Psychology Today- The Benefits of Dream Interpretation

A research in the unknown region of the psychic sphere that was performed using dream interpretation discovered the existence of a wild side in the conscience, which functions independently and constantly influences the conscience in order to destroy it through craziness.

It was also discovered that the unconscious that produces our dreams is saintly and its wisdom is beyond any doubt. If we learn to translate the dream images into words, we can understand the messages sent by the unconscious to protect and cure us from depression and any mental illness, eliminating the danger of craziness and despair forever.

Our dreams are alive-they contain important messages that should be deciphered so that we may be protected from our enemy, the anti-conscience. Most mental illnesses cause violent reactions exactly because when the anti-conscience dominates us, we become violent.

The solution to eliminate the dangerous influence and constant attacks of the anti-conscience is dream interpretation on a regular basis. This can help in transforming this part of the psyche into a positive part of the conscious.

The communication of the dreamer with the unconscious is the reward for his or her occupation with dream messages and their translation.

The cold and impersonal attitude that the common psychotherapists of today adopt is substituted by the warmth and wisdom of the unconscious.

The dream symbols explain a hundred things at the same time and we suddenly understand why our lives took this particular direction and how to evolve and develop all our capacities.

This vision and comprehension cannot be compared to the narrow concepts of the several ramifications of psychology in our days, and all of them are limited by human ignorance.

The wisdom of the unconscious is responsible for the existence of wisdom in human history, and in personalities that have managed to win the anti-conscience and evolve beyond the limits of their civilization and time. Because of these rare examples in history, we have proof that the one who decides to follow the path that leads to the truth and real wisdom, discovers the treasures of health, peace and happiness.

Learned Societies - A New Beginning - Psychology & Philosophy

Abstract

In this paper I wish to discuss the revival of the Learned Societies as a form of intellectual freedom in an age of oppression of free-thinking and intellectual pursuit. In doing so I hope to show that the current state of discourse has been stifled by rules and regulations not unlike that of the Church and State of the early 16th and 17th centuries in Europe and else-where.

Discussion

The history of Learned Societies goes back to the seventeenth century and earlier when the Church, through Rome and the papacy, defined what constituted scientific learning in line with the dogma of the scriptures. Most universities of the time were controlled by strict hierarchy of what was deemed to be suitable for public consumption. Many great scholars found themselves alienated by the Church and the State if they miscalculated the propositions in their science which where to be in-line with religious thought, also that some things were not open to debate as they were a matter of faith. However scientific progress was not halted during this time but often went underground in secret societies where daring ideas could be discussed and investigated amongst the more liberal thinking of the time. Men dedicated to learning free of the rules and regulations inflicted on them by Church and State would gather secretly to discuss the philosophies and ideas of the day. In some countries they became recognised and even supported by Government where more open thought was permitted. Why then did these societies flourish at this time? The answer was the lack of progress in the Universities themselves as they were hampered by dogma from the Church and from the power structure that permitted only research that was approved by the older professors who mostly were Churchmen such as priests, deacons and followers of the one faith. Many who published books were added to Rome's list of forbidden reading, this made sure no science that conflicted with the "Christian world view" was challenged. Another reason for the Learned Societies was the petty jealousies aroused in Universities by bright young minds applying novel thinking and scientific method to problems that in the past were left to faith. Therefore the often secret societies were fulfilling an important role left undone by the Universities in furthering investigations. I list some of the most influential societies below and there formation dates.

Accademia Secretorum Natural - Naples 1560

Accademia dei Lencei - Rome 1603

Accademia del Cimento - Florence 1657

Other countries stared a little later such as Germany 1700, Sweden 1710, and Russia 1724.

Some more important societies became part of the establishment and often received Royal patronage, such as the Accademie of Sciences in Paris founded by Jean Baptiste Colbert receiving a royal charter in 1666. The other is the Royal Society in England (1662) that went on to provide the support for many discoveries that led to advancements in Natural History and the recognition of achievement in other fields of science.

Many of these societies conflicted with Church and State and were often persecuted if found out and membership could mean excommunication from the Church or at worse beheading or torture and prison. However what forced men to take the risks was a love of discovery, intellectual pursuits and scientific advancement.

