Dreams & the Subconscious
By Nara WoodLesson 1: The Structure of the Subconscious Mind - Overview
Components of the Psyche -- Inanimate Objects and Symbols
In addition to animal and human figures in dreams, inanimate objects will appear. Houses in dreams, for example, may represent your physical body but always represent “the place where you reside.” Automobiles, trains, and planes show how you are moving along in life. The following are common figures in dreams.
Symbols in Dreams:
Symbols and shapes occur throughout dreams. The creation of images is the first language of the deep psyche. Throughout the ancient religions of the world, shapes and symbols were used in a spiritual context. They sprang spontaneously from the spiritual realm of these people and were considered sacred. The following are some formations you will meet in dreams.
Circles: Circles are mandala figures which signify psychic wholeness. The medicine wheel is a vital part of Native American spirituality and to walk the wheel is a ritual in which an individual seeks healing and inner unity. In Mayan and Aztec religions, the circle as the sun was a symbol of dynamic manifestation. In China, the circular Yang-Yin symbol represents divine perfection that arises from the unity of the masculine and feminine energies. The monks of Tibet create mandalas, circular forms filled with symbols, that are vehicles of contemplation and meditation. Circles in dreams function in the same way as they have throughout history. They are mandalas and are symbols of psychic unity in some area of life.
Spirals: Spirals are found in abundance among the archaeological remains of the Celts. They are found to have occurred in the Greek, Roman, and Hindu religions as well. The Egyptian God Thoth is depicted with a large spiral on his head. Think of the spiral as a progressing circle. It carries the idea of wholeness of the circle yet it is also carries the image of forward movement and therefore represents movement to another spiritual level.
Triangles: Inherent in the image of the triangle is the concept of “two uniting to become three”. One image of the triangle is the divine Trinity of Christianity. The triangle can also refer to the Goddess energy. The Goddess of ancient civilizations was represented as having three faces: the maiden who is the image of feminine innocence, the mother who is the creator, and the crone who signifies the wisdom and power of age. Another image of the triangle is the unity of male and female to create a third – the divine child that is the sacred product of their union. The triangle basically means that two divergent elements have been united to create a unique third element.
Squares: The square is a symbol of manifestation on the physical level. It signifies the union of the four elements – air, earth, fire, and water – which represent the energies that function within human beings. It also points to the four seasons and the four points of the compass, both of which refer to a completed cycle. So the square symbolizes stability and a time of completion of a phase of life.
Stars: What is a star? It is a ball of fire that exists in the heavens. So you can imagine that it represents spirit. Fire also represents the dynamic force of creation. Therefore, the star image embodies the idea of forceful movement, struggle between spirit and darkness. The star will appear in dreams when you are in transition to another plane of spiritual belief.
Exploration: Use what you have learned in this lesson to identify the components of your psyche that are communicating either in tonight’s dream or in a dream you’ve had recently.
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