The 'totality" of the conscious and unconscious life. The mind considered as an organic system reaching all parts of the body and serving to adjust the total organism to the needs or demands of the environment.

The ego, the subject of consciousness, comes into existence as a complex quantity which is constituted partly by the inherited disposition (character constituents) and partly by unconsciously acquired impressions and their attendant phenomena ... Analytical psychology differs from experimental psychology in that ... it is far more concerned with the total manifestation of the psyche as a natural phenomenon - a highly complex structure....Carl Jung

To Jung, the psyche, like the living body, is a self-regulating system

The Swiss psychologist, C. G. Jung, taught that the human mind or psyche is complex and is composed of parts, much like the physical body. He coined the word "complexes" for various unconscious parts of the psyche.

Complexes are the focal and nodal points of psychic life (Jacobi, 1973, p. 37). He also divided the unconscious into two distinct regions, the personal and the collective. "Whereas the personal unconscious consists for the most part of complexes, the content of the collective unconscious is made up essentially of archetypes".

In mythology - (Greek: 'soul"), in classical mythology, princess of outstanding beauty who aroused Venus" jealousy and Cupid's love. The fullest version of the tale is that told by the Latin author Apuleius in his Metamorphoses (The Golden Ass). According to Apuleius, the jealous Venus commanded her son Cupid (the god of love) to inspire Psyche with love for the most despicable of men. Instead, Cupid placed Psyche in a remote palace where he could visit her secretly and, by his warning, only in total darkness. One night Psyche lit a lamp and found that the figure at her side was the god of love himself. When a drop of oil from the lamp awakened him, he reproached Psyche and fled. Wandering the earth in search of him, Psyche fell into the hands of Venus, who imposed upon her difficult tasks. Finally, touched by Psyche's repentance, Cupid rescued her, and, at his instigation, Jupiter made her immortal and gave her in marriage to Cupid. The sources of the tale are a number of folk motifs; the handling by Apuleius, however, conveys an allegory of the progress of the Soul guided by Love, which adhered to Psyche in Renaissance literature and art. In Greek folklore the soul was pictured as a butterfly, which is another meaning of the word psyche.

Probably the most well-known of the modern dream philosophers was Sigmund Freud. Freud first developed the theory about the role of the unconscious on the individual. Freud believed the dream worked on two levels. A straightforward level showed events in dreams as remembered. However in the latent level objects and actions in the dreams symbolize sexual and aggressive feelings and ideas that are repressed. So in dreams it protects the sleeper from the effects of a realization of these wishes. The dream taps into the desire for wish fulfilment when the controlling ego is relaxed during sleep. Freud wrote "All dreams are in a sense dreams of convenience, they help to prolong sleep instead of waking up. Dreams are the guardians of sleep and not its disturbers. "

Carl Jung believed a dreams content uses symbolic language. He proposed that a dream expresses collective racial unconscious memories and instincts shared by all people. These are basic ideas that are themselves symbols. These include the hero, monster, mother, father, mandala, sacrifice and the mask. Dreams also indicate the way to self actualization Jungian therapy in fact deals extensively with dreams and fantasies.

Today, most psychologists agree with Jung's theory, and it is this theory that makes dream interpretation something that we can use in our everyday lives. If Freud were alive today he would disagree with every theory that says you are able to interpret your own dreams. Jung believed that, although it was difficult, dreams were meant to be understood.

wholeness; according to Jung there are four functions of consciousness; thinking, feeling, intuitiveness and sensation. The goal is to incorporate all into your waking life (you will always be inclined to one function as your lead). There are also the four corners of the earth.

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

{1} A fish is a common symbol of fertility, which in psychological terms means (a promise of) personal growth.

{2} If the fish is in the sea, the sea may symbolize the unconscious, the fish unconscious urges (over-eating, etc.)

{3} According to Jung, fish, being cold blooded and primitive creatures, may symbolize a deep level of unconsciousness.

{4} "Fishes and snakes are favourite symbols for describing psychic happenings or experiences that suddenly dart out of the unconscious and have a frightening or redeeming effect" (Jung).

{5} They may also, says Jung, represent libido or greed.

