When Dreams Act as Revelations (Part 1)

While the meaning of dreams has been a mystery from ancient Egypt and Greece to modern psychology, few can argue the significance of dreams that leave us a changed person in our waking life. We have all had nightmares that confound us so that it affects our conscious behavior with a sense of dread and bewilderment. But what of dreams that create a sense of incredible accomplishment and satisfaction, where you are able to solve the complex problems that evade you when you seem to be the most competent to do so. These events reveal true aspirations and intent and that the answers and power to act upon them lies not as deep inside us as previously thought. The thrust of these dreams appears more substantial when one is capable of lucid dreaming, or controlling the action and outcome of such visions.

Tuesday morning bestowed upon me what I cannot call anything less than a revelation pertaining to the process of recovery. Fortunately, lucid dreaming has become quite common for me, and that is why this particular occurrence bears so much relevance to my situation.

It begins with a simple house, my own, of no real comfort or personal attachment. The house was suddenly filled with an incredible horde of unrecognizable party-goers, uninvited and certainly unwanted. As there was a total lack of alcohol in the house, I was, against my will, forced to make a run for the shop...it seemed I was the only one with money. Already irked that I had to spend my money on something I was not not even going consume, the experience in the shop did not help matters. I had paid for the beer (Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, for some reason) and a mystery bottle. During checkout the mystery bottle had been broken by the shop owner, and instead of offering credit he left me with no option but to purchase another bottle. I had already been taken advantage of by the unknown horde inhabiting my home, now the same was happening again. I was nearing the end of my rope. Back at the house it took very little time for all hell to break loose. I watched in sober amazement as nothing less than debauchery took place. The house had turned dark and sinister, and the little color that remained became drab and muddled. There was an overwhelming sense of discomfort and confusion as this all took place with no consideration to my presence. It arose inside me that this has all happened before and I was always left with an incredible sense of disappointment, anguish and emptiness. This time it was going to be different...enter lucid dreaming. At the top of my lungs I made everything quite clear:"STOP! Every time you come over the same thing happens! You always do this to me! I don't want you here anymore! Get the hell out!" Everything abruptly stopped and with complete astonishment on their faces everyone walked out. Now, that was pretty cool, but the best part remained. As the last one walked out the door the house was instantly filled with incredibly bright sunshine and the freshest air one could imagine. Curtains waved as a gentle breeze wafted in through windows that had never existed before. The house was immaculate and was of different construction and decor as the house at the beginning of the dream. I then awoke with a start, feeling relieved, inspired, and incredibly content.

I've had a couple days to analyze the phenomenon, and this is what it says to me. The house was undoubtedly my soul. The throng of ne'er-do-wells, as well as the shop owner, were the demons that had driven me to drink in the past, and even though I did not partake in this particular dream, it is obvious that those demons remained to torment, tempt, and take advantage of me. The act of expelling these demons was compelling as it exhibits a sincere endeavor towards conquering alcoholism. The transformation of the house from bland to hellish to absolute beauty speaks for itself. It was reward for the banishment of temptation and iniquity. This is the reward in reality as well.


© 2009 Uncover/Recover