A Recurring Dream
Sweet Dreams
Reality and Dreams
I would like to recount a dream of mine from last night. This isn't the first time I've had this dream, and each time I experience it I feel profoundly changed, if only for a few minutes or an hour. In many ways it feels as if a gift has been bestowed upon me, but the feelings rarely last and everyday life intrudes upon the dream reality. The dream is as follows:
I encountered a young blind woman, very pretty and friendly. She looked familiar to me, although I did not know where I knew her from. I asked if she needed help, and she admitted she did. She told me her blindness came upon her very suddenly, and she wasn't yet accustomed to her loss. Because of this, people took advantage of her frequently. She wished someone could help her until relatives arrived from out-of-state to care for her. She confided she hoped to remain a student at the University of Kansas, but it seemed unlikely now.
I offered whatever assistance I could give, but admitted to constraints in time and opportunity. She thanked me for any help I might provide, and asked if I could drive her to her next class. On the way she told me her name, and I realized she briefly worked for me, years earlier. She didn't recognize me, of course, because she was blind. Upon remembering her, I resolved to give her all the help I could. I took her home after class and found her friends borrowing or stealing her possessions indiscriminately. My presence curtailed some of this, but not for long. When they saw I didn't actively prevent them from doing what they wished, they returned to their brazen actions.
I noticed a storm approaching in the distance. It blew in very quickly, and was powerful and relentless. I ushered the young blind woman into her house with her "friends". They continued to steal from her, taking food and "borrowing" music she spent a lifetime collecting. Nothing was off-limits to these so-called friends. As the storm worsened, I saw a snake had entered the house, presumably to escape the water. It was a small snake, but I feared snakes greatly and it startled me. I mustered the courage to kill it, but quickly saw another one, larger and harder to kill. Soon there were several snakes in the house, and I tried to get the other people there to help me kill them. I finally went outside into the storm because the snakes were too unsettling for me. I saw many more snakes in the yard, all approaching the house.
I went back inside, and saw the woman's friends preparing to use her car to steal her stereo equipment. At that, I physically stopped them and made them return her possessions. I told the group she was under my protection until her relatives came for her, and she would not be abused. At the moment I said these words, the storm stopped and the snakes crawled away. Her friends left also. I told the blind woman things were okay for the moment, and I would take care of her until her parents arrived.
Suddenly, a young man appeared at the door. He entered the living room, nodded his head in acknowledgement, and congratulated me for my efforts. This man was of medium height, very thin, with long blonde hair and blue eyes. He appeared to be in his early twenties. He wore a black trench coat over a dark turtleneck shirt. He too, was familiar, though I didn't immediately recognize him. He smiled warmly at me, and said I had done well. My true spirit had shown through on this day.
I thanked him, but reminded him this was not reality. I knew I was dreaming. He agreed, but said that he was in fact real, and his role within my dream was to bring truth. It was my job to find the one person in each of my dreams that was real and brought truth, and then to discover the nature of the truth offered. He explained that when he appeared in my dreams, he would always be the one to bring the truth offered to me. If he did not appear, it would be someone else, and I had to discover who it was each time.
I asked him if he was who I thought he was. He smiled again and said yes. I asked if he had other truths to share, and he said he did. He said my life would be in turmoil for a few years, but would then be better. I would finally succeed in business, but its emphasis wouldn't be what I expected. I asked the young man how his life had been since I saw him last, and if he had been happy. He smiled and said there were many truths to tell, but that was one for another time.
He then walked away as the sun broke through what was left of the clouds. A double rainbow could be seen in the sky as he crossed a field behind the house. I looked back toward the door, and the blind woman's parents had arrived. They were happy to see her, and said they would have a party later that I was invited to in thanks for my assistance. I told them I would try to attend. They soon drove away, feeling restrained happiness for the joy they carried in seeing their daughter again, but tempered by compassion for her suffering. I smiled and turned back toward the young man, but he was already gone.
I was alone.
My friends, I have had this dream several times a year for approximately the last five years, including last night. The only detail that ever changes is the age of the young blonde man, from a young boy to an elderly man. Everything else stays the same. I have in fact had other dreams where individuals told me they had truths for me to learn, and no matter how large or small these truths are, they feel like a revelation when I awaken. This dream frightens me and comforts me all at the same time. I've been told the blind woman represented the vulnerable, fragile aspects of my personality; my role in the dream stood for the "male" side attempting to balance out the feminine side; and, the young man represented my ability to make sense of my life. I have no practice at interpreting dreams, but I would invite all comments and opinions that those of you who read this might have.
Sweet dreams.
2012 Update
I continue to have this dream periodically, and I remain fascinated by the idea that my dreams are meant to bring a form of truth to me. Granted, all dreams represent something that is usually grounded in reality (even in a small way), but the idea that I was to seek out characters in my dreams that are holding a truth for me is compelling.
