Natural and necessary expressions of the life force, dreams provide access into unconscious areas of life. They give specific and appropriately timed messages whcih can assist the dreamer with problem solving, artistic inspiration, psychological development, and spiritual deepening. They are also important for healing. To the therapist every dream reveals information about past and present psychic structures or complexes of the dreamer, and tells about psychological dynamics and developmental capacities. It reveals the dreamer's relations to the spiritual and personal dimensions of life, to the Self, and to archetypal images and drives. In Dreams, A Portal to the Source Edward C. Whitmont and Sylvia Brinton Perera, both leading Jungian analysts, provide an extensive guide to dream interpretation. Practical in approach, it is designed primarily for psychoanalysts and therapists who wish to integrate dream interpretation into their clinical practice.
Among the topics covered are the language of dream images; the relations between the dream and the dreamer's conscious positions; the interplay between archetypal and personal levels; the dream's dramatic structure; body imagery in dreams; and the relevance of dreams to the transference and countertransference.
Industry Reviews
"With the publication of "Dreams, A Portal to the Source we have at last a manual of Jungian dream analysis that is presented with depth and clarity and that remains true to Jung and to the psyche. This book is balanced, judicious, comprehensive, and yet concise. It transcends all factions with a largeness of view that contains them all. All the well-known approaches to dream analysis are given their due. . .."
-"Psychological Perspectives, 1991
""Dreams, A Portal to the Source represents a thoughtful, critical examination of dream interpretation from multiple perspectives without premature closure or adherence to dogma. It is a treasure trove of thoughtful ideas in which exposition, exploration, and critical thinking are harmoniously interwoven with the wisdom accumulated in years of clinical practice . . . the volume [is] successful, rewarding, and important."
-"Quadrant, 1990
"The book . . . is a clinical guide for therapists of all persuasions and an accessible resource for all of us who delight in the richness of our dreams."
-"New Mexican, 1990
"It's a wonderful work. At last we have a really adequate manual on Jungian dream interpretation. What pleases me most is the reverent attitude to the dream that [the authors] convey."
-Edward F. Edinger
"It soon becomes clear that the authors are drawing from the rich storehouse of their years of thoughtful clinical work with dreams. Their labor and generosity in sharing the fruits of this experience with the reader are to be applauded and enjoyed. . . . this book's clear explication of both the basics and the subtleties of the clinical approach to the dream make it accessible to clinicians at alllevels."
-"Psychoanalytic Books, 1992