{6} A fish is a symbol of Christ and may therefore function psychologically as a symbol of your true self.

Source: Eric Ackroyd

getting above yourself; liberation; extend the range of your consciousness.

From SpiritCommunity

Flying

Some people believe that flying in our dreams can be an actual out of body experience, that we go to places on this physical plane as well as into the inner planes (mostly the Astral). Edgar Cayce thought that Astral travel or 'soul travel" might be a precursor to becoming lucid in a dream. Carl Jung's idea was that in a flying dream we are expressing our desire to break free of restrictions and limitations. We have a desire to be free and above all difficulties! Alfred Adler thought that this dream was a type of a superiority dream in which we reveal the desire to dominate and be above others. Focusing on the libido, Freud thought that flying was another way to express sexual desires. The details of your dream will give you clues as to what it symbolizes, if your dream was a spiritual experience or ego based.

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.

Basic meaning: Unconscious fears that are repressed and need to be acknowledged

Symbolism in Dreams

The Jung/Freud Approach

Dragon

(1) Is the dragon guarding a treasure, or a cave which might contain treasure? If so, the cave probably represents your unconscious, the treasure represents yourself, the dragon that stands between you and your true self represents the fearsomeness of the unconscious, for one who is still afraid of what may be lurking there. This is a repression of the unconscious contents

(2) For Jung, the first stage of the individuation process is the conscious ego's heroic struggle {the hero/heroine journey of mythology} to lift itself out of the orginal all-encompassing unconsciousness and to establish control of unconscious forces. This finds symbolic representation in the legendary dragon-slayer, St George (St George = the ego; the dragon = the unconscious).

(3) The dragon may represent the devouring aspect of (your relationship with) your mother. 'slaying the dragon" may therefore mean putting an end to whatever in your attachment to your mother is detrimental to the process of finding your own psychic individuality. Once the individual has achieved liberation from the "dragon", the feminine side of the manspsyche and the masculine side of the womanspsyche will no longer appear in threatening form, but as an indispensable companion and guide in further stages of self-development.

(4) A dragon may represent the generative power of (Mother) Nature; the unconscious, felt as womb pregnant with new possibilities of life.

(5) A winged dragon may symbolize some kind of transcendence, some passing from "lower" to "higher" level of personal maturity.

(6) A dragon may be a symbol for your sexuality, particularily if it - your sexuality - frightens you. Is your fear irrationsal; or does sexuality threaten to rule your life? In either case, don't kill the "dragon"; if necessary tame it.

(In China, "chi" is good, life-giving energy and the channels it runs along are called "dragon-lines", which are said to follow underground water and underground magnetic fields).

Source: Eric Ackroyd

(1) A fight may represent conflict in a real-life domestic or work situation.

(2) The conflict may be within you, between opposing forces in the psyche. An obvious candidate is a clash between what you want to do and what you feel you ought to do. In this case, bear in mind that conscience is usually socially constructed and consists of the prohibitions and ideals that were imprinted in your psyche during your early years.

(3) The conflict may be between what we are in fact and what we are potentially. Jung sees conscience as the voice of inner wisdom that will lead us to our true selfhood.

(4) If the conflict is between conscious ego and unconscious, the aggressor in the dream fight will probably represent the part of you that is demanding release from the dungeons of the unconscious. It will not hurt you unless you deny it expression. Identify it, and then welcome it as a talent or energy that can contribute to your well being. Change the conflict into a dialogue, a respectful exchange between your conscious and unconscious. (Is this not the way to handle such situations in our waking lives, instead of aggression?).

Where there is unresolved inner conflict, there is a tendency to project the unconscious protagonist to other people, often with dire consequences in personal relationships.

(5) More specific inner conflicts are those between opposite psychic qualities or forces, such as masculinity and femininity, thinking and feeling.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

(1) This may be a sexual symbol, representing male genitals. As such it would appear in a woman's dreams and might express a fear of sex, or an ambivalent fear - fascination feeling towards it.

(2) The frog may symbolize the unconscious, or some part or function of the psyche that still lies buried in your unconscious, perhaps something that you find horrifying or disgusting because of some traumatic experiences that gave rise to anxiety and/or guilt feelings.

