Dream Dictionary Collective Unconscious

Jung distinguishes between the more superficial and deeper layers of the unconscious mind and calls them respectively 'the personal unconscious" and 'the collective unconscious". The personal unconscious consists of thoes things that have been repressed, rejected from consciousness; it is therefore something that has build up during the individual's lifetime. The collective unconscious, on the otherhand, is older than the individual and indeed older than consciousness: it consists of 'the whole spiritual heritage of mankind's evolution born anew in the brain-structure of every individual".

{Do not be misled by the words "brain-structure": the collective unconscious should not be thought of as situated in the head; it includes emotions and instincts and, although it cannot be pinned down to any particular location in the body, it might be more helpful to think of it as in the solar plexus region rather than in the head}.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

See Also Rooms

Basic meaning: The self; your self image

(1) The house or other building may be a symbol of yourself. Going upstairs may mean going into the "head" - that is, the layer of the mind where rational thinking takes place. Cellars may represent the unconscious. Different parts of the house may be different ages, different emotions, different complexes, etc., the modern representing the conscious ego, the oldest the deepest layers of the unconscious - what Jung called the "collective unconscious").

If the house feels cramped, this might indicate frustration. Is some part of you not developed, not yet integrated into consciousness? What is keeping this or that instinct or emotion repressed?

(2) A house may represent your self-image: how you see yourself, or how you want to be seen by the world, or what you want from life.

(3) If the house is your parental home, what you feel in the dream may say a lot about your childhood feelings - about your parents, for instance.

(4) The different rooms of a house may symbolize the different emotions or complexes. Not being able to go into a particular room may indicate there is some aspect in your life that is not yet open to your conscious mind. When you acknowledge these emotions, you will be able to enter into the room in your dreams.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

Houses in a dream most always symbolize the dreamer; different aspects of the psyche being represented by the different rooms, levels in the house, outer and/or inner aspects. It is your self-image, yet at the same can reveal the inner parts. Typically the different rooms of a house may symbolize the different emotions or complexes. The oldest, the deepest layers of the unconscious - what Jung called the "collective unconscious" will be seen as basement and the hidden spaces below that level.

Strong sudden changes, being caught in an emotional storm. Since hurricanes are associated with large bodies of water you may be experiencing some type of repressed or suppressed emotions {the ocean often symbolizes the collective unconscious}.

Your past. Your collective unconscious (that part of you that ahs access to the collective world).If so your dream is showing you something of great value.