“Dreams are like letters from God. Isn’t it time you answered your mail?”
This quote is by Marie-Louise von Franz who was a Jungian analyst and the author of several books about analytical psychology. She also collaborated with Carl Jung for many years.
Until I was in my mid-30s I didn’t think much about dreams. If I remembered a dream in which something unusual happened or that in some other way caught my attention, l would wonder briefly why a dream like that might occur, but that would be the extent of my interest. It wasn’t until I began therapy with a Jungian psychotherapist who I had sought out because I was struggling with some difficulties going on in my life that I learned that dreams have meaning. In addition to my therapist and me talking about my dreams during our sessions, I started reading books about Jungian dream theory. Most of the books I read were written by Jungian analysts who had years of experience meeting with clients and therefore who had heard thousands of dreams. Hearing those dreams and discussing them with their clients enabled them to confirm Carl Jung’s writings about dreams and to expand upon his findings.
I have paid attention to my dreams ever since, including recording them in my journal. Writing down one’s dreams is an important part of the process. I also make note of any associations I have to people and places that appear in my dreams and of any other thoughts I have about each dream. Jungian dream theory propounds that when people with whom we are familiar appear in our dreams, the great majority of the time the dreams are not about those people. Instead, the people represent aspects of ourselves. For example, a politician appeared in one of my dreams who has said and done things that make it clear he is egotistical, dishonest, and lacking in empathy and integrity. Having learned that people who appear in dreams often symbolize aspects of the dreamer, I was at first disheartened that he was in my dream because of my negative associations to him. But I also realized that my dream was reminding me that I too have a degree of those traits and to be watchful of them. The dream was also a reminder that we all have dark aspects even though we don’t necessarily like to be reminded of them.
I’ve also had dreams in which people appeared who symbolize positive qualities, including creativity, generosity, empathy, courage, and respect for others. When a person appears in my dream to whom I have positive associations, I’m reassured that I too have some degree of the qualities symbolized by that person.
So I appreciate von Franz’s creative description of dreams as being letters from God. Just as it is important to read letters we receive, it is important to write down our dreams, contemplate them, and be thankful for them. And I also appreciate her reminder to us to answer our mail. In other words, to do our best to discern the possible messages and guidance of our dreams and then to integrate those messages and guidance into our daily living.
