Rescuing Dogs

Yesterday  I saw a small black dog dodging traffic on Elk Grove Blvd. in rush hour. He made it safely to the side... while I watched. 

I also had a man reprimand me for having my dog off leash yesterday while on our walk.

I had a pretty pity party of a day (due to other things... not those) and went to bed crying.

Last night's dream was about dogs.

In the dream, the same little black dog was running around the street and another girl (long brown hair... could have been me, but I was watching from a distance) and my friend Cheryl (who works with dogs) caught him. As they were taking him away, through a city park (just grass) (Reminded me of the Curtis Park area in Sacramento) a box was dropped in the middle of the street. It was a large refrigerator size box taped with duct tape and it had holes punched in it. It had a dog in it; a big one. As they were about to get it open a van squealed around the corner and Cheryl and the other girl jumped back to the sidewalk. A man reached out of the open back of the van and pulled the box in. At the same time, he pushed a gray short haired large dog out of the van. The gray dog looked a little under fed and scared. As the van peeled away the girls took the gray dog and the small black dog to Cheryl's town house. (Really she has a house, but in the dream she lived in a small town house that also looked like it fit in the Curtis Park area... that era at least.) With both dogs inside Cheryl's roommate (the brown haired girl... not her real room mate) was sitting with her back up against the door and her feet on a wall making sure the door would not open. Cheryl was also sitting on the floor on the opposite wall.

It was like they were hiding out. 

On my walk yesterday my friend Carrie and I were talking about my pity party, self-condemnation, etc. The man had just walked by scolding me about my dog off leash and those type of things effect me more than they should. (On a side note... I've been to many countries, and America has THE worst dogs! Everywhere else they sit in shops, on the beach, free... And nice. Here, we chain 'em up, blah blah blah, and they get frustrated, and mean.) Carrie started to use dogs as an illustration for myself. Chained... we're frustrated, in bondage. My dog walks all zig-zaggy on a leash. He drags; he goes around you... He wants to be off. He does great off-leash (unless he spots a rabbit... then he chases it.) Anyway, my point is... I'm not sure if I was the brown haired girl in the dream... or one of the dogs... or just an on looker. But the dream definitely reminded me of being miss treated, and hiding from those that miss treat me. (not physically, mind you, but emotionally.)

Beauty Shop

(This is getting published much later today because I got called away from the computer this morning.)

I find it interesting that as I opened my home page a second ago, I noticed my friend's blog has a Beauty Shop theme this morning too. She is a folk painter and has started a series (I just discovered) on "Beauty Shop Girls". (You can check it out at folkartbycampbelljane.blogspot.com )

Well, my main dream last night started in a St. John beauty shop. "No such thing," you say? True, there's not, but it all makes sense when you know my background.  I used to work at the St. John design house before I got married almost 11 years ago. So, often, when I dream of 'work' I dream of St. John. I am currently working on some designs of my own, and one of my main dilemmas is finding models. 

So... In my dream I went to this "Beauty Shop" with my one model-esk friend. I sat in the waiting room, waiting for her to get dolled up for the show. Then my old boss from St. John pulled me in the salon room and asked if she could do my hair. The hair-do was far from a St. John type style. She inserted numerous bright colored extensions (from hot pink to red to purple), and swept up each real strand of hair into an up-do. By the time she was finished my whole head was purple, and run-way worthy. She was so pleased with it she decided I could model in the show. She walked off to do something and her assistant came over to me and asked who my favorite jewelry designer was. She explained that I could pick whom ever I wanted, and that I would wear their stuff in the show. She side noted it with, "You'll get to keep it all, so choose wisely, but it can't be loud, it has to go with the clothes." (Now that's interesting seeing that I'm sitting there with 'loud' purple hair, and given that St. John makes their own jewelry.) But I chose Roberto Cavalli. Maria (my boss) went off to order jewelry and Marie Grey (the big boss) came over and told me to sit down in a dental looking chair to get my makeup done. I asked if I could use the restroom first, and I walked out. Passing the waiting room, my friend Cheryl, walked up to me and asked if I could get her some clear nail polish. I told her I was going to pee, and she could get it herself, as I pointed out a small and large bottle of clear sparkly nail polish. I left the building in search of a restroom, out onto a cobblestone street. An outdoor restaurant was my first encounter.  The matradee pointed me past the restaurant to an alley in the square. I must have peed and come back out (don't remember that part) but as I came out I was met by my husband and four other friends. We were all walking down the cobblestone street in the direction of an amusement park. The roller-coasters towered in front of us, and my husband and I discussed which ones we would ride. Just then a man zoomed over our heads riding a scooter on top of a zip-line. I pointed out the zip-line to my husband and asked if he wanted to try it. Another rider zipped by. We continued to walk and I had an internal conversation with myself about the mechanics of the ride. I was terrified, but thrilled at the same time at the idea of riding this dangerous thing.

