Life, threatening, illness, Dream Meanings

A Dream Shines a Spotlight on Your Life. In step two about finding a dream’s story line, you extracted the dream’s meaning into a story line. In step three, you are checking out where the dream spotlight lands on your life’s stage. As we arrive at step three, it is time to realign the extracted story line back into your life. Since the dream is about you, the question becomes, “Where, in my life, or in me, does the story line fit?” Is the story about the inner part of you as a mirror about an attitude, an emotional state, a wish or a goal? Or does the story draw attention to an outer event such a relationship drama, a decision, or a concern about a loved one that tears your heart apart? Step three tells you how to follow the dream’s spotlight to re-fit the story line back into your actual life. Once you get that alignment and find where the story matches an area of your life—it often produces an “aha” of meaning. This step can be the most exciting and the most revealing part of the dream analysis! To do so, check out these hints.

STEP THREE: LINKING THE STORY LINE TO YOUR LIFE IS STEP THREE OF THE FIVE-STEP DREAM TECHNIQUE

1 TO LINK A DREAM TO YOUR LIFE: ASK THE RIGHT QUESTION ABOUT WHAT A DREAM MEANS. As mentioned previously, the question is never “What does this dream mean?” The question is always “To what in me or in my life does the dream refer?” Retaining that focus bears repeating. When you keep in mind that a dream speaks of your life and is not merely an amusing tale, you stay on the right track to finding its meaning. Match the story line to an actual life area or experience, and the meaning surfaces.

2 TO LINK A DREAM TO YOUR LIFE: THE IMPORTANCE OF MATCHING THE STORY LINE TO AN AREA OF YOUR LIFE. As if moving a puzzle piece around a board to see how it fits, scan your life to see where the story line coincides with an attitude, a relationship, activity, or an ongoing situation. For example, suppose you dream that you ran a race in the Olympics and won a gold medal. The story line says, “After much effort, someone succeeds brilliantly” or, “By persevering, someone achieves great things.” Which success in your life is highlighted by the dream, depends on your life; only you can know what that success is for you. To some it may refer to fitting into a glamorous outfit after losing weight; to others it might be completing a degree or sprinting up the corporate ladder.

3 TO LINK A DREAM TO YOUR LIFE: TURN THE STORY LINE INTO A QUESTION. If you have trouble fitting a story line to an area of your life, try turning it into a question.

DREAM EXAMPLE 1 OF TURNING A STORY LINE INTO QUESTIONS: INVADING MY SPACE. A man dreams of walking into his office and seeing the manager’s assistant at his desk pulling off pieces of Scotch tape for her own use. She has no right to be in his office or go through his belongings. He walks up to her and asks her in a quiet voice, “What are you doing?” She knows she has been caught doing something off limits but ignores him and blatantly defies him by continuing to rip off tape. The man stays quiet and does not challenge her further because he is not sure what to do. The story line is, “Someone watches another misuse their position but does not know how to stop them.” The story line calls to mind questions like: Where in your life is someone overstepping their boundaries? Are you letting someone take advantage of you? Is there a situation at work or elsewhere in your life, where you would like to speak up but feel unsafe to do so? As you answer the questions that the story line initiates, the life area that the dream relates to should become clear.

DREAM EXAMPLE 2 OF TURNING A STORY LINE INTO QUESTIONS: THE WOUND. A dreamer is shocked to see a large, gaping wound dripping with blood. The story line is, “Someone sees something that needs a lot of help.” This story line begs these questions: Where in your life do you feel wounded or in pain? Have you overlooked someone around you who may be hurting? Have you, or someone close to you, caused emotional damage by your actions or habits?

DREAM EXAMPLE 3 OF TURNING A STORY LINE INTO QUESTIONS: A BEAUTIFUL SCARF. A woman dreams that her work associates are frantic and scurrying to get things done. She ignores them and peacefully puts on a wide, red silk scarf, carefully tying a bow in an artistic arrangement. The story line is, “Instead of getting caught up in the frenzy and chaos around her, someone peacefully focuses on creating something beautiful.” The story line brings up questions like: In what area of your life are others frantic? Would concentrating on doing your best resolve an issue? Are there creative activities that would distract you from the anxieties in your life?

