Dream Dictionaries - cultural superstitions or valid?
By fluffleshark
@fluffleshark (810)
Ireland
January 2, 2007 5:46am CST
I was given a 'dream dictionary' for a present. One of the ones that has an alphabetical list of things like 'raven, river, robber' and then says what it means if you dream about a raven, river, robber etc.
Now I do find it interesting, but I have always rather interpreted my dreams based on my personal circumstances and associations, and what is happening in my life at the time. I've always been of the opinion that a raven, river, robber or whatever would mean different things to different people, based on their own personality, circumstances and culture. I've always veiwed this type of dream dictionary as basically a list of cultural-specific superstitions and old-wives tales. But maybe I am wrong and there are in fact universal archetypes that transcend experiences and culture? What do you think?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
4 Jan 07
Dreams are the strips of the mind that you are wrestling with.There are supposedly cetain ones that universally are acceped as being true,but as you pointed out it is how you view what is in your dream.
Here is a thought....since we can not remember every detail of our dreams(or at least that is true for me),then how does the memory decide what to keep??Is there a filtering system that allows only certain segments be kept?
And as you indicated,does a raven to you mean the same to me...
@fluffleshark (810)
• Ireland
4 Jan 07
Very interesting thoughts lonewolfnan. I believe that while we are awake, we filter much of reality - most of the stimulus around us. Actually I read recently that babies do not yet have the stimulus filtering capacity, which is why they get so easily overstimulated. I personally think that some people have an inferior filtering capacity, therefore see more of reality, which sometimes leads to depression and anxiety etc. Just my theory! ;) Maybe from dreams the memory transmits to the conscious mind only what is helpful in everyday life, and nothing that would destabilise us?
@birthlady (5609)
• United States
4 Jan 07
Alittle of both. While there's probably universal archtypes as Jung described, there's also other levels of dreaming that are very personal, clairvoyant dreams, lucid dreams, and things like that.
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