Dr. Dreams

I am amazed at dreams. They are insightful, fantastical, frightening, heartwarming, sexy, and melancholy. Dreams have perplexed man since the dawn of time. They have done so because they are very close to the truth of ourselves. Henry David Thoreau said, "Dreams are the touchstones of our characters." In essence they are doorways into our very being, our souls, into who we really are. In our dreams there is no censor and there is no taboo. Our dreams are the ultimate stage. In dreams we can be anyone, face anything, and do the unimaginable. Dreams can also showcase our biggest fears. We can run from things, be murdered, see loved ones hurt or die, and face Dracula himself and fail. Dreams come in all shapes and sizes, but all have meaning, I believe.

Dreams have a way of symbolizing your daily life. For example we will examine my own life and dreams. Lately I have gone through a break up. It was confusing and left things unanswered. Here are some of the dreams I have been having.

I am next to a big creek with my best friend, he convinces me to go swimming in it with him. The water was calm and pleasant. I was reluctant at first to step into the water fearing it would change from peaceful to turbulent. I jumped in anyway and instantly the current grabbed and a wave soon followed that swept me down shore. I was able to swim through it, but barely. I got out of the creek and was pissed off but felt much stronger.

Another dream I trying to swim in a swimming pool and there were just too many people in it. I became overwhelmed and kept being pulled under. I fought to get to the edge and found myself not able to get out so I just sat in it.

Yet another dream I was swimming in the ocean. My little brother Dustin was there and he teaching me to shoot at fish with a Russian rifle. Waves came and washed me under. The undertow had me and I could not reach the surface. I swam hard and fast to finally find air.

Notice a theme? These were dreams within a very short span of each other over the last two weeks or so. So why would I dream about all this swimming and almost drowning of all things. I am a very competent swimmer and I love to do so. I have never feared drowning. So what is it? So I did some research on water and dreams. Symbolically water represents emotions. In dreams, specifically, the one's you are facing. In my dreams they are turbulent or troublesome and pulling me down. I was facing a terrible ordeal in real life, emotionally. My dreams reflected that feeling. I was always swimming in it, which represents facing it head on, being very affected by it. Allowing it to hurt me. What else happened in some of those dreams. I usually found a way, through tenacity and will, to get out of the rough waters. Which to me was my subconscious offering me advice. to just keep on keeping on and eventually I will get through this and as a stronger person. Good advice. So I began to think about that greatly. I then commenced to moving on. Now see my next set of dreams.

I am back in college. It is the end of the semester and I am in my dorm room. There is a beautiful girl on my bed. I seemed to be quite fond of her. She was laying there talking to me. Telling me to talk to her. I said I did not have time. I looked down and noticed I was packing boxes. I was moving out. She grabbed me and said to spend this time with her. I was frustrated. I looked out into the hallway and other students were moving things from their rooms already. I had only a few boxes packed. I told the girl no and continued to pack. This game of distraction continued. Sometimes I would give in and kiss her and hold for a few but then the packing had to resume. Other times I would ignore and just pack.

In another dream I was running back to my old house in Toledo because I was late. My two roommates had already moved their things out of the house. I had not even started yet. The new tenants were to be moving in today! I ran back to the house to find it already occupied. I found my two roommates and they said all of my things were still inside. What was I to do? I can't move without my stuff! I knocked on the door and met the new owners and convinced them to let me get my things. I spent the next part of the dream looking for my things. Finding things here and there and most of it was hidden in places. But when I would find something I would pack it.

I had a few more packing and moving dreams that week. So what do they all mean? On this one I went to www.dreammoods.com for an answer. An answer I already fathomed.

Packing
To dream that you are packing, signifies big changes ahead for you. You are putting past issues and/or relationships to rest and behind you.

Moving
To dream that you are moving away, signifies your desire or need for change. It may also mean an end to a situation or relationship; you are moving on.

In both instances, the moving and the packing, relationship issues were at hand. I was packing and moving because I was trying to put all of this stuff I went through behind me and move on and I was having trouble because in my dreams people or things were making my packing and moving difficult. Therefore I was having trouble letting go and moving on from it all. My dreams once again reflected that. The thing I noticed though was once again, my tenacity to keep packing and moving. Which tells me that in my waking life I can do it.

I learned these pieces of advice, not from a shrink or a friend, but from a dream, my own dream. Dreams remind me that we are capable of a many great things. Our minds are there willing to guide us and help us deal. I believe that is why many in the world meditate. It is a very similar experience. But we meditate to seek answers within ourselves or from the divine. Our dreams also offer us the same. Next time you dream, really look at your dream and take it a part and look at the things you are going through and see what answers you can find, what advice you can garnish.

"Our life is composed greatly from dreams, from the unconscious, and they must be brought into connection with action. They must be woven together." - Anais Nin