answer:,,,,IMHO, life is more than any particular aspect of life. It offers a wide array of options, so long as we breathe, we are aware, and we have choices.

8)

~
Once in a while a door opens, and let's in the future. --- Graham Greene

Persephonespring
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Post by Persephonespring »

I've done dream work professionally and personally for the past 20+ years. I have been in different dream groups as leader or leader/participant. It has changed my life on many levels, the foremost being enriching me in a creative way (and I am a creative person) that I never suspected was available.

I can't analyze my own dreams, I need the group asking questions that I wouldn't think to ask myself (sometimes I know what the dream was telling me, during the dream), however dreams have many layers and I want to know what my psyche is telling me). The group tends to stimulate an internal knowing....leading inevitably to an aha moment, if not an oh shot moment.

What I can do for others, I cannot do for myself. Oh, well. I've spent the last year preparing to come home and be with my mother. I was prepared for this experience that could be unbearable, but is not, by all those dreams.

Jan
Might be a drop in a bucket, but, as I like to say, no drops, no ocean. :-) Clemsy

CarmelaBear
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Post by CarmelaBear »

My waking life is often somewhat nightmarish, but my dreams are not nightmares. They are stories, often strange and off-kilter, but never scary.

I often wonder how that can be.

~
Once in a while a door opens, and let's in the future. --- Graham Greene

CarmelaBear
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Post by CarmelaBear »

This morning, I awoke with a vivid memory of a dream.

I was the guest of a producer-mogul, who wanted to see the look on my face when he took me to a dress rehearsal of his stage production. It was a cross between the Ziegfield Follies and the Cirque du Soleil. There was a huge stage and large orchestra pit. There were many thousands of seats. Beneath and above the stage was a hidden world of apparatus and props and costumes and people dressed and prepped for their parts.

I was asked to sit close to the stage, where actors were assembled. One acting part was open. All eyes went to a young man on the sidelines. He was on the stage crew, and he was recruited to fill the small part of a casino card handler. Everything was ready, and the rehearsal was about to start.

Then, I woke up.
Last edited by CarmelaBear on Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:26 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

And...? No need to share personal information, Carmela, but I'm curious as to whether or not you feel as if this dream offered any psychological insights for you to muse upon.


And your dream brought to mind this Jung quote: This whole creation is essentially subjective, and the dream is the theater where the dreamer is at once scene, actor, prompter, stage manager, author, audience, and critic.


:)
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

CarmelaBear
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Post by CarmelaBear »

The Jung quote reminds me of the movie, "Being John Malkovich".

On my dream, I am totally clueless.

~
Once in a while a door opens, and let's in the future. --- Graham Greene

judithfeldman
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Post by judithfeldman »

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players". Manipulated, according to your dream, by forces from above and below. i think Jesus talked about the idea later laid out by Paul, that we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with powers of the air, of darkness. in the dream, it's almost time for the big performance. a cross between a kind of Ziegfield follies -- known for its great spectacle of folly/foolishness, and cirque du Soleil -- circus of the sun/son. The actors are assembled for the dress rehearsal, the final preparation. a young man is chosen as the one who deals the cards/holds the cards, multiple possibilities of meaning -- from addiction (the dealer) to inferences of judgement. The man in charge. the Impresario, wants to see your reaction when you witness all this. understand all this.

Persephonespring
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Post by Persephonespring »

Hello all, it has been a while since I was here.

One thing is very clear to me and to others who work with dreams is that only the dreamer can decide what the dream images mean to him/her. Other people, with the best of motives, are simply projecting their "stuff" on to the dreamer.

In the groups I've been involved in, the dreamer leads the way. Others ask questions about the dream, and the dreamer answers. Jeremy Taylor, the author of a good dream book, says that one needs to own one's projections by saying "if this were my dream." Jungians tend to not care for that method (my personal experience).

Dreams are very personal and carry information that the dreamer is ready to understand. Psyche is very cagey and knows these things! LOL!

Jan
Might be a drop in a bucket, but, as I like to say, no drops, no ocean. :-) Clemsy

Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

It's good to see you again, Jan. All's going well with you, I hope. :)
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

Persephonespring
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Post by Persephonespring »

I'm well. Still helping my mother with her next step.

I go home every few months now.

How are you doing Cindy?

Jan
Might be a drop in a bucket, but, as I like to say, no drops, no ocean. :-) Clemsy

Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

I'm glad to hear that you're still able to spend time with your mother, Jan. As for me, fall and winter were tough (Bipolar II Disorder), and I took leave from the board for a while, but the onset of spring has made a big difference. I'm in the process of preparing for lifestyle and career changes given the stress and emotional load that comes with my work (CMHC) and so put myself first for change. ;) Perhaps I should have done this sooner, but I simply wasn't ready to give up time with clients. So things are looking up. :) Thanks for asking.

Cindy
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

CarmelaBear
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Post by CarmelaBear »

Oh, it's nice to know Jan and Cindy are here and doing okay. Wow! It gives me goose bumps. Jan.....it has been such a long time....glad to hear your voice again.

~

On the dream thing, I think there is a side to me that wants to be close to the footlights. Eventually, I want to be in the big show, but I am not ready.

The dream felt so real, like I was a guest in my own theater, being me and watching strangers at a distance. There was a sense of being impressed by the production part of a big show. All that energy spent on creating the work.

It is all for show. They were all ready to give a grand performance.

The bit part is for a casino card guy. The show itself is a gamble. I never know how it turns out.

~
Once in a while a door opens, and let's in the future. --- Graham Greene

Cindy B.
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Post by Cindy B. »

Carmela wrote:The bit part is for a casino card guy. The show itself is a gamble. I never know how it turns out.
Cool. And something to consider...

Consciously pursuing individuation and following one's bliss is risky, a gamble, since we can never know with certainty how all will turn out or when the need for a new direction will show itself. Dreams, however, are unconscious messages from Self that symbolically reveal the current psychological state and/or suggest the next move, so time spent exploring dream images and any associated emotions offer the clues needed to take that next step, as well as letting the ego know when one in fact is on the right path. Trusting in oneself--Self--can be difficult at times, I know, especially during those periods when negative feelings or self-doubt seem to permeate our conscious lives, but who better to know what's best for us than ourselves?

"Let go and let Self." :wink:

Later!
If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s. --Jung

Persephonespring
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Post by Persephonespring »

Thank you, Carmen.

When I was last here, your book had been published and was doing well. Is this your next dream? To move it to the stage?

All life is a gamble, no one knows what will come next. My question to you would be, is the risk worth the cost of anxiety, not knowing, etc. Is that what the dream asks?

Oh, I do love to play with dreams. When I was home last month, I did get to two dream group meetings. So much fun, we go so deep and sometimes stay shallow. One never knows, but what I do know is psyche tells me what I am ready to know.

Jan
Might be a drop in a bucket, but, as I like to say, no drops, no ocean. :-) Clemsy

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Post by Persephonespring »

Cindy,

I am sorry to hear of your troubles. I am glad to hear that you are better now.

I learned many years ago that I have to take care of myself if I expect to take care of others. As professional helpers, it is sometimes difficult, but still necessary. I am glad you are accepting your responsibility to yourself. :D When I do this, life flows easily, when I don't I get blockages, mind, body, spirit blocks.

I'm glad to see you!

Jan
Might be a drop in a bucket, but, as I like to say, no drops, no ocean. :-) Clemsy

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