Working With Dreams

This book explores the psychological approach to dreams, emphasizing their intrinsic meaning and the need for a deeper understanding. It reflects on Jung's insights and the broader implications for psychology.

Working With Dreams delves into the practice of engaging with dreams from a psychological perspective. Instead of offering a broad theory on dreams, the book emphasizes the dream as a phenomenon, prompting readers to reconsider how dreams should be approached for a genuinely psychological understanding. Traditionally, much of the discourse surrounding Jungian dream interpretation has focused on the dreamer rather than the dream itself, using dreams primarily as a tool for understanding the individual. However, this book advocates for a shift towards examining the dream as a distinct entity.

The study draws on Carl Jung's mature views on dreams, highlighting his belief that dreams express the soul's voice rather than merely reflecting the dreamer’s psyche. Jung posited that each dream contains its own interpretation and should be explored in its own right, rather than being translated into the language of everyday life. This perspective requires psychologists to adopt a different mode of consciousness, one that transcends ordinary awareness to engage deeply with the dream's inherent meaning.

Throughout the book, various aspects of dreams and the complexities involved in dream work are analyzed. It situates the practice of working with dreams within the broader context of psychological exploration, emphasizing the need for psychology to extend beyond the confines of the consulting room. Ultimately, while focused on dreams, the book serves as an insightful introduction to a psychology with soul, encouraging a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the human psyche.