A perverse force in the universe works this way: You become the very thing you strive to avoid. The thing you eschew, follows you, sneaks up on you, finds its way into your bathroom and hides behind the mirror over the sink. Then, one morning, before you’ve even had your coffee, you splash water on […]
Send Me Your Dreams: Recurring dream dogs retiree
Perhaps the most frequent questions I receive are about recurring dreams. They are common and can be frustrating and even frightening. Many people find that when they have ‘that dream’ again, the emotional effects carry over into their waking life for a day or two, tinting the dreamer’s mood with the tone of the dream. […]
Think Dream Play: Will Rogers never met this guy
Not sure if it was Machiavelli or Michael Corleone who originated the phrase, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” but it’s been on my mind. The concept came in handy in – of all places – public school! When I was working as a high school principal, I needed to have my ear […]
Send Me Your Dreams: That baby is ready to go!
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 […]
Think, Dream, Play: Advice to the dearly departing
I KNOW HOW THIS WORKS. Seen it before. Lived through it. Twelve years of my 30 in education were spent in the role of principal. It’s a high-profile position in the community of students, parents, faculty, staff and district personnel. One of the most interesting parts of the job was learning to accept that all […]
Send Me Your Dreams: The dearly departed in our dreams
DREAMS OF LOVED ONES WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY are often reported near to the event of their passing, sometimes repeatedly, sometimes even years later. Like all dreams, these “visitation” dreams may have multiple meanings for the dreamer. They also present the question as to whether we can accept them literally. Today’s dreamer offers a poignant […]
Think, Dream, Play: Sit down and write!
I BELIEVE A DOSE OF METHYLPHENIDATE MIGHT GET ME OFF THE DIME. You know, Ritalin. Stimulant. Schedule II controlled substance. Yes — Ritalin treats attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and, counterintuitively, narcolepsy. Those are precisely my symptoms: I fluctuate between flitting about, cheerfully dusting knickknacks, and deep, snoring sleep. And I’ve built up a tolerance […]
Send Me Your Dreams: Old houses indicate old states of mind
DREAMS OF HOUSES OFTEN REFLECT THE DREAMER’S STATE OF MIND. The home is where s/he lives mentally or emotionally when it comes to a particular aspect of waking life. Today’s dreamer returns with some longing for her residence of many years to find a new perspective on her memories.
Think, Dream, Play: You’re gonna need an ocean
ONCE, IN MY HALCYON COLLEGE DAYS, I TOOK A BOTANY CLASS. Everything was interesting to me then. Kind of like now, except I was 24. Following a long-standing habit of late bloomers, I enrolled in my first college courses in Santa Barbara a full six years after graduating from high school. And, due at least […]
Send Me Your Dreams: Weight loss dream pulls no punches
OUR DREAMS ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIVE to our waking thoughts and dilemmas. We can “incubate” a dream on a particular issue using a formal set of procedures. But often the incubation is taking place by virtue of our regular habits of thinking. Today’s dreamer presents a case in point.