20th Century - The Stalemate?

Today we still have some of the original societies that now have become part of mainstream society and seen as established respectable organisations. The Royal Society in England and the Accamedie des Sciences in France both now still exist but there roles are now much more in line with current State and University ideology.

New modern societies have come into existence but have a very different form and notion of scientific advancement. These tend to be publishers of papers, (if approved and inline with current thinking) and more often disciplinary, in that they control membership and so in turn often employment and status. They offer Charters and membership certificates which are really approval papers (if your face fits you get in). This of course is all in line with the idea of a Meritocracy in modern thinking where-by only if you went to the right place and get the correct papers you can become part of the group. In the past of course many great men where interested in many areas of science and discovery and were not hampered by society rules of what you are allowed to do and not to do. Most of the great discoveries of the modern age would have been blocked by this system in the 1600 to 1800 period, as most scientists of the day did not have uniform or accredited papers to say they knew what they were doing. In fact a theology degree was the most common and this was the door at that time to University teaching.

So why did the early Learned Societies flourish, when the State and Church being all powerful, were against them in most cases? It is quite simple - free-thinking men cannot be hemmed in by rules and regulations that control information and restrict access to public dissemination of findings. We should add here that many of the great scientists of the past were not completely correct in their discoveries, but what was important, was that they led a direction that later scientists could follow and perfect.

Remember today's paradigm is tomorrows folly.

Why call for a revival of Learned Societies today?

In it is the very fact that all the modern societies are rule bound and exclusive to the meritocracy of modern times that we now need to rethink the idea of freedom of thought and expression. As in the past - those that oppose the current thinking or suggest another truth are prevented from publishing or simply defrocked in the sense of losing membership of the society or association as a way to gag descent and prevent the general public from joining in a debate. If you are neatly discredited you cannot have access to journals, university positions, publishing and public assembly. A recent case in the United Kingdom is a good example, a university professor after exhaustive research supported the idea of race and intelligence being linked and that the genetic differences in race determined the intelligence quotient in subjects. In a world where everyone is supposed to be equal this went against government policy of race relations and the scientist's association who promptly ridiculed him publicly amongst his peers and then proceeded to cancel his membership. This led to his dismissal from the University and subsequent alienation from academia. It is not a question of whether his research was valid or that his results were clearly accepted by other well-know scientists. The fact is he went against the powers that be, just as did Galileo and others in the 17th century and risked excommunication or death. Galileo recanted and had to wait until after his death to have his great discovery about cosmology accepted. Are we now in an age where the new faith of science is in the hands of bureaucrats, technicians and moralists who dictate what a scientist is allowed to investigate and publish?

In the modern world are we now so sure of our knowledge and systems that there is no room for the person, man or woman, who wants to think outside the box? Are we so scared of hearing the lone voice that goes against our thinking that as Kant indicated today's firm knowledge is but an illusion of reality based on what we understand and know today. The changing of a paradigm is not an easy passage and in the past we made great men suffer for the knowledge they offered when it clearly went against current thinking.

I think it is time to call once again for secret societies, where intellectuals can talk freely without fear of investigation and persecution. The reader may believe I overstate my case but in fact ask most PhD students how much real choice they had in their thesis when under the guidance of an old professor with definite ideas about what constitutes knowledge and scientific enquiry. In the past Art in Paris and Europe flourished because there were no rules, each artist watched the work of others, each artist strived for originality and their own style to impress the world and convey their own emotions and intellect into art. Many died poor; the galleries were controlled by the old guard, the bastions of truth in art, and the money men. Is this where we are at in scientific thought today, needing associations to approve our work, governments to issue licenses to allow us to conduct experiments? Also these association's codes and rules that hamper our imagination and force scientists to stay within the box, as defined by the past. In my own subject of psychology most learned regulated societies and associations are stuck in a 1950's time warp and are so afraid of public controversy they heavily police the scientists that can only work with their approval and access to their journals.

