Is it possible for people to meet in their dreams? If they do, is it less real than a physical meeting? If you cheat on a partner in a dream driven by your soul, is it still cheating? Does the fact that the soul would be driven by the power of the subconscious and therefore without deliberation and discussion mean that this experience is actually truer than the physical?
Studies have shown that there are instances of estranged partners having the same dream in the same night – usually a dream when they are able to be together. There are also cases of fathers and sons who are forced apart to regularly share a common dream.
If we’re to believe in a soul (let us not forget that it is ‘proven’ that we lose 21g in weight upon our death and it is suggested that the weight is in fact the soul leaving the body) is it therefore possible that the soul can travel independently during unconsciousness and meet with another?
Freud suggested that bad dreams are tools that enable us to learn how to control distressing emotions and Jung suggested that dreams might balance the mind, perhaps compensating for warped, bias attitudes held during consciousness. But no one actually knows.
I find it fascinating to think that, with such a vast understanding of the human body and its minutiae, there is still no definite explanation for why we dream.
Weirdly, I dreamt about all this last night and now wonder whether anyone dreamt the same…perhaps it was Dr. Duncan MacDougall visiting me to pass on his wisdom.
Interesting piece. As Professor Gabrielle once said 'Dreams can come true, look at me babe I'm with you'. Not sure about the 21g theory at all. Does that lead us to believe that the soul is an physical thing within our bodies? A mind does not weigh anything, memories, and thoughts and emotions can't be measured, so if a 'soul' does exist, why should that be any different. Think it's a load of old arse to be honest.
ReplyDeleteI'm Jungian when it comes to dreams. I think they are a way to express and/or deal with thoughts and feelings which may be too difficult (warped) to deal with in the waking mind. Dreams help us to sort through the mess of our subconcious. That's why I think the advice to 'sleep on it' is always valid. It gives the mind a chance to contemplate certain problems or anxieties without other pesky senses getting in the way.
p.s Nice to see a new entry on your blog! Was getting bored of reading 'Your Mum' over and over x