Question: Why do dreams often have a fascinating quality?
It is an awesome, fascinating experience in a dream when we connect to a process and pattern of human functioning in our psyche that has never been developed, or that was suppressed long, long ago
Every human function, attitude, behaviour and quality inherently comprises its two opposites. We would not be able to understand the one without the other. For example, we could not understand “good” if we did not also know and understand “bad”. We could not understand light if we were not aware of dark. We could not understand destructive if we were not aware of constructive.
But, we have sometimes not been helped to develop an opposite and only live out one side of the opposite. For example, we may be highly intellectual but unable to adequately express our feelings or we may be active and busy all the time but unable to relax. The reason for only developing one half, or one opposite side of a function can be attributed to (a) perhaps our own parents were unable to connect to this particular opposite function and so, couldn’t teach us how to use it. (b) Our parents approved of one function above the other and so, in order to feel loved and thus safe and secure, we suppressed the function they disapproved of. For example, perhaps they approved of us pleasing them and everyone else and they disapproved of people who were sometimes selfish – i.e. put themselves first sometimes.
This way of development generally works for us for a period of time when we are adults but, sooner or later, our lives require that we sometimes know how to use that opposite function. For example, you’re pregnant; you’re tired and need a rest even though your family are hungry. In this instance, we need to be able to suggest they get take-aways, or make themselves a sandwich or that they wait until you have rested. The problem is that we often can’t simply change our behaviour. We learnt when we were young that pleasing others was the way to behave and so now, we feel guilty and bad if we don’t “pull ourselves together” and cook – exhausted or not.
Using the above example, transformation is the Jungian Analyst’s way of speaking about an inner and outer change that would enable one to develop the capacity to, for example, put our selves first sometimes i.e. it is about the often difficult process of developing a new and opposite quality in one’s personality. The union of the two opposites in one’s psychology leads to wholeness with respect to that particular pair of opposites, instead of experiencing one-sidedness. It is not just the two separate ways of functioning but a new whole function, united to create a new, transformed way of being in the world. Carl Jung wrote about this process, calling it a coniunctio where the opposite quality is incorporated in order to create wholeness with respect to the union of those opposites.
Pregnancy or giving birth are often symbols for psychological human development – the result of the union of opposites, which gives rise to a “third” i.e. a child. It is the analogy of a new function or attitude being born into ones personality. A new psychological function is not just a banal personality characteristic. It is a new pattern and process that has been slowly (and usually with much difficulty and pain) developed and is “born” into this world (i.e. into your conscious personality), providing a new way of thinking, feeling, behaving and being, which was unavailable to us previously. From having not existed for us before, it has become a part of our conscious personality. It can be thought of as a new creation. A quote by Carl Jung refers to this when he says, “Nowhere are we closer to the sublime secret of all origination than in the recognition of our own selves, whom we always think we know already. Yet we know the immensities of space better than we know our own depths, where – even though we do not understand it – we can listen directly to the throb of creation itself.” C. G. Jung, CW 8, par.737
Finally, symbols in the dreams have numinous affective qualities. The word numinous is from the Latin numen, which is an English way of describing the presence or power of a divinity. According to Rudolf Otto, one of the aspects of the numen is that of mysterium facinans, which is the tendency to attract, fascinate and compel. Because we are so totally cut off from being able to express the opposite qualities we sometimes need – (what is unconscious really is unconscious) – we experience awe i.e. it is an awesome experience in a dream when we connect to a process and pattern of human functioning in our psyche that has never been developed, or that was suppressed long, long ago. We experience this awe in a dream as it being vivid, colourful and vibrant with a feeling of fascination.
For these reasons, all processes of transformation are often characterized by dreams that are experienced as vivid, colourful and vibrant.
Leslie Zimmermann is a Jungian Analyst trained in the philosophy and psychology of C.G. Jung in Zurich and is based in Johannesburg. She offers a range of services, which she integrates, to meet the needs and aspirations of people. In a word, her work is in the service of wholeness. Wholeness includes both our vulnerabilities and our strengths, becoming conscious of our own unique mix of these, honoring our own unique way of functioning and with this knowledge and confidence, contributing as only we each can in our own way, to this evolving world we find ourselves to be a part of.
Besides having a Diplomate qualification in Analytical psychology, which qualifies me to write about the theory and practice of dream interpretation, I also have an Honours degree in Applied Psychology and a Masters degree in Research psychology, which qualify me to write about theories of human development, personality, abnormal psychology, social psychology, sociology and ethics. Also, theories and knowledge pertaining to sleep and dreams from a perspective of neuropsychological and biological systems.
Leslie specializes in Analytical Psychology, Voice Dialogue, Life Coaching solutions for business executives. Consulting and coaching for family owned and home-based business
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