What Do Dreams Mean?
@hermitcrabheaven (645)
United States
July 17, 2007 4:29pm CST
What do dreams mean? Do you believe that dreams mean anything, or that they are simply made up by our sub-conscious? I'm not sure what to think myself. I would like to figure it out.
I have a history of extremely vivid nightmares. In most of them, I am trying to lead people to safety. I might be a soldier in the woods, trying to lead the other soldiers away from an ambush. I might be in a fire , trying desperately to lead all those that are trapped by the flames out to safety. In all of these dreams, I am the only one who knows the way to get out alive, but still I find that I cannot get very many to follow me.
My dream last night took place on my deceased grandparents farm. pretty near the whole family was there. Grandparents, aunts, cousins, my parents, my husband, and my 3 children were the main characters. I tried to save everyone, but in the end only succeeded in saving myself and 2 of my children.
So what does this mean?
I sat outside today, on my front porch, trying to figure out what this dream meant. It was such a horrible nightmare, I can't seem to get it out of my mind. It was so bad, when I woke up, I couldn't move for fear that I was still dreaming.
In real life, I am forever trying to help anyone who is less fortunate than I am. Whether it be they have less money, or are in a bad relationship, or are doing things that are not necessarily good for moral character. I have not been able to help very many to overcome their demons. There have been a select few, who are still my good friends to this day.
I hear over and over that I can not save the w3orld. I cannot save everyone. I cannot help everyone. I hear that it is not up to me to save the world. Not everyone wants to be saved or helped. But still, I find I cannot help but try to save others.
Is that what my dreams are trying to tell me? I can try to save as many people as I can, but they won't always listen or follow? Should I give up, and quit trying to help anyone? should I continue to try to help, even though most of my efforts will be futile? Is it a waste of time to try to help people, or is it worth it to be able to save one person out a hundred?
4 people like this
7 responses
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
18 Jul 07
OK first off, I do dream analysis on a regular basis for myself, friends and am currently teaching my children how to and Ive been doing this for a few yrs now, PLEASE DO NOT take the images in your dreams as literal..THEY SELDOM ARE...Dream images are symbolic and should be treated as such...Also be careful not to automatically assume that what a dream dictionary tells you a symbol means as being set in stone...it doesnt work that way...For example, if I were to dream of snakes...it would be a good thing....my husband on the other hand cant stand them in his waking life so to dream about them wouldnt mean the same for him......
Just off the top of my head....are you a martyr? Do you sacrifice yourself or time with your kids maybe in order to try and "save the world"? if so, there is your key right there...*take time for you and your little ones sometimes rather than suffering and putting your needs and the little ones needs on the back burner just to help everyone else all the time*...See what I mean?
2 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
18 Jul 07
Hermit I am the same way to the point that I did burn myself out pretty badly which of course wasnt good for me on any level.....Balance is the key...and of course I ended up cutting a few ppl out of my life because they were doing nothing but draining me and never changing their lives (so I was continuously helping them)....I've said in the past "thats it! no more" and my husband just giggles cause its not in my nature to NOT be there for ppl ya know..
1 person likes this
@hermitcrabheaven (645)
• United States
18 Jul 07
Thanks for responding. I think a lot of what you said is true. I do sacrifice a lot of myself, and sometimes I sacrifice a lot of time with my family, if I think I can be of help somewhere else. Luckily, my family understands that I like to help. I have been known to feel burn out from it. Don't get me wrong though, I'm not saying I'm a saint who will do anything for anyone. I just try to help when I feel it may be appreciated. Unfortunately, it turns out that although they wanted the help, the didn't necessarily appreciate it, or learn from it. I'll have to come straight to you next time I have another one of my nightmares - they are plenty.
@animejosse (256)
• Sweden
17 Jul 07
The thing about dreams is that they can mean so many different things, but most of the time it has to do with your subconscious. I'll try some analysis based on this site: http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/
Being a leader in a dream can mean you're too passive and need to take control over your life. In this context, however, it seems more likely to represent how you're trying to offer guidance to others.
Trying to rescue others and failing... From the context and what your feeling, it seems to be an combination of low self-esteem or not doing enough and aspects of yourself that your are neglecting. Those aspects are the people you're trying to save.
In short, the nightmare might mean that you're trying so hard to help other that you're neglecting yourself.
I hope this was of some help.
2 people like this
@hermitcrabheaven (645)
• United States
18 Jul 07
Wow. I think most of what you said pretty much nails it on the head. ravenladyj said pretty much the same thing. I really appreciate you responding to this. I will have to check that site out. It sounds as if it would be very informative.
@animejosse (256)
• Sweden
18 Jul 07
It is! It has helped me when it comes to my own dreams, and unlike most dream analyses sites offers some alternative meanings rather than just one :) Like Ravenladyj said, symbols means different things to different people. If a meaning feels right to you when you read it, then it's likely the right one.
I'm glad we could help you :)
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
•
18 Jul 07
As a therapist I have run and attended many dream-workshops. I have come to the conclusion that therapeutically, each element in a dream is an element of the dreamer's personality. Working out what it all means though get rather complex because we are talking here about the human personality, which is indeed, very complex. You can learn a lot about yourself in dreams, as each and every person that is dreamed about, is part of the dreamer - Not so easy to see, it is also like this in waking consciousness..
Then we have prophetic dreams, which are similar but the same principle applies, every part of the dream is part of our mind, so therefore we know things that seem miraculous, but in reality, it's a perfectly natural phenomenon. I just observe and accept what are in my dreams and just allow insight to dawn in my consciousness.. :-)
2 people like this
@ideaman (64)
• Singapore
18 Jul 07
Hi,
I think your dream is expressing the frustration you felt for not being able to fully protect your loved ones.
I use a software call Dream Diary Assistant (http://www.dreamdatum.com/dda.html) to help me with my dream interpretation activities.
regards
1 person likes this
@hermitcrabheaven (645)
• United States
18 Jul 07
Thanks. I understand what you are saying and it makes a lot of sense. Can you get that software right from online? I will have to check it out.
@BeachLover (520)
• India
10 Aug 07
I strongly believe that are dream are not meaningless. They do have some hidden meaning or intention. But, all of us cannot understand them easily.
@marcialoyd (1173)
• United States
10 Aug 07
I don't really dream to awful much anymore. However when I was younger I used to have a recurring nightmare that a burgular would break into our house. In my nightmares everyone in the house would be killed but me. I have often thought about this nightmare over the years and the only thing I could guess is that maybe I feared loosing the ones I love? I've never been sure what this meant but I have never forgot it all my life.
