Fragments of a dream, based in frustration, tension, and challenge... but all with a light twist.
I was in my high school, top floor. I was practicing handstands, walking up stairs on my hands. It seemed pretty effortless and natural to me. When I got to the top floor, I was practicing against the wall. I was doing really well at keeping myself up, but as I stayed in that position, I started noticing that the floor beneath me was dirt and a hole was appearing that was getting deeper and deeper each time I looked at it. I started to realize the precariousness of the situation, and found myself doubtful that I'd be able to maintain my stability over the growing chasm.
Later, I remember a snippet where I entered a room. I was searching for a light switch and found it on the wall, but it wasn't a normal light switch. It was my cat, Bisou's head. She wasn't dead, but the head was definitely without a body. I wasn't sure how it worked and I remember really fidgeting with it to figure out how it was supposed to turn the light on.
Also in this dream, I wound up stepping out of a tent in my underwear, only to be greeted by an old friend, Paul J. In real life, he's one of the most judgmental and inflexible people I've ever known. I hesitated for a moment, expecting a barrage of insults. But then I gathered myself and thought, "I don't care what he thinks." He said Hello and there was no judgment or awkwardness in the interaction at all. Despite me standing there in my underwear, he made no remarks or even allusions to the fact. It felt good.
In another part of the dream, I was rolling a joint at my desk, of the job I just ended. There were crumbs all over the desk and customers in the store but I didn't care. I just kept on doing what I was doing, paying no mind. I think maybe my boss came in, but again, I was so absorbed in what I was doing, I didn't care how she felt about it.
The last thing I remember from the dream was the horrible feeling of having my jaw so tense and tight that I'm scared I'm going to break my teeth from the pressure.
I berate myself in the dream for drinking too much coffee, noting that this happens whenever I do that. My jaw hurts from the tension but I don't know how to relieve it. I can feel my teeth gritting together. I think that maybe if I can only clench harder, maybe my muscles will exhaust and then release. I try it, biting down even harder on my sore, fragile teeth. It scares me and feels awful. And it doesn't work. I feel like my mouth will forever be clenched shut in an inexhaustible vice. I have to wake myself up to get out of the dream. I didn't realize it at the time, but the next morning, my jaw was definitely sore. I think maybe I was actually clenching/grinding in my sleep. I must be nervous about going out of town this weekend.
Light, traditionally, is equated with the spirit (9). Ely Star asserts that
the superiority of the spirit is immediately recognizable by its luminous intensity. Light is the manifestation of morality, of the intellect and the seven virtues
(54). Its whiteness alludes to just such a synthesis of the All. Light of any given
colour possesses a symbolism corresponding to that colour, plus the significance
of emanation from the ‘Centre’, for light is also the creative force, cosmic energy irradiation (57). Symbolically, illumination comes from the East. Psychologically
speaking, to become illuminated is to become aware of a source of light, and, in
consequence, of spiritual strength (32).
To see light in your dream, represents illumination, clarity, guidance, plain understanding, and insight. Light is being shed on a once cloudy situation or problem. You have found the truth to a situation or an answer to a problem. Also consider the color of the light for additional significance.
If the light is particularly bright, then it indicates that you need to move toward a higher level of awareness and feeling. Bright light dreams are sometimes common for those who are near death.
To see soft or shadowy lighting in your dreams, indicates feelings and thoughts from the primal aspects and less developed parts of your unconscious.
To dream that you cannot turn on the light, indicates a lack of insight and perspective on a situation.
If you dream of light, success will attend you. To dream of weird light, or if the light goes out, you will be disagreeably surprised by some undertaking resulting in nothing.
To see a dim light, indicates partial success.
To dream of lights is very good. It denotes riches and honour.
Seeing light in your dream indicates a clear mind, plain understanding, and insight. Light has been shed on a once cloudy situation or problem. You have found the truth to a situation or an answer to a problem. Seeing a bright light in your dream indicates that you need to move toward a higher level of awareness and feeling. Bright light dreams are sometimes common for those who are near death.
According to Allendy, teeth are the primigenial weapons of attack, and
an expression of activity. Loss of one’s teeth, then, signifies fear of castration or
of complete failure in life, or inhibition (56); it represents an attitude which is the
inversion of that of the Primitive, who, according to the findings of anthropology,
commonly adorned himself with the teeth and claws of conquered animals. Some
interpretations underline the significance of teeth in respect of the sexual aspect
of energy. But of greater importance is the Gnostic concept—for which we are
indebted to Leisegang’s Die Gnosis—in which the teeth constitute the battlements, the wall and the fortifications of the inner man, from the material or
energetic point of view, just as the eyes and the glance are the defence of the spirit.
