Jungian Archetypes in Dreams?

Hey guys,
So I've recently started reading some of Carl Jung and I was wondering anybody has experiences of DC's who are representations of an archetype or something similar to that. I think in a couple of dreams I have interacted with a being which could be my Shadow, and I would assume that the majority of dream guides people have would fulfill the Wise Old Man archetype. I will start looking out for things like my Anima as well. So yeah I'm wondering if you lovely dreamers have had anything like this yourselves?

The concept of archetype is open, it depends on the subjectivity of each one.

With this premise, I interpret in some dreams, a mystic guide as wise archetype, not necessarily under old man shape. it has me happen few times, even in a lucid dream, for example I remind that this dream was dark and blurred, it seemed to come apart the dream, then I ask a oniric man, how I would can stabilize dream, he answered like ekhart tolle in power of now, we chatted a while, then I had a good and long dream.

With the hero archetype, continuing with the Laberge´s tips about campbell hero's journey,it helps me to not block myself in my dream, in this case I act as hero.

Recently I am investigating within myself the anima-animus archetypes, I have now somes lucides experiences where I interact with her, in my case, it give me indirect hints to improve my relationship with opposite sex, but it is helpful only if later it receives feedback from wakefulness.

I'm not sure if I fully believe in a lot of Jung's hypotheses, but I think when it comes to his archetypes, he's describing something most people can relate to. Now, whether the knowledge of his archetypes plays a role in creating the representation of one in your dreams or not, I don't know (I think it certainly can play a role in it). However, I think the nature of what he's describing can indeed be archetypal because these concepts are formed around the similar experiences people share. The brain likes to generalize and categorize, and archetypes are right up that alley. On top of that, the culture of the individual surely plays a large role in the formation of these archetypes, so it's no surprise to expect multiple people to experience something like these archetypes... even before ever becoming aware of the concept of that archetype. That being said, becoming aware of a defined archetype plays a key role in experiencing it (whether that archetype is defined by the individual prior to reading or hearing about said archetype or not).

Personally, I don't think of dreams or reality in general in terms of archetypes or in specific/hidden meanings and haven't noticed any patterns emerge that suggest any. It will take some observation to see if I have any of the archetypes show up on any kind of regular basis. If I remember to I'll post back after a week or two, provided I remember enough of my dreams to notice anything.

I have been lucky to encounter DCs who want to help me become lucid. I guess they fit the wise archetype, but they are rarely old. This wise character wears many faces in my dreams. I find it interesting that I can't become lucid directly and instead my desire to become lucid compels a dream character to give me hints.

If you haven’t come across them yet, here are a few very helpful books written for the general public by Jungian analysts which cover dreams, including the concept of the archetypes:

Man and his Symbols, edited by Carl Jung

Jungian Dream Interpretation by James Hall

Inner Work by Robert Johnson

Jung: A Very Short Introdution by Anthony Stevens


You might also like a group of photographs which I’ve taken that represent such archetypes as the Self, anima, animus, persona and the shadow as they might appear in dreams.

Each photograph has a description outlining the symbolism that’s involved and some also touch on other general symbolism that can appear in dreams.

They’re posted on Flickr at the links below:

Archetypes/Self:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

Self:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_spirit/32191592836/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_spirit/28401044445/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/


Shadow:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_spirit/32803713266/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

Anima:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_spirit/34015861146/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_spirit/31854430890/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

Animus:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_spirit/31419834843/

Persona:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ayrie_...7647150716432/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BlairBros

Hey guys,
So I've recently started reading some of Carl Jung and I was wondering anybody has experiences of DC's who are representations of an archetype or something similar to that. I think in a couple of dreams I have interacted with a being which could be my Shadow, and I would assume that the majority of dream guides people have would fulfill the Wise Old Man archetype. I will start looking out for things like my Anima as well. So yeah I'm wondering if you lovely dreamers have had anything like this yourselves?

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Firstly of all, if you are trying Jungian analysis as a hobby, soon you will be disappointed because it is really hard work. So much that a few of Jung's patients, irritated, became Freud's patients and complained about it. Firstly, can you clarify what "DC's" means? Generically, a dark-skinned man in your dreams will represent your shadow. Jung did not specify whether or not the same analysis is valid for Africans and others; so I am assuming that you are a descendant of Europeans. A unknown woman in your dreams represents the anima; but if you know her it does not. If like me you live in the West and dream with an Asian woman, it is the anima representing the depths of your unconscious mind.

You may or may not subscribe to the belief in dreams having meaning; but you can't be in the middle. It is a belief system; many scientists of the current paradigm do not believe in meanings: their belief system prevents them from it. I will tell you an amazing life story. Many years ago I was married; neither my wife nor me knew that she was pregnant. We went to see a Jungian analyst; I told him the following dream I had: first crosses in the sky (number 4), which became double crosses (number 8); then there was a hose on the ground. The same therapist shocked us by saying, "Your wife is pregnant; what you had is an archetypal dream of birth. The number 4 representing the totality, doubled to 8. The hose on the ground meaning that your sexuality as husband will suffer." Indeed, we sound found out that she was pregnant; some eight months later she had our baby.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rickricardo

Firstly of all, if you are trying Jungian analysis as a hobby, soon you will be disappointed because it is really hard work. So much that a few of Jung's patients, irritated, became Freud's patients and complained about it.

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I think this mostly depends on the personality type. An introvert or artistically-minded person in general will probably respond much better to the Jungian approach, while an extrovert would doubtless prefer a more practical method - though hopefully not Freudian! Not today anyway - while Freud did map out the unconscious and develop the basis of the psychoanalytic method, he had a lot of wrongheaded theories. In fact it was Jung who corrected many of them, leading to their split.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rickricardo

Firstly, can you clarify what "DC's" means?

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It stands for dream character.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rickricardo

Generically, a dark-skinned man in your dreams will represent your shadow.

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Well, certainly that can be one type of shadow figure, but there are many others. It's generally a person of the same sex as the dreamer who in some way appears dark or mysterious - for instance wearing a black hood and cowl, or just a person who seems somehow sinister and frightening but that you can't seem to see clearly.