Page 148 - Encyclopedia of the Unusual and Unexplained Vol. 3

Mysteries of the Mind 129

(1875–1961) spoke of “archetypal images” in
humankind’s “collective unconscious.” In this
part of the mind, Jung believed, were images
common to all people everywhere. People liv-
ing in different times and different places have
dreamed of “wise old men,” “earth mothers,”
“mandalas” (circles within a square), and
other “archetypes.”
Jung’s theories are rejected by many psy-
chologists and psychiatrists as being too mysti-
cal, but Krippner believes Jung’s hypotheses
really are not in conflict with what the dream
researchers call “scientific common sense.”
There must be something structural in the
brain comparable to the structural form of
other body parts. If so, this structure would
develop along certain general lines even
though an individual were isolated from other
human beings.
According to a general consensus among
dream researchers, the number one rule in
understanding one’s dreams is to understand
oneself. It is only by knowing oneself as com-
pletely as possible that any individual will be
able to identify and fully comprehend the
dream symbols that are uniquely his or her
own. Here are a number of symbols common-
ly seen in dreams and general meanings that
have been applied to them by certain
researchers:
• Falling. A natural fear and common to chil- Dr. Sigmund Freud
• Angel. Contact with Higher Self or super- dren. Falling from grace or higher spiritual (1856–1939). (THE LIBRARY
consciousness. Guidance. Wisdom. Truth.
realms. Defeat. OF CONGRESS)
• Bathing. Spiritual cleansing. Need to “clean • Hair. If soft and clean: spiritual beauty; if
up” one’s life.
matted and dirty: spiritually unclean; if
• Cat. Universal symbol for woman. May thinning or bald: a man may feel conscious-
refer to gossip; beware of gossip. The myste- ness of his age, or of aging. Gray or white
rious. Independence. represents wisdom. A haircut may repre-
sent loss of vitality.
• Church. The realm of Inner Awareness.
Higher Self. Spiritual need. • Island. Seclusion. Desire to get away from it
all. Security. A place of inhibitions.
• Desert. Spiritual thirst. Emotional barren-
ness. Sterility. • Judge. Authority figure. One who views
objectively and fairly. Need for Self-disci-
• Devil. Unpleasant person. Authoritarian
figure of negative emotions. Parent figure pline. Hidden guilt.
for unhappy childhood. Search for forbid- • Key. The answer to a problem. Opening
den knowledge. new doorways of opportunity. Gaining of
new knowledge or wisdom.
• Earthquake. Inner turmoil. Old ideas and
problems coming forth. Literal or prophet- • Lake. Water symbol for spirit. Peace if placid
ic. Changes. or smooth.

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