Posts Tagged ‘dream dictionary interpretation’
Ride Riding
You can ride on a bicycle, a car, a horse and other domestic animals, or even on a person’s back. Also you can ride on a plane, funfair rides, a sledge a rough water ride in a boat, a hot air balloon or dirigible, a surf board, a snowmobile, a water ski, or on skis. In dreams you can ride on any of these or even on flying animals such a centaur and on current is air.
Each of these has different skill requirements and different meanings. So for a surf board you would need skill in constantly adjusting to the wind and waves, a fine balance between your own sense and awareness of nature. With a horse it needs skill in relating to the horse – of course the dream horse – and its moods, life energy and movements. For other rides see the relevant entries such as Funfair – Airplane – Boat Ship – Flying horse.
Flying on air currents is about feeling the subtle energy currents within you and suing them to attain new awareness, yet link it with everyday life.
Example: That night I dreamt I was on the hill behind my old “home” in Amersham. A strong wind was blowing, but it was warm, sunny, and peaceful. Spreading my arms I caught the wind in my short coat and rose up like a kite. Higher and higher I went, and I experimented with diving and gliding. Sometimes I lost the airlift and tumbled over and over, but at no point did I feel fear. I twisted and found the lift again. At one point I rose to an enormous height and saw the earth distant below me.
Then I glided down and approached the field to land. It was near where Piggots Orchard council houses backed right onto the open hillside above the two old elm trees. A young girl of about six was playing in the field. As I came in to land she saw me and ran away very frightened. I was gliding in the same direction she was running and called out to her not be frightened. She stopped and I landed. In amazement she looked at me and said, “How did you get to be up there?”
Without realising it we are all riders. For instance, you may think you are your body, but most people are only aware of a tiny part of your body processes. Many people are even frightened of or at odds with their natural body feelings and functions, struggling with their eating or their self-image, or even their sexual appetite. Depending on anti-depressants, alcohol and other tricks to feel okay. But all the time they are carried along by their life processes into changes that many fight – fear of dying of illness. In fact, you are riding a very ancient beast, your body, and many of us fail to learn how to ride it well.
This beast that we ride has a healthy fear of much that goes on in today’s world. Fear is a guardian that protected the ancient beast from uncountable dangers for millions of years. Although it appears like a great and ancient beast – the process of Life – it is full of mystery and magic. It has brought about living beings in incredible variety. It has possibilities we cannot even guess at. Within itself it holds the secrets of creation and destruction, of sleep and waking, of the intricacies of mind and spirit. It has unimaginable power and tenacity. It is beyond us and yet intimately of very core of self. We relate to it, we enliven it, we call it out or imprisonment or deaden it by every act we do.
Life’s age old unconscious processes are still the major part of our being, yet we seldom consciously meet them – except in dreams. As our physical and psychological health depend upon a reasonable co-operation between the spontaneous processes of life and our conscious decisions and actions, the encounter in dreams is vital. As I often point out to those I am advising we are a human face on a long line of beautiful animals. In fact, “You ride an ancient beast.” The ancient beast is your body, and your conscious self is the modern and recent rider of it. Some ‘riders’ do not understand their animal needs – and the fact that we have several levels of brain that are independent of each other proves this. Still active in us are our Reptile Brain, our mammalian Brain, and our Human Brain, and the reptile and mammalian brains are still very active and constitute a large part of our human unconscious. See Brain Levels and Dreams and Levels of Awareness in Sleeping and Waking.
Idioms: Along for the ride; a rough ride; ride something out; let it ride; ride roughshod; take somebody for a ride; riding high.
Useful Questions and Hints:
What is it you ride?
Do you ride well or with difficulty?
If it is difficult what skills do you need to develop?
Are you ridden or riding something or someone else?
Have you learned how to look after the amazing beast you ride?
See Ox Herding – Meeting the Unknown – Integration – meeting oneself – Techniques for Exploring your Dreams
Rifle
Penis; male sexuality; anger; confidence in defending oneself against criticism, etc.; fears or anxieties; attitudes we use as a defence against our own emotions or realisations – a man might feel depressed about growing old, and defend himself against these with positive thoughts; also the bulldozer emotions we sometimes use against others, like a pistol held to their head.
Rigid
Strength, maleness; unbending emotions, dogmatism.
Ring Rings
This may represents your relationship with the person who gave it to you, or the feelings that drove you to buy it. Or perhaps the reason it was given. Thus it can symbolise marriage, engagement, or can represent wholeness if it is not one which has been given you. The feelings we associate with the ring. See: Circle.
