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  • Dream Interpretation in Jungian Psychotherapy: The Roadblock

    I thought that I would try and say a little bit in this post about how a Jungian approach to dream interpretation might look like “in action”.  Here’s a dream motif that appears sometimes in case studies, in one form or another.  It’s one that at times will appear in the dreams of my clients.  In rough outline, it goes something like what follows below.

    A Dream Motif

    The dreamer is trying to get somewhere.  Perhaps the dreamer is in a vehicle, like a car, or on a bicycle, or possibly he or she is on foot.  However, there is some obstacle.  She or he might have to go down a narrow path in her car, and there’s a vehicle accident completely blocking the road.  Or it might be that he or she has to climb an impossibly steep hill.   However, when the individual starts to backtrack, something happens.  Perhaps they are injured, or otherwise hindered. 
    In any event, going backward to retrace his or her steps is well-nigh impossible.

    The specific interpretation of such a dream would be unique for such an individual, to be sure.  However, there are still a number of important things that Jungian case studies could say about its meaning.

    1.  The Individual is Not Going to be Able to Move Forward Travelling in the Current Direction

    Very clearly, the dream is showing us that the dreamer cannot move forward.  There is a barrier, either in the form of an insurmountable obstacle, or something that would take an impossibly large amount of energy to overcome.  The dream is clearly giving the message that the direction that the individual is moving in, with respect to the situation that is being dreamt of, will simply not work.  The individual may have been moving in this direction for a long time, or may have just started on this path.  No matter: the import of the dream is the same.  You can’t keep doing what you’re doing.

    2.  To Try to Go Back to a Previous State Will Only Cause Pain, Exhaustion or Loss of Vitality

    However, that doesn’t mean that the dreamer can just go back to something that happened in the past.  He or she cannot simply retrace his or her steps.   There’s too much pain, or too many cuts of lacerations, too much loss of life-blood.  The older way, the “regressive restoration of the persona”, as a Jungian would say, doesn’t work either.  The person can’t do what he or she used to do.  Life isn’t going to let him or her get away with it, at least not without paying a fearful psychological price.  What may be recalled enthusiastically as “the good days” cannot be reproduced in the present moment.  What is the individual to do?

    3.  Something New is Needed

    A standard Jungian dream interpretation would be that the dream is painting a picture of a person in a dilemma.  Something new is needed: a different way, or a different approach.  This is not likely to come about as a result of the individual “just trying harder”.  The individual is going to have to explore aspects of her- or himself that have been unknown and undeveloped.  From the perspective of Jungian case studies, the answer will have to emerge from the unconscious.

    Is There Anything Across Your Path?

    Have you ever encountered a dream of this type?  Have you possibly had such a dream recently?  As I stated, this type of dream is not particularly uncommon.  With the right kind of dream interpretation, the unconscious shows us quite an apt portrait of a person’s psychological situation.  If you’ve had this kind of “blocked path” experience, I would really welcome your comments below.

    Wishing you a deep wisdom to know the way forward on your personal journey to wholeness,

    Brian Collinson, Psychotherapist & Jungian Analyst

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    1-905-337-3946

    PHOTO CREDIT:      Some rights reserved by lumaxart under a Creative Commons license

    © 2010 Brian Collinson

    Brian Collinson, 2238 Constance Drive, Oakville, Ontario (near Oakville / Mississauga border)
    1. jamenta

      jamenta

      December 24, 2010 at 3:17 am -
      Reply

      One of my most common repeating dreams is missing a public bus. And very common for me to dream of trying to get somewhere and being lost – and not being able to get to where I’m going.

      It seems to echo my life – reinforcing a sense of loss and disempowerment to some degree – and not being able to really move forward.

      What the direction my unconscious would like me to go still remains unclear.

      1. Brian C
        December 24, 2010 at 10:37 am -
        Reply

        Thanks very much for your comment, John. I think that this is another very common dream motif, and in some sense related. To be sure, it would be necessary to look at your dreams close up and in detail, something that might be more suited to a somewhat less public setting than here. However, just from your description, I do notice something that I think is important and noteworthy: it is a public bus that you miss. A bus is a very collective means of transportation. So you are trying to “get a ride” on something that is very general and collective, rather than something individual. Could this possibly be why you keep missing it — that it’s not what you need at this time?
        This is very rough and ready, I know, but if you would like to discuss it more in private, I’m certainly open to that.

        Thanks again for your comment, John!

    2. jamenta

      jamenta

      December 24, 2010 at 11:25 am -
      Reply

      Nice observation Brian. And what is revealing to me is you are saying that instead of trying to catch the bus – my unconscious is likely telling me to not bother with it.

