Posts Tagged ‘dream analysis’
Back
For Back of or Behind see Back Of
Back Pain: This can be caused by tension, and this is turn could be about holding yourself back through anxiety. See back pain and its cure.
Back – trunk spine: Mostly the back indicates your strength, particularly moral fibre; confidence physically; decisiveness, ability to stand in face of opposition; power to endure without being overcome. A psychiatrist once told me that many men in a tramps home were diagnosed C.W.B. It meant ‘congenitally without backbone’. That is, They hadn’t developed the strength to deal with everyday life.
Example: ‘I was looking across a hedge at a bull. I seemed to be just looking at its back.’ Andy.
Andy was a teenager, uncertain of himself. In this dream he was looking at and discovering his strength. This was a revelatory dream for him because he suffered a great deal of anxiety in the past because of an old back injury. He had in fact left a higher paid job and taken a much lower paid work because he felt he couldn’t cope. From working on the dream he felt, he was adequate as a person. So the dream was a turning point after which his ability to explore and be active outwardly was hugely enhanced.
So the back can also indicate what you are holding back in yourself, or even what is happening to you ‘behind your back’. Holding back in this way can create real back problems because it causes tension in the back – causing pain – causing worries about the back – causing tension – and so on.
The different strata of the back may also indicate different aspects of yourself. The lower back for instance suggests the earliest stages of your development such as life in the womb and birth; but also the earliest levels of experience such as sensuality and sexuality.
The back at about waist height links with your process of growth and digestion of experience, along with sympathetic links you have with others and the world.
The back connecting with the chest indicates your emotional and feeling development and the way you connect with the world through empathy – especially what you take in and put out of yourself.
The neck connects with your ability to express yourself and communicate with others, along with such things as asking for your needs and speaking your inner truth.
Carrying something on your back: The influences and burdens you carry from your past. This can be useful or difficult depending upon what you carry. This also suggest your karma, or the results you face in the present of all past events and actions – cause and effect. See: dweller on the threshold.
Sitting on the back of an animal: Being supported by your inner and instinctive strength, wisdom and animal self. See: animals.
Somebody on one’s back: Feeling dominated by someone else; feeling the ‘weight’ of one’s parent’s, or someone else’s wants and decisions instead of your own. Carrying an influence from the past.
Idioms: Back breaking; back to the wall – See the example in nightmare, and note the use of the words ‘back against the wall and what it implies; behind one’s back; flat on ones back; get off my back; put somebody’s back up; rod for one’s back; pat on the back; stab in the back; turn one’s back on; scratch my back.
Useful Questions and Hints:
Is this indicating strength. If so what strength does it help me become aware of?
Is this an injury or weakness – if so what vulnerability or weakness does it help me become aware of?
What does the theme of the dream tell me about myself? See: themes; Processing Dreams.
Background
This is often a summary of the environment in which the main action of your life is happening at the moment. For instance parents provide a background of support for their children to go to school or to the movies. A different background would change the whole feeling of the foreground. So the background – the room you are in, the surroundings or secondary characters – represent the things we might take for granted, but which give enormous colour to our life and activities. If you dream of going for a walk in the country on a sunny day, that background of walking with an attractive partner gives a completely different ‘colour’ than walking between traffic in a busy town street.
If possible define the feeling and functional quality of the background in the dream you are considering. A city background might have the feeling of high activity and hurry, and the function of providing work opportunity. The country background might have the feeling of non-demanding quietness, and the function of relaxing you.
When you have defined a feeling and function, consider what part those things are playing in your life, and what the details of the dream suggest about them.
Research has show that the surroundings and atmosphere we live in during the day is often reflected in dreams occurring in the early part of the night. See Background and Foreground.
Useful Questions and Hints:
How am I relating to the background?
Is the background a changing one – if so what is the difference?
How does the background relate to my present life situation?
Explore the dream by using Processing Dreams.
Back-Pack
See: Knapsack.
Bacteria Germs Virus
A hidden or invisible attack that may weaken or even destroy you – your confidence – in one way or another. They can also depict anxieties that undermine your health or attack your well-being; or feelings that keep you away from another person or situation – in case of infection.
