Friday, November 23, 2012

Understanding Locations - Key to Getting Your Dream's Message

Any realtor will tell that location is everything – and that is true in our dreams also. Our outward environment, including cities and countries, can provide a lot of helpful guidance. I would say that the location lays the groundwork for really understanding the dream message.

I know that I don’t have dream places all figured out but I want to share some places I often visit in my dreams – maybe they will remind you of places that show up in yours. Dream locations are often places I have visited on work, errands, or vacation. If I find myself in a given place more than once, it is worth understanding.

New Places – New England, New York, Newport Beach


New England, New York, and Newport Beach all seem to point to going to a new place in my state of consciousness. I am allowing myself to realize new things, think new and different thoughts, and question old assumptions. The ‘New’ places in my dreams seem to be by the water, which seems to point to new information arising from the Unconscious mind.

L.A. or Los Angeles, the City of the Angels


When Los Angeles has turned up in my dreams, at first it was very mysterious to me. In my actual life, I have some family, work contacts, and conferences that are in Southern California and sometimes L.A. itself. But L.A. is an abbreviation is it not for the City of the Angels? When looked at the literal full name, the City of the Angels might point to deeper spiritual meaning or message since Angels bring messages from God. So, then I need to look at who else is in the dream, what the major messages or storyline is, and consider on a deeper level.

Take a Chance in Las Vegas


I seem to find myself working my way through the casino or coming down an escalator to the casino, but it can also be in a conference center or near a wedding chapel. I might be waiting, shopping, attending a class. So… why is that? Las Vegas is about risk, taking a chance, rolling the dice. The escalators can refer to rising or falling fortune, winning or losing. So, when my larger Self suggests taking a risk and see what happens, my dream will be in Las Vegas. If I'm shopping, I should be evaluating options. Attending a class means I have something to learn from the dream. If I'm looking for or waiting outside the wedding chapel, the dream may mean that I'm almost to the desired result - balance of male or female energy, the end of a learning cycle, or an awaited successful result.

Lafayette, CO


You probably never heard of Lafayette, but I have a friend who lives there and she is one of the most creative people that I know. She teaches music in her Lafayette studio and in another mountain town. She plays in the orchestra, raises all kinds of peppers, grape vines and peaches. She goes hunting for giant elks and skis all winter. So, when my dream places me in Lafayette, I know that dream is about letting my creativity out and my light shine. After 30 years in the corporate world, apparently I need to hear this message on a regular basis. Maybe you have a town, a garden, a city center that might mean something similar to you. Our psyche uses the tools it has, so if you don’t know of such a place, don’t despair! Your psyche will make a place up for you!

 

Mexico – Get in Touch with Your Feelings Leads to Psychological Growth


Mexico shows up in my dreams a lot too - finally I realized that Mexico was an important symbol for me.  It can mean that I need to go to a place where stoicism and the ‘stiff upper lip’ are not celebrated. The Mexican culture allows showing of joy, pride, sorrow, pain, grief, and anger. Emotions can be on the surface, not hidden or unacknowledged. So, in my dream Mexico, I can get real, at least with myself. I should not be stuffing feelings or problems, hoping they will go away. A better way is to walk through them.

So, how did I get to the symbolism? It took awhile. And it came through remembering seeing some of the work of Frida Khalo - that was a few years ago when a movie about her life was releaed. If you are familiar with her paintings, you will know how raw they are. Oh, my God, so raw. Her life’s pain is on the canvas for everyone to see. How could she be so brave, so vulnerable, and so open?

Sometimes we, and our culture, demand that we cut off our hearts in order to seem ‘normal.’ But isn’t our pain, devastation and grief normal? Don’t we all suffer the same? I hope you have some people in your life that are able to share your troubles and pains. Our dream Self is such a person, who is supportive in all environments and who actively seeks to help us with trouble, dilemmas, and the work of living.

There is another thing apparent in the surroundings in Mexico – the vibrancy of the jungle and the beauty of the desert gardens speaks to tremendous inner growth. I believe the natural organic plants images are interrelated with emotional growth which is so very important to our futures and happiness. I hope to write later on plants, gardens, and old wood growth.

I would love to hear about your dream locations, and what they mean to you. Please feel free to leave a comment.

San Diego


To go to San Diego in a dream may indicate that you are in a border area. In waking life, there is a major border crossing between San Diego and the city of Tia Juana. The border is open and free and thousands of people pass back and forth across the border every day. Since Mexico symbolizes a culture where emotions and feelings are expressed more openly, being in San Diego in a dream means that I’m in a place (a good place) where I can easily communication between reason/intellect and my emotional/intuitive self. San Diego is a place of harmonious balance.

 

Texas


For me, the Texas I visit in my dreams is the Home of the Southern Baptists, strong on law, not so strong on grace or mercy. If I’m in Texas in a dream, I am in a world where the outward appearance of righteousness is very important. Your Texas connotations may be very different from mine, but perhaps you have your own dream location that represents intolerance and rigid adherence to legalistic standards.


Other Dream Blogs:


10 Steps to Interpreting your Dreams

The Trinity of Faith, Hope and Love

People You Know - Family, Friends, Co-workers, Bosses

Strangers, Vampire, Cheerleaders and Foreign Folk

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