You Soar - Ready For Adventure

Dear Nancy: I am an unmarried teacher. My life is stable, with no major problems, although I have had a great fear of heights all my life.

At a young age I had several out-of-body experiences that really frightened me. I also had many flying dreams as a child, but this is the first one in many, many years. It seemed to have a very “real” quality to it.

What do you think about it? - Susan I am holding a blank piece of paper. I hear a woman’s voice say “No, she’s not ready.”

The paper begins to shake violently and I feel strong waves of energy flow over me. I keep thinking that I should stop the dream because I am frightened. However, I decide to see what happens.

Soon I am flying, and I must be very high. I am afraid to look down. I can twist my body around; it’s a wonderful sensation. I start coming down and I am afraid I will land hard because the room is coming up fast. I turn a somersault and land in the room as soft as a feather. I wake up.

Dear Susan: Flying is counted as one of the most enjoyable of dream experiences. It represents freedom, expansion and transcendence.

Flying can also be addressing the need to keep your feet on the ground, to be more “grounded” in everyday living.

In this dream, the blank paper is the sign of undefined potential. It is telling us that “anything can happen!” The woman who announces “She’s not ready” may be the part of yourself that is fearful of these expansive experiences. The larger part of yourself, however, is ready for the adventure.

The shaking and the strong energy you experience during your pre-flight period could be a signal that this is more than just a dream and that you are actually having an out-of-body experience.

You become lucid when you realize you are dreaming and choose not to stop the dream. When this happens again, try telling yourself to visit a friend or loved one.

When we become lucid, we can ask to experience anything we want and it will happen!

Historically, many people have claimed to be able to leave their physical bodies in bed while their spirit self traveled, visiting loved ones and exploring different parts of the world.

It is obvious that you are ready for the challenge to overcome your fear of heights. Our psyches use dreams as a “training ground.” The fact that you are having fun and “playing” in the air shows your willingness to explore this experience even though a part of you is afraid.

The soft landing is assurance from your psyche that this newfound freedom is safe and pleasurable.

Enjoy these aerial adventures, Susan!

This column is intended as entertainment. But psychologists who work with clients’ dreams say that dreams can hold a tremendous amount of significance; a particularly disturbing or repetitive dream may indicate the need to see a therapist.

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