{3} Perhaps the frog in your dream comes from the story of the Frog-Prince. In the story a young woman is visited in her bed by a frog. At first, the girl is horrified and pushes the frog away. On the third night, however, she relents, and in the ensuing embrace the frog is transformed into a handsome prince.

Ernest Jones, a follower and biographer of Freud, says this is a story of a virgin overcoming her sexual fear.

For Joseph Campbell, an authority on mythology and a Jungian, the frog in the story symbolizes the unconscious, which at first sight is frightening but, when assimilated by the conscious ego, reveals itself for what it is - the total psyche, beautiful and true.

One might add that in both these interpretations what brings about the psyches transformation is a sexual embrace, but in the second interpretation it is an inner embrace, an intermingling and mutual penetration of the masculine and feminine sides of the psyche.

Note

Jung tells us that there are at least two interpretations to every dream. Both the interpretations, Jones and Campbell, could very well be applicable to the dream. One is a need to overcome an outward personal fear, and at the same time a need to delve into the unconscious and overcome the frightening aspects that unconsciously controls one's life.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

One Dream Symbols:

Unity, oneness (conscious and unconscious integrated).

Two Dream Symbols:

The number two may be a symbol for conflict: for example, between two parts of yourself (which may be represented in the dream by yourself Dream Symbols:

the dream ego and an adversary, or by hostile brothers, sisters, twins).

(2) Two may also symbolize a union or partnership: for example, of conscious and unconscious or masculine and feminine elements in the psyche. Such union or partnership is always fruitful and creative. (In Indian philosophy one is an arid number; two male and female can create. A Hindu god is always represented as two-in-one, a union of male and female).

Three Dream Symbols:

The number three may symbolize completeness and fulfillment; or anything that may contribute to your personal fulfillment for example, the resolving of conflict between two opposing psychic forces.

(2) Jung says three may signify that something is nearly but not quite complete; or that what is lacking in you can be supplied only by some part of your unconscious elf that you find too frightening to acknowledge and use (Even God, he says, is not quite complete without the Devil).

Four Dream Symbols:

Wholeness; the completely integrated human psyche.

Five Dream Symbols:

Five is a number for change (being the next number after four, five is starting over again).

Six Dream Symbols:

May be number for completeness. Six is a multiple of three (same as three). (2) May symbolize conflict.

Seven Dream Symbols:

is also a number for completeness.

(2) The number seven may also signal time for change as in the 'seven year itch".

(3) Sixes and sevens, of course may symbolize conflict.

Eight Dream Symbols:

has the same significance as four, of which it is a multiple: wholeness; the completely integrated human psyche.

(2) It also symbolizes infinity or eternity; or the endless cycle of death and rebirth.

Nine Dream Symbols:

The number nine is a symbol of completeness, may represent personal fulfillment (in Greek mythology the number nine symbolizes the Goddess, the highest personal fulfillment of the feminine psyche).

Ten Dream Symbols:

one and zero; the same as one.{see 432 for more info on the number nine}

All other numbers are either a multiple of numbers already listed, therefore, having the same meaning, or, can be added together to get a number already listed (example, 117 = nine). Look at the personal significance of any number in a dream for its relationship.

The story of the crow determining the number of people entering and leaving a barn is a possible link to the origin of numbers within the psyche of all of Nature's life. The crow (which the farmer wanted to get rid of and which had taken up residence in his barn) could recognize the number of people entering and leaving the barn and knew when all were gone and could re-enter the barn safely. He could do this up to the number of four people. After that, the fifth and beyond, he saw as "many" and when five went into the barn and only four left, he could not determine beyond the number four, thus the fifth person did him in.

(1) Is the dragon guarding a treasure, or a cave which might contain treasure? If so, the cave probably represents your unconscious, the treasure represents yourself, the dragon that stands between you and your true self represents the fearsomeness of the unconscious for one who is still afraid of what may be lurking there.

(2) For Jung, the first stage of the individuation process is the conscious ego's heroic struggle to lift itself out of the original all-encompassing unconsciousness and to establish control of unconscious forces. This finds symbolic representation in the legendary dragon-slayer, St George (St George = the ego; the dragon = the unconscious).