Could a secret society today exist and have an impact as they had done so in the past? I believe they could - the internet gives access to blogs, spaces and other media that was in the past impossible to access. Now a secret society can publish its findings on the web and have the freedom to discuss any topic without fear of retribution. However in some countries the net is already being attacked by governments and agencies determined to control the content and access to the public. Sites are often closed down, people arrested and imprisoned in some cases. The Church's power is now history over science, but the modern faith is now in societies and associations that determine moral and ethical standards that they believe we should be bound too. I am not saying that we do not need some guidelines to protect the innocent and the weak but most rules and regulations are designed to protect the powerful and wealthy for their interests and only a fool believes otherwise.

The New Secret Society

I would like to propose that a, Society of Thinkers, should form in every country to attract those people who want free debate and enquiry. Behind closed doors, with members having pseudomonas and internet handles, to identify them. An international website to allow each secret society to communicate its ideas and thoughts on psychology and philosophy to others around the world who are interested. This is not an anti-government movement or an anti-university movement simply the freedom to discuss and learn and advance science and thinking as it was in the past and maybe one day many years from now this society too with become mainstream and accepted by the State. Then it will have died a respectable death and a future generation must fight against ignorance and persecution from those who become the status quo.

Professor Stephen F. Myler PhD

Shanghai

References:

History of Systems of Psychology (2004) James F. Brennan - Peking University Press (Pearson Education - Prentice Hall Publishers. Pgs 80/81.

Times Educational Supplement (2000) Unknown source.

The Psychology of Healing Through Religion

The history of the word "psychology" derived during the 16th century in Germany by Melanchthon and was originated to mean, "the study of the soul". Ironically and over time, the study of the word "psychology" is now interpreted as, "the study of the mind, mental states, and processes". How and where this dramatic turn of definition and study came to be requires a good and hard look at history; somewhere and somehow, the soul and mind were separated. Prior to the development of psychotherapy in the 19th and 20th centuries, religion and philosophy were the primary sources of study used to understand mankind and his mental dis/abilities and behaviors. As time progresses into the centuries, and more and more scientific and medical studies are conducted, there seems to be a phenomenal realization: philosophy, religiosity, and faith are primary factors in an individual's psychological mental health.

Sadly enough to say, Psychologists and Psychiatrists are now undergoing new training to learn how to integrate faith based therapies or at least consider the religiosity of their clients prior to implementing a formal diagnosis and advise for therapy (Frazier & Hansen, 2009, ABSTRACT). In a case study questioning 300 doctoral-level psychologists between two separate age groups (age 50 and older and 49 and younger) about their practices using a RSPBQ (Religious/Spiritual Psychotherapy Behaviors Questionnaire), the findings were that the therapists did not use any of the methods listed in the questionnaire. A very small percentage of those interviewed actually considered any of the methods: actively communicate respect for clients' religious/spiritual beliefs, evaluate when one's religious/spiritual values and biases negatively impact treatment, actively seek client feedback about psychotherapy provided, promote autonomy and self-determination of highly religious clients, even when their values differ from one's own, self-assess one's competence to counsel clients regarding religious/spiritual issues, use clients' religious/spiritual strengths in treatment, modify treatment plan to account for clients' religious/spiritual concerns, use clients' religious/spiritual beliefs to help inform their decisions, ask religious/spiritual questions to assess clients' religious/spiritual involvement, accurately determine when religious/spiritual beliefs are adversely affecting the client's well-being, use extra-therapy resources to inform oneself about a client's (just to name a few) specific religious/spiritual beliefs.integrate or consider the faith followed by their clients until they themselves had a religious faith or experience.

Under consideration that 95% of Americans believe in God or a higher power and 65% are members of a church and believe that their religious faith plays a significant role in their life and well-being (Frazier & Hansen, pg. 81), the findings that professional therapists do not consider religion as a primary factor during diagnosis is astonishing (Frazier & Hansen, pg. 84). The data revealed in this study proves that religiosity should be further studied and understood by mental health professionals in order to more accurately recommend therapy. Without understanding or realization of faith-based therapy, society is left to depend on medications and western medicine for mental and physical help rather than provided with the ability to heal from within and through religion.

