ABSTRACT
The objective level is the man-in-the-street’s view of dreams, which, in its basic form, treats the dream image as if it corresponds to the actual object in the real world. The archetypal level illuminates particular dream images, patterns, themes, and stories with reference to powerful general patterns that frequently relate to early experience in some way. In looking at the archetypal level of the dream, the dream interpreter is trying to discover the symbolic essence of the dream and dream images; he/she is trying to discover whether a particular dream image has a universal significance and meaning or whether personal associations are more relevant; usually, the therapist tries to blend both personal and universal aspects. Dreams have a larger-than-life quality, a sense of something spiritual, magical, or mysterious about them. It is important to take extra care when working with people from other cultures to explore the matrix of meaning around particular dream images for them.
