Why Do We Dream?
There are many theories as to why we dream, but still no definitive answers. Dr. Carl Jung, PhD, is well known for his theories about dreaming from a psychological point of view. He theorized that dreaming is how our conscious mind communicates with the unconscious mind. Jung also has much to say about interpreting dreams. It seems, to me, that it's our mind's attempt at reconciling experiences from behind the scenes. Jung also suggested that every person and object in a dream may represent an aspect of the dreamer. Dream interpretation isn't necessary, but it is very interesting and can inspire us to think about things from a different perspective.
The Motorcycle Dream
For the last 15 years, I have had this recurring dream about buying and riding my own motorcycle. It wasn't an easy task, it's big, heavy and fast and very difficult to ride; completely opposite of what I would actually do. In my dreams, I ride down the highway really fast with the wind blowing my hair around and I feel completely free and alive. I have often thought that this dream represents my love of freedom.
A Dream Within A Dream
Last night it was very different. I dreamt that I was "trying" to dream about the motorcycle, but couldn't because I had forgotten about it. As I started to recall the motorcycle and that it was in my dreams often, I felt a little confused and panicked. I wondered why I couldn't remember and questions started coming to me. "Had I wrecked it?" "Was it real?" "Where was the title?" "Was it paid for?" "Did I forget to pay for it and it had it cause my credit to be bad?" I remember thinking, in my current dream, that this was a past dream.
As I continued dreaming, I calmed down and remembered that I had wrecked the motorcycle the last time I dreamt about it. I knew that a friend was storing it in his garage for me, so I went there. When I arrived at his place, I found out that he had sold it for $2,000 a long time ago! I couldn't understand why somebody would do that; where was my motorcycle or my money? Right before the dream ended, I thought, "This is a dream about dreaming about a motorcycle; it isn't real." My awareness moved to knowing that it was just a dream and a very peaceful sense of calm came over me. The dream ended and I woke up.
Dream Interpretation
Dream interpretation can sometimes be obvious, such as, the recurring motorcycle ride representing freedom and happiness. My question then became why did I dream this; why did I dream that I had forgotten it? Why did I remember that I wrecked in my last dream about it? Of course, dream interpretation is always subjective, but when done intuitively, can often lead to greater understanding of the self. It can sometimes even gives us a gift.
My Subjective Intuitive Interpretation
- The motorcycle had always, unknowingly, represented my egoic constructed sense of freedom and joy that I had worked so hard to find and maintain.
- The wrecking of the bike seems to represent the crashing of the idea that externally created freedom and joy can be sustained.
- Storing the wrecked motorcycle in a friends garage seems to represent my mind storing the old idea in a safe place until it was useful to revisit it.
From A Dream Comes New Awareness
Reflecting on it later, it seems that my mind wanted me to notice the contrast between the old egoic idea and current understanding that true freedom and joy come from within. By remembering where I came from I can see that my inner self feels much better now. It seems that my dream is also telling me that letting go of old ideas is ok. There's nothing to worry about because my "internal" freedom and joy is much lighter and easier to maneuver than the "external" freedom represented by the motorcycle.
The Gift
The gift is knowing that when I become aware a new perspective or "wake up" to a new understanding, I can let go of old behaviors, habits and ideas that do not serve my true self. Letting go of the old brings long lasting fulfillment and peace because there is alignment between my beliefs, thoughts and actions. I can clearly see that letting go of external solutions to my freedom and happiness is the most beneficial.
So I won't look back. I'll go with the flow and I'll let my internal freedom and joy blow through my hair like the breeze on a beautiful summer day.
Would you like to create a life you love? Are your dreams trying to tell you something? We can help. Angela and Anita are Personal Power Coaches who can guide you to answers. www.yourpowercenter.com
