The Symbolism of a Dream

I had a dream … well actually, it was a nightmare. It’s pretty amazing how the brain conjures up fears from real life and puts them into our sleep state.

I’ve gone back and forth about sharing this dream. I think it has meaning, so I’ve decided to take a chance and share.

In the nightmare, my family and I were being hunted by Nazi’s. I recall being chased down a street with several of them running on our tails.

From over a hill to the left of us, a pack of Native Americans in full-on 19th century loin cloths and feathered headdresses barrelled down toward us, shaking tomahawks in their fists. Some of them headed over to the Nazi’s for an attack. We soon realized, they hadn’t come to rescue us, because they charged at us, too.

We kept pounding our feet to the pavement to escape, but they gained on us. Just when we were about to be caught, a group of thugs to our right with switch blades and guns attacked the Native Americans. A few of them headed for us, when suddenly, a bright green light filled the sky. It was humongous in size, took the shape of a saucer, and radiated the color of a glow stick.

All groups stopped fighting and heads turned upward. Silhouettes of what looked like humans dropped out of the glowing green sky and started running toward us. Somehow I knew, they too, were going to kill each and every group of fighters, including those of us trying to escape.

I think I woke up at that point, because I remember nothing more.

It’s no mystery to me as to what this dream meant. I wonder if anyone else can see how this nightmare mirrors our society’s reality in the present day.

Oh sure, it may seem crazy to dream about Chief Cochise’s posse, Hitler sending his brown shirts and an alien spaceship all coming after my family to kill us. But, if we look at it in terms of symbolism, it’s not crazy at all.

Side note: Keep in mind, I am not claiming one side or the other. I’m on the side of humanity.

We’re put into groups by the media, black, white, poor, rich, republican, democrat, gay, straight. The list of groups seems never-ending. They give off the illusion that we not only don’t associate with anyone from outside of our grouping, but we hate other groups enough to cause harm.

Then, we are assigned a leader. Donald Trump for the bigoted, conservative crony rich. Bernie Sanders for the far left communists. Ted Cruz for the far right, racist religious wackos. Hillary Clinton for the angry feminists of the world.

Now … go at it groupings … fight your little hearts out …

This is how the media falsely portrays us, but many fall for it. I’ve felt and experienced the tension and anger not only through media sources, but from good friends, some of whom I’ve lost.

My dream symbolizes the fracture and division of society, but could it be somewhat of a prophecy, too? Of course, it’s not Chief Cochise or martians, but, regular ever-day people who believe they’ve been wronged by one of the groupings our media has boxed us into. With some of the volatile protests, it seems to have already begun. This is not good.

Some have suggested to me that I shouldn’t watch the news, but I believe it’s important to stay informed. Not only that, it’s pretty hard to miss unless I purposely turn off all forms of communication.

In the dream, I felt like myself and my family were the only individuals left in the world. We must all remember we are excellent, unique individuals, that when we come together, form a breathtaking tapestry. May we unite as one excellent array of colors, despite the media’s efforts.

P.S. I really did have that dream and did not make it up to make a point, which makes the symbolism all the more poignant.

Pictures attributed to flickr:
Marvin the Martian, thekirbster.
Fighting foxes, changehall.
Green sky, Jason Ahrns.