Dream trio: Lost - car - husband - bar - election?

[JoannaB]

Was wondering what others think of these. The following three links are to dreams in my dream journal. The first two occurred on June 6, and the final one last night, but I see them as a trio if dreams that belong together. They have common elements of being lost while driving or election or bar and my husband and me. A few background info elements: my husband and I are fairly happily married though we do have our squabbles, and he has said that I use my iPhone too much in waking life which is true (I am an iPhone social media addict). While there has been a primary election in the meantime, but I could have sworn that at the times of those two first dreams I was not consciously aware of it and the election would not have been really important to me if it had not been for the dreams, and I do not consider that this primary was important nor was it lost. I have in general been having a lot if political dreams lately, though I do not really follow politics much. As you will note, I did get lucid in the second of the two dreams, but the first part if that dream before I got lucid is the part that is part of this trio of dreams. Lost and will be late to Vote - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views Voting at a Bar is ok, but my mom is on TV telling about a dream - LUCID! - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views Don't know where going (bar), election loss my fault, banned from iPhone - Dream Journals - Lucid Dreaming - Dream Views I look forward to hearing others thoughts on these three dreams. Of course it is possible that the second dream was just a continuation of the first, and because I succeeded in becoming lucid in that dream and am trying to recreate that effect, so perhaps the third dream is due to my mind replaying some of the elements from those prior two dreams in an effort to get closer to lucidity again? Edit: oh, and it might be pertinent to mention that in real life I do not usually drive lost nor do I go to bars nor do I date other men or cancel such would be nonexistent dates.

[GrannyPigms]

Hum, that's a weird collection of dreams for someone who is not interested in politics. I think that the first and second dreams are linked in some way. A similar thing happened to me last night, I had a dream about a new house, then a dream about flying. Its complicated. They felt like the same dream, but they didn't have anything to do with each other. Or maybe it could be the opposite for you. I dunno. Anyways, regardless, it seems strange you would have dreams about something you aren't associated with. Someone below me will now give you a bunch of science behind that.

[JoannaB]

Just to clarify if it was not clear: the second dream happened right after the first on same night, that was on June 6th. So I am not baffled why those two are a set. What surprised me, and caused me to inquire here about possible interpretation is this third dream I had last night in which there is also the driving aimlessly or rather aiming for a target but not knowing how to get there, and my husband also gets behind the wheel in both first and third dreams, election gets mentioned in all three, and bar in both second and third. And perhaps saying that I am uninterested in politics is a bit too strong: I am a Democrat politically, and I do vote, but I only follow politics off and on and it is not a major deal for me most days, but a surprising number if my dreams are indeed about politics or elections. My dream self is apparently much more politically active than my waking self.

[GrannyPigms]

Well, I dunno really. Having relatively the same dream three nights in a row? Did you do anything weird? Get lost driving maybe? That would explain driving aimlessly in your dreams. (Maybe ) But did you do anything out of the ordinary, or something related to the things in those dreams? That could explain something.

[JoannaB]

Ok, to clarify further: dreams 1 and 2 happened on same night - I woke up after dream 1 wrote it down, went back to sleep, had dream 2 as continuation. Dream 3 however did not happen the next night, the first two dreams happened on June 6, and now it is June 20, so it is two weeks later. I did not drive aimlessly or get lost driving. In fact none of these dreams have any obvious relation to my every day life. What happened yesterday: I upped my effort to practice awareness to try to have a lucid dream again, I had lots of meetings at work, I only drive to and from work. Although I did speak with the guy I was supposed to meet at bar during a conference call, and arranged for another conference call with him today - I forgot about that! I came home exhausted from all the meetings, and crashed into bed at like 7:30 or 8pm, and slept until 6:30am, and remembered three dreams and another three fragments last night. All noted in my dream journal here at DV. But this one dream is the one that caught my attention the most because of the common elements to two weeks ago dreams. Weird.

