Dreams can be literal.
Example 1: The dryer burst in to flames.
Once I bought a new clothes dryer. About a week after I bought it, I dreamed that it burst into flames. I woke up with a start. I instantly knew what the dream was about. The filter on the new dryer was in a different place and I had forgotten to clean it. “Bursting into flames” was my fear of what I believed could happen. The dream was simply my mind’s way of reminding me to clean the filter.
In many cases of interpreting dreams you need to consider several factors.
It is possible to detect malfunctions in machines and vehicles through your senses, such as sight, hearing, smell, and touch. Because we live busy lives we may not be aware consciously that we picked up information, yet our dreams may let us know while we sleep.
Example 2: I am driving up a steep hill and at the top of the hill the engine falls out of the car. Nothing else happens, no accident, no one is hurt.
When I woke up, I remembered sitting in my car the night before, waiting for my son to come out of his karate class. While waiting, I was off in my mind thinking about lots of things. The weather was cold and I remember seeing steam rising up from the hood of the car. So when I next drove my car, I looked at the engine gauge. The engine was getting too hot too fast. I took it to the garage and learned there was a hole in a hose.
Dreams can be Metaphors:
Example 1: Marlene dreamed that two of her co-workers were in bed together.
During work, Marlene had detected something was going on between two of her co-workers but she did not register it consciously. Their connection with each other came to her at night in her dream.
Their being in bed together could mean they are sexually involved with each other and keeping it secret, or it could mean they are conspiring with each other about work and it has nothing to do with sex. Being in bed together can be a metaphor for secretly allying with each other in the work (or other) situation.
Now that this has been brought to Marlene’s attention, she can figure out consciously whether their alliance is sexual or conspiratorial.
Example 2: My good friend from university was pregnant.
Many years ago, before I had children, I had this dream. Curious, I decided to phone her and catch up with her. It turns out she was, in fact, pregnant. I could not have known about it, as I had not had any contact with her for several years. She lived in Eastern Canada and I lived on the West Coast.
When we dream about people from the past what it means depends on whether that person is in our life currently or not. If they are, the meaning may be about the real person. When they are not in your current life, it means they represent something to you.
My friend was married in university, had had one child and got pregnant with her second child when I knew her. While the dream was about her, I believe the dream stemmed more from my own strong desire at the time to have children of my own. Dreaming that she was pregnant, and it turning out to be true, was probably more a coincidence than intuition. She represented fertility and family to me, which I longed for myself at the time.
People too often take dreams literally when they are metaphors for what is going on in one’s current life. While they may be literal, consider the possibility they may be metaphorical or symbolic when interpreting your dreams.
With care and concern,
Dr. Bea
