Dreams as mirrors and maps of the self

Dreams can be a reflection of the subconscious, a signal of inner needs, and a signpost to our inner selves. How can you distinguish between what is a reflection of your state and what is a compass?

Carl Gustav Jung explains dreams as a product of the unconscious, conveying wisdom from the perspective of the higher self in an illogical manner but containing hidden symbolism. Human dreams are therefore encrypted in the language of our beliefs, images, metaphors, memories, emotions, and desires.

Dreams often represent values that are important to us but that we do not pay enough attention to. However, our subconscious mind suggests them to us so that we can change the direction of our lives.

Dreams as messages

Understanding dreams is not an easy task. Dreams require interpretation detached from our personal associations and preferences in order to capture a completely new perspective on a given topic presented in the dream. It is, therefore, a matter of awakening our consciousness to understand something that we do not want to understand and do not see on a daily basis.

It can therefore be said that dreams are a form of hidden therapy for us, showing us our hidden priorities that we have not given voice or attention to.

Interpreting dreams requires a lot of work on our subjective view of a given situation, because in order to understand a dream, we need to see its deeper meaning and hidden significance. A dream is, therefore, a kind of message for us, showing us where to stop and what to focus on, and what to change our perspective on in order to refresh our view of a given topic.

Dreams as a guide

Jung's approach combines not only psychology but also mythological themes, inviting us into the realm of spirituality and mysticism. In Jung's analysis of dream symbolism, we also find many archetypes and symbols that refer to specific aspects of ourselves.

Archetypes contain universal motifs and beliefs that collectively point to the often-repeated attitudes of our personality. However, archetypes should not be confused with human vices but rather seen as guides that represent our inner resources and aspirations. Archetypes also show the potential we have at our disposal if we interpret the motifs that appear in our dreams correctly.

Jung distinguished 12 archetypes of our personality, the most important of which are included in the following 5, which have their reference in dreams:

Shadow: dreams about shadows indicate a need to confront something we are avoiding, an inner weakness, or an experience we have pushed to the bottom of our subconscious.
Anima and Animus: Anima, as the feminine element, and Animus, as the masculine element, represent sides of our personality—subtle or active, demanding stability and consolidation in our lives. The subtle side invites us to relax our logical thinking and surrender to creativity.
The wise old man/woman: symbolizes the need to connect with our inner wisdom.
The hero: indicates our ability to overcome problems and barriers, and the potential within us to do it.
The self: refers to the symbolism of our inner personality—the self that connects the conscious world with the subconscious. Often, the symbol of the self is the ocean that appears in dreams, which indicates the condition of our soul at a given moment, so it is important to pay attention to the color of the water and its dynamics, whether it is calm or turbulent and violent.

Dreams as a guidepost

Dreams can be a compass that shows us which path to turn back from and what is really important to us. For example, if we dream about flying, one interpretation is to pay attention to the need to establish ourselves in life and find its stable points.

Dreams can therefore show us paths that are worth straying from, as well as those that we have not considered but which are part of our personality. Often, we do not recognize our own potential, and it is only in dreams that we can see images that suggest what we have not yet noticed. It can therefore be said that dreams help us to create a new narrative about ourselves in a way that is unadulterated and very true, albeit encoded in a world of symbols and hidden meanings.

Dreams can also serve as a preview of certain events, gradually preparing us for a change in ourselves or in our lives, familiarizing us with something we do not want to accept into our consciousness. If, for example, we are afraid of flying, dreams will show us journeys so that we can overcome our inner resistance.

The world of dreams has always fascinated Jung because it is undoubtedly a part of our personality that connects all people. We all dream, but not everyone knows how to interpret dreams in relation to their own lives. One thing is certain: dreams are a gateway to our inner world.