      1. Brian C
        December 24, 2010 at 4:47 pm -
        Reply

        In my view, that would be right John. Maybe you’ve even been putting a lot of effort into catching the bus… and yet it’s not actually the bus you need? I’d wonder if that isn’t the take of the unconscious on this matter, whatever it might be.

    3. Katie

      Katie

      December 6, 2015 at 12:20 pm -
      Reply

      I keep on having this dream where I’m in a hotel and I’m desperately trying to get out but whenever I say I keep being stopped by people and whenever I get away from those people. In my dreams when I get close to the end and I try to run out of there I can’t because whenever I try to run I just end up walking in almost like slow motion.

    4. Nancy

      Nancy

      January 19, 2016 at 12:01 am -
      Reply

      I dreamt that I was in my car and a car was blocking it and wouldn’t move. Yes, my life is totally different than it used to be, kids grown and on their own. Live alone. Had an injury and can’t work. So different direction for sure….wow, on point..but I guess just a wake up call? No pun intended…

    5. ann

      ann

      March 29, 2016 at 7:12 am -
      Reply

      I have a dream every night of not being able to get something accomplished, mostly dealing with the job I retired from. I am trying to do the work but things keep happening or I am on the subway and cannot get home or too work. I feel lost and confused and cannot remember which way to go. I never do get there or get things completed. Insead I wake up with anxiety and exhausted..

      1. Brian C
        March 29, 2016 at 8:29 am -
        Reply

        Thanks you for your comment, Ann, and for sharing your dream. To understand the meaning of this dream, I believe you would need to do some personal work on it, perhaps in the course of analysis. It would seem to me that the overarching question would likely be, what is it that might need completion at this time in your life? If you would like some suggestions of some people whom you might talk to about this dream, please don’t hesitate to contact me via the contact form on my website. Thanks again, and all the best!

    6. LAURAL GAUDETTE

      LAURAL GAUDETTE

      April 12, 2016 at 4:20 pm -
      Reply

      I have had a recurring dream of trying to get to my childhood home but being blocked in various ways. The last time I dreamt this though I was one block away and there did not seem to be any obstacles.

      1. Brian C
        April 12, 2016 at 5:13 pm -
        Reply

        Thanks for your comment, Laural. This is a striking dream. I wonder what you might be trying to get back to in your childhood home? This would be a very good topic to pursue with a therapist well versed in dream work, such as a Jungian analyst.

    7. Goldfish

      Goldfish

      December 22, 2016 at 1:24 pm -
      Reply

      Last night I dreamt I was walking along a path then could not progress any further as a huge truck was parked across the path, blocking it. I checked both front and back ends of the truck if there was any way I could manoeuvre through but no space as the ends merged with very thick bush. Then I simply told myself I would have to take another path. Next thing I remember was a girl with me giving direction on an alternative path.
      In real life, I had been experiencing a dark night of the soul for the past five years which I believe started with a traumatic realisation that I had been in a very unhappy marriage even when all appeared well on the outside. I had no solution to what I was faced with, but it dawned on me I would have to end it ‘cos there was no future in it for me and to stay back was to live the way I had been living which was unbearable to me. I like to believe this was why the dark night of the soul stretched across five years. I made a decision to leave my marriage but have been wavering due to pressure from relations and my children’s welfare, yet staying back was not an alternative. I’ve never felt so stuck in my entire life. This week I had finally decided to leave but still praying for direction from within, then this dream last night. Before this dream, had one two days before where I was on a ledge high up on a building and was scared out of my mind. Then I prayed earnestly for help and a lady came and helped me off. Next thing We were on the ground crossing a flood of ankle deep water from rain which had just ceased. Then we were trying to buy mangoes (I was the one doing the buying). But all the mangoes I picked were too mushy, almost rotten and with worm holes. So did not buy any, then I woke up.

      So sorry it’s so lengthy, just wanted to give some clarity to my existing life situation.

