The tooth or hair dream- in this one, my hair is falling out or my teeth are crumbling apart. When I have the hair dream, I wake up grasping at my hair and it takes me quite a while to realize that it isn't actually coming out. I often wonder if I have a similar dream involving my wedding ring, because I wake up many times grasping that finger, thinking that I lost my ring. However, I never remember a dream like that, so who knows.
The fighting or running dream- in this one, I'm either trying to run away from someone or something, but no matter how hard I try to run, I just can't get anywhere. The fighting dream is similar, but instead of running, I'm trying to fight off someone that's attacking me. No matter how hard I try to hit them, it has no affect on them.
The falling dream- I'm falling, then wake up with a "sleep start". If anyone's ever had one, you know what I'm talking about. It's when your entire body jerks violently & suddenly. Not the most pleasant way to wake up.
The ferret dream- I saved this one for last because this is the dream that I've had the most. It's plagued me for many years now and although I've gone for months without having it, more often than not, it finds it's way into my dreams on a regular basis. In the dream, I realize that I have several ferrets that I forgot about and I find them in a cage. They're starving, dehydrated & filthy. The number of ferrets varies and the room is always different, but it's pretty much the same otherwise. I feel horrible that I somehow forgot about these ferrets and let them get in the state they're in. Out of all the recurring dreams I have, it's the worst one. I had ferrets a long time ago, including my favorite little guy, Freak- 
He was such a mama's boy, sleeping next to me, following me around everywhere and always curling up next to me when I sat down. I miss him so much. So, maybe the dream has to do with him, but again, who knows.
Obviously, all of my recurring dreams are those where I'm in a helpless, uncontrollable or very agitated state. Beyond that, I'm still trying to figure out what they're trying to tell me. Sure, there are sites out there that I could do some research on, but I don't really put a lot of faith in those. Anyone have any guesses on what any of them could mean? Do you have any recurring dreams? I'd love to hear about them!
Oh wow, what an interesting post! And Freak was so adorable! I didn't know you'd had ferrets! They look like such fun!
ReplyDeleteI love helping friends interpret their dreams and have them interpret mine (when I can remember them, which seems to happen in phases). Sometimes we come up with great explanations, sometimes we remain mystified.
The only recurring dreams I recall having are the falling dream (that "jerk awake" business is called a "hypnic jerk," and occurs most often in people with irregular or inadequate sleep), and the final exam dream. The one where you show up to take a final and realize you never went to the class, didn't study for the final, and don't have diddly squat for a clue! I used to have that dream a lot in the years after college, but now I rarely do.
I'd say the first two kinds of dreams you have may represent a fear of loss, and of feeling a loss or lack of control, and in the second, running/fighting one your subconscious is telling you that both running away or fighting are ineffective. Maybe it's telling you to accept what is or surrender to it, or to find some other way to deal with whatever it is that is causing your fears.
The last dream about the ferrets is the most fascinating, and my interpretation of that one is that your subconscious is telling you that you've been neglecting something/someone important to you. Maybe it's even you that's being neglected, or something about you - creativity or rest or whatever nurtures you.
So that's my two cents' worth, fresh from Esmerelda the Gypsy Girl's Dream Interpretation Center. LOL
Interesting post Molly!
ReplyDeleteI've had versions of all those dreams...but we must be similar, because like you, I've had the ferret-type dream most often. I have a dream like that at least once or twice a month.
Mine are often about several tanks of goldfish that I had forgotten I had and hadn't fed or cleaned for weeks and/or the tanks are springing leaks and I have to try to find other containers to put the fish in before all the water leaks out...something I never can find in the dream...I've also had it with rats or other small animals: I go into a room and realize I have all these little animals and that I need to get them into safe places, but I can't catch them and if I catch one, any others that I have caught escape.
And like Laurie, I've had the final exam dream many, many times! I think it's similar to the ferret-type dreams. I still have that one regularly too.
I like Laurie's interpretation of those dreams...I refer to them as my anxiety dreams...it's like there are things so precious to me that I can't believe I had forgotten to take care of. I think it also come from a strong feeling for protecting others that are vulnerable.
Freak is a cutie! Ferrets are so fun!
Wow, that's some dream you guys have about the trauma of finding you've neglected something precious to you! I've been trying to remember if I've had any kind of dream like those, but I can't think of one. Though one time I dreamed my hamster had fallen into a full bathtub while I was out of the room, and while she was swimming for dear life a cat climbed through the window and when I returned to the room I found her perched on the bathtub rim just waiting for a chance to nab my hamster! But I only remember ever having that dream once. I think you're right, though, Rose - I think the final exam dream is in a similar vein.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever read Jamie Sams' Animal Medicine book? (It comes with a set of cards). She doesn't have ferrets in it, but she does discuss weasels and some believe that if an animal appears to you repeatedly in dreams (or in your waking life, in the flesh or in images), it's a totem animal with tasked with bringing you a message. I found the weasel chapter online so I thought I'd pass along the overview in case it might resonate with you...
