One thing I am adamant about: Don’t generalize the meanings
of dream symbols! It’s the reason why those books for sale in the checkout line
of a grocery store—the books that offer so-many-umpteen “meanings” of dream
symbols—are worthless. This was dramatically confirmed for me last week when I
spoke with two dreamers, both of whom dreamt that they were in their father’s
house.
The Main
Principles of Dream Interpretation
As we examine their experiences, keep in mind the two
principles of dream interpretation: Dreams speak in metaphors, and all the
metaphors in a dream highlight some aspect of the dreamer.
The Symbol in
Question
The symbol of a house is really common in dreams. Generally,
a house can be defined as “where you live.” Metaphorically, it can mean where
you live in your thoughts, or it can
be an expression of what’s on your mind.
But beyond that generality, it is really important to explore what the house
looks like and how the dreamer feels being inside the building.
Why the Same
Symbol had Opposite Meanings
One of the two dreamers grew up in a Roman Catholic family which
provided her with loving, stable support throughout her childhood. Her
religious beliefs would be irrelevant in just about any other dream. But in
this case, dreaming that she was “in her Father’s House” was tremendously
significant to her; that is nearly a direct quote from Jesus who refers to the
many rooms in his Father’s house. For her, the image of being in her father’s
house not only conjured up a sense of familial support, but was further an
image of the highest level of her own spirituality. For her, being in her
father’s house represented the epitome of centered well-being and peace.
The other dreamer—also a woman—was a victim of childhood sexual
abuse at the hands of her father. When she dreamed of being in her father’s
house it had exactly the opposite connotation. It meant pain, humiliation,
degradation and, worst of all, violation from the individual who should have offered
her the most protection.
How the the Two Dreamers Related in opposite ways to the Same Symbol
Now, let’s go back to what I said in paragraph 2 of this
post: All dream symbols represent some aspect of the dreamer. For the abused
dreamer this dream was a visit to a part of herself that had been ‘housed”
secretly away for years. She was ready to begin cleaning out this house, and as
painful as the experience promised to be, this dream was the beginning of her
bringing her issues into full consciousness--the beginning of her healing.
For the Catholic dreamer the dream represented a reward for
a great deal of work she had already been doing. She found herself “residing in”
a part of herself that was all about a sense of wholeness, well-being and her
connection to what she thought was most valuable in life.
Two dreamers, one symbol and exactly the opposite meaning.
Let me know your own thoughts on this topic.
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