[Superman1]

See if any of this clicks, Joanna... Lost and will be late to Vote Looks like you were voting on some view you had, of what would lead your or govern you. And often this takes more than one day. Maybe it actually took two, or you just needed to reaffirm it, or continue it. You urgently needed to, but were lost, moving further away from it, unable to reverse this and go back. Maybe you saw the new side of you in this area that you looked after, that would grow up in it. You couldn't tune in to what you needed to. Stuck. Maybe chewing it over too much, which will do that. And something was wrong, maybe with what was outside, and at the forefront of this issue. So maybe how it affected your outer world, or at least how you travel in it in this issue, up front, or important. But you don't know what. You tried to shine a light on it to fix it. Maybe then your dependable control materialized, after realizing something was wrong. Unless the issue is with your husband having control. Being lost, you wondered how this part found you, how it got here. So this part of you that was almost magic was opposite you driving lost, and it stumped you. So your little one within wanted nourishment, nurturing. But no juice. He wanted nurturing, not fuel. You already had better than fuel with your husband side appearing. Maybe you saw you needed to nurture the husband quality, which then pointed the way in what he had bought and brought. But it was too big for you to digest, as demonstrated by your baffled response to him. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Voting at a Bar is ok, but my mom is on TV telling about a dream - LUCID! (one hour later) Maybe in the social or fun area, you are still trying to vote, or the alcohol could mean it's getting a bit out of control, as driving to it did. Maybe you want to pay for the social vote - or voting in the social area - and prove your identity is valid in it. You wanted to find your credit, and license, for this vote or choice within. Your in-control side said the election in you of which side you choose of yourself is to show that what leads or governs you cannot be limited to others - like you have the right to vote or choose your leader, or to be leader of yourself. Now you hear your mother's influence in your vision trying to tell of that dream she had from the beginning or a young age. To be in control? Independent? Have individual choice or power? And then it clicked, and I wonder if you became lucid in the real experience, and maybe realized the cause of all this, and maybe that the idea is unreal or untrue. Or maybe you realized your life's dream, clicked you want your freedom of power. You started doing somersaults in the air above the bar might mean how super-glad you were. At being lucid in the dream or in reality? Or both?? But maybe you closed your eyes to your dream. Hence your in-control side was gone. But you expected to find it right outside. You opened the door in you and it was. I still think "This is a dream!" might parallel your life's dream this dream is about. And why you became lucid at that crucial point. Memory of previous dream: Maybe, after you had a hard time finding your credit which is like your inner value you need to pay to get what you want in life, and license which is a license to drive or be in control, you found them when you saw how nice and sweet they could be. That alone, or enjoyment, could attract something like magic to you, being like juice in a car. Maybe you saw this other side of you has a tendency of putting your credit with sweetness - something you normally don't do. So after, you noticed the part of you that made this connection had defined the sweet store idea on both sides of you, so now you know you could not miss it. I think that bit might be right anyway. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Don't know where going (bar), election loss my fault, banned from iPhone (2 weeks later) Now maybe you are seeing how this work can be fun. Unless your paid work may involve this voting too. But it seems you are meeting with an aspect of yourself you do not know well or like, to work with on yourself. You made a date with it to be happy with it, instead of not like it. But you wanted to call it off, and keep it unknown. You didn't know the direction or how to get there, but went anyway. You were desperately trying to connect with a distant or unseen part of you that knew, or else to call it off. You were probably confused which to chose. In the middle of this, your in-control you showed up, once again taking control. You seemed to realize you could not hear or see in this goal, that your in-control self needed all the data to achieve it. And while you thought this was harsh, you accepted that you deserved it. You had caused the loss of the election or choice of leadership - it was all your fault. You felt profound guilt. Yet you interrupt your control self and see you need to learn this leader or control side, or fail to know this instead. Side note: Yes, this is a continuation of the goal you have in the two past dreams. Plus, you can see how it relates to your previous political dream with your mother, about how you wanted to gain your own power or control more. So it seems about the politics of power again. Self-power. So you do really follow these politics much. POSSIBLE CONCLUSIONS 1. You want choice of being in control or leading yourself. 2. You see how sweet it can be. 3. After some time, you try to implement your idea. But is inconclusive.

[JoannaB]

