Dreams reveal the true nature and meaning of our life. With the clarity of the new dawn, we may suddenly realize that we have found a way of life that brings us into relationship with our soul. So too, the dream informs us that if we continue with the life we are living, we may end up alone, chasing mere illusions of a real life.

These messages are often carried by the figures in our dreams. While we may know and trust the intentions of these figures, our perceptions are often colored by projections. At times those who truly love us are presented as betrayers and those who have betrayed us, are seen as protectors. This is new--This is work of “Separatio” of discerning the difference between our very personal, complexed reactions to those innately objective and archetypal, emerging from the deep unconscious. Such is the workings of complexes and projections, and represents one of the greatest challenges in dream work.
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Mythology, fairy tales and sacred literature speak of this Janus-faced nature of Psyche and symbolism. Cain and Abel, God and the Devil, shapeshifters, and the Doppelgänger are all examples of this dual and often contradictory nature of human experience. In Jewish theology we find the “Dybbuk”, “who speaks out of the person’s mouth in a different voice, (seeking) to mask its true identity so it can remain unidentified and evade expulsion. The goal…is to first identify the “Dybbuk-ghost and engage it in dialogue”. This is an absolutely perfect description of the presence and working with complexes in our dreams, where it is so difficult to distinguish between the voice of The Self and benevolence or the un-healthy, malevolent complex. Much like the working of vampires, it is under the cover of darkness (unconsciousness) that such complexes create such havoc and suffering in our life.

In dream work, it is imperative to discern the true nature and intent of these figures. This involves a process which the alchemists referred to as the “Separatio” which involves; “learn(ing) to discern between the parts of oneself that serve a higher purpose versus those that hinder spiritual growth…(which) is possible only if the delusory projections that veil the reality of things can be withdrawn.”

Taught by Dr Michael Conforti, this Winter Dream Conference takes an in-depth look at the relationship between archetypes and complexes and the actual work of “Separatio” in dream work. We do well to remember that the indigenous people taught us that two hearts beat within and it is imperative to know the motivations of each.