Archetypal symbols in our dreams, Jung taught, are especially important as they carry potent healing energy, enabling us to change on inner levels that bypass pure intellect. The unconscious mind actually‘speaks’ in symbols—symbols are its language—so we accomplish change most powerfully when we communicate with the inner self using archetypal symbols instead of words. Let us say, for example, that you have an exceptionally clear and vivid dream about a robed, bearded figure—a typical image of the wise old man—and he is floating outside the windows of your home. Since the home often represents yourself, the dream might make you aware that you are seeing wisdom outside of yourself instead of within. But the presence of the archetypal symbol also tells us that our higher self seeks to intervene!
Or let’s say you dreamed of a valiant hero or heroine rescuing you from extreme danger. You may be hoping to be rescued by someone in your waking life. Your dreaming mind is urging you to accept assistance if it is given to you; it may also be urging you to find the hero or heroine, in other words courage, within yourself. Or you might have an archetypal dream of a mother bear. In the dream, this archetype of the great mother might be cuffing her young or refusing to feed them. Such a scene would give you important information about how you are nurturing others or yourself. Perhaps you neglected your basic needs. In some way, you are not ‘mothering yourself’ in a healthy and beneficial manner; your higher self seeks to call this to your attention.
On the other hand, in a time of loneliness in your life, you might dream of being held and comforted by a great mother figure—and wake up from the dream feeling energized and ready to go on. The great mother in your dream, in a very real way,‘kissed it and made it better’. In looking at these two views of the mother, you can see the opposite sides that Jung pointed out were an essential aspect of all archetypes. It is through integrating this duality that you can become whole and at peace. [1]