A modern way of saying that would be that the dream is the window to the soul. There are many different ways of approaching dreams as their meaning is often on many different simultaneous levels. On the most superficial level we can look at the dream as a commentary on some ordinary everyday experience or situation that the dreamer is dealing with. On a deeper level we can explore the drama taking place in the dream with each image and symbol in the dream representing some psychological aspect of the dreamer. It can be looked at as a dialogue among the characters and feelings that inhabit our inner world.
Dreams can be extraordinarily elusive like trying to catch a butterfly just always out of reach.
Our conscious mind seems to be reluctant to allow us full recollection or understanding of our dreams. Because dreams talk to us in a strange and foreign language of symbols and images they disturb our conscious preconceptions of who we are and what we are about. Dreams are like looking down into a deep chasm into our souls. We sometimes are afraid we will fall into the abyss if we look too long or too deeply into ourselves. It is important to lie still for a few moments when awakening from a dream and to stay with the feelings and images of the dream.