Abstract:

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the relationship between inner dream symbols, presented through dream incubation, and external waking symbols illustrated through the media of the Tarot. The hypothesis set forth and experimentally tested was that the symbols of dreams and the Tarot are archetypally connected, since they come from the same unconscious domain, and therefore, the symbols of both an incubated dream and a focused Tarot spread for a given individual at a given point in time will reflect the same themes, issues and content.

There were twelve subjects. Each subject completed two dream/Tarot packets, rating both the dreams and Tarot spreads on a seven point scale in relationship to their incubation questions. All dream packet data were presented along with the correct Tarot spread and three false spreads to a panel of three judges. The judges blindly ranked and rated the four Tarot spreads on how well they matched the dream using a seven point scale.

The data was statistically analyzed in two ways. First, a chi square was applied to determine the significance of the rankings of the correct and incorrect Tarot spreads in correlation with the dream for each of the three judges. Then a "t-test" was employed three times to compare the mean ratings of the correct and incorrect Tarot spreads for the first and second trials of each of the twelve subjects and, finally, for the combination of the two trials. The statistical results of both the judges' rankings and ratings showed the P values to fall at or beyond the .05 level, sufficient for the results to be regarded as statistically significant.

Four case examples were presented, along with the statistical results.

The Jungian concept of Synchronicity was set forth as a theoretical explanation of how this phenomenon occurs.