Your wholeness; one’s essential self; connection with the All. See Core Self
Wedding or engagement ring: The state of the relationship, as in example below, where Mary is ‘choking’ on or ‘can’t swallow’ her relationship.
Ring finger: This concerns your creativity, what talents you have and whether you are an artistic intellectual or physical type. In the west it has obvious connections with marriage and relationships. Can represent the finger of success, popularity or creativity, and art. It is obviously the finger indicating marriage. Symbol of marriage, vows, promises, and commitments.
Rash Under Ring: Shows problems with commitment or the relationship in general.
Heirloom or parents ring: Psychological influence of the family or parent, even if dead. See See Inner Mother
Example: ‘If I swallow I am going to swallow and choke on my engagement ring. I seem to be trying to stop a ring going down my throat.’ Mary S.
Idioms: Have a hollow ring; have a true ring; ring around my heart; run rings round someone.
Useful questions and hints:
Is the ring shaped well or misshappen?
How do I feel about wearing the ring?
Is it an heirloom?
See: Shapes and Symbols; Archetype of the Self; Heirloom; Marriage and wedding; Techniques for Exploring your Dreams
Riot
See: Revolution.
Ritual
See: Ceremony.
River Stream Creek
The images of rivers used in drama help us understand their symbolism. The river can be calm, in flood, or even dried up – representing our state of feeling about our energy, sexuality and emotions – the energy that as anxiety can cause illness, or as pleasure sustain health. Similarly, we can drown in the river – drown in despair – float on it – be carried along by prevailing feelings, or cross over, suggesting change or even death.
Each of us is immersed in a ‘river’ of constant change. If you think about it you have been carried, pushed, impelled by this current as you were moved through babyhood, childhood, teenage and adulthood, and there are more stages of growth beyond adulthood. And as we passed through these changes we died to our old self in order to change to the new. It is the current of Life. This current then carries us on through old age and through the gates of death. All the time we are faced by decisions, and each decision directs us on a different path, helping to create our future. And this is a force of growth and change; and is fought like hell by many as they are afraid of such changes, especially getting old and facing death.
The river is a wonderful message in our dreams, not only does is it represent constant change for wherever you stand, the flow of the river is constantly bringing the past to you, reminding you that you are the sum total of all you have lived – good or bad.
Example: This was an answer to a dream, where the answer was given in ‘spontaneous voice’.
The river really lives within you; the fish are released from another reality beyond your own personal life. The reason you see living fish and shapes is because they represents long-term benefits. Your present life brings into being factors that will not really live except in other lifetimes. These fish will nevertheless afford prizes in the form of bonus outflows from the one life. Your present life will release much that arises from the future. You are a gateway for the future to pour into the present. The past releases the living fish. Past and future are from the one source.
Example: I am in a landscape and notice that everything is brown; the whole world is brown and lifeless. There is also a feeling of solemnity or dullness. I have enough lucidity to wonder why the world of my dream is so brown and dull. As I ask this I become more aware of what feeling the brownness expresses. It is seriousness – with no room for humour or fun. The feeling deepens, real enough and clear enough to look at and understand. I see it is my father’s attitude to life that I have unconsciously inherited. I realise how anxious he always felt about life, and how I took this in. That is how I became a ‘brown’ person. I see too that I do not need to be either brown or serious anymore.
Then the landscape changes. There are trees, plants and animals in brilliant colour. I wonder what this means, and the landscape begins to spin until the colours blend and shimmer. Suddenly my body seems to open to them, as if they are spinning inside of me, and with a most glorious feeling, a sensation of vibrating energy pours up my trunk to my head. With this comes realisation. I see how stupid I have been in my brown, anxious existence, how much life I have held back. The animals and plants are the different forces in my being that blend into energy and awareness. I feel I am capable of doing almost anything, like loving, writing a song, painting, telepathy, or speaking with the dead. This sparkling vibrating energy is life itself and can, if I learn to work with it, grow into any ability or direction I choose. I wake with a wonderful sense of my possibilities. Jon.
Jon’s dream illustrates both the flow of the river of Life through us, and also how changing one’s feelings and insight changes what one creates.
Being in river: Being influenced by or immersed in one’s internal flow of feelings and energies. For instance, one may have fallen in love and never developed a relationship with that person. Years later in an unsatisfying life situation one might be haunted by memories and longings for the love that might have been. Thus one would be immersed in such feelings.
