Time To Head For The Dry Ground
Dear Nancy: I had this dream one night when I was feeling sad about the breakup with my boyfriend. It’s been several months since I’ve seen him, but I can’t seem to forget about him. - Doreen
I see a huge river and it is at the high-water stage. The water is brown and moving fast. Then I am with my old boyfriend on a dock that extends out into the river. Someone has lost something overboard and we know it is stuck on the underside of the dock. I dive in the water to retrieve it. I can’t find it or feel it with my hand. I raise my right foot out of the water and I see that it has barnacles and leeches on it. I reach down and rub them all off. I put my foot back in the water and again I see leeches and barnacles on it. I am alarmed and decide I had better get out of the water. As I get out, a big fancy car pulls up. I have a feeling that the car will be a connection for me.
Dear Doreen: This huge river is probably a symbol of your own emotional energy and it is flowing at high levels. The fact that you are with your boyfriend in the dream suggests that this dream is about your relationship with him. The item you are trying to retrieve may be your lost love. You are brave and dive into the water to look for it. This shows your willingness to do the work to bring back your lost love affair, but the dream shows it is irretrievable.
The dock provides a place to get out of the emotional current. You can jump back into the murky water or get out, it’s your choice. Your boyfriend doesn’t help you at all in the dream, showing he has no interest in saving the relationship.
Your right foot is the “first foot forward.” The right side is the masculine side, which includes characteristics such as assertiveness and intellect, with the ability to move forward in life. Your foot is covered with barnacles and leeches showing that you have remained in the water too long. Barnacles attach when things are static. Leeches suck your life-blood; your energy is being taken from you by this emotional flood.
The dream gives you a clear answer, Doreen. Get out of the water and get on with your life. Leave the past behind. The fancy new car will be a much easier way to travel and is a promise, from your psyche, that the journey will be more pleasurable once you get on with it.
Dear Nancy: I am a single mom with four children. My husband left nearly two years ago and, although he lives locally, he rarely sees the children. Recently my son’s parakeet got out of his cage while he was outside on the deck. He flew away and I felt devastated and guilt-ridden. My son just laughed but I felt terrible. I’ve had this dream twice. - Kim
It is a bright, sunny day. I’m standing on our deck and I see my son’s parakeet flying. He flies by the door and lands on the deck. I feel relieved to see him alive but I wake up before I can put him in the house.
Dear Kim: Dreams are sometimes great indicators of inner feelings or thoughts that we may not be aware of or want to deal with. This dream sounds like you are still feeling guilty and responsible over the loss of the bird. As we talked on the phone, it became clear that you may also feel responsible over the loss of your husband and the father of your children. This dream may be telling you that it is time to confront and deal with those feelings. Ask yourself, “Is it me who is truly responsible?” or “Did the bird (and my husband) fly away with their own wings?”
We can’t be responsible for other people’s actions. We are only truly responsible for our own choices. The acknowledgment of this is part of your healing process.
xxxx