Dr. Dream–August 16, 2025
Your dreams, on the couch, with me: Dr. Dream
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“According to Jorge Luis Borges the most astonishing things about dreams is not their psychic function, the biological mechanism that undergirds them, or even their nature. But the simple fact that they exist at all.” –J.F. Martel
SEND ME YOUR DREAMS, and I will share my impressions with you in this column.
Disclaimer: Dreams can never be accurately interpreted by another person (only you have access to the heart of your dream’s message or meaning.)
Still, it is fun to see how another person responds to your dream’s narrative.
I read where Carl Jung would regularly share his dreams with an old man who worked as a gardener on his estate. Jung said that the gardener’s interpretations were so ‘off’ that it helped him tune in to what his unconscious was actually sharing in his dream.
That is an example of a good way to have conversations about dreams: understanding that the meaning you hope to unearth will usually come about in a way that isn’t logical or sequential.
Paid subscribers can email me their dream for possible inclusion in this feature. Please note if you want your name mentioned in the Dr. Dream column. Not all submissions will be published.
Dear Dr. Dream
Last night my sister and I saw a movie about a family that lived on a farm, and then I had a dream that night where I was raising chickens in my backyard. The dream was nice until the very end. I was carrying a dozen eggs into my kitchen, but I accidentally dropped the basket, and all the eggs broke open on the floor. Can movies influence our dreams at night? And what about all the eggs that I cracked open?
Dee., Seattle, Wa.
Dear Dee
To answer your first question, yes, movies influence our dreams. When you think about it, dreams and movies are identical. They are both animated light shows that we watch passively, free from our command and control. We learn from movies as we learn from our dreams. Calamities in dreams often indicate a breakthrough of some sort. Broken eggs and ‘breakthrough’—see what I mean? Typically, for women—because of their ability to give birth to tiny human beings—eggs become potent symbols of power. When the very first instant cake mix appeared on the market in 1930, it was a failure. This was remedied by instructing women to put an egg into the powdery mix before baking the cake for their husbands. Suddenly, cake mix sales were booming. The egg was associated with the mother’s life-giving powers. The cracked eggs in your dream might indicate that you are preparing to mix things up and strike out in a surprising direction—to give birth to something new. It can also indicate that you are no longer interested in playing a role that is culturally considered ‘feminine.’ My suggestion is to take stock of your life at this time and see how it might benefit from a more spontaneous approach. And remember, a number of broken eggs can make for a fabulous omelet.
Dear Dr. Dream
I’m not sure what to make of this. In the dream, I was walking around town with my purse, and when I went to pull something out of my bag, I noticed that liquid makeup foundation had spilled out all over the bottom of the purse. This made a big mess. What the hell? Any clue as to how to interpret this dream?
Tina S., Vashon, Wa.
Dear Tina,
Bette Midler once said that if she ever had the chance to meet the Queen of England, the first thing she was going to ask her was, “What’s in that purse?” Purses contain not just valuables but private mysteries related to identity, the image one has of herself. When an ‘accident’ happens to a purse—damage or theft—that event can mark a turning point where the owner of the purse begins to assess what is most valuable in her life—and what is not. Because makeup was involved, a substance that we use to conceal as well as beautify, the dream could be saying that full exposure is necessary to accomplish the edits and changes you desire at this time. The dream is preparing you to speak your truth—without embellishments or ambiguity.
Dear Dr. Dream
I don’t like insects. Except for butterflies. Lately, I have had a dream with a lot of ants scurrying about. I don’t even know where they are exactly or what they are doing because in the dream my face is right up close to the busy ant hive. I am just watching all the ants move around on the ground, and that’s it. What do all of these ants mean for me?
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
It’s true, no one likes to encounter insects in dreams, and so I understand your aversion. But small, tiny hive insects like ants and bees are a universal image in dreams and also fairy stories and folk tales. Whenever dreams offer ‘close-up’ arrangements, as you described, the message is: “Pay attention!” Really look at this!” Many dream guides see insects as being symbolic of human nature’s most primitive, instinctual drives. The kind of impulses that keep us alive—the urge for security, safety, and survival. Ants work together for a common aim, so this dream might be suggesting that you bring more cooperation into your life. IOW: What can you achieve by working with others that will help strengthen your sense of comfort and security? It’s said that over time a colony of ants can move a gigantic mountain, and this is the kind of encouragement the ants might be imparting to you through the dream imagery. Complex situations can change via small, concentrated, and cooperative efforts. Good luck!
Love,
Opening collage by FW, ©2025 Nightcharm, Inc.
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I love this: "Disclaimer: Dreams can never be accurately interpreted by another person (only you have access to the heart of your dream’s message or meaning.)" I hardly ever remember my dreams. I used to have thematic anxiety dreams (never being able to get anywhere, waiting tables in chaos, forgetting my lines).. they were quite literal and easily interpretable. After my dad died, I started to have dreams that were more like visitations.. like seeing into someone else's timeline (past, present not sure). I recently woke up right before a car crash. But definitely don't remember most dreams. My husband has much more interesting dreams with monsters and such.
I rarely watch tv or movies because they always influence my dreams. My dreams belong to me!
Love,
Moon conjunct Neptune in Sag