HINT 4 TO LINK A DREAM TO YOUR LIFE: THE STORY LINE MAY RELATE TO YOUR INNER OR OUTER LIFE. As you search for answers raised by story line questions, insights about a particular situation in your life may begin to pop up. When matching a story line to an area of your life, remember that you lead two lives: an inner one and an outer one. Sometimes the life event about which the dream is commenting is an attitude, an emotion, a set of thoughts, or a perspective that is going on within you. Your inner life is also subject to lots of episodes and events, so to speak. We tend to look at outside circumstances and events for the meaning of a dream, but just as often, a dream relates to your character, attitudes, or thoughts about potential decisions, hopes, fears, and wishes.... a dream is not a mini-movie - it is a link to your life dream meaning

Dreams of the after-life represent your awareness of a light at the end of the tunnel. You are recognizing a larger perspective of life beyond the confines of the ego, and that heaven is at hand now. See Death, Heaven and Reincarnation.... after-life dream meaning

Breaking out of what is considered the norm. Repressed drives. See Termination, Surf, Fire, Electricity, Abduction, Defloration, Flames, Violence, Greed, Harem, Skin Rash, Wire (High-Voltage), and Prostitute. In the form of ecstasy, it has a sexual meaning.

If your dreams are about severe seizures (particularly when specific organs are involved), consider seeing a psychologist.

ASTROLOGY: Cosmic connectedness, ancient and profound wisdom, or superstition, relinquishing responsibility for oneself. Search for one’s own star.... assaults / attacks of illness dream meaning

1. Life or Word;

2. Doctrine;

3. Covenant;

4. The Church;

5. Substance;

6. Provision (money, food, etc. )Matthew 4:4; Judges 7:13-14; John 13:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:8;... bread/ staff of life dream meaning

(See Old woman)... change of life dream meaning

A chronic illness in a dream means hindrances or suspension of one’s travel plans, or difficulties in earning one’s livelihood in a work that involves using one’s hands and feet, or it could represent impediments to achieving one’s goal.... chronic illness dream meaning

To dream of the elixir of life, denotes that there will come into your environments new pleasures and new possibilities. ... elixir of life dream meaning

This is generally looked upon as an omen of contrary meaning.

If you dream that you are 111, you can rest assured that your health is good. ... fever or illness dream meaning

Lack of spiritual clarity can often be experienced in dreams as illness. We are not putting ourselves in touch with a force that can help us to overcome difficulties.... ill / illness dream meaning

For a woman to dream of her own illness, foretells that some unforeseen event will throw her into a frenzy of despair by causing her to miss some anticipated visit or entertainment. See Sickness.... illness dream meaning

If a sick person sees himself as having recovered or sees himself as healthy and then leaves his house after conversing (with someone) it means that he will recover. But if he does not speak to anyone it means he will die.... illness and recovery dream meaning

(Bread; Clouds; Concealment; Rain; Soldiers; Vapor; Water)... life dream meaning

See philosophy of dreams; death; murder; out of body experience. ... life after death dream meaning

Life-and-death struggles are common in dreams, but in some cases these dreams end with a struggle to avoid catastrophe. These are the sorts of dream in which almost every stranger turns out to be an enemy. Even the landscape of these dreams is laden with death traps, sharp ravines, wild fires, dangerous animals and so on.

If you have this kind of dream, the chances are you are fighting for survival in some aspect of your waking life. On the other hand, you may be the kind of person who makes ordinary choices and decisions as if their survival were at stake. For example, small disappointments or minor upsets send you into meltdown and you are frequently dissatisfied if some invisible inner standard has not been met.

If you are prone to life-and-death dreams, your unconscious is urging you to find a kind of security that cannot be lost. In other words, you need to look at things that are intangible and reside in your spirit and in your emotions, because everything else—since it is out of your control—is at risk. You need to develop greater flexibility and tolerance, and by so doing you can find contentment and peace.

If your life-and-death battle involves a war scene, the emphasis shifts.

Despite war’s disturbing and destructive nature, it can sometimes be represented as a cleansing process that represents a victory of good over evil. However, in dreams war is generally regarded as a warning that dangerous times lie ahead, as well as indicating inner conflicts and deep-seated grievances. An important aid for interpreting dreams of warfare is to remember whether you were on the winning or losing side.

If you were on the winning side, this suggests you are on the right track.

If you were on the losing side, what can you learn from the tactics of the winning side? Surprisingly, to dream that you are wounded in battle denotes that you have finally been accepted by your peers.... life-and-death struggle dream meaning

To dream of being in a life-boat, denotes escape from threatened evil.

To see a life-boat sinking, friends will contribute to your distress.

To be lost in a life-boat, you will be overcome with trouble, in which your friends will be included to some extent.

If you are saved, you will escape a great calamity. ... life-boat dream meaning

Dreams of a life coach represent your connection with your higher wisdom, authority, objectivity, and empowered viewpoint. It would be wise to follow the guidance that is revealed in this dream.... life coach dream meaning

Your life force, life energy, chi, or the part of you that constitutes “life” can represent: Your existence.

Your soul.

Your will, ego, or consciousness.

Your identity.

The idea of being alive.

