Matters Of Cleansing, Affirmation

Thu., May 11, 1995

Nancy Bloom

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.

Dear Nancy: I am 50 years old and realizing that half my life has gone by. I’m not usually an emotional person, but this dream affected me very deeply. Perhaps you can help me understand it. - P.D.

I am standing at a table looking at several cafeteria-like trays. They each represent a deceased person. As I look at each tray, I am filled with grief and begin sobbing. I gently and carefully clean each tray and all of its compartments with a soft cloth. I notice the trays are made of ice, and moisture from the air is condensing on them. I move on to the next tray and repeat the sequence of grief, sobbing and cleaning.

Dear P.D.: This is what I call a cleansing dream, one that purges the emotional debris left behind when a person holds on to feelings of loss instead of grieving. Water often symbolizes emotions and ice is a symbol of frozen emotions and feelings.

Cafeteria trays normally carry food, which is nurturing, but these trays are empty suggesting they have no sustenance for you now. Your trays represent deceased people. These could be people in your life that you have lost or parts of yourself that you have outgrown or discarded. What has nourished you in the past is now gone and you are mourning that loss.

Midlife dreams tend to deal with major transitions, P.D. Even though this dream was extremely painful, I believe it to be a real affirmation of your innate sensitivity and a response to life. Healing through cleansing and grieving our losses is a healthy way to make room for freshness and a new vitality in life.

Dear Nancy: I had this dream a couple of nights ago. Can you help me understand it? - James

I’m at the car dealer picking up my new sports car, a lavender Porsche. On my first run, I’m driving along and the road turns to dirt. A chain-link fence that was running parallel to the road now crosses it and I have to stop. An old man is standing there and he shows me where to turn around. After turning, I notice my car is low in oil so I stop the car, open the trunk and grab a can of oil and a funnel. I notice the car has rips and tears in the upholstery and I realize that I’ve been deceived. The car isn’t new after all.

Dear James: Vehicles in dreams are great indicators of our effectiveness in traveling through life. You have a new sports car which suggests lightheartedness and new ideas and beliefs. You are the driver; this shows that you are in control.

The road is cut short by a fence or roadblock. The old man, the wise, perceptive part of yourself, helps you by telling you to turn around. Ask yourself, “What in my life needs new direction?” and “What can I do to get on the right road?”

Oil is a lubricant that keeps things, including relationships, running smoothly. Are you the peacekeeper in a relationship or situation? Are you tired of always being agreeable and accommodating?

Recognizing deceit is a huge step forward in awareness. Have you been deceiving yourself in some way? When you pinpoint the situation this dream addresses, it is encouraging you to make new choices that are healthy and beneficial. Good luck, James.

xxxx

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