This explains the negative symbolism of the loss or fracture of the teeth.
If the doctor pulls your tooth, you will have desperate illness, if not fatal; it will be lingering.
To have them filled, you will recover lost valuables after much uneasiness.
To clean or wash your teeth, foretells that some great struggle will be demanded of you in order to preserve your fortune.
To dream that you are having a set of teeth made, denotes that severe crosses will fall upon you, and you will strive to throw them aside.
If you lose your teeth, you will have burdens which will crush your pride and demolish your affairs.
To dream that you have your teeth knocked out, denotes sudden misfortune. Either your business will suffer, or deaths or accidents will come close to you.
To examine your teeth, warns you to be careful of your affairs, as enemies are lurking near you.
If they appear decayed and snaggled, your business or health will suffer from intense strains.
To dream of spitting out teeth, portends personal sickness, or sickness in your immediate family.
Imperfect teeth is one of the worst dreams. It is full of mishaps for the dreamer. A loss of estates, failure of persons to carry out their plans and desires, bad health, depressed conditions of the nervous system for even healthy persons.
For one tooth to fall out, foretells disagreeable news; if two, it denotes unhappy states that the dreamer will be plunged into from no carelessness on his part. If three fall out, sickness and accidents of a very serious nature will follow.
Seeing all the teeth drop out, death and famine usually will prevail. If the teeth are decayed and you pull them out, the same, only yourself, is prominent in the case.
To dream of tartar or any deposit falling off of the teeth and leaving them sound and white, is a sign of temporary indisposition, which will pass, leaving you wiser in regard to conduct, and you will find enjoyment in the discharge of duty.
To admire your teeth for their whiteness and beauty, foretells that pleasant occupations and much happiness will be experienced through the fulfilment of wishes.
To dream that you pull one of your teeth and lose it, and feeling within your mouth with your tongue for the cavity, and failing to find any, and have a doctor for the same, but to no effect, leaving the whole affair enveloped in mystery, denotes that you are about to enter into some engagement which does not exactly please you, and which you decide to ignore, but will later take it up and secretly prosecute it to your own disquieting satisfaction and under the suspicion of friends.
To dream that a dentist cleans your teeth perfectly, and the next morning you find them rusty, foretells you will believe your interest secure concerning some person or position, but you will find that they have succumbed to the blandishments of an artful man or woman.
To dream that you have rotten or decaying teeth, forewarns that your health and/or business is in jeopardy. You may have uttered some false or foul words and those words are coming back to haunt you.
To dream that your teeth is gleaming, signifies happiness and fulfilled wishes.
To dream that you are brushing your teeth, refers to your level of confidence, your struggles and your aggressiveness. You need to look out for yourself and your own interest. Perhaps, you feel that your position is shaky.
Dreaming that you have rotten or decaying teeth, forewarns that your health and/or business is in jeopardy. You may have uttered some false or foul words and those words are coming back to haunt you. Dreaming that you are brushing your teeth means your level of confidence, struggles and aggressiveness. You need to look out for yourself and your own interest.
Dreaming about teeth is very common in all cultures and age groups. Most dreams about teeth leave people feeling uneasy and anxious. Consider the overall content and context of the dream and note if you are having dental problems before making interpretation. Teeth usually symbolise power and/or control. Animals use their teeth for defence and nourishment and show their teeth when they are angry. Humans often display similar behaviours. Look and see if you are losing or abusing power and control in any area of your life (especially if you are losing teeth in your dream). Old dream interpretations say that dreaming about teeth is a bad omen that suggests financial difficulties.
Did you know that this is a very common dream? In fact various theories of interpretation have been put forward for this.
It is a dream where you suddenly find that you do not have teeth, or that they keep falling out, suddenly. Certainly bizarre, this dream can be interpreted as a readiness for change.
Just as you lose milk teeth while moving from child to adulthood, so also this dream is telling you that it is time for a massive change in your attitude to life, or asking you to adapt yourself to new circumstances. This is one of the classical interpretations.
At a more ground level, it could just mean that you are insecure about certain aspects, or
It could just mean you are afraid of losing your teeth!
To see the jaws of an animal in your dream, indicate a misunderstanding. It may also mean that you are rushing into things. Alternatively, the dream suggests that someone or some situation is taking a large bite of your time, energy or some aspect of yourself.
To see your own jaw in your dream, represents your stubbornness, determination and forcefulness. You may need to have more willpower and fortitude in some situation. To dream that your jaws are tight, indicates unexpressed angers and other powerful feelings which you are holding back.
To dream that you break or dislocate your jaw, suggests that you are compromising your own beliefs and principles.
