You’re Suspicious About Sincerity

Thu., May 23, 1996

Dear Nancy: My brother’s ex-wife and I were very good friends. Because of this, when he remarried, his new wife wouldn’t allow him to have anything to do with me. This estrangement went on for about 11 years. Then, three years ago, out of the blue, everything was fine. No one has ever mentioned the previous years. My brother is a long-haul trucker, but he doesn’t haul produce. I’ve had this dream four times. - Cathie

My brother and his new wife come to visit with a load of lettuce. They give some to every family member. I arrive home and begin washing the lettuce. Each head has a huge earthworm and dark sawdust inside. I check with the rest of the family and they all tell me their lettuce is fine. I’m very confused.

Dear Cathie: This is a simple dream that addresses some very deep issues. In the dream, your brother and his wife bring the family a load of lettuce. The lettuce may be a symbol of what has been growing in their life. It also can represent nourishment or food for thought.

You accept their gift of lettuce but, as you clean it, you realize that it is really blemished and spoiled. Are you feeling that their offer of reconciliation isn’t genuine? What looks good and whole on the outside may contain something rotten on the inside.

This dream could be warning you of this or asking you to look at your own inability to trust them. I would suggest giving them a chance, Cathie. Time will tell if this reconciliation is genuine and worthy of your trust.

Dear Nancy: I lost my brother suddenly last year. I miss him terribly as we were very close. I had this dream several weeks after his passing. Can you help me with it? - Kim

I am standing in a beautiful green meadow with my brother. It is a gorgeous day with bright blue skies and warm sunshine. I “see” or sense a presence, like an angel, off to my right. Two horses stand next to my brother and me. Both are strong, graceful and powerful. I ask my brother if he wants to go horseback riding. He smiles and says, “No, not right now. My foot is bothering me.” I know that putting his foot in the stirrup would hurt him.

Dear Kim: The first question that your dream brings up is: Was this a “visitation” dream in which your brother actually did make contact with you? Or was this dream part of your grieving and healing process?

The setting is in a gorgeous, green meadow. Green is the color of new growth and healing.

The angel is there in attendance. This suggests that this may actually be a “visitation” dream with the angel acting as a supervisor, protector and escort.

Horses are a strong symbol in dreams. While they can symbolize freedom, they are also very earthy and grounded. In asking your brother to join you on the horses, you are asking if he can partake of earthly life. He answers, “No.” His foot would be uncomfortable in the stirrups. His life has shifted and he can no longer join you in your earthly travels.

Healing the pain of the loss of a loved one takes time, Kim. Have compassion for yourself in your sorrow.

Tips for readers: Do your dreams consist of crazy images jumping from one situation to another? Sometimes dreams seem to have no meaning at all and are just scenes and fragments of odd events. Instead of dismissing these as “nothing” dreams, write them down in your journal. After a month or so, you can look back and see the larger patterns or recurring themes in these dreams. This will take time but will be worth the effort.

MEMO: Send dreams to Nancy Huseby Bloom, c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax, (509) 459-5098; please include a short summary of the circumstances in your life and your name, address and phone number.

Send dreams to Nancy Huseby Bloom, c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax, (509) 459-5098; please include a short summary of the circumstances in your life and your name, address and phone number.

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