Skip to main content
Log in

Sacred images in dreamwork: The journey into self as journey into God

  • Articles
  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In adults, it is proposed that psychospiritual development occurs concurrently with a shift in god-image. Dreams provide primary access to discover and study this shift. Midlife graduate students in Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Development each submitted a dream in a group seminar format. Images and themes that emerged reflect the individuation process described by C. G. Jung: the archetypal journey of life, the descent into hell, and the inner marriage were themes that recurred. This paper includes examples of dream material suggesting various sacred images and discussion of the dreams as a “call to ministry.” Also presented are techniques for group dream work.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bosnak, R. (1986).A little course in dreams. Boston, Shambala.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, E. P. (1986).An exploratory study of religiously committed psychoanalytically oriented clinicians. Doctoral dissertation, City University of New York.

  • Gendlin, E. T. (1986).Let your body interpret your dreams. Wilmette, IL: Chiron.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodenough, E. R. (1965).The psychology of religious experience. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gyatso, T. (1988).The Dalai Lama at Harvard. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillman, J. (1979).The dream and the underworld. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Homans, P. (1970).Theology after Freud: An interpretative inquiry. New York: Bobbs-Merrill.

    Google Scholar 

  • James, W. (1985).The varieties of religious experience. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, J. W. (1991).Contemporary psychoanalysis and religion: Transference and transcendence. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1954).The psychology of the transference. Princeton, NJ: Bollingen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1974).Dreams. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1984).Dream analysis: Notes of the seminars given in 1928–1930. Princeton, NJ: Bollingen.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDargh, J. (1983).Psychoanalytic object relations theory and the study of religion: On faith and the imaging of God. New York. University Press of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizzuto, A. M. (1979).The birth of the living God: A psychoanalytical study. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shea, J. J. (1987).Religious experiencing: William James and Eugene Gendlin. Lanham, MD: University Press of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, M., & Moore, R. L. (Eds.) (1987).Jung's challenge to contemporary religion. Wilmette, IL: Chiron.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, M., & Limmer, C. (Eds.). (1988).The variety of dream experience: Expanding our ways of working with dreams. New York: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ullman, M., & Zimmerman, N. (1979).Working with dreams: Self-understanding, problem-solving, and enriched creativity through dream appreciation. Los Angeles: Tarcher.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Halligan, F.R., Shea, J.J. Sacred images in dreamwork: The journey into self as journey into God. Pastoral Psychol 40, 29–38 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01027532

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01027532

Keywords

Navigation