Dreaming that you are in the jaws of an animal means misunderstandings and hasty judgments, which may threaten your happiness. Seeing your own jaw in your dream, represents your stubbornness, determination and forcefulness. You may need to have more willpower and fortitude in some situation. Dreaming that your jaws are tight indicates unexpressed angers and other powerful feelings which you are holding back. Dreaming that you break or dislocated your jaw, suggests that you are compromising your own beliefs and principles.
To see the floor in your dream, represents your support system and sense of security. You have a firm foundation that you can depend on. The floor in your dream may also symbolize the division between the unconscious and conscious. Alternatively, the dream may be a pun on being "floored" or being completely surprised. Perhaps you have been caught off guard about something.
To see a polished, wooden floor in your dream, indicates that you are fully aware of your unconscious and keeping it suppressed. Consider the condition of the floor for further analysis.
To see a slanted floor in your dream, indicates that you are deviating too far from your original plans and goals.
To dream about the floors of a building, represents your level of understanding, awareness or success. The higher floors signify higher accomplishments and achievements. If you are in the lower floors, then it refers to more primal attitudes, the unconscious and/or sexuality. It also denotes failures. Consider the significance of the floor number and the type of building the floors are on.
Seeing the floor in your dream, represents your support. It may also represent the division between the unconscious and conscious. Seeing a polished, wooden floor in your dream indicates that you are fully aware of your unconscious and keeping it suppressed. Seeing a slanted floor in your dream, foretells that you are deviating too far from your original plans and goals.
To remember something in your dream, indicates that you have learned something significant from your past mistakes or previous experiences. The dream may also serve as a reminder of something important that is occurring in your waking life. You are so worried that you will forget something that the preoccupation has made its way into your dream.
To dream that you found something, suggests that you are coming into contact with some aspect of your psyche or unconscious. You are recognizing a part of yourself that was previously repressed or undeveloped. Alternatively, it represents change.
To dream that you found someone, indicates that you are identifying new facets of a relationship. You may be taking the relationship to a new level and/or direction. The dream may also be a metaphor for finding yourself.
Dreaming that you found something, suggests that you are coming into contact with some aspect of your psyche or unconscious. You are recognizing a part of yourself that was previously repressed or undeveloped. Alternatively, it represents change. Dreaming that you found someone indicates that you are identifying new facets of a relationship. You may be taking the relationship to a new level and/or direction. The dream may also be a metaphor for finding yourself.
Its significance is diverse, depending upon which of its different characteristics is taken as fundamental. In the Egyptian system of hieroglyphs, the
wall is a determinative sign conveying the idea of ‘rising above the common level’
(19); clearly the predominant sense here is that of its height. A wall enclosing a
space is the ‘wall of lamentations’, symbolic of the sensation of the world as a
‘cavern’—of the doctrine of immanentism or the metaphysical notion of the
impossibility of reaching the outside. It expresses the ideas of impotence, delay,
resistance, or a limiting situation. Now, the wall seen from within as an enclosure
has a secondary implication of protection which, according to its function and the
attitude of the individual, may even be taken as its principal meaning. Psychoanalysts frequently regard it in this light and hence have classified it as a mothersymbol, comparable with the town and the house or home (56). Bayley sums up the two essential features of the wall as follows: Like the house, it is a mystic
symbol representing the feminine element of mankind. This enables us to understand the (otherwise absurd) assertion of the Shulamite in the Song of Songs: ‘I
am a wall’. At the same time, this image has another term of comparison, that of
matter as opposed to spirit (4). It should be noted that the symbolism in the latter
case remains unchanged, since matter corresponds to the passive or feminine
principle, and spirit to the active or masculine.
To dream of a switch, foretells changes and misfortune.
A broken switch, foretells disgrace and trouble.
To dream of a railroad switch, denotes that travel will cause you much loss and inconvenience.
To dream of a switch, signifies you will meet discouragements in momentous affairs.
To see a switch in your dream, represents the status of a situation or relationship in your life, depending on whether the switch is on or off. The dream may also be a pun on something that has been "switched", changed or exchanged.
In particular, to dream that a light switch is broken or that you cannot find the switch, indicates a lack of insight and perspective on a situation.
In the Zohar, the ‘magic head’ stands for astral light (9); in mediaeval art
it is a symbol for the mind (46) and for the spiritual life, which explains the
frequency with which it appeared in decorative art. On the other hand, Plato in
Timaeus asserts that ‘the human head is the image of the world’. In corroboration
of this, Leblant points out that the skull, the semi-spherical crown of the human
body, signifies the heavens. Clearly, the head-symbol here coalesces with that of
the sphere as a symbol of Oneness. It had the same significance in Egyptian
hieroglyphics (19). The eagle’s head has been used as a solar symbol and an
emblem of the centre-point of emanation—that is, of the cosmic flame and the
spiritual fire of the universe (4). Two, three or four heads shown in juxtaposition
symbolize a corresponding intensification of a given aspect of head-symbolism.