    8. Ray

      Ray

      December 31, 2016 at 8:17 am -
      Reply

      So this morning I woke up 4 hours early from a dream. This never happens, concidering I normally can sleep through an earthquake. I wanted to share it on here because I’ve been looking for a relatable interpretation on Google and stumbled on this page. Here’s how it goes, a friend of mine is in the car with me. We are heading to a friend’s house who I haven’t seen in a long time. We are driving through pretty chaotic city/highway roads, and finally get off to a more secluded road where we are about five minutes from the destination. As I am driving, my friend realizes that we are on the road that runs parallel with the housing development that we néed to be going to. However the roads do not meet up, and the only way to get to our destimation. So I pull over to a factory type of parking lot. They have a pop machine and I tell my friend, “hey, it’s hot out here and I’m thirsty.” I check my pocket and only have fifty cents in it. The pop machine is asking $3.99 for the 20 Oz of pop. I originally thought there were cans in the machine. I look down and see about two dollars worth of change left in the change slot of the vending machine. I begin to grab it because I am very thirsty. At that moment an older, dirty factory worker comes by and tells me it’s his money, so i give it to him. He begins explaining to me that he hates the pay and work that his does for his factory. I’m thinking to myself “then why not find a better factory” but realize that it’s not that easy just to change jobs and locations. Attention to the old man kind of vanishes unnoticed, and I am back to figuring out how to get to my destination even though I didn’t get my beverage. I somewhat know how to, and know reading a map or using a gps would be helpful. However, I diet really overwhelmed because I don’t want to do the city driving again. Also, I recognized my destination (in reality I don’t think I’ve ever seen this house and my friend lives in a trailer park)
      So now I want to explain what’s been going on in my life. I’m 22 years old, last year I got married and my wife and I are a very close couple. One thing I have been having trouble with, is I’m uneducated, so I’ve been working labor jobs. I’ve cleaned out septics and done a lot of factory work. The work itself makes me very miserable, however I do it to provide for my wife. There is a college I have wanted to go to since before we got married. Everytime I’ve told my wife “I want to go to college, she tells me “I know, you tell me this all the time.” I’ve done some accredited courses but nothing in specific to a solid career. I want to be a writer, more then anything. I want to write books and screen plays mainly. I was suppose to apply for college today, however I start my new job as a pizza delivery driver. I am about as excited as a child finding coal in his stocking Christmas morning. I get frustrated everytime i get a job where I feel like I’m not heading towards my dream or even investing into any form of creativity mixed with work. My wife and I are somewhat poor and I borrow a lot from my grandmother, so any given chance I try to pay her back. I think this dream is saying a lot about what is going on in my life and I was wondering if you could shed some light on what it may mean. Thank you for reading and have a wonderful day.

    9. Ray

      Ray

      December 31, 2016 at 8:29 am -
      Reply

      Also, sorry about the typos. I can’t stand using my phone to write and comment.
      One thing that I woke up with, was the idea that I need to apply for school right now, because I fear never doing it. My grandmother isn’t rich, but purchased my wife and I a trailer. Another thing that may be key to this dream is from the parallel road, I could see my destination, which was down a grassy hill that had a black see through fence. I’ve been through quite a bit of chaos in my life and I know that I want success and happiness out of it. I have recently went from being the “lazy chill kid” To non-stop working and trying to move closer to succeeding in my personal goals. I haven’t been successful in my personal wants and even some personal needs in quite some time because I have been working and struggling. However I do believe in my heart, that this is my chance to turn it all around. Again, thank you for reading.

    10. Mark

      Mark

      February 6, 2017 at 2:18 am -
      Reply

      Thanks for this article Brian, very interesting. I have a recurring (at least twice a week) dream and have done for about 5 or 6 years. The scenario is different each time but it’s basically this… I’m on a journey of some sort, time is running out and I keep getting blocked on route or get lost or take the wrong train, sometimes I can see me destination in the distance but can’t get to it and sometimes I don’t even get that far, sometimes I don’t even figure out how to get there and no-one can give me directions.

      I’m no trained therapist but there would appear to be a lot of signals in there. Lack of life/work strategy; current route in life/work is not the right one; people in life/work are blocking progression; getting old and running out of time to make changes.

      1. Brian C
        April 2, 2021 at 2:16 pm -
        Reply

        I agree with the points you raise, Mark. I think that there might be value with working with someone to see if you can get any movement in a meaningful direction.

    11. Alicia

      Alicia

      February 19, 2018 at 2:06 pm -
      Reply

      I had a dream that I was standing by a roadblock to “constellation drive” (that’s a motorway exit in Auckland) and there was a lot of traffic that was stopped so a girl I was waiting for could cross the road and I embraced her when she did. There were road cones to stop the cars going down the exit and I was wearing my high school basketball jacket (I played in the team many years ago) and I asked someone what it says on the back of my jacket and they replied “swans” in the dream I seemed happy (to see this girl I don’t know) and excited/special for having this roadblock just for us. Thanks for your resource 🙂

    12. sadaf

      sadaf

      April 30, 2018 at 12:39 am -
      Reply

      My dream is about a car in which I am travelling and I am unable to reach university. The driver takes me through wrong way when I tell him the address and takes me to an unknown market. I ask him to drop me at my University. What does this mean?

