Abstract Index Conference Index

ABSTRACT

Dreams and Our Relation to Reality

Bonnelle Lewis Strickling, MA, PhD, RCC is a Jungian psychotherapist in private practice; Senior Spiritual Director of the Cathedral Centre for Spiritual Direction (Christ Church Cathedral, Anglican); instructor in philosophy and classical studies, Langara College; clinical associate, Dept. of Psychology, Simon Fraser University; Association for the Study of Dreams board member and chair of the education committee.

Dr. Bonnelle Strickling
E-mail: blstr@home.com

4. Summary of presentation

Throughout his work, Jung explored the relation between the conscious and the unconscious. He believed that the complexities of contemporary life have required the development of a particularly powerful barrier between the conscious and unconscious. I will argue that work with dreams, especially dreams about the Divine, has a direct effect on our experience of ourselves and others and ultimately, on our experience of reality and development of values.

5. 3 learning objectives.
1. Better understanding of Jung=s theories about the relation of the conscious and unconscious.
2. Reflection about the relation between our experiences and our relation to reality.
3. Reflection about the relation between (2) and the development of values.

3 questions
1. Do I better understand Jung's theories about the relation of the conscious and unconscious?
2. Do I understand how dream work can affect my experience of reality?
3. Do I understand the presenter's conception of the relation between experience of reality and
values?

DREAMS AND OUR RELATION TO REALITY

Throughout his work, Jung raised the issue of the relation between conscious and unconscious life. He believed that the complexity of contemporary life causes the development of a particularly strong barrier between conscious and unconscious life; many of his therapeutic techniques, especially work with dreams, are designed to enhance the relation between conscious and unconscious life. Jung was especially concerned with our having access to the unconscious because while our conscious, ego-defined lives are limited, the energies of the unconscious are unlimited. In my paper, I want to explore the difference in the phenomenology of consciousness that can be made through work with dreams, especially dreams about the Divine. I will argue that, without the kind of contact with the unconscious that Jung discusses, we are not only cut off from significant aspects of ourselves, but also are unable to experience reality-our own and that of others-in its fullest form. Though many philosophers in the tradition of empiricism represent the experience of reality as a relatively straightforward subject-object relationship, philosophers in the Continental tradition, such as Husserl and Heidegger, argue that the experience of reality is a complex and essentially involves subjectivity. Roger Brooke, in his book Jung and Phenomenology, argues persuasively for a strong affinity between the Jungian view of the psyche and a phenomenologically-based view. In my paper, I will argue that work on dreams directly affects the phenomenology of experience, which in turn can radically alter our conceptions of reality, ourselves and our values.