Dreams Show Our Hopes, Deepest Fears

Dear Nancy: I had this dream several years ago while going through my divorce. For years, I thought it was a sign God was preparing me for the death of my child, and we would be reunited in heaven. At the time of the dream, I was not involved or particularly interested in religion or things of a spiritual nature. I have since become a devout Christian. What do you think? Is God preparing me for the death of my child? - Linda

I’m driving with my family in the car when suddenly, my child falls out and is run over. He appears to be dead. We scoop him up and look for a hospital. We drive up to a huge church that appears to be miles long and knock on the front door. It’s opened by Jesus; he’s very large and wearing a flowing white robe. An indescribable light surrounds him. He is beautiful beyond description. We enter the church and as I approach, I see my child lying upon the altar. He is alive!

Dear Linda: It’s not unusual for parents to dream of the death of their child because dreams show us both our hopes and our deepest fears.

Because this dream is a story of death and rebirth, it’s a dream of transformation. Let’s look at it as if the symbols are parts of yourself.

Children in dreams often represent our own inner child - the part of ourselves that is innocent, open and trusting. The fatal car accident is a family tragedy. A divorce is often a family tragedy. Did your innocence and trust die during this period?

Your dream’s place of healing is not a hospital but a church. Since you were not involved in your own spiritual growth at time, the dream may have been a call from God or your own inner self to enter into a more spiritual life. Because the church and Christ were oversized in the dream, they are given even more importance. There is healing taking place here - you find your child alive and well on the altar.

Churches are symbols of wholeness and of the sacred life inside of us. Because the feeling of this dream was very positive, it may have led you to find a church that felt right to you in your waking life.

Has your new-found spiritual life in the church healed your pain from the divorce? Have you recovered some of your lost innocence and faith in life?

This was a beautiful and powerful dream, Linda. Thanks for sharing.

Tips for readers: Christ, Buddha, God or any religious deity may appear in dreams of non-religious people. Because we all have different ideas and beliefs about spirituality and religion, the meaning of these symbols is unique for each dreamer. It’s important to look a the context of the dream. To one dreamer, a church may represent higher teachings; to another, it’s a symbol of dogma and repression. In your dream, did you feel judged or criticized, or was the experience uplifting and joyous?

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

, DataTimes MEMO: Nancy Huseby Bloom has studied dreams for 18 years. Dreams may be sent to her 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.

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