|
¡°A dream which is not interpreted is like a letter which is not read,¡± says the Talmud. Or, as the mythology expert Dr. Koh Hea-kyoung says, ¡°Wherever you are and whatever you do in the world, if you listen to the message of the dream and the voice of the soul, you will not drift away from yourself or God.¡± She claims that by interpreting dreams, almost half of Korea¡¯s epidemic suicides could be prevented.
¡ß Every dream has a message
The psychoanalysts who studied dreams like Sigmund Fred, Alfred Adler and C.G. Jung argued that a dream not only has a message but also reflects everything from leftovers from the day to sexual identity, power relationships, premonitions and childhood relationships with parents. Koh says there are no trivial dreams and every dream has a message, big or small. And there is no one who does not dream, even if some people don¡¯t remember their dreams. The view that dreams are a mirror of reality suggests that we should not ignore the symbols and metaphors we see when we are asleep.
¡ß Sleeping with prehistoric man
How should an everyday dream be interpreted? ¡°In my case, if I see someone who looks worn out, I take it as a warning that tells me how worn out I am myself,¡± Koh says. ¡°A dream makes you realize your present situation and warns you to seek wisdom to cope with it. Although a dream can¡¯t prevent you from getting sick, if you understand the message and act immediately, you may only get a light fever instead of being laid up with a terrible cold.¡± She cites Jung, who said everyone has a 2 million-year-old man inside.
¡ß Studying dreams
Koh advises studying dreams if you want to know more about their interpretation. To begin with, keep a dream diary every morning. ¡°Keeping a diary of your dreams will help you not only understand the most important task for you at that moment but also gain the wisdom needed to perform the task,¡± she says. She also suggests forming a small group where members can freely talk about their dreams instead of seeking an expert¡¯s interpretation of them. ¡°This will help you look into dreams from various perspectives. There is no better way to understand the multiple meanings of dreams. Another good thing about talking about dreams is that no one points a finger at you for it.¡±
¡ß Talking about dreams can heal emotional scars
To prove the healing power of dreams, Koh recalls a man in his 40s who quit his job due to depression. ¡°He often dreamed about a two-headed snake. Having been a student activist in the 1980s, he was sensitive to social issues and suffered great qualms at work due to the gap between his ideals and reality. He told his story for the first time some eight months after he joined a dream group,¡± she says. ¡°Anyone can benefit from talking about their dreams because the fact that they dream a dream and remember it suggests that they can solve the problems it hints at.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
