to fly

i have a recurring dream. just one. and i only dream it every few years or so.

in the dream, i am standing on a dusty barren cliff. i notice off in the distance towards the edge of the precipice, a woman who i know to be my mother. she is picking yellow flowers, daffodils--the only sign of anything living in this barren landscape.

i begin running towards her, and as i get closer and closer, i realize that i will not stop once i reach her. and i don't. i keep running until the edge of the cliff is before me, and i leap. i fall for a moment, then spread my arms out as if i were a bird. i begin soaring through canyons, weaving in and out of various canyons. i fly for what seems like eternity, and enter into the land of people. i soar over their houses and watch them on the streets and in their cars. and eventually, i land on a rooftop and the dream ends.

i took a psychology class in high school, and we did a study on dream interpretation. we were supposed to keep a dream journal and then choose one of the dreams to interpret. i was very bad at keeping my journal, so i just made dreams up, but when it came time to interpret, it was a no brainer what i would choose.

this many years later i have a hard time recollecting the interpretation, but i do know that it had something to do with facing new challenges.

i had the dream again last night, so i decided i should take a look at the dream dictionary again. here is what i found:

mother

to see your mother in your dream, represents the nurturing aspect of your own character. mothers offer shelter, comfort, life, guidance and protection.


daffodil

to see daffodils in your dream, symbolizes renewal, inner growth, optimism, inspiration, and hope.


cliff

to dream that you are standing at the edge of a cliff, denotes that you have arrived to an increased level of understanding, new awareness, and a fresh point of view. you may have reached a critical point in your life and may fear losing control.


flying

to dream that you are flying, signifies a sense of freedom where you had initially felt restricted and limited.

if you are flying with ease and enjoying the scene and landscape below, then it suggests that you are on top of a situation. you have risen above something. it may also mean that you have gained a different perspective on things. flying dreams and the ability to control your flight is representative of your own personal sense of power.


though initially there seems to have been no rhyme or reason to the timing of this dream, when i look at the interpretation of these symbols and reflect on the various times i have had it, a clear pattern begins to emerge. this dream has been the precursor to some wonderful new experiences and opportunities--some of the most joyful times in my life. and with that realization, i say bring it on!