Your life force flowing out of you can represent feeling: tired, weak, or drained by something in real life; disappointed or apathetic; out of touch with your sense of purpose or the meaning in your life; disconnected with God.

See also: Life; Alive or Exists; Dying; Death of You; Killed, Being; Dead Acquaintance; Death of a Loved One... life force dream meaning

Symbolic of salvation, Titus 2:13 ... life insurance dream meaning

To see life-insurance men in a dream, means that you are soon to meet a stranger who will contribute to your business interests, and change in your home life is foreshadowed, as interests will be mutual.

If they appear distorted or unnatural, the dream is more unfortunate than good.... life-insurance man dream meaning

1. Feelings of security, personal safety.

2. Confidence in conflicts and confrontations. ... life jacket dream meaning

Figurative of the spiritual protection one wears; see “armor”... life-preserver dream meaning

Dreams of a life raft represent your awareness that you have a helping hand when you need it most, a support system to get you through rocky times. Perhaps you are looking for a sense of safety in the midst of change and tumultuousness. See Raft.... life raft dream meaning

A life saver in a dream refers to safety and comfort in your life.

To dream of colorful candy life savers represents happiness and security.

To dream of floating in a life saver indicates that you feel as though you have been rescued.... life saver dream meaning

Dreams of life support represent attachment to a form whose time has gone. This dream symbolizes an inability to let go and trust in the life/death/life cycle. Perhaps you are attempting to hold on or preserve a memory, an identity from the past, or maybe you are incubating while you transform into a new incarnation of yourself. See IV.... life support dream meaning

If you know yourself, then your life works. You do not have problems in one-to-one relationships. You do not set yourself up to be rejected or dumped on, lied to or ripped off. You do not set yourself up to be bored or frustrated, for you are in tune with and following your creative life path. Remember that no one is going to take you by the hand and lead you step by step along the way. If you want insight, ask and you will receive. But you must make your own choices and decisions. It is your life. You are the writer, producer, and director, and you are playing all the roles. Create  whatever you want. You have total freedom. It is only your thoughts that limit you. Your dream symbols help you look at the very thought patterns that are governing your life. Dreams take you to a higher level of consciousness and understanding which has the power to transform your life and your world. The whole purpose is to see objectively the life situations you are creating, survey the limitations and obstacles imposed through your own beliefs, and understand how best to work around or eliminate them. As you work on your own growth, all others will benefit; they will see your light, your knowledge and your truth.  ... making life easy on yourself dream meaning

Dreams about relationships are extremely common. This is because the health and survival of your relationships is a primary goal for your unconscious; in your dreams it constantly reviews your relationship options, mulls things over and tries to identify what went wrong and how to do things better. It may also give you a glimpse of how different things might be if you married someone else, had an affair or got divorced.

Although the following dreams can occur at any stage of your life, you may find that the focus of your relationship dreams shifts during your lifespan. In your teenage years, dream scenarios in which you are suddenly thrown together with someone to whom you are attracted are very common. The goal of the dream is to help you determine if someone is or is not interested in you in waking life. By the mid-twenties, however, relationship dreams move beyond initial attraction and begin to explore who is or is not right for us. This is the time when strangers, celebrities and friends tend to appear as dream lovers and partners. You may find the images shocking but it is important to bear in mind that the images are unlikely to represent the real person and more likely to represent qualities that you are evaluating.

During your thirties and forties, romantic dreams focus on explanations for why relationships may have disappointed in the past and offer dreams that can show you what to go after or avoid in the future. Dreams in which your current partner or lover is unfaithful are extremely common at this time; it is as if your dreaming mind is urging you to pay attention to your relationship, and secure or safeguard what you have.

During your fifties and sixties, dreams shift their focus onto things you have learned to value in your life. Past and present partners become shorthand symbols for the quality or experience you had with them. For example, your first lover represents passion and excitement or the partner who was unfaithful represents someone who cannot be trusted. Although you may dream of people from your past, your dreaming mind is using them as symbols to refer to your current relationships. From your seventies onwards, dreams are more likely to zoom in on the very nature of love itself to help you gain a deeper understanding of love and affairs of the heart.... relationship dreams at different stages of your life dream meaning

Being saved from danger in a dream means you may need to end an unhealthy relationship or situation in your life.

If you dreamed of saving others, this foretells that you will be appreciated by others for your good deeds.... saving a life dream meaning

In his 1930 essay ‘Stages of Life’, Jung postulated four stages of life— childhood, youth, middle age and old age—based on his own clinical observations.

He viewed youth as a period of expanding consciousness, middle age as a period of questioning long-held convictions, and old age as a period of increased introspection and preoccupation with self-evaluation. According to Jung, dreams are important tools of self-discovery for you, whatever your age or life stage.