Weasel has an acute sense of hearing and the ability to see beneath the surface. As a power animal, Weasel helps you to develop your inner hearing so that you can listen to your inner voice, and to heighten your perception so you can see beneath the words and actions of others and ascertain their true motives and intentions. Weasel is a help in determining the reasons why something may not be obvious. So ask Weasel for help in those areas of life which are confusing and worrying, and ask for answers to why you feel as you do about a particular situation. Look beneath the surface.
i have had those dreams too!! the one where you neglect something. its horrible! along with the running dream. i loved reading Laloofahs answers. i need to think on that a bit.
ReplyDeletemaybe its our biggest fear that we would neglect an animal?
I used to have a great book on interpreting dreams but I can't seem to find it. Maybe I gave it away or it got permanently borrowed. Wish I could help. I think dreams signify fears we may have. But some pyschologists think that they are just random brain thoughts firing.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of really creative dreams that would make good stories or films. I wish I could tape them and show them to others. Probably wouldn't make much sense while awake though.
I had a dream the other night where someone was trying to serve me meat. Annoying!
I'm really enjoying this conversation and everyone's insights, and it's making me wish I were having interesting dreams that I can remember and share here!
ReplyDeleteI've been pondering Dirty Duck's idea about your biggest fear being neglecting an animal, and I think she's onto something. I'm among those who believe our subconscious communicates with us symbolically rather than literally, at least most of the time. So I think the dream isn't literally about neglecting ferrets or even companion animals, but that because your companion animals are such a special and beloved part of your lives, caring for them is so critical to you, and neglecting them is a worst nightmare for you (no pun intended!), they're a perfect subject for your subconscious mind to get the attention of your conscious mind that (if I'm right about this) you are neglecting something/someone profoundly important to you.
I'd love to hear about Bitt's dreams! Funny thing, just last night I finished reading The Anotated Alice (both the Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass books with all kinds of background, explanatory and interpretive notes), and since both stories have a lot to do with dreams, there were some really interesting notes about that subject! (Thanks again, Rose, for recommending it)
Have you guys ever heard of lucid dreaming? It's where you are aware, while in your dream, that you ARE dreaming - and you can manipulate the dream's events. I've only had one or two lucid dreams that I can remember, but supposedly we can train ourselves to dream lucidly and use it as a tool to solve problems and address fears. I think it's a fascinating subject! Here's a web site about it that I just found - haven't had time to look it all over yet, but am bookmarking it for when I do!
Great comments, everyone! You all have provided so much insight into all of this and I'm loving hearing about everyone else's dreams.
ReplyDeleteThe weasel totem makes so much sense. Thanks for posting that, Laurie! I've had it suggested to me that the ferret dream means that I think that I'm not doing enough for animals, which could be something, but dirtyduck had a great idea about it, too.
Laurie, I think you hit the nail on the head about the other dreams. As you know, I have several things in my life that are a constant stress and source of bad feelings all around, so a lot of my dreams are most likely a result of that. I do need to start focusing on myself more, which I've been doing a lot more than usual these last few months. So far, my recurring dreams have been less than they used to be.
As far as the ferret dream goes, I often wonder if it's the result of my guilty conscience. When I was 22, I left an abusive relationship, but in order to leave him I had to leave behind the 4 ferrets that we had together (not Freak, though, he passed away a few months prior to that). Although I knew he'd take care of them and not abuse them at all, it was extremely hard for me to do that. I also had to leave Flower, one of my kitties, behind, and he wouldn't give her to me a month later when I could finally take her. So, I'm surprised that it's always ferrets and not cats, or at least Flower, too.
Hopefully that's not too much information about my personal life......
I have had a few lucid dreams, which are so cool! They were with nightmares I was having (although most of my dreams are nightmares, or at least pretty bad ones) and I wish I could get myself to have more lucid dreams. I need to work on that more. One time I was able to wake myself up from a particularly scary one by shouting out a loud noise.
ReplyDeleteInterstingly enough, I've never had the school type dreams or the naked dreams. I'm surprised I never have! I've had the "meatmare" dreams, though, where I'm eating meat in the dream and am so grossed out by it. They're so real! Eeew.