(3) The dragon may represent the devouring aspect of (your relationship with) your mother. 'slaying the dragon" may therefore mean putting an end to whatever in your attachment to your mother is detrimental to the process of finding your own psychic individuality. Once the individual has achieved liberation from the "dragon", the feminine side of the manspsyche and the masculine side of the womanspsyche will no longer appear in threatening form, but as an indispensable companion and guide in further stages of self-development.

(4) A dragon may represent the generative power of (Mother) Nature; the unconscious, felt as womb pregnant with new possibilities of life.

(5) A winged dragon may symbolize some kind of transcendence, some passing from "lower" to "higher" level of personal maturity.

(6) A dragon may be a symbol for your sexuality, particularly if it your sexuality - frightens you. Is your fear irrational; or does sexuality threaten to rule your life? In either case, don't kill the "dragon"; if necessary tame it. (In China, "chi" is good, life-giving energy and the channels it runs along are called "dragon-lines", which are said to follow underground water and underground magnetic fields).

(1) If there is some area in your life where you are - or feel - unable to "keep your head above water", this is probably what the dream is about. Dreams that follow may tell you what to do about the situation. You can either change the situation or change yourself, so that you react differently, or remove yourself (physically) from the situation.

(2) Water may be the symbol for the unconscious, so drowning may express a threat or fear of being swallowed up or taken over - overwhelmed - by unconscious forces. If there is such a threat, it will be from repressed or neglected contents of the unconscious. What have you been bottling up?

(3) Since water may represent the feminine, your dream may be asking you to do something about a mother-attachment that has been stunting your development as an individual in your own right. A mansfailure to free himself from such an attachment (which may be largely unconscious) may have disastrous results in his relationships with women - in whom he will always seek his mother. A woman, unlike a man, doesn't usually have to cope with the effects of an infantile incestuous fixation of her libido on her mother; but both Freud and Rank (Otto Rank) stressed the crucial influence of the mother on both male and female children: for all infants, male or female, the earliest deep attachment is to the mother., the source of nourishment. Moreover, for the achievement of normal development the female child must - according to Freud - perform the additional task of transferring her libidinal attachment from mother to father. Jung, too, regarded the liberating of oneself from psychological bondage to one's mother as the first great step in the process of self-realization.

Reference: Eric Ackroyd

A Wise Old Man figure may appear in a mansdream, a Wise Old Woman in a woman's dream. The Wise Old Man may take various forms; for example, old bearded man, guru, priest or prophet, king, magician, teacher, The Wise Old Woman may appear as Earth Mother, Great Goddess, Mother Church, priestess or prophetess, teacher. Attend to whatever this figure tells you in dreams: the result could be a transformation of your personality and your life, in tune with your true self.

Such figures Jung called "mana" personalities. Mana denotes awesome, mysterious power associated with gods but also with natural phenomena and extraordinary human skills, genius, holiness, psychic powers and supranormal knowledge. These figures may therefore be frightening. If you find them too frightening, consult a {Jungian} therapist. People may let themselves be "possessed" - taken over by the Wise Old Man/Woman and become insufferably domineering, self-important, opinionated. Alternately, failure to acknowledge the "divine" wisdom and power within yourself may lead you to project it on to some authoritarian but not necessarily authoritative public figure, or guru, or personal aquaintance. Whatever such a " mana figure says to you in a dream will be extremely important and will almost certainly open up a new dimension of life for you.

Should the Wise Old Woman appear in a man's dreamor the Wise Old Man in a woman's dream, it may be the anima/animus that is being represented.

Dragon:

Animal instincts to be conquered, hence the battles of Saint George and Saint Michael with 'the dragon." The dragon fight is related to the archetypal themes of search/quest, the hero/heroine, and, in more modern terms, separating ourselves from the collective values of our parents/ancestors. The dragon can symbolize a guardian or guarding quality; something that needs to be guarded/protected in your life/psyche. As a devouring creature, it may represent negative aspects of the mother archetype. It shares much of the same symbolism as the snake, and both can symbolize the developing Self

Pagan/Wiccan Interpretation of Dragon {Positive}