The germ or virus can indicate fear of illness or feelings of inadequacy or a sense of uncleanness. Remember that nothing in a dream can hurt you. Dream images and actions are all your fears, hopes, habits and wonders clothed in images. But of course if it is fear clothed in scary images, then it is wise to realise that running away and hiding can only encourage the fear. Better to face it. See victims; Facing Fear and also the example under prison.
In investigating virus intuitively, I saw that each different virus was such a packet of data or information, and that life had produced packets of data about the potential for almost anything. In other words, different viruses could have an infinite number of effects in one system. Some might produce a destructive response; others might produce a positive change in mind or body. They are the information base of life. They are the lumps of information other life forms take and use.
The main point of change for me lay in the feeling that a virus might have a very life enhancing effect, not simply a life destructive one as we are led to believe. At the end I felt I had made an agreement with life for myself, my family and Hyone, that our choice of ‘viral data’ was a life enhancing one. We had chosen to be on the side of life, and this would act as a way of choosing the packets of information we would need for our physical, mental and spiritual growth. We live in the midst of continual change. Part of our fundamental need is to change to meet the altering environment in which we exist. But without care we might choose a direction of change that becomes destructive.
The word germ is used extensively to suggest the beginning of something, the point from which great growth can occur, so if the dream does not suggest anxiety, there may be a positive connection with growth.
Bacterial warfare: The undermining of ones personal or social well-being by surreptitious means.
Computer virus: Being got at by another person; something surreptitious that you feel is or might attack or undermine your work. It could indicate something that is a destroyer of calm and pleasure, so energy that may be disruptive, but is like bundles of automatic functioning of some sort, depending on the dream. So the virus could also suggest unconscious responses in yourself that are destructive or undermine your conscious life. See habits.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What sort of influence do I feel or see the virus or bacteria having and how does that apply to me?
Am I experiencing an anxiety or fear that is undermining my health and activities?
Is there an influence I feel from someone else that triggers my own negative feelings or fear?
Being the Person or Thing might help you find out the meaning of your dream.
Bad
Our view of what is bad or good changes with each generation. It was thought so bad in the past to be born out of wedlock that people lived a life of shame. One woman who came to me could not even say the word ‘illegitimate’, it held too much emotion for her.
Here are some examples of its use in dreams.
Example: A man in the class said that he felt bad because he had few clothes on. There was an atmosphere of shame because of sex or the body, so I told him to put his shirt on.
Example: I had slept with the woman’s daughter and now she was going to have a baby. I didn’t seem to mind, and accepted the responsibility, and despite being married with a newborn baby, was going to bring up this baby, and maybe even have the mother living in. I realised that I had always thought/felt intercourse with animals was sinful and awful, but now saw nothing bad as I loved the cat.
Example: I was in a cinema with the children. We were sitting near the front on the right. The children were on my left. Beside me on my right was a man, a sort of incarnation of evil – lecherous – filth – devilishness. He leered at me and I believe I stared back. Next the man was on the stage. He was hanged by the neck, without, it seemed, any body, only his leering awful face at the end of the rope. I felt it was bad for the children and was going to get them out.
Bad used in a dream description will probably depend upon your own upbringing. So think carefully were the bad feeling comes from. Even killing someone although it is judge as universally bad, is legalised in warfare – whether national or business.
Something bad such as eggs or food refers to something that might be upsetting you, or that you are taking in rotten information or feelings. But as usual it depends on the context in the dream. See Context; evil; rotten.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What is the feeling or thought of badness about?
Is it something that is often troubling you?
Why did you see it as bad?
Why not try exploring your dream by using Processing Dreams.
Badge
A feeling of identifying with a particular group if the badge is connected with a group or organisation; memories, experiences, things learned with a group or organisation. The badge might suggested an attitude, depending what the badge is. It might suggest courage, authority (such as police badge) or social recognition, or a role; a sense of achievement; a reminder of values held or feelings that strengthen beliefs. This is meant in the way a person will wear a Christian cross or St. Christopher to remind them of their moral decisions or help bring confidence in the face of anxiety. But a badge worn in this way also means you readily show to others what you feel or believe. So it could be the revealing of love, beliefs or decisions made, depending on the badge.
The badge might also link with potential strength and feelings of authority, as one might have with a police badge; acknowledgement of attainment; if it is a name badge it most likely suggests your own sense of identity, or the identity you display to others – or who you feel yourself to be in the circumstance of the dream.
