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Dream Symbol:

Police

Carl Jung's Interpretation:

Carl Gustav Jung, the father of analytic psychology, would find depth in the symbol of police from a dream. The police symbol, he would contend, encapsulates the archetype of the 'Great Mother' or 'Terrible Mother'—an embodiment of societal or inner structure, rules, and authority. The police, in this regard, reflect our collective unconscious, our general human experiences and behaviors that have evolved over centuries. To dream of the police hence signifies the dreamer is coming into contact with an aspect of themselves that is seeking setting of boundaries, the need for regulation and an order in the conditions of their unconscious world. It could very well represent their shadow aspect too, which consists of their repressed fears, destructive behavior patterns or even something that makes them guilty.

James Hillman's Interpretation:

James Hillman, post-Jungian psychologist and proponent of archetypal psychology would deviate from Jung's approach. Rather than narrowing the symbol to a certain archetype, Hillman might propose that a police figure in a dream calls for a 'pathologizing', seeing the various aspects without reducing it to a single meaning. The dreamer's relationship with the symbol should be given priority. Hillman would incite an imaginative, aesthetic understanding of this symbol. Imagine yourself in the shoes of the police. What does the dream feel like? Are they the enforcers of law and order within your psyche, or do they bring about more chaos? The figure of police therefore, in a Hillmanian sense, may symbolize a perturbing force, a disruption that arouses emotion and evokes a deeper understanding of the self.

Classical Interpretation:

Traditionally, the police in dreams serve as an omen for impending danger or risk. It's often linked with feelings of guilt, fear, and anxiety in waking life. Conversely, it may advise the dreamer to check on their actions and behavior in order to avoid troubles.

Ancient Greek Interpretation:

Reflecting the Greek belief system, police could represent the Furies (also known as Erinyes), who were feared goddesses of retribution and vengeance. Their appearance might suggest the arrival of justice, or possibly guilt—reflecting an inner turmoil with one's own actions.

Morphology:

The symbol of police is typically visualized as distinct uniformed figures, badges, police cars or even police stations. The figure is of a human form, enforcing law and order and symbolizing authority, hierarchy, control, protection and service.

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