Playgrounds
PlaygroundsPlaygrounds are the scene of many of our most favored childhood memories. What makes a playground dream significant is who accompanies you and what age you are in the dream. It is not uncommon to have a playground dream where the dreamer is the only child among adults or the only adult among children. These dreams usually indicate that there is a disparity between how you are acting in the world and what a more appropriate disposition would be. You may need to either lighten up or take yourself more seriously, depending on some of the distinct images in the dream.
Equally important in the playground dream is the presence of particular friends or family members. This is especially true if they have passed away in waking life but participate in the dream as living characters (see dead people as live characters). Dreams of this nature are often pointing towards incomplete relationships that are either repeating themselves in waking life or need resolution.
A 44-year-old woman reports this dream: I am on a playground ... there is carnival music playing in the background. I am on the turntable apparatus that spins faster and faster. Suddenly, I vomit in front of my friends. I feel humiliated for losing control. I am very sad because I have on my favorite little girl dress.
This dream is interesting because of the mixture of happy and sad memories. The dreamer does not report ever vomiting at a playground in her conscious memory.
However, upon investigating the dream, she realizes that her father is the one making the turntable spin. She feels as though she was enjoying herself tremendously up until the crucial moment. Then she realized the dress she vomited on in the dream is one she was given the summer her parents divorced.
***Problem-solvingProblem-solving in a dream situation and solving waking-life problems through dreaming are two very different experiences. The former is a dream event while the latter uses the dream event to address waking concerns.
In dreams, you may find yourself able to solve more problems than you normally do in waking. Problems that you can solve in dreams are virtually limitless because you are not bounded by logic. Many times this can work to the dreamer's advantage. If you are able to solve problems effectively, it is a reflection of untapped competence in a particular area of your life.
The idea of problem-solving through dreaming comes from the saying, Let me sleep on it. The ego is designed to differentiate which ideas are allowed to enter consciousness. Consequently, some thoughts are dismissed before they even get a chance for deliberation. The problem is that most of us are prejudiced by our experience to eliminate potentially good solutions to our problems. This is due to the neurosis that is part and parcel of every personality.
By sleeping and dreaming about a particular problem, your mind accesses a broader variety of problem solving choices than it would normally have the ability to recognize. When you awaken, you may not remember the specific dream content, but the problem may be miraculously resolved.
Always take note of the methods used in your dream situations to solve problems therein. Is there any situation in life that may benefit by employing similar tactics?
***BuyingPurchasing can be a very powerful event in life. If you don't believe this, think about people you know who gain self-esteem or a sense of accomplishment from shopping. Participating in commerce is a validation of personal autonomy in many ways. It can also be destructive. In a consumer-driven culture, many people find themselves drowning in debt. This debt can be an all-consuming drain not only on financial, but on emotional resources as well.
Consequently, dreams of buying may be a psychological warning as easily as an affirmation.
To interpret a dream of buying requires the dreamer to think about what was bought, why it was bought, and how it was bought-cash, credit, check, or good looks. Dreaming of buying on credit may reflect a desire to acquire or control, or it may reflect a warning. In exchanges of this nature, the object bought should be closely considered. Buying staple items on credit may reflect a deep-felt insecurity about one's circumstances and future. Buying luxury items could be an attempt to compensate for inadequate self-esteem or wanting to strengthen one's public stature. Trying to buy items (or food) without money may reflect a sense of incompetence concerning financial or other matters. It may also reflect a sense of unmet needs in emotional transactions.
What and who are you buying for, and from whom? If the merchant is known (e.g., spouse, business associate), the goods are essential, and the end user is yourself, you may feel that you are not fulfilling your end of the bargain in a relationship.
Being able to buy items without money is a powerful projection of control, public acceptance, or a sense that you are owed much favor. In these cases, the items purchased and the identity of the seller will provide major clues to the meaning of the dream.
Labels: Buying, Playgrounds, Problem Solving
dreams{unvealed...}
Posted @ 8:38 PM
"Demons"
DemonsDemons are interesting dream characters. Whether you view them as psychological constructs or ontic reality in your view of the cosmos, their presence is a significant statement. The meaning of the demons revolves around their power relative to other major characters in the dream.
Demons may have seductive or violent power in a taboo relationship to the dreamer as either a nemesis or helper to the cause of the dreamer. In these cases the dreamer sees him or herself as helped or hindered by supernatural powers in the accomplishment of a moral or personal conquest.
If a demon is helping you complete a task, it may say something about how your task is viewed morally either in your superego or in the structure of the spirit realm. If a demon is thwarting your progress, this may reflect your perception of evil working against you in your life. If the demon is threatening others who are important in your life, you may be struggling with how to protect or provide for others in a world perceived as hostile.
If the demons are helping you acquire something you hold as taboo, some self-examination concerning motives may be appropriate. Are they powerful in an alluring or repulsive way?
***
Divine CommunicationDreams allow awareness from somewhere other than the conscious mind to enter into our range of perspective without the prejudicial judgment of ego blocking the potential of larger reality. More directly, the best time for the divine to reach humanity is when we're not so busy being ourselves.
