It’s Good That You Are Moving

Dear Nancy: My husband and I are moving to Seattle. I have some anxiety about the change, but I also feel it will be good for us. This dream has stayed on my mind since I had it two weeks ago. Could you shed some light on it? - Jo

I am in the very back of a station wagon trying to drive, but I can’t control the steering from this position. I see a very large snake up ahead in the road. I can’t steer around it so I concentrate on trying to get the snake to stay out of my path. I realize the snake wants to get into my car and that it is poisonous. I run over it but it manages to get onto the hood of the car and somehow through the windshield without breaking the glass. It crawls back toward me. I am afraid and turn away. The snake lunges at me and bites me in the heart. It withdraws its head and dies. I wake up.

Dear Jo: When we talked on the phone, I asked, “Is there a situation or a person in your life that seems threatening or invasive?” You answered, “Yes. A man I was involved with before my marriage has been stalking me for two years!”

Driving a station wagon, which is a family car, tells us that this situation is affecting your whole family. You are driving, but you can’t steer which shows that you don’t feel in control of this situation.

Snakes are very powerful images and can be extremely positive, but this one is poisonous. This suggests that it represents a negative force. Your efforts to avoid this snake are futile. It is in your path, it is unavoidable.

Biting is a symbol of aggressiveness. The snakes lunges and bites you in the heart. This shows the intensity of the stalker’s effect upon you emotionally and physically.

I would take this dream to be a warning, Jo. Your upcoming move may be the best solution to this problem.

Tips for readers: Dream “dictionaries” can be a valuable learning tool in dream analysis. These books contain a list of common dream symbols and activities and their meanings.

Some common dream images do tend to have universal meanings, such as Jung’s archetypes, and are modeled by our culture. For instance, a snake may be a universal symbol for sexuality or the spiritual forces in the dreamer’s life. These meanings will be found in almost any quality dream dictionary.

The danger of this is that sometimes the dreamer goes to the dream dictionary too soon in the process of interpreting the dream. We must look at the context of the dream. What is the snake doing? Is it awe-inspiring and noble, or does it evoke terror and revulsion? Is the snake attacking you or friendly and peaceful?

To assume that the symbol of the snake is addressing our sexual issues because a dream dictionary gives this meaning, disempowers the dreamer. Dream images are culturally molded and, at the same time, incredibly personal. So, when you do use a dictionary, use it with the understanding that the meanings given are suggestions and not concrete answers.

Ask yourself if the meanings fit for you. Does the explanation resonate with the dream? Is there a connection between the given meaning and your own personal life?

Only you can truly interpret your own dreams. Dream dictionaries can help get you started, but use them sensibly and with insight as to your own nature. As you learn to connect with your own personal meanings, you’ll see that your dream life is incredibly creative and inspiring.

xxxx