history of dreams web

8/22/2019 History of Dreams Web

1/47

1

DreamsDreamsDreams

Joan C. Harthan, PhDJoan C. Harthan, PhD


2/47

2

Dreams have held enormousDreams have held enormous

fascination for humankindfascination for humankindthroughout the centuriesthroughout the centuries

z They have changed the course of

human destiny many timesz They have influenced all the major

religionsz They probably instigated humankind's

quest for spiritual knowledge


3/47


4/47

4

Letets look at what otherslook at what othersthink our dreams meanhink our dreams meanby taking a walk throughy taking a walk throughthe pasthe past

From AncientFrom AncientEgypt to modernEgypt to modern

dreamdreamresearchersresearchers


5/47

5

DreamsDreams


6/47

6

Egyptian BeliefsEgyptian Beliefsz Interpreted dreams as

messages from the gods.

z Serapis was the god ofdreams & Incubation Templeswere dedicated to him theone at Memphis built c3000BC

z Dream interpreters wereknown as the Learned men ofthe Magic Library

z Stele inscriptions

z Chester Beatty papyrus(c2000BC) lists good & bad

dreams, with interpretations


7/47

7

Indian BeliefsIndian Beliefs

z Vedas (sacred books of wisdom)written c1500BC includes dream

interpretationsz Also contains speculations about

dreams at certain times of night

e.g. 1st

sleep period dreams wouldnot come true for a year, dreamsbefore waking were already halfrealised

z Upanishads (900BC) suggest dreamimages are from the dreamer butalso suggests the soul leaves the

body during sleep


8/47

8

Greek BeliefsGreek Beliefsz Earliest references are in Homer

dreams associated with importantturning points in lives of the heroes

z In the Iliad, Zeus is the god whosends dreams to men. In theOdyssey, Athene sends dreams to

womenz The Greek tragedies contain many

dreams and interpretations

z Freud immortalised the drama bySophocles Oedipus Rex

z Dream Temples dedicated to

Aesculapius were used for incubatinghealing dreams


9/47

9

Chinese BeliefsChinese Beliefsz Sophisticated philosophy: material

soulpo, spiritual soul, hun

z The hunwas involved in dreaming

leaving the body each night to roamin the realms of the dead

z Chou Kungs Book of Auspicious and

Inauspicious Dreams1020BCz Lie-tseuis a Taoist work that defines

several classes of dreams

compensatoryz Dream incubation widely practised

Last night I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky;

then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being abutterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?- Chuang Tzu 389-286 BC


10/47

10

Hebrew BeliefsHebrew Beliefsz Jacobs ladder to heavenz Daniel gained political power by

interpreting Nebuchadnezzarsdreams

z As did Joseph in Egyptz Angels were Gods messengersz The Talmud contains 217

references to dreams manycauses: physical, emotional,spiritual

z An uninterpreted dream is like an

unread letter

"For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In adream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep falleth upon menslumbering upon their bed, then He openeth their ears and sealeth intheir instructions. -Job 33: 14-16


11/47

11

Roman BeliefsRoman Beliefs

z

Influenced by the Greeksz Dream incubation shrines

z Roman Orator Cicero was

cynical about dreaminterpretation so manymeanings

.. On whatever subject we have much previously dealt, ., duringsleep we, for the most part, fancy that we are engaged in the same. Lucretius 98-55 B.C.


12/47

12

Artemidorus ofArtemidorus ofDaldisDaldisz Born in Greece in 2nd

century AD

z Dreams are acontinuation of wakingexperiences

z Wrote a series of fivebooks, TheOneirocritica

z Significant influence upuntil dawn of modernpsychology

Dreams and visions are infused into men for theiradvantage and instruction.


13/47

13

HippocratesHippocratesz 469 399 BC

contemporary ofSocrates

z Some dreams divinelyinspired

z But most the result ofsensations in the body

z Useful in the diagnosisand treatment ofdisease as humoralimbalances could bedetected

All the objects we believe to seeindicate a wish of the soul.


14/47

14

PlatoPlato

z 427 347 BC

z Interested in

emotionalimplications ofdreams

z Reasoning suspendedin sleep and so desireand anger reveal

themselves

In all of us, even in good men, there is a lawlesswild beast nature which peers out in sleep.