Judeo-Christian, Tao, Islam and Hindu religions all have significant appreciation for the dream as divine reality penetrating the consciousness of humanity. However, ideas about divine figures taking initiative in relationship with humanity vary widely within world religions.
What can be said here is that dreams that seem to include revelation from beyond could be treated as divine revelation itself, or as some sort of revelation from your own deepest values. In other words, don't be too concerned with the media through which any powerful message comes, or don't overanalyze the messenger. Let the message be the medium.
***
DogsDogs can be great friends or frightening adversaries. In dreams, the friendly dog may be a representation of a trustworthy relationship or intuitive affirmation of it. The wild dog may represent a nagging, ongoing struggle with a seemingly irresolvable conflict. (Of course, either case may just be a replay of a life situation starring a real dog that you know, either friend or foe.)
Do you want someone who is unfairly persecuting you to call off the dogs?
Is there a relationship in your life where the loyalty is at question or is especially pronounced?
***
WalkingYou may be trying to slow down your pace or lack the means to make speedy progress. Walking is a dichotomous symbol in that it can be both frustrating and relaxing to walk.
Walking is much more of a discovery-oriented journey than driving, flying, or other modes of transit. When walking, you are forced to experience your environment in much more detail since you are moving through it so slowly. To walk in a dream, especially if your perceived destination is far off, may indicate that you are missing some of the pleasure life has to offer by fixating on destinations, rather than on journeys.
In order to see the interpretive value of the walking, it must be determined why walking is the preferred mode of transit.
Are there other dream characters involved in walking, marching, or hiking? Are you trying to walk in an environment that is normally traveled by car?
***
TeethDreams about teeth and losing teeth are common. Often the dream is troubling, although it does not contain the same fear or anxiety as a nightmare. In the dream, the teeth often are a concern only to the dreamer. Other characters in the dream either do not notice, or do not care, about the loose teeth.
A 19-year-old woman reports: I am in the bedroom combing my hair. A guy comes in and asks me if I am in a relationship. I say no. Then, he asks me out on a date. I say yes. He is about to kiss me and I ask him to hold that thought for a second. I go to freshen up a bit. When I wipe my mouth, my teeth begin falling out! Every one I touch falls out. No bleeding, just empty spaces in my mouth. I go back out of the bathroom, concerned, but the guy doesn't notice. Meanwhile, I'm a wreck.
In waking life, the woman reports feeling conflicted about ending a relationship with a man. She would like to renew it. Potential embarrassment is preventing her from doing so.
Dreams of losing teeth are often dreams of embarrassment or potentially embarrassing situations. The parallel waking experience could be summed up in the phrase losing face publicly.
Other possible teeth-loss dreams may come from physical sensations such as grinding your teeth or having particularly sensitive teeth.
Do your teeth get knocked out or do they fall out for no apparent reason?
***
AngelsJacob wrestled the angel,
and the angel was overcome.
Bono, U2, Rattle and HumWith the tremendous interest in angels these days, it is not surprising that they are becoming frequent characters in dreams as well. Pictures of angels, stories of angels, and a popular spirituality of angels have put the images and imaginations of angels in our collective unconscious.
The word angel literally means messenger. Often, delivery of a particular message in the dream is the role filled by these beings. As the needs arise, they may provide additional help to the dreamer beyond simply delivering information. Since so many religions and contemporary worldviews have made room for angels in their view of the universe, this topic needs to be broken down a little more. Jung had room in his worldview for spirit guides.
These were apparitions that shared both knowledge and insight. This insight came as dialogue. Consequently, the Jungian angel was something of a spiritual mentor.
Religious angels have usually served more as ambassadors. They come with specific information, but not much dialogue. They are dispatched for specific purposes. Revelation, not dialogue, is the mission of the angel in this context.
Beginning with popular literature of the 1970s, angels have become more involved with tangible needs of this world. Tires are repaired, oncoming traffic is diverted, and rickety homes are preserved from the weather by angels. This seems to be a reflection on the growing interest in finding a reliable help in a malevolent world.
Angels also have become, in a sense, the sort of instant wish-granter that the character Kazoo was to Fred Flintstone in The Flintstones TV cartoon show. Kazoo was a green alien being who appeared when Fred needed help-he provided free favors and magical tricks. Some folks dream of angels helping them out in this way. In this sort of case, the dreamer may be turning toward an actual friend in real life to give them something.
Many angels in dreams represent help from an unknown and unseeable origin to survive a difficult situation. The dreamer is turning out into the unknown, expecting help from beyond his or her actual means. This could be called wish-projection.
Finally, the angel may be what the name implies: a message.
To discern which type of angel you have in your dreams requires some energy on your part. Does your worldview include the possibility of such beings? If not, you can probably move into wish-projection pretty easily.
Did your angel speak or act mysteriously without verbalizing?
If the angel spoke, what was the content?
