DREAMCATCHER: An uncomfortable encounter in a cocktail bar

Chrissie’s Dream:

Robert, my husband and I were in our twenties, he still had his hair. We are in our late fifties now.

I knew that Robert had engaged in several affairs and I met one of the women involved. She was a blonde, youthful sort, drinking alcohol in a pleasant cocktail bar in a small area with her friends. She was dismissive of me when I confronted her. I presented as sad, indifferent, matter of fact.

I sat with his dad who was comforting me. He said:“she is going to leave Robert”. Robert’s mum took his side and said to him: “Well don’t worry, you are a good looking young chap and you will find someone else.” In reality Robert’s mum and dad are dead.

Dream Interpretation:

The dreamer is presented within this dream in a younger form which suggests that the underlying meaning to the dream may have been going on for some time.

When the dream content contains an ‘affair’ it usually relates to a need to release distress which is emotionally risky. The dreamer may have taken some steps to ‘confront’ the issue, taking some risk but then she has withdrawn. Her description of Roger having ‘several’ affairs suggests there may be more than one incident or problem causing the distress, reinforcing her negative attitude to it.

The use of alcohol and a cocktail bar in a dream indicates the need to feel free from the responsibility and inhibitions this problem is causing. There is a feeling of dismissal but she lacks the energy to respond to it, symbolised by her lack of a reaction to the woman. The dreamer’ default position is to return to a place of emotional comfort. She recognises, however, that external and internal conflict and potential threats remain.

In summary, this dream represents a reaction to what she perceives as being unfairly treated. The injustice she feels is likely to have existed for some time. However, the passive stance she currently takes is unlikely to resolve it and more positive action will be required to do so. It may help the dreamer if she can identify the person(s) or situation(s) that trigger such a strong emotional response which may help her decide if she wishes to address it or not.

If the dreamer would like to provide feedback about the interpretation, please send it to ACDreamcatchers@mail.com.

Interestingly, we have found it is not always possible to interpret your own dream, probably because it often represents the sublimation of feelings or thoughts that we are trying to avoid in our waking lives. However, with a little assistance from the dream interpreter, the symbols and themes can start to make sense and help us to move forward.

If you are interested in having a particular dream analysed, please send us an account of your dream to the following email address: ACDreamcatchers@mail.com We only have space to interpret one dream a week which will be selected from those received. Please refer to the guidance provided to describe your dream as this will enable us to provide a full interpretation.

Guidance for the Dreamer:

• Record your dream in writing as soon as you wake up with as much detail as possible.

• First of all ask yourself who is in the dream.

• Where are you, what is happening to you and what is happening around you?

• Record how you are feeling about what you and/or others are doing.

• Are there particular symbols or objects in the dream that are unusual?

• Are there any sounds and is the dream in colour or black and white?

• Are you watching yourself in the dream or are you experiencing it first-hand ie: through your own eyes.

Alex Hossack and Catherine Aubrey are Public Service professionals with years of experience as practitioners and managers in the Criminal Justice System.