Reaching For Growth, Spirituality

This column is intended as entertainment. But psychologists who work with clients’ dreams say that dreams can hold a tremendous amount of significance; a particularly disturbing or repetitive dream may indicate the need to see a therapist.

Dear Nancy: Two years ago I was in a car accident that left me handicapped and I am learning how to walk again. I am on the verge of bankruptcy because of the medical bills. This dream has stayed on my mind and I would like to know what it means. - Cheryl

I approach and enter an old mansion. It is full of beautiful old dishes, furniture, wall coverings, etc. A woman is there guiding a group of people including me from room to room. She has redecorated some of the rooms and they are beautiful. Upstairs, the rooms are old, dirty and full of cobwebs. I search and search through these old rooms looking for a church service that is being held. I feel desperate and afraid.

Finally, the woman tells us that if we will go outside and jump into a ditch that is really an elevator in disguise, it will take us right to the meeting place. I jump in but no one else wants to follow me. I am yelling at everyone to jump in the ditch when I wake up.

Dear Cheryl: Houses in dreams usually represent the self. The mansion is very large, suggesting that you have tremendous potential for growth, talents and abilities. The old, dilapidated rooms may signify how you feel about your own physical condition or dormant capabilities. In contrast, the gorgeous renovated rooms give us the clue that much healing has taken place.

You are looking for the church service. This shows your need to connect with and nurture your spiritual nature. The church can also represent the search for peace, higher wisdom, or that which transcends your daily life.

Your guide, the woman, leads you outside to a ditch which will lead you to the church. What looks like a hole in the ground is really an elevator. This suggests that by exploring your deeper nature, you will find that sacred, safe place inside yourself.

You may find, however, that the people around you don’t want to join you in your search; they do not want to jump in that ditch with you.

I would ask, “What new avenues can I explore to find the sacred in my life?” and “How can I expand that area of my life that provides me with peace and fulfillment?”

Tips for readers: Today I want to discuss recurring dreams. These are usually very important and often contain a message or information that needs to be consciously dealt with.

If you are having a recurring nightmare, most likely it is showing you a particular fear. Are you running away or staying to fight? By facing what you fear you can either conquer or befriend what you are most frightened of. Often, the adversary is a part of ourself we have been denying.

Often recurring dreams are showing you problems in your life that need to be resolved. Going in circles suggests you are wasting your energy and getting nowhere. Roadblocks or obstacles in your path illustrate a situation you need to deal with before you can go on. Being lost or confused indicates that you need to choose a direction or goal to further your growth.

By writing down and working with these recurring dreams, you will understand their message and usually they will stop.

xxxx