The Archetypal Dimension of
Bereavement Dreams
Geri Grubbs, PhD, is a
practicing Jungian analyst in Seattle, WA. A graduate of the C. G.
Jung Institute-Zurich, she has been practicing depth psychology
since 1987. She has lectured and taught widely on dream
interpretation and bereavement, and is the author of
Bereavement Dreaming and the Individuating Soul.
Abstract
Geri Grubbs’ book, “Bereavement
Dreaming and the Individuating Soul,” presents the death-and-grief
process expressed in our dreams following the death of a loved
one. The workshop follows the content of her book, beginning with
the sharing of a precognitive dream that she had prior to the
sudden death of her 16-year old son, and the dreams that came to
her immediately afterward. She reveals how the archetypes in her
dreams and those from three other personal stories not only
prepared the dreamers for the upcoming tragedy of death in their
lives, but also helped them address their grief and transcend
their suffering. According to Jung, archetypes are the
God-likeness in man that are “meant to attract, to convince, to
fascinate, and to overpower.” It is through the archetypes that
life renewal occurs.
It is quite evident
that the bereaved enter a transitional, or liminal, period
following a sudden separation by death, and this liminal state is
revealed in their dreams. In Eastern religions, it is believed
that dreams cross the realm of sleep for the living and the place
of death for the deceased; therefore, encounters with deceased
spirits in dreams are not uncommon. Such encounters, referred to
as visitations, may occur for several months or even years
following a loss by death, and can be a source of resolution and
transition for the bereaved.
Significant dream
themes may come upon the bereaved during the early phases of
bereavement, all of which connect them symbolically and
psychically with the world of the dead. Such themes include the
death tunnel and bridal chamber commonly seen in near-death
experiences, dismembered Osiris, the Egyptian deity of afterlife,
the Dark Night of the Soul, a representation of the deep sorrow of
bereavement, images of the Self as encounters with the divine, and
the death wedding or sacred marriage in which the soul of the
deceased, as well as the bereaved, unite with the universal
dimension. These themes will be presented visually through a slide
presentation. Also shown will be images of Mexico’s Day of the
Dead celebration that gives an insightful example of how other
cultures accept death as part of the life process. Finally, the
group will learn specific rituals, referred to as a “bereavement
dream sanctuary”, through which the bereaved can find respite and
connection with their deceased loved one.
Following the presentation, those who wish will have
an opportunity to share their experiences involving bereavement
dreaming and explore what these dreams may be expressing. Focus
during this time will be on the major phases of bereavement
dreaming according to Dr. Grubbs. These include: liminality;
seeking, rescuing, and visiting; separation and parting; emotional
chaos; internalization and regeneration; reunion/renewal;
transcendence and transformation.
