Mattress

Similar to bed – the situation, comfortable or otherwise, one has created in life. You made your bed, now lie on it. See: Bed.

Comfort; sexuality; relaxed feelings.

 Example: ‘I am sleeping rough in a garden with a woman I do not love. I think I should try to make the best of the situation, but my feelings against it are too strong. Then I decide I don’t ever want to live like that again and tear up the mattress we slept on. As I do this I realise, as if waking from amnesia, that Pat lives just across the road. She has specially moved there because of our love. I realise with horror I had forgotten and may have lost her.’ David H.

David was sleeping on a mattress on the floor in his present relationship. But he realised from the dream that he had slipped back into attitudes which had existed in his prior relationship, and might very well damage the present one.

Jung sees the mattresses as representing a marriage. A mattress can also be where we hide things such a money, books or magazines. So it suggests things you like or want but are afraid someone will see what you are doing.

 Example: I was aware of having a lot of money in a night safe that I had to hide from somebody who was coming to steal it. I knew he would look in the usual hiding place so I found secret compartment in the mattress at the top of the bed. But when I put it in it looked so obvious I was afraid he would notice when he made the bed.

Rotting mattress: Something very wrong with your life situation. Or a comment on your relationship.

Uncomfortable mattress: This suggests either a relationship difficulties or that something is troubling you while asleep. What makes the mattress uncomfortable, and can you define what the discomfort is?

Useful Questions and Hints:

What is the comment on the mattress in the dream – comfortable, uncomfortable, alone?

What do I associate with the mattress?

Do I like going to bed?

See Working with associations – Inner World – Techniques for Exploring your Dreams – Secrets of Power Dreaming