Superman! Brilliant! Thanks to our interpretation, I think I got it: these dreams are about my self improvement effort, one goal of which is lucid dreaming! See, here I am on the road to achieve lucid dreaming, but I have been struggling with it, kind of lost with it, and at times actively pursuing it with a purpose and greater self awareness and greater self respect, and at other times loosing my way and my self confidence again. I have been at it again since February, and have only gotten lucid four times since then, and this is one of those times. And see the joy over the achievement, it was both literally over becoming lucid, and also because that is part of the goal: to become lucid. Though on the way in this journey I have realized that this is more about the journey than about the goal: the real goal is to self improve through greater self awareness - bringing the part of me that is controlling and the part that desperately needs nurturing, the part that is lost and the part that is stubbornly and with determination trying to get there, all together. Even though in the second dream I got lucid, it clicked, but of course a one time lucid event is not enough. And I now have not been lucid since the 9th (I had one more lucid dream three days after the one described here), but since then I have been more lost again, my dream recall waned, and I had not really been consistently pursuing the self improvement practices which I had discovered to be most fruitful for me: regular exercise, sufficient rest/sleep, and higher awareness and prospective memory exercises throughout he day. What is interesting is that in dream three I seem to be harking back to a silly idea that I at some point had which was that since as a former Roman Catholic guilt is a major motivator, so what if I tried guilt to achieve lucidity. My rational part had immediately dismissed the idea, since guilt is the last thing I need more of on the path of greater self improvement, self confidence, unification of parts of myself that appear separate and contradictory, greater self awareness and self esteem. So you see, I know that guilt has no part to play in this process, is counterproductive, but apparently my subconscious wanted to try this weird shortcut anyway. The dream has so many elements from former dreams that led to lucidity because my subconscious on some level was genuinely trying to be helpful and help me realize that this was a dream, but with the profound guilt in the way, and my self esteem being so low in this dream, lucidity and self fulfillment were just not going to happen - no way - and perhaps that's what I needed to see. Guilt is not the way. Interestingly enough all is not at a low point now, because actually I am emerging again from a lower point: my self awareness and meta awareness are higher, my dream recall is better, and I am practicing exercises that should lead to lucidity again, plus I am no longer in the malaise mood that I was for a few days there. oh, I did not mention that yet: I felt malaise for a few days earlier is week, and was lost again in a way which alas had the potential to lead down the path to depression again, I had stopped exercising for a few days, stopped really watching out awareness wise, and my dream recall was none but when it came back it started with disturbing dreams. However, I appear to have pulled myself out of that quicker than most times, and am back on track in my self improvement goals. See, I think your interpretation fits! Thanks so much! EDIT: Oh,and the bar part: I tend to get obsessive about my hobbies including this lucid dreaming one, and I am addicted to DreamViews forum, so that's what the bar is about, reminding me that this is an addiction that I should work on. my husband walking out of the bar makes sense, because he has pointed out to me that my posting on social media and excessive use of iPhone are interfering with family life, so you see he is being very supportive and helpful by helping me realize this is a problem. My husband is helping me on the road to self improvement, now I should probably be in the drivers seat in future dreams, that's the goal to get into the drivers seat of my own journey and stay there. in the middle dream my mom is also helpful in assisting me with realizing this is a dream. I called her up after this, and thanked her for this help, and she dismissed it though saying how when I said I wanted to thank her for her help, she thought I meant some real help. I should at some point clarify for her, that this is a sign of help in real way, like for example the fact that I now exercise regularly is definitely in part to her nagging me about my lack of exercising in the past. I hope to explain to my mom better that this lucid dreaming effort is not just about lucid dreaming: it is about my self empowerment as a person, and lucid dreaming is part of it, one of the catalysts or one of the tools, but not the one and only goal.

[Superman1]

Hmm, I never would have thought it's all about lucid dreaming, but reading my answer again it surprisingly can fit that all along. And obviously if it was forefront in your mind. Haa, there's that word again from the car symbol. The voting thing still confused me a bit, but must mean your entitlement to that control or power.

[JoannaB]

Superman, tsk tsk, you did not pay enough attention: it is not all about lucid dreaming (I end my previous comment on that point ). Lucid dreaming is one part of it, but it is all about my self empowerment, my finding my self esteem, finding my way in life, greater spiritual growth. I may have had only four lucid dreams since I started, but that is not the true measure of my progress: it is only one measure, one tool. The goal is to discover the power within me, to not be depressed again. Edit: Note the words "empowerment" and "discover the power within me", still confused why this is all political? I am not. It is about being in charge of myself, about not making this into a power struggle with different parts of myself and my family, but rather finding that balance of power, where I take control by relinquishing control due to realizing that control just like guilt is not the way. I will win this election only if I realize that I cannot disenfranchise different parts of myself, including the parts that I get from my mother and from my marriage and kids, from work and fun and responsibilities. Edit2: So you see, lucid dreaming is not the destination, nor is this effort about the destination: it's all about the journey, my quest. I may not know where I am going, but does that really matter, because it is the going there that counts, the progress, the process of getting "there" wherever "there" is. Figuring out what the destination is would be as much of a useless shortcut as the guilt is or the control, this is not about the end result - actually we all know how the story ends at least in this life time: death. But killing myself would certainly not be a good solution to achieving the goal of life (and no matter how bad my depression ever gets luckily I have never been suicidal). It is the journey of life that is the goal. Edit3: Think of it as the Tibetan Buddhist approach to lucid dream practice: lucid dreaming is part of the practice of getting spiritual enlightenment, and while it's achievement is wonderful and I shall certainly enjoy it, but the goal is to become a more spiritual being, to be one with myself and The Holy Spirit of God within me. To understand, to accept, to be humble and yet not afraid of internalizing the power, the meaning of life, and God's plan for me and my plan for myself. Who am I becoming in this process? how do I get there and ensure I am on the right path? Oh, and how do I fit my loved ones into my way, I need to ensure that my journey does not take me away from them, and keeps them with me, but I need to be the one in e drivers seat or be fully comfortable with my loved ones being in that driver's seat at times.

