Bombs Away
Richard L. Kradin
May 8, 2018 DOI: 10.4324/9780429481987-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that dreams incorporate recent memories, or day residue, into a symbolic narrative rather than referring to actual past events, and that the dreaming "self" may contribute to and critique waking consciousness via what Edinger called the ego-Self axis. Contends that dream interpretation should add to what the dreamer already knows, and that no mystical characteristics need be attributed to dream consciousness beyond those inherent to symbols. |
Abstract
The dream communicates a symbolic narrative, but few modern dreamers can fully appreciate its significance without assistance. The day residue represents perceptions registered while awake that appear in the dream of the same night. Whereas memories contribute to dreams, there is little reason to conclude that when embroidered into the dream narrative that they refer to actual past events. It is more likely that the dreaming mind incorporates recent memories in the service of producing its own symbolic narrative. As C. G. Jung emphasized, when a dream interpretation adds little to what the dreamer already knows, it has likely missed the mark. As Jung suggested, one important activity of the dreaming "self" may be to contribute to and critique waking consciousness, via what Edinger referred to as the ego-Self axis. There is no intrinsic need to attribute mystical characteristics to dream consciousness, other than those that naturally inhere to symbols.