Boat, Ship

The ship carries humans across the sea, over the depths of the unconscious. It is primarily a symbol of a journey—a (conscious) construction to travel across parts of the world that are otherwise inaccessible, which in turn is tied to humanity’s "unnatural" consciousness. This construction or method (see below) on the depths of the unconscious can reflect the ego’s relationship to the unconscious.

Journey  

With a boat, we cross the depths of the unconscious (the sea), or follow "energy streams" (the river), or navigate more confined unconscious areas (the lake); all of which stand in contrast to, for example, the car and the road. In any case, the boat surely illustrates a journey we are undertaking in some sense. A ship on the sea is like a star circling the sky, yet it is controlled by humans; it is an image of an individual’s ability and necessity to choose a destination and set a course.

The ship or vessel is a recurring image for the great journey in myths and religious beliefs. In dreams, a ship may represent an inner journey, where the human-constructed vessel is what is known or possible to know, and the sea is the unknown. Storms express unconscious forces, as do rocks, monsters, and so on. (See also Weather.) The captain and his ship, navigational charts, and instruments illustrate the ego’s ability to navigate both the outer and inner worlds. Alchemists used the ship and journey to express their often tedious, exhausting, but sometimes perilous and heroic opus.

The boat is the vehicle (see this) we are currently using, but perhaps during a more unconscious or inner journey than, for instance, a car would suggest. Water is far more unpredictable than a road. The boat or ship also implies adventure and exploring the unknown to a greater extent.

The Feminine  

The ship or vessel is, across the world, a feminine symbol traditionally given female names and often associated with the moon or moon goddesses in various mythologies. Its function of connecting to other harbors suggests a relational function that is also feminine. The ship, rocking on the sea, carries its cargo and crew within it, much like a pregnant woman. An arriving ship should bring something within it from another harbor.

Transition  

Smaller boats, in particular, share the symbolism of a bridge. In Greek mythology, one boards Charon’s boat to reach the other side, and boat burials were common in ancient traditions. According to the Dictionary of Symbols, “all civilizations have their boat of death.” There are both literal and symbolic similarities to a coffin, and here too is the connection with the feminine and motherly aspects. (See also River.)

Protective Method

The ship is a symbol of a method or a protective idea – a doctrine of thought, philosophy, system of teaching, set of principles, or laws. As such, the symbol recurs in philosophical and religious contexts. When one enters a church with columns on either side, one enters the nave; Jesus is referred to as the church’s helmsman. This protective church, or this ship, is a secure form or a spiritual system that helps people navigate the treacherous sea of the unconscious. As a dream symbol, the ship is usually less specific, of course, but the ship as “our church” in a figurative sense is often relevant.

Seasickness

If the unconscious overflows into the conscious, one may lose their grounding, experience inflation, become dizzy, and feel seasick.

Type of Vessel  

Of course, the type of boat in the dream is crucial. A canoe or rowboat likely keeps us close to shore, offering freedom and using physical effort, similar to a Bicycle. A motorboat suggests conscious energy, while a sailboat depends on the (divine) Wind beyond our control; a ship requires a functioning crew, and so on.

Sailing  

Sailing, in particular, is a fitting metaphor for the individuation process, since one must both work with one's skills and accept dependency on forces beyond control. If fate, so to speak, decides on a storm, then a storm will come regardless of our desires; but how we handle it remains entirely in our hands.

Popular posts from this blog

Forget About the Archetype - It's the Complex

A good post on Reddit expresses criticism towards people seeking answers to their personal problems in Jung’s archetype theory, arguing that they misunderstand Jung’s fundamental theoretical framework, particularly the process of individuation. The post became popular, receiving many upvotes and quickly garnering several fairly lengthy, often well thought-out responses. But what struck me was that the writer didn’t mention complexes a single time in the nearly 600-word post, and no one else did either in their comments. This prompted me to write a short post highlighting the point that when people share their thoughts on Jung in relation to their own or others’ psychology, it is actually, in most cases, about complexes—not archetypes. A couple of days later, the thread had 54 comments and 246 upvotes, which are rather high numbers in this forum for a serious post that sticks to the topic of Jungian psychology. However, my post hadn't received any comments or upvotes. Still no-one e...
Read more

Shadow Work – A Critical Commentary

When browsing public channels on various platforms that deal with Jungian psychology, one is struck by how frequently “shadow work” appears.  It seems to be mostly young men, who don’t appear to have studied Jung to any significant extent, who are fascinated by and encourage this "work." As someone who has studied Jung and Jungian literature for a long time, I don’t recognize this focus on so-called shadow work in the sources at all. It actually seems to be a modern internet phenomenon rather than something genuinely Jungian. Yes, it is of course true that the “shadow” is a central concept in Jungian psychology, and it is true that Jung stated that it is "a therapeutic necessity for the ego to confront its shadow" (CW 14, par. 514) – but this shadow work they speak of, where does it come from? Because it certainly doesn’t come from Jung or any influential Jungians. What is the shadow according to Jung? It is simply hidden or unconscious aspects of ourselves that we...
Read more

3. The Muster of Rohan; 4. The Siege of Gondor

Since neither Frodo, Gandalf or Aragorn participates in the events of this chapter, there is very little symbolic significance. We may note that Théoden’s army meets Éowyn at Dunharrow, an ancient fortress to which the people have fled under her leadership. During supper, Merry asks about Aragorn and the Paths of the Dead, but no one—neither Théoden, Éomer or Éowyn—understands why he chose to take this hopeless road. No one knows of the Stone of Erech or the “peril in the south.” “Woe that so valiant a man should trifle with death in this dire hour!” Éomer exclaims. The reason for Aragorn’s reticence is probably that his initiation is an intensely private matter, a secret pure and simple. Théoden intends to leave both Éowyn and Merry behind here—neither of them is suited to battle, he believes. But when the host later rides toward Gondor, Éowyn and Merry ride with it in secret. Both refuse to be left in a place where their respective callings would remain unfulfilled. 4. The Siege of G...
Read more