I am no better than I was at doing this--although many people claim the ability to control and influence their dreams, I am not among them. The idea that I can choose to find the person in my dream state that has come to bring me a scrap of knowledge or truth is not one I can act on. I am aware that there are ways to practice this, but mostly my dreams still proceed as if of their own accord. On occasion I am made aware of truths or even revelations while dreaming, but not very often and never of my own volition.
Questions about this scenario remain, as well. Is the truth offered to me by an outside force or entity, or is my subconscious bringing to the surface something I already knew on some level? If these truths are indeed provided by an outside force, is it the same person each time? Who decides when I am ready to learn a new "truth"? Is there a limit to what I am allowed to know? Why was I chosen to learn these things?
With no answers forthcoming, I am forced to conclude that my dream was simply that--a dream. Perhaps there was nothing to it that I could carry with me into other scenarios, either while awake or asleep. Perhaps there was nothing special about this dream and its suggestion that important truths would somehow be revealed to me, if only I could find the one there charged with imparting knowledge. Perhaps it was really, truly--only a dream.
I'm not ready to believe that yet. Why do I still visit this dream periodically? What is its importance to me? Can it be a coincidence that a recurring dream with such promises was no more special than any other? Could it truly be the case that there is no significance whatsoever to this?
Perhaps.... but I'm not ready to believe that. Not just yet.
Happy dreaming, everyone!
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Want to know what your dreams mean?
Comments
AUTHORUnloved Rohit, thanks for reading. I'm glad you found my dream interesting. Stop by any time.
Mike
wow !! i Loved it....
- AUTHOR
Coutrepopcafe, thanks for reading and offering your opinion. John's interpretation was very well-thought out, and I give his ideas a great deal of credence. I always thought the guide at the end of the dream was the key to its meaning, or that his appearance was even unrelated to the rest of the dream. That part always felt separate somehow.
Snakes are a literal, waking fear for me, but it seems logical that they represented fears and challenges on an abstract level--it was interesting that they disappeared with the storm, and both coincided with stopping the thieves from stealing the blind girl's possessions. In abstract terms, I faced the fears I had to address.
I have had a lifetime of odd dreams, just as most of us have, but this one always stood out as weirdly special. And, I agree with you completely that the dream was special and the guide offering truths was even more special.
Thanks again for your comments and insights, I appreciate them a great deal. Take care.
Mike
Hey Mike - what a wonderfully descriptive dream. I'm inclined to see John Badd's interpretation as the closest. I understand the blind woman as you knowingly not facing something which needs to be addressed. The thieves elaborate on this theme. Something is taking from you, not physically but emotionally. Objects and animals, such as snakes, in dreams are usually not as we think of them in our awake state. Snakes can represent confusion or double mindedness brought on by fear of facing something. You conquered the snakes. As a constant seeker of truth, you are fortunate to have a guide with whom you can actively speak in your dreams. This is as good (to me) as a flying dream.
- AUTHOR
Nell, thanks for reading. Your interpretation is an interesting one, and I will give it further thought. I have thought about the dream a lot, but I don't recall thinking about it in terms of my own non-aggressive nature. It makes sense that everything cleared up when I resolved to take action. That is a fascinating insight. Thanks so much for stopping by, you have given me a lot to consider this evening and I appreciate it.
Mike
Hi, Mike, I feel that it means that you are literally blind to the fact that people are taking advantage of you, you are quite a soft character and turn your back on trouble and people taking advantage, the more they do it the more it makes you uneasy, hence the snakes, they are just your worse fear manifest that people will push you around too much and you are scared that one day you will not be able to argue back or push yourself. when you did in the dream, it cleared. this means that even though you are worried you can't cope with pushy people or situations, the fact is when pushed too much, you take a deep breath and go for it and sort it out, so don't worry, if someone pushes too far, you will be able to do it. maybe that's why you keep getting this dream, your mind is telling you to push first and sort out your life and not be taken in other peoples direction, you go in your direction. cheers nell
- AUTHOR
John, thanks for your insights, and don't worry a bit about the length. I appreciate the analysis. To answer your question, it was when I saw the young blonde man that I realized for certain I was dreaming, perhaps in part because his commentary immediately seemed out of place (?). I think there are dreams in which we know on a deeper level we are dreaming but don't say it out loud in the dream.
Snakes are not only symbolic fears, but actual fears as well. If I see a snake, regardless of its size, I am likely to have nightmares about them. Few things terrorize me as much as a snake does.
I would suspect the blind young lady is not myself, but I've never been certain who she represents. As you suggest, it could certainly be more than one person. And, it is easy for me to believe the young blond man is an angel or spirit, and not simply an image representing a spiritual being. I have no problem believing a spiritual being visited my dreams to deliver a message.