Well, shall we give an interpretation a go?

OK. We'll start with assuming this has something to do with work. It could be about the past, or it could be about my present solo endeavor. The emotion in the dream was all positive, so that's good. There was a message about being 'good enough', in the part where I was asked to be in the show. There was also a promise to keep jewelry worth lots of money. 

References to bathroom behavior usually has to do with getting rid of waste. (When it's poop, it's obviously yuckier crap you're working through), but in this case it was just pee and that part of the dream didn't even really happen (that I remember). (One exception to this 'bathroom' rule is that sometimes when you dream of peeing, it's your body telling you to "Wake up... You have to pee." But if you actually get through the pee or poo in your dream, then there's symbolism to it.) 

We notice that when I was done getting rid of the waste, I came out to a new story. I didn't go back to the salon, I went to an amusement park and was going to ride on a terrifying but thrilling ride with my husband.

You may have also noticed that this is the second dream with cobblestone streets this week. What's that about? From my life, it reminds me of Italy (where I lived for three years during adolescence). In a general way, it just speaks of an old world vibe to me. It's nothing new.  (Maybe speaking of the story as old, or of the circumstances as nothing new).

Now, if we take this as a "past" story, we could correctly recall that I left my job at St. John to marry my husband that lived up here in Sacramento. That could tell the whole story right there.

But why would I dream about that? 

It's more likely that I would dream about the present or near future. (That's what we normally do, unless we have baggage from our past that is still be sifted through.) I could make the same conclusion though, that I have set aside my 'work' (I haven't touched my dress form since November), to embark on a terrifying but thrilling ride with my husband. That rings true because we are about to start counseling over our differences in parenting. (You can only go so long on two separate pages, before the negative effects show up in your kids.) 

I'd like to assume that I'm still invited to "be in the show" and that I'll still get to keep the valuable "jewelry", but who knows, that could all be "pee".  

I'll be praying for some clarity on this one. Perhaps I'll dream again about something that will clear it up for me. Or, as is often the case, the fuzzy parts will be cleared up in day to day life, or in my quiet time.

Happy dreaming everyone.

They Often Come in Threes

It's true, dreams often come in threes.  Just FYI, if each dream has a similar theme in a threesome, pay close attention! 

As I'm writing these down, perhaps I'll find I theme, but right now, they all seem pretty separate. I'll tell you now, if you don't want to spend much time... skip to #3...I think it has the most meaning.

#1(that I can remember):

My childhood family (Mom, Dad, sister) and I were out shopping. It was a VERY spacious mall (as are all the malls I dream of; which I'm sure means something). We went into a busy store that was very white and bright in decor. It was at least two stories, and on the first floor was all manner of baby clothes, along with little girl accessories. My eyes were drawn to a fur wreath. It was comprised of  pink fur pom poms, with a shoelace type bow at top that also had pom poms on the tails. I stood and talked myself out of it, because it was pink... only to look down the wall to see a mint one. I could still easily say, "No, you don't need that", then around the corner, I saw a white one. (There were also ones with teddy bear torso's on the top. Very large.) I really wanted this white one... it could look like snow, not just a babies' room accessory. But my sister and father came by and reminded me I was looking for a purse. (Which I really am), so I walked away and up the stairs into racks and racks of purses.

#2

I was out on a cliff over looking a beach, directly behind me was the  back door of a warehouse where I had come from. Sitting eating lunch was an old school mate of mine (not even a friend), who shortly got up and went inside. My mother came out and begged with me to come back to her house. Crying, she explained how much she enjoyed having me and my sister home at the holidays, and how much she missed us since we left.

