Last night I had a dream. I feel the need to share it with you today because it illustrates the main point I’ve been trying to make, not only in the last several blog posts, but in all the posts I’ve written here over the last fourteen years. When I decided to write a blog I gave it the title: Matrignosis. It means “mother knowing“, the feminine wisdom of the unconscious. My goal has been to contribute to our awareness of the sickness of a society which, in its conscious emphasis on the masculine principle, has lost its awareness of, and appreciation for, the feminine which has been largely relegated to the unconscious.
Below is my dream and the associations I wrote about it in my journal a few hours ago. I’m sharing it with you because it’s an example of how much we can learn from the rejected aspects of feminine wisdom and how years of committed dreamwork can build a bridge to wholeness.
Dream #5696, November 8 (3 days after Trump beat Kamala in the presidential election)
I’ve written a blog post about the need for social change. I’m sending it to all who write blogs or publish articles, encouraging them to do the same. I question whether I really know how to create social change. And what kind of change?
Associations:
This is a summary of my current state of mind. Synchronistically, a new follower of my blog, Diana, commented on my most recent post yesterday. I read it late last night and decided to wait until this morning to respond so I’d have more time to think about my response. I see now that her comment gave me an opening to address the exact same issue this dream addresses. Here’s what I wrote back to Diana, without remembering that this was the same issue I’d been grappling with in last night’s dream:
“It’s the lack of an ethical stance, of what used to be called ‘character’, in so many politicians and their followers today, that bothers me the most too. Of course, it’s always been that way, but to see it played out on a world scale where the hypocrisy is no longer in the shadows but in full view not only to Americans, but to the whole world, is a shocking display of the brokenness of our society.
My point is that whether our brokenness is caused by capitalism, the education system, a collective mentality of consumerism and materialism, or a combination of these and other factors, it originates not in man-made systems “out there”, but in powerful nature-made psychological realities “in here” that we are unwilling to address in a serious, committed way. Until we wake up to our own brokenness, it is our own shadows that will destroy us and everything we love.
If the other book of mine that you ordered is Dream Theatres of the Soul, you’ll find that it addresses the problem of not remembering our dreams. If we’re looking for a teacher to help us become more self-aware, we’ll find it by working on our dreams. The Self, your dream-maker who knows everything about you, is your inner guide to wholeness.”
This dream and my associations to it are accurate descriptions of the message I have always felt called to share with the world in my writing. I’m awed by how my unconscious Self (sometimes I call it Dream Mother) and conscious waking self are working together in sync.
Art Credit: Etsy. Lucy Campbell Art. With gratitude to Pat.
Jean Raffa’s The Bridge to Wholeness and Dream Theatres of the Soul are at Amazon. Healing the Sacred Divide can be found at Amazon and Larson Publications, Inc. Jean’s new Nautilus Award-winning The Soul’s Twins, is at Amazon and Schiffer’s Red Feather Mind, Body, Spirit. Subscribe to her newsletter at www.jeanbenedictraffa.com.
6 Responses
Dear Jeanie,
Yes, sadly “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (reimagined now as “The Tyrant in a Toupee!) hypocrisy continues and nobody seems to care. The duplicity is obvious! And although this reality is clear, very clear to people, they choose to accept what they wish to accept … for numerous reasons. I understand, I’ve experienced illusion and delusion frequently myself.
Indeed, your recent dream aligns seamlessly with all that Matrignosis has discussed here since its beginning; the disparity between the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine, within us and in our world. You’re in complete harmony with the Dream Mother! Thank you so much my dear friend and sister crone for your ‘mother-knowing’ and dream wisdom.
Love and light, Deborah
Dear Deborah,
Yes, that’s a good point. Choosing to accept only what we wish to accept, like choosing to believe what we want to believe, is a coping mechanism some of us learn at a young age, especially when we’re very vulnerable in an intolerable situation. I’ve experienced that too. Like projection, it can be very useful and make us feel safe and protected for a while . . . until it no longer works because powerful inner conflicts we don’t want to see cause symptoms like depression, or because an external trauma forces us to see our self-deception. I’m reminded of the turbulent late sixties and early seventies in the U.S. with the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, race riots, and Vietnam War protests, and how they raised our awareness of attitudes and injustices we had conveniently ignored until then. Maybe the future will look back at this election and see it as a turning point in our history. I just hope it turns us in the direction of greater self-knowledge and care for others.
Thank you for your affirming words, dear friend. Jeanie
Your blog’s messages are always clear and accessible, and your dream indicates that a critical point has been reached, necessitating them to be voiced (or shared).
Deborah said well: the people choose to accept what they wish to accept! It might sound unbelievable, but the shadows are no longer hidden but in full view. The catastrophe is that people can’t recognise them!
You provided several examples of what contributes to our brokenness, and I agree with all of them. However, I want to highlight one crucial point: capitalism. I have nothing against having possessions or living a prosperous life; the issue lies with greed and the insatiable desire for more, which makes our society so miserable.