Brook stream creek: A small flow, perhaps a relaxing feeling, depending upon the condition of the brook. Sometimes dries up, so may suggest you can go through ‘dry’ periods.
Crossing a river: Making great changes. If you are in the water to cross, it means meeting a lot of emotions in the process of change. So not being able to cross the river shows a barrier in your external or internal life that prevents progress or personal growth – such as the ability to love or be creative in some way.
Crossing a river can also mean the experience of death, especially if you swam across. See death
Diving into a river: It suggest you are ready to face what life brings – the current, the struggles, other people who may be in the river with you.
Seeing someone cross a river: Feelings about death, or sense that the person is dying or dead, as does falling in the river.
Going against the current: Resisting one’s own feelings; going against prevailing influences or attitudes; going back to the womb.
Going Under the Surface: It suggests bringing internal contents to consciousness; remembering the womb experience; letting our ego surrender a little; looking at death.
Also it shows that we, our conscious self, has entered more deeply into the enormous depths of our consciousness; we have literally dipped below the level of our conscious self. See My Body is a Moving Sea
Directing a river: Channelling one’s emotional or sexual energy. See Energy Sex and Dreams
Roaring torrent of a river: This probably represent the release of an enormous amount of energy that was trapped and has been released. It can happen when a life problem has been healed and the energy locked in it has found a way to express.
The torrent can also be a force that carries on clearing out old debris and trauma in the body and mind. Also it can be a wonderful energy of creation. See A creative relationship with your dreams
Stagnant river: Restrained feelings or sexuality; holding yourself back.
Stream: As it suggests, this is streaming energy, but not with the force of a river.
Example: In Genesis it says that a great river ran from Eden which split into four. The suggestion is that from our primal being, four formative urges arise. The urge to exist, to be. The urge to create a form, the body. The urge to survive in that form. The urge to reproduce that form. There is a suggestion also in Genesis that within the last – reproduction – there is imbedded the urge to reflect or express or know the primal source of the urge to exist.
If I am troubled by purposelessness, then I can bathe in one of the streams which give purpose. If I take a sexual partner, if I maintain a sexual relationship, if I become a caring parent, then I bathe in one of the streams of purpose. If I become ambitious to achieve, to succeed over others; if I desire to become famous or dominant, then I bathe in a river of purpose. If I put myself in any situation that has some risk in it, such as being without income and food, being in a social upheaval, being in a relationship with society in which something is expected of me, then I bathe in one of the streams. In this case the stream of drive for personal survival.
I notice that if I have a job of work in which I am even slightly involved with other humans, I have a sense of motivation and purpose. If I have a lover, I have a sense of purpose. If I am wanted because of my ability or skill as a person, then I have a sense of purpose.
On the other hand, if I am purely self-motivated as in writing when the thing written is not commissioned; or in studying for my own satisfaction; or if I avoid sexual relationship, if I stop eating, then I stand out of the rivers. I have, or are achieving, a greater sense of freedom, but I lose the motivations arising from beyond self.
In the Buddhist view we are all bound to the wheel of birth and death. It rolls on endlessly carrying us with it. On the wheel we do have a sense of purpose though – even if illusory. To break free of the wheel – which means to stand outside of the basic drives of sex, hunger, aggression, domination, personal survival – means we lose the illusion of going somewhere or achieving anything. There is no past or future. Being and becoming are one.
It does strike me that once one has stepped out of the streams that give purpose, it doesn’t stop one bathing in them again. One can go in and out as one chooses. If one is in them and never stepped out however, then one might not know the freedom of not being carried along by the current, such as sexual mating, or ambition.
I realise I am an explorer of human experience. I realise also that when I accept the emptiness of drive, the absence of motivation as a powerful place in itself, and not just the loss of drives, which I was immersed in for so long, then I can tolerate the situation and move around in it a lot more freely.
Useful questions are and hints:
What condition was the river in (calm and peaceful, fast and rushing, flooding, dried up and so on)?
Does the condition of the river depict how my current energies are working in life?
Is this simply an illustration of the passing of life in general, as in ‘the river of life’?
See Animals in your Brain – Open to Life – Core Self – Practical Techniques for Exploring your Dreams
Rivet
Binding connections or relationships. Sexual organ.
This can also indicate your attempt to mend, give stability to or in some way solve a problem or ‘fix’ something.
