Interpreting the Intangible

"To sleep, perchance to dream..."
~William Shakespeare, Hamlet

"Are you prepared to take a dive into the deep end of my head?"
~Jason Mraz, Wordplay

This is going to be a long one... grab a cup o' bean....

The dream I posted about yesterday stuck with me all day. It's still lingering this morning. So, I did some research last night into possible interpretation(s) of the elements of the dream. Upon waking yesterday morning, I felt I'd been on a spiritual journey - as it turns out (according to various dream interpreters), I wasn't wrong.

Why don't I start with the main character, the field of lavender...

Let's take a look at the field in general: To see green fields in your dream, symbolizes great abundance, freedom, and happiness. You may also be going through a period of personal growth. Alternatively, this dream may simply be an expression for your love of nature.

Interpreting flowers in general: When we look at flowers, most of us feel some joy and vitality. At the very least, we appreciate their beauty and see their value. Flowers are beautiful and in our dreams they could represent the simplest feelings of contentment to the deepest feelings of spiritual completeness. Additionally, the colors could symbolize the psychic centers in our bodies called chakras. Flowers also represent hope and positive growth, along with simplicity, innocence, and possibly virginity. (Virginity?! *low chuckle* I think not!)

In that vein, consider the color purple: Purple is usually the color of royalty, high rank, or dignity. It is a strong color that can not be ignored. It can also represent spiritual and personal transformation. Purple could also represent higher consciousness and spiritual protection. A version of purple is also the color of the crown Chakra. (Wow! I'm honored.)

"I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it." ~Shug Avery, The Color Purple

And, specifically, that I was in a field of lavender: To see lavender in your dream, indicates mysticism and spirituality. (Wow, and I was wandering through a vast ocean of the stuff! How cool!!!)

The first person I saw was Bill, a friend: Friends are interpreted as being emotionally valuable to us, because we learn about ourselves through them. (I coulda told ya that much... and, in fact, B - I told you so!)

That he turned into a hummingbird it interesting of itself, but first let's look at birds in general: Carl Jung said that birds represent thoughts, while birds in flight symbolize moving and changing thoughts. Birds are generally associated with freedom and abandon. In old dream interpretation books, birds are considered lucky omens (except for blackbirds, which are generally negative). If the birds in your dream were flying free, it may be symbolic of spiritual, psychological, or physical freedom. (*smile* Take heart, Bill... it's all good.)

Hummingbirds are an intriguing thing to see in a dream: To see hummingbirds in your dream, suggests that small ideas or concepts may possess much potential and power. Alternatively, it indicates your flighty thoughts and frivolous ideas. It may be a metaphor for your inability to commit to a relationship. (Since committing to a relationship isn't what the dream was about, nor has that ever been an issue for me, I don't think that particular metaphor applies here.)

Next, I came upon my Father. One of the things that struck me was that he actually spoke to me in this dream. Most often when I see him, he's just there, kind of in the background. This time was a definite connection, and that he used his pet name for me doesn't escape me in the least, that he was being creative gave me an uplifting feeling. Anyway: Dreams with fathers in them can be looked at on several different levels. You may be dreaming about your father and expressing your feelings about him in a safe way. Traditionally, a father dream can be seen as symbolizing authority and power. In the dream you may be expressing your attitude about strengths and weaknesses as they relate to your position in life and your general attitude toward society. The image of the father could also represent the "collective consciousness," the traditional spirit, and the yang. (I could easily apply any of these, but the collective consciousness bit really appeals.)

I did a lot of walking: To dream that you are walking with ease, represents the way you are moving through life and progress toward your goals. Consider your destination. To dream that you have difficulties walking, indicates that you are reluctant and hesitant in proceeding forward in some situation. You may also be trying to distance yourself from certain life experiences. (Wow. No shit, go figure.)

Then, I sat on a big warm rock: To see rocks in your dream, signifies permanence and stability as expressed in the familiar phrase "as solid as a rock". You may be contemplating some changes in your life that will lay the groundwork for a more solid foundation. On the other hand rocks may also symbolize stubbornness, disharmony and unhappiness. (Oh, the glorious yin and yang of it all!)

As I sat, I was visited by Bob Dylan. I tried to look up troubadour, but couldn't find anything. I decided to go with oracle, since that's what he was especially, but really it applies to all three men in my dream (they were all bringing me a message, and trying to get me to "see"): To dream of an oracle, symbolizes your belief of fate. You are expressing a desire to know what the future has in stored for you. The dream also serves as a reassurance that you are looking ahead and moving forward in a positive direction.

Further, I checked out the meaning of music and song, since Bob's message was thus delivered: Hearing music in your dreams has positive connotations. Music is healing to the soul, and as you are listening to it in your dream, you may be connected to the wonderful, creative spirit or flow of life suggesting a degree of inner harmony and emotional expression. To hear or write songs in your dream, indicates that you are looking at things from a spiritual viewpoint. Consider the words to the song that you are dreaming about for additional messages.

Again, I walked and came to a tree: To see lush green trees in your dream, symbolizes new hopes, growth and desires. It also implies strength and stability. You are concentrating on your own self-development and individuation. To see a willow tree in your dream, symbolizes mourning and sadness. (All of that applies... the willow could be a representation of my feelings for John, as well as letting go of various other things in my life. It was a beautiful tree though.)

I found it interesting that, at this point, Bill finally smiled at me. None of the three had smiled until then: To dream that you or others are smiling, signifies that you are pleased with your achievements and approve of the decisions you have made.

It was then that I finally saw the canyon: To see a canyon in your dream, represents your unconscious mind and hidden feelings. It may point to emotions and relationships that you did not recognize. (And oh, the vastness of what I saw!)

Finally, I flew. It's significant to note here (I think) that I was pushed into flight. In any other flying dream I've had, I've simply leaped into the air and took off: Some people believe that flying in our dreams can be an actual out of body experience, that we go to places on this physical plane as well as into the inner planes (mostly the Astral). Edgar Cayce thought that Astral travel or "soul travel" might be a precursor to becoming lucid in a dream. Carl Jung's idea was that in a flying dream we are expressing our desire to break free of restrictions and limitations. We have a desire to be free and above all difficulties! Alfred Adler thought that this dream was a type of a superiority dream in which we reveal the desire to dominate and be above others. Focusing on the libido, Freud thought that flying was another way to express sexual desires. (I don't buy Adler's interpretation here - that definitely wasn't the feeling of it in my dream. As for Freud's libido notion, well, that also wasn't what my dream was about, and it's not an issue - *wink* - 'nuff said.)

Finally, considering that I was in the starring roll... I was definitely in touch with my gypsy spirit - the walking, the exploring, etc. So, I decided to look up what a gypsy might signify: To see a gypsy in your dream, signifies your desire to roam freely without responsibility and obligation. Alternatively, this symbol may suggest your need to look toward the future.

So, it seems that all of the rich symbolism in my dream was an amalgamation and incorporation of all of the things I've been discovering recently - emotional discoveries, spiritual discoveries, even the discovery (and acceptance) of my need to wander (whether literally or figuratively). The dream left me with a sense of elation that stayed with me all day.

"Dreams are the answers to questions that we haven't yet figured out how to ask."
~Fox Mulder, The X-Files

Dream on!