Alchemical Perspective of Dream Interpretation
C.G. Jung made a remarkable observation about analytical psychology and alchemy. Jung says, “I had very soon seen that analytical psychology coincided in a most curious way with alchemy. The experiences of the alchemists were, in a sense, my experiences, and their world was my world. This was of course, a momentous discovery: I had stumbled upon the historical counterpart of my psychology of the unconscious. The possibility of comparison with alchemy, and the uninterrupted intellectual chain back to Gnosticism, gave substance to my psychology. When I pored over those old texts, everything fell into place: the fantasy-images, the empirical material I had gathered in my practice, and the conclusions I had drawn from it. I now began to understand what these psychic contents meant when seen in historical perspective.”
—C.G. Jung Psychology and Alchemy CW 12, pars. 345ff
The alchemist’s central idea is the opus. The work is about Self-orientation, not ego-orientation. The alchemical opus begins with nature but requires our conscious human art or effort to complete the task. This urge is built in human nature, within the unconscious psyche. However, we need our ego consciousness (non-inflated or deflated) to fully realize this urge to create consciousness.
Although, the ideas of alchemy are often complex and confusing, the basic goal of the opus is quite simple: to create a miraculous substance, which is variously symbolized as the Philosophers’ Stone, Elixir of life, Pearl of Wisdom or Universal Medicine. The first step is to find the “prima material,” and subject it to a series of operations that will turn this raw material into the Philisophers’ Stone. Dreams will often emphasizes one or two of these alchemical operations
Dreams as “Prima Materia”
The term “prima material” is an archetypal image that the world “originated from a single original stuff called first matter. Depending on the time and place this “first matter” has many names for example, some thought is was made of earth, air, water or fire. Jung realized the prima materia that needs transformation is the individual and collective “shadows.” Although the prima materia has great inner value, we often consider our shadow vile and despicable. We despise that part of us and want to throw it on the dung heap of our life’s rejected issues. It is often that part of our individual and collective personality that is the most shameful and humiliating aspects of us that we have to face. The shadow, that “dark” aspect of ourselves from which we wish to dissociate from is often unconsciously the driver of what determines and manipulates our lives. It is that very part of us that we need to have the courage to come out of denial about, confront, face off with and transform. We are going to use dreams as the context for discovering this prima material. Once we see and admit these shadow images and symbols we have the opportunity to transform them into alchemical “gold.”
Interpretations
Here are some dreams that have been submitted and interpreted by Dr. Howard Teich. Dreams chosen are looked at through the lens of the evolving collective male and female unconscious mind in the current times. These dreams provide an X-ray into realities of the emerging human psyche.
- Crystal Dream Interpretation
ANONYMOUS DREAM SUBMISSION – CRYSTAL DREAM INTERPRETATION An old friend sent me a fb message this morning telling me she had a dream of me surrounded by very beautiful crystals….what could that mean?….Thank you in advance…. It does not get any better than to be surrounded by a very beautiful crystal. Congratulations! Crystal is a symbol of unity, differentiation and flowing ... - White Snake Dream Interpretation
ANONYMOUS DREAM SUBMISSION – WHITE SNAKE DREAM INTERPRETATION Aloha Dr. Howard, I just woke up and the last dream I can recall was I was walking through an airport with a piece of rolling carry on luggage; and the luggage was designed to hold this white snake. I was transporting it for a friend. And every time ... - Twinkling Shards Dream Interpretation
ANONYMOUS DREAM SUBMISSION – Hello Dr. Teich, I can only remember a small part of my dream but I still wonder what it means: There is a young man about 19-21 y.o. standing in a garden at night a glass bottle hits him and there are twinkling shards everywhere. That’s the only part I can remember. I would be ... - Back Together with a BabyANONYMOUS DREAM SUBMISSION – Hello Dr.Howard. I hope you can reply to me. I would like to know a meaning of one of my dreams… I dreamed about my ex-boyfriend… he was holding a little baby (boy) and in the dream we were married. What does it mean? I often dream that we get back together. Hi ...
- Cut OffANONYMOUS DREAM SUBMISSION – I had another nightmare about my ex-partner Jeremy last night. This time i was outside of my home. I was gonna go down to the store. He was in his car following me with his friends. I tried to run but he cut me off and I ended up in the car ...
- Facing off with Ourselves: Atlas’ Murder
Hi, I thought I`d try to submit a dream. It was quite disturbing, so I`d be grateful to get some help with the interpretation. My old dog, Atlas (like the Titan), was lying in a dog’s basket, minding his own business.