Example: As the cleansing programme begins I become aware of a fibre glass or man-made structure, something like a Michelin man, riveted together. There seems to be encrusted material caked on in places, rather like temporary dental filling or Polyfilla. As it has been there for quite some time it is quite hard to remove and I become aware that to do so could mean the whole structure will fall apart. Tony assures me that it is safe to let it die. As the water continues to jet onto the filler I become aware of a new born life form which has been protected by the structure. Its skin is slightly mottled and I become acutely aware of its breathing and the strong sense of magic pervading from and all around the creature. The creature lies in a crib in the centre of a room, alert, curious, enchanted and I am fascinated by this incredible discovery. From death new life miraculously arises! Beneath the man made structure behold a faery child! I reconnected with the magic that lies at my very core; the newness, the freshness, the playfulness and innocence.
Example: I looked up at the wall above the bed. It was an unlikely shade of green, but what was remarkable was that on the clear expanse of the wall I could see a huge circle, alive and full of movement. My attention was riveted by this amazing circle. At its centre was an unmoving emptiness, nothingness. Yet out of this void sprung all the forms of life as plants, trees, animals and people. They were constantly emerging from the pool of emptiness, dancing in time to music.
Useful questions are and hints:
Was my attention riveted, or was I fixing something?
What was the rivet doing or fixing?
Was I building something, if so what?
See Potential – Build Building – Explore a Dream Character or Object – Water Wonderland
Road-Motorway-Freeway-Interstate-State-County
Road-Motorway-Freeway-Interstate-State-County
Whatever state or county you dream of, is it the place you were born or brought up in? If so, it most likely represents your basic personal traits, ones you picked up from your parents, siblings or the attitudes you met where you lived as a child. Of course such things change but it shows you reacting to people and events in a similar way.
Of the state or county is one you were not born in, then you need to ask yourself what are my feelings or memories about the place? That is because dreams seldom ever use words to communicate something important, instead they use images, places or memories as the words. So whatever you decide the state or county symbolises, realise it is only a word in communicating to you.
Your prevailing direction in, or approach to, life – this direction/approach can be either self-created out of your own actions or decisions or arise out of other people’s social influence or even randomness. The road can also suggest things that are entering your life, depending on the dream.
The road or avenue can indicate the norm in social behaviour, therefore the direction in life taken by many people; your predispositions; any direction you are taking, such as a love affair, a business, a new attitude; your public activities. Entering a road or street suggests you open yourself to new impressions and experiences, whatever they may be.
The size, richness, cleanliness, amount of people, and situation of the road shows how you inwardly see either the direction chosen, or the choices confronting you.
Alley: Limited possibilities or horizons; present limited possibilities will be overcome with effort and initiative. Alley with dead end – concern about a tight situation that appears to have no way out.
Bend in road: Suggests that the way you are going is not ‘straightforward’ – but may be not awfully difficult. It can also mean a change in direction, and therefore a new opportunity, new things or a new things to face. This can depict something new ahead that you couldn’t see until you make the change in direction.
Black road: This might link with feelings or fears about death or depression. It can, in some cultural symbols, point to difficult or ‘dark’ times – a period on your life in which you pass through trials.
Coming toward you on the road: Usually suggests and event or happening coming your way. If it is people then it is about a coming meeting or relationship. If it is a hearse then it is a brush with death – so be careful. If it passes you by it is a good sign.
Crossroad: Change; decision; indecision. See: crossroad.
Cross roads or deciding which road to take: Arthur’s dream in the second example shows cross roads as depicting his many choices. Arthur’s choice involves his attempt to include his wife’s needs.
Cul-de-sac/dead end: Feeling or intuition that your direction will not be rewarding or lead to openings or opportunity. Sometimes indicates sexual opportunity.
Detour: A unplanned direction. Being directed a way you did not plan or want.
Dirt road: A direction or a path that you or others do not use very often – a personal direction that is not popular enough to be made a proper road but may be one that you are making in a new personal direction. Possibly an exploration of a new way of life or behaviour.
Fork in the road: Something to decide; parting from accustomed way or relationship.
Going out from house into road: How others see you; being in public view.
Going the wrong way up a one way street: Going against prevailing attitudes; defying public opinion.
Hole in road: Difficulty ahead. Death or death of person falling down the hole.
Known road: Feelings associated with that road; what you have already done; the past; habits.
