Placenta

Aftermath of deeply felt dependence. Our dependence on others, or theirs on us. Depending on someone else to nourish or support you in a very fundamental way. Dependence; being depended upon; how one gains nourishment from another.

Dreams about both of the placenta or the umbilical cord might well be showing you what your state of being was before you were born, and any problems that occurred at that period. Although you do not have self awareness at that time, you are certainly a living and responsive being that learns and is impressed by experience.

The placenta can be likened to roots that develop when a fertile seed is planted. It roots into the ‘soil’ of the mother’s body. The dreamt of placenta can also represent connection with other people other than ones mother. In a very real way, the umbilical cord is the flow of life. If it were cut without any substitute the baby would die, or if the link with another person were suddenly cut there can be emotional pain. So the cord is in a very real way, the umbilical cord that is the flow of life. This is true of lovers who make such powerful links with their partner, or mothers with their growing children.

You can often heal or change any difficulties by experimenting with you dream imagery. See Secrets of Power Dreaming

One of Stanislav Grof’s earliest insights, when working as a psychiatrist, was that many of his patients relived experiences connected with their birth and of life in the womb. At first he saw these as something the patient had imagined, or part of a fantasy dealing with their difficulties. But as these experiences continued he came to see that the knowledge the patients expressed far outstripped their education of embryology and the processes of foetal development and birth. Patients described specific details concerning blood circulation in the placenta, and even details about the various cellular and biochemical processes taking place. They often exhibited awareness of actual events, thoughts and feelings experienced by the mother during the pregnancy.

Here is an example of such a memory.

 Example: I am expelled from the womb before my body and soul are mature enough or ready to be separated, ready enough to undertake life disconnected from the placenta. As I experience this I feel incredibly vulnerable. Each sound, whether a bird singing or a car going by, is a possible threat to my existence. I had been physically and psychically attached to my mother. I realise as I observe what is being felt that the broken bond, the feeling of life threatening isolation, enormously increased my sensitivity to threats as a child and as an adult.

 Example: “Watch your children’s eyes when they are told about their birth. They want every detail, and they will remember it. If told things went smoothly they are barely satisfied, and if told of any trouble—if they were born in a taxi, or if they came wrong—they remember all details.”

 Example: I was standing over my toilet and noticed a baby’s head emerging from my vagina. I reached down and grabbed hold and helped finish birthing him. It was a baby boy and he was healthy. I handed him off and then I remember birthing the placenta. What makes this all so strange is that when I gave birth to my real children I had C sections. I never birthed them “naturally”. And I also cannot have anymore children because I had hysterectomy a year ago. But it was vivid so real and I have thought about it ALL morning. What could it mean?

As a woman you have the power of creation, even though you had a hysterectomy. Of course you cannot create physically as you once did, but you can create an inner reality as you have with the baby you birthed. Because you do not have the equipment any more to have a physical baby does not mean your basic nature has lost is creativeness. Lots of women who have had a hysterectomy have dreams or giving birth. This is because it is a way of knowing that you are still a complete woman; after all, a man who losing a leg does not feel he has lost himself in the process. Your dreams know that you are more than body, and even though parts of the body have been lost, you are still whole. Also to give birth to a child in a dream shows you bringing forth a new part of you. It is vulnerable as any baby is, but this new ability will quickly grow into a recognisable part of you. See hysterectomy

Useful Questions and Hints:

Do I see any connections between the dreamt of placenta and myself?

Was there a problem in the dream, or did everything go well?

Was I told of my birth and mother’s pregnancy at any time – if not it is worth asking?

See Techniques for Exploring your Dreams – Questions – Magical Dream Machine