Vedfelt, Ole (2020) Integration versus conflict between schools of dream theory and dreamwork: integrating the psychological core qualities of dreams with the contemporary knowledge of the dreaming brain. Journal of Analytical Psychology 65(1):88-115.
Abstract:
The various ways schools of psychotherapy relate to dreams have been marked by isolationism and mutual conflict rather than self-examination and then integrating the discoveries and methods of other schools. Jung’s method was in opposition to Freud’s psychoanalysis. Existential psychology was dismissive of Freud’s and Jung’s discoveries, while cognitive dream interpretation and cognitive therapy sought other roads entirely. In addition, scientific and neuropsychological dream research has been only insignificantly tied to the psychotherapeutic dream theories. These conflicts and the lack of a comprehensive dream theory has made it convenient for the current rationalist collective consciousness and treatment systems to reject the often times challenging knowledge about ourselves that dreams can provide.
This paper describes how contemporary theories of complex cybernetic information networks can create an overriding, constructive framework for uncovering common traits within the above-mentioned branches of dream research and dreamwork. Within this framework, ten core qualities are delineated, supported by both therapeutic knowledge as well as scientific research: 1) Dreams deal with matters important to us; 2) Dreams symbolize; 3) Dreams personify; 4) Dreams are trial runs in a safe place; 5) Dreams are online to unconscious intelligence; 6) Dreams are pattern recognition; 7) Dreams are high level communication; 8) Dreams are condensed information; 9) Dreams are experiences of wholeness; 10) Dreams are psychological energy landscapes.
For each core quality I describe short dreamwork sequences from my own practice and a schematic image of how I perceive the overriding interaction between systems in the dreaming brain. For each core quality recommendations for practical dreamwork are provided.
Finally, I draw attention to dreams as a huge psychological resource for humankind.
FULL TEXT AVAILABLE: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1468-5922.12574
Vedfelt, Ole (2016) Psychosis as a Means to Individuation – A case of severe psychosis healed through working with dreams, active imagination and transference. Presentation at the 20th Congress of the International Association for Analytical Psychology, Kyoto (Einsiedeln Switzerland. Daimon Verlag 2017)
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Vedfelt, Ole (2014): The Phenomenology of the Spirit in Childhood Memories. Early Numinous Experiences in a Desacralized World. Proceedings of the 19th Congress of the International Association for Analytical Psychology. Ed. Emilija Kiehl. Daimon Verlag. Einsiedeln, Switzerland
Abstract:
The paper gives an overview of the endeavours during the latest hundred years to outline a psychology of mystical religious peak-experiences. It describes the phenomenologies of William James and Rudolf Otto, the dept psychology of C.G. Jung, Abraham Maslow’s peak-experiences and the establishing of a transpersonal psychology. The phenomenologies and epistemologies of the transpersonal psychology are described and discussed in relation to the »chakra system« of the Eastern contemplative traditions, as well as from central works of Charles Tart and Ken Wilber and from A.H. Almaas’s synthesis of sufi-mysticism and object relations theory. The author suggests an explanatory model based on cybernetics and information theory for the psychodynamics of religious peak experiences. Central concepts in the cybernetic model are states and levels of consciousness, unconscious intelligence, supramodal perception, and stages of personal development. Pathological aspects of the peak-experiences are described, and a social psychological background for the transpersonal psychology is suggested. Finally mystical experiences and transpersonal psychological strategies are discussed in relation to the concept of maturity.
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Vedfelt, Ole (2009): Cultivating Feelings through Working with Dreams. IN: Jung Journal: Culture & Psyche, Volume 3, Number 4, pp. 88–102. San Francisco.
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Vedfelt, Ole: (2004) Dreams as Unconscious Intelligence – A cybernetic theory. Conference paper. 21st Annual International Conference of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Available as CD at the International Association for the Study of Dreams, Central Office.
Vedfelt, Ole (2001): Dreams Working Attitudes. Multidimensional Dream Understanding and Bodily Associations. IN: Cambridge 2001 Proceedings of The Fifteenth International Congress for Analytical Psychology. Daimon Verlag, Schweiz.
Vedfelt, Ole (2001a): The supramodal space A missing link between body, soul and spirit. Conference paper. Conference on Body-psychotherapy. Institute for Biosynthesis. Zürich
Vedfelt, Ole (2000): “Consciousness – Introduction to Cybernetic Psychology. Part I. Energy & Character”. International Journal of Biosynthesis -Somatic Psychotherapy (Vol 30. April, p. 38-55) Zürich. Schweiz
Vedfelt, Ole (2000): “Consciousness – Introduction to Cybernetic Psychology. Part II. Energy & Character”. International Journal of Biosynthesis -Somatic Psychotherapy (Vol 31.1. September, p. 42-61) Zürich. Schweiz
Vedfelt, Ole (1999): The Dreams Many Faces. Conference paper for The International Association for the Study of Dreams. Univ. of California, Santa Cruz.
Papers with English abstracts in PsychInfo
Vedfelt, Ole (2011): Spiritual Childhood Experiences and How They are Influenced by the Child´s Close Relationships. IN: Mysticism in Philosophy, Religion and Literature. Univers. Copenhagen
Vedfelt, Ole (2008): Dreams and theory of Science. IN: Psyke & Logos, Psychological Publishers, 2008, 29, p. 310-355.
Vedfelt, Ole (2008): Religious peak-experiences in transpersonal psychodynamic and cybernetic perspective IN: Psyke & Logos, No. 2. Danish Psychological Publishers, Copenhagen.
Vedfelt, Ole (2000b): Partpersonalities, objectrelations and cybernetic network theory IN: Psyke & Logos, No. 2. Psychological Publishers, Copenhagen.
Vedfelt, Ole (1991): The Nature of Dreams. IN: Psyke og Logos No. 1, pp. 21-42. Copenhagen.