you are at home,
engaged in some everyday task
suddenly you are startled by a noise;
you sense a presence outside
you become frightened, run to the door,
and struggle to keep it closed
someone or something is trying
to force its way in
* * * * * * *
the above is a common nightmare scenario; and
it is likely that most of us have this kind of dream
it centers around a vulnerablity, an attempted
break in and an unseen
Intruderwhat might be the significance of such a dream?
for an answer to this question, many therapists
would turn to the work of psychiatrist
Carl Jung Jung contended that dreams about houses are
essentially dreams about ourselves
for Jungians, a dreamed house can represent
the dreamer's psyche; and it would be from this
perspective they would begin to interpret a dream
that involves an intruder
according to this school of thought, an intruder
could represent unconscious material that had been
pushed from conscious awareness
threatening material that is now surfacing, and
resulting in anxiety
this might include: feelings of guilt about previous
actions, memories of traumatic events, or unease
about potential harassment, violation etc.
this threatening material is entering unwelcomed
into the dreamer's awareness (his "house")
it is intrusive, intruding and in the logic and language
of dreams, it can manifest as
the Intruder