Today's modern societies (excepting in third world countries where poverty and deprivation make it almost impossible to access) depend heavily on medications to soothe their anxieties and disorders at almost epidemic degrees. If the medication that is relied on the most is not accessible such as for financial reasons; self-medicating through illegal avenues is often the case. There is a high percentage of alcohol and drug abuse in modern societies when compared to less developed countries and more religious societies. Either way, a high percentage of mankind is searching outside of themselves for comfort, serenity, acceptance, a way to cope and understand, and forgiveness. Could this metaphorical separation of mind and soul be one of the underlying factors playing a significant role in the mental health problems and in/abilities to cope that exist today? Is it feasible that history, philosophy, psychology, and religion should have ever been separated?

According to Historical Intersections of Psychology, Religion, and Politics in National Contexts by Robert Kugelmann and Jacob A. Belzen they never were separated. As a matter of fact, they claim that the primary religion of the country predicts how an individual may react under certain circumstances. Their claim is that the political influence of the country affects the collective religious beliefs of that country and results in individual characterization development and variability (Kugelmann & Belzen, 2009, pg. 127).

Although historically, religion and psychology became separate entities under the belief that mental analysis of behaviors and beliefs was heresy; in today's societies, religion and psychology have began to integrate once again. Religious authorities, churches, and professional psychologists and psychiatrists are realizing that an individual's belief in something greater than their self is significant to their mental and physical health. In countries where religion is a primary factor in political leadership, faith is a community affect. Studies were conducted in Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, which revealed that most of the religiosity affected the overall attitude of society and their life's functions (Kugelmann & Belzen, pg. 126).

It has been proven that religious beliefs and faith play a significant role in mental healing and dysfunction. The study of religiosity, the psychology of religion, and healing through religion have become the primary focus of several studies. The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American Psychological Association, 1992) includes religion as a human difference. The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the "Religious or spiritual problem" is included as a diagnosis (American Psychiatric Association 1994, p. 685) and Tarakeshwar, Stanton, and Pargement (2003) argue that religion should be fully integrated in cross-cultural psychology research (Abdel-Khalek, 2009, pg. 68).

Religiosity also plays a significant role in negative behaviors and beliefs in individuals. Another study examining scrupulosity (a religious form of obsessive compulsive behaviors) where individuals feel obsessed to pray and seek religious retribution. 11 of 25 invited priests participated in and agreed to answer a questionnaire regarding their behaviors and understanding of the scrupulosity and how they were able to professionally work with mental health professionals regarding the dysfunction (Hepworth, Margaret & Simonds, Laura Maria & Marsh, Robert, 2010, ABSTRACT). The findings revealed that priests did understand the dysfunction as a manifestation of obsessive compulsive behaviors and believed its derivation was attributed to strict religious upbringing. It is further found that religious leaders would be best suited in handling and providing supportive therapy for scrupulosity (Hepworth, Simonds, Marsh, pg. 11).

Considering the fact that the majority of religiosity studies conducted and written about include primarily English-speaking (American) individuals, a study was conducted by Kuwait University observing 487 Kuwaiti and Egyptian under-graduate college students and the affects of their religiosity in correlation with their mental and physical well-being in contrast to American English-speaking students. The findings showed that the Kuwaiti and Egyptian students scored higher than their American counterparts.

The participants were asked to rate themselves on a scale from 1 to 10 regarding their level of religiosity, their religiosity when related to others, their estimations of physical and mental health, general happiness, and satisfaction of life. The results showed that Muslim-theist believers rated higher in their physical and well-being scores because of their belief that whatever happens to them is God's will (Abdel-Khalek, pg. 75) and they must comply and be satisfied with this divine will. It was also believed among the Muslim-theists that they were less neurotic than their American counterparts.

Healing through spirituality, faith, prayer, and a belief in a power higher than oneself significantly improves an individual's mental and physical well being as seen in the study conducted by Adbel-Khalek. Although his study was conducted with a limited range of members including: age, race, ethnicity, and cultural background - the findings are enough to invoke a more elaborate study. Another avenue to further explore is to learn more about religiosity. Exactly what is religiosity, is it merely a belief and active practice of a Christian based faith? While researching for religious healing, several articles, book, and journals were found full of discussions on faith healing through shamans, mental health healing through the faith of your priest/preacher, the history of religion and it's relationship with psychology; however, it was very difficult to find any that discussed mental health healing based on faith no matter what the religion. My use of the word "faith" throughout this review is meant to be defined as, "a belief in a power higher than oneself despite the religious origins". I actively use the word to describe the ability to heal through faith. Faith in anything whether it were a cup, a waterfall, a fantasy, a deity, a religion, yourself, fate, or a God above the clouds, surely must ignite healing from within at some level. The separation of psychology, philosophy, religion, and history surely does not seem rational when dealing with the complexities of personality and individuality in mankind. The study of these concepts to understand the vast reasons and existence of a complex mankind renders these tools inferior unless intertwined as one resource.

