Symbols and Dreams Interpreting Dreams

Symbols and Dreams

Interpreting Dreams and Symbols

I encounter many different symbols in my day-to-day life. Some are mundane, such as the golden arches of McDonalds. And some are spiritual such as the ichthys on the back cars -- the little fish symbol that represents Christianity. Some are social and political -- the peace symbol one sees on T. shirts and bumper stickers. Some are hateful -- the swastika pops up now and then. But these are all sign symbols: there are also other symbols I encounter: the symbols in which we dress ourselves and make our appearance -- the preppy look, the goth look, the angry look, the retro look. There are ideas we promote through symbols on backpacks, on cars, on shirts, in colors. There are the symbols we are forced to hear about: the symbol of Terror -- the TSA at the airport, the latest bombing report in the newspaper, the latest conspiracy uncovered. All of these can affect us.

I have never really attempted to interpret my dreams using symbolism. I usually have difficulty remembering my dreams after I wake. But some dreams that I do remember are the ones that shock me awake -- dreams in which I am chased by zombies, or dreams in which I fear for my safety. I have dreamt of both. Perhaps the most powerful dream symbol I have ever dreamed is that of being attacked by terrorists.

In my dream, I was vacationing in a place where recent terrorist attacks had occurred. I new the place was not safe but for some reason I still went there, and I was very fearful while I was there -- knowing that any moment I might be attacked. Then the attack came and I was surprised even though I had been expecting. There was no escape and nowhere to turn -- all I could do was watch and race around and try to hide even though everywhere I looked and ran, there were more terrorists with guns opening fire on the crowds of people. Finally, it was my turn and -- but then I woke up.

When I told this dream to a friend, he said, "Sounds like you have a bad conscience!" This was an interesting interpretation of my dream, I thought. He said that he had been dreaming the night before of snow mobiling all over the mountains and he said it had been such fun that he had not wished to wake up. I thought that he must possess a very good conscience if he could dream about such nice things.

I got to thinking about what my friend said to me, and I decided that perhaps he was not so far off the mark. Perhaps my conscience was not very clear. After all, some things had been troubling me, and I knew I had not been behaving as well as I should have. Therefore, perhaps it was not such a surprise to find that should be dreaming of terrorists attacking me. Perhaps it was my conscience trying to tell me something -- trying to deal with some of the guilty feelings I try to ignore.