Thus, the Gemini, a symbol of the duality of Nature, or of the integrating (but not
unifying) link between the two principles of creation, are represented by beings
with two heads or two faces, like the Roman Janus for example. Hecate is depicted with three heads—she is called triform for this reason—a symbolism
which may be related to the ‘three levels’ of heaven, earth and hell, as well as to
Diel’s three ‘urges of life’ (15). The juxtaposition of four heads or faces, as in the
image of Brahma the Supreme Lord, stems from the same symbolism as that of
the tetramorph (60). A factor of major importance bearing upon the symbolism of
the head is mentioned by Herbert Kühn, in his L’Ascension de l’humanité (Paris,
1958). He makes the point that the decapitation of corpses in prehistoric times
marked Man’s discovery of the independence of the spiritual principle, residing
in the head, as opposed to the vital principle represented by the body as a whole.
Kühn adds that Neolithic thought was very close to the mediaeval in its conviction that an eternal and invisible essence underlies all appearances (Plate XV).
To see a head in your dream, signifies wisdom, intellect, understanding and rationality. It may also represent your accomplishments, self-image, and perception of the world. The dream may also be metaphor to indicate that you are "ahead" in some situation or that you need to get ahead.
To dream that someone is trying to rip your head off, suggests that you are not seeing a situation or problem clearly. Perhaps you are refusing to see the truth. You have to confront the situation or the person despite the pain and discomfort you might feel in doing so.
To dream that you have two heads, indicate that you need to learn to ask for help and accept assistance. Consider the metaphor "two heads are better than one". Do not try to do everything yourself.
To see a person's head in your dream, and it is well-shaped and prominent, you will meet persons of power and vast influence who will lend you aid in enterprises of importance.
If you dream of your own head, you are threatened with nervous or brain trouble.
To see a head severed from its trunk, and bloody, you will meet sickening disappointments, and the overthrow of your dearest hopes and anticipations.
To see yourself with two or more heads, foretells phenomenal and rapid rise in life, but the probabilities are that the rise will not be stable.
To dream that your head aches, denotes that you will be oppressed with worry.
To dream of a swollen head, you will have more good than bad in your life.
To dream of a child's head, there will be much pleasure ill store for you and signal financial success.
To dream of the head of a beast, denotes that the nature of your desires will run on a low plane, and only material pleasures will concern you.
To wash your head, you will be sought after by prominent people for your judgment and good counsel.
Seeing a head in your dream means wisdom, intellect, understanding and rationality. It may also represent your accomplishments, self-image, and perception of the world. Dreaming that someone is trying to rip your head off, suggests that you are not see a situation or problem clearly. Perhaps you are refusing to see the truth. You have to confront the situation or the person despite the pain and discomfort you might feel in doing so.
A head symbolizes intelligence, logic, wisdom and making decisions. A dream of a head may mean that you are changing your mind about something or are unable to make up your mind. A dream of a headless body may be a warning that you aren't thinking clearly - you're "losing your head."
To dream that you are in your underwear, signifies a situation that has created a loss of respect for you. Alternatively, it symbolizes some aspect of yourself that is private. If you feel ashamed of being seen in your underwear, then it indicates your hesitance in revealing your true feelings, attitudes, and other hidden habits/ideas. If you are not bothered by being in your underwear, then it suggests that you are ready to reveal or expose something that was previously hidden.
To dream that you are not wearing any underwear, signifies fear that your secrets will be revealed.
To dream that someone is in their underwear, signifies an embarrassing and inexplicable situation. Alternatively, the dream means that you are seeing this person for who he or she really is.
To see dirty or torn underwear, suggests that you are not comfortable in your own skin and have feelings of inadequacy. You are uncomfortable about your sexuality and are overly critical about yourself.
Dreaming that you are in your underwear means a situation that has created a loss of respect for you. Alternatively, it symbolizes some aspect of yourself that is private. If you feel ashamed of being seen in your underwear, then it indicates your hesitance in revealing your true feelings, attitudes, and other hidden habits/ideas. Dreaming that someone is in their underwear means an embarrassing and inexplicable situation. Alternatively, you may see that person for who he/she really is. Seeing dirty or torn underwear, suggests that you are not comfortable in your own skin and have feelings of inadequacy. You may possess negative and critical feelings about yourself. You may also feel uncomfortable about your sexuality.