Friday, December 14, 2007

Strange Dreams

I seem to go through spells where I'll have very vivid dreams that I remember well for a few months and then I'll have no recollection at all of my dreams for a few months. Recently I've been remembering my dreams. I think it has something to do with the book I'm reading, Wind Follower, where dreams often have deep meaning.

Last night I had a dream that I didn't remember in it's entirety, but I remembered one particular part of it for some reason, and it was very odd. I have a little black lamp in my room and the lamp showed up in my dream. I was trying to change the light bulb in my dream and I couldn't find the right size bulb or the right wattage. I must have gone through 100 different bulbs trying to find it before I found the one that fit right. I could certainly have a lot of fun analyzing this one considering my current situation and unclear future. Anyway, it was strange that I spent so long in the dream focused on this lamp and this light bulb. Not much other action in the dream.

So I wake up this morning and go to get dressed and don't you know I go to turn on the same very lamp that was in my dream and the damn light bulb goes out! I literally had to sit down! It freaked me out! Now what am I supposed to take from that? I've been thinking about this one all day. I know I haven't been as aggressive as I should be trying to find another job mostly because I've just been down in the dumps. I've applied for 3 jobs now, but no real response. Maybe someone's telling me to get off my ass and change the bulb....start trying different bulbs until I find the one that fits. Who knows? Maybe it was just a weird psychic dream...

18 comments:

DesLily said...

well I certainly hope you don't dream about breaking a leg!

chrisa511 said...

LOL! I hope not either. I'm kinda scared to go to sleep now!

Robin said...

Oh Chris, what a great post! Dreams are fascinating, and I love what you have done with this one...in realizing that it's your own message to yourself!

You are such a bright light, and have so much to give these young people that need you so desperately. I know that you will find your way through the employment maze, and find the job that will ultimately allow you to use the passion and the talents you have for young people. Have you thought about going into education? Not necessarily as a counselor (although you'd be so great at that), but as a teacher? Your counseling skills would make you a wonderful teacher in the regular classroom, or in special education. The profession needs good people like you, and it's a noble profession (and stable employment). I don't know how long it would take you to get your teaching certificate, but you might consider the idea...while you're "unemployed in Greenland!" (a favorite line from the movie The Princess Bride!)

chrisa511 said...

Robin, I figured there had to be some message there! Maybe it's just the psychoanalyst in me :p Thanks for your sweet words :) I've thought about education some. A little bit about psychoeducation, and a little bit about special education. In fact, for awhile I thought about taking the route of special-ed. I've worked with kids with disabilities for a long time now and was really interested in working in severe and profound special-ed. I've been thinking more now about maybe going back and looking into that or even mild and moderate more behavioral issues education. I've enjoyed working within the school system with this program. Honestly, I don't know where I'm headed right now...I'm just kind of confused! Hopefully something comes clear soon.

Carole McDonnell said...

Hi Chris:

Wow! Light is such a cosmic image. I'd say the synchronicity between the dream and the actual events definitely means the universe is telling you something.

I like it that Robin says you are a bright light. From what I've read I'm also beginning to think so.

Your dream reminds me of the motto of the episcopalian mission society: "And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, 'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.' And he said to me, 'God out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That will be to thee better than light and safer than a known way.'"

I also thought of the Chinese prover, "It's better to light one single candle than to sit and curse the light."

And I thought of the Bible verse: "Your word is a light to my feet."

What I liked especially about the dream is the perseverance with fitting that bulb and finding the right and truest and best light. Frustrating and dark though it was, you didn't give up. You believed there was a true light that would fit...and you kept searching. Certainly a dream about endurance and the power of faith.

chrisa511 said...

Carole, :) I should start consulting with you as a professional dream interpreter! I love the passages and proverbs that you quoted. They're all beautiful and certainly applicable to my current situation. I lover your interpretation of my dream and I think it's right on. You've described my situation perfectly. That's my biggest thing now that I'm moving on. I want to find the job where I can be most effective and the job where I will be most happy, enjoying what I do. There are so many jobs out there that I could take and "settle", but I want to find that perfect match where I can really be passionate about what I'm doing and pour everything into it.

Anonymous said...

that is very freaky!! (and quite cool too)

i really really hope you find a nice job! of all people you really deserve to find a nice one!

