Dream Doorways

Have you ever stopped to think about events in your waking life as though they were dream symbols? Some native cultures view waking life events this way and honor them as they honor their sleeping dreams.

I first began this journey by looking up possum in the medicine cards one evening after being startled to see one run across the street in front of my car. I hadn’t seen a possum in the city before and I was most surprised. I looked it up and sure enough, I could relate the meaning of possum to what was going on in my life. Opossum uses a variety of strategies, one of which is to play dead, and the suggestion to use some strategy to deal with a situation immediately gave me some clarity on an issue that I was pondering at the time. I did not need to play dead, but the kind of strategy that I might use was apparent to me and in fact was helpful in the eventual unfolding of the situation.

Recently, I stood beside a pond observing an intense feeling of stuckness and wondering how I was going to accomplish a major change that I longed for, but which seemed nearly impossible. Seeing a dragonfly around a pond is not unusual in itself, but to see one at the particular moment called to my attention that the immobilized feeling was an illusion and that I could certainly create a way out of the corner I felt trapped in. It was not only a good reminder, but was the perfect moment to have those thoughts. My psyche was “ripe” at that moment to accept the potential of moving beyond the perceived barriers. I felt a surge of excitement and a sense of soaring as I spontaneously drew in a deep breath. I could see, feel, smell, taste, and know in that moment that I could allow in the creative solutions that I would need to do what I wanted to do. I knew answers were coming from my creative self, and I stayed open and alert over the following weeks. The most interesting series of events unfolded and I have accomplished that change.

Throughout the above process, a number of deer appeared at the side of the road, or even crossed in front of me. Deer is a common message-bringer for me, whether buck or doe, they herald changes to come, and remind me that gentleness and inner quiet are called for.

In one incident with Deer, I was rounding the top of a hill when I suddenly knew there were a bunch of deer in the road ahead. I slowed my car, and sure enough, five of them were crossing on the other side of the little rise in the road. As the fourth one set its hoof upon the pavement in front of my stopped car, it paused and looked into my eyes for a second and then pranced regally across the road. I was breathless as I crept slowly on my way, eventually picking up speed again, with the awareness that the process I was in was also going to be picking up speed. It did.

It is not always animals or insects that act as signposts in our waking life. I have had two incidents of smacking my head quite hard on an object that brought me sudden clarity. The first time, I was loading some things in my car to deliver to someone. Suddenly my head collided with the trunk lid, and in the split second following I had the clear thought that this load of stuff was not going to be appreciated the way I thought it was. I didn’t listen that time, and in the weeks following my well intentioned delivery, I heard some feedback that verified the message I had received so unceremoniously.

The second “smack-up-side-the-head” is comical in retrospect. In the dazed moment after that whack, I “heard” a very distinct question. “Will you STOP worrying about a couple dollars worth of quarters?” (left behind on a ledge at the carwash). I released that one right that instant!

Years ago, I spent many months worrying abut whether or not I could survive on my own if I were to pursue the divorce that needed to happen. All attempts at saving the marriage had failed and it was inevitable, but I was at a loss for how I would earn a living. I was sitting one afternoon at an intersection waiting at a red light as I mulled over this question. Then it was as if someone took my face in their hands, turned my head and fixed my eyes upon a billboard sitting high atop a building. In large orange letters, was all that I needed to know. “THE MONEY IS WAITING FOR YOU” it declared. I drew in a breath, softly uttered “ohmygod”, then laughed, and felt relieved as I recalled my spiritual belief and remembered that I would always be taken care of. That was about 16 years ago, and I can assure you, I have been just fine.

There are less dramatic ways that we can discern messages from our waking life. We can look at themes that run through our days. Do I have a habit of being late? Then we can ask some questions about that. Do I not want to go to that job anymore? Or am I over-committed, then maybe I need to look at simplifying my life by reducing my activities.

Recently, a friend noticed that she was frequently hearing about car fires. She didn’t think much about it, but several weeks later happened to take her car into the shop for a minor repair and was told that there was a malfunction that was not apparent, which if it got worse could cause the car to catch on fire. She felt that “flutter” of a significant moment, and ok’d the repair.

It is not necessary to attach significance to every little thing that happens. Some things are just what they appear to be, a stubbed toe is just a stubbed toe. But there are other times when there is a deeper meaning, and we can learn to recognize those times. If we cultivate the awareness of the feelings in our “gut”, and listen to that still small voice, we will find waking symbols do occur from time to time to give us nudge in a better direction. Wisdom is there for us, day and night.