DREAMCATCHER : I decide I no longer want to complete my PhD

Dorothy’s Dream:

I arrived at a ‘camp’ to complete my PhD. When i got there I was the only one and was directed to a car that was parked near the right hand side of the field.

I got in and there was a TV at the left hand side in front of the car. I felt ok and went for a little walk. When I got back I was told that I had been moved to a car at the end on the left.

I walked down. There were now lots of people here for their PhD finals, they packed the area and it became busy and noisy.

I decided to move back to my original car and did so. I got in and it felt more comfortable but then a girl came over and said she had been placed in that car.

Some other people supported her so I reluctantly went back to the other car.

There was a guy in the car next to me and I started thinking ‘do you know’ I don’t need this PhD, I can always work on other written projects that I am interested in, why am I putting myself through this? I wasn’t working and wouldn’t use it.

I said this to the man in the other car next to me and he just looked away as if he disapproved. However, I’d made my mind up and walked through the throngs of people chatting, towards the building.

I could see a refrectory and a couple of other buildings but I needed reception. I saw it and headed over, still not certain it was totally the right thing to give up at this late stage but I knew that giving up was going to be less stressful than going ahead with the finals for a qualification I didn’t need.

Dream Interpretation:

The dream includes aspects of uncertainty represented by the changing of cars which may represent a change of position, ideas or behaviours, suggesting that the dreamer is being challenged.

Her response is to return to her original position which she finds more comfortable and relaxing. However, when this is challenged again, it creates a reaction, signified by a lot of ‘noise’.

Her reaction to being ‘pushed around’ is to conclude that she doesn’t need to be treated this way ie. she doesn’t need a PhD. and reflects, “why am I putting myself through this” and “I have enough going on in my life”.

The response she gets is one of disapproval, but she is determined to follow through with her decision. She psychologically sets her mind to gaining satisfaction elsewhere which she believes to be less stressful. So she makes her way to the ‘reception’ that represents making a formal stand to ‘sign off’ the PhD.

The use of cars in dreams is a common occurrence and can take many forms: broken-down vehicles, being a passenger, being a back seat passenger, a back seat ‘driver’. In this case cars are presented as stationary vehicles. Using a stationary car can represent being alone with strong feelings of independence and/or being stuck in life.

Another representation from the dream image is the taking of a ‘little walk’ which is indicative of taking time out from stress, again frequently used in dreams.

The dream appears to end satisfactorily and concludes in her making a decision about the way she wants to run her life and although she is slightly reticent about the conclusion, she is pleased with her decision as the best one available.

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.