There Are Hopeful Signs In This
Dear Nancy: My husband died suddenly, two years ago, of a massive heart attack. We were together nearly 50 years. He had been mentally ill for a long time, making life difficult and stressful. It was an incredible relief to be free of that stress. My sister and I are not on the best of terms at this time because of a silly disagreement. - Jenny
I am walking behind a young man who is carrying my husband’s heart in his hand. The heart is wrapped in plain cloth or paper and a cord is wrapped around it. We are going down a beautiful green hillside toward the river. I see my sister in a crowd of people standing on the slope. I give her a brief nod and continue following the young man. I know he is going to sprinkle river water on my husband’s heart.
Dear Jenny: There is a beauty and poignancy in your dream that is very heartwarming, considering how difficult your life must have been with your husband. Settings and landscapes in dreams are very important.
Your dream takes place on a beautiful green hillside. The color green and the lush setting suggests that new growth and healing are occurring.
During our phone conversation, you shared that the young man in your dream is a family friend and now helps you around the ranch. He appears in your dream in his role as helper.
The heart is wrapped in plain cloth possibly for protection and the cord around it could pertain to your connection to your husband. Perhaps you have “cut the cord” and are now ready to move on with your life.
Your sister may be in the dream as a reminder that, all things considered, it is best to settle differences quickly because we never know how long we have with someone. There is also the feeling that she is supporting you by being there.
Rivers and streams generally represent the flow of life or of the emotions. This river is healing and the sprinkling of the water on your husband’s heart is much like a ceremonial baptism. Symbolic of death and rebirth (or the conclusion of one stage of life and the beginning of another), baptism represents spiritual awakening and healing.
Perhaps some of the pain of the marriage and your husband’s sudden death will be lessened by this dream, Jenny. It is his heart that is being healed in the dream, and yet I feel that yours has been ministered to also.
Tips for readers: Last week we discussed dreams about being chased. Here are some more thoughts on the subject:
Regardless of whether your dream pursuer is human, it is important to identify the qualities and characteristics that it embodies. Do these characteristics remind you of yourself or someone in your life?
A bear or wolf may represent someone who relentlessly harasses you, but more often it is the powerful, instinctive part of yourself that is demanding recognition and acceptance.
In this case, some key questions might be, “How do I run away from my own power? Do I frequently act from weakness, sacrificing my self? How would my life be changed if I trusted my own strength and perceptions?”
Through dream work we can change these dreams from bewildering nightmares to valuable experiences that enhance our lives by gifting us with inner knowledge of ourselves and our behavior in the world. This wisdom can then give us the courage and encouragement to truly be ourselves, without fear.
, DataTimes MEMO: Dreams may be sent to Nancy Huseby Bloom c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax, (509) 459-5098. Please send a short summary of the circumstances in your life and include your name, address and phone number. Nancy conducts dream groups on a regular basis. For information, call 455-3450.