“Everything you need is already inside you.” ~Bill Bowerman
One of the defining moments in the adventure of personal awakening is the realization that we’re all actually working towards the same thing: our own personal evolution. The circumstances and actors vary, of course, but we’re all on the hero’s journey in search of that sacred relic which reveals our true purpose and gives us the strength we need to fulfill that purpose.
But as the quote above reminds us, we already have everything we need. Everything is already inside of us. Which means that our task at hand is not really about finding something that might seem lost, but rather it’s about understanding something that’s already right here with us.
In other words, the realization of our greatest potential becomes possible when we learn to communicate openly with the soul.
Dreams are one of the deepest wells of self-discovery. We spend about one-third of our lives asleep, potentially 30 years or more. That’s a lot of time… just think about how much you could learn in 30 waking years. In fact, of such great importance are dreams to the individual’s psychological development, Carl Jung, the revered spiritual psychologist of the 20th century, developed an entire practice of interpreting patient’s dreams as a personalized path toward integral self-development.
“The dream is a little hidden door in the innermost and most secret recesses of the soul, opening into that cosmic night which was psyche long before there was any ego- consciousness, and which will remain psyche no matter how far our ego-consciousness extends.” ~ Carl Jung
In his tomes of work, he wrote about the power of unlocking the symbolism in dreams in order to better to clarify and illuminate one’s proper path toward individuation. According do Jung, dreams serve as a type of witness to the archetypal dramas playing out within one’s subconscious mind as they confront their own pratfalls and obstacles in personal transformation.
“Dreams are impartial, spontaneous products of the unconscious psyche, outside the control of the will. They are pure nature; they show us the unvarnished, natural truth, and are therefore fitted, as nothing else is, to give us back an attitude that accords with our basic human nature when our consciousness has strayed too far from its foundations and run into an impasse.” ~ Carl Jung, Collected Works Volume 10
What’s fascinating is that many of the symbols in dreams are universal in that the same images appear for many people, often with the same associated meanings. We are all part of the fabric of a collective conscience, some kind of field of living memories, where instinctually driven growth takes place. This is why symbols and symbolism can hold such sway over so many people.
“A symbol is the best possible formulation of a relatively unknown psychic content”. ~Carl Jung
But everyone is unique, and much of the content of your dreams can be interpreted only by you, perhaps with guidance. The practice of dream reading is ancient, and has often been the role of tribal shaman or medicine man, those hyper intuitive empaths who can feel their way through mystery. It’s a means of communicating with the vast contents of the subconscious mind.
This type of communication was considered divine intervention, and in some cultures, only those with supernatural powers could interpret the hidden mysteries that dreams reveal.
Paying attention to your dreams and deciphering the messages living in the images, symbols, characters, and landscapes that appear can be a magical experience. And today, anyone can practice dreamwork… and reap its many benefits.
Dreamwork can help you gain insights into how to heal an illness, mend a difficult relationship, jumpstart a creative project, or make a big life decision.
Your dreams can give you a glimpse into your future — helping you better navigate what lies ahead. Some dreamers have even found themselves visiting other realms, and even past or parallel lives, in their dreams. [Source]
We are all here to individuate and self-actualize. This is what human beings do, and as awareness of this journey expands, more insight and guidance can help us along the way. Dreams are a wonderful storehouse of information about the self on this path.
About the Author
Sofia Adamson is a contributing writer for Waking Times with a keen appreciation for matters of science and the spirit.
This article (Dreamwork – Accessing the Hidden Messages From Your Soul) was originally created and published by Waking Times and is published here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Sofia Adamson and WakingTimes.com. It may be re-posted freely with proper attribution and author bio.