If the angel merely acted, what was the nature of the action?
What area of your life seems to be needing a special solution that exceeds your resources? Do you feel emotionally unsupported in one of your personal quests or spiritual struggles?
***
Compass
Dreams about a compass, the universal symbol of direction, often involve either getting back on track or trying to discern what course should be set for the path ahead. Or the compass may have been found or given to you by a mentor figure of some kind. Checking out the mentor and her or his relationship to you should be a central concern of the dream.
***
SexSexual dreams are not about sex exclusively. Often they are about how we perceive people and how we think others perceive us. To construct a framework for interpreting sexual dreams, it is important to identify who is with us in the dream and how we feel about the experiences being had while dreaming.
Certain dreams are simply romantic. Boy and girl meet in the dream state and find themselves enjoying one another. This scenario commonly involves an attractive acquaintance and a generally pleasing environment. There is no violation of taboo, except for a sense that perhaps things are moving a little fast in the nocturnal relationship. Often, the dreamer has simply acted upon a desire for a relationship with a particular person.
Other dreams begin to press on the boundaries of our taboos. These include dreams with sexual content the dreamer would consider inappropriate in waking, but participates in during the dream. These dreams can be very troubling. One can wake up feeling as though a rape was committed, a fidelity violated, or that innocence has been stripped away. Dreams of this nature may require some more thorough examination.
Identifying the who or what that has generated discomfort is an important first step. Was it a boss, coworker, friend? Someone much older or younger than you with whom you have an affectionate, but platonic relationship? Or was it the nature of the encounter-coerced, cheating, public, or whatever-that is the most distinct feature of the dream? Who was forcing whom? Was it a stranger who reminded you of someone you know? Representation and displacement relationships are often components of sexual dreaming.
Some of these dreams indicate our own ambivalence about taboos. There is, after all, something exciting about what is forbidden. In other cases, we are expressing our own frustration with a sex life that is not satisfying. Still other times, others have violated our boundaries and we respond by perceiving them as taking unmerited favors from us.
In all of these cases, the dreams are worth noting and studying. By looking into what you may find abhorrent at first, you will see aspects of your personality and the relationships around you that have gone mostly unnoticed. Perhaps most importantly, you will become more aware of the various facets of your personality in those relationships.
Labels: Angles, Communication, Demons, Divine, Dogs, Sex, Teeth, Walking
dreams{unvealed...}
Posted @ 9:21 PM
"Fish, Fishing"
"Fish, Fishing"Freud held that small fish represented the male semen. Medium-sized fish (logically enough) were children. Fishing poles were a symbol of the phallus.
Other dreams about fishing may resolve around seeking provision for your needs in life, desiring to find something that seems below the surface, or looking for primordial instincts, if Darwinism is your worldview of choice.
To dream of fish may simply be a dream of nourishment, or lack thereof. It may also point to a sense of adventure or travel.
***
Watching Others EatThe act of eating can be very telling in a dream, or it can simply stand for basic survival.
Did you acquire your food in the normal manner or in some unusual way? Is the food recognizable to you or is it something you've never had?
Watching others eat may reflect a deficit concerning your own material or emotional needs. This may be from a pity-party perspective or from the view that others are gluttonous. In this case, it is worth it to ask who you are watching eat and why haven't they invited you to join.
What style of eating is prevalent in the dream? Grotesque gorging and gluttony may indicate excess in your life or the relationship you share with other eaters.
Is the food consumed with great ritual and sacred decorum? This may indicate a sense of providence or divine guidance in an aspect of life.
***
OxenOxen are the animals of agriculture and work. If you dream of oxen you may see yourself as wanting to return to a simpler, farm-based life, or that your work is never ending.
Are you bearing the burdens of others unnecessarily or unfairly?
***
QuartzThis particular stone is often described as having a harmonization effect. Dreams of it may reflect a desire for or acquisition of harmony with the world.
***
TravelWhether it is done by conventional or extraordinary means, travel is a central feature of many dreams. When traveling in a dream, companionship, purpose, and obstacles are central interpretive questionsto ask.
Companionship may include known relationships or strangers. Generally, the companionship either helps or hinders progress toward the dream goal. The effect of your companions on your travel should be interpreted metaphorically as a symbol of that person's impact on your life. If you are traveling alone, with only occasional assistance, that too may be a picture of how you experience personal growth and progress through life.
The purpose of travel is an often ambiguous or unclear image in the dream. It feels like you are going with no direct understanding of destination or itinerary. Dreams of this nature often reveal a particular feeling about direction or purpose in life. If there doesn't seem to be a point or a destination in a travel dream, you should consider the possible desire to vacate your current locale for a time. If the destination is clearly defined, then determining what that destiny may mean to you is a good step to take. Obstacles may correlate with companionship, or come along symbolically apart from companionship. In this case, consider how obstacles are overcome and what resources you use to defeat them, including other persons in the dream.
Labels: Eat, Fish, Oxen, Quartz, Travel
dreams{unvealed...}
Posted @ 9:10 PM