Our Approach to Interpreting Dreams
We start our dream interpretation process with some principles of Jungian theory that describe how the human psyche operates. We then consider the dream and the dreamer's life situation from a Free-Form point of view.
The Challenge of Dream Content
The most puzzling, confusing, and difficult aspect of dreams is their content—their images and themes. To decipher the meaning of dream content, the Top-Down approach depends on applying strict rules of interpretation. On the other hand, the Free-Form method entails a lengthy and laborious examination of the dreamer's associations with the dream content.
We have found that an initial approach to the dream's structure—the who, what, when, and how of the dream—provides us with a meaningful and efficient framework within which to interpret the dream. In fact, determining a dream’s structural qualities accomplishes about 75% of the interpretive task. The remaining 25% comes from understanding and integrating the dream's content in the form of images and themes.
Determining the Structure of the Dream
Determining the who, what, when, and how of the dream involves answering four essential questions about a dream, usually before exploring the content. Each of the four questions encompasses both of the approaches to dream interpretation; however, each varies in the degree to which it relies on one approach over the other.
For example, the first question, who, is answered primarily from a Jungian Top-Down approach, while the fourth question, how, mainly uses a Free-Form point of view. After answering the four questions, content is examined from both perspectives. Our process in interpreting any dream is fluid rather than fixed. Moving back and forth between these two approaches yields a synthesis that reveals the dream's meaning.
The Four Essential Questions
1. Who: Objective or Subjective Dream?
The first question to ask is:
- Is the dream about the dreamer's relationship to the world—an objective dream—or is it about the dreamer him or herself—a subjective dream?
This question focuses on the who of the dream. Here is an example of an objective dream:
"I dreamed that I was painting a fence surrounding a pool at my supervisor’s house."
This dream is considered objective because it comments on the dreamer’s relationship with their actual supervisor, reflecting a recent event at work.
On the other hand, a subjective dream would look something like this:
"I dreamed that I owned a 1959 Cadillac, the kind with the big fins in the back. It was in excellent condition, and I thought I would just paint it white."
In this case, the Cadillac doesn’t exist in the dreamer’s real life, so the dream likely reflects some internal aspect of the dreamer—perhaps a sense of self-sufficiency and being equipped to move forward in life.
2. What: Confirmatory or Compensatory Dream?
The second question to ask is:
- What kind of information does the dream provide: confirmatory—reinforcing an aspect of waking life—or compensatory—correcting or balancing an exaggerated aspect of waking life?
This question addresses the what of the dream. Here is an example of a confirmatory dream:
"All night long I dreamed I was hearing the last movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the Ode to Joy."
The dreamer had recently submitted their resignation from a job they had disliked for years. The dream confirmed the decision in a melodious way.
An example of a compensatory dream might look like this:
"My best friend and I went camping. While sleeping in our tent that night, I dreamed that my friend got out of his sleeping bag and tried to strangle me. I woke up with a start."
In this dream, the dreamer liked and admired their friend, but the dream highlighted a deeper, unrecognized tension in the relationship.
3. When: Transitory or Enduring Issue?
The third question is about the when of the dream and asks:
- Is the dream about a transitory issue or life situation—something happening currently or periodically? Or is it about an enduring issue or life situation that persists over time?
4. How: Free-Form or Structural Interpretation?
The fourth question addresses the how of the dream. This question often calls for a Free-Form interpretation, allowing for a more personal and fluid understanding of the dream’s deeper meanings.
Conclusion
Our approach to dream interpretation, which moves fluidly between a Top-Down and Free-Form perspective, allows for a balanced and comprehensive understanding of dreams. Answering the four essential questions—who, what, when, and how—helps us to unlock the deeper meaning of dreams and the messages they convey about both waking life and the inner world.
See Archetypes, Jungian Theory, Dream Interpretation
[1]