However, I am once again grateful to have learned more from you, my wise teacher. If I recall correctly, Jung once stated something similar: dreams are the doors to our unconscious. Stay well and safe, my dear Jeanie.💖🌹🙏
Thanks, Aladin. I did indeed feel like I needed to share this. And yes, I do not know for sure which socio/economic/political system/ philosophy contributes more to our brokenness, but I agree that greed is certainly a human quality that does, regardless of the country, religion, or system. Like you, I certainly have nothing against having possessions or living a prosperous life!” I only wish all of us could have enough of what we need to bring security, comfort, health, beauty, and love into our lives.
“Thou shalt not covet . . . ” is a commandment that goes waaayy back, suggesting it’s always been a human problem.
Wikipedia says this: “Covetous desires create disorder because they move beyond satisfying basic human needs and “exceed the limits of reason and drive us to covet unjustly what is not ours and belongs to another or is owed to him.”[41] Greed and the desire to amass earthy goods without limit are forbidden as are avarice and the passion for riches and power. “You shan’t covet” means that we should banish our desires for whatever doesn’t belong to us. Never having enough money is regarded as a symptom of the love of money.[42] Obedience to the tenth commandment requires that envy be banished from the human heart. Envy is a capital sin that includes sadness at the sight of another’s goods and the immoderate desire to acquire them for oneself. ”
As Spock said in his Vulcan blessing on Star Trek: “Live well and prosper.”
Jeanie
Hi Jeannie
So me and my hubby went to New Smyrna Beach yesterday and I was reading ‘the Bridge to Wholeness’. I literally just finished it right now, 10 00 am Monday Nov 18th and my heart is full and I have learned and felt so much and I was actually telling my husband yesterday at the beach about the incredible synchronicity of him happening to see that bear on his walk with our dog and calling me , which led to me looking through my window and seeing that marvelous creature walk by , and how I then serendipitously found you online and realised you live not too far from me etc. and that I resonated with you so deeply from your blog, books etc. It seems that teachers do magically appear when you are ready.
So I decided right now to check your blog , and I see this post, with you talking about the synchronicity through MY comment. Now my heart is even more full Jeannie.
These shadows that are playing out as you mention I must confess have been occupying too much of my mental bandwidth as every day I feel somewhat more like we are living in a version of a weird SNL skit. What is becoming normalized? These shadows …. That Deborah said so well people not even recognizing them as such I do find scary and I wonder how without being combative we don’t submit to these new norms as if they are OK. Not meaning personally submit to them but just the acceptance in society. And how the new generations of youth are being raised with these ideas. The fact that, even if a minority that some boys are telling girls ‘your body, my choice’ is just so NOT ok.
I have been dreaming so much recently but been having a hard time remembering my dreams, they are vague and again synchronistically you mentioned at the end of your post your book ‘Dream Theaters of the Soul’ which you said addresses this problem so I am off to order that book now.
I feel so thankful and blessed to have found you Jeannie, thank you!!
Diana
Hi Diana,
The synchronicities keep coming. I love it. I do see these as guidance. If nothing else, they are affirmations that we are on the right track, doing exactly what we should be doing, and moreover, that we are known and loved by something beyond human perceived reality that we think of as Sacred. At least I do. So here’s another synchronicity for you. We have a beach house at New Smyrna Beach. I imagine you’ve seen it, but hesitate to give the address here. Perhaps you could message me on my Facebook page: Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/jeanraffa, and I can arrange to give you a signed copy of Dream Theatres! Amazon has it on Kindle, and I also have a few copies left.
So to your question: How can I not submit to the new norms as if they are OK, without being combative? That’s what we’re all wondering now. I would say to definitely speak your truths openly and honestly to women friends, especially daughters and nieces and their mothers about what new norms are not OK and why. If others ask your opinions I would definitely express them in a non-threatening, non-combative way that leaves room for dialogs about why you believe what you believe. If you’re inclined to social activism, you can find and join women’s groups that support your values and volunteer for conscience-raising activities they promote.
As for coming to terms with these new norms within yourself, I would suggest books by Jungian analysts, about dreams, women’s issues, etc. Inner City Books is my favorite source. Their books are brief, not too expensive and to the point. You can order a catalogue on their website. When I first joined a Jungian CenterPoint Group (I’m afraid they aren’t available anymore) I ordered several to begin with and branched off from there. The point of Jungian psychology is to enable your journey into knowing and loving your whole self. The more inner work you do, like reading, dreamwork, and journaling, the more you understand and come to terms with your inner turmoil. There are other titles from their books and others at the end of Bridge and Dream Theatres that I have found to be of immense value. In the early years I especially loved John A. Sanford’s Dreams: God’s Forgotten Language, and The Kingdom Within. Both are excellent introductions to the inner life.
I hope this helps! I feel blessed to have found you too. It sounds as if we may be of ‘the same tribe.’
With love, Jeanie