Dream Offers Physical Information
Dear Readers: I had this dream a few months ago: “I am walking alone along a path. All of a sudden, someone puts his hand on my back, between my shoulder blades, and says quietly but clearly, ‘Nancy, stand up straight.’ I wake up.”
At the time I thought perhaps it had to do with the way I carry myself through life. Had I been “slouching,” going through my days feeling beaten down with the weight of the world on my shoulders? This explanation didn’t seem to fit for me.
Metaphorically, I wondered if it was a message to stand up for myself and my beliefs. People who stand erect seem to be comfortable with who they are and carry themselves with dignity and self-esteem.
I thought about this dream a lot. On a physical level, I had problems with my hands and left arm because I had over-extended them kayaking last summer. About a month after the dream, I began to see a physical therapist. My pain, he said, was caused by my habit of holding my shoulders too far forward. I needed to learn to stand up straight in order to relieve the pressure on them, the therapist said.
The moment he said those words, my dream flooded back into my mind. The dream was to be taken literally, not metaphorically. Subconsciously, I was aware of the problem and my dream gave me the solution. I still needed help through the healing process, but I knew we had gotten to the source of the pain.
Dreams often provide information concerning our physical health, just as they warn and give us insights into our spiritual, mental and emotional health. As we learn to watch for particular dream images or messages with an eye for relating them to our physical body, we can often discover disease and disorders before the actual physical symptoms appear. Of course, the sooner we notice and take care of a health problem, the better.
While each dreamer has his or her own personal symbols relating to the body, some seem to be universal. While working with these images, keep in mind that they may also apply to your emotional or psychological state.
The dreamer is driving too fast and is out of control and has no brakes. This depicts great stress on the body. The dreamer is advised to slow down before he crashes.
A building or house is damaged, or the systems are malfunctioning. Electrical problems can symbolize the nervous system, while broken or malfunctioning plumbing can represent intestinal or elimination problems.
Being shot in the head (migraine), the chest (heart attack or heartburn), stomach (ulcers).
A dreamer is unable to move; body is sluggish and heavy. This might be a sign of slow metabolism or showing the need for exercise.
Ants or spiders crawling on the body. A skin disorder or an outbreak of a rash.
Be sure to explore your dreams from both physical and psychological viewpoints. If it is clearly a reflection of a current physical condition, it might contain more information relative to your healing process. This may include suggestions for various treatments and remedies.
If you’re interested in exploring the physical aspect of your dreams, I recommend the book “The Healing Power of Dreams,” by Patricia Garfield, Ph.D.