    13. Kolawole Oluwasesan

      Kolawole Oluwasesan

      July 4, 2018 at 8:44 pm -
      Reply

      Recently I always fail to get to my destination in my dreams

      1. Brian C
        April 2, 2021 at 2:07 pm -
        Reply

        Thanks for your comment Kolawole. I think it might be important to ask what the destination is, and what is stopping you from getting there. All the best, Brian C

    14. Stephanie

      Stephanie

      November 13, 2018 at 4:44 pm -
      Reply

      Hi Brian, I found your site while seeking the symbolic meaning of a tornado. I dream of them frequently, and had another tornado dream last night, but I also dreamed of trying to get home, which seems strange to me bc I haven’t been home to see my family in 5 years, and am unsure of whether or not I even want to go home. Anyway, I didn’t seem to have a vehicle to do so. I tried to build a small motorcycle of some kind out of a toilet! It didn’t work out, however, and there seemed to be a lot of obstacles. I’m currently working with a Jungian analyst and am frustrated because I feel like I’m stuck, like there is no hope. When I first went into therapy, I said, “I feel like there’s part of myself I can’t reach.” I still feel that way. “What if there’s nothing underneath the complexes?” I’ve wondered. What does it really mean to trust someone? I’ve been reading The Pregnant Virgin and Marion Woodman says that, “no amount of analysis or therapy can heal a heart that cannot trust.” My father sexually abused me before the age of 3. He betrayed my trust and then he was gone..Do you see people heal from these types of things?

    15. penny

      penny

      December 31, 2018 at 12:55 pm -
      Reply

      Hello. My first time engaging here. My recurring dream is now close to two years. I dream of babies, specifically a baby that is mine or a baby for which, t I have acquired responsibility – through saving or finding. Here is last night’s example: I am lying on my couch with the new born baby, and it is mine. I am holding him/her ( each sex has been the case, but mainly female ). It was night – as is 98% of my dreams. There is no light on in the living room. Light is coming in through the window, from street lights. There is a crowd of people congregating outside my window. The curtains are crossed with a gap, where i can see the busily talking people through a net curtain. I peek out for fear of being seen – the door is knocking, but I won’t answer it, hoping they will leave. The people are known to me and have come after my having told them to, if they needed assistance with anything. I know that I am letting them down and strongly feel that they saw my face in window and know that I’m hiding/pretending I’m not in. I look down at my calm, naked baby lying close to me under the blanket. Suddenly a teenage woman climbs in to the room through my living room window ( i did’t realise that it was open. She climbs over me, saying things like ‘ i’m sorry. I was bursting! I just need the loo.’. I’m shouting for her to leave; how dare she just enter! I wan’t her to leave quickly – I feel found-out, exposed, highly annoyed and humiliated. I now know that they know that I’m in. I don’t know if she has seen my baby and i seem unable to pull myself from the settee. I wan’t her to know that I’m there because of my baby. Time passes… I finally get up. I walk to the bathroom and quickly notice the window is slightly open in there as well; I wonder if anyone else has gotten into to my house without my seeing. I have never dreamt of giving birth in these recurring dreams. I have two children in their 20s – now in there own homes -and have an incurable neurological disease called cranial dystonia.I also live alone. Many thanks for reading.
      penny

    16. Michael Sellers

      Michael Sellers

      May 13, 2019 at 3:05 pm -
      Reply

      The most predominant dreams I have are of either trying to be somewhere but never getting there due to it being situational. Last night it was trying to get to work by way of subway and having lots of time. I stopped at the station and just relaxed, knowing I had plenty of time but when I realized I wasn’t going to make it on time, I knew I could walk the distance but needed to ask the person at the TTC booth how long it would take to walk. He kept insisting I take the subway and then I looked at my watch and I was over a minute late to start my shift.

      Another was when I was trying to get to York Regional Hospital to wash Dr. Steadman’s office windows. No matter how hard I tried to get there, I just couldn’t. None of the streets in Newmarket would actually reach the hospital. I would ask people for directions and they would just dismiss me like I wasn’t even there.

      The most common theme that runs through them are that I need to get somewhere and when I turn to others, no one wants to help. Not in any malicious way but more in that everyone lacks the ability to do so (ie; if you were to ask someone to fly you up to the top of a building. Because their anatomy lacks wings, they’d tell you to take the stairs)

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