In some dreams the badge shows that you have now achieved a new status, as when you have passed a test or achieved a higher rank. The badge therefore lets others know what qualities you have, what skills you have, or what remarkable deeds you have done. The feathers of an American Indian brave would have a similar significance. See: feather.
Useful questions are:
Does the badge have words – if so what do they connect with in your life or thought?
What does this badge mean to me?
Does this represent an important quality or skill – if so what? Is it related to an organisation – if so what do I feel or associate about it?
What rank or achievement does the badge denote.
Bag Baggage
In some dreams it represents the vagina, and female sexuality in general. More often, as in example below, depicts the dreamer’s identity. Our sense of identity is often dependent largely on social contacts and recognition. The bag, especially handbag, with all one’s personal belongings and money, credit cards, represents our social ability to get places and cope.
The bag can also link with the ‘luggage’ of attitudes, chip on the shoulder, beliefs or fears we carry about in life. Or it can be the things we put away or hide from ourselves and others, therefore secrets, perhaps danger.
The dream bag might contain the personal skills or tools one has, or is carrying with you, such as a laptop, mobile/cell phone. Or it could connect with a holiday or getting away from work or home; freedom or the ability to move.
Another possibility is the association with protective attitudes, as when one might carry something precious in a bag – such as a baby, small animal or objects; secrets or what is hidden, so unpacking it may bring revelations or the unexpected; ones hopes or dreams.
Example: ‘I am in a strange town – usually where there are shops and lots of people. I don’t know where I am or how I got there, but I suddenly realise I have lost my handbag. I know no one and do not know what to do. When I panic I wake.’ Mrs R.
Mrs R. has obviously lost her feeling of who she is and her identity and confidence. So her bag link with all those things.
Bag of refuse: Desire, emotions, ideas you have discarded, or need to discard; rubbish being dumped on you by someone else.
Bag over ones head: Trying to hide, or feelings of fear or inadequacy; a cover up.
Body bag: Death or near death; loss of someone.
Emptying bag: Getting rid of attitudes or feelings one has been carrying about; unloading or looking at the thoughts and memories one has been ‘carrying’. Sometimes refers to leaving or dumping a lover.
Loss of bag: Loss of feelings of confidence, of the means to survive in the world; loss of something valuable; occasionally loss of child bearing function.
Packing bags: Planning to leave or make a change; wanting to get away; making changes; a journey; putting things in order; sorting out ones needs or priorities.
Sleeping bag: Powerful sexual symbol – i.e. sexual intercourse or a sexual partner – especially if linked with a partner; could also represent the feelings of being in the womb, or wanting to sleep alone; may occasionally have the same significance as a body bag.
Vacuum cleaner bag: The contents would suggest the rubbish you have picked up in your attempts to tidy up your life. It might also show stuff you have lost or been unaware of. Your attempts to improve yourself or your living situation.
Idioms: Bag and baggage; wind-bag; in the bag; pack one’s bag; punching bag.
See: Example in clothes; luggage; knapsack; suitcase.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What type of bag is it and what would you generally use it for?
Am I ‘carrying’ old attitudes or grudges?
Does the bag link with feelings about my identity or security – if so in what way?
What does the action in the dream add to my understanding of the bag?
Try Being the Object or Thing – Techniques for Exploring your Dreams – Avoid Being Victims
Badger
May refer to badgering people, or feeling badgered; the quiet unobtrusive or even secluded life – so may refer to urges to get away from other people’s influence or company; define what you associate with the badger, as there are very mixed general associations with this animal, far more so than with the fox for instance.
Useful questions are:
If I imagine myself as the badger in my dream what does it feel like and what am I doing? (For help doing this see Stand in Role under peer dream work.)
How would I describe a badger, and how does that apply to me?
Baker
Creative ability; ability to alter one’s approach to make experience more acceptable – such as when comments, instead of being taken as criticism, are taken as information. Also the creator of bread, so the provider of basic needs.
It may be connected with money because of the term bread or dough being used for money. See bread.
Useful Questions and Hints:
Am I the baker or the baker is just a character in the dream?
What food is there or is being offered?
What am I doing in relationship with the baker?
See Characters in Dreams and Talking As.