Lane: Individual direction. Obviously not a road taking a lot of traffic or one used often, so could indicate meeting new experiences, or being more independent in your chosen direction.
Many roads: Many avenues of experience, many new things or many choices, thus sometimes indecision or confusion.
Motorway/Freeway/Interstate: Like any road it indicates your prevailing direction in, or approach to, life – this direction/approach can be either self-created out of your own actions or decisions or arise out of other peoples or social influence.
But a freeway is a major direction and quick route to where you want to go in life – unless of course it is chocked with other vehicles, then it indicates delays in your plans and frustration. For some dreamers it will represent facing more power or threat than they feel relaxed with. Also it can indicate that you are making a big change in your life.
The freeway is a direction in life taken by many others, so can indicate what everyone else does, the norm, or the established. But if you have particular memories of this route and where you use it to get to, then that is important in understanding your dream.
An exit on a freeway/motorway suggests either branching off from a main flow in the direction you were taking in life, or perhaps a nearness to a goal you have been ‘driving’ toward.
If you are on foot and trying to cross the motorway it can suggest a difficulty in the way of your progress, or even danger.
One way road: Rules and regulations that are imposed on you.
Road ahead: The future; aspects of self not yet expressed; new areas of endeavour.
Road behind: The past; what you have already achieved or done.
Road being repaired: Activity to make the way you are going easier. It could also suggest it is difficult to travel in the direction now.
Road under construction: It can suggest so many things such as a rough road ahead, or that there are many obstacles to deal with. You might have to decide on a new direction, so continuing might be difficult. This might be a way for others to use also.
It could be that you will have to develop new ways of doing things, learning a different approach. May imply building new habits, new ideals, new patterns of mind; learning new ways to approach old, and so daring to travel new territory, and so a journey into the unknown.
Running into road: Danger.
Stretch of road: If it is behind you it suggests the ground you have already covered, so your past. If it is ahead it can be what is before you, or what you feel or fear you face ahead.
State:
Unpaved road or track off to one side: Going off the beaten track or being side-tracked.
Walking up a strange road or street: Can indicate a new direction, exploring a new impulse. Also a new sexual encounter.
P. feels her life is something she must ‘struggle on’ with, but it is an endless circle of confusion in which she gets nowhere. This illustrates the road as a symbol of one’s approach to life. Perhaps it is her fear that creates this sense of life for her.
Example: ‘Janet my wife was cycling beside me. We came to the end of a short road. I said we should turn left, but Janet thought we ought to turn right. We got out into the middle of the road without turning either way.’ Arthur P.
Arthur feels he is unable to get along with his feelings about his wife wanting a different direction.
Example: ‘Walking alone along a road through a small town. I was heading for a place that a group of people, in a street parallel to mine, were also heading for. A person from the group tried to persuade me that the RIGHT way to get to the place was along the street the group was walking. I knew the street did not matter, only the general direction. The person was quite disturbed by my independence. It made him or her feel uncertain to have their leader apparently questioned. I felt uncertain too for a moment. Then I walked on and came to an open stretch of ground.’ Ivor S.
Ivor’s dream shows how roads can represent different sorts of social behaviour. To choose one’s individual ‘road’ may be difficult, because others are so sure they know best. Patterns of behaviour such as needing an authority figure to follow, are also here depicted as a road.
Example: ‘My dream is of an eternal journey, that takes a road that turns into a circle or maze that is endless. Behind me is a large fat young man with blond hair. I can’t get along and he catches up with me, I say, ‘We can’t go back we must struggle on’. He takes my wrist. I am trying to hide my fear of him and the pathway, when I wake up.’ J. P.
Idioms: On the road to recovery; road hog; end of the road; take to the road; middle of the road; the high road to.
Useful questions:
Where am I heading on the freeway/life, and with what attitudes?
Am I the driver or is someone else making decisions in my life?
Is this about frustration or stress, and if so where is that appearing in my daily life?
See Being the Person or Thing – Techniques for Exploring your Dreams – Habits – Associations Working With; Alley; Crossroad; Cul-de-Sac
Roar
A roar can occur in a dream from several causes. It can be a roar of anger, of pain or aggression. Once when I was working near a football stadium I heard a sound that made my hair stand on end. It was a roar, a battle cry, from thousands of throats. But animals, and we in dreams, can also roar, not in aggression but in self-acclaim, like a stag bellowing to shout, “I AM.” Or a lion roaring to say, “This is my territory and my pack.”
