SKOPOS

What dreams are made out of

Dreams can be defined as a person’s purpose in life. Each person has their own personal dream and shares a part in the universal theme for all of mankind. There is a word in Greek which denotes this characterization, called skopos. In short, its definition is representative of both an observer and an end goal.

Etymology of Skopos - σκοπός  (skopós) 

Origin according to biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/skopos: from skeptomai (to peer about [“skeptic”], meaning “I observe.” Perhaps akin to “skapto” (to dig) through the idea of concealment – “skepasma” meaning a covering.

Wiktionary gives further insight to this word as follows;

Noun

(genitive σκοποῦ); second declension

1. watcher, lookout

2. protector, guardian

3. spy, scout

4. mark, target

5. goal, aim

According to the definitions as seen above, I would like to present that dreams are skopos in the sense that it can reveal truths that have been concealed. This has been a long topic of esotericism as noted from such works as the Upanishad and the Gita.

For those of us who don't have time and money to get a PhD degree in Sanskrit texts or paddle through the long texts of the Upanishad's and the Gita, there is an alternative narrative you may have already seen. Movies, such as “Star Wars” or “The Matrix” has served as a bridge between modern storytelling and ancient wisdom - inviting us to contemplate the illusory nature of reality and the pursuit of self-realization, a timeless theme that resonates across cultures and philosophies. For example, various characters in the Star Wars echoes teaching and names from ancient Egypt, including the Jedi’s- which is from the Egyptian Djedi - both refer to the guardians of divine wisdom against evil. Also, in The Matrix, the characters Neo, Morpheus, and Trinity, can be seen as embodying the spiritual seeker, the guru, and the guide archetypes, respectively.

In Ovid’s, Metamorphoses, book 11 - House of Sleep, the name given to the god of dreams is Morpheus. The name signifies the fashioner or molder, because he shapes or forms dreams which appeared to the sleeper. Dreams can be defined as enigmatic, as they conceals strange images, shrouded with ambiguity - a true meaning to the information being offered.

Myths and movies have been a successfully way for these inner teachings to stay alive. When it comes to preserving esoteric information, the best way is sometimes hiding messages in plain sight. These sacred conveyances took on a mythical context in order to survive many years ago to this day. The philosopher and ancient religious writers hid this pursuit of this reality by concocting myths, or Biblical passages by formulating analogies and resorts to images and metaphors.

This tradition includes the first recorded religious book of the Epic of Gilgamesh, which contains numerous accounts of prophetic power of dreams. Even Shakespeare emphasizes this theme in almost every conceivable manner in the construction of his plays for the examination of the nature of illusion and reality. This tradition enabled the playwright to present the possibility of communication between humans and the supernatural realms through dreams.

PYLAI: The Gates of Horn & Ivory

The visions of dreams is said to come to the dreamer through one of two gates (pylai). The first of these, made of horn, was the source of the prophetic god-sent dreams, while the other, constructed of ivory, was the source of dreams which were false and without meaning. The phrase “Gates of horn and ivory” originate in the Greek language, in which the word for “horn” is similar to that for “fulfill” and the word “ivory” is similar to that for “deceive.”

In Porphyry’s^[1] commentaries of dreams, he makes the following remarks on a passage in Homer presenting the same distinction between gates:

“All truth is concealed. Nevertheless, the soul, when it is partially disengaged from bodily functions during sleep, at times gazes and at times peers intently at the truth, but does not apprehend it; and when it gazes it does not see with clear and direct vision, but rather with a dark obstructing veil interposed.”

Deceiving Dream Types

1.       Nightmare [Greek: enypnion, Latin: insomnium]

2.       The Apparition [Greek: phantasma, Latin: visum]

The two false Daimones that block mental harmony and spiritual awakening are caused by psychological stresses or anxiety. These entities are called black dreams (melas oneiroi).  

Fulfilled Dream Types:

1.       Prophetic Vision [Greek: horama, Latin: visio] – a dream comes true

2.       Oracular [Greek: chremastismo, Latin: oraculum] – take action or avoid

Prophetic interpretations can be subdivided into one of five categories, namely; personal, foreign, social, public, and universal. Each person alive has their own Oracle- just as in the movie The Matrix, the Oracle is a tutelary deity that aids in freeing ourselves from material imprisonment (samsara). We also all share dreams together which can bring about universal harmony and love.

Ever had a case of déjà vu? While people may explain this in different ways, I can attest recalling dreams during moments in my waking life, where I knew exactly what someone would say before they said it, including the scenery around me. Once you start paying attention to your dreams and remembering them, you will notice more and more of these little synchronicities.

“Synchronistic events, moreover, almost invariably accompany the crucial phases of the process of individuation. But too often they pass unnoticed, because the individual has not learned to watch for such coincidences and to make them meaningful in relation to the symbolism of his dreams.” ― C.G. Jung

The culmination of Jung's lifelong engagement with the paranormal is his theory of synchronicity, the view that the structure of reality includes a principle of acausal connection which manifests itself most conspicuously in the form of meaningful coincidences. Difficult, flawed, prone to misrepresentation, this theory nonetheless remains one of the most suggestive attempts yet made to bring the paranormal within the bounds of intelligibility. It has been found relevant by psychotherapists, parapsychologists, researchers of spiritual experience and a growing number of non-specialists. Indeed, Jung's writings in this area form an excellent general introduction to the whole field of the paranormal.

Never forget your Dreams!

In conclusion, these character dynamics are interpreted through the lens of the Upanishads teachings, as echoed by Porphyry, the play of Shakespeare and even our mythology of movies, offering a modern metaphor for the pursuit of spiritual awakening and self-realization. Additionally, the Matrix itself is often linked to the illusory world created to obstruct us individuals from realizing our true nature - that of pure, unconditioned consciousness, echoing the Vedantic concept of Maya and the obstacles on the path to liberation.

P.S. Unless you have an oneirocritic that can interpret your dreams, there are available online resources to help understand visions you recieve in dreams such as dreammoods.com or dreamdictionary.org. There several more out there, but these two have been around for a long time. Just remember, upon waking, your memory of dreams will fade as fast as you become conscious. So it helps to have a pad of paper and pencil by your bedside. Take time to listen and understand your visions- unless its a nightmare. Your Oracle is there to aid you in your success! No matter your religion or political stance (or lack there of), I hope we can dream the same dream of peace and harmony together.

Until next time friend, have a good night’s sleep.

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[1] Porphyry Malchus of Tyre (223 - 309 AD) was born in Tyre and studied in Athens, before joining the Neoplatonic group of Plotinus in Rome where he studied philosophy. Porphyry was a man of great learning and was interested in and had great talent for historical and philological criticism. He had a passion to uproot false teachings in order to ennoble people and turn them to the Good.  He declared the salvation of the soul as the ultimate purpose of philosophy.