Thanks for explaining - that sounds profoundly helpful. The closest I've come to reading about that kind of thing is Marion Woodman's BodySoul rhythms approach. Yes 13 years and still dreaming about the ex in various scenarios, though its now once a month or so and not multiple times a week. When I was participating in your discussion of Jung's view of compensation I wondered whether she always appeared as herself, or is a cypher. Tricky to know.
Yes, Marion's work is one of the only bridges of Jungian and somatic techniques that I've really come across. Otherwise, it's more of a picking and choosing from different modalities that can achieve something similar.
Perhaps the ex is both; herself and a cypher? Mercurial as dreams are, she could be symbolizing different qualities and essences at any given point. All part of the beauty and frustration, isn't it? Can't ever be totally sure of what the dream means.
A break up after 23 years, utterly devastating provoked extremely vivid dreams that continued from 2010 to this day. After about 5 years of them I got really frustrating thinking 'I get it, she's gone, you don't have to keep telling me that', but in the last year or so they've started to change. It like knowing that its over 'inside' the dream and my dream self seems to have more resilience. But in the immediate aftermath of the breakup I can see that they were compensating against my hope that she would come back, by insistently showing me that it was completely over. So it was an insight I didn't particularly want to have but the dreamworld never stopped telling me. I was interested in your comment on getting somatic help within therapy. I wondered if you could explain a bit more about what that looks like, but if its private, then of course, no need to comment.
Such a longtime to have a dream series. I wonder if it was weaving in other areas of life over the last 13 years?
Regarding somatics, I have wavered between pure somatic therapy and Jungian therapy the last few years. If I was in Jungian analysis too long, I'd feel the body was being lost (and even had dreams calling me back to body work). If I did somatics too long, I felt the richness of the inner world was not being taken into account. So, earlier this year I went on a hunt to find a Jungian therapist who also practiced my preferred form of somatic therapy, called Somatic Experiencing (SE). Luckily, I was able to find a Jungian Analyst who is also a certified SE practitioner.
Sessions look really different each time, but if we are working on a particular situation, she will guide me to notice the sensations in my body, the qualities and felt-sense. She helps me process somatic tension by resourcing, being present with the sensations, and inviting me to breathe, move my body or notice posture. Then we might switch to a more Jungian approach and break down a related dream image, the symbolism, patterns, etc. And if that brings up affect, we make sure to check in again with the body and see how I am doing. Sometimes we begin our sessions in quiet meditation, noticing what is happening in the body, and begin there. It's such a lovely mix, and it has been really nourishing for me. I am grateful to be working with someone who can switch modalities in a single session. It feels like I've finally found the right mix of therapeutic support and interventions for my needs :)
Hello, I haven’t listened to the episode yet, but the thesis prompted something in me! I split with my partner yesterday night, it was initially amicable, but turned very sour, largely on her part, but I did little to “not engage” after a few hours of silence.
It ended up being a very intense break up, with me being blocked on everything. I went to bed relieved but understandably upset. I don’t particularly remember the dream as I didn’t feel the urge to write it down after waking, but I have remnants spurred by your post.
In my dream I am with a park ranger that feels like a forest guardian old lady or something. She’s telling me about how things are done there, and I know she is from my now ex’s forest community. I keep thinking that I shouldn’t be here, we are broken up. The forest guardian tells me more rules about the forest here, very matter of factly and when she talks about the bear I get annoyed, because the bear doesn’t mean the same thing back in my community’s forest. I know there is a large brown bear watching us as this is happening and before anything happens I’m forced awake by my roommate.
Fascinating, what's your associations to the bear or forest? From an archetypal perspective, the forest is often related to the unconscious psyche. So, how you define something inwardly is different than how your ex defines it, or how you each relate to it, what it brings up in the forest of the unconscious stands in contrast. But the guardian figure (who I assume is wiser/has knowledge due to her role) is making a point to explain these different perspectives. What did she say the bear represented? Understanding its meaning may be key to figuring out more of what the dream is offering. Just some thoughts and musings on these dream images.
I’m a cat person in general I share a special bond with cats ,but since the dream and then the waking dream I never wanted to have a black cat
I welcomed the little black kitten
This synchronicity was powerful , joyful and hopeful and this is a gift that needs to be shared & as I’m sharing the narrative I have the urge to have a white cat by my side !
I use to have one white when I’ve lived in Athens in my second therapeutic home she was showing up each time I was drinking my tea at the square near my residence ...
Perhaps ! I’ll let it unfold 🤍 for what sometimes I have observed from what it seems obvious to my external observer has nothing to do with the way of the dream .
The felt sense I can say is sweetness and those two are getting to like each other .
Thanks for explaining - that sounds profoundly helpful. The closest I've come to reading about that kind of thing is Marion Woodman's BodySoul rhythms approach. Yes 13 years and still dreaming about the ex in various scenarios, though its now once a month or so and not multiple times a week. When I was participating in your discussion of Jung's view of compensation I wondered whether she always appeared as herself, or is a cypher. Tricky to know.