Often in opening to life and allowing it to express through us – as happens in using LifeStream – it expresses as various animal sounds, or just sounds. Sometimes this is to explore the animal qualities we have, or to make the voice mobile enough for Life to express hidden sides of our self. See Animals in your Brain
Example: I went out to go downstairs. It was a huge staircase. Lounging at one of the landings were four youths. I knew that they were thug’s intent on beating me up. It was too late to run away, so I charged at them uttering a terrible scream like a roar of fear to destroy their morale. The scream woke my wife who woke me.
Example: I was like Tarzan, walking through a street. Lots of people watched and walked along. They were curious. Then I began to roar like a wild animal and my feelings of ferocity matched the sound. As I walked I caught a couple of people who got too near, and threw them about.
Then I was in a large room. A number of women were in there, stripped to the waist. Most had firm breasts, but one had an inturned nipple. I had the ability to tell their fortunes, due to being intuitive in an animal sense. That is, I could look at them and see them as they were.
Example: I feel like a chimpanzee at the moment. I haven’t got words yet but I want to say something. There is the feeling of being a really physical animal. Being a physical animal is really strong. I can feel all the life in me. Not super strong, but just vibrant. Beautiful feeling. It is a feeling of knowing that I am capable. Capable of being quiet, capable of aggression if needed, capable of sexuality. I’ve got all these aspects to me – the wonderful creature that I am. I have all these instincts to work with. I roar and feel ready to fight and rend anything which might attack me. I am a powerful animal. But is that all I am? Am I just this powerful wonderful beast?
Useful questions and hints:
What am I roaring at or about?
Can I put into words what the roar expresses?
Do I sometimes feel I am expressing it in everyday life?
See Key Words – Autonomous Complex – Secrets of Power Dreaming – Working with associations
Robot Robots Robotic
Dreaming of or being a robot can suggest several things, perhaps the most common being responses that are automatic or not thought about, acting purely on social or imprinted – perhaps through pain – responses. The robot in some dreams is linked with the future and how we feel about it. It also can suggest being defended, in the sense of armour defending against hurt, so having no feelings. This might be expressed as being a zombie. See: Autonomous Complex; Habits; automaton.
Human behaviour is often automatic and even robotic. Habits do not require much thought or concentration. Let us take the example of language as a form of behaviour that is passed on. It already existed before your or my birth. It existed prior to the birth of our parents or their parents. All of us were born into its prior existence. We may partake of it, we might even slightly add to or modify it, but it has an existence quite apart from our own single identity. So we have a pool of behaviour as well as a DNA pool. It becomes almost robotic in the habits of speaking, the use of ready-made explanations such as in clichés.
This is so incredibly important that I will explain it in a slightly different way. Although human beings originally developed language, as each one died, what had been created and perhaps added to continued its existence, not only as a form of behaviour, but as a consciousness altering factor. It is certain that genetic pool of data gathered slowly from the beginning of life on this planet, and is now experienced as one’s personal body. Also certainly the behavioural pool is passed on largely unwittingly, unconsciously, making us like robots who are simply running programs instead of acting with some awareness. See Clichés
Most of us identify our body as US/Me, your personality. But from the point of view of some dreams, our body is actually linked with our core self, the source, which exists in a different way, and projects our body sense of self into time and space. Like the operator of an underwater robot who looks through the lenses of the robot’s eyes, you too – the sense of self – may perspire, your heart may race, your spirit feel defeat, as the robot achieves its task, or is threatened or crushed by its environment.
Example: The dream changed to being in a house with my immediate family i.e. parents and sisters. Every so often there was a shaking like an earthquake. On examination it seemed that some kind of structural joints that had something to do with the stability of the structure had been made badly, so that although they articulated, they were not completely sound and had been worn into malformed shapes, so that every so often there would be a shaking, and we (mostly my mother and sisters) were trying to determine how to fix it. A metal robot had something to do with this and was threatening in some way. I found it trying to cover up the joints with metal plates and when I tried to stop it, it stopped what it was doing and came into the house. We all seemed to be in its power. It picked out my father and I tried to intervene because I thought it was going to torture him, and I put myself in the way instead to deflect its attention and tried to plead with it but as I did so I knew it was useless because this creature had no feelings.
