Dream Discussions and Threads

Symbols are multi-valent. We learned that intellectually in Liturgy class but I've learned it experientially through this morning's discussion with Dan, which went very well. He gave me so much more to think about (at the close of our time he said, "You didn't come here looking for clarity, did you?"), but moreover, he gave me a few more tools with which to look at dreams. Ways of interpretation, methods, different threads to follow. That's the multivalency aspect. I want to work through a few ideas here. This will likely be more stream of consciousness than carefully organized thoughts, so readers, beware. Also, I'm not going to describe each dream, I'm just going to title it and talk about several themes or threads here, because really, this is just for me. You can read if you like, obviously, but don't bother asking for explanations. I'm not quite ready for that degree of public disclosure yet.

The "King Kong/Mystical Lands Dream"


• What images are evoked by King Kong?
  Unbeatable power, at least by conventional, "toe-to-toe" methods. A huge destructive force.
  
• What might some "King-Kongs" in your life be? What "King-Kong" attributes that could be unleashed might be present within you?
  Not really sure. Within me, my rhetorical ability. My command over words can be extremely destructive and I need be very careful sometimes.
  
• What themes might the endless field of flowers embody?
  No immediate danger, but a sense of directionlessness. Aesthetic beauty, but without a way out. Lost, but not lost. How do I survive?
  
• At the seminary, what might this field of flowers be?
  The liturgy. Both the class and the actual experience. I get the feeling that there are any number of beautiful things about the liturgy, but that I have no direction through them. I sort of just keep moving and one direction is as good as the next. But, there has to be an exit because if there is not than I am really lost.
  
• What themes might the volcanic/lava/dragon land embody?
  Immediate, heated danger. Sense of extreme caution needed or else immediate death. Very hot. Potentially explosive force.
  
• At the seminary, what might this volcanic land be?
  The fact that I take a more conservative (to use a dualistic term I hate) stance on many issues than my classmates. This is a potentially explosive force. Caution is needed. Tread carefully or be burned. No idea what the dragon is.
  
• What themes might the white water river land embody?
  Fast paced events. Hurtling forward, cannot turn around or go back. Some danger, though if caution is exercised it can be avoided entirely.
  
• At the seminary, what might this river land be?
  The whole of seminary experience. I am in the raft with others and we have to work together to navigate this fast paced river. Decisions must be made well in advance to effect change of course and reach a successful conclusion. Teamwork on the journey needed.
  
  The "Underground Marriage" Dream
  
  
• Witnessing an underground marriage first and then having the dream start over with myself as one of the marrying persons seems to suggest what?
  A sense of waiting for my turn for something perhaps.
  
• What does the fact that it takes place deep underground, and that you must take an elevator down to get there suggest?
  Could suggest going down to the gut emotional level. Theology from the gut. Idea of eroticism/love taking place down from the brain, physically. A need to travel beyond my normal realm.
  
• When I am in the dream as a marriage participant, who am I marrying and what images does that evoke?
  I am actually marrying two people - like a polygamous marriage, but I did not instigate it. It is very clearly the one woman marrying both of the men, myself and someone else. The woman is a person from my past, but in a really weird way. She was on the fencing team with me at Wake and was the one who defeated me in the final championship round, 10-1. She is the only woman who has ever defeated me in any sort of direct competition, and quite handily I might add. Seems to suggest some power issues. Also the fact that she has enough energy to marry two men is telling. She keeps repeating, "I love you." to me. All this is strange as I never had any romantic feelings for this person.
  
• What might this be representative of theologically?
  Well, its clearly a trinity. Thanks to Dan for pointing out that idea to me. In traditional concepts of the Trinity, God the Father and God the Son have always been masculine while God the Spirit has always been feminine. If its theological, then God is telling me here that God loves me over and over again. God may also be inviting me into relational love, either with God or with another person, maybe someone I know, maybe not. Invitation to consider eros and agape as separate but the same. Invitation to love in general.
  
• What might the fact that the Jewish glass breaking ritual was present in the first marriage, but not in the one in which I was involved, invoking anger in me, mean?
  That there is a ritual others have partaken of that I have not, yet desire, even though I don't really know what it means. Why do we do any ritual at all? What is the efficacy of ritual?
  

So, that's just two dreams that are not even fully analyzed in all the possible veins. But, wow, what alot even that little bit is! Mental note: Don't forget to look at how dreams might be social commentary. i.e. Dream about me, in a position of leadership, having to shoot another leader who had gone insane and started shooting others - social commentary on leadership, violence, handling conflict, issues of firearms, etc.

That's plenty to think about for now, don't you think?