How much do you know about Jung's theory of the shadow self?

Question

I had a really disturbing dream last night where I was in a fight for my life against a home invader who happened to be a black man. I have a notion that the person in my dream might represent my shadow self, but I would like to know more about this theory before I start thinking too hard on it. I dreamed I needed to stab this invader to save my life and my partner's life (I am a European lesbian). As soon as the police arrived, he came back to life and attacked me. By the way, if you have anything racist to say about black people, or anything nasty to say about homosexuals, don't even bother answering my question, because I will report you to the yahoo authorities. Thanks for compassionate help

Answer 1

Dreams are usually just revisiting something from your awake life but using people, places and symbols different than what we recognize in our daily life. Your dream isn't racist, its just using a person of a different race to symbolize something you are working through in your life. Your dream seems to be about something out of control in your relationship, that even when you think you have "killed" it, it comes back to life. Are you and your g/f having communication issues? Home represents the self, and you are protecting yourself from an unknown danger that is out of your control (invading, not staying dead). I'd look there first.

Alot of times, dreams are just dreams, they might be about some very small part of your day that you didn't think was all that important but it stuck in your mind and played out in your dreams.

Stress dreams tend to be repetitious actions, like trying to use a phone that won't work or you can't seem to dial it. Most people have had the infamous "I'm the only one naked here" dream, which is about vulnerability and exposing the true self. Some dreams are constant warnings, but they are usually about a health issue or emotional issue rather than a real physical threat from another human being.

I wouldn't worry about your dream, but I would use it to open communication with your g/f and find out what's going on. You are worried about something.

Answer 2

I think you either have insecurities about yourself or how I interpreted my dream about being attacked by one of another race,... He caught me me and his penis was so long that it was coming out of my mouth, i had been supressing something that I either desired or despised. I think we all have dreams that we can not explain and just have to guess. If you are not insecure then it probably means just that you are lackong something that you really want deep down but it doesn't mean that it has to be sexual. Just sharing a true moment that for the longest time I thought I had the only dream like that! true sincerity from a sister! good luck too you!

Answer 3

I am pretty sure, by your description, that the home invader did represent your shadow. A white woman being threatened by a black man would be a classic Jungian depiction of a conflict with the shadow.
(It might be that such powerful symbolic imagery, misinterpreted by people who don't want to deal with their shadows, contributes to the human tendency toward racism....I wonder.)

Answer 4

hmm lets see.
"The Shadow describes the part of the psyche that an individual would rather not acknowledge. It contains the denied parts of the self. Since the self contains these aspects, they surface in one way or another. Bringing Shadow material into consciousness drains its dark power, and can even recover valuable resources from it. The greatest power, however, comes from having accepted your shadow parts and integrated them as components of your Self."

Answer 5

There is no science behind dream interpretation. Believe whatever you want.

Answer 6

i feel no pity for you

Answer 7

i've never heard of this before, but i am american......