Inner Creativity Seeks Emergence

Dear Nancy: Recently, I had a dream that involves a good friend I’ve worked with for years. We are both very artistic but ignore our creative needs. We talk about our frustration over this but never actually do anything about it. Linda

I’m in my backyard looking at the gardens and pond I installed last year. My friend is with me and we’re watching fish - a koi or carp - swim in the pond. My friend turns to me and says, “Feel my stomach, the koi is getting so big. It used to swim around but now it’s too large and can hardly move any more.” I put my hand on her stomach and feel the movement of life within her.

Dear Linda: This dream takes place in your backyard, which suggests it is addressing a private rather than public part of your life. The beautiful setting is full of life, an archetypal symbol of fertility, creativity and the dreamer’s emotional life.

Your friend may symbolize either herself or your artistic self. In either case, there is a great pregnancy and new life within. Fish are a common symbol of fertility and can represent the Christian way of life. What new energy or plan is coming into your life? What personal growth is taking place within you?

In Japan, carp is a traditional symbol for determination, strength and endurance because it has the ability to travel through rough waters. Perhaps this new life within you also has these qualities. It has been incubated and nourished from within, but is ready to be manifested in the outside world.

It needs expression. If the koi symbolizes your artistic life, surely the determination and strength will help give you the impetus to allow your artistic expression to flow.

Tips for readers: How do we know if a dream figure represents the actual person or a part of ourselves with similar qualities and characteristics? There are general guidelines to follow when you explore a dream: Is the dream person family or friend? Dreams involving family members or friends are most likely revealing the dynamics and workings of your relationship with actual people. Often dreams offer suggestions for dealing with problems within those relationships.

If the dream figure is someone you don’t know in your waking life, ask if their actions or appearance reminds you of anyone you know. Many times dreams disguise the people in our lives because a part of us doesn’t want to know the truth about them.

For example, a dream in which an old witch beats a child may trigger memories of being beaten, verbally or physically, by your mother. By acknowledging this connection, you can assume the dream is addressing painful childhood issues that are resurfacing. Are you beating up on yourself, hurting your own inner child? Criticizing, blaming, or rejecting our inner child are common ways we abandon this part of ourselves. Many times these dream figures show how we either support or injure ourselves.

Dreams featuring acquaintances or childhood friends are likely to address the parts of ourselves with their qualities. What do you remember about that person, their outstanding traits? Do you need to cultivate those traits in yourself? Perhaps the dream figure is exhibiting traits you don’t want to cultivate - then the dream acts as a warning to watch your behavior or attitudes.

Although this process may sound complicated, with a little practice and patience, dream characters will reveal themselves to you.

xxxx