This is because in every stage of your life you will face many challenges: emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical. These challenges can trigger fascinating dreams, some of which can help you to meet those challenges and pass on to the next phase of your development.

Jung believed that what prevents people from becoming independent, fulfilled and ultimately happy is their refusal to open themselves to change or to new and unfamiliar experiences that potentially threaten their sense of self. His approach to finding balance in every stage of life was through the analysis of dreams and a process he called ‘individuation’. Dreams are a powerful tool for self-discovery and individuation is a self-analysis, a self-discovery, a way of analysing your own reactions and responses at every life stage so you can discover what truths lie underneath your conscious and egocentric personality.

In this chapter you will explore dreams that are believed to be typical of distinct life stages; some dream analysts refer to them as ‘developmental dreams’. This is because they seem particularly to reflect the typical stresses, questions and issues you may face at specific times in your life. This makes sense as you would expect the dreams you had when you were fifteen to reflect the concerns of your life as a teenager, just as you would expect the dreams you have now to have evolved into a mirror of your current situation and age group. Bear in mind, however, that how the stresses and challenges of your current life stage is represented in the dream world depends upon your personal circumstances, your sleep patterns and your ability to remember your dreams.

Bear in mind, too, that it is possible to have any one of these dreams even if you don’t fit the life-stage profile that coincides with it.

Dreams of death will also be explored in this chapter, as death is the final stage or change that comes to us all. Although dreams of death may explore your feelings about death or represent potential you may have missed or not expressed in general, dream analysts believe that such dreams represent the ending of one phase so a new one can begin. They reveal forthcoming finalities such as the end of a relationship or career and should not be interpreted literally. Because in the past we were terrified at the idea of death, it also represents upheaval, calamity and the sense that things will never be the same again. It was something that could only be endured but never be understood. Today, as our attitudes towards death have changed, death in a dream represents a challenge that cannot be avoided and which must be confronted if progress is to be made in waking life.

The message is that some approach or attitude to life needs to be changed or adjusted; if you can find the courage to make that adjustment successfully, there can be a fresh start or a new beginning.

For dreams concerning childhood, see BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD. See also LOSS AND FRUSTRATION; NIGHTMARES; SPIRITS AND GHOSTS.... stages of life dream meaning

First, make sure that there are no real physical symptoms.

If not, this symbol may be pointing to the ability to digest and to metabolize, to be receptive, and to deal with intellectual and emotional “food.”

A full stomach points to overstimulation and too much consumption.

An empty stomach is an indication of greed; you feel short-changed.... stomach / stomach illness dream meaning

Spiritually and in dreams, the tree is a symbol of the Tree of Life; an ancient idea common to many cultures and mythologies. Often regarded as an all-nourishing, all-giving Mother, many myths speak of the Tree of Life or World Tree as involved in the creation of the universe.

Britain was once covered by mighty oak, lime and pine forests, and reverence for trees is a major feature within Celtic religion, reflecting a link between the upper and lower worlds. Druids had their teaching center in the midst of oak groves, and the words for wood and wisdom are similar (Welsh gwydd and gwyddon). The Celtic Tree of Life is one of the most popular and enduring motifs of Celtic art, found both on Northumbrian and Celtic crosses and on illuminated manuscripts. It is also portrayed variously as the Golden Bough, vine, or mistletoe. The ancient Celts envisioned the cosmos in the form of a great tree, whose roots were deep in the earth and whose branches stretched to the heavens.

The Celtic Tree of Life is therefore a symbol of balance between these worlds; the unification of above and below; a symbol of balance and harmony. Its branches and roots form a map of the cosmos wherein all things are interwoven and connected; it dwells in three worlds—a link between heaven, earth and the underworld. In dreams the appearance of the Tree of Life or any kind of tree can therefore be a powerful symbol of harmony, success, integration and fulfillment.

These can be achieved in waking life when there is a union between the material and the spiritual, and the feminine and masculine aspects of your personality.... the tree of life dream meaning

Symbolic of wisdom, Prov. 3:18... tree of life dream meaning

Dreams in later life can be extremely tense and memorable; two of the most common are dreams of losing your purse or wallet and dreams of getting lost. The former dream reflects frustration and anxiety, and the experience of change as loss and threat. The latter is about trying to find your way through a situation that seems unfamiliar. In this second dream you typically find yourself in a strange neighborhood and, if you do stop to ask for directions, people give you the wrong ones. This dream represents a situation that is unfamiliar; the advice of others is not only unhelpful, it can actually make matters more confusing. The dream is reminding you that the more closely you follow your instincts or intuition, the easier it will be to find your way home or have self-knowledge.

The Final Stage... typical dreams of later life dream meaning

(See Perspiration; Poverty)... wretched life dream meaning