Where do they come from? These characters, images, and emotions that show up nightly in our dreams? And what purpose do they serve?

When a female acquaintance, whom I had not seen in years, showed up in a dream and nonchalantly mentioned she was closing her counseling practice for a couple of months, I was shocked. But then, as we continued our conversation, I exclaimed, “I’d love to take two months off from my counseling practice!”

I would? I wondered doubtfully when I awoke from the dream…. “Yes, I really would!”

But where had that burst of enthusiasm come from? It’s not anything that had been on my mind. I’d taken as much as two weeks off for vacation before, but never have I imagined closing up shop for two whole months! If you had suggested I take such an extended break from counseling 20-25 clients a week, I would have immediately thought you were crazy. Where would you even come up with such an idea? I can’t afford to take off that much time.

But here is this woman – a therapist I greatly respect – rising up from my past, completely out of the blue, planting a seed in my mind that immediately formed roots. I could visit Rome for a week, then drop down into Florence or Barcelona or go over to Greece. Or I could plan a visit to my favorite ocean village, Ocracoke, where I could read, write, ride my bike, and walk my dog while getting my fill of scrumptious seafood. Or go camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Or all of the above!

The obvious conclusion is that there is a person inside of me whom I forget exists, until a character in a dream wakes him up.  Someone who is capable of challenging my daytime self-image and habitual routines. He can turn my life upside down, yet he also wants to make of my life an adventure. At 71 years of age, there’s only so much time left to visit places I want to see and to do things I’d like to do outside of the metronome-like schedule of work and the rather mundane rhythms and rituals of life.

Who is he, this guy who is usually asleep? A risk taker, for sure. Edgy, spontaneous, fun, and a little nuts, this alternative version of myself. But imminently likable, this fellow. He would take off to Rome, for example, not for a quick tour of all the usual sites. But a languishing, sinking into, and savoring of the rich and glorious culture, the architecture, and the tastes and aromas of Italy; deep dives into ancient stories that were formative for Western civilization, along with ample space for wandering and experiencing whatever wants to be discovered. This unknown guy would be a blast to travel with. The contagion of his effervescent energy is palpable.

But then, what about her, the woman in my dream. Who is she and where does she come from?

Jungian psychology posits the notion of archetypal patterns of behavior and energies that are universal – they appear in the consciousness of every culture and civilization. Archetypes aid and influence our mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. They show up in dreams, such as the archetype of Healer or the Divine Feminine, embodied in the quite human image of my female friend inspiring me to tap into her kind of energy. Archetypal energy – say, the energy of adventure or rejuvenation or, in Tarot, “the Fool” – might be thought of as precious ore lying buried in our depths. Indeed, maybe that’s what we are, really – alchemical mixtures of necessary but yet-to-be discovered and yearning-to-be-developed energies. Places inside of us, hidden or barely recognized, subterranean streams and wondrous terrains that reveal novelties and experiences waiting to be mined.

The gift of the night is that we get to go there, not just to uncover precious ore, but to bring it back up to the surface for the betterment of our lives, our relationships, and our souls.

What characters in your dreams are waiting to be awakened?