Yes, Marion's work is one of the only bridges of Jungian and somatic techniques that I've really come across. Otherwise, it's more of a picking and choosing from different modalities that can achieve something similar.
Perhaps the ex is both; herself and a cypher? Mercurial as dreams are, she could be symbolizing different qualities and essences at any given point. All part of the beauty and frustration, isn't it? Can't ever be totally sure of what the dream means.
A break up after 23 years, utterly devastating provoked extremely vivid dreams that continued from 2010 to this day. After about 5 years of them I got really frustrating thinking 'I get it, she's gone, you don't have to keep telling me that', but in the last year or so they've started to change. It like knowing that its over 'inside' the dream and my dream self seems to have more resilience. But in the immediate aftermath of the breakup I can see that they were compensating against my hope that she would come back, by insistently showing me that it was completely over. So it was an insight I didn't particularly want to have but the dreamworld never stopped telling me. I was interested in your comment on getting somatic help within therapy. I wondered if you could explain a bit more about what that looks like, but if its private, then of course, no need to comment.
Such a longtime to have a dream series. I wonder if it was weaving in other areas of life over the last 13 years?
Regarding somatics, I have wavered between pure somatic therapy and Jungian therapy the last few years. If I was in Jungian analysis too long, I'd feel the body was being lost (and even had dreams calling me back to body work). If I did somatics too long, I felt the richness of the inner world was not being taken into account. So, earlier this year I went on a hunt to find a Jungian therapist who also practiced my preferred form of somatic therapy, called Somatic Experiencing (SE). Luckily, I was able to find a Jungian Analyst who is also a certified SE practitioner.
Sessions look really different each time, but if we are working on a particular situation, she will guide me to notice the sensations in my body, the qualities and felt-sense. She helps me process somatic tension by resourcing, being present with the sensations, and inviting me to breathe, move my body or notice posture. Then we might switch to a more Jungian approach and break down a related dream image, the symbolism, patterns, etc. And if that brings up affect, we make sure to check in again with the body and see how I am doing. Sometimes we begin our sessions in quiet meditation, noticing what is happening in the body, and begin there. It's such a lovely mix, and it has been really nourishing for me. I am grateful to be working with someone who can switch modalities in a single session. It feels like I've finally found the right mix of therapeutic support and interventions for my needs :)
Hello, I haven’t listened to the episode yet, but the thesis prompted something in me! I split with my partner yesterday night, it was initially amicable, but turned very sour, largely on her part, but I did little to “not engage” after a few hours of silence.
It ended up being a very intense break up, with me being blocked on everything. I went to bed relieved but understandably upset. I don’t particularly remember the dream as I didn’t feel the urge to write it down after waking, but I have remnants spurred by your post.
In my dream I am with a park ranger that feels like a forest guardian old lady or something. She’s telling me about how things are done there, and I know she is from my now ex’s forest community. I keep thinking that I shouldn’t be here, we are broken up. The forest guardian tells me more rules about the forest here, very matter of factly and when she talks about the bear I get annoyed, because the bear doesn’t mean the same thing back in my community’s forest. I know there is a large brown bear watching us as this is happening and before anything happens I’m forced awake by my roommate.
Fascinating, what's your associations to the bear or forest? From an archetypal perspective, the forest is often related to the unconscious psyche. So, how you define something inwardly is different than how your ex defines it, or how you each relate to it, what it brings up in the forest of the unconscious stands in contrast. But the guardian figure (who I assume is wiser/has knowledge due to her role) is making a point to explain these different perspectives. What did she say the bear represented? Understanding its meaning may be key to figuring out more of what the dream is offering. Just some thoughts and musings on these dream images.
Thanks for sharing!
I have an image that appeared in my dream & the next day it arrived at my door in the waking world !
I’m accompanied by a black cat 🐈⬛ and although everyone almost say it’s jinx or bad luck , to me this cat is a strong ally .
She is helping me cross over a bridge from my family
House into the unknown .
She gives me comfort this eclipse , oh boy dreams are really intense .
Thank you for this work Alyssa 🕊🐆
What a powerful synchronicity! The black cat is certainly auspicious. It's connection to the archetype of the witch has always been curious to me.
Have you always felt drawn to the black cat?
I’m a cat person in general I share a special bond with cats ,but since the dream and then the waking dream I never wanted to have a black cat
I welcomed the little black kitten
This synchronicity was powerful , joyful and hopeful and this is a gift that needs to be shared & as I’m sharing the narrative I have the urge to have a white cat by my side !
I use to have one white when I’ve lived in Athens in my second therapeutic home she was showing up each time I was drinking my tea at the square near my residence ...
A black cat and a white cat. A balance of light and dark, perhaps?
Perhaps ! I’ll let it unfold 🤍 for what sometimes I have observed from what it seems obvious to my external observer has nothing to do with the way of the dream .
The felt sense I can say is sweetness and those two are getting to like each other .
How lovely, a sweetness that you can just be present with. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for connecting & for all you do for the world 🌎