Thanks again for your insight, you have given me much to think about. Take care.
Mike
Hi Mike, I came looking for this hub after you mentioned it in my Inception and Lucid Dream hub. It is very interesting to me because in my experience most repetitive dreams are not this long. I also like the fact that you are aware that you are dreaming.
Are you aware the whole time or do you only realize it after the man comes?
I have a little bit of experience with dream interpretation and the one thing I can say for certain is that meanings of dreams are subjective. In my humble opinion no dream interpretation book I have ever looked through was worth the paper it was printed on. This is not to say there are none out there that can guide you, I just do not know of it.
I will give a few possible interpretations of some of the aspects but I have no way of knowing if they are accurate. If it feels like the truth to you then it probably is.
I know there are male and female energies in the macrocosm and microcosm, the yin/yang of the orient if you prefer; and these energies need to be balanced. But before I read the idea of this being a female aspect of your personality I never thought of it and it does not feel like an accurate interpretation to me.
I thought of the blind woman as an external person or even people. Blindness is a good archetype for things we can not see or things that are hidden from us. As men are base nature is more likely to want to help women also, so the sex could represent nothing more than someone you feel you should help - this is reinforced once you realize you know her, and this adds a new dimension to the dream.
I would say a person or people you know from your past (possible someone from you school) is being taken advantage or is unable to see something that is causing them harm.
This blind person could also represent yourself and you may be being taken advantage of or unable to see something that is draining you.
You have deep rooted fears (the snakes - and snakes can represent all kinds of things from users to the devil itself) that would prevent you from intervening on this persons (or your own) behalf. You have to overcome your base fears and do what is right for the persons in need.
I think the person at the end is a spirit guide, angel or manifestation of God depending on your beliefs. This person is here to guide you and in my experience all you have to do is ask your guide for help and you will receive it.
Sorry for the long response but this was very interesting to me.
Good Luck
- AUTHOR
Hi, Peggy. It is interesting that you are the first to comment on this hub in several weeks because I had the dream again a few nights ago. It was exactly the same as I told it here, and I always wake from it with a sense of wonder--coupled with a slight creepy feeling I always get when I'm around snakes.
I used to dream of flying also, but it was a strange thing for me. My flying dreams are slow and ponderous, as if the air I am navigating is thick and heavy. It is still a very cool feeling, but unusual as well.
I am no expert at dream interpretation, but dreams and their meaning have always fascinated me.
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your looking for one of my older hubs.
Mike
Your dream sounds fascinating and it definitely leaves you feeling good in the end because you have been so helpful to this blind woman and congratulated upon your actions by the man. I have to think that man is perhaps your guardian angel or even God, but who knows.
I haven't had these in a while but I used to fly in my dreams. Great liberating feeling!
Another one...I am in school and cannot find my locker. Very frustrating. I know I will be late for class and I am scrambling to find it but never quite seem to. Ugh!
Whatever they mean, I have not had them in a while.
- AUTHOR
Whistler, thanks for stopping by. I have had several recurring dreams, although this is the only one I've written about. I am not adept at dream analysis, and I actually wrote this hoping someone might provide insight into possible interpretations.
Your dreams sound curious. Even though you are skeptical of previous lives, you seem to accept at least a remote possibility that your dreams could be views from another life. Did they look like a different time, and did all four dreams look similar? As I said, I am not skilled in dream analysis, but I am fascinated by possible interepretations of dreams. If you return to read this comment, feel free to continue a dialogue if you wish.
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it a great deal.
Mike
I am very glad to know that someone else has recurring dreams. I have 4 that I have had more than once. I have never figured out what they mean. They pop up when not expected. What is weird is I know there must be a message in there somewhere. All 4 of them involve some type of fear and wake me sharply. I don't believe much in a previous life, but it sure feels that way, like they have happened before an I need to be aware. Hope you and anyone else who has recurring dreams master what they are saying.
- AUTHOR
Lovelypaper, thanks for coming back. I believe exactly what you're saying--I will have this dream until I figure something out. Whatever the lesson I need to learn is, I hope I'm not so dense I never learn it. That would be rough. I will definitely write about any revelations I have in this regard.
Thanks again for your insights.
Mike
I get the sense that you are supposed to figure out something and you will continue to have these dreams until you learn the truth or work something out in your subconscious or maybe you are supposed to be doing something in your life and until that plays itself out, you are going to keep having essentially the same dream/message.
Fascinating. Please let us all know if you figure this out and write about it.
- AUTHOR
lovelypaper, thanks for reading. I've struggled to interpret this dream for a long time. I do hate snakes, but given the symbolism (or at least a lot of this seems symbolic) of this dream, to interpret the snakes as evil probably seems more likely. The young man at the end that "brings truth" has always been the kicker for me. It makes things sound like no dream is just a dream--a very odd feeling.
