Sorting

Ur-Spo, a “shrink” who writes on the wonderful blog, Spo-Reflections, recently posted about dream analysis. I was happy to read his professional opinion: not all of our dreams are meant for study. Shewww! (Wiping brow). Most of my dreams bewilder me and defy any attempts at decoding.

But this morning’s dream echoed some familiar fairy tale symbolism and has given me (much needed) reassurance.

But first, a little backstory.

Life’s been great lately but…..I’ve found myself increasingly tired and crabby. Why???? I’m about to go on the trip of a lifetime (8 fabulous days, escaping the Midwestern icebox on a cruise) with my entire family. I’ve started a fascinating new job, I’m loving the blogging…. Why so grouchy/tired?

I’ve also been sleeping a lot! This week I went to bed (feeling tired) and slept for 12 hours! Yikes. This is not typical and leads to feelings of guilt (hubby doing more of the housework) and anger (what is wrong with me?).

This morning I dreamt of collecting bushels of paper clips (and thumb tacks—provocative!). Then I poured them into a computer. You could see them through the screen--like looking into an x-ray image. A young Latin kid working as a janitor was standing nearby. “That’s A LOT of clips," he said.

I woke up feeling terrific.

In many fairy tales, the hero/ine is given an impossible task—to sort sand from poppy seeds, or millet from another tiny grain. MLVF (my new acronym for Marie Louise Von Franz--hyperlinked in several posts below) says that this represents learning discrimination—to separate out one’s feelings and desires and to learn to develop intuition. Many times the hero is saved during the night by little minions of some kind--they do the work for him (more often her). When we dream, unknown parts of ourselves are often working out the mishmash of our lives.

My dream reassured me that I’m gathering lots of material right now (in my job, in this blog, in my other musings). It makes sense to be tired. It makes sense to be needing extra sleep. Seems that I’m working overtime in that realm right now. Read more!

Swordplay

Joan of Arc tells me she isn’t afraid.

“Don’t worry about having a sword in your hand,” she counsels, “the sword is a clumsy tool.” What’s important is the energy behind the sword. A focused mind is the true weapon of a warrior.”

Read more!

The Salad

I am sitting with my family, we have ordered a takeout lunch. The waitress (a friend of mine) brings everyone their plate but mine is almost empty. Instead of a big salad, I find a few tiny pieces of lettuce and specks of other vegetables. I tell the waitress that this is unacceptable. I need a real salad.

The waitress goes back to the restaurant and is gone a long time. When she returns, the salad is exactly the same. I’m very angry now. My supposed friend seems both unconcerned and nervous. She says she’ll get me another salad. I decide I better go with her.

At the restaurant, I wait another long time. Again, I’m given the same ridiculous remains. Now I’m threatening the waitress. I had thought she was a friend but she seems incredibly apathetic. I demand to speak with the manager. The server points toward two very drunken men. I try to speak with them but they only laugh.

The injustice! Why won’t anyone help me get what I ordered? What kind of crazy restaurant is this? Why can’t I get any satisfaction?

Then suddenly I realize that I don’t have my purse with me. Where is it?????? Has someone taken it? I’m in a panic now. I don’t care about the stupid salad, I’m terrified that my purse and credit cards have been stolen. I search and search alone. I can’t ask for help, this is a hostile place.

At last, I see my purse on the floor. I grab it and search for my credit card. Rummaging through the mess, I finally find it.

I am grateful and know it is time to leave this place! Read more!