I think the dream of the house and the robot is about this. The faulty joints underpinning the house represent the faulty joints in me between my solid foundation and the structure of my life that I’ve built on that foundation. This is something shared by my family which is why we were all in there. I saw the robot trying to patch them over with rigid metal and while I recognised this would do, it would be very inflexible and was a botch-up that would not get at the cause. When I stopped it from doing that it came indoors and picked on my father and I felt the robot would torture him. I experienced this robot as having no compassion and I tried to plead on Dad’s behalf but knew this was futile. I think that was just indicating that the faulty joints come from my father’s approach to life. Sarah.
Example: I go back upstairs. I sit on the bed and hug my nanny. She is an old square robot, and not very sophisticated. I ask it, “Why aren’t there any nice men for me?” It says, “Look, there are,” and shows me two of them (on a screen on its chest). I say, “But if I take them, what will be left for my brother!” Nanny laughs and shows me many women for Dwight. I am still worried.
An interesting dream showing the programs that robots run. Her Nanny is an old square robot without sophisticated programming. It shows how her inner nanny has programs that are to take care of her grandchildren and does so quite well despite its limited behaviour repertoire.
Useful questions and hints:
Can I see any connections between the dream robot and my way of living?
Are the things I do habitually a way of being a robot?
Some of our body functions such as breathing are a bit like a program that runs without any attention.
What happens if I learn to control my breathing, does that make me less robotic?
See The Slow Breath – Self Observation – The Fundamental Process – Techniques for Exploring your Dreams
Rock Menhirs
Reality, but not just physical reality, but also the reality of meeting the challenge of change and adaptation; the physical world; the eternal as it is met by our waking self; stability; a remembrance of something or someone important to us; a source of power, or the spirit – in ancient times rocks were thought to be the dwelling places of gods. The image of the rock may therefore link our conscious personality with innate unconscious archetypal forces or strength. See Archetypes – Links to
And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el.
For Jacob, the stone was an integral part of the revelation. It was the mediator between himself and God. In many primitive stone-sanctuaries, the deity is represented not by a single stone but by a great many unhewn stone’s, arranged in distinct patterns.
The rock has often symbolised security, refuge and protection on the physical or social level. As a characteristic it represents rigidity or being unmoved in face of opposition. Inwardly it signifies faith that can see you through turmoil. Mentally it represents the ability to understand, and not be moved.
If the rock is sculpted in any way it shows what you have done with your life that will last through time, what has impressed itself upon eternity.
Rocks or stones are the nearest material thing we have to eternity. They thrust up from the deeps of the earth. As upright columns they are often used as phallic symbols. They are placed upon graves, symbolical of the spirit outlasting the decaying flesh. As symbols of eternity they are used to mark places where holy experiences have happened, or where a person contacted the divine. In temples a rock was the original altar, or contact with eternity, upon which you sacrificed or surrendered yourself.
If the rock is sculpted or painted: What our life has expressed to enrich your own spiritual or eternal nature.
A small rock or stone: The unconscious sees our personal existence as a part of the material the cosmos is made of – another pebble on the beach. The rock portrays how we shape the material of our nature through our life – similar to the parable of the talents. See: Stone.
Example: In front of me was a colossal stone column of a design I had never before seen. It was the height of Nelson’s column in Trafalgar Square, but very much wider. On top it had a design that was so subtle and unique I cannot even recall it. This design had been carved into the solid rock. This suggests, I suppose, that this uniqueness has not been brought through to consciousness.
The column seemed to be of solid rock, neither natural or man-made, but formed by some inconceivable mystery. The design at the top was alien; not in the sense of being a threat, but with a sense of otherness. The form was not natural, yet at the same time it was not man-made. Perhaps I would describe it by saying it seemed as if nature and human intelligence had somehow blended to form it. For they had the naturalness of form that an anthill or honeycomb has, where “nature” expresses itself through its insect bodies. This was in a class with those works of nature, yet more complex, showing Life and I had used a higher order of intelligence.
I feel this is an example of how Life processes expressing as nature, and especially in connection with the human consciousness, often produces things that the reasoning mind cannot understand. It is wise then to sit in awe of what has been created.
Useful questions and hints: –
In what way did I react or feel about the rock?
Have I ever felt any influence when near a rock or mountains?
What happened in the dream with the rock?
See Gods in Stone – Diving into the Depths of Mind – Key Words – Holy
Rocket
Your energies seeking release from boundaries and limitations. This might also indicate the power to lift consciousness beyond the level of sense impressions and mundane thoughts and feelings. It can be a way you represent the enormous thrust of sexual energy as it either flows out through the genitals, or is lifted up through the spine to functions in the brain, and there, like increased electrical current, lighting up processes of the mind previously dark or unconscious. See: Spaceship.