How To Use Psychology Today To Understand Yourself and Rid Your Stress

With all the noise in your brain how can you even think straight let alone try to listen to yourself? We are going to do just that. You will need 10 minutes to sit down and get comfortable while I unwrap your head and change a few negative ideas and emotions you have before putting it back on straight.

We are going to talk about how to use psychology today to help you deal with your emotional health no matter when it happened or who gave it to you (yes, gave it to you).

You are building a path through life; good or bad you are building it. Everything you have up to this point is from what you have thought about in the past (and experienced) or what you inherited (some negative emotions) from people like your parents, friends, or teachers. But for the most part your life has been your fault.

Do you need to change it - the bad parts? Let's do this: Look at your negative emotions. Where did these come from?

Did you inherit your sense of fear? Or, did you bring this on yourself?

Where did your anxiety come from? Is this inherited or did you bring this on yourself?

Fear and anxiety are caused by the psychological effects of stress. You must realize that what you are today comes from what you did yesterday and last year. Ultimately you are the product of your lifetime.

So are you ready? This is how to understand yourself so you can change your stress level and, by the time I am finished with you, improve your life.

For every negative emotion that you have that is causing you stress look deep inside by asking yourself if it is something that you have developed yourself (and can easily change) or if it was passed on to you through inheritance (and can easily change as well).

If you developed this stressful emotion, let's choose fear, then go back into your past and see if you can determine the time that this emotion first developed. Were you a baby suckling your mother's breast when you first became fearful? Was it because you thought that you weren't going to be fed? It might have been. Was it earlier like in your mother's womb when you heard shouts and screams from the outside? It could have happened. Was it when you were a toddler crawling on your hands and knees when you first became fearful of space and distance? It may have happened then.

Choose one of these instances and go back in your past and tell yourself it will be okay and that you have nothing to worry about. Comfort yourself at this time of your first inception of fear. Tie up this loose end that you have been carrying around with you. Come back through time to the present doing the same thing wherever you find the beginnings of the emotion of fear like you did just now. Fix these glitches in your emotional state!

Now what about negative emotions that you have inherited? You can certainly understand that emotions can be passed down through generations. Well, you do the same thing you did with your own developed emotions. You go back a generation or two and have a conversation with whomever you inherited this negative emotion from. Tell this relative, or friend, or whomever it was that you don't want this emotion messing with you in your life. Tell them that your life is just fine without it. Then tell yourself that everything will be okay.

If you are a linear person, that is, someone who thinks sequentially, you may have a hard time understanding this way of warping your time frame. All we are doing is rearranging your mind and memory. We are going back to the earliest memory you have and shifting both the content and context. It doesn't matter how old you were or if you went back a generation or two; it doesn't matter. All that matters is how you are processing your current state. If it isn't good then it's time to change the way you are processing.

This is how you will eliminate toxins of negative emotions from your mind.

Fear is the greatest strain on the mind and body. We are taught to fear at a young age and this continues throughout life. Now you can do something about it.

But more than that, you can do this with any negative emotion.

Dissatisfaction and overworked negative emotions will weaken your body and mind.

Worry, fear, depression, dissatisfaction, envy, jealousy, dishonesty, anger, grief, anxiety - these all vandalize your mind and body and will eventually build incurable disease.

Whether your negative emotions are inherited or developed by you it is time to remove them from your life. You will have released the power of the doctor within. This is the ultimate stress relief.

So if you want to know the key, it is to understand your current situation, your basic psychology today, look at your history, and decide to make positive changes to create a new you. Only you can do this. You have the insights. You have the answers buried inside.

It takes work and effort but there is help along the journey. Keep working even if it seems daunting. What else is more important?