Wow, my thoughts are all over in these last two comments. I have so much I want to say! I'll just leave it at that & am going to go check out the link you provided, Laurie. :)
Not TMI at all, Molly, not as long as you're comfortable sharing it! It's very sad though, that anyone would have mistreated you at all, ever - never mind someone who should have cherished you, and to have treated you so badly. And very sad you had to leave your furbabies behind!
ReplyDeleteI think this is why discussing our dreams with other people is so helpful, it can really help you access what the dreams, their symbols and messages are saying to you, and what they mean to you! When I try to figure out my own dreams by myself, I usually can't do it, but as soon as I start telling someone else about them, and answering their questions (about what the elements in the dream mean to me, or about what I'm dealing with in my waking hours), I can often access the answer inside.
You may be right, maybe the thing you've been neglecting is forgiving yourself! Often such a hard thing to do, but so important.
I have never had that "meatmare" dream that you and Bitt have! How awful! What do you think that's about?
P.S. Interesting about your lucid dreaming!
ReplyDeleteThe one I had that I most remember I had as a child, and it was a good dream... I dreamed I was at Disneyland, and having a great time. At some point I realized it was a dream, and so I remember working at NOT waking up because I didn't want it to end!
Isn't the mind a fascinating thing?!
Another interesting book, not about dreams but about accessing what your subconscious knows and bringing it into your consciousness so you can use it to help you in various ways (improve memory, find lost things, be more creative, solve problems, etc) is The Einstein Factor. I bought the book several years ago, after a friend was telling me about it and guided me through one of the exercises (which was very cool). The exercise helped her mother find her lost wedding ring!
You're right, Laurie. Discussing this has helped a lot! I have no idea what the meatmares are about. I've only had them a few times, thankfully, but I've heard of other vegans having them quite a bit. Maybe it's just one of our fears coming out in our dreams?
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool about your friend's mother being able to find her wedding ring with the help of that book! The mind is a very fascinating thing, indeed. :)
You're right, Laurie. Discussing this has helped a lot! I have no idea what the meatmares are about. I've only had them a few times, thankfully, but I've heard of other vegans having them quite a bit. Maybe it's just one of our fears coming out in our dreams?
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool about your friend's mother being able to find her wedding ring with the help of that book! The mind is a very fascinating thing, indeed. :)
I used to have a great book on interpreting dreams but I can't seem to find it. Maybe I gave it away or it got permanently borrowed. Wish I could help. I think dreams signify fears we may have. But some pyschologists think that they are just random brain thoughts firing.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of really creative dreams that would make good stories or films. I wish I could tape them and show them to others. Probably wouldn't make much sense while awake though.
I had a dream the other night where someone was trying to serve me meat. Annoying!
Not TMI at all, Molly, not as long as you're comfortable sharing it! It's very sad though, that anyone would have mistreated you at all, ever - never mind someone who should have cherished you, and to have treated you so badly. And very sad you had to leave your furbabies behind!
ReplyDeleteI think this is why discussing our dreams with other people is so helpful, it can really help you access what the dreams, their symbols and messages are saying to you, and what they mean to you! When I try to figure out my own dreams by myself, I usually can't do it, but as soon as I start telling someone else about them, and answering their questions (about what the elements in the dream mean to me, or about what I'm dealing with in my waking hours), I can often access the answer inside.
You may be right, maybe the thing you've been neglecting is forgiving yourself! Often such a hard thing to do, but so important.
I have never had that "meatmare" dream that you and Bitt have! How awful! What do you think that's about?
Great comments, everyone! You all have provided so much insight into all of this and I'm loving hearing about everyone else's dreams.
ReplyDeleteThe weasel totem makes so much sense. Thanks for posting that, Laurie! I've had it suggested to me that the ferret dream means that I think that I'm not doing enough for animals, which could be something, but dirtyduck had a great idea about it, too.
Laurie, I think you hit the nail on the head about the other dreams. As you know, I have several things in my life that are a constant stress and source of bad feelings all around, so a lot of my dreams are most likely a result of that. I do need to start focusing on myself more, which I've been doing a lot more than usual these last few months. So far, my recurring dreams have been less than they used to be.
As far as the ferret dream goes, I often wonder if it's the result of my guilty conscience. When I was 22, I left an abusive relationship, but in order to leave him I had to leave behind the 4 ferrets that we had together (not Freak, though, he passed away a few months prior to that). Although I knew he'd take care of them and not abuse them at all, it was extremely hard for me to do that. I also had to leave Flower, one of my kitties, behind, and he wouldn't give her to me a month later when I could finally take her. So, I'm surprised that it's always ferrets and not cats, or at least Flower, too.
Hopefully that's not too much information about my personal life......