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Dream Symbol:

Closet

Carl Jung's Interpretation:

In the doctrine of Carl Gustav Jung, a closet in dreams can be understood as suggestive of the unconscious self. Jung would posit that this confined space typifies the 'shadow self', a reservoir of our repressed desires, fears, and aspects disowned or denied in waking life. Its contents reveal those aspects we are hiding, repressing or neglecting. Closed or locked closets may indicate suppression or denial, while an open or unlocked one could suggest an ongoing process of self-discovery and acceptance of these hidden facets.

James Hillman's Interpretation:

James Hillman, father of Archetypal Psychology, would interpret a closet very differently from Jung. He might argue that the closet is less a personal symbol of repression and more an image to be met and understood 'as it is.' Here, the closet could render the archetypal essence of secrecy, of things concealed and the potentiality in the unseen. It emphasises intimacy with one's self and private aspects of life. It's less about integrating the unconscious into the self, more about relationship with the closet and its contents, engaging them directly.

Classical Interpretation:

Conventionally, a closet in dreams is often correlated with aspects of the self that one hides. This could be secrets, repressed memories, or emotions. It's a symbol of privacy and intimacy. When one cleans out the closet, it signifies a process of emotional and psychological cleansing, the release of baggage or burdens.

Ancient Greek Interpretation:

In ancient Greece, dream analysis was profound but not in the contemporary sense. There isn't a specific analog for a closet. However, enclosed spaces like cellars or caves often reflected the inner self, the psyche. Similar considerations could apply to the modern archetype of a closet.

Morphology:

A closet can morph into representations of secrecy or disclosure depending upon its state. Open closets denote acceptance or revelation, while closed ones indicate hidden aspects. Variations can also signify the evolution of the self – a bare closet showing a blank slate or a stuffed one suggesting an overwhelmed self.

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