Balance
Your ability to judge and discriminate, to measure one thing against another. It may also suggest conscience, that weighs outer acts against the innermost feelings.
Bald
See: Hair.
Ball
If it is a ball game, the ball may depict something about a personal or group relationship and what is going on, the back and forward or interactions shown in the dream. Or it might represent competition and ways to win or play the game or life, love or business, with skill. The ball can also stand for wholeness.
A ball represent wholeness, an ‘all round’ view or a rounded character.
Ball: Interaction between two people, sexual and otherwise – the ‘ball’ is in your court – in that throwing the ball may show someone trying to get ones attention and response.
Ball games or being thrown a ball: Challenges, prowess, competition in the game of life; having and letting go; sex play; masturbation; a man’s ‘balls’; a way of moving toward personal wholeness.
Balls: As in men’s testicles
Idioms: Have a ball; ball at ones feet; ones eye on the ball; start the ball rolling; new ball game; play ball with someone; he has/hasn’t the balls. See: the self under archetypes; games.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What are you doiong with the ball?
Is there interaction with it of another person?
Do you feel any feelings or competition?
Use Talking As to help define what the ball is about.
Ballet
See: Dance.
Banana
Male penis; disguised sexual desire; enjoyment of sweet food, pleasure.
It is often also used as a sign of love and caring in dreams. In some dreams it is a recommendation for your diet.
Taking one or handing one to someone: Desire to receive or have sexual relation. Or a caring action.
Man eating one: May be homosexual tendency. Or perhaps a dietary suggestion
Idioms: Fingers the size of bananas; go bananas; tough bananas.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What do I feel about bananas – do I enjoy or dislike them?
Is there any hint of sex or sexual feelings in this dream – if so what do they point to?
What am I doing, or how am I relating to the banana and what does this suggest?
See Processing Dreams.
Balloon
Party mood and maybe linking with feelings about something to celebrate. Breasts and perhaps connection with sex through similarity to condom; the womb.
Something that can appear large, colourful and growing, but is only full of air we blow into it – life we give it with our imagination and emotions – and can be burst and disappear suddenly like a bubble. In other words a big deal about nothing – a lot of hot air. But imagination eat creator.
If the balloon is mysterious and perhaps white or glowing, it can represent feelings about a dead person who has ‘floated away’ from physical life.
In some dreams it might show a feeling of being fat and blown up. Also the balloon might be linked with gaining attention, as with advertising balloons.
Balloons are much like bubbles, so see bubbles.
Deflated balloon: The power or emotion gone out of something; a lost dream or hope; feeling deflated.
Feeling you are blowing up like a balloon: This might link with an experience of being anaesthetised. Also it could suggest increasing tension and feeling you might be heading for a crisis, or even of pregnancy.
Hot air balloon: Escape; getting away from the everyday difficulties or routine; wonderful fantasy; a birds-eye view of life on the world; a lot of ‘hot air’ as in empty or boastful talk; floating away from being practical or grounded. The ascent in a balloon may show going up in the world or achievement; feeling light headed or ‘floaty’. Descent in the balloon may show coming ‘down to earth’ or a feeling of setback.
Airship or blimps: It may suggest a huge presence hovering over you. Unlike an airplane that has to keep moving the airship can stay in one place, and because of its immense size might be felt as uplifting or threatening.
Releasing a balloon: Hope; testing an idea or ideal to see where it takes you; letting go of something or someone; letting events decide the situation.
Something suspended by a balloon: Feelings of rising in the world or being in a good place, but lack of security.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What is the feeling surrounding the balloon, and how do you relate to those feelings?
What is the balloon being used for and what do you associate with that?
Is the balloon rising or descending, and does that relate to events in your life?
Try Being the Person or Thing to define the dream meaning.
Ballroom
Place of romance or courting, therefore memories, the past, hopes and dreams. It could also relate to feelings of competition; relationship with other people; social position, such as feelings of class. Sometimes it suggests times past, historical scenes and the atmosphere they created. This probably relates to deep seated feelings you have about the parts of yourself you still haven’t brought to awareness. See: dancing.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What are you doing in relationship with the ballroom, and what does that suggest?
Is this a place you have been in the past – if so what memories do you have of it?
What is the theme here and what action in your life does it portray? See: themes.
See also Talking as a Dream Character and Characters in Dreams.