Images of the Dead in Grief Dreams : A Jungian View of Mourning

While in training at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zürich in 1988, Susan Olson suffered the loss of her daughter in an auto accident. In this intimate and unique exploration, Olson uses C. G. Jung’s psychological framework todescribe her journey through tragedy, guided by a series of vivid dreams. In __Images of the Dead in Grief Dreams: A Jungian View of Mourning__, Jung's definition of the dream as a "harbinger of fate, a portent and comforter, a messenger of the gods" evolves from theory into embodied insight as Olson describes her encounter with the transforming power of grief. Drawing from personal experience as well as theoretical and clinical material, Olson presents premonitory dreams, which occur before the loss of a loved one, and grief dreams, which follow a loved one’s death, and analyzes both according to Jung’s method of dream interpretation. Sharing her own dreams as well as those of other mourners, Olson asserts that such dreams play a crucial role in the dreamer’s emotional recovery and psychological development, otherwise known as the process of individuation. She sensitively offers an assessment of the stages of grief and draws on the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone, Jung’s memoirs, and other literature to amplify her experience of mourning. In this rare combination of grief theory and dream work, __Images of the Dead in Grief Dreams__ is both a grief memoir and an extensive study of C. G. Jung’s view of the mourning process. This fully updated revised edition will be of immense interest to Jungian analysts and trainees, academics, psychologists, students of Jungian dream analysis, and to all who have suffered loss. While In Training At The C.g. Jung Institute In Zurich In 1988, Susan Olson Suffered The Loss Of Her Daughter In An Auto Accident. In This Intimate And Personal Exploration, Olson Uses C. G. Jung's Psychological Framework Of Mourning To Describe Her Journey Through Tragedy, Guided By A Series Of Vivid Dreams. In Images Of The Dead In Grief Dreams: A Jungian View Of Mourning, Jung's Definition Of The Dream As A Harbinger Of Fate, A Portent And Comforter, A Messenger Of The Gods Evolves From Theory Into Embodied Insight As Olson Describes Her Encounter With The Transforming Power Of Grief. Drawing From Personal Experience As Well As Theoretical And Clinical Material, Olson Presents Premonitory Dreams, Which Occur Before The Loss Of A Loved One, And Grief Dreams, Which Follow A Loved One's Death, And Analyzes Both According To Jung's Method Of Dream Interpretation. Sharing Her Own Dreams As Well As Those Of Other Mourners, Olson Asserts That Such Dreams Play A Crucial Role In The Dreamer's Emotional Recovery And Psychological Development, Otherwise Known As The Process Of Individuation. She Sensitively Offers An Assessment Of The Stages Of Grief And Draws On The Greek Myth Of Demeter And Persephone, Jung's Memoirs, And Other Literature To Amplify Her Experience Of Mourning. In This Unique Combination Of Grief Therapy Practice And Dreamwork, Images Of The Dead In Grief Dreams Is Both An Emotional Grief Memoir And An Extensive Study Of C. G. Jung's View Of The Mourning Process. This Fully Updated Revised Edition Will Be Of Immense Interest To Jungian Analysts In Practice And In Training, Academics, Psychologists, Students Of Jungian Thought And Dream Analysis, As Well As To All Who Have Suffered Loss. Cover Endorsements Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of contents Preface Chapter 1 The open door Notes Chapter 2 Running with the horses Precognitive dreams A nightmare Jung’s approach to dreams Transitional objects A painful blow of fate Notes Chapter 3 Incomprehensible things Jung’s premonitory dreams Apparitions Images and symbols of death Synchronicity Summary Notes Chapter 4 “Let your tears fertilize my ground” The gift of tears The stages of grief The myth of Demeter and Persephone A crack in the universe “Metapsychic” dreams Three dream images Notes Chapter 5 “Touch me” Reunion dreams Objective/subjective: reprise The imaginal level More dream visits with Elizabeth Notes Chapter 6 The cure of souls Coming home The cure of souls Custodian of the tombs Notes Chapter 7 The wound that heals The light of truth Reliving the trauma Laura’s story Dreams that wound and heal “I could have died!” Notes Chapter 8 “Remember me!” The child in the fire Rites of burning: Homer “Remember me!” Hamlet The art of elegy Living memorials A time of famine Notes Chapter 9 Descent to the underworld The night-sea journey The guide of souls The alchemy of death Alchemical gold A new guide of souls Notes Chapter 10 “You can visit them in their dreams!” A divine dilemma The messengers of the gods “You can visit them in their dreams!” Notes Chapter 11 The food of the deep The pomegranate seed The food of the deep Individuation after death Symbolic gifts Notes Chapter 12 “I have a gift for you” Parting gifts A tip of the hat “I can see the stars” Packing for a trip A brother’s farewell A ritual of goodbye The legacy of the dead Notes Epilogue “I have a new name” Notes Bibliography Index While in training at the C.G. Jung Institute in Zürich in 1988, Susan Olson suffered the loss of her daughter in an auto accident. In this intimate and unique exploration, Olson uses C. G. Jung's psychological framework to describe her journey through tragedy, guided by a series of vivid dreams. In Images of the Dead in Grief Dreams: A Jungian View of Mourning, Jung's definition of the dream as a'harbinger of fate, a portent and comforter, a messenger of the gods'evolves from theory into embodied insight as Olson describes her encounter with the transforming power of grief. Drawing from personal experience as well as theoretical and clinical material, Olson presents premonitory dreams, which occur before the loss of a loved one, and grief dreams, which follow a loved one's death, and analyzes both according to Jung's method of dream interpretation. Sharing her own dreams as well as those of other mourners, Olson asserts that such dreams play a crucial role in the dreamer's emotional recovery and psychological development, otherwise known as the process of individuation. She sensitively offers an assessment of the stages of grief and draws on the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone, Jung's memoirs, and other literature to amplify her experience of mourning. In this rare combination of grief theory and dream work, Images of the Dead in Grief Dreams is both a grief memoir and an extensive study of C. G. Jung's view of the mourning process. This fully updated revised edition will be of immense interest to Jungian analysts and trainees, academics, psychologists, students of Jungian dream analysis, and to all who have suffered loss.