Today’s dreamer offers two examples of images that recur in many of our dreams. First, her dream includes a baby. Now babies often carry universal meanings of new beginnings, creative surges and portent for the future; but of course, we cannot generalize! The significance of a particular baby in a particular dreamer’s dream may be unique to that person. In addition, today’s dream contains a ‘shadow’ image. This also may carry a common implication – that of a blind spot for the dreamer. Let’s see how these two interact in this particular dreamer’s life.

Dear Carolyn,
I’m concerned about a dream I had recently in which I was pregnant. (I am well past the age where this could be true! To give you an idea, I just retired from 40 years working in the bank!) Anyway, in the dream I tell a woman on the bus I’m riding in that I’m pregnant. She doesn’t believe me at first and when I look down, my stomach is flat. But I stand up and cup my hands under my belly and sure enough, I have a big pregnant belly. I hold up three fingers on my left hand to tell her I have three months left to go.
Next, I am outside and someone asks to see the baby. Like magic, he is on my knees, very well-developed, smart and engaged! And here’s the part I just don’t get – I am white and so is my husband, but this baby has very dark skin. I am concerned that because of this, my husband will know I had sex with another man, even though I don’t remember doing that. Then I remind myself that this is my baby and I should love him and care for him.
What do you make of that?
Signed, Surprised Mother

Dear Surprised,
While you did not specify what your plans are for your retirement, your dream suggests that you have some well-developed plans that will be able to stand on their own sooner than you might expect, just like the baby in your dream. Even though you may have kept this a secret from yourself as indicated by first seeing a flat stomach, the following fully ‘ripe’ six months’ pregnant belly says you are two-thirds of the way in your new journey – the bus ride.
Maybe you have quietly harbored a desire or goal – kept it in the dark, like this dark-skinned baby – that you are able to bring to fruition, in say, about three months! This could be an entrepreneurial idea that your husband poo-poohed or that you felt unsure about sharing, as indicated by the anticipation of a negative reaction from that judgmental masculine part of yourself. But your dream reminds you, it is your baby and you must love and cultivate it.
Go for it, Dear Dreamer! Now is the time!
Sweet dreams to you!

Carolyn Plath, M.Ed., is a Benicia resident and member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Reach her at sendmeyourdreams@yahoo.com.

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