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The week is before us - like the coffee pot - waiting to brew. Making it good is a matter of choice, luck, creativity, patience and acceptance of the outcome.

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Active elements on this page: Occasionally I will publish a new blog post, but I write mostly at other sites.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Tools for Dreamers - Part II

Joseph Campbell (circa 1984)Image via Wikipedia

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On Archetypes
Joseph Campbell, in a conversation with Bill Moyers, defines archetypes this way:
“The human psyche is essentially the same all over the world. The psyche is the inward experience of the human body, which is essentially the same in all human beings, with the same organs, the same instincts, the same impulses, the same conflicts, the same fears. Out of this common ground has come what Jung has called the archetypes, which are the common ideas of myths.
Moyers asks, “What are archetypes?” Campbell replies:
“They are elementary ideas, what could be called ‘ground’ ideas. These ideas Jung spoke of as archetypes of the unconscious. ‘Archetype’ is the better term because ‘elementary idea’ suggests headwork. Archetype of the unconscious means it comes from below. The difference between the Jungian archetypes of the unconscious and Freud’s complexes is that the archetypes of the unconscious are manifestations of the organs of the body and their powers. Archetypes are biologically grounded, whereas the Freudian unconscious is a collection of repressed traumatic experiences from the individual’s lifetime. The Freudian unconscious is a personal unconscious, it is biographical. The Jungian archetypes of the unconscious are biological. The biographical is secondary to that.
All over the world and at different times in human history, these archetypes, or elementary ideas, have appeared in different costumes. The differences in the costumes are the results of environment and historical conditions. It is these differences that the anthropologist is most concerned to identify and compare.”
Arthur Benard, Ph.D., M.F.T., in his workshop, “Dreams: Awakening Your Sleeping Genius,” lists archetypes:
“There is a part of the unconscious that all people have access to, which Carl Jung labeled the ‘collective unconscious.’ It is a psychic storehouse for all humankind, and the contents of the collective unconscious are called archetypes: patterns that are found within the conscious of everyone.

It is important to understand that the universal meanings and generalized definitions are of minimal value in terms of self-understanding and personal growth. Only through discovering your own translations of symbols, even universal ones, can you effect any real change or insight. Another limitation is that symbols change meaning according to the context in which they appear and the personal experience of the dreamer.

Angel – spiritual ideals; higher self-image, guiding angel
Bull – strength; earthly desires; take the bull by the horns; ‘bull market’.
Cave – hidden aspects of self; deeper levels of mind; exploring the depths of the inner self; site of mystery and healing; secrecy; hiding place when troubled.
Cross – difficulties we have to bear; the way of Christ; rebirth
Fire – at its worst-uncontrolled temper, jealousy, vengeance, hatred; its opposites are the fires of love, zeal, patriotic fervor, cleansing and purification.
Light – mental understanding; insight; spiritual illumination.
Mandala – designs usually enclosed within a circle, which represent wholeness and the higher self.
Mountain – attainment of spiritual awareness after surmounting obstacles; high ideals; mastery of earthly concerns; climbing a mountain – making spiritual progress.
Ocean – our emotions and their condition; subconscious and super-conscious areas of the mind; mysteries of the deep within us.
Rainbow – God’s promise to people; protection, happiness, joy and good things to come.
River – the course of life; flow of ideas and emotions; spiritual activity
Serpent/snake – the kundalini, the creative force that flows through us and can raise our energy to spiritual awareness; represents both good and evil; negative aspect - lust and temptation; positive aspect - wisdom and healing.
Star – high, spiritual ideals
Stone – foundation of truth, solid, dependable
Tree – support, strength, permanence, dignity; indicates growth and un-foldment; flowering tree – inner beauty, abundance, promise of the fruits of your labor.
Water – source of life; spiritual depths; feelings and emotions; deep, clear still water often represents truth about the inner self; murky water – emotions upset and in turmoil.

My brand new blog is called "Behind the Links."
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References on Spirituality -- Favorites from my old collection

  • "A Return To Love: Reflections On the Principles Of a Course In Miracles" by Marianne Williamson. Harper Collins, 1992
  • "A World Waiting To Be Born: Civility Rediscovered" by M. Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1993
  • "Chicken Soup For the Unsinkable Soul" by Canfield, Hansen and McNamara. Health Communications, 1999
  • "Compassion in Action: Setting Out On the Path of Service" by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush. Bell Tower Pub., 1992
  • "Creative Visualization" by Shakti Gawain. MIF Books, 1978
  • "Finding Values That Work: The Search For Fulfillment" by Brian O'Connell. Walker & Co., 1978
  • "Fire in the Soul" by Joan Borysenko. Warner Books, 1993
  • "Further Along the Road Less Traveled" by M. Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1993
  • "Guilt Is the Teacher, Love Is the Lesson" by Joan Borysenko. Warner Books, 1990
  • "Inner Simplicity: 100 Ways To Regain Peace and Nourish the Soul" by Elaine St. James. Hyperion, 1995
  • "Insearch:Psychology and Religion" by James Hillman. Spring Pub. 1994
  • "Man's Search For Himself" by Rollo May. Signet Books, 1953
  • "Mythologies" by William Butler Yeats. Macmillan, 1959
  • "Myths, Dreams and Religion" by Joseph Campbell. Spring Pub. 1988
  • "Passion for Life: Psychology and the Human Spirit" by John and Muriel James. Penguin Books, 1991
  • "Peace Is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hahn. Bantam Books , 1991
  • "The Heroine's Journey" by Mureen Murdock. Random House, 1990
  • "The Hope For Healing Human Evil" by M. Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1983
  • "The House of Belonging" poems by David Whyte. Many Rivers Press, 2004
  • "The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth" by M.Scott Peck. Simon and Schuster, 1978
  • "The Soul's Code: In Search Of Character and Calling" by James Hillman. Random House, 1996
  • "The World Treasury of Modern Religious Thought" by Jaroslav Pelikan. Little, Brown & Co., 1990
  • "Unconditional Life" by Deepak Chopra. Bantam Books, 1992
  • "Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation" by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Hyperion, 1994
  • "Zen Keys: A Guide to Zen Practice" by Thich Nhat Hahn. Doubleday Dell Pub. Group, 1974

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A retired counselor, I am equal parts Techie and Artist. I am a Democrat who came to the Southwest to attend college. I married, had kids and have lived here all my adult life.