I will confess that over the years, I haven't tried to "search for the one who brings truth" in every dream, either in the dream or when I awaken, but the idea still fascinates me. Hopefully I will figure it all out someday.
Thanks again for your insights.
Mike
That truly was an interesting dream which I won't even try to interpret other than to say I can see that you are a compassionate person in helping the girl and the snakes to me represent evil but it could be you just hate snakes. Don't know. I hope you figure it out.
- AUTHOR
Lecie, thanks for reading. How terrible to have a dream that haunts you as much as yours does. Have you written about your dream? Perhaps comments from others might give you an insight into what your subconscious is dealing with.
Either way, I hope you find peace. Take care, and come back anytime, okay?
Mike
you are lucky. i have a dream that has haunted me for years. literally every time i wake up from i find i'm crying and my pillow is soaked with my tears. this dream darkens my days. i'm glad yours has the opposite affect. thanks for sharing.
- AUTHOR
Deborah, much thanks for your interpretations. You have given me a great deal to consider regarding this dream, and I am appreciative.
Thanks again.
The fact that you remember so many details of your dream and in your dream you knew you were dreaming shows you to be very lucid already.
It is your higher self bringing you truth and wisdom and the truth and wisdom developing your higher self.
Thank you for your trust. I like helping people find their answers.
The fact that you remember so many details of your dream and in your dream you knew you were dreaming shows you to be very lucid already.
It is your higher self bringing you truth and wisdom and the truth and wisdom developing your higher self.
- AUTHOR
Deborah, thanks so much for your insights. I will ponder what you've written over the next few days, when I'm not so tired. My initial response is to accept your interpretation of my dreams--your insights are clear and logical and, while I don't know you personally, I've already come to accept and trust your judgments. Your views of the young woman who worked for me seem correct, she likely represented my subconscious--the part of me my conscious mind guards and protects.
I found it interesting that the young man seemed almost outside my dream--I was in fact discussing with him that I knew I was dreaming. Did you view this young man who brings truth to my dreams literally as my Higher Self? Truth or wisdom itself? Spiritual growth or enlightenment? Perhaps it will seem clearer to me tomorrow, but I would be grateful for any further elaborations you might offer.
Thanks so much for your time and interest in this dream, Deborah. It is greatly appreciated.
I'd like to explore your dream a little more. Of course the final analysis will be yours.
You in the dream are your conscious mind the left masculine energy.The light side. The blind lady is your right feminine subconscious mind..the dark energy (blind). You are familiar with her and realize she has worked for you in the past. The conscious mind has always been the guard at the door to the subconscious. Only the things your conscious mind believes to be fact is allowed into your subconscious. It protects. You would like to take care of what enters your subconscious but have allowed in stuff that steals from you and takes away your joy because of the cares of the world. (too busy) At times you become aware of this but you don't always actively stop it. Therefore the enemy comes in to steal more. Troublesome events will come (storm) that will cause you to protect yourself more. When you do, the spirit of God (water) will drive the raising of your spiritual energy (snakes)into your life. Then you will verbally command the thieves to stop and they will.
You wanted to kill the snakes because you were afraid of them..Kill is transformation, snakes spiritual raising of the Kundalini..Once you take over and get in control of your spiritual development, you will speak and it will be so. Because of your efforts your Higher Self will appear and it will be in stages of spiritual maturity. From youth to the wise older inner man. But your higher self wants you to know this has not occurred YET..it will happen but is not reality at this time. As more and more truths are revealed, you will grow spiritually. But we grow through trials (turmoil for a few more years) A new life (SUN) will come once the light is shed. The rainbow is a promise to you that the years will bring you good things. You will bring happiness to yourself and others. But you can only do this alone. It's up to you to discover your Higher Self.
Water has always stood for God's creative spirit. The snakes are your spiritual rising. The person who brings you truth is your higher self..stages of your spiritual maturity. The blind girl is still you..growing stronger and able to defend or help yourself. Those stealing are the forces of darkness..
- AUTHOR
rml, I appreciate your reading. This was such a multi-faceted dream, I still haven't come to grips with its implications (if there are implications). It would indeed make for a weird short story.
Thanks for your comment.
I agree with HAwriter57, this could make for a weird short story. Great post.
- AUTHOR
Truth, thanks for reading. I appreciate your interest.
good post
- AUTHOR
HAwriter57, thanks for reading and for your comments. It is indeed an odd dream, and I've sought for a long time to try and discern its meaning. And, you're right, it would make for an intriguing book! Thanks again!
Wow, that is one interesting dream. I've always been told that if the dream returns, to "listen" to it. It's coming back for a reason. You could write that dream into a book, it'd be pretty intriguing.
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