Bridges May Represent Transition

Thu., Oct. 8, 1998

Nancy Huseby Bloom

Dear Nancy: This dream felt so real that I haven’t been able to get it out of my mind. I had it more than a month ago and still think about it daily. - Marie

I’m a member of a group called Freedom Fighters. My people are being persecuted and we have to be very careful about the resistance. I’m using strong, new lumber to built two bridges over a river or crevasse to lead my people to safety and freedom.

I’ve completed one bridge. I enter a cafe and order a cup of coffee, but the waitress is afraid to talk to me because of the persecution all around. I whisper to her, “The second bridge is almost complete.” I head for a small room in the back of the cafe where all the planning has taken place.

Dear Marie: The purpose of dreams is to provide healing and insight into our lives. When we make major life changes, dreams often show us where we are in the process.

Are you fighting for freedom in some part of your daily life? How are you being persecuted? When we spoke on the telephone, you said your husband can be extremely demanding and controlling and you have been in an ongoing struggle with him for years regarding your personal freedom to honor thoughts, ideas and creativity.

The strong new bridges you are building in your dreams are positive symbols. Bridges often represent transition, movement from one way of being to another. Your bridges will lead your people (all the parts of yourself) to freedom.

Is there a need for you to build these bridges in secret? What are the “bridges” in your waking life? A plan of escape, shelter, money stashed away?

Are there two bridges because you’re hoping your husband will find his way to freedom, too? The need to control is just as oppressive to the spirit as being controlled.

Your dream shows this planning is going on in “the backroom.” Perhaps you’re just now willing to consciously face this situation and make the change. Your bridges are nearly complete. Freedom is at hand. Good luck.

Reader tip: Although nightmares and other disturbing dreams that show oppression or cruelty can illustrate people and situations around us, often they depict how we treat ourselves. It’s easy to blame others for our pain, but when we look at ourselves honestly, we can often see that our abuser or jailer is inside of us.

By exploring your dreams with this idea in mind, ask yourself questions to uncover the essence of it. Is your dream bully an oppressive spouse or boss or your own inner critic? Is your dream jailer someone in your life, or are you holding yourself back?

Shadow characters who show up in our dreams as tormentors, thieves and thugs, are usually the parts of our personalities that we have disowned and swept under the proverbial rug. When they show up in our dreams, it’s time to face up to them, bring them into the light of consciousness. Often we find they have their place and purpose for being there. It’s a humbling experience to see these images as parts of ourselves, but it’s also incredibly valuable as a tool for inner knowledge and growth.

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