DREAM INTERPRETATION
3-14-18
Client description:
In my dream, I was at my parents’ home, and I found a baby (not my own) that I wound up taking care of because no one else was paying attention to it. I was very concerned about this infant, but I also kept losing track of it (like someone else kept stealing it away), and at one point, my father had the child and was holding him upside down, dangling by one leg. I yelled at my father, saying that was dangerous and unhealthy for the baby, and my father responded, “oh, it will be fine. I know what I’m doing.” (clearly, he did not.)
We were all out on the patio, and my brother was there, trying to start an old gas grill by dousing it with lighter fluid. All of this was in close proximity to where my father was dangling the baby by the foot.
Then I flashed to inside the house, where I was in the basement, apparently about to commit suicide by some unknown means. It involved setting a timer, which I had just done, when I realized that I could not go through with it because I had to check on my elderly dog. I shut down the timer, began to cry, and went in search of my puppy.
The next scene was in some sort of public building, like a courthouse or something, and I once again had the infant with me, this time in a stroller, and the mother appeared (I do not know who she was). She was arguing with me over the care of her child, and I was trying to assure her that he was fine. An official came up to us and took the stroller into custody, leaving me with the baby in my arms. I was shown into a bedroom (in the middle of the courthouse) and told to wait there with the child.
When I turned to look at the bed, I saw that it was covered with cats – 5 of them my own, plus a gaggle of others. My cats were on the bed at first, and then got agitated and started jumping around. When I tried to see why, I noticed one cat on the floor that was a crawling mass of bugs – fleas, I believe – that were hopping all over the place, looking for new hosts. My cats were anxious to get away and they made a break through the open door. I was upset and wanted to follow, but had to stay with the baby, who was now sleeping quietly on the desk in the corner of the room.
That’s when I woke up.
Interpretation:
Major symbols:
Baby: Babies are helpless and needs attention. A baby left alone or neglected can represent a vulnerable state and the need to create a safe and stable place to live in, or a basic routine of care and attention. It probably represents a need to protect yourself both emotionally and psychologically right now. If you don’t do this, something else might just step in and take over your life, namely an archetype such as a shadow or anima. The fact that your father was holding the baby upside down in a dangerous manner suggests that this need for self-care.
Father/Brother: Family members can either represent the actual figures in the dreams, or they can be symbolic of roles or archetypes in your life. In this case, the dream suggests fears that your father is unable to carry out the proper caretaker role he needs to complete, or that he is not supporting you fully in your current endeavor. The fact that your brother was engaged in risky behavior that was endangering you and your family suggests that he also is not supporting you, and in fact is desperately trying to undercut you in your endeavors.
Grill/fire/patio: fire is dangerous, and can be associated with a dangerous situation, symbolizing something destructive that starts small and spreads quickly. The fact that your brother is trying to start the fire (by doing something unsafe) suggests that he is being aggressive and not listening to reason. And the fact that it was your father dangling the baby also suggests that this danger/fear is associated with him as well. Perhaps you fear that your family is not accepting your new identity (represented by the baby) or not taking care to help you protect yourself in this vulnerable time.
Courthouse: The courthouse represents a sense of judgement of you for your actions or character. You were in the courthouse, trying to take care of the infant (ie: to fulfill your obligation and protect against vulnerability), but you felt challenged and threatened instead. In fact, you were ‘imprisoned’ in the bedroom in the courthouse, and your vehicle for taking care of the child (the stroller) was actually taken from you. The truth comes out in court, so this represents your inability to feel protected in your vulnerability.
Suicide: Suicide can represent giving up on an idea, endeavor, hope, desire, or dream. The fact that your suicide attempt was interrupted by your faithful companion represents the need for you to continue on your path, knowing that you have the solid support of those who know and love you best.
Timer: The presence of a timer indicates that you feel you are under some sort of time crunch or deadline. The fact that the timer was linked to your “suicide” suggests that you had a rigid timeline for the launching of your endeavor that meant your giving up on it too soon. Since you shut the timer off, that suggests that you realize the need for greater flexibility and perhaps a much longer timeline for events to fall into place.
Dog: The presence of your dog is a symbol of companionship, devotion, and love, and the fact that it was thoughts of him that stopped you from going through with your plan of suicide is significant: there are those who would have you stop your actions (ie: suicide), but those who are most faithful to your authentic self (your dog) stand beside you and remind you that you can do it. You do not have to kill yourself (or your dream), but you can move forward and be successful.
Cats: While cats often represent curiosity, independence, and leisure, the fact that they were YOUR cats probably reflects some trait or worry in yourself that is being expressed. In this case, I think it is the fear that you might become “infested” through interaction with wilder beings (the fleas on the stray cats). Your cats’ first instinct was to flee the room (perhaps a play on the fleas on the stray cats), and reclaim their independence. Perhaps as you are beginning this new venture that makes you feel vulnerable, you are afraid that it will weaken your defenses or expose you to parasites. (fleas)
Fleas: They are parasites, and represent someone or something that is sapping your energy. In this case, I believe they represent your FEAR that your endeavor will be weakened by their presence, rather than the actual sapping of energy, since your cats escaped unscathed. Let go of your fear, be brave, and move forward, knowing that your strength is solid.
Bedroom: The bedroom is your private space, so dreaming about your bedroom can indicate an issue with privacy, or with feeling exposed. The fact that you were in a bedroom in a public space indicates that you are feeling particularly exposed and vulnerable, but you are trying to find familiarity there – thus, your own pets were in the room, even though they were spooked and escaped. You are trying to find the balance between privacy and exposure that you can feel comfortable with as you tend to this new project (the baby).
Desk: A desk is a symbol of authority and can represent your inner authority. Since you placed the baby (your project) on the desk, you are in essence trying to lend authority to your new venture.
OVERALL INTERPRETATION:
Based on the above symbolism, I would interpret this dream to be an expression of fear and anxiety over the chosen path you are currently walking. The endeavor is still new and vulnerable (the baby), but you have the backing of those who know you best (your dog) who will stop you from giving up on your dreams (interrupted suicide). The connection of the timer to your interrupted suicide also reflects the need to reevaluate your timeline and perhaps that you need to give yourself greater flexibility for your endeavor to evolve and flourish. Don’t be in a rush to have things take off right away. Slow down, and take the time to let it come to its own natural blossoming. I also think that the “baby” was in fact your own, and your conflict with the woman who was his “mother” in the dream represents a sense of inner conflict over the expression of your new idea. Even though your family might not fully understand or even – in the case of your brother – be trying to actively undercut your success, you still should have the confidence to move forward and step into your authentic reality. This does require a balancing act, however, represented by the bedroom in the courthouse. Face your fears about parasites, realize that you have the power to overcome them (your cats and the fleas), and accept that you do need to establish the rightful authority inherent in your venture (the baby on the desk), but once you have done so, you will be able to stand tall with confidence in your own success.
If you are interested in scheduling your own Dream Interpretation Reading, please contact me at chriskern67@gmail.com ! I would love to help you uncover the messages your subconscious is sending you!
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