[Superman1]

Then I'm not Superman? You are right, Joanna, I did not pay attention. Shame on me. Reading your response again, I don't remember taking drugs. But maybe I was on a bit of a rush. I don't know how I did that now, or how I was apparently mixing the word lucidity up to mean only dreams. Or not expecting lucid dreaming to enter into meanings at all, and then flying the other way completely. Now I feel guilty. these dreams are about my self improvement effort, one goal of which is lucid dreaming! After posting, I thought: Would a dream just be about lucid dreaming? It didn't seem right. What a double dummy I am! And sorry. It's that Clark's fault. He is always distorting the facts, and reporting fiction as fact. I have re-read your first response 10 times as punishment. Well, a few times actually. Anyway thanks for your very detailed and complete initial response that enables me to see it all fits now, in proper perspective, and your second more as well. Oh yeh, my response (if you can call it that) was after your edit, but I didn't see that update yet. When I saw it later, I was going to add an edit in my post later, at least. That's a pretty good insight about the bar meaning addicted. Oh yeh, just for fun, another meaning alcohol might have is a quick road to getting high or feeling better. Maybe a later set of dreams will be about becoming that leader in your free world. Sounds like you've got quite a complete adventure going on there. Good luck - or fortune shall I say - in your noble journey.:bravo:

[JoannaB]

Thanks superman, and don't worry, you still are superman, I couldn't have done this without you. The first two dreams, I've had two weeks to think about them if I so chose, and yet I had not pieced together yet why I had them, but your interpretation made it all click.

[JoannaB]

I can't believe I forgot about that! A bar for me is not all negative. When I used to be lonely or needing a treat of an evening out alone, I used to enjoy the experience of dining on my own at the bar of a favorite restaurant. What I like about it is that it provides an interesting experience which allows one to be either more social with bartender or others sitting close to one, chatting up strangers, but one can be as alone as one desires also. The customer service provided by the bartender is superb: part of his job is to pay attention to customers, to listen and chat if desired, to not be judgemental, to remember return customers even after long time. The bar can be a place to unwind, to let go of stress. Alcohol is not necessarily part of the experience though I would usually get a glass of red wine with my meal at the bar. I have not done it in months. And even before that it was occasional, except for one time in my life during college when I was lonely and would routinely once a week have lunch at the bar.

[JoannaB]

More on the car metaphor: car journey in part stands for my journey of life. My car is something that I use and need every day, but have really only very limited understanding of, but really should get a better understanding of. Being in the drivers seat versus not wanting to be the one in the drivers seat (wanting my husband there instead). Mechanics can cheat me because if I am told that my spark plugs need replacing and my something something belt is close to falling apart and it is dangerous to drive unless I pay lots of money for them to replace all of it, I have no knowledge to question it, and I have to take their word for it. I do have a sense of which car mechanics are less honest, but it is based more on intuition than on knowledge. I need my car to remain in good working order, and yet mostly I want to live my life without needing to pay much attention to my car. Car maintenance is a nuisance. The car is just a means to an end. It is convenient, but not a major point of pride for me. I could not see the point in having lots of cars: we have two, one for each adult, because we need that many to get to work and be flexible enough to drop and pick up kids or change plans at moment's notice. I don't particularly like driving, and prefer not to drive when my husband and I are together, but I can drive even then when needed. Our cars have scratches and bumps, and that's ok.

[Superman1]

BAR The bar fits well with you then in a personal way as well as universal. Social yet standing alone. Good to have this all-too-rare feedback because I just can't learn properly without it. CAR So you see the need for maintenence when you are in control more. Yes the car can have many metaphors come to think of it: Keeping yourself fueled, serviced and in tune, even keeping yourself inflated - but not too much pressure, ha. I like how you said your cars have scratches and bumps - just like you said you have your squabbles sometimes. My mechanic offered to show me the old part he said he had to replace. Also keep receipt records of what is replaced and done beyond standard, so you have a better idea when next due as each thing has a standard time-frame.