15/47

15

AristotleAristotle

z Platos student 384 322 BC

z Dreams are the result of

physical stimuliz Like Hippocrates, he believed

dreams could be prodromal

z Suggested prophetic dreamswere simply result of causeand effect

The most skilled interpreter of dreams is hewho has the faculty of observing resemblances


16/47

16

New TestamentNew Testament

z

Josephz The three wise men

z Pilates wife

Have nothing to do with that just man for I havesuffered many things this day in a dream becauseof him."(Matthew 27:19).


17/47

17

GalenGalenz Greek Physician born around 130

A.D.z Trained at a medical school

attached to a shrine of Aesculpius it was a dream that caused achange from studying philosophy

z Like Hippocrates, he believeddreams could be prodromal

z Dream interpretation difficultbecause some are wakingmemories and some areprophetic

z Carried out operations on basis ofguidance received in dreams

It is necessary to observe dreams accurately both as towhat is seen and what is done in sleep in order that you mayprognosticate and heal satisfactorily


18/47

18

St. J eromeSt. J eromez St. Jerome (4th century A.D.)

correctly translated theHebrew word anan

(witchcraft) in the Bibleexcept for three occurrenceswhen he translated the wordinto into observo somnia

(observing dreams)z This changed Christian belief

and within two centuries the

Church decreed dreams werethe Devils work

z Resulted in the stifling ofcreative pursuits for centuries

In the West, thismistrust of dreams

has more or lessremained


19/47

19

MacrobiusMacrobius

z Contemporary of Jerome

z Wrote about nightmares

(insomnium) and apparitions(phantasma)

z Formulated the concept ofincubusand succubusseductive demons

z His published Commentarybecame very influential the

most well-known dream book inmedieval Europe and addedsubstantially to the paranoiaabout evil spirits that became the

hallmark of the Dark Ages


20/47

20

Thomas AquinasThomas Aquinas

z

Attempted to explaindreams rationally,(prompted by wakingexperiences or physicalsensations),

zAnd also in terms of

moral philosophy; somedreams are sent by God(but only to the clergy)

z

Most are sent by thedevil.

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), wrote extensively on theprophetic nature of dreams, influenced greatly by

Aristotles work


21/47

21

The Dark AgesThe Dark AgeszAnd so Demons andDevils became an

obsession for Western

ChristianszA link was made between

Lucifer and sexual

perversity in dreamsz It became a sin to

believe in dreams

zAnd so dreaming becamea very hazardousnocturnal activity which

could never be discussedopenly


22/47

22

1717thth / 18/ 18thth centurycentury

z Philosophers were becomingscientists

z Royal Society founded in 1645z Knowledge to be acquired only by

experimental investigation

z Reductionism became popular

z Dreams (like witchcraft) were

assigned to the realms ofsuperstition

z But many artists (and some

scientists) still believed

Robert Boyle one of thefounders of the Royal Society


23/47

23


24/47

24

1919thth centurycentury

z By now it was realised thatman had a mind and that

this could not be explained interms of biologyz Carl Carus published Psyche

in 1846z Consciousness arosegradually in life but alwaysunder the influence of theunconscious

z 3 kinds of dreams Mineral

Vegetal Animal


25/47

25

FrankFrank SeafieldSeafield a neglected voicea neglected voice

z

Real nameAlexander Grantz Published

comprehensivereview on dreamsin 1865

z Concluded,In

somnio veritasTruth is in Sleep

He recognised:Dreams have intelligible meaningContent is related to dreamerspersonality and thoughts &emotions of previous day

Some dreams are prodromalThe dreaming mind is capable ofproblem solving

Dreams can be compensatoryIntrospection about ones dreamscan lead to valuable insight toachieve a better balanced

personality

2020thth CC t Si d F dSi d F d


26/47

26

2020thth CenturyCentury -- Sigmund FreudSigmund Freud

z 1856 1939z The interpretation of

dreams (1900)z Manifest & latent dream

content

z Wish fulfilmentz Closely linked to libido

z

Ego, super ego and idz Dreams conceal

forbidden desires

z Free association of ideas


27/47

27

Carl JungCarl Jung z 1875 1961

z Freuds protgzAlchemy, myths and

legends

z Cultural similarities

z Spiritual nature

z Conscious, subconsciousand collectiveunconscious

zAnima, animus, shadowz Symbolism important

z Dreams elucidate and

express the truth


28/47

28

Alfred AdlerAlfred Adlerz 1870 1937.

z Dreams are emotionalrehearsals where we

practice modes ofbehaviour that willincrease our power andself-worth.

z Dreams identify andovercome those

character traits thatprevent us from beingwho we really want tobe.