#3 

I am standing in front of two huge houses side by side. The first nicer than the second, but both nothing to envy other than the size. They have an industrial appearance, very gray. I am asked to find a solution to improve the condition of the second house. I immediately point out a huge yellow tractor that has been parked under the front area. (the whole house is off the ground propped up on many 3'-4' wide concrete cylinders.) I walk around as my instructor (only a voice) explains that the house has no foundation, but needs one, and needs relocating. The house, I sense, belongs to my old neighbors, the Cowards. (I don't think their name was used for any other reason than what the name means... not really representing their family.) I continue down the side street noticing that the very top of the house has a large woody vine (no leaves, and dead looking) that twists on itself and extends past the roof over a large area and on to the next roof and the next, and the next. By now I'm walking past old-fashioned city buildings and the vine continues. My spirit confirms that all of this used to be their property. I tell my instructor, "They have so much land, why don't they move the house". (I was meaning in the space before the 'city' started). But the option is not met with any comment, my heart sinks.

At that point my focus changes (or you could say this is dream #4)

My friends Cheryl and Alicia direct me down the street to a very fancy condo community with cobblestone streets that they want to go house hunting in. My 10 year old son is at my side and we follow them. There is a man at the gate of the golden hued community demonstrating a new hot tub that you can add to your house package if you so choose. Alicia and Cheryl jump right in and get the demo. They are quickly out and eagerly running down the street to the houses. My son is very upset and wants to try the hot tub too. I yell to the girls to wait, and he takes a turn. The seat in the hot tub starts to rock from side to side as part of the demo, and my son is so small that his head is getting dunked each time. The man tells me to get all of my son's things off of him, cause they could get caught in the mechanics. I remove his sunglasses on a string around his neck, and his baggy shirt and shorts. (He is still in swim clothes). Upon getting out there is another family there with a young son who wants a turn. I scramble for my son's clothes, and get mixed up with the other boy's. The parents and I figure it out (it ends up being two pair of PJs both with super heroes on them). 

And that was the end of the dream.

I still don't see a theme, but I always like to take a closer look at dreams where there is a 'voice'. If you are a dreamer, I'm sure you've had dreams where there are faceless characters, but that is not the same as when there is no one, only a voice. (Which I also imagine, you may have experienced.) In my dreams the voice is the Holy Spirit.  I say in my because dreams are very personal, my dream language may be very different from yours. 

(I would be VERY interested in hearing from a non spirit filled person out there who also has 'a voice' in their dreams.)

So when He shows up I pay attention. I will also say that if you have Him show up in your dreams, feel free to ask Him questions while He's there. I used to just listen to Him... now I have found that I can interact with Him. Asking questions while dreaming becomes VERY helpful. If this concept seems completely new and impossible to you, just tell yourself before you go to bed, "ask". For years now I have found that if I tell myself to wake up at a certain time before I go to bed, I will. (Not sure if it works for everyone, but it does for some.) It's the same with the "ask" thing.

Last night in dream #3, because I interacted with the voice, the meaning of that dream is pretty plain. (the other dreams... are not). However, I don't think that all dreams need to be understood. Our brain is hashing out random things that we've encountered. Not all dreams are messages from the divine. 

I know this is a super long post, and they will NOT always be, but I feel like some ground work is important.  

I mentioned dream languages and how they are not all the same. However, your personal dream language is always the same.  If a butterfly represents something to you in one dream it will represent that same thing in another dream. After enough 'explained' dreams you'll be able to decode 'hidden' dreams.

Because I am a Christian, the images/words of 'foundation', 'vine', 'house', 'property/land', all have very spiritual connotations where for others they may not.  So when I look at the third dream I see clearly that:

A very large church family (house) that is cold (gray) and that is dead (vine with no fruit) in power is no longer resting on the foundation of Christ (no foundation), but has elevated itself (up on cylinders), has stopped working to improve (tractor parked)... used to have massive influence, or maybe still does over the city (vine went into city on the roofs). But there is little hope for change because they are Cowards! (using my old neighbors to tell me that name).

I'd sit and try to decode the other dreams, but I've already taken way too much of your time if you made it all the way through.