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Lisa Marchiano
Dream Interpreter and Certified Jungian Analyst
Lisa Marchiano is a dream interpreter, certified Jungian analyst, licensed clinical social worker, and author based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She trained at the Inter-regional Society of Jungian Analysts and is on the faculty of C. G. Jung Institute of Philadelphia. Lisa is the co-host and co-creator of the popular depth psychology podcast This Jungian Life. She is also the author of "Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams", "Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself", and "The Vital Spark: Reclaim Your Outlaw Energies and Find Your Feminine Fire". She has developed an approach to psychotherapy that is practical, creative and interactive to help people going through difficult times or life transitions.
Education
- BA, Brown University
- MSW, New York University
- Master's in International Affairs, Columbia University
- PsyaD, Boston Graduate School for Psychoanalysis (candidate)
Professional Achievements
- Author of several books, including "Dream Wise: Unlocking the Meaning of Your Dreams", "The Vital Spark: Reclaim Your Outlaw Energies and Find Your Feminine Fire", and "Motherhood: Facing and Finding Yourself"
- Co-creator and co-host of the popular depth psychology podcast, This Jungian Life
- Co-creator of This Jungian Life Dream School, a twelve-month online program that teaches you how to work with your dreams
Certifications & Organizations
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Certified Jungian Analyst
Favorite Piece of Advice
You have an inner companion eager to help and guide you. This companion speaks to you at night through dreams.
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Forum Comments (4)
What does it mean if I keep dreaming about someone?
Dreams are always going to tell us something we don't know or maybe something we know but we don't want to know, but they won't just repeat something that we are already comfortable with.
If you dream about somebody that you don't see every day, that you haven't seen in six months or two years or two decades, that person in that dream almost certainly represents some aspect of you that you've projected onto this person. So, this person is symbolically portraying an aspect of your personality.
Ask yourself, who is that person? What is that person like? What are the things you like about the person? What are the things you don't like about that person? How are you like that person? How are you different from that person?
Remember, they will represent a mostly unconscious part of you, so dig deep and try to uncover what your subconscious is attaching to them.
If you dream about somebody that you don't see every day, that you haven't seen in six months or two years or two decades, that person in that dream almost certainly represents some aspect of you that you've projected onto this person. So, this person is symbolically portraying an aspect of your personality.
Ask yourself, who is that person? What is that person like? What are the things you like about the person? What are the things you don't like about that person? How are you like that person? How are you different from that person?
Remember, they will represent a mostly unconscious part of you, so dig deep and try to uncover what your subconscious is attaching to them.
I had a dream where my teeth fell out. What does it mean?
I think teeth represent our aggression or aggressive impulses. Teeth are the way we kind of take a bite out of the world. So, this dream often says something about our sense of agency and assertiveness, and indicates that that's been compromised somehow.
What does it mean when a snake appears in my dream?
Snakes are enormous, powerful archetypal symbols, and they can symbolize so many different things. For one, snakes are believed to be associated with death and rebirth because they shed their skin. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh finds the secret to life eternal, but then it's stolen by a snake. Snakes are also associated with healing. They're wrapped around the Caduceus that we associate with hospitals and medical symbology. That's partly because Asclepius used snakes in healing ceremonies. Snakes are also associated with consciousness, as it was the snake that convinced Eve to eat from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Any of these associations could be at work in a dream.
However, I often find that in dreams, snakes are associated with the deep unconscious, the embodied unconscious, the part that just controls your heart rate and your breathing. So, the snake is the reptilian brain part of the psyche, and the snake is an image of a death-like regression. If you want to retreat from life and crawl under the covers and stay there, it's a bit like having been bitten by a snake. The snake represents fear that keeps you out of life.
However, I often find that in dreams, snakes are associated with the deep unconscious, the embodied unconscious, the part that just controls your heart rate and your breathing. So, the snake is the reptilian brain part of the psyche, and the snake is an image of a death-like regression. If you want to retreat from life and crawl under the covers and stay there, it's a bit like having been bitten by a snake. The snake represents fear that keeps you out of life.
Why am I dreaming of my ex so much?
We project parts of ourselves on other people in our dreams. It's likely that you've projected something powerful on this man, and your dreams about him are actually about something you associate with him or that he carries for you, not about him as a person.
Q&A Comments (4)
What does the color yellow symbolize in dreams?
Archetypically, yellow is a very solar color, so it likely symbolizes consciousness and awareness.
What does a ghost represent in a dream?
A ghost could be an aspect of yourself that you have not allowed into consciousness. Ghosts have to exist in an intermediary form, because they aren't allowed in the world as living entities.
So, a ghost would make me think that there's some aspect of you that has been disallowed or disavowed that's trying to get your attention.
How can you learn to recognize your shadow?
One way to get a sense of what your shadow is, is to recognize when you get really, really bothered by someone. Maybe there's a co-worker, and the person's definitely annoying and other people don't like the person either, but you have a huge outsized reaction to them. If you just can't stand the person, then that's worth saying, okay, now, why does that person bother me?
Ask yourself, what's the thing about this person that bothers me the most? What am I envious of about this person? What about this person makes me jealous?
Those two questions might reveal to you that the person is carrying some aspect of yourself that you haven't yet claimed and developed. You can see it projected on them. The invitation is, could you accept that in yourself? Could you start working on it?
Co-authored Articles (2)
Socionics & Cognitive Function Test
Socionics is a psychological theory inspired by the research of Carl Jung. It argues that people generally fall into one of 16 possible personality types that determines how they perceive and process information and what...
Everything You Need to Know About the Sage Archetype (Jungian & Feminine)
Plus, how to embody the wisdom of The Sage in your lifeWhat role does the Sage play as one of Carl Jung’s twelve character archetypes? The Sage is an integral part of any story! They’re the wise mentor, the fount of ...
