Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Dream and Dream and Dream, etc.

This is the house I grew up in. I'm showing it because it is the scene of a recurring dream that I had for many, many years. There is a driveway on the right side that leads to a detached, two-car garage.

Back at the dawn of time, when I was in college, I met a young man who was pursuing his PhD in Psychology, and his area of study was dream analysis. As a part of his research, he asked me, among others, if I had ever had any recurring dreams. He came to the right place. Here's the dream that I related to him:

I was at home and my mother had gone next door to visit with our neighbor. I looked out the back door, for some reason, and in the garage I saw our car and a great big lion. Oh, he was a magnificent specimen, with a luxurious mane and great big, sharp-looking teeth, which he bared as he roared at me. I was petrified.

About that time, a car came down the driveway, and I saw my aunt behind the wheel. As she stopped, I called to her not to get out of the car, and pointed out the lion. She told me not to worry, she had brought something to divert his attention. (I don't know how she knew he was there, she just did. ) She pulled a huge roast out of a grocery sack and threw it down in front of the lion. As he started eating it, I held the door open and she sprinted up the back steps and into the house. I ran to the front door and called to my mother not to come home because there was a lion in the back yard. She started to argue with me (as usual) and said if the lion was in the back yard, she could come in through the front door.

This was no time for logic, so I told her to just stay where she was and I'd call someone to come and get the beast. My aunt was in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee. Was I the only one who had enough sense to be frightened, I wondered? I went to the phone and started dialing. I dialed and dialed and dialed, and never managed to get through to anyone.

Then, I woke up.

Here is my friend's analysis: The lion symbolized my mother. (Had he not been paying attention? My mother was next door!) Didn't matter, he said. The lion was my mother. (Had he not heard my description of the lion? It was a male. It had a mane.) No matter, he said. It symbolized my scary mother. And my aunt was someone I could count on to protect me from her, he said. (Hadn't I just said my aunt was sipping coffee in the kitchen? Some protection. She was quite unconcerned.) He didn't explain all that dialing.

That was his story and he was sticking with it. Hmmmph!

I kept having that dream about once a year for a long time, and every time I had it, I thought about that analysis. I still don't know what it meant.

Anybody have any ideas about what the dream meant?

10 comments:

Arkansas Patti said...

Sure wish I could help but I can never figure out my own. Usually if I repeat a senerio, I can recognize it in the dream and I tell my dream to bug off, that I know it is a dream.
It is good I guess that rhe lion never hurts anyone. Hope someone else can be more helpful.

kenju said...

The best person to interpret a dream is the dreamer. If you could remember events that preceded the dreams you might be able to figure it out. I doubt the lion was your mom, though.

Grannymar said...

Betty, this is the lady you need:
http://wisewebwoman.blogspot.com/

Deanna said...

You probably just have a thing for lions. Sometimes I can figure out what triggers certain dreams but usually not. I've never dealt with reoccuring dreams. I think that would freak me out!

Darlene said...

Kenju is right; the best person to interpret the dream is the dreamer.

If this dream is recurring I would guess that it represents something in your life that you are trying to resolve and have been unable to. For example, it might mean you have a subconscious fear of something (the lion) and no one takes your fear seriously (your Aunt is drinking coffee) and no one is there for you.

Now, that would be my analysis, but yours will be totally different. You have to think about it and see if you can figure it out.

Looking to the Stars said...

I agree that the person has to do thier own but Darlene's answer seems to be right on. I wish I could help but the only thing I know (and this is on my dreams) that water means trouble, a marriage means a death is coming and a wedding means someone is going to have a baby. (sigh) this doesn't help you a bit.
Your friend sounds like he didn't know what he was talking about. What a beautiful house you lived in.

Deanna said...

I had WILD dreams last night and I blame you Betty cuz I rarely dream at all. LOL the power of suggestion.

MarmiteToasty said...

It meant you ate to much cheese before going to bed lol

x

Lisa Wines said...

OK... You might want to read something on dream analysis by Karl Jung. He agrees with a couple of your commenters that the only person that knows the meaning of your dream symbols is you. But, your dreams are often your subconscious mind trying to give your conscious mind a message. The best way to interpret your dreams is to play a couple of games... one is to assume that each character or symbol represents a part of you. Take each character and symbol and close your eyes and imagine being that person/thing while they are in the dream. The lion for instance. If you were to become the lion, how was he feeling and what was he thinking in the dream? What message did he want to give to you? Do the same thing for your aunt and mom. You can also think of it this way - what part of yourself, be it known or as yet unknown, do these characters represent? Is there a "beast" inside you that you're afraid of? Do you sometimes get so angry that you fear you can't control it? Sometimes people use the symbol of the beast to represent sin or lust or overeating. Are you afraid that this part of yourself can get you into relationship or other kinds of trouble? These are just suggestions - only you know what is true for you.

I think your psychologist friend was a little off base by getting fixed on his interpretation. A therapist can't be that definitive. Dreams are YOUR self discovery process. He can't decide the meaning for you, he can only guide you to discover it yourself.

As far as your aunt goes, I don't see her as disinterested and drinking coffee. I see her as someone who uses the art of distraction to solve the lion problem, or she simply recognized he was hungry and fed him - a practical approach. Do you sometimes distract yourself with food to avoid the lion within? Your aunt had no fear and neither did your mother. Perhaps your own fear of this beast is unfounded? These are the kinds of questions you ask yourself and watch how your mind and heart respond to them to get a clue to the overall meaning.

Betty said...

Thanks to all of you who dodged the question by telling me, essentially, that I'm on my own. lol

Deanna: I have caused some people some nightmares in my life, but never long-distance. This is a first.

Marmite Toasty: I love cheese. You may be right.

Oh My Word: Thanks for the analysis. I don't think I was the lion with uncontrollable anger. I'm a regular pussycat, actually, and 'way to lazy, er, laid back to fly into a rage.

About that "lust" thing, he was a manly-looking lion.

My aunt and mother weren't afraid of the lion, but, I'm wondering if they just didn't understand the situation.

You hit the nail on the head when you asked if I use food to avoid situations. I use food when I'm sad, and when I'm happy, or when I'm awake. The situation is secondary. lol