ow do we recognize big dreams?

How do we recognize big dreams?

1. Mythical parallels in the content (see below for examples). Put another way, they are expressed through symbolism that is widely shared historically and cross-culturally.
2. More emotional
3. Less rational (i.e., irrational, bizarre things happen)
4. Less like everyday life (not in the sense of bizarre, but more like far from the usual routines)

Examples of how some of the archetypes appear in big dreams:

1. The anima and animus often appear as strangers of the gender opposite of the dreamer or as people mysteriously dressed, or as unusual groups of males or females.
2. The shadow, which is not inherently "bad" or "dangerous," but becomes so when denied expression, can appear as one or another animal, including dangerous animals if it is denied.
3. The self archetype appears as a "mandala," a symbol of wholeness, a magic circle, often with an intricate and interesting internal design.