Stephanie said...

Dreams are so cool. All that stuff in your subconscious just comes to light. And maybe it's just YOUR way of telling yourself that you need to find a new job.

Maybe you ARE a psychic!!

chrisa511 said...

JP, Thanks! It was indeed a weird dream...definitely took me back a few steps!

Steph, A psychic I am not, lol...though that would be quite cool. Definitely telling myself I need a job! I was thinking about you all day today watching the Saints game...We may be each other's worst enemies during that last week of regular season!

Debi said...

Whoa...that truly is freaky! In a downright cool sort of way though, don't you think? I'll bet that one's going to stick with you for a while.

Carl V. Anderson said...

Dreams are indeed interesting things, no doubt about it. Sometimes I am thrilled when I remember mine and other times I am terrified!!!

That perfect job is out there, I really believe it, and they will be lucky to have you!

chrisa511 said...

Debi, I thought it was pretty cool ;) I've always been a fan of any sort of psychic/paranormal experiences, so the very few that happen in life I treasure!

Carl, I usually don't remember my dreams and I treasure mine too when I remember them. I'm rarely terrified of them though. I used to be! I haven't had nightmares in ages though...that's a good thing ;)

Bookfool said...

Two things:

It could have been a premonition. But, it's also an insecurity dream. You're upset about losing your job and worried that it'll take loads of applications to find another. Am I right? I had a friend who dreamed she dropped her baby on the floor and its head cracked open like an egg, when she was brand new to mothering. See how obvious it is that she was nervous that she'd so something wrong that would hurt her baby, if you're not the one who had the dream?

chrisa511 said...

Bookfool, You're right on there! It's been stressing me out to no end trying to find another job. 2 reasons: Number 1, I can't find anything else out there...nothing that fits exactly what I want to do, nothing that looks right. Number 2, I'm in that crisis mode with "is this what I want to do?" I know I want to work with kids but I'm just so disgusted with the way the mental health system works down here and it seems like it does more harm than good to these kids. I wish I could just fast forward to a private practice but I need to work "for the man" for awhile to get my licensure before I can do that....I thought you'd appreciate this post with your premonitions ;) I thought of you after the freakiness subsided!

Bookfool said...

The fact that you thought of me and used the word "freakiness" in the same sentence had me laughing. It so fits. LOL

I can see why you're frustrated and it's sneaking into your dreams (how could it not, right?). The situation is definitely sad. There was a fellow who read every freaking page of the USA Today in front of us on the plane (the crackling and the glare of light on the paper kept me awake) and I read about the mostly-empty, damaged housing in New Orleans, over his shoulder. I couldn't help but think, "They are so missing the real stories." The loss of that program impacts Katrina victims as much if not more than the fact that a lot of folks haven't moved back to the area, doesn't it? Maybe you should write to the big paper and tell them your story.

Hubby was laughing at me, reading between the seat. That guy even read the full-page Lipitor ad - every freaking page, I'm telling you. It took him 4 hours.

chrisa511 said...

Bookfool, Every page of the USA Today? Blech! News is just too depresssing for me. I take it only in small doses. That's funny though. We've written to the USA Today...and the NY Times...no luck :( We got a small article when the program started in the USA Today about being "cutting edge" but no article about being cut out. Oh well...

Eva said...

Hi Chris! I've been out of the blogging loop for ages (evil, treacherous internet), so I just wanted to say that 1) I missed reading all of your posts while I was gone 2) I'm glad it's finally cold in New Orleans! 3) I'm sorry about the job thing 4) your December reviews have made my TBR list even longer and 5) good luck w/ the football!

Whoo-I'm a little out of breath there. Oh-almost forgot. I have super weird dreams almost all the time. In fact, I have to sleep with a nightlight in my room because we don't have streetlights where I live, so when I wake up from nightmares and my room's pitch black I start screaming and wake everyone else up. ;)

chrisa511 said...

Eva, I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear from you!!! I was worrying about you! That's one of the down sides of blogging: You don't hear from someone for a few days (let alone a couple of weeks ;) and you assume the worst! I'm glad you're back though! And it's a good thing you have a night light ;) Sorry about adding to your TBR mountain by the way, but consider it payback for all the times you've done the same to me!