A Fireworks rocket: Can mean many things in your dream depending on the feelings and events experienced in the dream. It can suggest a feeling of wonder and beauty; a warning signal your dream is showing you; a signal saying here I am I need help; or a prayer sent up that can be experienced by many.
Example: I set off a firework/rocket that shot into the sky and became about nine balls of coloured light. They chased an unseen alien craft in the sky, and disposed of it. All the people rejoiced, and I was a hero for ridding the world of this unknown menace.
Example: A group of people who are old, senile, worn out, are led into a room where a young attractive nurse sits. She was inwardly unhappy, without love, and she gave a demonstration to show this. She hopped along the floor of this huge room on one leg, like an ice skater in posture, in great leaps and beautiful, and dived right through a brick wall, smashing it, her long hair flowing backwards. Then she flew back at the wall as if rocket powered, and crumbled it into a huge hole. She was a metallic person, and a group were to be turned into such beings also. They did not seem to see her pathos and unhappiness.
Example: The can was going along like a rocket carrying us along the Beaconsfield/Amersham Road. The idea was to take off and go to the moon. When we went down Gore Hill we eventually took off, but only a few feet. Then we had another can full of fuel which I set light too. It burnt slowly like meths. There was a hole up on the side, and the can leaked. I set light to both holes, but not enough power was generated to go along, just a slow burn. Also we could hardly find anything to hang onto. Then we had a stainless steel small rocket, still in the shape of a drum, but with a proper exhaust nozzle, and works. We also have space suits on with a harness and clips which fastened to the rocket.
As soon as I explored this dream I felt the new rocket and nozzle was my recent freer expression of sexual feeling. Going to the moon was making connection with my head and creativity that had been floating in space (floating head, my thinking self was not connected with my body). The old can reminded me of the dream prior to the last session, the barrel into which I was poking food – i.e. I was eating too much hoping to gain some energy. The hole in the side is my chest pain, where I have often said “energy leaks out”.
Useful questions and hints:
Have you ever felt an enormous shift or energy release that gave you a new view of your world?
Do you ever plan or daydream where you are going in expressing the energy of your life?
Where have your energetic activities taken you?
See Energy Sex and Dreams – Resistances – The Creative Dreamer – Techniques for Exploring your Dreams
Rod
Your will, or your aggressive force. The penis.
Roles
The different people in our dreams, such as doctor, lawyer, business person or tramp, in general represent the different abilities, weaknesses or interests we have ourselves. Even if we know the ‘role model’ it still depicts that person’s quality or skill in yourself. The only difference might be that our personal reactions to that particular doctor or schoolteacher will also play a part. Roles often play an important part in our self-image. Without an appreciated social role, we may feel uncertain and ineffective. Maturity might require the acceptance that we are nothing but can be many things.
If it is you in the role, so the different roles you play in your dreams, such as actor, lawyer, soldier or cook, usually represent the different abilities, weaknesses or interests you have. We all have different roles in everyday life. So, a woman can be cook, lover, mother, counsellor, accountant, etc. A man can be a worker, gardener, father, handyman or builder, a chauffeur, and so on. What is important is to see if you can get at is why the dream is showing you in that role and how it is relevant to your life at the moment. Therefore, define what skills the role has, and see what the dream is commenting on them in regard to yourself.
See the various roles such as: baker; barber; Characters in Dreams; beggar; chemist; gardener; inventor; nurse; potter; sub-personality; victim; waiter.
Roller Coaster
It refers, depending on its context, on the swinging between exhilaration and depression or anxiety, fun and the meeting with playful fear. It can also refer to a thrilling experience, being daring or sex.
Sometimes it is a way you meet fear, stress and confidence or lack of it. Or even a form of initiation to teenage. In a way such things allow you to see how much you have grown, because you can now ‘bear it’ or not.
Example: I am coming down a tramway, roller coaster and I am telling some people about having ridden a bus for 7 years. “I saw pretty near everything,” I say, “people passing out, vomiting, etc.” It’s a very steep drop down this tramway-roller coaster, some of it over water. I am only occasionally frightened. I wonder why it is such a steep drop from where I was (S.F.?) to Long Beach. It’s also a long trip.
I feel like I have gone downhill ever since I lived in San Francisco? Ever since I stopped teaching in Thailand.