29/47

29

Other voicesOther voices

z Rational explanation

for precognitivedreams proposedJohn W. Dunne in

the 1920s

z

And some not sorational e.g. EdgarCayce


30/47

30


31/47

31

J. Allan HobsonJ. Allan Hobson

z Theory of activationsynthesis

z Do the best we canwith whatevercomes along

zAgrees that dreamsare relevant to life

of dreamer but doesnot recognise thatanalysing themserves any purpose


32/47

32

Ernest HartmannErnest Hartmann

z Dreams are the resultof a chemical balancingact in the brain

z In wakingconsciousness, feedforward nets operate

z In dreams auto -associative nets occur


33/47

33

StephenStephen LaBergeLaBergez Leading name in

lucid dreamingz Has shown that self-

reflection is notalways absent indreaming

z Feels that currentneurochemicalmodels are over-simplified


34/47

34

Calvin S. HallCalvin S. Hallz 1909 1985.

z Developed a cognitive

theory of dreams whichstates that dreams express"conceptions" of self,

family members, friends,and social environment.

z Developed a quantitativecoding system with BobVan De Castle for dream

content (1966) that is stillused today.


35/47

35

MontagueMontague UllmanUllman

z Developed a uniquetechnique to use ingroupwork.

z If this were mydream . . . . .


36/47

36

Robert Van De CastleRobert Van De Castlez Co-authored Content

Analysis of DreamswithCalvin Hall in 1966

z Wrote Our DreamingMindin 1994 source ofmost of the material inthis presentation

z Currently researchingthe appearance andmeaning of angels indreams


37/47

37

RobertRobert HossHoss

z Built on techniques usedin Gestalt therapy

z Has researched ourinstinctive, emotionalresponse to colour

z Has proposed ImageActivation Dreamwork

which includescompletion of ColourQuestionnaire, as a wayof working with dreams


38/47

38

GeorgeGeorge LakoffLakoffzA linguist & politician

z Believes thatmetaphor underpinsall language, cultureand thoughtprocesses; includingdreams

z Metaphor is how weconceptualise theworld


39/47

39

Robert MossRobert Moss

zActive dreaming

z Synthesis of dreamwork

and shamanictechniques

z Lightning Dreamwork

The International Association forThe International Association for


40/47

40

he International Association forf

the Study of Dreams (IASD)the Study of Dreams (IASD)z A global community of dream workers

z A non-profit, international, multidisciplinaryorganization dedicated to the pure and appliedinvestigation of dreams and dreaming.

z Mission is to promote an awareness and appreciation

of dreams in both professional and public arenas; toencourage research into the nature, function andsignificance of dreaming; to advance the application

of the study of dreams; and to provide a forum forthe eclectic and interdisciplinary exchange of ideasand information.

z All members abide by the IASD Ethical guidelines

z www.asdreams.org

h d ?S h t d ?


41/47

41

So, what are dreams?So, what are dreams?

z Are they caused by random firings of brain

stem?z Do we dream in order to forget?z How are neural networks implicated?z Is dreaming a survival strategy?z Do we dream to learn?z

Are dreams the language of the unconscious?z Are they messages from God?z Can we access alternate realities when we

dream?

Wh t b liWh t b li


42/47

42

Whatever you believe . . .Whatever you believe . . .

z Dreams are a psychic reality

z They can be used as a powerful pathwayto self-knowledge

z They can provide direct access to thepsyche

z Many people use them to solve problems

Th th f tTh th f t


43/47

These are the facts . . .These are the facts . . .

z Dreams are a natural functioning of mind

z

Metaphor abounds; language and conceptsare translated literally

z There is overwhelming evidence that

dreams reflect the current situation ofthe dreamer

z Sleep on it has been scientifically provento be sound advice for solving problems

z In an average lifetime, we spend 25 years

asleep and 8 years dreaming

Questions currently beingQuestions currently being


44/47

Questions currently beingQuestions currently being

debated by the scientificdebated by the scientificcommunitycommunity

z How are dreams formed?

z

Do they have a function; If so,what is it?

z Is it useful to analyse them?

z If so, how should this analysis beapproached?


45/47

What do you thinkyour dreams mean?


46/47

If youIf youre notre notsure (and evensure (and even

if you thinkif you thinkyou are!) whyyou are!) why

not find outnot find out

more?more?ISBN 1-4120-5546-6

Order your copy today


47/47

47

Thank youThank youforfor

watching.watching.

Copyright J.C.Harthan 2005

history of dreams web

Documents