(Vienna - woman, age 27)
Dream:
"I had three dreams in a row..."
Part 1
“I saw a black cat that wanted to jump out of a window and I stopped it. The cat's fur was full of thistle and some other bits like it had fallen into a bush or something. I had this cat in my hands before this happened and the fur was clean. I was surprised to see the thistle after the incident on the window. After that the cat was grateful that I catched him and he was rubbing himself on me and purring. I felt sorry for him and I was thinking that my mum could take care of the thistle which I wasn'table to get rid off. I find this dream strange because I don't really like cats.”
Part 2
“In the second dream there was another cat. This one's colour was orange and white stripes. I felt very attached to this cat, it loved me like the previous one. I still hesitated as I don't like cats but somehow I made my peace with this one and I petted him, stroking his head.”
Part 3
“In the third dream I was talking to my friend and she asked me to put socks on her daughter. She's a small girl, six months old. I only found one adult sock and I put it on her foot.”
"Learn your theories as well as you can, but put them aside when you touch the miracle of the living soul" - Carl Jung
Dream interpretation:
Part 1
A cat symbolises a suppressed instinct or emotion pushing its way out to liberation. When the cat is trying to jump out of the window the dreamer prevents this from happening what manifested in the dream reveals the process of the psychic defence mechanism. This unconscious manifestation is employed in order to defend the dreamer from feelings or thoughts that would awaken her anxiety or hurt the self-esteem if they became conscious. The dreamer notices that the animal's fur is covered with thistle which was not there before the cat attempted to escape. The thistle defines an emotion annoyingly attached to her and materialises itself when she confronts reality; outside of the window in the dream. However cat is affectionate after is pulled back inside, this part reveals how the ego mechanisms lead to suppression of natural instincts. After all cats are known from always landing on their feet. The dreamer wants to give the "saved" cat to her mum in order to get rid of the thistle; the suppressed emotion in need of protection. This suggests a complex related to the dreamer's mother. Cats represent the feminine aspects of the psyche and in the dreamer's context may relate to the dreamer's femininity being restrained in order to protect herself from being exposed in reality. A black cat in the given context may be manifesting itself as a primal feminine drive. The dream points to its subliminal inclinations related to the dreamer's relationship with her mother.
Part 2
This part of the dream reveals that something within the dreamer's psyche is longing for being taken care of. At the same time it is an inclination of self acceptance.
Part 3
The baby girl symbolises a new mindset arising within the dreamer's psyche. Her feet are referring to independence and individuality. The mother of the baby represents the dreamers Superego which implies the need for social adjustment. She asks to put socks on the baby's bare feet. The need to be socially accepted creates a conflict to the appearance of the new mindset. This may cause an awkward feeling that the dreamer may be experiencing in reality which materialises itself in the dream when she puts an adult sock on the baby's feet.
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