Dreams are a natural expression of the human psyche. What's more, they are meaningful.
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Born of Jung’s Analytical Psychology, Archetypal Psychology describes the various forces operative within each of us. These include the Mother, Hero, Trickster, Lover, Warrior, Wiseman, Priestess, the Radical, Mystic, Wounded Healer, Fool, King, Queen and Authority figures. Depending upon the individual these archetypes may be developed, and accessible to consciousness, or undeveloped and problematic.
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A dream is a message from one’s deeper Self, and serves to guide one’s approach to the outer life as well as lead one on an inner journey. A dream is a riddle, pitched just beyond the bounds of consciousness. When we engage and wrestle with the dreams, and experience that ‘Aha’ reaction, we arrive at an answer that represents nothing less than a new level of self-awareness.
Far from childish fantasies, myths, legends and fairy tales are rich with psychological insight. Rather than being approached literally, they describe inner truths. Greek myth, Bible stories, the Grail Legend, fairy tales such as Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Cap or Jack and the Beanstalk, all describe a set of developmental pathways that we play out on personal level.
The notion that the movements of the heavens might reflect one’s character or fate would appear preposterous to our modern, rational way of thinking. Yet, as incredible as it seems, there does appear to be a synchronous connection between the planetary positions and the psyche. Psychodynamic astrology marries the age-old science of astrology, with the recent developments of depth psychology.
Just as the earth revolves around the sun, and not vice versa, psychology is due for a Copernican revolution. Rather than placing the ego at the centre, with a focus on personal development, Self-Oriented psychology approaches the psyche from a new perspective, where the challenges we experience are recognised as the call of the greater Self in its demand for the ongoing evolution of consciousness.
When we sleep, and lower the bounds of our ego-consciousness, out ego opens to the imaginal realm. We experience this as a dream. With practice, the imaginal realm may also be accessed whilst awake. This conscious, or shamanic, entry to the inner world allows us to explore and work at a deeper level both within ourselves, or on behalf of another.
I am Craig Jarman, founder of School of Self Potential.
A Sydney-based Psychotherapist and trainee Jungian Analyst since 2018, I have been teaching classes in dreamwork, astrology and archetypal psychology since 1988. Apart from Jungian Psychology I have also trained in Sandplay Therapy and Process Oriented Psychology.
I hold a Masters degree in History & Anthropology from Wales University, Trinity St David, where I specialised in the study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology.
I am also the author of Returning the Ring - A Psychological Commentary of Tolkein's The Lord of the Rings and the originator of Psychodynamic Astrology, now available as the Astro Charts app on the Apple AppStore.
