Trying to remember one of my dreams, or any unconscious event for that matter, is one of the most difficult challenges I have faced all semester. I have been unable to remember a dream, if I even do dream, in years. Actually the only dream I remember, that seemed so real, happened from many years ago when I was in elementary school. Although the dream was very real, it happened too long ago to remember everything and it was a bad dream so it is not worth sharing. However, for the sake of writing about the only “unconscious experience” I can remember, I will share the different conditions and emotions felt.
The dream happened at night when the whole house was dark and quiet. I was living alone with my dad in elementary school, but I forgot which grade I was in at the time. I remember it was shortly after the death of my grandfather on my mother’s side of the family. It was also just a few years after my parents became divorced.
When I was experiencing the dream, I couldn’t help but feel terrified and alone. I felt so alone and helpless that I did not even call for my dad. Instead, I layed there by myself through all the events of the dream. I didn’t even think it was a dream until just recently. For years on end I had believed what happened in the dream to be a real event. The dream was so scary for me at the time that it created a huge problem for me. I think it’s because of this frightening experience that I no longer allow myself to dream. Sure, I might have a quick dream here and there that don’t mean much to me, but they usually only last a few minutes before I realize I am dreaming and wake myself up.
Although the dream is bad and I can’t remember the most important part of it, I think I know why it happened in the eyes of people who don’t believe in Allah. I think, maybe, I really missed my Abuelito and Grandma, and I was getting so used to being home alone that I didn’t bother to run to my dad or call him for help. The other part is still a mystery to me and probably will always be. The reason I think I had the dream was because it was from the Shaytan, who whispers lies in the minds of men to distract them.
Dreams or any unconscious events are sort of a way to examine ourselves. Though I disagree with Jung on most of his points in the reading, so far, about the unconscious, I think that good dreams are good to be looked at and interpreted. I do not group dreams all together as some may do. I believe that good dreams are from Allah and can be shared with those that you love and some dreams are bad and should be forgotten. Many, like Jung, group all dreams together in one category and think they are all important and should be shared and examined. It seems that no matter what one believes, though, no one can escape the mystery of dreams.
